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5.4.2000: "Police Still Seek Biggie Murderer."
A Southern California mortgage broker once suspected by police of being
the triggerman in the 1997 murder of Christopher Wallace (better known
as rapper The Notorious B.I.G.) is reportedly no longer under suspicion in
that case.
Police had once theorized that Amir Muhammad had been hired as the
hitman by Biggie's rap rival, now-imprisoned Death Row Records head
Marion "Suge" Knight, in association with Muhammad's longtime friend David Mack, a
former Los Angeles Police officer who is currently serving time for bank robbery.
However, Wednesday's "Los Angeles Times" quotes an L.A.P.D. detective as saying the
department hasn't pursued the Muhammad theory in more than a year, although it can't
be completely discounted until the killer is finally caught.
Mtv.com

4.30.2000: "Mystikal Makes Wish Come True."
No Limit rapper Mystikal spent a day recently bringing some sunshine to a
young woman who suffers from cancer.
At the request of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mystikal spent a day at
Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida with a 17-year-old girl
named Nekia who is battling lymphoma, a life-threatening form of cancer.
When asked by the foundation what her wish would be, Nekia simply said
she wanted to meet her inspiration and rap music idol, Mystikal.
According to a Make-A-Wish representative, Mystikal arrived at Universal Studios on the
afternoon of April 19 carrying a dozen yellow roses for the young woman. In between
being mobbed by fans, Mystikal spent the day going on rides with Nekia, and he even held
her hand when the two went on some of the "scary" rides.
"He just made her feel so wonderful and was so humble and didn't want any of the
publicity," a Make-A-Wish spokesperson said.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation provides good cheer and hope for children with
life-threatening illnesses. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 73,000 wishes
to children around the world.
Mtv.com

4.27.2000: "Rah Digga."
Rappers Rah Digga and AG and jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman will all
temporarily trade in their full-time music gigs for a day job at a New York
City record store as part of a special fundraiser for LIFEbeat.
On April 29, Rah Digga, AG, and Redman will work the cash registers at the
grand opening of an HMV record store in Harlem from approximately 12
noon to 4 p.m. (ET) as part of LIFEbeat's CounterAID program.
As part of the fundraiser, customers at the store will be able to either donate change left
over from their purchases or add donations to the total cost of their transactions to
LIFEbeat, the music industry's non-profit HIV prevention group.
LIFEbeat will then take all then funds raised by the event and divide them amongst
several different AIDS service organizations in Harlem. Other artists that have participated
in past CounterAID events include Green Day, Mary J. Blige, and TLC.
In related news, Rah Digga has just released her first solo album, "Dirty Harriet," which has
already sold more than 135,000 copies in just three weeks on shelves.
MTV News talked with the part-time member of the Flip Mode Squad about the title of her
record, which she says was inspired by Harriet Tubman, the former slave who helped
Southern slaves escape to the North in the pre-Civil War days via the Underground
Railroad.
"Basically I just feel like now in the year 2000, I represent what Harriet Tubman did in her
day," Digga said. "A strong rebel female who stood up and said, 'Look, there must be a
better way... and either you could follow me or you could just basically be where you are.'
"And slowly but surely she acquired a following and she found freedom for slaves. Now, of
course, that is not the case in the year 2000, but as far as applying it to music
nowadays... I feel like I'm not trying to fit in. I'm not following any trends. I'm basically
[being] me, as best as my style represents me, and being a leader, definitely."
Rah Digga has just completed the video for "Break Fool," her second single from "Dirty
Harriet," and is in discussions about possibly heading out on tour with Black Rob,
Ghostface Killah, and Carl Thomas this summer.
Mtv.com

4.26.2000: "Dre Sues Napster."
On Tuesday, the other shoe finally dropped as Dr. Dre and his record
label, Aftermath Entertainment, filed suit against Napster after issuing a
warning to the online music distribution aid last week.
As we previously reported, Dre and his lawyers fired off a letter to Napster
last week giving the company until Friday, April 21 to remove all of Dre's
songs from its pool of available downloads.
Dre followed through on the threat on Tuesday by filing suit against Napster in U.S.
Federal Court in Los Angeles.
As Metallica did before them, the rapper is charging Napster with copyright infringement
and unlawful use of a digital audio interface device. The suit states that "Napster has
built a business based on large-scale piracy."
Dre released his own statement regarding the suit, noting, "I don't like people stealing my
music."
Dre's attorney, who also handles Metallica, has charged that Napster responded to the
rapper's warning letter with a "disingenuous offer," prompting the suit.
Napster has no official comment on Dre's suit as of press time.
Metallica filed a similar suit against Napster and three major colleges earlier this month.
However, the band dropped the schools from the suit after each blocked access to
Napster.com through its servers.
Mtv.com

4.23.2000: "Dre Gets Ready for Tour."
Dr. Dre is gearing up for his "Dr. Dre Hip Hop 2000 Tour." The tour is
expected to include Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Warren G, and Ice Cube. MC
Ren, Xzibit, and Tha Eastsidaz are also expected to perform on the "Dr.
Dre Hip Hop 2000 Tour." The tour is expected to begin late June and run
through August. The tour will include between 35-40 tour dates at mostly
arenas. Sponsors for the tour include Magic Johnson Productions and
Radio Events Group in Phoenix. Hewlitt/Silva Productions in Los Angeles, California. The
tour will also include a reunion of rap group 213. 213 is comprised of Snoop Dogg, Nate
Dogg, and Warren G.
In additional Dre news, Eminem's sophomore album, The Marshall Mathers LP will be
released on May 23rd while Dre's Chronic 2001 placed ninth on Soundscan this week.
Eminem's latest single, "The Real Slim Shady," which disses Christina Aguilera and Pamela
Anderson, hit radio stations this week. The video will debut next week.
Vibe.com

4.20.2000: "Dre Gets Sued."
One day after taking legal aim at Napster, Dr. Dre is now the target of a
high-profile legal salvo himself.
George Lucas' Lucasfilm, Ltd. production company is suing Dre and
charging the hip-hop impresario with various copyright and trademark
wrongdoings.
Lucasfilm's suit, which seeks unspecified damages, hinges on Dre's use of
something called the "THX Deep Note," a sound trademarked by Lucas' company.
According to Lucasfilm, the sound is the first ever to be trademarked; it should be familiar
to moviegoers as the sound that accompanies the THX logo before films screened in
theaters with THX sound systems.
It should also be familiar to rap fans as the sound that opens Dre's album "Dr. Dre 2001,"
which is precisely the problem, according to Lucasfilm. The production company claims
that Dre used the sound without the company's permission, prompting Lucasfilm to file the
suit against the rapper as well as his Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
A spokesperson for Dre's lawyer claimed that the rapper had not yet been served with the
suit, and a spokesperson for Interscope offered no comment on the case.
The suit comes on the heels of news that Dre had issued a warning to Napster, Inc.,
giving the music distribution site until Friday to remove all of his tracks from its pool of
potential downloads
MTV

4.19.2000: "Dre Warns Napster."
Less than one week after Metallica became the first musical act to levy
legal action against the online music distribution company Napster, Dr. Dre
has apparently set his sights on the tech outfit as well.
According to Reuters, Dre and his lawyers have issued a letter to Napster
giving the site until Friday to remove the rapper's songs from its pool of
available MP3s.
Napster aims to give users one simple interface through which to search for and download
MP3s of their favorite songs. Dre reportedly shares Metallica's views that this constitutes
copyright infringement.
Perhaps not all that coincidentally, Dre's lawyer, Howard King, is also representing
Metallica in that band's lawsuit against Napster.
As we first reported last week, the heavy metal titans have sued Napster as well as
U.S.C., Yale, and Indiana University charging copyright infringement, among other claims.
Dre has reportedly yet to make up his mind about a similar suit, though King told Reuters,
"That would be the logical conclusion if they don't take it off their site."
King also told Reuters that at least ten other acts have approached him about filing suit
against Napster.
King was unavailable for comment at press time, and a spokesperson for Dre's record
label, Interscope Records, chose to reserve comment on the matter.
Metallica's suit (levied against Napster as well as U.S.C., Yale, and Indiana University)
charges those defendants with copyright infringement, unlawful use of a digital audio
interface device, and violations of the Racketeering Influenced & Corrupt Organizations
Act for "encourag[ing] and enabl[ing] visitors to its website to unlawfully exchange with
others copyrighted songs and sound recordings without the knowledge or permission of
Metallica."
Napster contends that the band made no effort to contact the tech company, and that if
it had, "We would be happy to speak to the artists or to their management. Many bands
who have approached us learned about Napster and how to leverage what we offer and
understand the value of what we do. But if these people insist on turning it over to the
lawyers, we'll defend the case on that turf".
MTV

4.17.2000: "Puffy Issues Statement."
Sean "Puffy" Combs has issued a statement in response to a report in
Friday's "New York Post" that prosecutors have launched another
investigation on the rap mogul, this time for alleged witness tampering and
perjury.
According to the "Post," the alleged investigation centers on whether or
not Combs perjured himself when he stated to a grand jury in January that
he has never owned or possessed a gun. The report also cites sources claiming that at
least two witnesses have recently discredited Combs' grand jury statements to Manhattan
prosecutors.
"I am outraged by the New York Post's story," the statement reads. "It is completely
false. In fact, my attorney Ben Brafman confirmed again today with the lead Prosecutor in
the case that I am absolutely not a target of any further Grand Jury investigation."
The article also claims that a new grand jury is investigating the possibility that
employees of Combs' Bad Boy Entertainment may have tampered with witnesses on the
rap mogul's behalf.
"I believe that certain individuals close to the case are leaking these lies to the media in
an effort prejudice the case and prevent me from having a fair trial," Combs' statement
continues. "I intend to fight this case with all my heart. I am not guilty of any crime. I
told the absolute truth when I testified before the Grand Jury and I will continue to do so
until I am fully exonerated."
Combs' lawyer Benjamin Brafman echoes the rap mogul's statements, calling the "Post"
article "patently false," and adds that "Sean Combs is not a target of any Grand Jury
investigation."
The attorney contends that "many people" are attempting to prejudice the case against
Combs by leaking false information to certain members of the media and states, "We find
these efforts to be outrageous and offensive."
Brafman adds, "Furthermore, what this confirms is what attorneys for Mr. Combs have
always maintained, that there is no evidence whatsoever to support the original charges
and what certain members of the law enforcement community are now doing is
desperately trying to find any way they can to prejudice Mr. Combs even if it means
fabricating false allegations.
"Mr. Combs testified truthfully in the Grand Jury, is looking forward to his trial on the
pending charges and expects to be completely vindicated."
Combs pled not guilty to both charges in February and is expected to appear in court on
May 16.
The New York District Attorney's office declined to comment on the validity of the
information contained in the "Post" report.
The case rose from a now notorious incident that occurred late last year in which Shyne
(a.k.a. Jamal Barrow) allegedly shot and wounded three people in a Manhattan nightclub.
Combs and Jones were arrested after fleeing the scene with Combs' girlfriend Jennifer
Lopez in a Lincoln Navigator driven by Wardel Fenderson. After being stopped by police, a
loaded 9mm gun was recovered from the vehicle. Prosecutors contend Combs allegedly
offered $50,000 and a diamond ring to his driver to claim ownership.
MTV

4.14.2000: "Ice Cube and NWA."
Ice Cube may be the hardest working man in hip-hop right now.
In addition to signing on for a new film role in "Ghosts Of Mars" and
releasing a new album, "War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)," Cube is
planning a new music video and tour with the other members of his
recently reunited group N.W.A.
The multi-tasking entertainer is preparing to shoot a video for "Hello," the
new single from "The Peace Disc," which teams Cube with his original N.W.A. partners Dr.
Dre and MC Ren. In an interview with the MTV Radio Network on Wednesday, Cube said
"Hello" is just N.W.A.'s way of reintroducing themselves to the fans.
"It's just a song about us," Cube began, "kind of letting people know where all this stuff
comes from, all the hip hop that the kids been doing for the last 11 years. It's just a song
that's just kind of giving respect where respect is due, and we're kind of giving it to
ourselves."
Cube, MC Ren, and Dr. Dre will begin shooting a video for the track on April 20 with
director Philip Atwell, who has previously done several clips with Dr. Dre.
"The video, we got it [planned out]," Cube said. "We thinking about doing a reenactment
of Waco in a way, where we have these N.W.A. followers on the inside, and we got the
big bad authorities on the outside trying to get us. So the video's going to be
action-packed."
No word on when the "Hello" video will surface but we'll keep you posted.
Cube says he will hit the road in support of "The Peace Disc" this summer on the
"California Love" tour. The all-star outing will also feature sets from Dr. Dre, Enimem,
Snoop Dogg, Westside Connection, Warren G, and N.W.A. Shortly after that tour wraps
up, Cube and N.W.A. will head into the studio to record their first studio album in over
eleven years, tentatively titled "Not These Niggas Again."
MTV

4.11.2000: "Sporty Thievz Complete 2nd Album."
Yonkers, New York hip-hop trio Sporty Theivz has just completed its new
album, the follow-up to 1998's "Street Cinema."
The Thievz, who made a name for themselves last year with "No Pigeons,"
the answer tune to TLC's "No Scrubs," will release its as-yet-untitled LP in
August.
As we previously reported, the new album will feature guest appearances
by Cash Money Millionaire Lil' Wayne and Nature, as well as production by Young Lord,
Marley Marl, Pete Rock, and DJ Quik.
In anticipation of the new album, a new single called "La La" will hit stores April 18.
Sporty Thievz also appear on the recently released "Hip-Hop For Respect" single, a
protest against the shooting death of Amadou Diallo. That song also features De La Soul,
Mos Def, Rah Digga, and Kool G Rap.
MTV

4.11.2000: "Ice Cube and Chris Rock."
Ice Cube continues to hold on strong to the top ten of this week's
"Billboard" album chart, as his "War & Peace: Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)" digs
in at number seven, selling some 293,000 copies in its first two weeks on
store shelves.
Aside from re-teaming with his former N.W.A. mates Dr. Dre and MC Ren
on a new track, "Hello," and with Krayzie Bone on the first single, "Until
We Rich," Ice chose to keep the guest spots to a minimum on "The Peace Disc."
One of the performers Ice Cube did seek out was comedian Chris Rock, whom he asked to
lay down some vocal tracks on "You Ain't Gotta Lie (To Kick It)." Rock was more than
happy to return the favor, as Cube appeared on Rock's 1999 comedy album, "Bigger And
Blacker."
"Well, me and Chris go way back," Ice recently told MTV News about hooking up with
Rock. "We're good friends. He's always been a fan of mine, and I've always been a fan of
his since... his early work. Whenever we see each other it's nothing but a cool vibe, and I
saw him at a [New York] Knicks game and I told him, 'Yo, I'm down here in the studio. It'll
be cool if you could jump on it.'
"I had done something for his album as well. So to get him on the track was just a [great]
bond, because he is the hottest comedian out there right now and funny as hell. I love his
sense of reality and that his jokes are based upon reality. I love that about Chris."
Others who turn up on "The Peace Disc" include Mack 10, Jayo Felony, Ms. Toi, Gangsta,
and Squeak Ru. Sean "Puffy" Combs also lent his production skills the cut "Gotta Be
Insanity."
In related news, Ice Cube has recently signed on for another film project, as he's set to
co-star with Hole's Courtney Love in John Carpenter's sci-fi project, "Ghosts Of Mars".
For more on Cube, his new album, and his film projects, be sure to check out the MTV
News Online feature, "Ice Cube: A Separate Peace."
MTV

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Page Updated Sun May 7, 2000 10:23pm EDT