Trina Launching Modeling Agency

July 10th, 2005 | By Administrator

The Diamond Princess of rap, Trina, has announced plans to start a modeling agency called Diamond Dolls to uplift women with self-esteem issues.

With a string of business ventures launching this and next year, including a perfume collection called Diamond Princess and a clothing line expected in April 2006, the Miami rapper seems headed for mogul status.

?I have so many women coming to me for advice [on] how to be focused, how to get themselves into some form of identity as far as their career is concerned,” Trina told AllHipHop.com. “A lot of women have low self-esteem and could be so beautiful if they stay focused and stay strong.”

The rap diva is also set to star in her own sitcom, “With Friends Like These,” which co-stars actress Luz Whitney and video vixen-turned-actress Ki-Toy.

Trina’s third album The Glamorous Life is expected to drop on September 13 and features rappers Young Buck, Snoop Dogg, and Lil Scrappy among others.

Witness Missing In Turk Case, Trial Delayed

July 9th, 2005 | By Administrator

Federal Prosecutors in charge of the case against Tab “Turk” Virgil have been given until August 1st to come up with a key witness in their case against the former Cash Money “Hot Boy.”

The case was scheduled for trial this past Tuesday, but U.S attorneys asked for a delay because they couldn’t locate witness Sean Jackson.

Virgil’s attorney was opposed to the delay, noting that each day Turk remains in jail, his rap career slowly dwindles away.

“It’s speculative whether they can ever catch up with [Jackson]. He’s not coming forward as a willing witness,” Virgil?s attorney Jay Bailey told the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

On January 26, 2004, Turk and Sean Jackson were in a Memphis apartment when SWAT members raided the residence.

Allegedly, a shootout ensued in which one SWAT member was injured by gunfire. Turk was later cleared of other charges, when it was found a second officer was wounded from friendly fire.

Turk faces 1st degree attempted murder charges in state court in December. He is also facing charges of being a felon in possession of a handgun, a fugitive in possession of a handgun and other offenses.

The rapper is currently being held on $150,000 bond.

Master P. Ballin’ With The Sacramento Kings

July 8th, 2005 | By Administrator

Hip-Hop mogul Percy ?Master P.??? Miller was one of 17 players selected by the Sacramento Kings to participate in the 2005 Reebok Vegas Summer League (VSL) at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This is the first time the Kings have sent a team to the VSL, where Miller and the team will play five games in 10 days. 13 other NBA teams have teams in the VSL as well.

?The NBA is the highest level of basketball you can play on,??? Master P. explained to AllHipHop.com. ?A lot of guys make a lot of money playing, but I do it for the love. They are also starting to see that I work hard like any other player.???

Miller, who stands 6?4, has been tapped to play shooting guard for the Kings during the summer league.

?[Sacramento King guards] Cuttino Mobley, Mike Bibby, we have been playing together for years, every summer,??? Miller said. ?I learned a lot of the system from these guys.???

As a professional NBA athlete, Miller has played for the Charlotte Hornets, the Toronto Raptors, and a host of ABA, CBA and minor league basketball teams.

Before starting his venture into the music industry, Miller was a standout high school basketball student, who earned a full scholarship to the University of Houston.

An injury sidelined Miller, who then turned his attention to music, starting his No Limit empire.

?I?m from the hood and basketball saved my life and took me out of the hood,??? Miller said. ?To the kids, follow your dreams. You can be what you want to be. To come from the music industry to be able to compete on the professional level is amazing.???

Miller?s love for basketball has intertwined with his businesses as well. Miller and his son rapper/basketball player Lil? Romeo were the focus of a four part-mini series called ?The Team??? on TV network Nickelodeon.

The rapper coached the P. Miller Ballers attempt to snag the 14 & under AAU basketball championship.

Miller?s latest album Ghetto Bill: The Best Hustler in the Game recently hit stores and debuted at #1 on Billboard?s independent albums chart.

Baton Rouge Rapper Beelow Shot In Dispute

July 7th, 2005 | By Administrator

Beelow, a local rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is in the hospital after being shot in the head in a dispute over bootlegged CD?s.

Beelow, who worked with such artists as Juvenile, C-Murder and David Banner and opened for such acts as 8Ball & MJG, Master P, and Silkk the Shocker, was allegedly accused of selling bootleg CD?s and DVD?s during an argument yesterday (July 4) in front of a local store.

Police are exploring several leads, including the possibility that the assailant is linked to another Baton Rouge, Louisiana rapper, who recently inked a major label deal.

?An argument ensued between two men and one placed the gun to his head and shot him twice,??? Cpl. L’Jean McKneely Jr. told AllHipHop.com. Associates with Beelow returned fire during the altercation, police stated.

Beelow was taken to Earl K. Long Medical Center in a private automobile and police stated they expected him to survive.

McKneely did not release the names of the suspects, due to the pending investigation.

Sources told AllHipHop.com that in addition to Beelow?s altercation, several other figures associated with the bootlegging trade in the city were hospitalized.

?There was a meeting between record store owners, rappers and various councilmen a few months ago about the bootlegging problems in Louisiana,??? a source speaking under the condition of anonymity told AllHipHop.com. “It’s really serious.”

Beelow released four albums, 1999?s Ballin? 4 Billions, Ballaholic, Paperchasin and Same Game New Hustle.

He also released a popular DVD, Beelow Presents Thugz Gone Wild a “Ghetto Brawls” type DVD that featured brawls and fighting, which was distributed by Universal Music & Video Distribution (UMVD).

The illict music trade has turned into a global black market. A recent report stated that one out of every three CD?s sold world wide was pirated and artists are not compensated for those sales.

The same report revealed that fake recordings outsold legal recordings in 31 countries, raking up almost $5 billion in sales.

February 12th, 2004 | By Administrator