New Orleans rapper B.G. along with The Chopper City Boyz are set to release their debut album, entitled “We Got This,” under B.G.’s label Chopper City Records. The Chopper City Boyz consist of Sniper, VL Mike, Hakim (aka Hakizzle, B.G.’s brother) and Gar.

The first single has already been released from the album “We Got This” entitled “Make Em’ Mad,” which was produced by none other than Mississippi rapper/producer David Banner, and has already been gaining a steady number of growing spins on various radio stations. The video for the single “Make ‘Em Mad” has already been shot and filmed in Atlanta, GA and was directed by The Terrero Brothers aka Jesse & Ulysses Terrero, who are known for directing videos for artists such as Young Jeezy, Nas, and many more.

B.G. was quoted as saying that since the breakup of his super group the “Hot Boys” there has been a lack of talented, real hip-hop groups from the South and that The Chopper City Boyz will change all that.

A spokesperson for BG’s Chopper City Records tells MemphisRap.com that there will be a promo tour for the album sometime in January and the album will be available Feburary 27. The album is coming out under Chopper City/KOCH Records and features The Chopper City Boyz, BG and an exclusive feature by the First Lady of Chopper City, Lady Dolla. A spokesperson for the label also tells MemphisRap.com that a remix of the single “Make ‘Em Mad” will be coming out soon and will feature T.I. and Juvenile along with B.G.

In other news, B.G. recently contacted Baby to send him condolences about Baby’s youngest sister of six, Tamara Williams, 26 who was killed in a fatal head-on collision in New Orleans on Dec. 11. Her 2006 Toyota Camry was struck by a motorist who was driving in the wrong direction. Jason Williams, 30, who is the other driver, is in the hospital in serious condition for driving the wrong direction on a downtown boulevard.

Baby’s sister Tamara Williams was married with three children and majored in psychology and was studying for a nursing degree.

The B.G. phone call to Baby came at a time when many thought B.G. and Baby would not get along anytime soon. “It’s a scar in my family… I’ma stand up for my family,” says Baby in the call from B.G. “I might not be on your side like I use to be.. I still can feel your pain, mayne I feel like I’m right there with you.. know what I’m sayin, I just want to say rest in peace to Tamara… keep your head up,” says B.G. in the ending of the phone conversation with Baby.

Listen to the audio of the B.G. and Baby phone conversation aired over New Orleans hip hop radio station Q93.

According to sources a federal judge granted to add Rocawear and it’s owners to a trademark and copyright infringement suit which was filed by wrestler Diamond Dallas Page against Jay-Z. The suit was stated to have been filed in a Los Angeles Federal Court on December 2, 2005 allegedly claiming that Jay-Z used and adopted pro wrestler Diamond Dallas Page’s tradmark hand gesture noted as the “Diamond Cutter” and used it as if it was his owns whereas the hand symbol. The symbol is most common amongst the Freemasonry faternity and other groups.

The suit state and accuses Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records of using the hand symbol misappropriately. The suits adds that many athletes and celebrities also flashed the Diamond Cutter sport move where Hershel Walker acknowledged the trademarked symbol known as the Plaintiff’s hand sign. The suit adds Rocawear owners of Roc Apparel Group LLC, Urban Menswear LLC and Rocawear Licensing LCC.

Currently, Diamond Dallas Page is looking to prohibit Jay-Z from using the hand gesture and is seeking monetary damages due to findings that the Diamond Cutter symbol was used in Jay-Z’s clothing line Rocawear and manunfactured and sold merchandise bearing the symbol.

Diamond Dallas Page is using the sign as his brand-building logo since he has moved on from wrestling to entertainment and other business ventures. Diamond Dallas Page is using the symbol for his t-shirts, hats, posters and more. Diamond Dallas Page also bears the symbol on his 3 DVD set “Yoga For Regular Guys” and book, and will also use it on his upcoming motivational audio book “Own Your Life”.

Turkish-American music mentor and founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun, dies at age 83. Ahmet Ertegun died due to falling backstage in October during a Rolling Stones performance at the Beacon Theatre in New York where he injured his head causing a major brain injury. After being taken to the hospital he slipped into a coma on October 29th.

Ahmet Ertegun, who was born July 31, 1923 in Istanbul will be laid to rest in Turkey. A memorial service will be held after New Year’s in New York, said Bob Kaus, a spokesman for Ertegun’s family and Atlantic Records.

“He was in a coma and expired today with his family at his bedside,” his doctor, Dr Howard A Riina, said from New York.

Ahmet Ertegun, came to the United States at the age of 11, when his father was named Turkish ambassador, and founded Atlantic Records with Herb Abramson in 1947.

Ertegun turned Atlantic Records (Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Bee Gees …) into a powerhouse with the help of a $10,000 loan from his dentist. Later Warner Seven-Art bought the label in ‘67. Even though Warner Seven-Art bought into the label Ertegun managed to stay on to help create the albums we all love, which changed two years later.

The label is under Warner Music Group, and includes a roster of artists such as Kid Rock, Lil Kim and Missy Elliott.

“All of us at Atlantic Records are profoundly saddened by the loss of our founder and mentor,” said Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman.

According to sources 29 year-old Pastor Troy “Micah Levar Troy ” was arrested on December 15 for violating his probation in Fayette County in GA. Pastor Troy was arrested during a radio interview with Hot 107.9.

The arrest was caused by a listener of the radio station tipping police saying that Pastor Troy was wanted for a Fayette County warrant. After confirming the warrant, officers went to the station and detained Pastor Troy until Fayette County deputies took him into custody.

Pastor Troy was on probation during the time of his arrest for having no insurance and driving on a suspended license. No other information is available on what the warrant was for at this time.

According to sources 50 Cent has opted to use his birth name that his mother gave him for for the new movie “Home of the Brave”. 50 Cent was stated that he felt it would scare people way is he used his rap name. 50 Cent will attach the name Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson on all the promotional posters for the new film because he believes it will give him more credibility.

“I think when people hear 50 Cent they directly associate it with the music and the aggressive content in the music. So I told them to use my real name and put 50 Cent in the middle.”

In the movie 50 Cent “Curtis Jackson” will play an American soldier that is returning home from the Iraq war. 50 Cent believe that fans may be a little disappointed when they realize that his character doesn’t have that same aggressive edge that they are so use to.

50 Cent will also be starring alongside Nicolas Cage in a new boxing drama ‘The Dance’, which will begin filming in 2007 and set for release in 2008.

Busta Rhymes “Trevor Smith”, 34, was charged with a misdemeanor weapons charge on December 11 for being in possession of a machete who is also accused of a felony assault and harassment after police searched his car. Cops found the 10 inch machete in the seat pocket of the SUV when they busted Busta Rhymes for the alleged beating Roberto Lebron when he was arrested in August.

Busta Rhymes’ lawyer Scott Leemon said the knife was “a prop” and did not warrant a criminal charge.

Busta Rhymes has refused Manhattan prosecutors’ plea offer of six months in jail on charges of misdemeanor assault for the August incident. He has already been charged previously for beating up Roberto Lebron for spitting on his car causing him to get a misdemeanor.

During an October court hearing, Judge Shawndya Simpson dropped the charges of possession of a weapon, however the District Attorney’s Office recently filed a misdemeanor charge of criminal possession and the charges were reinstated. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is stated to be pursuing assault and harassment charges dating back to August 12.

Busta Rhymes’ lawyer, Robert Kalina, calls the case “selective prosecution” of a rap star. On the other hand, prosecutors argue that six months is too light of a sentence considering his history of violence “status as a violent predicate felon.”.

Busta Rhymes is expected back in court on February 20, 2007.

Within our “pro-gun” culture that’s also known as American culture, it is a high magnitude of casual violence within urban communities that is being exploited and glorified by hip-hop’s money men.

It was almost like it was yesterday when the super powers of Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane collaborated to form the hit single “So Icy” on Gucci’s debut album Trap House (Big Cat Records, 2005). Two up and coming hungry artists, thriving in the fruitful Atlanta scene, came together to create magic, “dope boy magic.” It was like it was their destiny to create the “Icy” song. To the untrained ear it sounded as if there was just one rapper on the entire song with no guest appearances. It sounded like both rappers were one in the same with the similar flow styles and illuminating swagger or to some; one rapper just simply outshined the other. From this song spawned a historic southern-bred beef that was unfamiliar to hip-hop fans below the mason-Dixon line. Diss records were thrown back and forth between each rapper violently with so much hate that the “Snowman” (Young Jeezy) resulted in ordering a bounty on Gucci Mane’s chain for $10,000 through a mixtape song called “Stay Trapped”, which was a playful remake of T.I.’s hit song “A.S.A.P.” The ending result of the lyrical quarrel ended with one of Jeezy’s assailants attempting to obtain Gucci’s “chain”. That was when Gucci was charged and sent to prison for murder after shooting the night stalker dead. While incarcerated Gucci found more trouble and witnessed the wrath of an affiliated gangster in Jeezy after reportedly being almost beat to death. The December 2005 issue of “The Source” magazine showed the after effects of this heinous act of prison violence where it showed a swollen faced disgruntled Gucci Mane. After appealing his murder case and garnering his freedom back, Gucci is back with vengeance on his sophomore album release, rightfully named Hard to Kill.
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Rapper 50 Cent “Curtis James Jackson III” will be starring in a new Boxing movie called “The Dance” where he will star alongside award-winning actor/director Nicolas Cage “Nicolas Kim Coppola” (Peggy Sue Got Married, Face Off, Gone in Sixty Seconds, National Treasure). The movie will be about prison boxers where a one-time champion prize fighter Billy “The Kid” Roth played by Nicolas Cage, volunteers as a boxing coach for over 40 years in the prisons of Louisiana.

In an interview 50 stated that he had just started boxing training and he’ll be in top condition by the time the movie starts shooting. 50 Cent is currently using Floyd Mayweather Jr’s trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather to help him get into tip top shape for his role.

The movie will begin shooting sometime next year and Nicolas Cage is a producer and executive producer for the movie.

Everyone is asking the question is singer/actress Beyonce Knowles 32. A website online claimed that they have a document from the Texas Department of Health proving that she was born September 4, 1974. However, according to AOL’s blog news site the document couldn’t be verified. A source also confirmed that document was not an official birth record and the year was not correct.

Inaddition, the High School that she attended in Houston was also called and it was stated that she was a student until 2000.

No one actually knows how the rumor began, but there have been several post across the web including some by people who state that they attended school with her, have yearbook photos and she says that she is much older that what is being stated.

Guess Eddie Murphy didn’t think word would get back to former Spice Girl “Scary Spice” Melanie Brown about him questioning whether the baby that she’s carrying is his and telling a television show that he’s no longer with her. According to People Magazine, Melanie’s friends contacted her and told her the scoop in which she came back with a response and is wondering why he would question their child’s paternity to the public prior to coming to her.

“I am obviously upset and distressed at some of the comments made by Eddie Murphy to the media,” Brown, who is in the second trimester of her pregnancy, says in the statement released Thursday. “I have no idea why anybody would want to conduct themselves in this kind of manner about such a personal matter in such a public way.

“My main concern is for the well being of my (seven-year-old) daughter Phoenix and of course the baby. I was astonished at what Eddie said – there is absolutely no question that Eddie is the father.”

Melanie Brown was stated as not having a problem taking a paternity test.

Seems 45 year-old Eddie has struck a match by stating to Dutch TV show (RTL Boulevard), “And I don’t know whose child that is, until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn’t jump to conclusions, sir.”

Inaddition, Melanie didn’t know that their relationship had ended. From what sources has stated they were suppose to be spending Christmas together. Keep an eye out.

Until then, Melanie Brown is focusing on her health and other projects which she will begin soon.