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Top Secret Documents Reveal Rappers Jay-Z, Diddy, Others Monitored Before 2004 RNC

The New York Police Department monitored and spied on various rappers months before the 2004 Republican National Convention, which was held in New York. The details were revealed in 600 pages worth of secret files released yesterday (May 16) by the New York Civil Liberties Union, who is suing the city on behalf of demonstrators arrested during the questioning.

According to the documents, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jay-Z, LL Cool and Alicia Keys were all put under surveillance in the months before the 2004 Republican National Convention arrived in New York. Each one of the artists attended a rally held by Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit Action Network in Aug. Of 2004, to support voter registration and to address various political issues.

"These documents paint a picture of a surveillance program that was broad, clumsy, and often unlawful," said Donna Lieberman, NYCLU Executive Director. "The NYPD failed to differentiate between unlawful behavior and behavior that is not only lawful but should in fact be cherished and protected. Today the public can finally bear witness to that failure."

The documents reveal that undercover NYPD officers infiltrated political meetings and monitored listservs for years before the Republican National Convention. The NYPD is accused of recording information about activity that was completely peaceful and lawful.

New York officials attempted to block the documents from going public, but a judge ruled in favor of the NYCLU on May 4, ruling that the documents should not be kept under wraps.

Reps for the rappers were not available for comment at press time.

Eve Prepares New Album & Talks DUI

Eve's new album is getting ready to drop. As she puts the finishing touches on the LP, she opened up about singing, lyrics and her D.U.I.

"I'm singing the whole song," she recently told MTV of the Pharrell produced track where Eve primarily sings. "I just didn't want to sing! Because I've sung hooks before, but to sing a whole song, that's something I actually have to do on stage. I think [about it] in that way. Like, what if I mess up? What if there's a frog in my throat? I made it a point, though, to sing like I might just regularly sing, where anybody can sing it. At a tone where I'm not trying to be Alicia Keys. I'm not trying to blow at all, because I'm not that kind of singer. But it's nerve-racking. I'm used to going in the booth and doing what I have to do and then I'm out. With singing, it becomes a chore. But it's one of my favorite songs on the album now...I actually got to sneak back in and put, like, eight bars of rap in [the song]."

When she does rap, she now takes it easy on the profanity.

"I get it. I get it completely. I barely say bitch. I do say it. I usually don't say ho. The N-word, more than anything, holds a negative connotation. It's a word I grew up with and that's a word that's never threatened me and I've never used it in a threatening manner. But I also get it. And I feel like if that's a word that's going to be removed, it has to be a movement and we all need to do it at the same time."

"It's not just hip-hop, and that's the thing that makes me mad. Those words have been a part of everyone's vocabulary at some point in everyone's life. Black, white, whatever. Hip-hop, pop, rock. So it makes me mad that the fingers are being pointed at hip-hop for those certain words. There are movies that come out every year where a woman is being smacked up and beat down by a man. Let's talk about domestic violence. No men will stand up [for that]. They want to say, 'I want to take these certain words out of a song.' But a lot of men that are hitting women won't stand up and say, 'You know what? I'm gonna stop hitting my women today.' That's what we need to be fighting. Stuff like that. There are a lot of different issues."

On her DUI.:

"Things happen and this is the nature of the business I'm in...I just feel blessed and happy that all the good things completely outweigh anything negative in my life."

The album, which features Swizz Beatz, Mary J. Blige, T.I., Sean Paul, Timbaland and Robin Thicke,is almost ready for a release.

Beyonce Leads '07 BET Awards Nominee Pack With Six Nods

BET announced the nominees for their 2007 BET Awards on Wednesday (May 16) and singer Beyonce came out leading the pack with six nominations -- including Video of the Year.

Fresh off the success of her latest album B'Day, Beyoncé is up for Best Female R&B Artist; Best Collaboration for her duet with Jay-Z on "Déjà vu" and "Upgrade U"; Video of the Year for "Irreplaceable" as well as her sultry turn with Shakira on "Beautiful Liar"; and in the Viewer’s Choice Award category.

Coming behind Beyonce, also with multiple nominations include Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, R&B singing sensation Ciara, Akon, and the soulful duo Gnarls Barkley, who are nabbed three noms a piece.New kid on the block, Robin Thicke, scored his first pair of BET Award nods for best R&B Artist and Viewer's Choice for his chart-topping hit "Lost Without You."

Other two-fers include Ludacris, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, the late Gerald Levert, Ne-Yo, Lil Wayne, Mary, Mary and Corrine Bailey Rae.Hosting the show for the third time is the hilarious comedienne, actor and author Mo’Nique, who kicked things off last time around with a show-stopping rendition of Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love," which was voted the number one moment of any BET Awards show and one of TV Guide Channel's Greatest Moments of the year (2004).

This year's special honorees include legendary songstress Diana Ross who will be in the house to receive BET's Lifetime Achievement Award. Joining the former First Lady of Motown is award-winning actor and activist Don Cheadle, who will be honored with BET's Humanitarian Award for his efforts to bring an end to the genocide in Darfur.

"Diana Ross' impact on the cultural landscape is almost impossible to measure," said Reginald Hudlin, President of Entertainment, BET Networks. "Her achievements as an artist extend across the medium and decades. Don Cheadle is one of the best actors today -- period. He uses the credibility he's built with the audiences to call attention to one of the most pressing global crisis in the world today. We’re grateful for his art and his heart.

"50 Cent and T.I. are the first two performers announced so far, but others should follow soon.The 2007 BET Awards takes place on June 26 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

It will air live at 8 p.m. ET.

50 CENT DEFENDS RAP LYRICS

During yesterday's press conference in Hollywood to announce details of the BET Awards ’07, one of the scheduled performers, 50 Cent, was grilled about the post-Don Imus backlash against negative hip hop lyrics.

As a rapper who regularly uses the b-word, n-word and h-word in his lyrics, Lee Bailey asked 50 if he would “get with the program” and voluntarily remove offensive lyrics from his music. The rapper took offense at the phrasing of the question and said the following to Bailey:

“Are you familiar with politics? Are you familiar with the President’s No. 2 man? You’re familiar with him resigning based on him using, maybe what we’d call a dating service? Maybe he’s hanging out with hoes that we mention in the music. If that doesn’t make you aware of a situation that exists….

“Music is a mirror, and hip hop is a reflection of the environment that we grew up in. It’s the harsh realities that end up in the music. If I ask you to paint a picture of the American flag and not use the color red, you’re gonna have a difficult time. To capture what we try to capture in the art form, I’m sure some conservative Americans can’t [identify] with it because of their lifestyle and the way they’ve actually been brought up, and they haven’t been exposed to those realities.”

Bailey used Master P as an example of a rapper who made the decision to sign positive rappers from now on who do not use the three aforementioned words in their lyrics.

“Well Master P doesn’t sell CDs anymore,” 50 said calmly, which caused the room full of reporters to burst out laughing. “You can tell him I said it. Cameras is rollin’ right? …‘Curtis,’ June 26.”

Chris Brown To Get Exclusive Guests On New Album

Chris Brown's Exclusive already gained anticipation. Recently, his label let out more secrets to build an even greater buzz. The album will now be released August 28.

New acts have been unveiled as guests for the LP. Pharrell Williams, Will.i.am and Bryan-Michael Cox are all set to appear on the singer/dancer's album.

Cox opened up about what Brown is going through now.

"It's that transition from being a teenager to a man. We're talking about more mature things, but not too mature. He's singing, dancing, he's only getting better. He's more focused than he's ever been. Chris is very competitive and his competitive sprit motivates the people around him. His competitive spirit motivated me to make nine records in seven days. I think all nine are going to make it. We're trying to create a creative synergy," he told MTV.

Jazze Pha may join the list of guests, as he explained.

"I'm doing some stuff for the Chris Brown album as we speak...It's been going good. I just need for him to hear the record. He's been running. I've sat and listened to a few of [Chris' new] records. I think he's going in the right direction. They keeping him young, they keeping him hot. It's a little more edgy on this album, but he's growing up. He's not vocally challenged, he's pretty good. He's pretty hot with his vocals. I don't think anything will be a problem for him."

Again, the LP should be released August 28. For now, his single "Wall to Wall" has already been released.


NELLY DREAMS OF MARIAH AND JANET THREESOME

Rapper Nelly has a plan. The St. Louis artist is currently sowing the seeds for a track on his upcoming album that would feature singing superstars Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey.

Jermaine Dupri recently explained the logistics to MTV: “He wants Janet to rap a 16-bar verse, he wants Mariah to sing the hook and he's gonna do two verses. He has it all planned out. You ask him about it. This is what he wants; he's 100 percent deadlocked into it."

According to JD, who would produce the track, Nelly is refusing to take no for an answer.

“That's what he wants. If he could convince them to do it, it would be crazy,” said Dupri.


Federation Prepare To Release Sophomore Album June 26

Bay Area rappers, Federation, will release their new album - It's Whateva - on June 26 on Reprise Records. Veteran producer Rick Rock (Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, E-40) pushed the trio - Doonie Baby, Goldie, and Stresmatic - to further diversify the bass-heavy, rapid-fire hyphy sound, and deliver more than what fans may expect to hear from these pioneers.

It's Whateva has already received early critical acclaim: "Considered originators of the rap microgenre, hyphy, the Feds are back with the biggest dread-shaking album of the year. The bangin beats on '18 Dummy' and 'My Rims' will blow back your wig," raves Stuff Magazine, while Vibe says, "A label switch and admirable persistence have honed the group's energy - on this strong follow-up, Rock and Federation again advance the movement.

"The forthcoming album will feature new songs, including the single, "College Girl," "Shooter" and "She Go." The album has Hyphy elements, but goes beyond that with both the usual suspects and some surprising collaborations - e.g. Travis Barker (Blink-182), Snoop Dogg, E-40, and more.

Federation formed in 2002 in Fairfield, CA, near Oakland, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Federation's 2003 debut The Album, with its homegrown hits "Hyphy" and "Go Dumb," encapsulated the burgeoning hyphy scene with witty wordplay, catchy chants, and bombastic bass lines. The group are proud of their early success, "From four people sharing one hamburger, we've been through it all with each other," says Doonie. Adds Goldie: "We're beyond brothers."

Tracklisting:
1. Playtime Is Over
2. 18 Dummy (skit)
3. 18 Dummy
4. Get Naked You Beezy
5. College Girl (skit)
6. College Girl
7. Got Me Fucked Up
8. My Rims
9. Scraper 2 A Benz (feat. E-40)
10. Baby Mama
11. We On Your Line (feat. Cashis)
12. Move It Move It
13. She Go (feat. Marty James)
14. I Met Yew
15. Black Roses
16. Ridin The Kite (skit)
17. Fly Away (feat. Walter Hawkins Choir)
18. Whitee (main)
19. When I Was Your Man (skit)
20. When I Was Your Man
21. Bang Bang

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Score, Bobby Valentino Gets "Special" Treatment, Dipset Add A Lil' "Suga"

In this week's Hip Hop & R&B charts, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony debut on top, Bobby Valentino follows close behind and Ne-Yo slides.

Debuting at No. 2 on the charts this week is Bone Thugs N-Harmony with their seventh group album titled Strength and Loyalty. The album, which features appearances from Mariah Carey, Twista and Akon, scans 119,500 discs in its opening week.

Right behind them is Bobby Valentino entering the charts at No. 3. Special Occasion, which features appearances from Fabolous, Timbaland and Ludacris , shelves off 92,000 CDs in its first week.


Ne-Yo, who debuted at No. 1 last week, slips four slots to No. 4. Because Of You shifts 88,900 discs in its second week. So far the album has sold a total of 340,600 copies.