UNCUT Magazine.net

Prosecutors Call Busta 'Violent Predicate Felon,' Rapper Rejects Plea Deal


Busta Rhymes rejected a plea bargain offered by prosecutors today (Feb. 20) in Manhattan Criminal Court.

The rapper, who is facing two assault charges, is accused of kicking and punching former driver Edward Hatchett in a dispute over back pay on Dec. 26, 2006.

He's also accused of assaulting 19-year-old Robert Lebron, a fan who allegedly spit on the rapper's Maybach, after an Aug 12, 2006 concert on Randall's Island.

Prosecutors, who labeled the animated rapper a "violent predicate felon," offered Rhymes six months in jail for the two assault charges, which he rejected.

According to reports, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy said Rhymes could plead guilty to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

If Rhymes accepts Judge Kennedy's offer, the rapper would be required to serve five days of community service, two weeks of youth lectures and six months of anger management classes.

Once successfully completing the terms of the sentencing, all charges against Rhymes, 34, will be dismissed. If the rapper violates his probation, he could be sent to prison for a year.

Police are still attempting to question Busta Rhymes about the Feb. 2006 shooting death of his bodyguard Israel Ramirez.

Ramirez was shot and killed on set of Rhymes' "Touch It (Remix) video shoot. Police believe an argument between G-Unit's Tony Yayo and Ruff Ryders' Swizz Beatz sparked the deadly shooting.

Police believe Rhymes may have witnessed the shooting and has refused to cooperate. Tony Yayo also refused to submit to questioning until he is charged with a crime.

40 Glocc Involved In Gang Brawl In Vegas

Infamous/G-Unit recording artist, 40 Glocc, was involved in a brawl early Monday morning (February 19) outside the MGM Grand Casino.

According to the rapper's spokesperson, he and his entourage got into an altercation with group of rival gang members, resulting in an all-out brawl that spilled into the casino's parking lot.

"Niggas' wanted a problem, so we mashed them out," 40 Glocc told reporters. "I'ma real one wit this... I don't wear rags for videos and fashion, gangbangin' is not a fashion! And whoever is using it for record selling and fashion, they gotta run into me and real ones in the streets just like me and gone find out the hard way. That goes for crips and bloods."

Shots were reportedly exchanged, and one man was left with a gunshot to the hip. He declined to press charges, and police are not following up on the incident, Las Vegas police spokesman, Jose Montoya, said.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, several incidents resulted in four people being shot, including three who were critically injured, during an hour stretch that occurred between 4 and 5 a.m. at two locales, Montoya said.

Police chose to put their focus on an unrelated incident, which occurred outside the Minxx strip club on Wynn Road near Tropicana Avenue.

The Review-Journal reports that three people were shot after several patrons of the club were escorted outside for fighting. One of them opened fire, wounding two employees and a patron near the club's entrance, police said.

Although there is rumor that NFL cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Tennessee Titans had been involved in the shooting, those reports have not been confirmed.Las Vegas police say they arrested 362 people since the start of NBA festivities, and 209 of them were from out of town.

Young Buck Targeted By Police, Settles Beef With DJs

Young Buck has faced many trials and tribulations on the path to release his sophomore CD. He spent much of December under threat of a nationwide DJ ban for an altercation with Lil Jon's DJ, DJ Will, been the target of police surveillance and has a committee seeking to censor him.

Fortunately, according to Buck, issues with DJ Will and the record ban have been resolved.

"Tony Neal is my best friend at this point," Buck said of the Core DJ's founder whose organization once threatened to stop playing Buck's records . "Tony was the first guy to reach out and say he had reliable people at the club where the situation happened, that came to him and said it wasn't the way the story was getting reported. He eventually reached out to show the Core DJ's were behind me, showing their support. He invited me to a party they put together in Milwaukee, I came out and they showed me a lot of love."

Buck added, "I'm too humble in my situation to fall out of pocket behind a DJ playing a record by a person that disliked me or my crew. I'm blessed for it to work itself out -- for one, I have an album coming out March 20, and for two, I'm not an overnight success, I didn't get here to jeopardize my career to make that move. I'm blessed to make it through these situations. Situations like the Vibe awards and this work themselves out as long as I don't start the problem, and I ain't going out making no problems."

Though Buck says he is steering clear of trouble, that hasn't stopped law officials from keeping an eye on him.

"I got pulled over by ten undercovers," Buck revealed of the January arrest when Nashville police stopped Buck's Escalade. "Ten fuckin undercover cars, you don't see not one government car in sight. I'm like 'what the fuck is this? What the fuck I done?' They told me they pulled me over for driving with a suspended license. I said 'Hell naw it ain't.' The nigga run my license said, 'Nah it ain't suspended, but we still gotta take you down to clear the warrant in our system...' They get me downtown and wanna question me about murders."

Buck explained that his history in Nashville has local police convinced he hasn't left the streets completely behind for rap life.

Mining these experiences for song material while recording Buck the World, Young Buck ran into a problem he never anticipated - censorship.

"You remember 2Pac used to always yell about C. Delores Tucker and how she'd try to stop shit we were saying in rap? They started that Lyric Committee off'a her and the Lyric Committee grabbed my record and listened and they scrapped two of my records, like I can't use them, it's no way that I can put them out. One of the records was produced by DJ Paul (of Three 6 Mafia) called "Fuck the Police," I speak a lot of Black Panther talk and really give game to the world on a lot of issues," Young Buck said. "How in the fuck can you tell a nigga that this is a country where you are free to say what you say, but ya'll motherfuckers gonna go through my record and tell me I can't use this song?"

Although, Buck offered to make changes to the song, the committee was unwilling to make a compromise. Anticipating potential problems from retailers, Buck and his label decided to remove the song from Buck the World.

Buck the World is slated for release on March 20 via G-Unit/Interscope Records.

Rapper Twisted Black Talks "Cocaine Rap"

Fort Worth, Texas rapper Twisted Black recently spoke to from his prison cell about his upcoming album, his real life dealings in the drug game and why rappers need to watch their mouths.

Twisted Black (born Tommy Burns) was convicted of conspiracy to deliver and distribute cocaine last year. Because it was the rapper's third strike, he faces a possible life sentence. Black started his professional music career in '95 with the release of the independent record Look What The Streets Made. While awaiting sentencing which will take place on February 22, Black explained that rappers who glorify the drug-dealing lifestyle should consider watching their words and putting more substance in their lyrics.

"[Rappers] should watch what they say [on records]," he explains. "You could end up in a situation like I'm in. While some people are just telling you what their life is, you can try to entertain without getting caught up. A lot of new cats are coming out with the 'cocaine rap' and staying on the same subject. There's no entertainment. We all heard the story of the block. There's got to be some talent in there too. There can only be one [Young] Jeezy."

Shortly before the rapper was arrested in July of last year, he signed with indie label TVT Records who will release his album, Street Fame, on March 6. Ready to release his latest project, which features production from longtime T.I. collaborator DJ Toomp, among others, Black explained that his incarceration has been both a gift and a curse when it comes to his career.

"It's rough because I can't do anything from here," he explains. "I think it will finally make people aware of me, who have been hearing so much about me on the underground level, and get them ready for other projects. I think it will help because sometimes negative publicity, people who've heard about my situation and my downfall, equals good publicity. So I think if the label pushes it the right way, it'll be a plus."

The rapper is also set to release a DVD entitled The Rise Of Twisted Black on the same day as his album through his own Scarred For Life imprint. Black hopes the DVD will shed some light on his situation and offer some encouragement to others.

"[Fans] will know the story. It'll motivate them to watch their step and they'll be entertained," he says. "Just keep pushing with whatever it is you're trying to do. That hard work pays off."
Street Fame hits stores on March 6 on TVT records.

M.O.P. News
M.O.P.'s latest single "7:30" has been picked up by CBS Sports and The New York Knicks and the song will be included in various promotional spots. The song is taken from M.O.P.'s upcoming G-Unit release reportedly titled Yearly Physical, which is slated to hit stores in May 2007.

Tru Life talking about Dipset, Memphis Bleek claims he punked Camron.






Vanessa and Angela Simmons Debut Pastry Footwear

Young women will soon have a new line of shoes to seek out, with arrival of Vanessa and Angela Simmons' new line of shoes, Pastry Footwear.

The line will feature colorful, mid-priced athletic-inspired shoes and includes various style for young women.

In addition, each shoe will have tube of lip gloss attached to it, with its scent/color matching the shoe's theme.

Pastry Footwear is the latest venture for Vanessa, a St. John's University business communication major, and Angela, who recently launched the new teen magazine Angela's RunDown.

The Simmons sisters are best known for their appearances on their father Rev. Run's hit MTV reality show Run's House. The new season of the show will chronicle the creation of Pastry Footwear, which is scheduled to debut on March 23.

The season premiere of Run's House will air this spring on MTV.

Lil' Kim Hosts Billboard & Children Uniting Nations 8th Annual CUN Awards

CHILDREN UNITING NATIONS (CUN) and BILLBOARD, the world's most trusted source of music, video and digital entertainment news, charts, reviews and analysis, have joined forces to celebrate the Oscars® in style: hosting a series of exciting celebrity filled events during Oscars® weekend.

Hollywood's leading players and brightest stars will come together to celebrate the dreams that are created within the entertainment industry, but also, to ensure that such dreams can be possible for our foster children's futures as well.

The celebration kicks off on Friday, February 23 when rap goddess LIL' KIM and CUN founder DAPHNA ZIMAN host a private press conference and luncheon at the former Warner Brothers' estate in Beverly Hills to announce the list of 2007 honorees for the "Inspiring Our Children to Dream Awards," which will be presented at the CUN viewing celebration later that weekend. The press conference will offer an exclusive chance to sit down with this year's event host, Lil' Kim, and CUN Founder Daphna Ziman, as they discuss a newly formed partnership to help save our nation's most vulnerable children.

The weekend festivities continue on Sunday February 25th when Billboard, along with CUN and Lil' Kim host the 8TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS VIEWING DINNER. The black tie event will take place at The Music Box @ Fonda and will include a formal dinner, dancing, musical performances and a phenomenal silent and live auction. During this dinner, CUN will also present special awards to a select few who have changed the lives of children in the past year. All proceeds from this spectacular event will support CUN's cause of helping foster children succeed against the odds.

And finally, the CUN AFTER PARTY begins with performances from an exciting group of artists including American Idol's RUBEN STUDDARD and DIANA DEGARMO, hip-hop pioneer DARRYL "DMC" MCDANIELS, rap legends DMX, LIL' KIM, and DJ SPINDERALLA at the turn tables.