Remy Ma Trial Delayed, Lack Of Progress In Investigation
Remy Ma appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday (August 14) expecting to be indicted on charges stemming from her attempted-murder arrest last month but a grand jury has reportedly not heard the case because of slow progress in the investigation.
As previously reported, authorities believe Remy (born Remy Smith) shot Makeda Barnes-Joseph twice in the torso while she was inside her car after they both left Manhattan's Pizza Bar on July 14.
Barnes-Joseph, who claims to be one of Remy's closest friends, alleges that the rapper accused her of stealing about $3,000 from her purse before shooting her. Barnes-Joseph reportedly held Remy's purse briefly while they partied at the Pizza Bar.
According to New York's Daily News, Remy's lawyer, Ivan Fisher, claimed that the events which have surfaced publicly are inaccurate and contradictory stories from witness are to blame for the slow pace of the investigation.
"I suspect that the district attorney's getting conflicting views of the events from various witnesses and doesn't want to go before a grand jury until he's sure of what happened," Fisher said.
Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Michael McIntosh declined to reveal why the investigation is sluggish but said his office would agree to let Fisher's reps examine and photograph Barnes-Joseph's car before returning it next week.
Lauren Raysor, Barnes-Joseph's lawyer, said her client was disappointed there was no grand jury action and is still in pain and unable to work.
Remy is facing charges of attempted murder, first-degree assault and weapons possession. She plead not guilty to the charges and is free on $250,000 bail until her next court date on November 29.
Foxy Brown Leaves Def Jam; Inks Label Deal Through Koch
Foxy Brown is moving on after being signed with Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam since 2004 without releasing her highly anticipated Black Roses album.
The rapper's management, Black Hand, revealed Tuesday (August 14) that she has inked a deal with Koch Records, where she will release projects through her own Black Rose Entertainment.
Although the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, label sources revealed it was a multi-million dollar negotiation that was signed after office hours. The first artist to drop through the new deal will be Foxy Brown herself.
Foxy will first release her highly anticipated street album, Brooklyn's Don Diva, later this year, which will be her first release since regaining her hearing.
"I have always been a symbol of independence as a female in music," explained the rapper. "My brand is already established, millions of my records have already been sold, and I have a fan base already loyal. After 13 years at Def Jam, I felt it was time as a matured business women to move on and continue my brand under the roof of something I own."
The first move as a label exec may be to sign some new talent. Foxy also hinted that she will be looking for new artists with a worldwide appeal because of her strong ties in the Caribbean music genre.
"Foxy is not only an incredible talent, but an entrepreneur with a vision," said Chaz Williams, of Black Hand Management. "She decided to move on to literally greener pastures, like money green. We are faced with a climate in music and new media where the independent is far more profitable. Ownership and partnerships are the new millennium record deals."
The first single from Brooklyn's Don Diva will hit radio within the next few weeks, and the album is scheduled for a December release, according to a rep from Black Hand.
"I have two albums of music recorded, and my fans have waited long enough, I'm back bitches," Foxy exclaimed.
Lupe Gets Pushed Back, Done With Mixtapes, Loses Love For Hip Hop
Looks like Lupe won’t get Cool until November. According to BillBoard.com, the Chicago rapper’s sophomore LP has been pushed back from its original release date of October 30th to a newly announced November 20th release.
It seems like the industry has taken its toll on Lupe, who recently told Bill Board that he’s done with making mixtapes and might exit the Hip Hop game altogether.
“I’m just wearing down,” he admits. “I’m never doing mixtapes again, not even Internet ones. My whole energy for making hip-hop music is slowing down. I’ve been doing it for seven years. I still don’t think I’m famous.
I’ll do what I have to do to promote my next album, but I’m not enthused about doing seven albums. I’ll do my three, and then I am going to keep moving to the next phase of life and maybe grow trees.”
UGK Score First #1 Album
After years in the game, UGK have finally secured their first #1 album. Their new album, "Underground Kingz", secures the #1 Billboard spot this week on sales of 156K units. The album features the lead single "International Player's Anthem" feat. Outkast.
Also debuting big was Atlantic Records artist Plies who comes in at #2 on the charts with his first major label album "The Real Testament". The album sold 91K units on the strength of the lead single "Shawty" Feat. T-Pain and a rabid hometown fanbase.
Common slips to #7 during his second week in stores while Fergie and T.I. hang strong in the top 10. Justin Timberlake saw a surge in sales this week as his "Futuresex/Lovesounds" album had a 6% increase in sales.
Wu-Tang Covers Beatles Song and Get New Release Date
The RZA has revealed that the Wu-Tang Clan will be covering the Beatles song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" for their forthcoming album, The 8 Diagrams.
Who have they recruited to help them with this tremendous task? None other than the son of legendary Beatle George Harrison - Dhani Harrison!
"He's the biggest Wu-Tang fan in the world," said RZA, in an interview with Rolling Stone. "He knew all the kung fu shit! That's deep! I told him I would be honored if he played his father’s song."
The Wu also snagged Chili Pepper John Frusciante for the song, which will be called "Gently Weeps." The song will feature the Clan rapping over the cover done by Dhani and John, while acting out what has been described as a "heroin dealer/heroin user saga." Method Man will be the victim, while Ghostface will be the dealer.
Beyonce To Release Spanish Language EP
Beyoncé Knowles' total entertainment domination continues this month with the release of her Spanish language EP Irreemplazable.
Since capturing this year's Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B album with B'Day, Beyoncé has set her sights on new challenges, overcoming language barriers with her newest project Irreemplazable. Scheduled for release on August 21, the eight track EP features original material as well as Spanish versions of songs from her multi-platinum sophomore release B'Day and platinum soundtrack Dreamgirls.
In addition to the title track "Irreemplazable" (Irreplaceable), which is included both in its original form and as a Nortena remix, Beyoncé's set includes a Timbaland remix of "Get Me Bodied" featuring Reggaeton artist Voltio as well as "Oye," the Spanish version of Dreamgirls' Oscar nominated song "Listen."
Other standout features on Irreemplazable include Beyoncé's duet, "Amor Gitano," with Alejandro Fernandez, which hit the top of the Spanish single charts and serves as the theme song for Telemundo telenovela "Zorro." Irreemplazable also serves up three versions of Beyoncé's collaboration with Shakira, "Beautiful Liar" - one in Spanish, one in Spanglish (featuring B's alter ego Sasha) as well as the English version.
Wal-Mart is also offering an exclusive CD/DVD version of Irreemplazable featuring special content including a behind the scenes documentary La Evolucion Latina de Beyonce (The Latin Evolution of Beyonce) and the music video for the "Get Me Bodied" Timbaland remix featuring Voltio.
Irreemplazable hits stores August 21. Beyoncé is currently performing on her North American tour, which started this July.
Kanye West & Common Tell Notorious Chicago Gangster's Story In Upcoming DVD
Common and Kanye West have teamed up to narrate the story of Chicago gangster-turned-businessman Harold "Noonie" Ward.
Captured by directorial duo Coodie & Chike, who previously directed "Through the Wire" and "Jesus Walks" videos for Kanye, Gangster With a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story tells the life of Ward, a former top-ranking member of one of America's largest criminal organizations - the Gangster Disciples.
Set against the backdrop of the last 20 years of black Chicago gang culture, Windy City natives Common and Kanye narrate Ward's evolution from gangbanger to one of Chicago's entrepreneurial and philanthropic elite.
The film was executive produced by John. D. Curran and Harold Ward.
Gangster With A Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story lands on DVD August 21.
Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Pharrell Hope To Find Time For CRS Project
After announcing they'd create a supergroup a while back, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams -- who will go by the name of CRS (Child Rebel Soldiers) -- are hoping to find time to craft an entire album.
They've already leaked a track via an online mixtape titled "Us Placers," which samples Thom Yorke's "The Eraser," but according to what Lupe told Billboard recently, that's the only track they've recorded thus far.
"Now [our labels are] working it out," the rapper told Billboard.com. "Whoever is going to pay is going to pay a whole hell of a lot. Everybody is excited, [but] 'Us Placers' is the only record we have."
Wikipedia reports that another CRS track is to be featured on Kanye West's forthcoming third album, Graduation, and is expected on Fiasco's sophomore release, The Cool, but that is the only other track known of to date.
In related news, Lupe revealed to Billboard that The Cool has been pushed back from its October 30th release date to November 20.
He says that he is working with producers from his 1st & 15th camp, including Pro and Soundtrack. And previously, the rapper said that he would avoid big name producers, but Fiasco had avoided big-name producers because "It's too expensive," but "now we're doing CRS, [so] I can get all the music for free."
Despite the praise he received from the media for his debut, Food & Liquor, the Lupe says he's is getting wore down, will never do any more mixtapes and that he may not have very many studio albums left in him.
"I'm just wearing down," the rapper told Billboard. "I'm never doing mixtapes again, not even Internet ones. My whole energy for making hip-hop music is slowing down.
"I'll do what I have to do to promote my next album, but I'm not enthused about doing seven albums. I'll do my three, and then I am going to keep moving to the next phase of life and maybe grow trees," he continued.
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