COMMUNITY GROUP OF BLACK MEN PLEDGE TO BOYCOTT R. KELLY UNTIL HE PUBLICLY APOLOGIZES FOR HIS LIL-GIRL-LOVING BEHAVIOR.

Am I the only one who isn't surprised that we haven't heard a peep from Chester Molester a.k.a. R. Kelly since his acquittal of child pornography charges a couple of months ago? Maybe he figured if he stayed behind closed doors long enough folks would soon forget about him and his little-girl-loving ways. Well, there's one particular community group who refuses to let Kelly and anyone else forget about those allegations brought against him. According to The Daily Swarm, a group of 19 male professors, writers and activists in the African-American community – including New York congressional candidate Kevin Powell – are calling themselves “Black Men Against the Exploitation of Black Women” and are urging people to “make a personal pledge to never support R. Kelly again in any form or fashion unless he publicly apologizes for his behavior and gets help for his long-standing sexual conduct in his private life and in his music.”

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In the meanwhile and in between time, there are rumblings that R. Kelly is trying to leave his longtime label Jive and sign with Universal's Interscope. His new album, titled 12 Play: Fourth Quarter, is the fourth installment of the 12 Play series and will be released soon on Jive, but his management team has been seeking a new and more lucrative deal for future releases, and they’ve approached several other companies, including Interscope, reports The Business Sheet.

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T.I. ON HIS ILLEGAL WEAPONS ARREST: 'I MUST BE A MAN AND STAND UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY....THERE'S NOTHING COOL ABOUT GOING TO JAIL.'

Rapper T.I. blames fear for the safety of his family and his own life for his arrest on illegal weapons charges last year. T.I. - real name Clifford Harris - was arrested while allegedly attempting to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers just hours before he was set to take the stage at the BET Hip Hop Awards last October (07). The 27-year-old rapper took a plea deal in March (2008) and was sentenced to one year in prison and a minimum of 1,000 hours of community service. He told BET's Access Granted on Wednesday (May 7, 2008), "You can't assume everyone out there likes you, so it's easy to get caught up in paranoia." The rapper admits his conviction has changed his outlook on life, and has now adopted an anti-weapons stance.

He adds, "I must be a man and stand up and accept responsibility. I can't talk about guns and drugs as elaborately because they're not part of my life anymore. If you think guns, drugs and violence are cool, I think you are definitely missing the point... There's nothing cool about going to jail."
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REMY MA TO GET WIFE'D UP BEHIND BARS; RAPPER'S BOO, PAPOOSE, ASKS FANS FOR SUPPORT.

Wanna know what unconditional, true hood love looks like? If so, take a close look (if your ass can stand it) at rapper Remy Ma--who was found guilty on two counts of assault and is currently being held in prison until her April 13 sentencing--and her soon-to-hubby rapper Papoose. On Friday, Papoose confirmed to MTV News that he and Remy are, in fact, a couple and had plans to marry next month. Pap also revealed he and his imprisoned wifey are moving forward with their nuptials despite Ma's predicament and are making arrangements to marry in prison. "We always wanted to keep our personal lives personal, so that's why we never went public with our relationship," he wrote in an e-mail to MTV News. "Right now, I just feel like she gotta live through me. Yes, we were scheduled to be married on a yacht April 27th. But due to circumstances beyond our control, we are now making arrangements to be married in prison."Papoose closed his message by reiterating that Remy Ma would be appealing her case. He also asked for fans to write letters on her behalf, perhaps for a petition to the judge. Remy Ma is scheduled to be sentenced April 23.

"All her supporters who feel Remy had an influence on their life should write a short letter to the judge asking for the shortest sentence possible," he wrote. "Send it to LettersForRemy@gmail.com." Earlier this week, in an interview with MTV News prior to Remy Ma's conviction, Papoose declined to comment on her pending case. He explained that the two were friends. With the recent turn of events, the rapper felt it was time to reveal their relationship.

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The couple rebutted rumors earlier in the year when New York radio personality Egypt reported that the two would wed. The next day, Papoose told media outlets the reports were false. He shied away from the relationship question in spite of the affection he showed the former Terror Squad star in lyrics. "Remy look good in person, just like she do in the magazines/ So I'mma stay close to Miss Martin like Dr. King," he spit on "Bonnie N Clyde," a mixtape collaboration between the two. The pair also filmed an online video clip of them sparring when Papoose was embroiled in a lyrical slugfest with Remy Ma's former mentor, Fat Joe.

Remy's charges stem from an incident last July when the rapper and Makeda Barnes-Joseph argued after leaving a mutual acquaintance's birthday party. Remy Ma (real name: Reminisce Smith) alleged Barnes-Joseph stole several thousand dollars from her purse that night; Barnes-Joseph was shot after the two struggled in her car. Remy Ma fled the scene in an SUV but crashed nearby. Neither the money nor the weapon have been found.

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RAPPER REMY MA LEAVES COURTROOM 'WAILING' AND 'OPENLY SOBBING' AFTER BEING FOUND GIULITY ON 2 CHARGES OF ASSAULT.

Maybe if Remy Ma had attended Easter Sunday services with T.I. in Atlanta earlier this week, she wouldn't have been seen letting her 'I'm So Hood' guard down before 'wailing loudly' and openly sobbing after being found guilty on two charges of assault Thursday (3.27.2008) in a Manhattan Supreme Court room. According to MTV News, the 26-year-old rapper faces up o 25 years if convicted on both counts. The charges stem from an incident that occurred last July when the rapper and Makeda Barnes-Joseph argued after leaving a mutual acquaintance's birthday party. Remy Ma alleged Barnes-Joseph stole several thousand dollars from her purse that night; Barnes-Joseph was shot after the two struggled in her car. Remy Ma fled the scene in an SUV but crashed nearby. Neither the money nor the weapon have been found. Charges of tampering and gang assault, related to the case, were thrown out, the rapper's attorney, Ivan Fisher, told MTV News on Thursday. Sentencing for the case is scheduled for April 22. Fisher intends to file an appeal for his client immediately. "The jury acquitted the second half of the indictment," he said, referring to the tampering and intimidation charges. "That will help the appeal because that evidence, those charges, shouldn't have been in the case to begin with. And there are other issues we think may turn the conviction around." However, he conceded, "It's a bad day."

The back-and-forth in the case has been contentious from the beginning. During the opening arguments, Fisher characterized Barnes-Joseph as a celebrity groupie. He told the jury Barnes-Joseph was misrepresenting events in an effort to win a big financial payoff. She filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against the rapper but later withdrew it, according to Fisher.

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Prosecutors attempted to paint Remy Ma as a gun-toting intimidator. Assistant District Attorney Jason Berland told jurors the rapper was calculating and bullying, citing an August incident during which a group of men allegedly close to Remy Ma assaulted Barnes-Joseph's boyfriend and broke his nose. Charges were brought against the rapper for intimidation but were thrown out in the conviction. Prosecutors also noted the gun Remy Ma carried was loaded with hollow-point bullets, intended to severely cause injury.

From the beginning the former Terror Squad rapper maintained her innocence, telling a group of reporters at her New Jersey home shortly after the incident that she did not shoot her friend. During closing remarks, however, her attorney conceded his client did in fact shoot Barnes-Joseph, but labeled it an accident. Fisher told jurors the weapon went off while the two women struggled with each other during their argument.

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T.I. PLEADS GUILTY ON FIREARM CHARGES; WILL SERVE PRISON TIME.

I guees all that praying T.I. did on Easter Sunday really paid off. Dude should praise God on a daily basis because things could have turned out much worse for T.I. than they already have. Ol boy was looking at football numbers in terms of years behind bars. If he mucks of the terms of his plea deal (outlined in bold text) below, like before, he has no one to blame but himself.

According to the Associated Press, the rapper pleaded guilty Thursday to federal weapons possession charges, and will receive a sentence that includes prison time after he completes a period of community service. In the year that he is awaiting sentencing, T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, must complete at least 1,000 hours of a total 1,500 hours of community service, talking to youth groups about the pitfalls of guns, gangs and drugs. Officials said after completing the community service he will be sentenced to serve about 12 months in prison. His prison time could be increased or reduced, depending on his fulfillment of the terms of the deal and good behavior, they said. The rapper, dressed in a gray business suit, told the judge he understands the terms of the agreement. He pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of machine guns and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Harris was arrested Oct. 13, just blocks away and hours before he was to headline the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta. He was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He faced a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Harris was allegedly trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers. He initially pleaded not guilty, and has been under house arrest since he was released on $3 million bond on Oct. 26.

Harris is co-CEO of Grand Hustle Records and is one of Atlantic Records' most successful artists.

U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. must approve the deal.

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REAL OR RUMOR: FEDERAL PROSECUTORS OFFER T.I. A PLEA DEAL OF 15 YEARS IN JAIL FOR VARIOUS WEAPON CHARGES.

If the rumors are true, looks like T.I.'s fiancee Tiny will soon become a single mother while her man is away doing time. Various websites are reporting that prosecuting attorney David E. Nahmias has offered the 27-year-old rapper a plea deal of 15 years with a minimum mandatory sentence of 13 years; which means that even with good behavior he will remain locked up behind bars until he turns 40-years-old in year 2021. And when you consider the fact that he's a convicted felon, even if these rumors are indeed true, he'd be a fool not to take the deal. Because of his criminal history, his possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge alone could have him serving football numbers. And let's not forget his charges of possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers....which could put him away for life. Dude had so many guns, you'd think he was going to go out and hunt down Osama bin Laden personally.

As previously reported, the rapper was arrested last October in Atlanta, Georgia in a federal sting operation in which he allegedly attempted to purchase three machine guns and two silencers. Since the ATL MC (real name Clifford Harris) is a convicted felon, he cannot legally own a gun or have one in his possession. According to authorities at the time, and for reasons we may never know, T.I. gave his newly-hired bodyguard—who later became an informant for the federal government—an estimated $27,000 to purchase the weapons. In addition to the guns used in the sting operation, a search of T.I.’s vehicle also turned up several more guns.

However, several sources are stating that the plea deal offered to the hip hop star could be be reduced. One particular website has even gone as far as to claim that their sources have confirmed to them that the rapper would only serve 2-4 years. Yeah, right. The only way I can see that happening is if his legal team dug up Johnnie Cochran. (God, bless the dead). Nevertheless, he should feel like a certified fool for getting himself caught up in this mess. I can't even feel sorry for him because he brought it all on himself. Ya dig?

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O.J. SIMPSON'S 'MOTHERF*CKING' TACTICS COULD LAND HIM BACK IN JAIL ON BAIL VIOLATIONS.

WARNING: PROFANE LANGUAGE BELOW.

He gon learn. O.J. Simpson has been ordered to appear in a Las Vegas court next week, to answer claims he violated the terms of his bail agreement. Simpson posted $125,000 bail in September (07) on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery after he led a raid on a sports memorabilia collector's Las Vegas hotel room. Fox News reports a mystery phone message has prompted the Clark County District Attorney to revoke Simpson's bail and order him to return to Nevada from his Florida home.

In the ill-advised phone message, obtained by TMZ.com, Simpson directed his bail bondsman, Miguel Periera, to contact fellow defendant Clarence Stewart. He says, "I just want CJ to know that the whole thing all the time he was tellin' me that sh!t, ya know, I hope he was telling me the truth, don't be trying to change the mother f*cking sh!t now, mother f*cking assholes, I'm tired of this sh!t. (I'm) fed up with mother f*ckers changing what they told me."

A court official has confirmed that Simpson must fly to Las Vegas to answer the as yet unknown allegations against him. Under his bail agreement, Simpson was ordered to have no contact with his fellow defendants.

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JUDGE HATCHETT LEAVES HER SHOW FOR RETIREMENT; NEW 'BEST OF JUDGE HATCHETT'' SEASON IN THE WORKS.

I swear I'm gonna miss Judge Glenda 'I been doing this for a long time, don't be trying to play a game on me!' Hatchett. And I have no problem telling you all that I've memorized her entire cold opening monologue. She and Judge Greg Mathis are my top 2 favorite judges on any syndicated courtroom reality show. Those other female television judges have nothing on Judge 'Don't get me testifying in here today!' Hatchett. I had absolutely no idea (until now) that she was calling it quits after an eight-year run. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the popular court show will return for an additional season under the title Best of Judge Hatchett, which will feature repeat broadcasts grouped by themes – such as "celebrity interventions" or "creative sentencing."

A rep for Sony Pictures Television said the show produced its last original episode in September. An industry consultant says fans would probably fail to notice any changes. "I don't think any viewer will initially know the difference between a program that was produced two weeks ago and one that was produced two years ago," Bill Carroll, vp and director of programming at consulting firm Katz Television Group, told the trade paper.

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KOBE BRYANT'S FORMER BODYGUARD ACCUSES HIM OF SOLICITING MURDER IN NEW ONLINE BOOK

There is never a dull moment in Kobe Bryant's world. And anyone who thought they knew the real Kobe Bryant had better look again. According to the Baltimore-Sun, the latest distraction he might have to deal with is a scurrilous online book published by someone who claims to have worked as a bodyguard for the Los Angeles Lakers star. Patrick Graber was charged in September 2003 with soliciting the murder of the woman who accused Bryant of rape in Colorado the same year. That charge was later dropped in exchange for a no-contest plea to grand theft, for which Graber, of El Segundo, Calif., was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $191,000 in restitution.

In his new shocking and absolutely graphic exposé, Bryant’s former bodyguard and Swiss national Lt Patrick Graber is sending shockwaves through the sports world. Dead Women Tell No Tales is Graber’s unvarnished account of his time with Bryant, first as a discreet bodyguard, then as the fall guy who was accused - then cleared - of planning the murder of the witness in Bryant’s rape case. Part memoir detailing his days spent in service guarding the president of an African nation, part graphic repository of his time with Kobe, Dead Women Tell No Tales is an absolute page-turner. It gives insight into the basketball superstar's most intimate surroundings, replete with sex, lies, and drugs, clearly showing how Bryant’s immoral behavior inevitably culminated in a felony charge that could have sent him behind bars for life.

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Those who are in the know praise Dead Women Tell No Tales and Lt. Patrick Graber:

“Wow, does Graber sure have an axe to grind here....But giving my opinion, I’ve always thought Kobe was a punk, and everything that is coming out in this book supports that sentiment.”
-- Larry Brown, Fox Sports Radio in Los Angeles and larrybrownsports.com

"Lt. Patrick Graber has displayed a standard of professionalism, integrity, and devotion to our country that few have equaled and none have excelled...His honor, his loyalty, and his sense of fair play...have made him an ally whom the SPDF could rely on. He is an unusually fine man."
-- Col. Claude Vidot, Seychelles Peoples Defense Forces, Seychelles, 2000

"The account of Kobe participating in orgies and the description of the surroundings is accurate. I attended few of those parties myself..."
-- Jondell R. Montgomery, Long Beach, 2006

Bryant, who might consider legal action against Graber, declined to comment on the book beyond saying that he doesn't even know who Graber is and that the man never worked for him. Bryant's spokeswoman, Catherine Sebring, said, "We have no comment."

Dead Women Tell no Tales is available through Kobe-Rape.com, AtlasBooks.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and any fine bookseller.

SOURCE: http://baltimoresun.com

SOURCE: www.vicipublishers.com.

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