50 Cent Buys Baby Mama's Life Story Rights?

This is either a rumor or some of that FUD 50 cent likes to drop on the radio but supposedly he's "purchased the rights to his baby mamas life story so she can never release a book about their relationship".

I'm not sure how that would work unless Shaniqua Tomkins agreed to it and they're kind of having some issues right now.  Even then he could only stop certain products, the story itself can come out in all sorts of legitimate forms, including interviews, and in such forms as thinly veiled novels and related fictional material.

From the out of left field department, I think a book of poems would be the perfect solution if this scenario were accurate.  Something like, Remembering Marquise' Daddy, with themes from thug love to baby daddyhood to surviving public humiliation and a related line of cards.

But I'm not really buying this one.

Wikipedia Says The Game Has Joined Westside Connection

Rumor has it that The Game is replacing Mack 10 for the return of the Westside Connection with WC and Ice Cube.

The current Westside Connection Wikipedia entry treats it like a done deal:

"Westside Connection is a group consisting of Ice Cube, WC, and The Game. Mack 10 is a former member. The group's debut album, Bow Down, reached the number 2 position on the Billboard 200 in 1996. The group was formed during the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry, coming out after the death of 2Pac. They have had feuds with Cypress Hill, Common, Kam, and Q-Tip."

A "feud" with Common.  That's kind of hard to picture at the moment.

Still, I think this could be a good look for The Game.  We'll see.

Rumors Prove True as Kim Osorio Joins Global Grind

As previously rumored and speculated upon here at ProHipHop, Kim Osorio is joining Global Grind as Vice President of Content:

"Global Grind...today announced that it has named Kim Osorio to post of Vice President of Content. Osorio, a 10-year hip-hop veteran in publishing, was most recently Executive Editor at BET.com. Prior to that she was the first female Editor-in-Chief of the Source Magazine."

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Kim Osorio Leaving BET for Global Grind?
Global Grind Seeking BET Employees?

Global Grind Seeking BET Employees?

According to industry insiders, Global Grind's interest in BET employees may extend beyond Kim Osorio to whoever's unhappy at BET and might be able to get the job done at Global Grind.

Now we know what all those VC dollars are for!  Burn, baby, burn!

If I started a special section to more closely track the movement of employees between NY urban media companies I think I'd call it Merry Go Round of Misery.

But I'd rather just drop the gems sent my way in the time tested Rumors category!

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Rumors Prove True as Kim Osorio Joins Global Grind
Kim Osorio Leaving BET for Global Grind?

Kim Osorio Leaving BET for Global Grind?

Insiders are saying that Kim Osorio is leaving BET for Global Grind (globalgrind.com)!

Is original content next?  Staff blogs perhaps?

Hmm.  She's cute and she's smart but is that enough?

By the way, not sure if Navarrow Wright would be considered cute, somebody else will have to make that call, but he's certainly intelligent and that certainly hasn't been enough.

My best bet is either journalists blogging for pay or bloggers blogging for attention.

ProHipHop's Advice:
If you can't get equity hold out for pay cause that attention is not a sure thing no matter what they tell you.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Rumors Prove True as Kim Osorio Joins Global Grind
Global Grind Seeking BET Employees?

Global Grind Rumors & What is Schmuck Insurance?

I'm getting some confirmations regarding problems at Global Grind but nothing I can run with beyond the assertion that, yes, most of the posters are paid staff or freelancers and that many are unhappy with the situation, in part, because they're not caking.

I wonder what they're spending all those investment dollars on?  Is that connected to the "schmuck insurance" Russell Simmons was bragging about on Rev. Run's show?

Looking back, here's Liz Burr's take:

"Global Grind raised $4.5 Million from Accel Partners, with Russell Simmons adding his own undisclosed investment funds to the project. Where did all this money go? In a recent episode of Run's House, Russell pitches the site to his brother, Rev Run, and asks him to invest in the company. Russell retorts that he spent a lot of money in "Schmuck Insurance," which sounds like he just asked someone to write up some hefty NDAs and Non-Compete paperwork. Did this so-called Schmuck Insurance cost $4.5 million? Because looking at this site, I have no idea where else the money went."

"Copy the digg concept...switch out a few category labels.....what else is there to spend $4.5 million on? Definitely not design. Is all of the money going to marketing? Did they take out a Super Bowl ad? Open up a new office building? I'd like to note, Digg raised its first $2.8 Million in VC funding, ten months after it launched. Meanwhile back at the ranch, GlobalGrind has $4.5M+ out the gate and this is what they have to show: a broken site, cloned and derivative to the max?"

Looking forward:
At least the deadpoolboy is assured of steady employment.

Question for Russell Simmons:
By "schmuck", do you mean Navarrow Wright, Accel Partners, the underpaid Global Grind Staff or hip hop web users more generally?

Biggest Downside:
Venture capital will become ever more suspicious of "urban" and hip hop web ventures as their own form of schmuck insurance.

Or maybe it won't matter.  Venture capital investments lead to the failure of 8 out of 10 businesses.

Heck, this might be the upside to Global Grind's pathetic tale.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Rumor: Global Grind's Heading for the Dead Pool?
Global Grind's Navarrow Wright & Failures in Web 2.0 Communication
Global Grind Reboots, Abandons Opening Position
Looking Back at 360HipHop, Considering Global Grind

Rumor: Global Grind's Heading for the Dead Pool?

Word is spreading that one or more Global Grind (globalgrind.com) employees may be leaving and that virtually all of the active posters are employees with multiple accounts.

Since the only people I know with prior connections to GG would probably give me a "no comment" at best, I can't confirm these rumors, but I'm sure some of my readers can!

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Global Grind Rumors & What is Schmuck Insurance?
Global Grind's Navarrow Wright & Failures in Web 2.0 Communication
Global Grind Reboots, Abandons Opening Position
Looking Back at 360HipHop, Considering Global Grind

Benzino Claims 50 Cent Wanted to Collab!!!

Benzino spoke with SOHH in regards to 50 Cent's statements on MTV about a photoshopped image that looked like a Hip Hop Weekly cover and dissed Fat Joe.  His approach seemed to be more about damage control until he spun this great yarn:

"I saw him in Puerto Rico," Zino recalled. "I guess that was the time he just signed with Eminem. [50] came over and gave me a hug and said 'what up.' We started talking about doing a track together through Sha Money. [But] once the Eminem thing took place, all of that fell apart."

That's too bad.  Benzino would be king by now if not for Eminem!

Kings of Hip Hop: Jay-Z & Nas Album?

Rush & Molloy claim that Jay-Z and Nas are working on an album of duets to be called The Kings of Hip Hop.

Nah Right expects it to "drop the same day as Detox and Chinese Democracy".

Rumor: Def Jam $100 Million in Debt, Needs Hits Now!

MahoganyGirl has been informed that Def Jam is in serious financial trouble:

"Sources says the founding Hip Hop label is almost 100 million in the hole. 100 Mill son! The insider says Def Jam needs some BIG selling records ASAP to start decreasing the labels debt."

Looks like Jay-Z got out just in time.

Eminem Hospitalized for Pneumonia Complications

TMZ reports that Eminem's publicist told them:

"Over the holidays, Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, was under doctor's care at a Detroit-area hospital for complications due to pneumonia. He has since been released and is doing well recovering at home."

TMZ is also claiming that Eminem was "taken to a Detroit-area hospital for a serious heart condition and severe pneumonia. Sources tell TMZ Em's weight has ballooned to over 200 lbs."

Anybody seen any recent pics or videos of Eminem?

I think a fat Elvis type show starring Eminem would be really awesome except for the bad health part.  Don't they both have a history of pill-popping and stealing musical styles from black people?

Hmm, I better stop before this hole gets any deeper!

Update:
Shaheem Reid notes that Eminem's last public appearance was over the phone on September 12th when he called Hot 97's Angie Martinez during a visit by 50 Cent.

Prediction: Elliott Wilson Will Return Via TV

ProHipHop predicts that Elliott Wilson will return to the game via a television deal of some sort.  Just wanted to put that on the record.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Goodbye Old Yeller: Elliott Wilson Fired From XXL

Not a Rumor: Elliott Wilson to Blog 24 Times in 24 Hours!!!

What can I say?  When you're the greatest hip hop blogger alive you do stuff like this!

Yes, it's true, not a rumor.  Elliott Wilson, man of power at XXL, will create 24 blog posts in 24 hours!!

No quantity of exclamation points are too many!!!

I remember when Bol did like 12 in one day and his minions gathered round in praise.  Clearly the game is about to change.

Look, should I go childish on these kids who would be men with straight teeth and show 'em how it's done?

I can't compete on audio drops or exclusive videos or cocaine access or any of the other stuff that comes with Elliott's position but I bet I can write more of a higher quality [without talking about what a bad ass I am every post that isn't an audio drop] than can the esteemed but always under-praised Elliott Wilson.

This one's on you dear readers.  It's such a stupid waste of time that I have to know that you're there, for me or against me, if I'm to take on this challenge and blog competitively for 24 hours without the use of the cocaine benefits of my opponent.

Upside:
At least I'd get caught up with my workload!

Update:
Since certain bloggers associated with XXL have a history of posting false documents including fake comments under other people's names, let me say for the record that I, Clyde Smith, will not be posting any comments on XXl's site or on Byron Crawford's site.  Any claims to the contrary will be lies.

Sorry to have to point that out but given who I'm dealing with I feel such a statement is necessary.

And if you haven't figured it out yet, it's on!

Update 2:
My apologies for mispelling Mr. Wilson's name previously assuming that the current contact page at XXL is correct.  Not a subliminal nor a reference to Hashim's simple yet effective disses all of which will be reconsidered during the 24 Hours of Brand Destruction set to ensue.

That's right, it's time to tell some untold tales.

You've heard the lies.  Now hear the truth!

Update 3:
My bad times two on mispelling Elliott's name previously.  It's right there on his blog and I'd know that if I ever checked for it when Eskay didn't link to it.

And my apologies for suggesting that Elliott might use cocaine to his competitive advantage.  Not only does he parry that weak maneuver on my part but he brings the Wu to his defense.

Nice move, Mr. Checkers!

PS:
Imma do a hundred and one, just to school the children.

What's my secret?  Power naps!

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Elliott Wilson: The Great Lion Brushes Off the Flies
Industry Pros Term Elliott Wilson's Back Cover Ad "Offensive" & an "Egregious Violation" of Ethics
XXL 10th Anniversary Covers: Pretend Controversy & XXL's Chief Advertorialist Elliott Wilson

Upon Further Consideration:
On the Transformative Possibilities of Endurance Blogging

Jay-Z Rumors ARE News: Contract Negotiations in Flux

Jay-Z is said to be in contract negotiations with Universal Music which may have broken down over "excessive" demands from Jay-Z.

According to a "source":
He wanted big, big money that was way out of sync with the realities of today's record business...People have lost count of how many times he's come out of retirement...Everybody knows he's not around the office much. Everybody at Universal loves him, but they can't justify paying him the money he wants when so many people have been laid off.

Overpaid executives are a common theme across industries and music industry execs recently received a very special "open letter for CEOs to ignore" suggesting they start with personal pay cuts.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Will Jay-Z Pull a Madonna w/Live Nation?
Jay-Z Quits Def Jam Presidency, Still On Roc-A-Fella
Jay-Z: J Hotels, Def Jam Deal, Branded Entertainment Co.

Stones Throw Records Addresses MF DOOM Rumors

Stones Throw Records responds to MF Doom rumors on their website:

Every day for the past month we've been hit up by people wanting explanations, statements, clarifications, and declarations about MF DOOM. Is he lip synching? (No. Listen to the videos on Youtube.) Is he an impostor? (No, but he did lose some pounds.) Is he in the hospital? (No, he's in his studio ... or if not there, you can find him in the pub with the grub stain.)

Reached earlier this morning at his home in Georgia, an alive and well MF DOOM issued this statement:
"What up? I'm dead."

Well, there you have it.  I guess.

Beefs & Disses: LL Cool J to "Bernard Hopkins" Jay-Z?

IS LL COOL J GOING TO BATTLE JAY-Z?

Via illjeezy:
I don’t think anybody mentions names, but I think I smell a challenge coming down the line from Mr. Cool J. LL vs Jay-Z? That would be very interesting. Lets face it, LL has vanquished every foe he’s faced. Jay-Z has bodied almost everybody as well. Anyway, Blok TV got with LL at the AHH Fashion show during AHH Week 2007.

The seeming Jay-Z reference comes at the end of this short video and relates to LL's feeling that Jay-Z wasn't so helpful as Def Jam president & CEO with the Todd Smith release.

Eskay seems to find that a bit weak and, though LL Cool J did repeatedly express such concerns, they do seem like a stretch for the makings of a new beef-based marketing campaign.

Background:
Here's some background info from Miss Info.

Do Jim Jones/G-Unit Rumors Signal End of Dipset?

Sounds apocalyptic but that's what The Smoking Section is considering.  However it takes more than rumors to end Dipset.  TSS asks the deeper question: where have they been all summer?

Like it or not, during the past few summers, we've always been treated to something by the Dips. No matter if it was ignorant in the opinion of some, it was always entertaining and contained potential anthems. Soundtracks for summer.

There is no "This Is Jim Jones" with Jimmy and Cam flossin over the groove. Where's the "Get'em Daddy" remix type material? The mixtapes? No "Oh Boy" or those sample-driven tracks by the Heatermakerz to straight take over the airwaves. There is no new slang, ad-libs & trends that would capture everyone's attention & filter into Middle America lexicon & dress. No plotless but enjoyable DVD's like Killa Season or A Day In The Fast Life. There's no threats of kufi-slapping or Hot 97 blowouts...nada.

Despite my frequent annoyance I too found them entertaining.  But I think we all knew that something had gone awry with their fearless leader when Cam'ron made his infamous poolside video series responding to 50 "Curtis" Cent.

Update:
FILNO offers an alternate scenario.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Dipset Crumbles: S.A.S. Are "Free Agents"

Top Shelf 8/8/88 & Other Old School Inventions

The NY Times Hua Hsu gives an overview of "rediscovered" old school classic material with a focus on Top Shelf 8/8/88:
An album called “Top Shelf 8/8/88” was issued in Japan. Supposedly a collection of never-before-released recordings from 1988...

The album’s liner notes told this story: An unidentified New York hip-hop aficionado scavenging through a storage locker near Hoboken, N.J., discovered a box of studio reels. The only clue to their contents was a name scribbled on a label: “Fab Five Freddy,” the hip-hop impresario who was host of “Yo! MTV Raps” in the 1980s.

According to the story, the reels turned out to be recordings from hip-hop’s fabled golden era, taped at a studio called Top Shelf in a basement in the East Village of Manhattan. The reels were supposedly lost during the Tompkins Square Park riots of 1988, and the studio later shut down.

I love the Tompkins Square riot reference, boy does that take me back!  And both the Japanese release and the storage locker in Jersey angles are priceless.

Fab Five Freddy seems to be involved or, at least, going along but Dres of Black Sheep says it was a hoax that he's enjoyed being a part of while Afrika Baby Bam of the Jungle Brothers says:
"We still remember the culture and tradition," he said. "How much more do you need, outside of the actual date, to make a record as authentic as you would have made on Aug. 8, 1988?"

I guess I could go on a sarcastic rant about authenticity but mostly I think this is another sign of Old School/Golden Years resurgence as a marketable commodity.  And a fun hoax.

Rumor: Jim Jones Joining G-Unit

I don't actually post many rumors but this one on Jim Jones joining G-Unit makes too much sense not to post.

Supposedly 50 Cent interviewed Jim Jones for a BET special event of some sort that's coming next week, you know, near or on Kanye vs. 50 day and related rumors have followed.

Seems like a good match.

Update:
Looks like Eskay thinks drinking G-Unit Kool-Aid is a bad move for Mr. Jones.

Update 2:
50 Cent says he's cool with Jim Jones but he ain't signing him to G-Unit.

Rumor of 50 Cent's 10% Share in Glaceau Likely PR Move

Bruce Banner beat me to the punch at Playahata, but I too find AllHipHop's claim that 50 Cent held 10% of Glaceau, which is being acquired by Coke, rather questionable.  I'm not saying it's impossible just highly unlikely given that 50's ownership stake has not been previously revealed and no legitimate news outlets have run this information that I can find.

My best guess has been that this is planted news from 50 Cent's camp which worked perfectly.  AllHipHop runs the claim in a hip hop news item, it's immediately reprinted on all sorts of discussion boards and the like, gradually becoming disconnected from its origin and taking on a life of its own.  As happened this weekend.

According to Bruce, the folks at Glaceau would not confirm the details in response to phone calls and it's highly unlikely that such information would ever be officially released.

However, as Bruce points out at Playahata, lying to build your brand is a well-honed hip hop business technique.

If anybody has anything substantial on 50's ownership stake, please do let me know.  I should clarify that I'm not saying that Nolan Strong or anyone at AllHipHop made anything up.  It's just that they're a go to spot if you're an insider who wants to spread rumors making them vulnerable to getting gamed.

For a bit of background on 50 Cent and Coke's acquisition of Glaceau:
50 Cent Album Delayed, Vitaminwater Commercial & News, Marketing w/50's House

Concrete Loop Outranks Vibe & XXL, ProHipHop to Relaunch as Hip Hop Rumor Mill

Eve & Swizz Beatz Respond to News of ProHipHop's Relaunch

It's generally not a good idea to buy too deeply into these ranking tools but Compete's comparative web rankings of Concrete Loop, Vibe & XXL says a lot about the ability of a lightweight, fast moving online entity to challenge major media players with proprietary content.  I'd love to see the comparative budgets of their online operations.

Eve Prepares for ProHipHop's Relaunch Party

Though ProHipHop isn't relaunching in response to the success of such blogs as Concrete Loop, it should be quite obvious that the celebrity card is already in play.

[Photos via ThinkTank Marketing, Look for Eve's Tambourine Video on BET Access Granted and Yahoo.com Tomorrow]

Rumors or Reality: Jim Jones & Cam to Split?

I had no idea Jim Jones and Cam'ron had issues, since that's a deeper level of involvement in Dipset than I can muster, but Mr. Jones is expected to address the issue on Monday.

illseed has more but it all leads back to Miss Info.

Update:
Even more from illseed.

50 Cent/Young Buck Rumors Don't Sound Like Rumors

Usually when I read so-called rumor columns I turn around and check the news because at least half of what such columns usually run isn't a rumor by the time they post and probably never was in the first place.  But when illseed talks, I listen, cause CC knows what's up!

illseed oftens mixes rumor with breaking news and his 50 Cent/G-Unit rumor column linked above also goes back a day or so.  I'm mentioning this because ever since first seeing how 50 handles beef by putting a straightjacket on everybody around him, I've wondered when the whole thing would start falling apart.

The Game was one thing.  He's clearly got some issues that throw him off severely on a tactical basis.  Hard to say if he thinks strategically.  But 50 Cent basically telling Dr. Dre to stand down and stay off his album was not a good sign.

Young Buck is a different matter.  I'm not a fan but the fact that he's challenging 50 Cent's obsession with beefs says a lot about what kind of man he is.  Given his current strength on the charts and the fact that 50 Cent doesn't really seem to do that much for him, the outcome looks fairly inevitable.

Dbrad's Confessions of a B.E.T. Producer

Confessions of a B.E.T. Producer

Eskay posted this video of Dbrad talking about the early days at BET.  There's more via Dbrad's MySpace page.  I don't know anything about this guy and the reference to Aleister Crowley [Alexter Crawley] is quite a strange one in this context.  However, it seems like real insider stuff and I'm looking forward to checking out the other videos.

Update:
I've been watching more of these videos and it stays interesting but it's like Dbrad didn't get the recognition he wanted for, apparently, breaking hip hop on a national basis via BET.  That's right, you can thank him and him alone for the early success of Rocafella and Dipset and one his coworkers for the rise of Texas.

Not only that, you can blame BET for destroying hip hop by taking Dbrad out of the decision making loop!

Wow!  Who knew?

Here's the flow:
Part I - BET was like a family before it got sold.
Part II - Dbrad wants his props!
Part III - On the political tip.
Part IV - Dbrad reminds us that payback is a b*tch.

Look for the followup, coming soon!

Update:
Dr. Drew has an interview with Dbrad and it seems to confirm my growing suspicion that this guy is mostly upset because he went out with a gay boss and only realized afterwards that the guy was interested in something more. Other than that, though the behind the scenes description of how things operated at BET are interesting, there is nothing new here about how execs screw things up or that there are plenty of gay execs in the entertainment industry.

Plausible Rumor: Nah Right's Eskay To Helm XXLMag.com

I'm going to temporarily label this a rumor till I get confirmation but the word is that Nah Right's Eskay is the new online editor at XXLMag.com.

Brendan Frederick, the former editor, is moving over to Scratch magazine for its relaunch.  Brendan proved to be the real deal when questions were raised regarding journalist ethics and XXL's bloggers.

I'm not quite sure what Eskay's real name is.  I may have it around here somewhere but I assume we'll be hearing it soon if this news is correct.

This is great news for Eskay though it may not be such good news for Nah Right.  We'll see.

I would just hate to see one of the winners of the ProHipHop Hip Hop Business Awards in the category of Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Hip Hop Blogging go out like that.

Tip via Rizoh, the other winner.

Update:
Eskay confirms the rumor.  You know, I remember when he was one of the little guys and used to return my emails... Nevertheless, congratulations are in order!

Eminem Retirement Rumors Designed to Boost Anger Management Tour?

So Eminem's not retiring, he's just taking time off from performing (after a major tour when most people take a break) to spend time in the studio producing other artists.

Since initial rumors supposedly came from inside Em's camp and the Anger Management Tour apparently includes a video in which Eminem acts like he's committing suicide, this whole deal is looking more and more like a publicity stunt to get the tour off to a strong start. It's success is evident by the fact that it even touched Hashim Warren's cynical New York heart.

Initially, concerns about the viability of the Anger Management Tour were raised due to higher ticket prices at a time when many are proposing lowered prices due to decreased attendance at big concerts. Furthermore, rap concerts have a history of lower attendance and, in contrast to other musical genres, a disconnection between album sales and audience numbers. In fact, Pollstar's Top 50 concert chart is heavily dominated by rock bands.

But there's quite a bit of tour left and early reports of low ticket sales are difficult to evaluate. For the most part, according to both the NY Times and the San Jose Mercury News, rap concerts tend to have a lot of last minute ticket sales and often only sell out the day of the show. So this is a "remains to be seen" story with the final tally as judge.

Earlier reports regarding concert biz:
Associated Press - Concert Sales Down in '05, Ticket Price Up
NPR - Concert Revenue Drops for First Time in 10 Years
Billboard - Concert Biz Struggles In First Half '05

Damon Dash's ODB Plans Blocked on Both Sides

Damon Dash's plans to create an ODB Pro-Keds sneaker are being met with legal threats from Ol' Dirty Bastard's widow Icelene Jones. Attorneys for Ms. Jones state that only she can approve the creation of such a line of sneakers.

Former ODB manager Jarred Weisfeld has also gotten into a beef with Dash demanding that he "remove his name, his voice and all scenes in which he appears from an ODB documentary scheduled to be released with the album." Supposedly, Darrin Chandler, an associate of Damon Dash, responded to Weidfield's demands with the following email:
"We will make sure his b*tch ass is out of the special and for the record your [sic] a f--g clown."

Weisfeld's response?:
"I got a good laugh at his unprofessional remarks, and they made me realize why Jay-Z is Def Jam president and Damon is yesterday's news."

Rumors: ProHipHop, illseed, Ya Heard???, Groupie Confessions

I don't really follow hip hop rumors all that much and usually just end up making up rumors because most of it doesn't relate to business news so much. I'm more fascinated by what's actually happening than what people think is happening. I mean, what could beat following the ongoing adventures of The Source?

But if you're interested in rumors there are a few places you can turn. For instance, there's illseed over at AllHipHop.com and Ya Heard??? at SOHH.com. What's weird about both of them is that often they seem to be discussing news items as rumors or following up on rumors with their own contacts, almost like news coverage of rumors.

If what you're really looking for is straight up nasty gossip, check out Groupie Confessions, a special feature from last fall in Ozone Magazine.

Rumors: Kanye West's Third Album, Benzino's Homothug Flick, Al Sharpton's Record Deal

Earlier this week, in a drunken fit at a Washington bar, a spokesperson for Federal Student Aid inadvertently revealed that the Feds were investigating the existence of a third Kanye West album tentatively titled Defaulted Loans.

Homothug discussion boards are abuzz with claims that a bootleg copy of a gay porn flick titled Thugged Out Chicken, featuring a teenage Benzino as a freestyling Boston street hustler, was recently screened in a late night session in the basement of San Francisco's Mr. S Leather.

Late last night Rev. Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons, in a surprise appearance at NY's Hot 97 radio station, announced that both Universal and Warner Music Groups had signed an agreement to end violence in hip hop, cut huge checks for both Sharpton's National Action Network and Simmons' HSAN and corelease Al Sharpton's first hip hop album featuring lyrics from Cornel "Street Knowledge" West and Raj "Geek Rhythms" Bajaj.

[Disclaimer: This post does not represent the editorial viewpoint of ProHipHop or any publically identified figure associated with ProHipHop. An investigation is currently underway as to the identity of the perpetrator who logged on under a false name and who somehow continues to block all attempts to delete this heinous post.]

Hip Hop Business Rumors

ProHipHop in no way endorses spreading gossip and innuendo, but it's hard to resist juicy business rumors related to LL Cool J, Jay-Z and Damon Dash.

KL Simmons, Larger Than Life-Size

Kimora Lee Simmons may be fighting with her cohosts at Life & Style but that doesn't stop her from creating endless product lines or speaking of herself in the third person because, "Kimora Lee Simmons is larger than life-size."

Rumors & Opinion: Beyonce Needs to Grow Up

So, not only is Beyonce's dad beefing with Jay-Z over who'll manage their little darling, now Beyonce's mom is beefing with Tommy Hilfiger over who'll dress the diva. Maybe it's time for Beyonce to grow up and leave the nest, though it will be tough with parents like that. I bet the guilt trips are super thick.

News & Rumors: Money, Management, Beef

Money and management problems have come between Chingy and Ludacris.

The Pulse Report claims that Jay-Z and Beyonce's manager dad are competing, that Mobb Deep are beefing and that 50-Cent's next album will attack his "detractors."

Marketing Debacles in Sports and Hip Hop

An attempt by Florida Atlantic University to meet NCAA attendance requirements by having the Ying Yang Twins perform at a football game has been stopped short by closer study of the act's lyrical history. This situation is strongly illustrative of the difficulties of using hip hop when marketing to youth and young adults and suggests that closer study of past marketing victories featuring controversial rock artists might be in order.

In news of related failures in the nexus of sports, music and marketing, Ron Artest's new label's first release by R&B group Allure has been a nonstarter. Some news outlets are even reporting that Artest has released a rap album that did poorly and, as it turns out, when everybody was getting upset with Ron for wanting some time off to promote his new album, he meant the R&B release.

However, before sports reporters begin turning their keen powers of social analysis on brawlers like Bobby Brown or running corrections that simply replace "rap" with "r'n'b", I want to be the first to report the, largely unverifiable outside of this office, rumor that Artest was observed furtively ditching the packaging for the recently released deluxe collector's edition Black Sabbath boxed set. You know, the one that comes with a jewel-encrusted spinning dove's head.

R.J. Reynolds Executive Denies Using Hip Hop to Attract Young People

Earlier this week, R.J. Reynolds executive Susan Ivey denied, during legal proceedings, that hip hop marketing and flavored cigarettes were used to attract children to smoking.

Persistent rumors, around this office, of the return of Joe Camel as a b-boy who smokes RJR blunts while breakdancing and graffiti painting remain unverified.

Petey Pablo Signs with Death Row?

EURWEB.com's Lee Bailey also mentions that Petey Pablo has apparently signed with Death Row Records. However, maybe he and Suge are just buddies. We await official confirmation.