UNCUT Magazine.net

GRANDMASTER FLASH ROCK HALL SCANDAL?
Less than 48 hours after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five as its first ever hip hop act, there is talk that the group did not actually earn its fifth place vote.


Fox411.com columnist Roger Friedman quotes sources who say British group The Dave Clark Five actually placed fifth in the final voting of the nominating committee, not Grandmaster Flash. But the final count was ignored by Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, who recently appointed himself chairman of the Foundation after the death of Ahmet Ertegun, according to Friedman.


R.E.M., Van Halen, The Ronettes and Patti Smith received the most amount of votes, with Grandmaster Flash finishing fifth when the votes were counted on the first date ballots were due in to the Rock Hall office, Friedman writes.


“But when all the ballots were counted a few days later, the DC5 had pulled ahead,” writes Friedman. “Wenner decided to ignore that and stick with the earlier tally.”


A source told Friedman: "We begged Jann to allow all six acts to be inducted. But he insisted that he couldn't because there wouldn't be enough time. He wanted to have Aretha Franklin come and perform in memory of Ahmet Ertegun."


"Jann went back to a previous ballot instead of taking the final vote as the last word," the source continued. "He used a technicality about the day votes were due in. In reality, The Dave Clark Five got six more votes than Grandmaster Flash. But he felt we couldn't go another year without a rap act."


Providence, RI Officials Cancel 'Street Dreams Concert'

The Street Dreams Tour date in Providence, RI was canceled yesterday (Mar. 14), when city officials could not reach an agreement with the 18-year-old promoter on a license restriction.

According to The Providence Journal, an earlier agreement reached between the Board of Licenses and promoter Lowell Williams fell apart, causing the Mar. 29 date at the Dunkin Donuts Center to be canceled.

The board demanded that none of the artists appear at any after parties in the area, to reduce the risk of violence.

The artists agreed, but the deal fell apart when the board also demanded that performers be paid their remaining fees at least 12 hours after their performances, in order to guarantee that the rappers abided by the terms of the agreement.

Last week, The Providence Police Department voiced their concerns and objected to the Mar. 29 Street Dreams Tour date, which features headliners Young Jeezy, Jim Jones, Lil' Wayne, Baby, Fat Joe and Rich Boy.


Police said Jones' association with the Bloods street gang could cause bloodshed, because the Providence metropolitan area is mainly Crip territory.

The police also labeled Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Baby/Birdman" Williams and platinum selling rapper Lil' Wayne as gang members.

Williams lawyer Robert D'Amico said that the performers were unwilling to wait that long to be paid the remaining balance of their performance fees, where are normally paid prior to the artists performance.

Despite the fact that The Street Dreams Tour has played two dates with no issues or reports of violence, Deputy Police Chief Paul J. Kennedy was pleased with the board's decision to revoke the license and cancel the concert.

Kennedy said the decision was made on Jones' and the other rappers ties to gangs and had nothing to do with Hip-Hop music.

“It’s really important that the city and the Police Department look at the history of specific bands and specific acts," Kennedy said.

C-Murder Granted Permission To Leave House


Two weeks after he was allowed to promote an album and a novel in media interviews, rapper C-Murder got permission Tuesday to leave the confines of house arrest so he can continue his recording career.

However, Corey Miller did not get all he wanted; a Jefferson Parish judge denied his request for free travel throughout the New Orleans area four days per week, including trips to a recording studio in St. Tammany Parish and to Baton Rouge to seek a new home for his children.

"He'll be allowed to go to work, but we'll have to know the exact time and location," 24th Judicial District Judge Martha Sassone said in reining in Miller's request to modify the rules of home incarceration.

Miller, 36, is awaiting retrial on a second-degree murder charge in the Jan. 12, 2002, killing of Steve Thomas, 16, who was shot in the chest during a brawl in the now-closed Platinum Club in Harvey.

For the past year, Miller has been under house arrest as a condition of the $500,000 bail Sassone set after the state Supreme Court upheld her order granting him a new trial.

Miller already is allowed to attend religious services on Sunday mornings and Bible study on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, Sassone noted.

But she declined his latest request to leave his residence from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., four days per week. She told him and his attorney, Ron Rakosky, that she will consider each request to work "as it comes."

Though home incarceration is rare for people charged with murder in Jefferson Parish, it is not unheard of for judges to allow people under house arrest to leave their residences to work, court records show.

The house arrest "severely and adversely" affects Miller's ability to earn money to pay for his defense and support his family, Rakosky said. "He needs to be able to get back to work."

Miller also wanted permission to help his ex-wife and their three children, displaced to Houston by Hurricane Katrina, find a new home in Baton Rouge, Rakosky said. He also told Sassone that Miller might eventually want to move to St. Tammany Parish, where he wants to work in a recording studio, which was not named.

Jermaine Dupri Signs His First Artist As President Of Urban Music At Island Records

Not wasting any time, Jermaine Dupri has signed his first artist in his new position as President of Urban Music at Island Records.

JD has inked a deal with Compton based rapper Hot Dollar. Dupri officially announced the signing on his blog yesterday (March 14th) at his Myspace page here:

http://tinyurl.com/2urc89

Dollar's debut Island single will be called "Streets On Lock" and his album is expected to drop in the fourth quarter of '07.

For more information on Dollar, visit www.myspace.com/hotdollar

Diddy Still Tempted By Other Women

Hip-hop mogul SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS is still tempted by other women, regardless of his serious relationship with former model KIM PORTER.

The star admits he can't cope with monogamy - despite being the boyfriend of four years to Porter, the mother of his nine-year-old son CHRISTIAN and twin girls D'LILA and JESSIE, who were born in December (06).

And Combs confesses he can't even get ready for a night out without an all-female entourage keeping him company.

He says, "When I dress, I like to put on some MARVIN GAYE. I invite a few women into my room and we have a few drinks.

"We sort of have a little party getting dressed. For me, it has to be a very sensual experience, so of course I have to have some women around me as I dress. I don't just find women beautiful to look at - I love their company.

"I try to be good, I really do. But sometimes that's just too hard."


WHO HUNG THE DOGS OUT...
The group Baha Men, best known for their hit “Who Let the Dogs Out,” are suing their management company for holding out on thousands of dollars owed to them for an album they were producing and ruining their reputation within the music industry.


According to TMZ, the group filed the $500,000 lawsuit Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Activate Entertainment. They claim the company never paid them the promised thousands of dollars to cover production costs for an album, which caused the group to spend their own money for expenses. According to the lawsuit, "This led to overdrawn accounts," which in turn led to rubber checks.


Also in the lawsuit, the Baha Men say they "did not receive the additional $180,000 that was owed to them," and lead singer, Isaiah Taylor lost "his home to the bank for lack of funding."

The band also says they were unable to pay their production crew, which "severely damaged the reputations of the Baha Men group members within the tight knit music community."

Timbaland Teams Up With Rockstar Games For Beatmaking Game

Producer Timbaland has announced that he is teaming up with Rockstar Games to create Beaterator, a new music maker for the PSP (Playstation Portable).

Rockstar, who is responsible for the wildly popular Grand Theft Autu (GTA) series, describes Beaterator as a powerful music mixer with robust beatmaking features that is accompanied by a collection of original music and rhythm games, and challenge modes.

"Two years ago, we launched a web-based version of Beaterator on our own website and people really embraced it," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "That inspired us to build and create something very interactive and unique. Having Timbaland involved in the game is a real honor and only adds to our excitement about the title."

Timbo is equally excited, stating he's been a fan of the company for quite some time. "I've always been a huge fan of Rockstar and love playing their games," said Timbaland. "I'm thrilled to be partnering with them and making music for Beaterator. I cannot wait to get this in the hands of our fans."

The game is scheduled for release on the PSP in the summer. In the meantime, fans can check out an online version of Beatertor at RockstarGames.com/Beaterator.

Video:Ne-Yo - Because Of You




50 says June 19th is the day

Fabolous -From Nothin to Somethin Tracklisting, Release April 17th
1. Yep, I’m Back
2. Return Of The Hustle - (featuring Swizz Beatz)
3. Change Up
4. Make Me Better - (featuring Ne-Yo)
5. So Fabolous
6. Diamonds - (featuring Lil Wayne)
7. Hustler’s Poster Child - (featuring Cassidy)
8. Real Playa Like - (featuring Lloyd)
9. Foggin’ Up The Windows - (featuring R. Kelly)
10. What Should I Do
11. Back To School
12. All Jokes On You
13. I Shine, You Shine - (featuring Makeeba)
14. First Time
15. Paperman - (featuring Ne-Yo)
16. Brooklyn
17. Chirp Back - (featuring Blue DaVinci)
18. Gangsta - (featuring Junior Reid)
19. This Is Family - (featuring Freck The Billionaire/Ransom/Joe Budden)
(Props to realtalkNy)

The Notorious B.I.G. Resurrects New York, Akon Continues His Reign, Young Jeezy Keeps Gettin' It

In this week's Hip-Hop Charts, Biggie snatches the crown, Akon contimues his dominance and Young Jeezy slides.

Debuting at No. 1 on the charts this week is The Notorious B.I.G. According to Nielsen's SoundScan, the late rapper's Greatest Hits compilation sold 99,100 copies in its first go-around.

The CD includes bangers like "Hypnotize," "Big Poppa" and "Who Shot Ya," as well as two unreleased tracks featuring Fabolous, Snoop Dogg and Ja Rule.

Young Jeezy continues to reach for platinum status despite falling five spots to No. 27 this week. The Inspiration scans 22,800 discs in its 24th week on the charts, bringing the albums total sales to 931,000.

After keeping the No. 52 spot warm for the past two weeks, Eminem and the Shady crew drop twelve slots to No. 64. The Re-Up has moved 915,100 units thus far, with 11,900 representing the week-in total.

Birdman and Lil' Wayne slide six spots to No. 66. Like Father, Like Son pushes 11,800 discs this week. To date, the album has sold 658,300 copies.

Hanging close by at No. 67 is Nas. Hip Hop Is Dead bagged up 11,700 units in its twelfth week, bringing the album's total sales to 672,800.

Diddy's momentum has begun to fade as he slips eight seats down to No. 75. Press Play hustles 10,600 discs this week. So far, the album has sold total of 564,800 copies.
After making a noteworthy debut at No. 21 last week, B.G and The Chopper City Boyz plummet sixty six spots to No. 87. We Got This only moved 9,400 units this week, rounding up the albums total to 37,800.

Toppling nineteen spots to No. 89 is Snoop Dogg. Tha Blue Carpet Treatment reels in 9,300 copies this week, bringing the album's tally to 815,900.

A sharp decrease in sales pushes Jay-Z twenty three spots to No. 92. Kingdom Come only ropes in 9,100 units this week. After 16 weeks, the album has sold a total of 1,388,300 copies.
Also hurting the sales department is The Game who plunges twenty two slots to No. 101. Doctor's Advocate shifts 8,000 discs this week. The total for the album reads off at 878,000.
Making a weak debut at No. 113 this week is Consequence with his first studio album, Don't Quit Your Day Job. The CD shells out 7,000 copies in its first week

Slim Thug & The Boss Hogg Outlawz, who debuted at No. 63 last week, sunk seventy four levels to No. 137 this week. Serve and Collect lugs in 5,900 discs in its second week, pushing its total numbers to 19,000.

Turning the page, Akon "loses one," Robin Thicke descends and Justin Timberlake follows suit. Dropping one spot to No. 4 doesn't stop Akon from keeping cash registers ringing. Konvicted scans 76,000 discs this week. After seventeen weeks, the album has sold 1,792,400 copies. Slipping five spots to No. 10 is Robin Thicke. The Evolution of Robin Thicke continues to sell like hotcakes pushing 47,200 discs this week. To date, the album has sold 772,000 copies. Justin Timberlake loses his swagger and slips five slots to No. 11, FutureSex/LoveSounds shifts 46,100 discs this week, bringing the albums total sales to 2,917,500. Posted at No. 13 this week is Fergie. Duchess moves 42,600 units. So far, the album has sold 1,562,400 copies. Corrine Bailey Rae staggers six spots down to No. 15. Her self titled album sells 41,100 discs this week, bringing its tally to 1,263,200. Slow sales trips the Dreamgirls soundtrack which falls sixteen steps to No. 24. The disc ropes in 25,000 units. After 14 weeks, the soundtrack has sold 886,900 copies. Gerald Levert slides nine spots to No. 25. In My Songs snares in 25,070 units this week. The total for the album reads off at 279,900. Standing at No .32 is Pretty Ricky. The group's sophomore project, Late Night Special, shells out 18,800 CDs. After 7 weeks, the album has a sold a total of 355,700 copies. Beyonce falls seven spots to No. 33 after moving only 18,700 units this week. After 27 weeks, B'Day has sold 2,330,600 copies. After an impressive jump last week, Ciara tumbles fifteen slots to No. 44. Evolution has moved 1,042,100 units thus far, with 16,100 representing the week-in total.

Next week look for 8Ball & MJG, Lloyd, Rich Boy, Musiq Soulchild and Amy Winehouse to shake things up on the charts.