Suge Sues Kanye, So Where's Suge's Real Money?

Wages Of Crime - R. T. Naylor

So Suge Knight's suing a bunch of people including Kanye West that didn't keep guns out of that party where he got served (oops, wrong party!) and where he supposedly lost his pretty, expensive earring.

Do you think Suge would have called "PUNK" on anybody pulling such a move back when he was Mr. Bigtime?

Be that as it may, I've been reading Wages Of Crime: Black Markets, Illegal Finance, and the Underworld Economy and I started thinking about Suge and how, in his world, stashing loot would be the norm, something any good businessman would do.

So people saying that Suge Knight's bankruptcy means he's broke are basically saying he was bad at what he was doing.

Show some respect!  That fat criminal who ruined so many artist's career deserves better.  Right?

TMZ Claims to Have Suge Knight/Death Row Assets Inventory

TMZ is claiming to have a list of Death Row assets that are being liquidated.

You can download the list here and then decide for yourself if they had an intern create it from some old xeroxed office forms.

Though, I have to admit, it's just boring enough to be real.

Kanye West Arrested for G'ing Up on Paparazzi

Kanye West and his bodyguard were busted for a scrape up with paparazzi today.  But you knew that already.

I bet I'm the last person to hear about that.

DJ Vlad Sues Rick Ross for Beatdown

DJ Vlad is suing Rick Ross for the widely documented beatdown he [allegedly] received by Rick Ross' crew the afternoon of the Ozone Awards.

I'm quite interested in this suit for a couple of reasons.

It brings interpersonal violence in hip hop into a different light and potentially enacts a price for violence that steps away from the sick, inbred nonsense that passes for "street justice".

Since the suit is framing the assault as an attempt to "stifle [Vlad's] journalistic reporting and freedom of expression", it also begins to address the longstanding issue of hip hop artists' assaults on journalists.

Kidz In The Hall's Management Issues Statement

Here's the statement being circulated by Kidz In The Hall's management regarding recent events that have been making the news:

"Double O from the hip hop group Kidz In The Hall was assaulted by several bouncers early Saturday morning, July 26, while inside a nightclub in Tempe, AZ following a Kidz In The Hall performance. Group member and friend Naledge, who did not witness the assault on Double O, was arrested outside of the club. Naledge's attempt to get medical assistance for Double O was misconstrued as a hinderence to the investigation."

"Reports that no injuries were sustained are false as Double O was taken to the hospital with multiple injuries from the excessive force used by club security. On Sunday morning Double O underwent surgery for one of his injuries. He is still in the hospital, but in stable condition."

"In the last 2 years, Kidz In The Hall have traveled to over 10 countries, have done 200+ shows and never before been involved in any altercation, big or small,  with club or concert security, or police officers."

ProHipHop joins so many others in wishing Kidz In The Hall the best during this difficult period.

Foxy Brown & Lil' Kim Sued by Simon & Schuster

Both Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim are being sued by Simon & Schuster for each taking healthy advances for books that they have yet to deliver:

"Simon & Schuster said it paid Brown $75,000 under a 2006 contract for an autobiography tentatively titled 'Broken Silence.' The publisher said Lil' Kim signed a contract in 2004 and was paid $40,000 for an untitled novel."

As with P. Diddy, Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim's failure to deliver a book is ultimately a failure to hire a ghostwriter.

40/40 Club Manager Accused of Threatening Staff

Desiree Gonzalez, general manager of the Chelsea 40/40 club, has been accused of threatening staffers if they got involved in the class-action lawsuit against the club.

Via The New York Observer.

Too Short's Studio Gear to be Seized

Too Short may lose the equipment at his UpAllNite recording studio in Oakland for not completing payment of a $1 million settlement related to a 1991 auto accident and fatality.

Apparently Too Short's been ducking this one and deputies "have tried for more than a week to serve Shaw [aka Too Short] with an order to turn over his assets, as well as appear in Superior Court on Aug. 13 to explain why he did not submit a list of his property" to the lawyer appointed to collect the balance.

Not a good look.

Boots Riley Appearance Leads to New Festival Contracts

Boots Riley's recent use of profanity at Norfolk's Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Festival has resulted in a new anti-profanity contract clause for performers.

Jacob the Jeweler Sentenced to 30 Months

Jacob the Jeweler gets 30 months in a federal prison beginning January 15th for "lying to investigators looking into a multistate drug ring."

Money laundering charges were dropped in a plea deal.

Atlantic Records Suing MixTrap & BCD

Atlantic Records is suing Mixtrap and BCD for copyright infringement and that's no joke.

Via Nah Right Lite.

Update:
BCD Music Group releases a statement on the lawsuit.

MONSTA News Owner Sends MONSTA Mag Crew Cease & Desist Letter

Robert G. Lopez of MONSTA News and a Special Features Editor for Don Diva Magazine informed me that he sent a cease and desist letter via Sandy Lal & Associates, P.C. to Dave Mays and other folks associated with MONSTA magazine regarding trademark infringement.

I received a copy of the letter in three .jpgs:
Page 1
Page 2 [misnumbered]
Page 3

Hip Hop Game has additional comments from Mr. Lopez:

"I own the trademark rights to that name and I’m shutting them down, point blank...I just sent out that cease n desist letter yesterday and Mays has already reached out 'cause they now they have a big problem of their hands right now. What sucks for them is that this is what I do for a living. I been working in the entertainment legal field for the last eight years and represent a bunch of people for trademark matters."

A search of the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System reveals that "MONSTA" is registered to Robert G. Lopez for:

"Newsletters in the field of criminal law developments, prison statistics, hip-hop news and urban street culture; Magazines featuring news, interviews and information on the criminal justice system, prison life, hip-hop, and urban street culture."

There's more to come, I betcha!

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Dave Mays & Benzino to Launch MONSTA Magazine
The Game Featured on First MONSTA Mag Cover

ThugLifeArmy.com Interviews Suge Knight

I haven't had a change to check this out yet but Thug Life Army's RB has an exclusive interview with Suge Knight focused on the Lydia Harris lawsuit but covering a lot of other territory as well.

Normally I'd have some snide remark at this moment but RB's a good man and I haven't listened yet so, if you're interested, you can check out not only the audio of the interview but some related material and make your own judgment.

Interscope Artists Using Steroids/HGH for Anti-Aging?

Here's an interesting angle on the Interscope steroid scandal from MTV's Jayson Rodriquez who takes a quick look at the possibility of the use of steroids and HGH as youth drugs.

Apparently growth hormones may actually decrease the overall lifespan and, I was reading somewhere else, such substances may cause internal organs to swell along with all the other growth.

These guys really seem like suckers to me.  Weren't they already rich before they started shortening their lives?

There's going to be some weird lawsuits and public meltdowns over this one, no doubt.

Kind of makes 50 Cent's good health rep look pretty damn fraudulent.  I imagine he'll handle the marketing implications by going on lots of shows and pumping his next product.

I just feel bad for the kids that are going to start buying more illegal steroids to keep the pace with their heroes.

Steroid Marketing at Interscope: Busta & Game?

I was trying to figure out if anybody had an early call on the Interscope steroid scandal but the posts and news items and blog comments speculating on steroid use by various Interscope artists seems to go back to whenever they first appeared looking cut.

Now we know what 50 Cent meant when he said he was going to put M.O.P. in the gym.  He meant "on the needle".

That M.O.P. post led to me starting the 50 Cent category cause it was one more example of his marketing juice!

Interestingly enough, though Busta Rhymes hasn't been mentioned legally as far as I know, I've been finding more speculations about him than about anyone else.

Anybody know when The Game first got all cut?  Maybe after he signed with 50?  Roid rage may well have contributed to their harsh breakup.

I doubt this story will get much more interesting, except for whoever else gets exposed, but I just love it when a wall of the hip hop hall of marketing mirrors gets broken and we get to see the sordid poker game going on in the backroom.

50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Timbaland & Wyclef on Steroids?

Say what?

"The Times Union of Albany cited unnamed sources in a Sunday report that R&B music star Mary J. Blige, rap musicians 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean, and award-winning author and producer Tyler Perry may have received or used performance enhancing drugs."

Via Street Knowledge Media.

2008: The Legal Unraveling of the Wu-Tang Clan

Obviously I don't know what's up with the details of the $170,000 U-God lawsuit against the Wu-Tang Clan but, given all the complaints regarding money and power among Wu-Tang members in '07, this looks like a bad start for '08.

At least these guys aren't shooting at each other but, then again, [insert lawyer joke here].

Yung Joc Skips Arraignment

Yung Joc did not show for his arraignment hearing on gun charges today and is considered a fugitive.  His bail has been doubled to $100k.

I imagine he can arrange another appearance without having to get hauled in however that's going to be a bad look in court.

For a while I was working on a hip hop crime blog but it may get revived here if everybody goes to jail.

Staying out of jail should be a big part of a rapper's business plan.

Good New for Yung Joc:
Apparently Yung Joc was late and the bail was not doubled as initially reported.

Snitchcraft: Plies' Manager Busted w/80 Pounds of Cocaine

Plies' manager busted with serious weight:

The manager of superstar rapper Plies was arrested yesterday (December 11), after police seized over 80 pounds of cocaine in Tampa, Florida.  Police seized the cocaine from David Lee Gay Jr. and various associates last night, after another associate was caught selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.

JumpOff.TV's World Rap Championship Videos Stolen

As was widely reported last week, videotapes of the final round of JumpOff.TV's World Rap Championships were stolen.

Here's more from the NY Post and the New York Observer.

For previous rounds and upcoming videos see JumpOff.TV @ YouTube.

Cash Money's Birdman & Slim Busted for Guns/Drugs [Not]

I really was going to take the day off and reconsider my relationship to Corporate America but Birdman, Slim and a bunch more folks got busted for drugs and pot and I thought you'd like to know if you haven't already read about it.

Once again, the smell of marijuana leads to a bigger bust.  But rappers don't have time to work for marijuana reform.  They're too busy in jail on the phone crying to their mamas.

Update:
Birdman says that initial media reports are nonsense, the guns are legal and there was a small amount of marijuana leading to a misdemeanor charge.

T.I. Arrested, ATF & U.S. Marshals Search House

T.I. gets rounded up but word's not out on what for.  It looks like they're going to try to get everybody they can on whatever they can.  Sort of a mo' money, mo' problems moment presented by the Hip Hop Cops.

Tell me again why rich rappers aren't working on prison reform.  I've said it before but if you know that your or your friends are eventually going wouldn't you get around to some strategic thinking about what that really means?

That's a rhetorical question in case you're wondering.

Via Real Talk NY.

Update:
T.I. was arrested on gun charges stemming from having his bodyguard buy machine guns and silencers for him.  It's a detailed story so click through.  Looks really bad for T.I.

Update 2:
T.I. to stay in jail at least until a bail hearing Friday.

Lupe Fiasco to Sue Vibe for Fiascogate Article

Lupe Fiasco says he will sue Vibe for defamation of character for their recent Fiascogate article that now bears the disclaimer:
Note: The interview with Lupe Fiasco regarding his feelings about Tribe and Midnight Marauders was conducted prior to his Hip Hop Honors performance. The article should have made clearer that Lupe Fiasco was responding to statements he'd previously made, not his Hip Hop Honors performance.

That is different because people were pretty shocked at these statements as a response to this incident but I think those folks would be shocked anyway.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Lupe Fiasco Chooses Brand Self Destruction

Prodigy Sentenced to 3.5 Years on Gun Possession

Prodigy - Mac 10 Handle

Prodigy gets 3.5 years after pleading guilty to "criminal possession of a loaded gun".

Via Real Talk NY.

RIAA Beats Jammie Thomas in 1st Consumer P2P Trial

Billboard reports that the RIAA won their first legal challenge to the ongoing filesharing suits that are driving everyone nuts:
The jury...awarded the labels $9,250 per recording, finding that Thomas willfully infringed the labels' recordings.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Sony BMG Lawyer Reveals Heinous Industry Perspective

Village Voice Follows the Hip Hop Cops

The Voice follows an extensive piece by Sean Gardiner on The Game and the Hip Hop Cops with coverage of their activities at AllHipHop Week events.

Freaky Gurl Pits Gucci Mane Against Big Cat Records

Gucci Mane - Trap-A-Thon [on Big Cat Records]

When I saw that Gucci Mane's upcoming Atlantic release, Back To The Traphouse, was preceded by a Big Cat Records release, Trap-A-Thon, I assumed Big Cat was doing the usual, dragging out old tracks from a star that's gone on to bigger things and trying to squeeze out some more bucks in the process.

When Gucci Mane released a statement condemning Big Cat Records for the "unauthorized" release of Trap-A-Thon, it seemed to confirm that reading.  However Jeff Leeds of the NY Times digs in to the story behind current court proceedings to reveal Big Cat Records may have been the ones wronged.

The short version:
Gucci Mane leaves Big Cat Records for Atlantic Records, can't get a hit single but his earlier Big Cat release, Hard To Kill, has one with Freaky Gurl.

Maybe Atlantic tried to buy the use of Freaky Gurl and maybe Big Cat asked too much but suddenly Gucci Mane's got a new recording of Freaky Gurl featuring Ludacris out without having cleared up issues with Big Cat Records.

Big Cat retaliates with their own Freaky Gurl remix and the release of Trap-A-Thon to which Gucci Mane and Atlantic Records yell foul.

I'm not sure what to think of this but mostly I see gangsters over here and gangsters over there.

So why am I running the cover of Trap-A-Thon and not that of Back To The Traphouse?  Because Big Cat Records posted the cover art at Amazon while Atlantic has not.  While that doesn't prove that Big Cat is doing a better promotional job than Atlantic, let's use that as an excuse to give Big Cat Records' Marlon Rowe the last words:

Mr. Rowe, watching to see where his new Gucci Mane release enters the chart this week, sees the affair as a sign of the scrambles set off as rap sales continue a drastic decline.

"It's hard to get a real hit record," he said. "We spent a lot of money getting this guy hot." Atlantic, he added, is unfairly sponging off of his own promotional efforts. "They want you to do all the groundwork and then come and take all the credit, like they're the one who made this artist who he is. I really think it's a desperate move."

Afeni Shakur Goes After Death Row

Shakur estate moves against songs' sale:
Afeni Shakur sought an injunction in federal bankruptcy court Friday claiming Death Row was attempting to sell Shakur material that belonged to the rapper's estate.

Unreleased recordings should have been turned over to the estate as part of a 1997 agreement with the record label, said attorney Donald N. David, who represents the estate.

But during Death Row's bankruptcy proceedings, "it was revealed that an album's worth of unreleased Tupac material was being advertised to potential buyers as the jewel in the crown of the Death Row assets," David said...

The court was expected to consider the request within a month when it decides whether to permit the label to release an album with the unreleased tracks to help pay off its debts, David said.

Update:
Please see the press release for more information.

Lupe Fiasco's Partner, Charles Patton, Sentenced to 44 Years on Drug Charges

Lupe Fiasco's business partner Charles Patton was recently sentenced to 44 years in prison on drug charges related to possession of 6 kilos of heroin.

While Lupe hasn't been charged, the prosecution did attempt to link him via the possibility that Patton's music operations were funded by drug money and via an interesting phone conversation:
[Lupe Fiasco] testified at trial about several phone conversations with Patton...In the recorded conversations, Patton and Fiasco discuss splitting up "whole yellow" and "whole red" ones.

A prosecution witness directly involved in Patton's drug operation testified the colors referred to the mixing and prepping of $10 heroin packets. Fiasco, testifying for the defense, said they referred to mixing and prepping of music tracks. He denied any involvement in drugs.

Rumor has it that Lupe will soon be dropping a "dime bag" of digital tracks for our listening enjoyment.

Ruff Ryders Exec Arrested for Cocaine Possession

Jerry Gilbert and Darrin Dean, a Ruff Ryders executive, were arrested on charges of cocaine possession and some related crimes on Thursday evening.

Broken taillight leads to a stop, smell of marijuana leads to a search and look what they eventually found:
The officer later uncovered a concealed trap door built into the rear wall of the van, according to the police report.  Two pistons lowered the floor of the compartment to reveal 1½ kilos of cocaine and a loaded .45 caliber handgun, Coppola said.

Both men were charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun while conducting narcotics violations. They were released from the Bergen County Jail on bail of $342,500 Friday morning.

Lawsuits: Jay-Z, 40/40 Club, Damon Dash, Rocawear

Jay-Z and the 40/40 Club are getting sued:
Lawyers for Celeste Williams, a former waitress at 40/40, accused the club of keeping a cut of workers' tips and "willfully failing and refusing to pay them at the legally required minimum wage" and overtime since the popular nightspot opened in 2003.

Earlier this month, Antonne Jones:
filed a copyright infringement suit in Manhattan federal court against Lionsgate, Roc-A-Fella Films and producers Jay-Z and Damon Dash, claiming the 2002 film "State Property" is based on his book "The Family -- A Philadelphia Mob Story."

Last month, Rocawear sued a "California store for selling counterfeit jewelry bearing the logo of the fashion brand".

Ski Mask Way: Rap Crimes & Hip Hop Culture

Ski Mask Way has quietly launched.  Jarrett Carter and I are both posting irregularly but we're starting to sketch out some elements that suggest the potentially rewarding possibilities for taking a more serious look at crime and hip hop culture.

We're still open to additional writers so hit me up if you're interested:
clyde(at)prohiphop(dot)com

Jarrett Carter Joins Ski Mask Way

We're still figuring out what we're doing with Ski Mask Way but we're now a bit more of a we with the addition of Jarrett Carter who introduced himself with a post about the Precision Youth Power Program in Baltimore.

You may know Jarrett from his frequent comments at ProHipHop.  Looks like his blog is undergoing reconstruction but you can check out his firm at Carter Media Enterprises.

Criminal Arts Silenced, Ski Mask Way Lurches Into View

I buried the supersoft prebeta launch of Criminal Arts in the second half of a previous post.  I should probably do that with Ski Mask Way but I just have this compulsion to take baby steps in public.

What's up with Ski Mask Way?

Glad you asked.  You can think of it as ProHipHop's Evil Twin, since crime is business and, as Cam'ron points out, snitchin' is bad for business.

The subtitle, Rap Crimes & Hip Hop Culture, indicates my interest in avoiding the mistake of saying crime is part of rap, not part of hip hop.  The purist path does not interest me.

But, whatever else you think, please recognize that it's an experiment on public view and that it could use a smart blogger or two.

Hit me up:
clyde(at)prohiphop(dot)com

How Google Could Have Avoided the Viacom Lawsuit

From Viacom's takedown notice to their $1 billion lawsuit, Google and YouTube are getting slammed for something they could have prevented.

What's the big issue here?  Unlicensed content on YouTube for which a long promised filter has not arrived combined with what must be considered a cavalier attitude on the part of Google regarding copyrighted content.

There's a lot to discuss here but the bottom line is that Google should have taken all that cash and hired humans to screen the videos.  Their arrogance regarding the capability of math, their naivety regarding the bargaining tactics of the media industry and their big fat bank account caused them to set themselves up for this when the cheaper solution would have been preapproval by human viewers.

As of September '06, up to 65k videos were being uploaded daily.  That's a lot but the worst offenses are the obvious ones, music videos, film clips and the like and they can be recognized within about five seconds after whatever preroll exists.  Kids dancing to copyrighted music isn't that much harder to catch because it's such an obvious genre.  That means videos don't have to be scanned all the way through to catch the major violations of concern to copyright holders.

I've been messing around with the math and I think it's doable even with U.S. workers though offshoring would be tempting for most public companies' bottom line.  So I understand why people are upset with Viacom but it was Google's ball to drop and they dropped it as quickly as they could.

On a related note, always assuming that automation is the answer is a beginner's move as is assuming that your brilliance has universal applicability.

Evel Kanyevel Sued By Evel Knieval?

The Jewelry Report w/EbenGregory:
Kanye West Has Another Awards Show Meltdown

So, not only did Kanye West not get the video award at the MTV Europe Music Awards that he somehow felt the Touch The Sky music video deserved (see above video), now Evel Knieval's suing him for trademark infringement and general steez besmirchment.

While I would so love to watch Kanye's testimony, I imagine this will be settled out of court.  Maybe if we all encourage Kanye to take a stand, he'll give us what we want, pages and pages of crazy quotes!

Actually, we'll get that anyway.

In related news, various Rocawear entities have been added to the trademark infringement suit against Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella brought by professional wrestling entertainer Diamond Dallas Page over the diamond logo and handsign used by the Roc fam.

Update:
If you're running Firefox, you may not be able to access the Kanye story.  Right now, about 1 am EST Wednesday, Billboard News only displays through Dec. 11th on Firefox/Mac OSX but it shows the 12th on IE/Mac OS 9.  And wouldn't you know I'd changed the link from the MTV version in the first place because MTV takes so long to load and is so incredibly sluggish and unpleasant to experience using my current configuration.

Pretrial Gag Order Blocks C-Murder Marketing Efforts

Due to a gag order intended to keep pretrial publicity to a minimum, C-Murder will not be able to speak to the press or make promotional music videos for his next album until the order is lifted.

Judge Martha Sassone stated to C-Murder:
"I guess the music will have to speak for itself," she said. "Capitol Records will have to find another way to advertise it."

However, photo opps are acceptable:
"I don't have a problem with the photographs," as long as they're done at his home, Rakosky is present and she knows in advance the photographer's name, Sassone said.  "There'll be no interviews, no music videos."

That's truly an odd set of media restrictions.  It will be interesting to see what kind of photo collage or other approach they come up with for C-Murder's next effort since he's all about creative video production while incarcerated.

ProHipHop suggests either making an animated music video or holding a C-Murder Body Double contest and using that footage in a video.

Another RIAA Lawsuit Dropped, None Ever Go To Trial

Apparently both the RIAA and the defendant in a filesharing case moved for dismissal after the defendant's lawyer put forth the argument that the "RIAA's usual means of tracking down offenders -- an IP address, a list of songs, and a name obtained from an ISP -- is insufficient evidence."

The reality is that these RIAA lawsuits are bullsh*t, their trail of evidence is flimsy, at best, and they've won settlements by picking on people who can't afford to fight them.

As whichever blogger at the Listening Post wrote this points out:
"Since the RIAA began filing lawsuits against suspected file sharers in 2003, not a single one has gone all the way to trial."  Thank you.  Not enough people know about that (or, while we're on the topic, that no one has ever even been sued for downloading music, only for sharing it).

The list of RIAA lawsuits that have not gone to trial now includes Elektra v. Wilke, since plaintiff and defendant alike moved to dismiss the case.  It'll be interesting to see what will happen when the RIAA finally sues a deep-pocketed eccentric with the will and means to see a case to its conclusion.

I haven't kept up with the history of these trials very closely but I don't understand why one of those rich tech individuals who are always spouting off at the mouth about social change hasn't stepped up to help one of these broke ass folks and, in the process, take the trial as far as possible.

But then, I don't get why people think that hip hop is powerful when marijuana is still illegal.

Why Is Drug Bust Being Called Operation Hip Hop?

I have no idea why this drug bust is being called Operation Hip Hop.

Hook me up if you hear.

Update:
Here's an account from an Illinois paper with more details and photos.

So far the connection to hip hop seems to be one of black men and crack cocaine.  Sure, I see that!

I put in a call to Aurora P.D. (the bust was in Aurora, IL) and they directed me to an ATF agent whose callback I look forward to because I'm sure he'll have a simple explanation for why this was called Operation Hip Hop.

Sadly, while I think that such equations should be challenged, it's not hard to imagine how they made this connection.  But I just want to hear what they say.

Update:
I spoke with Special Agent/PIO Thomas J. Ahern who informed me that one of the suspects owned or ran a retail operation called Hip Hop in the Aurora area and that's where the name came from.

Lawyers USA Honors Entertainment Lawyer James Walker

Lawyers USA is honoring seven up-and-coming lawyers who "have positioned themselves to make a significant impact on their profession" including James L. Walker Jr. of Stamford, Connecticut:

As an entertainment lawyer, James Walker has a roster of about 300 clients, including TV personalities, athletes, authors and gospel, rap and hip-hop performers. He has represented such high-profile personalities as actor Jamie Foxx, rapper DMX, R&B legend Freddie Jackson and WNBA star Ruthie Bolton-Holifield.

Each summer, the entertainment consulting arm of his law firm organizes an Urban Music conference at Fox woods Casino and Resort. As if that weren't enough, he's also completing a book called "This Business of Urban and Gospel Music," due to be published by Billboard Books in fall 2007.

Walker earned extra money as a concert promoter while an undergraduate at Harvard University. After college, he continued in concert promotion for two years before earning his law degree at Howard University in 1995.

Here's an article Walker wrote on first steps for getting into the music business.

Official site: Lawyers USA

Jacob The Jeweler Arrested, Time For A Fire Sale?

Jacob the Jeweler has been arrested on drug and money laundering charges as part of an extensive investigation of a group sometimes known as the Black Mafia Family.

Nah Right, where I got this, adds context.  I should just bite the bullet and start running his headlines in the sidebar or something.

M.I.A.'s Visa Problems Resurface Online

As I pointed out about a month ago, M.I.A states on her MySpace page that she is being denied entry to the U.S. At the time, I wondered why we didn't hear more about the situation and felt that it was, in part, a pr failure.

Earlier this week, Asians In Media magazine reported that:
London rapper M.I.A. has been denied a visa to visit or work in the USA by immigration officials . . . Sources close to the British Sri-Lankan MC said that her lawyers are frantically trying to resolve the situation. No one from her record company had returned messages to comment at the time of publication.

I found this article via The Couch Sessions who seems to have found it via Notes From a Different Kitchen. You'll note that they aren't excited fans but they are serious bloggers who have suddenly raised the visibility of M.I.A.'s situation because they find it to be a topic worth noting.

Apparently at least a few other bloggers picked up on that same story.

I'm not sure how much effect on U.S. immigration online supporters of M.I.A. could have, but it's clear that just popping a note up on her MySpace page was not an effective tactic to take what must be a really difficult situation and at least get some supportive press out of it, especially if it's delaying work with big stars like Missy Elliott and Timbaland for her next album.

By the way, I love M.I.A. I think Arular is an amazing album and it's been one of my most played albums since I picked up the cd a few months back. I think she really is part of the future of hip hop at a time when so many artists are part of the past.

Fashion Designer Vs. Publicist on Judge Judy

I generally don't cover urban fashions per se unless there's a direct hook related to hip hop.  And, no, "urban" does not fill that bill.  So I didn't run a recent press release claiming that the following F4Nada ad was turned down by some retailers due to the implied intimacy of the two female models.

However, it's hard to ignore the impending face off of client and publicist heading for Judge Judy.  Apparenty this event is a follow-up to a previous suit brought by F4Nada's Bisha Buxtonaire against publicist Juliette Harris, CEO of It Girl Public Relations.

I have to say I'm a little confused by the F4Nada concept described in the above press releases.  I think as soon as you have to start explaining a concept, it's a marketing problem.  In any case, may justice prevail!

Suge Knight Opts for Bankruptcy

Ok, so Suge Knight is going for bankruptcy, according to his lawyer.

Laurence Strick, who represents Knight, said his client was attempting to reorganize his financial affairs.  "Mr. Knight doesn't have $107 million," Strick said. "It remains to be seen what becomes of Death Row."

This move basically blocks the attempt to put his assets into receivership to be dealt with by the court or whoever they appoint.  I'm not sure how receivership is executed and I guess I won't be learning from this case.

Suge, You're Puzzling Me

I can't figure out what's up with Suge Knight's refusal to appear in court.  If he's got some tactic or strategy in process, I certainly can't imagine what it would be at this point.  The only possibility I can come up with is that his hidden assets are at such a level that he would rather protect those than continue a legal battle that he appears to have lost.

Of course, this situation seems to be another one that will get the IRS's attention.  By the way, whatever happened with that $6 million tax bill?

Legal: Mays/Benzino Lose The Source, Suge Knight's Assets to be Controlled, Death Penalty Sought for McGriff

From AllHipHop.com comes news of a triple whammy:

Judge Rules In Favor Of Black Enterprise, The Source Gets New Owners

Judge To Take Control Of Suge Knights' Assets

Feds Officially Seek Death Penalty Against Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff

That's a lot of heavy news.  Are we in some kind of weird astrological phase or something?  Hit me up if you're on to that kind of thing.

Here's more from Billboard on the Suge Knight/Death Row situation.

Resources: Music Law, Branding Exercise, Arts Careers

Guerrilla music marketer Bob Baker links to a shortlist of music law resources.

Nancy Marmolejo shares a branding exercise for performers using American Idol as a hook.

Anna Deveare Smith is interviewed on NPR regarding her new book Letters to a Young Artist, subtitled Straight-up Advice on Making a Life in the Arts - for Actors, Performers, Writers, and Artists of Every Kind.

Available from Amazon:
Bob Baker - Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook
Anna Deveare Smith - Letters to a Young Artist

Luther Campbell Suing 50 Cent

Luther Campbell is suing 50 Cent for allegedly stealing a single line from his tune It's Your Birthday for 50's hit In Da Club. At issue is the opening line:
Changing just one word . . . in In Da Club, "Sheila" becomes "shorty" in the line "Go shorty, it's your birthday.". . Campbell's lawyer Richard C Wolfe said: "It's the melody, it's the pace, the style - everything about that one line is the same."

L.A. To Pay Biggie Small's Family

On Friday, the family of Biggie Smalls was awarded $1.1 million by a Federal judge for legal fees, security costs and other expenses from their ongoing civil suit due to an LAPD detective withholding evidence related to Biggie's death. The suit had been ruled a mistrial last summer and is expected to resume later this year.

Snitch Economics: The High Cost of Snitching

Associate Professor of Law Alexandra Natapoff looks at the Stop Snitchin' t-shirt controversy with more links than I would have come up with as a lead in to the discusion of the high cost of snitching for communities and crime enforcement. She points out that there is a much deeper issue than whether or not to talk to the cops. As she states:

For the last 20 years, state and federal governments have been creating criminal snitches and setting them loose in poor, high-crime communities . . . producing bad information, endangering innocent people, letting dangerous criminals off the hook, compromising the integrity of police work, and inciting violence and distrust in socially vulnerable neighborhoods. . .

In investigating drug offenses, police and prosecutors rely heavily—and sometimes exclusively—on criminals willing to trade information abo