T.I. talks on new album dropping

House arrest may have been the best thing that’s happened for T.I.’s career as of late.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, T.I. expressed the concentration he’s given his sixth studio album entitled Paper Trail, tentatively scheduled for release later this fall. When asked how much he’s gotten done, T.I. said,
“I’ve got about thirty-some tracks done, but I’ve got like sixteen that I’m in love with and I’m still working. After you get those sixteen, you try to make sixteen more to top them and you pick the best.”

T.I. also spoke about the various producers that he’s worked with, citing a few in-house producers from Grand Hustle Records (Little C and Keith Mack), Danja, J.R. Rotem and most significantly DJ Toomp. This would be their first record together since T.I.’s 2005 release King, as Toomp and T.I. had creative differences during the production of T.I. Vs. T.I.P.

It was reported earlier that T.I. was actually writing down lyrics for Paper Trail, and T.I. explains this change.

“People were saying how they missed the old sound, they missed that I’m Serious T.I., so I figured that I would try to tap into that element.”

No work from Paper Trail has been released, nor an album release date, so HipHopDX will keep you updated with definitely more to come.

Reported By: Edwin Ortiz

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NICOLE BELL IN "I WILL NOT LOSE" ROCAWEAR AD

If you haven’t heard already Nicole Bell who is the wife of slain Sean Bell, which was murdered by NYPD during 50 shots of his Bachelor party in 2006. In the above picture you will see Nicole Bell and her two daughters in the new “I Will Not Lose” campaign ad. The detectives in the Sean Bell shooting will waive jury trial coming up. Instead of holding a big check while taking pictures the new campaign will be supporting the Bell family through out the entire trial.

TANK BRUTALIZED BY POLICE

Grammy nominated R&B singer Tank says he was the victim of police brutality last Sunday at the conclusion of NBA All Star Weekend in New Orleans.
The incident took place early Sunday morning around 1:30 am. The singer and one of his business partners left the House of Blues in New Orleans in search of their driver. According to a statement release, the pair asked a nearby security officer for directions to their destination and set out on foot.
As Tank rounded the final corner and spotted his vehicle, he was stopped by a New Orleans Police Officer and instructed to turn around.
During the exchange, Tank attempted to negotiate another path to the vehicle and also assured the officer (who was black) that he was not a threat, the officer told said he didn’t owe the singer “any explanations.”
Tank was later approached by three white officers approached and began asking questions. After asking for further explanation, the officers slammed Tank up against a nearby wall, bending one arm behind his back, which trapped the singer’s other arm between his body and the wall.
The officers asked Tank to release the pinned arm, which he could not do.
Apparently fed up at what the officers may have perceived as insubordination (for not releasing his pinned arm), Tank was shot at close range with a taser and forced to the ground.
During the incident, one of the officers told the singer “never mess with the law in New Orleans,” according to a statement released.
“The most frustrating part of the entire incident is knowing that I did not do anything to pose a threat but was treated like a criminal,” he said in the wake of the incident. “With a clean-cut image and a lady by my side, the law took matters into their own hands and chose to endanger my safety and those accompanying me. It’s 2008 and New Orleans is still very much in trouble beyond the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I’m a living witness.”
Tank has engaged the services of the Law Office of Bernard L. Charbonnet, Jr. “My firm intends to vigorously protect his interest as we do for all of our clients,” Charbonnet says.
The incident is still under investigation.

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R. Kelly Publicist Speaks Out

(L to R)GEORGE, MAXINE, AND R. KELLY
Looks like R. Kelly is in some more trouble. As usual, it involves him and that over-active sex drive of his. You know, the one that only allows him to mess with girls under the age of 20. But anyhow, George Daniels, who is the husband of R. Kelly’s former publicist, Regina Daniels, spoke out against the Chicago-bred singer, accusing that Kelly had an “inappropriate” relationship with his daughter, Maxine, who Daniels claimed the singer had known since she was “a little girl.” Here’s what Robert’s people had to say:
It’s hard to take seriously the moral outrage expressed by George and Regina Daniels over R. Kelly’s relationship with Mr. Daniels’ adult daughter, Maxine. The fact is that they had no problem with the relationship — indeed, they encouraged it — while Ms. Daniels was on Mr. Kelly’s payroll. It was Regina Daniels, then working as a publicist for Mr. Kelly, who persuaded him to attend her step-daughter’s 21st birthday party. And it was Regina Daniels who shortly thereafter gave her step-daughter Mr. Kelly’s private phone number, with the admonition: ‘Don’t tell your father.’ It was only after Ms. Daniels resigned her position to avoid being fired for incompetence that her stepdaughter’s relationship suddenly became an issue for her and her husband.
If you’re interested in listening to the 9-minute interview, courtesy of TMZ.com, check it out above!

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Scott Storch Coughs up 500K

Back in May of 2007, David Menefield, owner of the LA Confidential record label and former manager of Nocturnal, sued Scott Storch because he claimed he lent Storch's Tuff Jew Productions $100,000 to prevent the forclosure of his home, when Storch was experiencing financial problems in 2003. Scott Storch never repaid the loan and reneged on other portions of the agreement including four tracks he promised to Menefields artist, which are valued at $100,000 a piece. On February 13th a judge sided with Menefield, ruling that Storch must pay $509,717, which includes the original loan plus the total of $400,000 for the tracks and attorney fees. "Scott Storch never had the courtesy even to call me and speak to me directly about this matter after I asked to be repaid," Menefield said. "I had to hire my tough Jewish lawyer Bret Lewis to beat the $509,717.50 from Scott Storch and Tuff Jew Productions in court. Scott Storch has not given a statement yet.

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Riot Breaks at a Concert with Akon

Wednesday's free concert that featured R&b star Akon, took a turn for the bad after police struggled to maintain order with upset fans. Reuters is reporting that violence started after a fire alarrm was pulled out during the show at the Fields Shopping Mall in Copenhagen. 2-3 thousand people attended the event where the director Jens Geppel said "It was a free concert and we knew that many people would come, but there were a lot of people there, more than we had expected." The fire alarm ended up being false, but fans were evacuated and began to protest. At that point officers fought several dozen fans who threw bottles and rocks at them after they were evacuated. Eight people were arrested and emergency services had to treat a number of people who were injured, although no serious injuries were reported.

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Jadakiss Speaks "Jay-Z, Hip Hop, and Album"

Jadakiss is speaking out and giving his opinions on Jay-Z leaving Dej Jam, his thoughts on the state of hip hop and talks about his upcoming Roc-A-Fella debut. Jada didn't hold back when asked about the state of hip hop these days, saying "N*gga's is garbage," he said. "The game is f*cked up ... a bunch of ring tone, tight-pants-wearing motherf*ckrs. I'm just doin' me. The music is f*cking garbage, man. Kanye came out with hot music. He sold records. T.I., same thing. Alicia Keys, same sh*t. If your sh*t was hot and you had a machine, you sold records." Kiss went on to say that he signed up with Roc-A-Fella for "A change of pace," as he said in an interview with The Come Up DVD. "The people like change. The fans like change. Not too dramatic but y'know, they like to see new sh*t and hear new sh*t and see new sh*t. It aint no different though. Different machine maybe but we've yet to see."

He says he has 7-8 songs done but still needs to get production from big producers, saying "I still gotta holla at Kanye, Just Blaze, maybe Pharell, hopefully Dr. Dre, Toomp ... whoever got the f*cking heat man, Timbaland, Storch," he said. "I don't discriminate. If it's hot, let's have it."

He then went on to talk about the title of his album. "Nas is dropping N*gger, why I can't drop Kiss My Ass," he asked? "I think I might keep my sh*t. Kiss My Ass coming soon."

When asked about artists that aren't selling that much, he said "Don't blame nobody, just make better music, *ssholes," Jada said. "It's a business at the end of the day, so you can be mad at who ever but you gotta be mad at yourself. Either the music wasn't right or you didn't handle your business. It's as simple as that."

Jada went on to talk about Jay-Z and leaving Def Jam, saying "He tried his hand for a few years, he raped the budget, he got however much they was paying him and he stepped down," Jada said. "He got his masters, he doin' his thing. 40/40's in Vegas and all that, hotels, he good."

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Larry Davis Killed in Prison

By CRISTIAN SALAZAR, Associated Press Writer 14 minutes ago

A man who gained notoriety after wounding six police officers in a 1986 gunfight that led to a nationwide manhunt was killed in prison, corrections officials said Thursday.

Larry Davis, serving 25 years to life on a murder conviction in an unrelated case, was stabbed to death around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday during a recreational break at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Ulster County, said Erik Kriss, a spokesman for the state Department of Correctional Services.

Davis was stabbed repeatedly with a 12-by-1 1/2-inch homemade metal shank in the arms, head, back, upper thigh and chest, Kriss said.

"I don't know what was happening at this exact moment," he said, adding that prison staff were in the yard when a fight was observed and inmates began congregating. "Things happen quickly."

Another inmate at the prison 80 miles north of the city was being questioned in Davis' death by state police and the inspector general for corrections and had been placed in a segregated cell, Kriss said. The inmate had not been charged in Davis' death as of early Thursday.

Davis, 41, had most recently been convicted in 1991 of fatally shooting a suspected drug dealer in the Bronx.

Five years earlier, police had gone to an apartment to arrest him as a suspect in the slayings of five other drug dealers.

During the ensuing shootout, Davis escaped unhurt through a window, setting off a 17-day manhunt that involved hundreds of officers. He eventually surrendered to police after being tracked to a housing project where one of his sisters lived, where he held a woman and her children hostage in an all-night standoff before giving up, police said at the time.

At his trial, the defense contended that the officers were trying to kill Davis because he had knowledge about police corruption, and that he opened fire in self-defense. Prosecutors said Davis was trying to evade arrest by shooting at the officers.

A jury acquitted him of attempted murder and aggravated assault. He was instead convicted on weapons charges and sentenced to five to 15 years in prison.

The gunfight and Davis' flight from the law made him a folk hero to some and a symbol of outrage to others, especially law enforcement. More than 1,500 officers incensed by the verdict gathered outside the courthouse to demand the maximum penalty.

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Lil Wayne visits old school

The New Orleans Times-Picayune, the local newspaper, is reporting that the NO rapper Lil Wayne recently visited his former high school, the Eleanor McMain Magnet Secondary School, on Tuesday (2/19). He was there to thank the students for their help on an art project. He had previously asked the students to design a logo for his new charity, the One Family Foundation. Lil Wayne spent about 45 minutes talking to a group of around 40 students, answering questions from the students but ended up turning down an invitation to the prom, because of a scheduling conflict.

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Kevin Liles Keeps Jay-Z Rumors Alive

Jay-Z steeped down as president of Def Jam back in December of 2007, and since then there has been many rumors and speculation about what he will be doing next. The most recent of these rumors was that Jay was going to Warner Music Group. Apparently an industry insider told the New York Daily News that Jay was in talks to start his own label with the head of Warner Music Group, Lyor Cohen. Cohen has previously stated, "I would be honored and privileged to work with him again. Bringing Jay-Z to the Warner Music Group would be a privilege and a coup. I'd do it in a heartbeat." When Kevin Liles was asked to confirm or deny the rumors, he wouldn't do either. He simply said "Jay is going to do Jay. I wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to do. We always gonna be together so it is what it is."

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