UNCUT Magazine.net

Jim Jones Not Alone In Cam'ron Beef, Survey Says Fans Disagree With Stop Snitching Movement

A new poll conducted by SOHH reveals that over 86% of those surveyed say that unlike Dipset honcho Cam'ron they would tell the police if they lived next door to a killer.

The survey, which was conducted shortly after the rapper's controversial comments on CBS' "60 Minutes" last month, included feedback from hip-hop consumers between the ages of 12 and 36.

As previously reported, during an interview for a "60 Minutes" segment focusing on how the "stop snitching" movement in hip-hop has hurt murder investigations across the country, Cam said there is no situation that would warrant a person aiding police, even if he knowingly lived next door to a serial killer.

According to the survey, 77% of those polled say rappers like Cam'ron do not represent their views on snitching, while nearly 80% feel that reporting a crime doesn't make you a snitch.
Of respondents, 60% say that poor police-community relations are behind the police's inability to solve crimes in urban/black neighborhoods.

Days after his interview aired, Cam'ron issued an apology for his comments claiming "he was expressing his own personal frustration at his own personal circumstances and didn't intend to be malicious or harmful."


Jermaine Dupri Explains Incident In Los Angeles With Police

Jermaine Dupri has come forward to address a recent run-in with police in West Hollywood.

Footage of Dupri being detained in the back of an LA County Sheriff's police cruiser was posted on Tmz.com yesterday (May 9).

The rapper was allowed to leave in his Lamborghini a short time later.


The footage sparked a number of theories as to why Dupri was detained, all of which the mogul has put to rest. "Just to set the record straight, I was pulled over because the police said my exhaust pipes were too loud," Dupri told AHH.com. "I had tinted windows and platinum motor plates. Nothing more, nothing less."

In related news, Dupri recently inked a deal that will allow Def Jam to release the soundtrack to Rush Hour 3.


He's also over seeing upcoming releases from Hot Dollar, Mariah Carey and Jagged Edge.

First Annual Rapathon To Be Held In Harlem

On Saturday, May 12 the Global Artists Association in partnership with New York radio station HOT 97, Turner Network, and Converse will attempt to break a Guinness World Record when they present the first annual Rapathon.

The Rapathon will consist of approximately 100 old-school and new-school artists and DJ's who will take turns performing over a span of 24 hours to create the world's longest, on going rhyme session.

Organizers are hoping that the combination of old-school and new-school artists at the event will be a show of solidarity.

"Hip-Hop is at a crossroads," said Terry Nelson, founder of The Global Artists Coalition in a statement. "It is the biggest selling music amongst 13 to 24 year olds worldwide. Together, with HOT 97, we hope to leverage the tremendous influence that this music has on our youth by offering the most positive elements of this art form and giving those who care a chance to encourage a collective movement in the right direction."


No cursing and abusive or foul language will be allowed in the lengthy rhyme session.

"The Rapathon will be a call-to-action for influential Hip-Hop artists, local legislators, community leaders and brands to stand behind a movement for change," added Curtis Sherrod, co-founder of The Global Artists Coalition in a statement. "This will be an historical moment in Hip Hop, the beginning of a new and serious dialogue...while giving the public a chance to witness their favorite performers kick a freestyle for charity."

Preceding the actual Rapathon will be the 'Plan B Dinner' hosted by HOT 97's Raqiyah Mays.

As part of the 'Plan B Dinner' NBA players and rappers will discuss the importance of having a Plan B if their careers in basketball or music had not succeeded.

In attendance for the Rapathon will be pioneering Hip-Hop DJ Kool Herc and Russell Simmons protégé Jinx Da Juvy.


Tickets are priced at $100 a piece and can be purchased through the HOT 97 Website; the Rapathon will take place at The Hip-Hop Culture Center in Harlem.


Bobby Brown Suing Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston is being sued by ex-husband Bobby Brown, who is seeking to change his terms of custody with their 14-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina.


In court papers obtained by "The Insider," he lists several reasons why he was not able to file a response to Whitney's pettion for divorce, stating he was "strapped for cash during this time and could not afford to hire a lawyer."

See court documents:http://www.theinsideronline.com/lib/images/bbrown_divorce_insider.pdf


He also says he's devastated about losing his rights to see his daughter.Bobby claims he has been homeless at times since the divorce, and is seeking spousal support, as well as child support for their daughter.


His divorce from Whitney was finalized on April 24, with Whitney getting full custody.Bobby was not in court when the ruling was passed down.Whitney testified that she did not need spousal or child support, and that the couple's daughter could not depend on her father.A court date for Bobby's new case has set for June 15.

MARIAH WORKING ON NEW ALBUM IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Mariah Carey is currently recording the all-important follow up to her multi-platinum 2005 monster, “The Emancipation of Mimi,” and she’s also receiving acting kudos from the producer of her upcoming feature film “Tennessee.”


According to Billboard Biz, the singer recently jetted to the British Virgin Islands to lay down tracks for the new album, an as-yet-untitled set due in the coming months for Island Records.
Bryan Michael-Cox – who has written hit songs for Mary J. Blige and Usher – is one of the songwriters submitting tunes for the project.

Back in the States, Carey is hoping her success in the music industry will rub off on her latest film project, ‘Tennessee.” In the biased opinion of the film’s producer, Lee Daniels, Carey’s performance in the drama is on the verge of making folks forget all about her previous Hollywood misstep in “Glitter.”

Liz Smith wrote in her Thursday column: “It seems the divine diva next door, as I call her, had been a doll to direct, even forsook her six-inch heels when the characterization called for flats, and it's Lee's belief that she is going to surprise us this time out.”

Dr. Dre's Son Hood Surgeon Preparing Debut Album


Affluent Records is planning to release the debut album from Hood Surgeon, the son of legendary West coast producer Dr. Dre.

The 16-track album, titled The Hood Surgeon: The Autopsy of Curtis Young, features production by Knocturnal and a cameo appearance by David Banner.

The Autopsy details Hood Surgeon's life growing up in Compton, CA which has produced a number of legendary rappers, including his father Andre "Dr. Dre" Young, NWA, Eazy-E, The Game, MC Eiht, DJ Quik and numerous others.

"It’s like, you know you’re gonna hear the struggle I went through..." Hood Surgeon told AllHipHop.com in a previous interview. "Motherf**kers can [check up on] my s**t and see what I been through and where I grew up at, and they’ll see that I’m not lying. I’m not gonna say I was out there shooting motherf**kers and doing all that, but I grew up around that, so I might speak on something that happened around me in my music. They ain’t gonna hear me say something I didn’t do."

As a rapper and producer, Hood Surgeon, born Curtis Young, is inspired by East and West coast rappers such as Tupac Shakur, The Notorious BIG, Jay-Z and his father Dr. Dre, who is also the CEO of Aftermath Recordings.

While he didn't meet his father until a much later age, he found out that his father was a legendary producer around the age of 12 and followed in his famous father's footsteps.

"I'm going through the grind like he did, like he had to go through. And so that way when I get it, I'll respect it more..." Hood Surgeon said. "I went through the same thing he been through. I met him when I was 21. I didn’t know him growin’ up. We just was right up under each other’s noses basically, not knowing that, you know, that that was my pop and he didn’t know I was his son."

So Hood Records is distributed by Affluent Records, which is distributed nationally by Red Eye Distribution.

The Hood Surgeon: The Autopsy of Curtis Young is due in stores July 24.

R. Kelly to Double Up With New Album

Nearly two years after R. Kelly was trapped in the closet and released TP.3 Reloaded, Kelz is back with a new album, entitled Double Up.

This time around Kelly recruited some big name guests. Double Up will feature spots from Swizz Beatz, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Chamillionaire, T.I., T-Pain, Kanye West, Ludacris, Kid Rock, Usher, Keyshia Cole & Polow Da Don.

“To me, rap and R&B are like two hands holding one another,” Kelz said. “Double Up is about %70 hip hop, but, that being said, I’m always going to make songs for the ladies.”

Tracklist (subject to change) below:

1. The Champ - Featuring Swizz Beatz
2. Double Up - Featuring Snoop Dogg
3. Tryin’ To Get A Number - Featuring Nelly
4. Get Dirty - Featuring Chamillionaire
5. Leave Your Name
6. Freaky In The Club
7. The Zoo
8. I’m A Flirt Remix - Featuring T. I. & T- Pain
9. Same Girl- Featuring Usher
10. Real Talk
11. Hook It Up - Featuring Huey & Kanye West
12. Rock Star - Featuring Ludacris & Kid Rock
13. Best Friend - Featuring Keyshia Cole & Polow Da Don
14. Rollin’
15. Sweet Tooth
16. Havin’ A Baby
17. Sex Planet
18. Rise U

R. Kelly – Double Up in stores May 29th.

Beyonce Becomes Face For New Giorgio Armani Perfume
Beyonce has recently signed on to become the face -- and voice -- of Giorgio Armani's new perfume, Emporio Armani Diamonds.

The singer will not only appear in ads for the new fragrance, but will also lend her voice to a TV advertising campaign, after being handpicked by the Italian designer.

"They have known each other for seven years, and Armani feels Beyonce represents the glamour and glitz of the fragrance," a source told the New York Post recently.

The 25-year-old singer will reportedly sing "an old American song" in the perfume's commercials.Emporio Armani Diamonds is set to hit stores in September.


This is not the first time Beyonce has repped a product for an ad campaign. She has also been featured in campaigns for L'Oreal, Pepsi and McDonalds.

Beyonce already has her own fragrance, True Star, which was launched in late 2004 with designer Tommy Hilfiger.

Twista Addresses Fans Questioning His Street Cred

As Chi-Town native Twista continues to pen his blog for the Red Eye edition of the Chicago Tribune, he is getting some major feedback.

In a recent blog, he received several comments questioning his street credibility, so the rapper decided to set the record straight about his past history.

"Officially, for the people so they can understand what type of cat I am, all of my boys banged," the rapper said. However, his fate was different, as rap came calling for him at a young age.

"I was just one of the guys where rap touched me at an early age, like at 12 or 13. I always had a show to go to, studio, or function and that was one thing that kept me from fully falling into it," Twista continued. "I was so into rap so early on that when it came time to make those choices of which way to go I didn't fall into it so much."

In the rapper's blog, he addresses a variety of topics such as his feelings toward President Bush vetoing a $124 billion Iraq Spending Bill that would have finally got our troops withdrawn from Iraq to expressing his interest in working with Common.

In his most recent blog, in addition to speaking on his street cred, Twista answers fans' questions about Bizzy Bone, revealing that the pair has recorded a new track together called "Get That Money," which may appear on Bizzy Bone's forthcoming album.

Twista blog can be found online at RedEyeChicago.com/Twista or in Friday's Red Eye.


Timbaland and Nelly Furtado To Form Rock Band

Furtado tells Billboard.com she and Timbaland are planning to put together a rock band, although she adds that "I don't think it'd be, like, a real rock band. It'd be more like our version of alternative, so it wouldn't necessarily be like heavy and guitar-driven. It would be left field, and not necessarily pop."

Furtado, who launches her 17-date North American Get Loose Tour on May 30, says there's no timetable yet for the rock project but notes, "Tim's been really enthusiastic about us working together again real soon."

The purported band's name is also up in the air, she says: "We keep arguing over names. I want these really weird, subversive names, and (Timbaland) wants these mysterious, like, 'Lord of the Rings' kind of names. We can't decide."


"Loose," meanwhile, continues to roll even after selling five million albums worldwide and being certified gold or platinum in 28 countries. Furtado will follow the current single, "All Good Things (Come to an End)" with a fifth, "In God's Hands," and, she says, "there's talk of a sixth and seventh single, believe it or not.

"I mean, Nickleback is on their seventh single. Pussycat Dolls are on their seventh single. Sometimes there's these albums where you can stretch to seven singles. I like that 'cause I think the album is good and I want people to hear as much of it as possible before I go away again."

Noting that "time off is when I get ideas," Furtado says her next recording project -- rock band with Timbaland notwithstanding -- will likely take a different direction.

"I don't see myself recording in English again any time soon," she explains. "I really want to do a Spanish and Portuguese project -- and I have no plan on when I'm gonna do that. There was talk of rushing something out early in the year, and it just didn't feel right. So I said, 'I don't want to rush this. Let's wait and do something in the future.'"

EDDIE MURPHY – WELCOME TO ‘FANTASY ISLAND’

Oscar nominee Eddie Murphy is set to portray multiple characters one more time for the upcoming feature film adaptation of ABC’s “Fantasy Island,” the 1970/80s series about an island where people could live out their dreams.

The original series ran from 1978-84 starring Ricardo Montalban as island host Mr. Roarke, and Herve Villechaize as his sidekick, Tattoo, who would ring a bell signifying that a new round of guests had arrived from “the plane! The plane!”

Murphy is coming off of the critically-maligned “Norbit,” where he also played several different characters. He earned an Academy Award nomination this year for his supporting turn as James "Thunder" Early in "Dreamgirls."

He will next reprise his role as the voice of the Donkey in DreamWorks Animation's May 18 release "Shrek the Third."

MTV Close To Development Deal For "Rapping With The Stars"

MTV is close to a development deal for "Rapping With the Stars," a reality competition show that will pair celebs with hip-hop pros.

Project features teams squaring off in range of rap-oriented musical challenges.

A hip-hop world panel will judge.


With "Rapping," MTV is looking to capitalize on its music niche by crossbreeding it with its nonscripted focus.

The pro-am format has been a hit on ABC, which has scored strong ratings for "Dancing with the Stars." But the concept doesn't always work, as Fox found out last year with its ill-fated "Singing With Celebrities."