Mobb Deep's Prodigy: 'They Tried To Get Me To Set Up 50 Cent'
Mobb Deep's Prodigy revealed some disturbing news recently via an interview on DJ Whoo Kid's Shade 45 Radio show on Sirius -- saying that the New York Police Department attempted to persuade the rapper to set up 50 Cent with a gun and drug charge.
Prodigy (real name: Albert Johnson) was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison early October ,as a result of a traffic stop a year prior (October 2006) where he and producer Alchemist were arrested when police found a .22 caliber pistol in his vehicle .
He blames the hip-hop cops for the sentence, which could have been 15 years because he is a convicted felon. He claims that most rappers are under constant surveillance.
"I had to cop out to 3 1/2," Prodigy said during the interview. "It's serious right now. The hip hop cops, they all over us son. They took my bullet-proof truck, they found a lil hammer in my car, so know I gotta do a lil' 3 1/2.
"I got a long record, but I beat all my cases because they were all illegal searches and this was an illegal search too, but the cops got on the stand [and] they was lying and all kinds of stuff ," he continued. "I was facing 15 years, so through the cops lying and the judge and the DA (District Attorney), I had to cop out. There was no way for me to win."
Prodigy sent out some kind words to T.I., who was recently set up by his bodyguard in a sting by ATF Agent. The Mobb Deep rapper said he understands what T.I. is going through and has seen it first hand -- when cops tried to get him to set up 50 Cent, the head of his label.
"Much love to T.I. and his whole family. There is no telling what's going on right now,' Prodigy said. "I've seen it first hand for myself that the cops is lying. When they locked me up they tried to get me to set up 50 Cent. They wanted me to plant drugs and guns in his car. I was like 'Hell no, I ain't doing that.' They told me if I plant stuff in his car, they would let me walk."
Suggesting how rappers can stop the hip-hops' ways, he said "cameras." "We gotta [start putting] cameras in our cars," P says. "Every time the police pull you over, you gotta record it, you gotta spend some kinda money to protect yourself. Put cameras in your car and when they pull you over, you press record and everything is recorded, audio and video."
Prodigy went on to call the attention he and his partner Havoc have received from police profiling, and said its been going on since the early 90s.
"They"ve been investigating Mobb Deep since 1991, I got proof, I got pictures, I got everything they've been taking of us since 1991," he divulged. "We not criminals, we rappers. That's illegal for them to do that. That's called profiling, racial profiling. They profiling us 'cause we black rappers and we making money."
As far as the 3 1/2 years he has to serve, P is taking it as another hurdle to jump over, in a journey to make him stronger.
"They were basically just lying, so it's all good. I'mma eat that, I'mma do the 3 1/2. I'll be right back. All they doing is making me stronger, they don't even understand what they are doing."
At press time, there is not word as to when Prodigy will begin serving his sentence.
Wu-Tang Clan Move Release Date; RZA Addresses Ghostface Killah
In a recent interview with MTV News, RZA addressed the current internal beef between Wu-Tang and Ghostface Killah.
Ghostface Killah had expressed his disappointment in the fact that his new album "Big Doe Rehab" was being released on the same day as the new Wu-Tang album. The Wu-Tang record is now slated to hit stores December 11.
"The blame can't fall on me like that," RZA said about the dueling release dates. "Wu-Tang Clan is a bunch of brothers working on one common cause. ... We planned to put that record out in September, then October, and it kept getting pushed because it's just a lot of work, yo. ... I wasn't really conscious [Ghost] was dropping an album on December 4th, but yesterday we moved our [group] record from the 4th to the 11th. We gave that spot to Ghostface ... because of how he felt. ... I had to make that call. [SRC label head] Steve Rifkind also, he was getting bashed up by Ghost. So ... we moved."
Nas Talks "N*gger" Album
Nas spoke to MTV News about his up-coming album "N*gger" and what influenced him to create the LP.
"One of the n---as that got me started on this album was Chris Webber," Nas told MTV News last week. "He's got a studio, and most of the time I call him, he don't answer the phone because he's in the studio. He's in the studio more than me, and it's been like that forever. His brother is an incredible artist as well. People don't know."
One of the producers to be included on "N*gger" is Jermaine Dupri. The So So Def mogul spoke to MTV about his contributions.
"He lives in Atlanta, but I think he wants to record in New York again," JD said. "I haven't spoken to him about what we gonna do as far as his mind is on his album," Dupri said. "I'mma see what he feels and go with the flow. You can sell records without having a big pop single," he added. "Like 'Money Ain't a Thing.' It was a tremendous record, a classic, but it never went #1. Kanye West's 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' wasn't a major Billboard success, but it felt like #1 in my heart."
Nas went on to express to MTV News his excitement in working with the mogul.
"When you look at n---as like JD, I worked him on one of his biggest albums, Life in 1472," responded Nas, who has done a bulk of the record already with Salaam Remi. "I was on the first song on there, me and him. I love JD. He's one of the n---as that made me want to move to Atlanta six years ago. I definitely wanna get it in with him. But n---a better hurry because me and Salam might finish the album. Jermaine better hurry up and get in the studio and start dancing around to these beats and make this happen," he laughed. "Let's get it poppin'. I got two weeks to be done."
Nas's new album "N*gger" hits stores December 11. The album's first single is expected to be released November 9.
Jay-Z To Launch "American Gangster Live" Tour
Jay-Z will embark on a brief 5-date concert tour this November in support of his soon to be released new album "American Gangster".
The tour, dubbed "American Gangster Live" tour, will hit mid-size venues in Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia where Jay will perform songs from his new album "American Gangster" backed by a live band.
The tour begins November 6 in Los Angeles.
TOUR DATES:
11/6 Los Angeles-House of Blues
11/7 Chicago-House of Blues
11/9 Baltimore-Ramshead
11/11 New York-Hammerstein
11/12 Philadelphia-Fillmore
Jay-Z's new album, "American Gangster", is in stores November 6.
Fans Disappointed After Lil Wayne Skips Out on North Carolina Concert
Scores of Lil Wayne fans were disappointed on Sunday night (October 21), when the self proclaimed Best Rapper Alive failed to show up for a scheduled performance in Wilmington, NC.
According to ABC News Channel 3, Wayne was scheduled to appear at the New Hanover High School, but for unexplained reasons he never made it to the venue. The concert sparked controversy in the surrounding community when it was first announced earlier this month, and the local school board even tried to have it moved from the high school’s Broden Hall.
The board cited Weezy’s recent arrest in New York on weapons charges and his supposed gang affiliation as potential the threats to public safety. The concerts promoter eventually won out over the concerned locals and the show was expected to attract as many as 4,000 people.
However, ABC News reports that the crowd that showed up on Sunday was only a fraction of that number. Unconfirmed rumors suggest that Wayne was not happy with the turnout and the show had not generated enough money or interest.
DMX Returns to Acting
DMX is starring in a new movie called Father of Lies, which is set to hit DVD on October 30.
The film, which co-stars Vivica A. Fox and Clifton Powell, follows the story of a desperate pastor who resorts to criminal means to save his congregation.
This marks the first film that DMX has released since 2004’s Never Die Alone.
Ky-mani Marley To Debut Reality Show On BET, On Tour With Van Halen
Musician and actor Ky-mani Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley, will join the reality show circuit with his forthcoming show, "Living The Life Of Marley," debuting this month on BET J.
The series follows the second-youngest son of Bob Marley as he prepares for the release of his hit new album, Radio, reprises his starring film role as "Biggs" in the upcoming sequel to the critically-acclaimed cult favorite movie "Shottas," and hits concert stages for the dynamic and captivating performances that have helped make Marley a quickly-rising pop star.
"Living The Life Of Marley" will show Marley in his home base of Miami, where the Jamaica-born son of Bob Marley and table tennis champion Anita Belnavis moved to when he was nine years old.
"The show touches a little bit on how I was raised in the inner-city ghetto," explains Ky-mani. "I was growing up in a two-bedroom place with nine people. It explains a bit of why I am the way I am, the way I am musically. I have a lot to talk about. It exposed being a Marley, that we are normal as everyone else. We have a great legacy to carry on and a loving family."
With Radio holding strong onto the no. 1 slot on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart for two weeks running, the new reality series is sure to boost its popularity.
Its first single is "One Time," which is beginning to catch on within the mainstream. The album, which was released through independent label Vox Music Group, features guest appearances by Young Buck on the lead single, Mya and Gail Gotti. The album's key tracks also include two mixes of his antiwar anthem "The March."
In support of the album, he is on tour through December, where he is opening for legendary rock back, Van Halen.
"The opening night crowd in Charlotte dug him," notes the Charlotte News of his debut set on the tour, which earned Marley a standing ovation. USA Today also proclaimed, "he flashed his own charismatic side by enthralling the crowd with 'The March,' a hip-hop/reggae hybrid song from his new album, Radio..."
"I've played in front of big crowds before, but to be able to share the stage with Van Halen, that's where the big honor comes in," Marley says. "It gives me a platform to play some music that a lot of people don't know I have, and the reception is overwhelming. Roth was at my dressing room telling me how good it was."
The reality series, "Living The Life Of Marley," premieres on BET J on Friday, October 26 at 10 p.m.
Tour dates for Ky-mani Marley tour dates (opening for Van Halen and headlining club shows and festival appearances) are as follows:
10/20 - Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
10/22 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
10/24 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
10/26 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
10/27 - Madison, WI @ Freakfest (festival show)
10/28 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
10/30 - Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Garden
11/01 - Washington DC @ Verizon Center
11/02 - Richmond, VA @ Canal Club (headliner)
11/03 - E. Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airlines Arena
11/04 - New York, NY @ B.B. King's (headliner)
11/06 - Worcester, MA @ DCU Center
11/08 - Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
11/09 - Portland, ME @ The Station (headliner)
11/11 - Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street (headliner)
11/13 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
11/20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
11/23 - Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.Com Arena
11/25 - San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena
11/27 - Sacramento, CA @ Arco Arena
11/29 - Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
12/01 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
12/03 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
12/05 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
12/07 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
12/09 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
12/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
12/16 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavillion
12/18 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
12/20 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
12/22 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
12/28 & 30 - Las Vegas, NV @ Grand Hotel
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