OLD BIDDY BEEF AT ITS BEST: ARETHA FRANKLIN BLASTS TINA TURNER FOR BLASTING HER IN A RECENT INTERVIEW.

Lawd, Tina done did it (again) now! Don't get me wrong, I respect my elders and whatnot, but let me find out Big 'Retha always has to have the last word...even if she does sound like a damn fool. Last week I posted excerpts taken from a recent Tina Turner interview in which Tina commented on a previous statement made by Aretha Franklin. Long story short: Aretha was pissed about Beyonce referring to Tina at the 'Queen' during their performance at this year's Grammy Awards. Not only did Aretha bitch about that then, but she's still bitching about it now to anyone who'll listen. (Read all about that here) Since then, Tina has responded to Aretha's statement by stating: "Her [Aretha] ego must be so big to think she was the only one. That's how queens are!" Now, Aretha has apparently felt the need to bitch back once again. In responding to a recent interview Aretha called herself calling out Tina for the second time. Peep what she had to say in a nicety way below:

“I have always appreciated what Tina Turner has to offer and had quietly cheered her on after Ike and her subsequent success. However, with respect to her statement concerning my ego (in saying, ‘Her ego must be so big to think she was the only one … that’s how queens are’) clearly she was talking about herself as she described herself as the ‘Queen of Rock’ and saying ‘that’s what Queens do’ — particularly since she does not have a clue as to who I am in view of the fact that we have never met. I never figured her to resort to tacky press just to sell a few tickets. I understand and I know that the concert market is down where ticket sales are concerned. I really had put her in a different class — higher than that. Finally, no one has been more gracious or complimentary to their peers than I have and I am confident and secure enough to do so, unlike some others. I wish Ms. Turner all the best, as I always have. Perhaps one day we will meet.”

Why the hate Re-Re? Why? If this ain't some geriatric beef, I don't know what is.
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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

IS TRICK DADDY A TATTLE-TELL? RAPPER DENIES ACCUSATIONS OF LEAKING PHOTOS OF RICK ROSS AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER.

I never posted any of the hoopla surrounding the allegations of Miami rapper Rick Ross (born William Leonard Roberts on January 21, 1977) having been a correctional officer despite his 'I'm So Hood' persona because quite frankly just reading about it and his beef with fellow Miami rapper Trick Daddy, gave me a headache the size of Rihanna and Tyra's foreheads combined. But in recent days more details have emerged in this debacle. Trick Daddy is now responding to the insinuations that he is responsible for the leaked photos depicting Ross as a former correctional officer. Trick says the rumors are just an attempt to create division within his city’s thriving Hip-Hop community. “We don’t deal with rap beef down here,” Trick told AllHipHop.com. “That’s not in our character. That’s not something we do. We’re the only city that ever gets compared to other people’s entire states. Whoever put my name in this is really attacking all of us.” During a recent interview with Rick Ross circulating on the internet, an interviewer inquired about an alleged rift between the former Slip-n-Slide label mates. During the clip, Ross is “informed” by the interviewer that “Trick Daddy accused [him] of working as a prison guard at one point.“ (watch clip here.

While Trick would not directly confirm any knowledge of the Def Jam rapper’s employment as a law enforcement officer, he did address the controversy. “So what if he [was],” Trick asked. “That just means he avoided something a lot of us in the hood haven’t, including me. I’m not proud of being an ex-con. Now that means I always got one foot in and one foot on a banana peel. I’m not proud of the things I did to land in that position.”

Below is the well-circulated pic(s) of William Leonard a.k.a. Rick Ross in his C.O. uniform. If you all saw the video of Rick roasting Trick for his latest drama, then he's really gonna hit the roof of his hood when he learns what the SmokingGun.com has dug up. It gets better. Just keep reading below the photo.

TheSmokingGun.com has obtained an additional 86 pages of Ross’ personnel file from the DoC of his 18-month employment as a corrections officer in the mid-90s. Included documentation ranges from Ross’ employment application and finger print card proving his clean criminal background to signed agreement forms where he promised to “shoot an inmate attempting to escape.” Also found in the reports are his loyalty oath, payroll information, and a Certificate of Appreciation that he received due to his perfect attendance record. Dude was one of those get-to-work on time brothers! The Smoking Gun recently confirmed that Ross worked as a prison guard from December 1995 until June 1997 at the South Florida Reception Center in Dade County, despite denials by the rapper. He was reportedly earning a salary of $25,794.34 upon his departure.

AFTER THE JUMP, TRICK DISHES ON HIS ALLEGED BEEF WITH ROSS.
Despite having seen Ross’s heated response to the question, Trick maintains that there is no bad blood between the frequent collaborators, who spoke as recently as this week. “I told Ross he needs to have better people around him. He needs better publicists, so that he can avoid even being asked those type of funny questions. I been in this game for thirteen years, and anybody who’s ever listened to my music knows Trick Daddy is very smart. I know when somebody’s trying to use me and pull me into some s**t. But the people doing this need to understand what their words can do too. When you start talking about beef, and creating [situations] between people from the same hood, you gotta realize that that beef s**t can end with one man in jail and another man gone.”

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

SHAQ'S DISS RAP IS NOW A (FREE) RINGTONE; KOBE RESPONDS.

A mobile entertainment company is offering free ringtones of Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal rapping, "Kobe, tell me how my a** tastes?" from his recent freestyle rhyme that has since become a YouTube sensation. FunMobility says it's providing Shaq's original rap as a free download, as well as a premium ringtone mashup of the original rap and a JibJab-style animation with the mashup soundtrack. The infamous freestyle took place on June 22 at a nightclub in New York. Shaq, who won a championship with Miami in 2006, was poking fun at his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant, who has not gotten a ring since Shaq was traded in 2004. In the freestyle, Shaq raps, "You know how I be, last week Kobe couldn't do without me." He also attacks Kobe for "ratting" him out and causing his divorce. The NBA star goes on to repeatedly rap, "Kobe, tell me how my a** tastes," even getting the crowd to repeat the lyrics. (WATCH VIDEO HERE. The Shaq rap ringtones can be downloaded for free now at www.FunMo.com.

As for Kobe, well he's sort of refusing to comment on Shaq's obscenity-laced rhyme free-styled in his honor. "I didn't take it any kind of way whatsoever," Bryant told the Los Angeles Times

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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LIL WAYNE TO REV. AL SHARPTON: 'YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER DON KING WITH A PERM.'

Rapper Lil Wayne has lashed out at civil rights leader Revered Al Sharpton in the lyrics to a new song, branding the minister a "nobody". On the track Misunderstood from his new album Tha Carter III, the Lollipop hitmaker takes aim at the race activist, rapping: "You are nobody to me/You're just another Don King (boxing promoter) with a perm/Just a little more political/And that just means you a little more un-human/Than us humans.../F**k Al Sharpton and anyone like him."

But Sharpton insists he takes no offense to the slur, reported by AllHipHop.com - because he claims Lil Wayne has no credibility as a musician. He says, "While some of the rappers don't like the fact that Rev. Sharpton has been leading marches against the degradation of women in music, a Gallup (opinion) poll released last week revealed that Reverend Sharpton has a 50 percent approval rate among African-Americans. So why dignify a response to one rap artist who doesn't even say anything substantive?"
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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LIL KIM FANS CREATE PETITION FOR A RECAST OF THE RAPPER'S ROLE IN NEW BIGGIE SMALLS BIO-PIC.

There's a petition posted on the Internet that collects signatures in an effort to get actress Naturi Naughton removed from her role as Lil Kim in the upcoming feature film about rapper The Notorious B.I.G. The petition from an unknown fan states: "Myself along with others feel the casting for the role was not given enough thought and consideration and should definitely give more suitable actresses the chance to apply for it. We are outraged!!!" Naughton was a member of the R&B trio 3LW.

Depending on who you ask, the singer removed herself from the group before the release of the group's sophomore album A Girl Can Mack. Naughton made alleged she had a number of conflicts and arguments with her band mates Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams as well as their manager. Naughton later claimed she was forced out of the group. The singer can also be seen dancing, prancing and singing in a new anti-smoking commercial for thetruth.com.

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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LL COOL J. CONTINUES TO PORTRAY BITCHASSNESS TENDENCIES TOWARD HIS FORMER BOSS, JAY-Z; CALLS HIS FANS 'HATERS'.

It looks as though LL Cool J still can't manage to keep his piehole shut and let bygones be bygones. The rapper has stirred up more trouble with his former record label boss, Jay-Z, by insisting the departing Def Jam president failed his artists. The rap veteran has one more Def Jam release on his contract before he quits the label too. But, before he leaves, he's keen to let the industry know what he thinks about the 99 Problems hitmaker. Speaking out about the music mogul in Sister 2 Sister magazine, LL Cool J says, "It's been a great business for him, but it has been not so great for a lot of the artists that were there (at Def Jam) previously. We have to be very careful when we talk about it because, for some strange reason, his fans... start thinking, like, you're hating when you're just being real."

LL Cool J (real name James Todd Smith) also suggests Jay-Z was only given the Def Jam top job because the label's top executives wanted "to show the world that they still cared about hip-hop and they felt like giving him the job would show the world that." Jay-Z quit his post as president of Def Jam Records in December (07) and was alleged to be planning to start his own venture on another label.

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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

IN TODAY'S 'THIS NIGGAH, HERE!' NEWS: R. KELLY'S DISS TRACK 'I'M A BEAST.'

A couple of people have brought out the bitch in R. Kelly and now he's been forced to bring his bitch and moan campaign to the forefront in the form of a new diss track titled, I'm a Beast (and a Chester Molester). No doubt the man has a lot of anger built up that he’s finally released. And listening to the track, it could easily be noted that Kelly is going hard at a few people with his rapping and singing. Who he has in the cross hairs, is up for grabs. Speculation has been running rampant over who is in fact being targeted by the song since it hit the net on Monday (March 3).

The singer doesn’t name names, but with lines like "Why I gotta hate on you?/ Look at me, I'm rich, boy/You need a steering wheel the you riding my d***, boy," it could be said that he may be talking about Ne-Yo. The two are currently involved in a war of words over Ne-Yo’s dismissal from Kells’ Double Up Tour. Kelly claims the dismissal was contract related, while Ne-Yo maintains that jealousy over his crowd reaction was the primary factor.

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY + LISTEN TO DISS TRACK AFTER THE JUMP!

Kells doesn’t stop there as he seems to still harbor ill will for a certain former Def Jam President. It’s no secret that Jay-Z hasn’t been on Kelly’s Christmas list for quite some time. Add to that a line that states "Say you's a 'go getta'/Go get your own s***, boy," you could easily throw Young Jeezy in the mix. But since their collaboration Go Getta was a certified hit, what sense would it make for the Grammy winner to vent on or any of the possible targets. You could even say that Kelly is talking about Regina and George Daniels, former good friends and business associates who are now warring with the man over his relationship with their young daughter.

Truth is, no one knows who the person or persons are that Kelly is blasting. Maybe the names will be revealed on a remix to the song. After, all he did joke about doing that at the end of I’m a Beast.

Listen to 'I'M A BEAST.'

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

DID JA RULE STRAIGHT DISS ASHANTI ON HIS 'JUDAS' RECORD?

Does Ashanti still hold the title as Murder Inc.'s Princess? The singer opted not to work with Irv Gotti, The Inc.'s H.B.M.I.C. (Head Beige Man In Charge) or any other artist on the label...including Ja Rule on her new album, The Declaration. And maybe that's one of the reasons why her album has been pushed back more than Ne-Yo's hairline. If anyone know the release date, feel free to share it. Anyhoo, in a recent interview with Murder Inc. Online Ja Rule opens up about his new record Judas. And the things he had to say about Ashanti on that record could easily lead anyone to believe that their relationship, business and personal, ain't all good. On one verse, Ja raps:

"Dear Judas.. or should I say Juda?/I wanna' say I'll miss you but that may be a lie and I can't lie to myself too much self pride/I could lie to anyone else at times even god/Now you claim heartbreak and emotional scars, but I say you was getting while it was good until it's gone/But you of all people should know my life's gon' turn off/And this is my sitcom and your just a spin-off/And I don't mean to be hard, but sister your loss/It really hurt when you said you can't throw any M's up baby 'cause it's hurting your image/Really?/Have you looked at your self lately?/If not, then look a little clearly and tell me what you see/And if you're proud of what you saw 'cause who you are is Judas."

So, what's up with that? Peep the small excerpt from Ja's Murder Online interview where Ja 'explains' why he said what he said.

MIO: So let’s talk about ‘Judas’ for a minute, because the talk that record is getting is incredible.
Ja Rule: ‘Judas’ is a great record, it’s my passion, it’s what I wanted to say. I don’t want you to take the record the wrong way, it’s not a diss record, it’s a tough love record. Sometimes you say these things to people you love that may sound harsh to the ear but in essence it’s really a wake up for them so that’s what ‘Judas’ is really about.

MIO: So Ashanti’s still the Princess?
Ja Rule: Ashanti’s still the Princess, that’s still my sister, I still love her. Its just certain things that went on in that time, it was kind of hurtful to me so I expressed it through song.

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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

AUDIO LINK: DANITY KANE ON MISS JONES MORNING SHOW: 'KEYSHIA COLE CAN'T SING....AND SHE'S A BITCH!'

Sounds like Keyshia Cole has gained five more haters in the form of Diddy's platinum-selling girl group, Danity Kane. The girls recently made an appearance on Miss Jones Morning Show and didn't have a problem letting listeners know that not only can they not stand Cole, but that she's also a 'bitch.' Now, we all have heard just how much of a bitch Keyshia can be--onstage and off and how her attitude is reminiscent of Mary J. Blige when she first hit the scene back in 1992. And as Keyshia's voice, who can forget that God-awful live rendition of His Eye Is on the Sparrow (LISTEN HERE) that she attempted to perform (after being put on the spot and asked to sing at the last minute) last Easter Sunday at the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California.

One must wonder how Diddy, who collaborated with Keyshia on his hit single, Last Night, feels about this statement. If Danity Kane is making claims that Keyshia can't sing, then what does that say about their boss' taste in R&B singers? Shit, what does it say about them since Diddy was the one who created them? While I'm pretty sure Keyshia isn't nowhere near worried about what five little girls--whose voices haven't been up to par from the very beginning and who only has one platinum album up under their belts--have to say about her, still doesn't change the fact that what they said over the airwaves was very unprofessional. I'd expect this kind of behavior from King Kong a.k.a. 50 Cent and Lil 'Weeded Out' Weezy. Until now, I considered those girls as classy women...with the exception of that Audrey girl...

You can listen to Danity Kane's interview with Miss Jones by clicking (RIGHT HERE)

Shout out to LETITGO for sharing the audio! Thanks!

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READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

MAN ACCUSED OF HOLDING LIL WAYNE HOSTAGE EXPLAINS HIS VERSION OF EVENTS; LIL WAYNE DENIES RUMORS.

One day Lil Wayne is gonna mess around and screw over the wrong person and get the crack slapped off of his lil petite ass. He gon learn, though.

Rumors of Lil Wayne and his manager Cortez Bryant being held hostage by a Chicago-based promotions company looking to settle a money dispute are not true, Bryant tells Allhihpop.com. Reports suggested that members of Wayne's crew and security staff were assaulted and held against their will on Dec. 29 by Ming's Dynasty Records and The Ark Entertainment until the artist returned their two previous payments to him for concerts that he never performed. Following Wayne's Dec. 29th performance at Chicago's Premier Entertainment Center, Wayne also reportedly failed to show up at an after party thrown by the same promoters, which resulted in the alleged hostage situation. "That is just a rumor," Lil Wayne's manager Cortez Bryant told AllHipHop.com. "We are on the road grinding. We are on the way to Minneapolis for a show tomorrow. We never got held hostage at all."

Big Ming, CEO of Ming's Dynasty Records, explained to AllHipHop.com his version of events, stating the dispute dates back to several Lil Wayne no-shows last summer. Ming said: "We paid Lil Wayne to do an after party, along with Ark Entertainment. Ming's Dynasty Records did the Chicago Summer Jam. Lil Wayne was the headliner, along with Jeezy, Fat Joe, Yung Buck, and Fabolous, at the Allstate Arena. He didn't make it to the after party; we gave him $15Gs and he didn’t make it." According to Ming, after several failed attempts to collect a refund on the payment, he made the decision to arrange another after party appearance, when he booked Wayne for the Dec. 29 event. "Since Lil Wayne’s so hot right now, they wanted another $7500," Ming explained...

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY AFTER THE JUMP!

"But he didn't make this after party either. So basically, at this point it's two after parties missed, that they got paid to perform in August. And now here it is, almost the 1st of January. So you know, just like any consumer, I paid for a service, I didn't get the service. So I wanted a refund. The thing is, I realize how hard it is to catch these guys once they leave Chicago. So representatives from Ming’s Dynasty Records and The Ark Entertainment just went to his hotel and just requested the money. So, they came up with the money. So it was all good. It was just a situation where I didn't wanna try it again, I didn't wanna try to fix it again, because the same thing [would've] happened again."

Ming denies that he and his crew held Lil Wayne and Cortez hostage, but he said things did get a bit tense inside of the hotel room.

"Nobody really got roughed up or nothing like that," Ming said. "I mean, Wayne made over $200,000 [with] Ming's Dynasty Records over the last months. So I would think we got a good relationship, we can [continue to] have a good relationship. I hope they understand that it’s just business."

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

RAZ B. RETRACTS HIS STATEMENT; MEETS WITH CHRIS STOKES FOR PAY OFF & TO SQUASH BEEF?; WILL DR. PHIL BECOME INVOLVED?

My head hurts. I can't stop sneezing and my eyes are constantly watering. If I didn't know any better, I'd say my symptoms are due to allergies. Yeah, that's it. I've become allergic to bullsh!t and other things that just don't make any sense. Case in point: Raz B.'s retraction video which was posted yesterday on youtube. It looks like Chris Stokes still has the upper hand when it comes to getting these boys (and even grown ass men) to do what he wants them to do. Well, it's too late. Your dirty laundry has been exposed.

Anywhoo, in the video Raz B (without ever looking straight in the camera) said, 'I would like to send a public apology for some tapes that were leaked without my authority ... I just wanna say that those allegations are not true ... with Chris Stokes and Marques Houston. And I apologize for any hurt that this may (have) caused ... publicly, financially ..." [WATCH VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP!]

My allergies kicked into overdrive, when just a couple of days ago, another source said Raz B. and Chris met (since the release of the infamous videos) and agreed to squash their beef ONLY if Raz made a PUBLIC APOLOGY/RETRACTION (hence, the apology video) denying his prior allegations against Chris. Overall, it was Chris' intentions that this apology video would hit the Internet by this morning before making its rounds to various websites and messageboards...which it did. He also wanted Raz B. to visit local radio stations to make more public apologies. I guess he figured he'd cover all of his bases in making sure that those who don't have access to a computer would hear Raz's literally unbelievable apologies via the radio. In Raz's defense, phone calls have reportedly been made to The Dr. Phil Show regarding this incident. And yall know Dr. Phil don't play when it come to the kids.

**Oh, and I saved the best for last! This is what really put the lid on the jar...if it's proven to be true. According to the source, Chris reportedly wrote Raz B. a check to cover any of Raz's immediate financial issues; again, hence the apology video. Would anyone like to explain to me why a person would write a check to someone just days AFTER this person has publicly accused you of sexual molestation? Talk about incrimination. I swear, the higher a monkey climb, the more his ass shows.

See what I mean when I say I'm allergic to bullshit and things that don't make any sense? I mean really! I am too through with this entire situation.

AFTER THE JUMP, YOU CAN READ STOKES' OFFICIAL STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO RAZ B.'S RETRACTION.

Chris Stokes felt compelled to release an official statement regarding Raz B.'s retraction statement/apology video. Damn, my head is killing me! LOL!

Here it is: ”I’m happy that Demario “Raz B” Thorton and Ricardo Thorton realized their mistakes and admitted to lying. I have always supported my family and have always been a stand up person. I knew that the truth would eventually come to light.”

Needless to say--and for those who care--the above statement was made after Stokes' voiced part 2 of his original official statement (via MTV) where he denied the allegations made against him. He said, "All the allegations they made are false. I'm not gay. And I'm married. And I have four kids. I've been with my wife for 16 years. And I'm not a child molester. So those are all false allegations. I'm gonna sue them. And I owe that to my wife and kids, period. It's ridiculous."

FYI: Before Raz B. uploaded and posted his apology video, his business partner, Kevin Sullivan, told MTV News that the singer wasn't ready to elaborate on his video allegations, BUT he was meeting with lawyers and preparing a statement which will hopefully help explain his claims. Sullivan said, "With something of this magnitude, you always look at what the best time is [to talk about it,] and he felt compelled ... that this has built up.[He was saying,] 'I'm tired, this is my story.' It's something that's spiritual, and God says now is the time."

** Shout out to AJL at LSA for the additional information!

Below you'll find Raz B.'s apology video.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

OMARION STOKES THE CHRIS STOKES VS. RAZ-B DRAMA BY RELEASING STATEMENT CALLING RAZ-B A LIAR.

Didn't I say in an earlier post that this 'Chris Stokes is an alleged Chester Molester' saga was far from over? Below you all will find an offiicial statement from former B2K member Omarion Grandberry regarding the accusations against Chris Stokes--a man he considers his friend, mentor and father figure--which were made by another former B2K, Demario "Raz B" Thorton and his brother Ricardo Thorton.

"I want to be on the record as saying that "Raz B" Thorton and Ricardo Thorton are lying regarding Chris Stokes. Chris is a father figure to myself, and many others in the industry. He's guided us, helped raised us and is nothing more than an inspiration and someone I respect and look up to. I have spent countless hours, days, weeks and months with the man since the age of 5 and have never once seen him behave inappropriately. He's married to my aunt and I know this man very well. I stand behind him with no question whatsoever," said Omarion. "I have grown up around Chris and this is crazy to me. These people have damaged me, and my reputation and I won't stand silent and will do all within my means to speak the truth about this matter," said Omarion.

SOURCE: prnewswire.com

And it don't stop. Now all we have to do now is wait for Marques Houston to release his official statement.

...END POST...

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LIL KIM'S EX-BOYFRIEND COULD FACE THE LETHAL NEEDLE IF CONVINCTED ON CONSPIRACY TO MURDER CHARGE.

Damion "World" Hardy, the 33-year-old ex-boyfriend of rapper Lil' Kim, faces death by lethal injection if found guilty of ordering the execution of a rival that also took the life of an innocent bystander. The alleged hit man, Eric (E-Bay) Moore, also faces the federal death penalty for the Aug. 10, 2000, slaying of Ivory Davis, who was shot twice as he sat in his car outside New York's Club NV at Hudson and Spring Sts, reports the New York Daily News. Davis, mortally wounded, drove off and fatally struck a pedestrian, Swedish filmmaker, Johan Camitz.

Hardy, the reputed leader of a murderous drug crew called Cash Money Brothers, served time for shooting at narcotics cops in Brooklyn and was a notorious presence at the Lafayette Gardens projects in Bedford Stuyvesant, where his crew controlled the drug trade, law enforcement officials said. In 2003, cops said he confronted rapper 50 Cent in a New Jersey hotel parking lot, sparking a shootout after the rapper dissed Lil' Kim on the radio. A lawyer for Hardy claims he has since undergone a religious conversion, legally changing his name to Isa Ibn Jibril. He is also mentally ill, the lawyer said. Last week, a federal judge ordered Hardy to undergo a psychiatric exam to determine if he is competent to stand trial on federal racketeering and murder charges.

"I am the Christ. I am the Messiah," Hardy ranted in court in 2004 after he was arrested at JFK Airport as he returned from a religious pilgrimage in the Middle East. "Do not be the one to go against the law," he went on. "Adhere to the law's command before I give you warning. A day that is drawing near. A day of grief and regrets. Boiling water will be poured over your heads."

READ MORE OF THIS STORY AFTER THE JUMP!

Hardy and Lil' Kim once lived together in her New Jersey mansion, reports the Daily News. He drove around in a Land Rover that she gave him and the couple was believed to be engaged, a law enforcement source said. Defense lawyer David Ruhnke refused to say if Lil' Kim would be asked to testify at the penalty phase of the trial if Hardy is convicted.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

RAPPER LIL MAMA LOOSES HER MAMA TO CANCER.; AUDIO LINK OF YOUNG B. DIS SONG TO LIL MAMA.

18-year old rapper Lil Mama (real name Niatia Jessica Kirkland) holiday season may be a little bleak this year. The petite Brooklyn native lost her mother, Tyra Kirkland on December 15th after a four year battle with cancer. Just like Kanye West, Lil Mama (a stage name given to the star by her mother) also learned of her mother's passing during a tour stop in Atlanta, Georgia. According to sources, upon receiving the devastating news, the rapper flew back home to New York to be with her seven brothers and sisters.

My prayers and condolences goes out to Lil Mama and her family. I really feel for her. To be only 18-years old and loosing your mother while you're out on the road has got to be a feeling no one ever wants to experience. This is why I thank God everyday for allowing me and my baby sister to be by my father's bedside as he passed on. I cringe at the very thought of anyone who leaves this world with no one by their side.

In other Lil Mama news, now I know I've been out of the loop for the past several days, so imagine my surprise upon hearing rumors of Lil Mama's beef with The Chicken Noodle Soup girl who goes by the name Young B. Where the hell did she come from?! I thought her 15 minutes of fame expired over a year ago?! Therefore, thus and such, I ain't even gon wake it up to entertain it. However, I will say the sound of Young B.'s voice makes my ass itch. And that's real talk too. She sounds like a ghetto version of Minnie Mouse. And that is not the business. Now, for those who are interested, here's the audio link of Young B.'s answer to whatever it was that Lil Mama said to her or about her; I don't feel like going to look for what ever it was that started this whole mess to begin with...especially after I just said I wasn't going to entertain this! Damn!

Lil Mama's first single, Lip Gloss, (from her debut album Voice of the Young People) dropped earlier this year and quickly became a nationwide hit, thanks in part to the accompanying dance of the same name. It peaked at no. 10 on Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and spawned a remix with Miami rapper Trina.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

REAL OR RUMOR: JA RULE AND IRV GOTTI GOT BEEF?

Rapper Ja Rule has laughed off reports of a rift between the star and his The Inc. label co-founder Irv Gotti, insisting they are "brothers". The Always On Time hitmaker is alleged to be "furious" with Gotti - real name Irving Lorenzo Jr. - because the rap mogul had pushed back Ja's new album, The Mirror, twice from its original release date of 18 September (07). And the hip-hop star - born Jeffrey Atkins - is reportedly angry at Lorenzo for deeming the current tracks on the album too weak, according to the New York Post's gossip column PageSix.

A source says, "Ja is mad because Irv pushed his new record, The Mirror, back again to some time in 2008. Irv tried to release two singles - Uh-Oh and Body - and they got no radio play, so he got nervous. The album was supposed to come out September 18 and was pushed back to November 13 and now has no date except 2008. Irv wants Ja to record over the holidays and Ja feels he's done enough. He's furious."

But a representative for Atkins has denied the pair is at war. Spokeswoman Kim Harris says, "That's not true. They get along very well. They're brothers. (The album) will likely come out in February (08). Ja's going back in the studio to do a couple more tracks. It was a mutual decision."

...END POST...

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

LL COOL J. GIVES HIS NEW BFF, 50 CENT, PROPS FOR HELPING HIM 'GET HIS MOJO BACK.' MMMMM-HMMMM.

Three words: He gon learn.

Rap veteran LL Cool J. has thanked 50 Cent for helping him "get his mojo back". The star - real name James Todd Smith III - insists he was shocked when the New York rapper - real name Curtis Jackson - called him up to offer some constructive criticism on 2006 LP Todd Smith. But LL Cool J remains adamant the advice helped him get back on track - and even inspired him to hire 50 Cent as co-producer on new album Exit 13 which is set for release in 2008.

He tells MTV.com, "It's an incredible feeling. And you know what? I have to give 50 props for that. If a guy calls you on the phone and says, 'You know what? Your last record was kinda slow and this was a little weak.' It was like, 'Yo, I just thought the record was slow, man, don't mess my LL up.' "It's great. I don't mind having a conversation with a guy who seems to have his finger on the pulse and having a conversation with him and talking with him and seeing if he can push me a little bit and get my mojo back. I didn't feel I fell off, but I felt I was a little bit out of touch with the things I should be thinking about."

Just three months ago, LL had pledged his everlasting love and loyalty to 50 Cent during his chart battle with Kanye West, insisting he planned to buy 10 copies of 50's new album...(i can't remember the title of the album, nor do I feel like looking it up) to ensure he succeeded in beating out West. At the time, LL told the New York Daily News, "I've heard some of Fifty's music, and I'm rooting for him. He's my man and I'm gonna ride with him. Nothing against Kanye, but I'm a team player. This is New York, everybody better be rooting for Fifty."

Man, please.

Oh, well. In the end, that publicity stunt (or not) turned into a a 'too bad, so sad' situation for Curtis...(oh, wait, that's the title of his album! LOL! anywhoo...) since Kanye outsold his ass something proper-like.

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FMR. 'MAKING THE BAND' CHOREOGRAPHER, LAURIE ANN GIBSON A.K.A. 'BOOM, BOOM, CAT': ON WHY SHE'LL NEVER WORK WITH DIDDY AGAIN.

Why anyone would still want to be associated with Puff the Buck Tooth Dragon as far as their career is concerned is something I don't think I'll ever understand.

Dude drops loads of the number 2 on everyone who has EVER worked with him. When was the last time we heard anything from Danity Kane? Yung Jock? That boy band of brothers, B5 a.k.a. 5 Beige Brothers? That Cheri Dennis girl whose been on Bad Boy's roster for damn near a decade? And what about them dudes who just made the band? Tsk, tsk, tsk. And what the hell was Michael Bivins thinking when he agreed to hop onto Diddy's dragon tail? He shitted on New Edition on some real bottomfeeder-type madness. Anywhoo...

Choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson is moving on from the disastrous turn of events that led to her firing from Diddy's MTV series Making the Band. In a candid interview with New York magazine, Gibson says she will never work as a choreographer with the rap mogul again because of his supersized self-image. "The problem was definitely P. Diddy and working with his ego," she explained. "It was really him that gave me trouble because he couldn't really understand that at certain points [the process] was difficult and hostile. I mean, the girls were amazing and the boys were not the problem. They were hard workers, and the show was definitely edited at times. It's debatable, but a lot of people know that's what it takes as a dancer."

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Gibson was fired by Diddy following a heated argument that resulted in the dancer filing a complaint against her famous boss with the NYPD. The altercation, shown on an episode last season, stemmed from Gibson's frustration over not being allowed the proper time to choreograph routines. In previous public statements, Gibson claimed the argument escalated to a point where guest judge Michael Bivins allegedly grabbed her while Diddy picked up a chair and made a threatening move toward her. She says she broke free from Bivens and tried to run, but was grabbed by the New Edition vet again before finally managing to escape for good.

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KANYE COMES CLEAN; RAPPER SAYS BEEF WITH THE GOR-REE-RAH a.k.a 50 CENT WAS JUST A PUBLICITY STUNT.

Well touch me in the morning, then just walk away. Who would have ever thought Kanye would once again tell us something we already knew?

Kanye West has revealed his chart battle with rap rival 50 Cent was a publicity stunt he dreamed up to sell records. The pair went head to head in September (07) when both of their albums were released on the same day. West won after a frenzied media battle he now claims he created.

The multi-platinum hitmaker comes clean to GQ (December '07 issue) magazine, stating, "It was a complete publicity stunt. It was my idea. I knew it was going to take off as soon as we were going to come out on the same date. Think about it - you got the two biggest shit-talkers in rap history. There's no-one in rap history known for talking more shit than me and 50. That's something I will stand on." He adds of 50 Cent's vow to retire if he lost the battle: "Oh man, he sold so many more records by saying that. Man, 50 is really one of my favorite rappers, too. I almost feel bad (about beating him)." Although, West hammered 50 with sales in the U.S., it was 50 sold more albums worldwide than his play-play rival.

Also in the cover story, West, who GQ magazine has named as one of their 2007 Men of the Year, does not discuss the sudden tragic passing of his mother Donda in the article, but he does speak on his impending marriage to designer Alexis Phifer. “I’m just going to go and get married — I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. It’s not to prove anything to anyone — it’s for me, for stability in my life, and I’m so happy that I found someone that I really love, that challenges me, that keeps my life interesting, that’s just as crazy as I am.”

The issue hits newsstands on November 27.

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JA RULE & THE GAME TO TEAM UP ON EACH OTHER'S NEW ALBUMS

With his first new album in nearly four years, Ja Rule was expected to return with The Mirror in September, but it looks like fans will have to wait a little longer -- because it's release date has been pushed back. Now slated for sometime in November, the album's first leaked single was the Lil Wayne assisted Uh Oh, which has already leaked to the net, and according to Rolling Stone, the Rule also has a collaboration with former G-Unit soldier-turned-arch-rival The Game on a track called Sunset. The Game first reached out to Ja for his One Blood remix last year, and now Ja Rule hollered right back. "I don't think people were expecting that," Ja Rule told the magazine about linking up with the West Coast rapper. "But we got a hot record on the album." Will he take shots at 50 this time around? Afterall, many feel 50 Cent ruined Ja's career. Ja says "no." "The whole industry is so focused on beefin' with each other -- it's like the WWF of rap right now," Ja said. "I'm stepping out of the arena. I don't want to be a wrestlin' rapper. Somebody's got to come in and make it positive. You have to make records that make people feel like having a good time."

According to the rapper, his album is focused on expressing himself through feel-good music, but there is also a serious side to the album -- the album's cover being an actual mirror representing the introspective nature of the album. "This record is like my confessions, I'm shedding my skins," he says. "The mirror is your only real moment of truth. It's the place where everybody can go and be honest with themselves."

The Mirror is scheduled to for release in November 13 on Mpire/Murder Inc./ Universal Motown Records.

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