HRS News

After rumors swirled in January surrounding an alleged marriage ceremony at the home of Giorgio Armani, People magazine’s website reported that Beyonce and Jay-Z really did get married this time.

The report quoted the friend of the couple as saying, “It happened earlier this evening. Jay wanted it to be a really private affair – close friends and family.”

In addition, People reported that sometime before the alleged ceremony, the couple had taken out a wedding license in Scarsdale Village, New York.

People also go on to say that reps for the couple have not confirmed the report, and added that the ceremony was followed by a party at the Jay-Z’s TriBeCa spread.

Meanwhile the ever-reliable LA Times offers a blogger’s speculation on whether Beyonce is pregnant with Jay-Z’s child.

Terror Squad cohort Remy Ma has been convicted of assault, weapons possession and coercion for shooting a woman in the abdomen in a dispute about money in New York.

Ma, whose real name is Remy Smith, faces up to 25 years in prison.

The rapper was cleared of charges of gang assault, witness tampering, witness intimidation and assault in a separate incident in which her associates are accused of beating up the boyfriend of a witness.

The 26 year-old was led handcuffed and weeping from the New York court today following the conviction.

Prosecutors said Remy Ma shot Makeda Barnes-Joseph in July because she’d thought she had taken $3,000 from her purse. Defense attorneys said the shooting was accidental.

The Los Angeles Times apologized for using doctored documents last week in a story implicating Sean “Diddy” Combs and his associates in the 1994 assault on rapper Tupac Shakur.

Today the sound of rolling heads is pretty loud.

“The bottom line is that the documents we relied on should not have been used,” editor Russ Stanton said on the paper’s site. “We apologize both to our readers and to those referenced in the documents … and in the story.”

Also check out “Big Phat Liar: How a federal inmate duped the Los Angeles Times, fabricated FBI reports, and linked Sean “Diddy” Combs to 1994 ambush of Tupac Shakur.”

Pitbull has dropped another single from recently released album The Boatlift. The track, “The Anthem” features Lil Jon and samples the popular House song “Calabria.”

AUDIO: Pitbull – “The Anthem” feat. Lil Jon

On Mar. 21, Pitbull also kicked off a 16-city tour sponsored by MTV Tres and Sucka Free Latino. The tour will end Apr. 13th in Farmington, New Mexico. See the dates below:

Mar 25: House of Blues , Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 26: House of Blues , Chicago, Illinois
Mar 27: Epic, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 28: Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mar 30: House of Blues , Dallas, Texas
Apr 1: Ogden Theatre, Denver, Colorado
Apr 3: Vault 350, Long Beach, California
Apr 4: House of Blues , San Diego, California
Apr 5: Gotham Hall, San Bernadino, California
Apr 6: Bakersfield, Cal State, California
Apr 9: Crash Mansion, Los Angeles, California
Apr 10: Marquee Theater, Tempe, Arizona
Apr 11: Circus Circus, Las Vegas, Nevada
Apr 13: Big City, Farmington, New Mexico

http://www.myspace.com/pitbull

LL Cool J has kicked off his new Platinum Harvest music label by signing his first artist, a little known 15-year old rapper Nicolette who he thinks has the power to turn the music world on its head.

“I would put her on a record with anybody and see what they think as far as competition. She’s unbelievable. She’s a star, not just somebody spitting bars in my face… She can rap… She’s the truth.”

Check out her video and tell us what you think.
do my thang


The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network,, along with The Hip-Hop Research and Education Fund, PowerPAC will launch of a national campaign to mobilize the hip-hop generation of youth voters.

There will be a statewide youth voter registration effort between March 18 – March 24, the deadline to register voters for the April 22 Pennsylvania primary. A variety of outreach will include hip-hop radio stations, artists, recording industry street teams, web and pod casts, social networks, blogs and grass roots organizing.

“We decided to draw the line, especially in Pennsylvania, to settle once and for all any question about the sustainability of the impact of the youth vote transforming the American political landscape,” declared HSAN former Chairman, Russell Simmons. “While there’s been much speculation, and in some instances outright denial, of the impact of the youth vote, we know the power and self expression of young people is growing. We want to celebrate that growth and encourage an even greater youth voter turnout.”

According to a press release, the 18-29 year old segment of the hip-hop generation will be nearly 50 million strong in 2008, making up one third of the electorate. Civicyouth.org reported that between the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, youth voter turnout more than doubled.

“As a 22 year old, recent college graduate, I recognize that my home state of Pennsylvania has an opportunity to make a tremendous impact on this nation,” stated Philadelphia native, Lauren Goodwin. “Although I have been involved in the political process in the past, this is the first election that I have felt truly engaged and connected to the issues. More is at stake than ever before because of the current war in Iraq, disproportionate funding for public education and the economic future of the United States. Pennsylvania, stand up and join me and the millions of other young adults by registering to vote and making our voices heard on April 22!”

The online version of the Los Angeles Times released a controversial headline article today which resurrects the belief that Sean “Diddy” Combs was behind a 1994 assassination attempt on Tupac Shakur.

According to the Times, FBI records quote a confidential informant back in 2002 who said associates of Combs, including talent manager James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond and promoter James Sabatino, “set up the rapper Tupac Shakur to get shot at Quad Studios.”

The informant also said Sabatino had told him Shakur “had to be dealt with.”

Sabatino is now in prison for unrelated crimes.

The article goes on to say:

According to this information, Rosemond and Sabatino, infuriated by what they saw as Shakur’s insolent behavior, enticed him to the Quad by offering him $7,000 to provide a vocal track for a rap recording.

Three assailants — reputedly friends of Rosemond — were lying in wait. They were on orders to beat Shakur but not kill him and to make the incident look like a robbery, the sources said. They were told they could keep whatever jewelry or other valuables they could steal from Shakur and his entourage.

A member of Shakur’s posse cooperated with the rapper’s enemies, relaying their offer of a $7,000 payment and keeping them informed of his whereabouts on the night of the assault, according to the informant and the other sources.

Later today, Combs released the following official statement:

“This story is beyond ridiculous and is completely false. Neither Biggie nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during, or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself. I am shocked that the Los Angeles Times would be so irresponsible as to publish such a baseless and completely untrue story.”

As reported over 5 years ago, the LA Times also accused Notorious B.I.G. of later killing Shakur.

Del the Funky Homosapien recently announced a number of tour dates, including two performances at this year’s annual South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

The announcement came a few days after the California underground titan released the video for “Workin’ It,” the first single off of his soon to be released album Eleventh Hour. due Mar. 11th.

AUDIO: Del the Funky Homosapien – “Bubble Pop” from Eleventh Hour

Del the Funky Homosapien tour dates:

March 13 – Opening for SPOON, 7PM. Auditorium Shores Stage (Lady Bird Lake) (Riverside Dr & S 1st St) FREE SHOW!
March 13 – SCOOT INN (SXSW) 11PM
March 20 – A3C Festival – Atlanta, GA (MySpace sponsored
event)
March 21 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
March 22 – Toad’s Place -Richmond, VA
March 23 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
March 26 – Highline Ballroom – NYC, NY

Already into the first week of his Spring tour, Bun B is getting ready for the debut of his sophomore solo album, II Trill, due Apr. 29th.

The set will follow up the last album he dropped as a member of UGK (Underground Kingz) with his partner, the late Pimp C.

II Trill will include guest features by artists that include Lupe Fiasco, Lil Wayne, 8 Ball and MJG, David Banner, Rick Ross, Z-Ro, Mya, Mike Jones and Slim Thug, as well as production from Scott Storch, Jazzy Phae and more.

In addition, Bun B is partnering with Microsoft Zune on a series of promotional events and appearances at several Boys & Girls Clubs. Fans can connect with Bun through the online community over at Zune.

Bun B tour dates are as follows (subject to change):

DATE CITY VENUE

Mar.3rd – 4th New York, NY Press/Promo
Mar. 5th Cleveland , OH Boys & Girls Club and Metropolis
Mar. 6th Indianapolis, IN Lilly Unit Boys & Girls Club
Mar. 7th Detroit, MI Zoo Bar
Mar. 8th Cincinnati, OH Club Annies
Mar. 9th – 10th Chicago, IL Venue TBA
Mar. 12th – 13th Austin, TX South by Southwest
Mar. 14th San Antonio, TX East Side Boys & Girls Club
Mar. 15th Houston, TX Club Levels
Mar. 20th Oklahoma City, OK Venue TBA
Mar. 21st Kansas City, MO Venue TBA
Mar. 22nd St. Louis, MO Mathews Dickey Boy & Girls Club
Mar. 26th-28th Los Angeles, CA Press/Promo and House of Blues
Mar. 29th San Francisco, CA Venue TBA
Mar. 30th Oakland, CA Venue TBA

The gun that killed the 4-year old daughter of Juvenile along with her mother and sister has been recovered by Gwinnett County police investigators.

The child, Jelani, along with her 11 year-old sister Micaiah, and 39 year-old mom Joy Deleston, were allegedly killed by Jelani’s brother, 17-year-old Anthony Tyrone Terrell.

A Gwinnett dive team found the weapon in one of the two areas where Terrell said he had disposed of it.

Deleston was a single mother and aspiring actress who worked as a 7-1/2 year veteran of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. She’d done a number of local Atlanta-based movies, many for no pay.

Jelani’s short life began in controversy when Juvenile abandoned her back in 2003, even after a paternity test proved he was the father.