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DMX is arrested
DMX and his wife, Tashera, were arrested Wednesday in Teaneck, N.J., after police searched their home and found a semiautomatic weapon, a bulletproof vest, hollowpoint bullets and an extra-capacity gun clip, all of which are illegal in the state. According to police reports, the search warrant was issued after X's uncle and manager, Ray Copeland, was shot in the foot earlier in the week. During the search, which occurred while the couple was away, police also captured 14 pit bulls, most of which were in cages. When DMX found out there was a warrant out for his arrest, he turned himself in and was released on $50,000 bail. His wife was released on $2,500 bail.


No Limit faces lawsuit
No Limit Records is being sued by a producer and label executive for $10 million, claiming that Master P forced them into releasing Mia X from a recording contract. According to The Times-Picayune, Roy Joseph claims to have signed Mia in 1994 to a two-year contract on Emoja Records. In the suit Joseph claims that an associate of P threatened him to release Mia or else he and his company would fail and be ruined.


Snoop, others play benefit show
After a July 18 WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets, Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik, Warren G and Coolio will perform in a benefit show. Breaking Out, a benefit concert for the Breaking Out Foundation, the Junior Achievement of Southern California, and F.A.M.E. Renaissance of Los Angeles, will be at 8:30 p.m. after the game at the Los Angeles Forum and will also feature some local/unsigned artists. The Breaking Out Foundation helps at-risk inner city youth to create career goals in the entertainment and sports industries by providing guidance, education, and training.


ADL attacks PE
Jewish group, the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) claim that Public Enemy's song "Swindler's Lust" contains anti-semitic overtones in a letter sent to AtomicPop. Abraham Foxman, national director for the ADL, says that in the song, Chuck D refers to banking and millions of people dying as code words to make it seem like the Jews controlled financial and several other industries. In response to the accusations, Chuck said, "I'm a wordsmith, I knew I was going to raise some attention. There was no harm intended towards anyone." Foxman also disliked the title of the song, which he believes is playing on the idea of the film Schindler's List, a movie about German's trying to save Jews from the Nazis. "The truth is the truth," Chuck said. "I think ['Swindler's Lust'] is a hell of a title. People gotta check out the song and tell me whether I'm right or wrong."


Banned in El Salvador
El Savadoran hip-hop group Mecate have been banned from the radio airwaves in El Salvador due to a song called "El Directo." The track is about the life of an infamous Salvadoran gang member and his experience on the country's mean streets and in its jails. Mexican hip-hop group Molotov have also been banned from the radio in El Salvador for their stand against the Mexican government, Mexican media giant Televisa, their vulgar language and attacking public decency.


Puffy settles out of court
According to the New York Daily News, Puffy has made an out-of-court settlement with Nas manager Steve Stoute, after Stoute filed suit for $12 million dollars after Puffy allegedly attacked him. Sources say that Puffy paid Stoute $500,000 producer and management fees, which will see Stoute as a producer on some Bad Boy projects including albums and videos. It was also said that Stoute will be managing some of the artists on Bad Boy as part of the settlement.


EPMD: Still in business
Don't be fooled by the title of EPMD's latest album -- Out of Business -- Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith are not retiring. At least not anymore. The legendary group, which broke up after their fourth album but reunited for 1997's Back In Business, has changed their plans to call it quits after the double album drops on July 20. The latest from E-Double and the Mic Doc is slated to have one disc of all-new material and another full of greatest hits. The first single, "Symphony 2000," features another famous Def Jam duo, Method Man and Redman. But stay tuned, because they could always change their minds again.


Hill returns to the road
Lauryn Hill announced plans to officially kick off a U.S. tour on July 11 in Long Island, N.Y. The tour will feature a rotating lineup of opening acts, including Outkast, The Roots, Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes. Hill, who recently decided to cut the cursing out of her songs because of the lyrics' influence on her "impressionable" two-year-old son, has hooked up with Levi's to sponsor the tour, which will hit 23 cities from coast to coast before wrapping up on Aug. 15 in Washington, D.C. Hill also will play a warmup show in Milwaukee on June 30.


Coolio injured in crash
Six people were hospitalized and several others, including Coolio, were treated for injuries after one of three tour vans flipped while traveling on Interstate 5 about 40 miles north of Sacramento. The group, made up of artists from Coolio's Crowbar Records, was heading to San Francisco to begin an 18-city tour to promote an upcoming compilation album. As a result of the accident, the entire tour was canceled.

"This is the first time in my career I have had a near-death experience," Coolio said in a statement. "When the van was flipping over I thought we were history. My keyboard player is only 15 and now has severe hand damage, I don't know when he will play again."


LL Cool J starts label
LL Cool J has announced the launch of Rock The Bells Records, a label through Warner Bros. that has already signed two acts, rapper Smokeman and R&B group Amyth.


Ice-T signs online deal
Following the lead of Public Enemy, fellow hip-hop legend Ice-T has signed a deal with Atomic Pop to distribute his new album, The Seventh Deadly Sin, over the Internet. The deal also includes a greatest hits album and a compilation, Game of Death, featuring artists from Ice-T's label, Coroner Records.


Busta is sci fi
Mountain Dew pitchman Busta Rhymes has signed on to take part in a new promotional campaign for the Sci Fi Channel. In the 30-second commercial, Busta's dreadlocks will be wired into eight turntables as energy surges into each one. The promos ends with the tagline, "I am sci fi."


Master P joins WCW
After taking a crowd-pleasing shot at an NBA career earlier this year, Master P has decided to take his athletic talents to the entertainment-driven world of professional wrestling. World Championship Wrestling announced on Monday that it signed a one-year deal with Master P to appear in an undetermined number of events because of his "worldwide appeal." Master P, a.k.a. Percy Miller, was cut by the Charlotte Hornets before the start of the NBA regular season after becoming a fan favorite in limited appearances during exhibition games.

The WCW also announced the return of NBA rebounding great Dennis Rodman to the wrestling scene. Rodman, who first got involved with wrestling in 1997, paired up with Hollywood Hulk Hogan to win a tag-team matchup against Karl Malone and Diamond Dallas Page last year, and will make his 1999 debut on July 5.

"The signings of Dennis Rodman and Master P clearly demonstrate the extensive worldwide appeal, audience, and reach of World Championship Wrestling," WCW president Eric Bischoff said in an interview with the Associated Press.


Puff Daddy goes gospel
Apparently Puff Daddy has decided to take Mase's advice and "find God." The Bad Boy Records CEO has announced plans to release an album of gospel music entitled Thank You. The disc will feature Kelly Price and Brian McKnight, as well as Bad Boy's own Faith, 112 and Mase, who retired earlier this year to devote his life to God. At a New York restaurant in April, Puff offered his protege more money to return to the rap game, but a teary-eyed Mase simply said, "You need to find God," and left. The announcement also comes just weeks after Puffy was arrested for allegedly assaulting a record executive who cleared a video for MTV that showed Puff and Nas being crucified.


Jay-Z makes holiday plans
Jay-Z plans to use the holiday shopping season as the launch pad for his drive for a record of a million sales in one week. Jigga, along with Hard Knock Life Tour partner DMX, recently leaked target release dates for their next albums. According to a spokesperson at Def Jam, DMX, who released two multi-platinum albums in 1998, is releasing his third album on December 21. Jay-Z, who set a record when his third album, Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life, stayed at the top of the pop charts for five straight weeks, announced earlier that he wanted his next album to make a run at the first-week sales record. His fourth album is scheduled to drop on December 28.


R. Kelly tour is canceled
R. Kelly's nationwide tour, featuring Nas and Foxy Brown (left), was canceled last week due to poor ticket sales. The tour only had a 10-day run starting in Philadelphia on May 6 and ending May 16 in Detroit. The tour was scheduled to go until June 15. Rumors of arguments and disagreements between Kelly's management and the tour's production company, as well as Busta Rhymes early departure a few weeks ago, are fueling speculation that there were more problems than just low ticket sales.


Layzie Bone is arrested
Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was arrested in his Solon, Ohio home Monday, May 24, on an outstanding warrant. The warrant was issued in March 1997 after he didn't show up for court to answer to marijuana possesion charges in Detroit. He was taken by U.S. Marshals to a federal court in Cleveland and then released on bond.


'Next Friday' begins filming
Ice Cube will begin filming the sequel to his 1995 hit "Friday" in Los Angeles next month. "Next Friday" will again star Cube with Mike Epps and Don "D.C." Curry as Cube's cousin Day-Day and Uncle Elroy. Reportedly absent from the film is Chris Tucker, whose character will be left behind when Cube's family moves from South Central L.A. to the suburbs after winning the lottery.


The Temple of KRS
In an attempt to raise funds for the Temple of Hip-Hop organization, KRS One has put together a compilation entitled The Temple of Hip-Hop: Criminal Justice: From Darkness To Light. Some of the artists to appear on the album include Big Daddy Kane, Sunz Of Man, Ras Kass and Xzibit. In an interview with Allstar, KRS said, "This movement is coming out of the Stop the Violence movement we started about 10 years ago. That was an idea of rappers unifying. The Temple of Hip-Hop is the solidifying of that idea."


DMX is arrested
DMX was arrested late last week after allegedly chasing and attacking a man in Yonkers, N.Y. Lawyers for DMX, a.k.a. Earl Simmons, claim that the victim, Norman Brown, attacked the Ruff Ryder's wife, Tashera, and X simply was trying to protect her. DMX was charged with third-degree assault on Thursday, May 12, and was released Friday, May 13, from Westchester County Jail on $105,000 bail.

According to police, DMX approached Brown's car and punched him in the face. When Brown ran from the car, X chased after him, caught him, attacked him and left him with minor cuts and bruises. When Yonkers police took DMX into custody, they discovered that he had an outstanding warrant in Denver, Colo., in connection with a stabbing that took place Wednesday, April 28, after a "Hard Knock Life Tour" stop. At his arraignment on Friday, DMX's lawyers said he would appear in Denver to face those charges. Click here to read The 411 online's review of DMX's album


Big L suspect arrested
New York police apprehended a suspect Thursday, May 12, in connection with the murder of Big L. Gerard Woodley, a 29-year-old native of Harlem, was also wanted on a federal warrant for drug trafficking, but reportedly had an ongoing dispute with L's brother. Woodley is being held without bail. Big L, a.k.a. Lamont Coleman, was shot and killed Feb. 15 near his home in Harlem.


Wu-Tang game unveiled
Activision unveiled a new video game for Sony Playstation featuring the Wu-Tang Clan at the E3 exposition in Los Angeles. "Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style," which is scheduled to hit stores in the fall, allows 1-4 players to choose any member of Wu-Tang to engage in three different fighting adventures -- versus mode, practice mode, and a role-playing mode with a storyline. Each character has his own fighting style and special moves.


Outkast helps elderly
Outkast, in conjuction with Atlanta city councilman Michael Julian Bond, hosted a luncheon in honor of National Senior Citizens Month. The event took place at the Atrium, with the group providing limousine service for more than 100 area seniors.
Click here to read The 411's review of Outkast's album


Outsidaz lookin' in
Snoop Dogg has teamed up with former Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee to form a new group known as the Outsidaz. The pairing came about after Snoop was asked to drop a verse on "Ill Behavior," a track off the debut album of Lee's other new band, Methods of Mayhem. The duo has already finished one track for the Outsidaz album, which will probably come out on a Snoop-Lee joint-venture label. In other joint ventures, Lee has reunited with the recently deflated Pamela Anderson, but the pair have not announced any plans to release a sequel to their successful straight-to-video feature film.


The doctor is in
After a fairly long layoff, Dr. Dre is ready to step back into the spotlight this summer. To start things off, Dre will release his most notable contribution to Eminem's album, "Guilty Conscience," which he produced and guest starred on. The pair has also teamed up for a track called "The Showdown" on the "Wild, Wild West" soundtrack. Then in late July, Dre plans to release his long-awaited follow-up to 1992's The Chronic. The name of the new album has not yet been determined since Dre's former label, Death Row, took his first choice -- Chronic 2000 -- for the compilation the label released recently.
Click here to read The 411's 1995 interview with Dr. Dre


PE unleashes a poison
Public Enemy, recently signed to web-based record label Atomic Pop, will release their upcoming album, There's A Poison Goin' On, over the Internet this month. The album will be available on compact disc, cassette and MP3. The first single and video from the album, "Do You Wanna Go Our Way???" debuted on MTV.com on Monday, May 3. Poison, PE's eighth album, is expected to hit record stores on June 22, but pre-orders through The 411 online and Amazon.com will be shipped May 18.

"The music on the record is significant," Chuck D said in an interview aired on MTV. "But the record itself is more significant, because of how it's going to come at the public. It's going to come at the public in non-conventional means. It's going to enter the marketplace like shrapnel with the use of software companies on the Internet. These are bold ventures into a bold new world." Click here to pre-order the album


Time for an encore?
European concert promoters reportedly have offered $15 million to bring "The Hard Knock Life Tour" overseas for just three shows. That's an impressive number, considering that the $18 million generated by the 54-city U.S. tour starring Jay-Z, DMX, Redman and Method Man was already considered a record for a hip-hop event.
Click here to read The 411's review of Jay-Z's album


Eminem's concerts get wild
It seems every day there's something new to report about Eminem. If the rest of his concerts end up like the ones in San Francisco and L.A., then that trend will continue. On his trip to the Bay Area, Slim Shady reportedly became involved in an altercation with a fan. Two different versions of the story have surfaced. The first account stated that Eminem jumped into the crowd and attacked an obnoxious fan that was insulting him. The second report said that a fight broke out between fans, and Eminem and security intervened to put a stop to it. Even stranger is what happened at a West Hollywood appearance. Actor Dustin Hoffman, who brought his kids to the show, appeared on stage wrapped like a mummy before removing the bandages to awkwardly dance with Slim. The other guest star made a more impressive performance: Dr. Dre joined Eminem for a rendition of "Nuthin' But A G Thang."

More news on the Lost Boyz, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill and Foxy Brown


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