Cam'ron Slaps R Kelly with Lawsuit

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Troubled R&B; star R Kelly's problems are continuing to mount -- he's now been slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit by rapper Cam'ron.

Cam'ron, real name Cameron Giles, claims R Kelly has infringed his copyright for the "Snake" remix, which the hip-hop star claims he co-wrote, according to AllHipHop.com.

The original version of the song, which appears on Kelly's hit 2003 album, Chocolate Factory, features the singer and Big Tigga, while the remix features the pair plus Cam'ron.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of the R Kelly's wife Andrea's filing for an order of protection against Kelly, which was granted last week.

In the latest turn of events, Kelly's wife filed a request to dismiss the order of protection.

As well as his slow-moving fight against child pornography charges, R Kelly is in the midst of a legal battle with hip-hop star Jay-Z over their failed Best of Both Worlds tour last year.

Published on: September 29 2005 at 02:12 PM

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Dash Seals End to Jay-Z Partnership

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Rap mogul Damon Dash has completely split from his former business partner and friend Jay-Z in a deal worth nearly $30 million.

Dash will sell his share of Rocawear back to Jay-Z and their silent partners after an argument earlier this year saw the pair's working relationship deteriorate beyond repair.

The hip-hop duo have already disbanded their successful Roc-a-Fella Records venture.

Page Six claims Jay-Z provoked the move by branding Dash lazy and claiming he only used the partnership to get publicity.

Published on: September 26 2005 at 01:14 PM

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Beanie Sigel Cleared on Attempted Murder Charges

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Rapper Beanie Sigel has been acquitted on attempted murder charges.

The hip-hop star, whose retrial began only a few weeks after his release from federal prison on an unrelated charge, was cleared Monday by a jury of shooting Terrance Speller repeatedly during a dispute outside a Philadelphia, Penn., strip club in July 2003.

A jury deadlocked on the charges in April 2004.

Sigel, real name Dwight Grant, left federal prison last month after serving nearly a year on a federal weapons charge that stemmed from a 2002 traffic stop in Philadelphia. He faces another city trial for allegedly breaking a man's eye socket during a January 2003 argument.

Speller testified that he first told police he was shot during a robbery, but a day later told family and police Sigel shot him. He said he was initially afraid to tell the truth.

Published on: September 26 2005 at 01:07 PM

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D'Angelo Injured in Car Crash

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R&B; star D'Angelo is in critical condition in a Virginia hospital after being involved in a car crash last week.

The singer's Hummer vehicle ran off the road and overturned, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper.

D'Angelo, real name Michael Archer, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle. Both the singer and a friend, who was in the car at the time of the crash, were taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. The accident is under investigation.

It hasn't been a good year for the singer -- he was handed a three-year suspended sentence after pleading no contest to felony cocaine possession in Chesterfield Circuit Court earlier this month.

D'Angelo, 31, was arrested near Richmond, Va., in January after police found marijuana and cocaine in his car during a traffic stop.

Published on: September 26 2005 at 01:06 PM

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Missy Elliott To Undergo Surgery

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Hip-hop star Missy Elliott is set to undergo surgery this week to repair Achilles tendon damage.

Last week, the rapper was injured while rehearsing for TV Guide's Emmy party in Los Angeles, but braved the pain and performed on crutches for revellers on Sunday.

According to MTV News, the rap star is scheduled to go under the knife in the coming days to repair the damage. There is no word yet on how long it will take her to recover from the surgery.

Elliott's representative says the rapper is in good sprits and resting.

Published on: September 22 2005 at 02:34 PM

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Beanie Sigel's Re-Trial for Attempted Murder Begins

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Rapper Beanie Sigel returned to a Philadelphia court on Wednesday to defend himself against attempted murder charges from a 2003 shooting incident.

The hip-hop star, real name Dwight Grant, was released from a New Jersey prison last month after spending less than a year behind bars on a separate case for federal gun and drug charges, stemming from a 2002 traffic stop in the Pennsylvania city.

Sigel stands accused of repeatedly shooting Terrance Speller outside a west Philadelphia strip club in July 2003. The rapper's initial trial came to a head last year when the jury deadlocked.

At the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia yesterday, Sigel's lawyer Fortunato N. Perri Jr. attempted to discredit the alleged victim Speller and the second key witness, Speller's friend, claiming both men have criminal records.

Perri Jr. alleges Speller was drunk and high on marijuana on the night in question, which Speller admitted to under cross-examination.

Speller's case has been damaged after he testified because he initially told police he was shot during a robbery, but the next day told officers the rapper has been responsible for his wounds.

Speller claimed he was afraid to tell the truth, explaining, "I wanted to make sure I was going to be all right and my family was going to be all right."

Speller claimed he argued with the teenage daughter of Sigel's friend, offering a possible motive for Sigel's alleged attack.

The trial continues.

Published on: September 22 2005 at 02:32 PM

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R. Kelly's Wife Takes Out Restraining Order

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Chronicle photo / Gina Gayle

Troubled R&B; singer R. Kelly reportedly has been slapped with an emergency restraining order from his estranged wife Andrea Kelly.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed claims that Andrea went to Cook County Court, Ill., seeking to prohibit the singer from alleged physical abuse, harassment, stalking and interfering with her personal liberty.

It is also claimed that she sought the protection order to ensure that their three children, Robert, John and Jaya, could not be removed from their home.

In addition, Andrea is said to have demanded that Kelly not dispose of any personal property, including a black Mercedes Benz, clothes, photos and computer.

As well as his slow-moving fight against child pornography charges, the singer is in the midst of a legal battle with hip-hop star Jay-Z over their failed Best of Both Worlds tour last year.

Published on: September 20 2005 at 02:22 PM

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Usher Hits Out at West Reports

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R&B; star Usher is furious over reports he attacked Kanye West's controversial comments about President George W. Bush, insisting he's in full support of the rap star.

The singer was quoted as saying the Grammy-winning rapper was wrong to verbally attack Bush during a telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims earlier this month, during which West accused the leader of being a racist.

But Usher now says in a statement, "Contrary to false media reports, I support the personal opinions made by my friend Kanye West.

"If it wasn't for his comments, there would not be an open dialogue about the underserved people in the Gulf Region.

"Our country is in a state of emergency -- instead of the media trying to turn celebrities against one another -- we should all come together as one and support the victims of this devastating tragedy. Let's all be a blessing to those in need."

Published on: September 15 2005 at 02:26 PM

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Notorious BIG's Mother Slams Diddy and Lil' Kim in Book

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Late rapper Notorious BIG's mother, Voletta Wallace, has accused Sean "Diddy" Combs and Lil' Kim of using her son for their own gain in her upcoming book, "Biggie: Voletta Wallace Remembers Her Son."

Notorious BIG -- real name Christopher Wallace -- was murdered in 1997, and eight years on his mother believes Combs and Lil' Kim have exploited his legend for their own benefit.

In the book, she writes, "I'm glad my son does not have to witness that the very people that he thought he could ride and die with wouldn't think twice about using his mother.

"I am glad that he's not here to see how they have used his image and his name.

"I believe Sean loved my son -- after he was dead. I used to tell Christopher all the time not to trust Sean."

Voletta Wallace reserved particular disdain for her son's sometime lover Lil' Kim, describing her outrage at the time she allowed the convicted rap star to use her home for a magazine photoshoot.

She says, "The first picture I saw was Kim wearing my son's mink coat, holding his chain and wearing his hat. I was in shock.

"I felt violated. I read the entire article and learned that not only was Kim wearing things belonging to my son, but she claimed that the home belonged to her as well.

"This experience helped me draw my own opinions about Kim. And they weren't good."

Published on: September 09 2005 at 01:47 PM

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Police Rule Out Suggestions Suge Shot Himself

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Police investigating the club shooting that put rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight in the hospital on the eve of the MTV Video Music Awards have ruled out claims he accidentally shot himself.

Knight, who was released from the hospital last week, was shot in the leg at Kanye West's pre-awards party at the Shore Club Hotel in Miami, Fla.

Police confirm they have ruled out suggestions the Los Angeles-based rap boss shot himself, claiming the suggestion "does not appear credible."

The investigation continues as the authorities attempt to find the shooter.

Published on: September 09 2005 at 01:39 PM

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