C-Murder Sentenced To Full Time House Arrest, Denies Violating Probation

August 30th, 2006 | By Administrator

Rapper Corey ?C. Miller? Miller, formerly known as C-Murder, was placed on house arrest by a Louisiana state judge after attending a Hurricane Katrina documentary premiere in New Orleans.

Miller was ordered to remain on full home containment until his second trial on a second-degree murder charge.

Miller, 35, is awaiting a retrial in the 2002 shooting of a teenager, 16, outside a Harvey-area nightclub in New Orleans. His original conviction was overturned after a judge ruled that prosecutors had withheld the criminal backgrounds of key state witnesses from the defense.

She ordered him back on full house after seeing his interview at the Aug. 16 premiere of Spike Lee’s HBO documentary, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts on New Orlean’s based WDSU-TV, claiming he violated the terms of his probation by attending the premiere after his 10 PM curfew.

During a recent hearing, no evidence was presented suggesting Miller had violated the order. Miller testified he was at the premiere to meet with Spike Lee about a project, but had returned home before 10 p.m.

Miller also said he gave more than one interview and did not violate any terms of the gag order in the case.

Sassone said prosecutors could investigate the matter as long as Miller’s lawyers were contacted in advance. Sassone apparently planned to give Miller only partial house arrest, but later changed her mind.

“You’re on home incarceration to prepare for a defense, not to have a social life,” Sassone told Miller.

The judge allowed Miller to attend Sunday church services, but rejected a request to let him exercise in a park.

Master P Creates Hip-Hop Gospel Play About Hurricane Katrina

August 24th, 2006 | By Administrator

No Limit Records founder and rapper Master P. is taking his new Hip-Hop gospel play on the road.

The play, titled Uncle Willy’s Family, features Terry Miles as Uncle Willy, an ex-Vietnam vet who would do anything for his family, even the ones he doesn’t care too much for.

Willy, who lives with his niece Jacky and her son Chris (Romeo), is forced to deal with a home full of relatives, who arrive after being forced out of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Uncle Willy’s Family is the first play from Master P, who stars in the production with Romeo, Silk the Shocker and Miles.

Marilyn Harris, Percy Anthony Smith, Iovanna, Erica Pitts and others round out the cast. According to Master P. the play, which includes a gospel choir, offers country humor and inspiration.

The play will hit theaters in Meridian, Jackson and Greenwood Mississippi and make a stop in Beaumont, Texas.

Miller said additional dates were being added in New Orleans, Houston, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York.

For more details, visit www.unclewilly.com.

The following is a list of tour destinations for Uncle Willy’s Family:

Sept. 7

Temple Theater
Meridian, Mississippi
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 & 9

Thalia Mara Hall
Jackson, Mississippi
Showtime– 8 p.m. Sept. 8
Showtimes– 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sept. 9

Sept. 10

Leflore County Civic Center
Greenwood, Mississippi
Showtime– 5 p.m.

Sept. 16

Jefferson Theater
Beaumont, Texas
Showtimes– 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Trina Departs From Atlantic Records, Looks For New Label

August 18th, 2006 | By Administrator

Slip-N-Slide Records? rap diva Trina, born Katrina Taylor, has officially cut ties with her distributing label Atlantic Records, and is now searching for a new recording home.

Ted Lucas, owner of Trina?s label Slip-N-Slide Records, said that Atlantic was no longer able to assist the rapper in her upcoming endeavors.

?We decided to look for another label that will be able to promote Trina more effectively, and turn her into an even larger selling artist,? Lucas told AllHipHop.com and added that the “departure was amicable,” stating that Atlantic and Trina ended their relationship on positive terms.

Trina’s most recent album The Glamorest Life dropped in Oct. 2005 and is approaching gold certification. Her previous two albums Da Baddest B**ch (2000) and Diamond Princess (2002) also went gold, selling a combined 1.2 million copies.

Trina?s currently in the studio, rumored to be working on an album called Rock Starr that will be released in 2007.

?She is in the recording studio now, and we hope that her fans will be patient until her new material is ready,? Lucas said.

Representatives for Atlantic had no comment.

Jermaine Dupri Booked As Music Director of AmsterJam Festival

August 18th, 2006 | By Administrator

Producer and Virgin Records president of urban music, Jermaine Dupri, has signed on to be musical director of the 2nd annual AmsterJam, an 8-hour music festival at Randalls Island.

The concert pairs musical acts together from various genres of music. As musical director, Dupri will be responsible for helping artists like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Foo Fighters work together.

“I am delighted to be asked to do this,” Dupri told AllHipHop.com. “I always grew up wanting to be a part of stuff like this. And then to do a [mash-up], something I actually believe is gonna be the next big wave in music…it’s really fun.”

Other scheduled AmsterJam mash-ups include: Busta Rhymes with Yerba Buena and LL Cool J with Tego Calderon, who will all perform their own sets and then perform together.

Dupri is currently working on the launch of girlfriend Janet Jackson’s upcoming 20 Y.O., as well as releases from R&B singer Johnta Austin and Daz of Tha Dogg Pound.

C-Murder Back On House Arrest

August 18th, 2006 | By Administrator

No Limit Records artist Corey “C-Murder” Miller has been ordered back into house arrest.

The one-page order was handed down yesterday (Aug.17) by 24th Judicial District Court Judge Martha Sassone in response to a 5th Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling on Tuesday (Aug. 15).

“Corey Miller is to be placed on complete home incarceration and is further ordered that he is not allowed to leave his residence at any time,” Sassone wrote, adding that the ruling would last until the rapper’s pending retrial on second-degree murder charges.

The Times-Picayune reports the judge also reinstated a gag order placed on everyone involved in the case in a separate order on Thursday.

The gag order also extends to the home incarceration program, according to Sassone.

The 5th Circuit Judges found error in Sassone’s “additional, unsolicited ruling” of removing Miller from house arrest when prosecutors sought to have his bond revoked.

Prosecutors attempted to put Miller back in jail, arguing the rapper violated house arrest rules on May 4, when he stopped by a Smoothie King in Metairie during a court-approved outing, as well as 13 occasions when the lyricist’s electronic monitoring equipment lost track of him at his home.

The incidents, which lasted no longer than about 20 minutes, amounted to violations, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors appealed Sassone’s three-page order, saying her decision did not take into account the seriousness of Miller’s other pending attempted-murder charges in Jefferson Parish and in Baton Rouge.

Sassone originally found “Miller had not violated the conditions of his bond including the home incarceration.”

“It was very clear that no one knew why this monitoring system was reporting these violations,” Sassone wrote. “There were discussions of electronic interference in that area that had nothing to do with the equipment of Mr. Miller.”

The new order is the latest twist in the ever changing legal events surrounding Miller, who is accused of shooting 16-year-old Steve Thomas in the chest during a fight on Jan. 12, 2002, in the now-closed Platinum Club in Harvey.

A date has not been set for the retrial of the rapper, who returned to house arrest after a month of freedom.

David Banner To Be Honored At Mississippi’s Best Awards

August 16th, 2006 | By Administrator

Rapper’s David Banner and Kamikaze (Crooked Lettaz) will be honored during the Mississippi’s Best Awards, scheduled to take place Saturday, Oct. 28 at the TelCom Center in downtown Jackson.

Over 1500 nomination ballots were received for the event, which honors natives of the state for their excellence and achievements in various. Banner and Kamikaze will be presented with the Best of the Best award, which is one of the five ?Committee?s Choice? awards.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by your home,” David Banner told AllHipHop.com. “It’s similar to your father saying he’s proud of you.”

?The people of the state are rallying around the project,” added Cyrus A. Webb,31, the event?s founder and the Chief Communications Director. “With so many stereotypes and prejudices against Mississippians, they are glad to see something good making the news.?

Other natives of Mississippi being honored include Oprah Winfrey, Willie Mosely Jr., Marshall Ramsey and Morgan Freeman.

Guest presenters include Tchula Mayor Yvonne Brown, Ben Allen (Jackson Cit Council President), Miss Mississippi Taryn Foshee and others.

Judge Defends Decision in C-Murder Case

August 16th, 2006 | By Administrator

A 24th Judicial District Court judge is speaking out concerning her July 13 decision to release No Limit Records rapper Corey “C-Murder” Miller from a home incarceration program.

In a three-page order issued Wednesday (Aug. 9), Judge Martha Sassone wrote that Miller was punished for violating the conditions of his house arrest only once, despite arguments from prosecutors, who claim Miller violated the program’s rules several times.

Sassone stated “Mr. Miller has not violated the conditions of his bond, including the home incarceration” after carefully reviewing reports and evidence covering Miller’s time out on bond.

The explanation is the latest in the ongoing saga surrounding Miller, who is charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 12, 2002 slaying of Steve Thomas. The 16-year-old was shot in the chest in the now-closed Platinum Club in Harvey.

If convicted as charged, Miller would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Although he was convicted of the crime, Sassone sided with Miller’s attorneys as she granted the rhymesayer a new trial. Attorneys believe the district attorney’s office withheld criminal background information about witnesses. The information, they argued, could have helped Miller’s defense.

In March, the state Supreme Court upheld Sassone’s order for a new trial. She later set bail and ordered Miller into house arrest as a condition of bond, despite objections from prosecutors.

The written explanation comes nearly a month after Sassone gave Miller a 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. nightly curfew instead of house arrest.

Although she ordered the curfew, Sassone retained the $500,000 bond she set on March 15. Miller is also barred from drinking alcohol, has restrictions on visitors to his residence and must stay in Jefferson and Orleans parishes.

Lil’ Flip Signs With Warner Bros. Records/Asylum

August 15th, 2006 | By Administrator

Platinum-selling rapper Lil’ Flip has signed with Warner Bros. Records/Asylum and is preparing to release a new version of his highly anticipated album, I Need Mine.

Lil’ Flip, who released his previous albums Underground Legend, and U Gotta Feel me for Sony, re-recorded songs for I Need Mine after the original version was leaked on the Internet as the rapper was finalizing his deal with Warner Bros. Records/Asylum.

“We held out on releasing this album on Sony because the set up was never right and I felt that my fans deserved the best from me,” Lil’ Flip said. “I’ve written and recorded a bunch of songs that I’m sure my fans will love and now that I am with Warner Bros. Records/Asylum, I am confident that I am in the right place to take my career to the next level.”

According to Lil’ Flip’s manager Sandy Lal, Asylum was a logical choice to sign, given the label’s Texas-heavy roster, which includes Paul Wall, UGK, Mike Jones, Rap-A-Lot Records and others.

“We are excited to be a part of the Warner Bros. Records/Asylum organization,” Lal commented. “They both understand what we are trying to accomplish with Flip’s career and I believe they are the best companies to execute our goals. One look at Asylum’s success and overall embracement of the Houston hip-hop culture and Warner’s relentless dedication to their artists illustrates their competency and expertise to continue what Lil Flip started.”

No released date was available for the new version of I Need Mine.

Lil’ Wayne Arrested In Atlanta For Drug Possession

August 15th, 2006 | By Administrator

Rapper Lil’ Wayne was arrested in Atlanta, GA on various drug charges, after police found drugs in his possession.

Police told AllHipHop.com that Lil’ Wayne was stopped in mid-town Atlanta yesterday (Aug. 14) and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, purchase of a controlled substance and other, minor offenses.

The rapper was released on bond from the Fulton County Jail.

Cash Money CEO’s Donate Thousands To NY Soccer Program

August 8th, 2006 | By Administrator

Cash Money Records CEO Bryan “Birdman” Williams, along with his brother and co-CEO Ronald “Slim” Williams, opened his wallet Monday (Aug. 7) and donated $3,000 to the Morningside Park Soccer Program in New York City.

The donation, made on behalf of the label’s foundation, “Cash Money For Kids,” was sent directly to the program to purchase new equipment.

“It’s important for young kids to be able to play safe and have fun,” Birdman said of his foundation’s donation. “Hopefully this will help the children of Morningside Park enjoy their day a little more.”

Cash Money has previously donated funds to those in need by hosting events like the annual “Turkey Give Away” in their hometown of New Orleans.