According to All Hip Hop.com, staff members and music industry executives like Chris Hicks and Jonathan McHugh were let go, however,  Hicks and McHugh will reportedly perform consulting work for Island Def Jam/Motown, who work with stars like Rihanna, Young Jeezy, Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Ne-Yo — among other companies.

Media outlets like The Wrap are reporting problems within the financial structure of the record label. CEO of Island Def Jam Barry Weiss vehemently denies the report.

News of the layoffs may be somber but Island Def Jam and Universal Republic are celebrating the addition of a new A&R to the team: Bruno Mars’ manager Brandon Creed.

AllHipHop.com reports, representatives from the troubled rapper from Yonkers New York say reports of DMX sneaking drugs into prison were exaggerated. Most of the reported infractions took place months ago and one as far back as January.

The cause for the information leaked the web recently was the rapper was transferred from one jail, to another, where prison officials reached guilty verdicts on several minor infractions.

A rep for the rapper stated “DMX never snuck anything into the prison, as far as him smoking in jail, there is an area where inmates are allowed to smoke. A guard felt that DMX was smoking outside of a designated lined area in the smoking court and started harassing him, which resulted in the charge.”

“DMX is looking forward to being released from prison and resuming his career,” DMX’s rep told AllHipHop.com. “We are in the early process of helping ex-rebuild his career in staying on the right track this time.”

The representitive also stated that the rapper has several shows planned shortly after he is released from prison.

Barret Marson, Arizona Department of Correction spokesman confirmed DMX’s release date next week.

Reports from AllHipHop.com said C.I. Joe, born Raymond Velasquez, 34, climbed on top of the pole at 44th St. and 7th Avenue after the rapper had just been thrown out of the MTV offices.

C.I. Joe climbed on top of the pole, threw copies of his demo CD to the crowd and rapped to curious onlookers, who thought that incident was a staged stunt.

Police arrived with yellow airbags that onlookers realized that the rapper’s life was in danger. Police talked the rapper down from the light pole and sent him to Bellevue Mental Hospital for an psychiatric evaluation.

Charges against the rapper are pending.

Rappers and prioducers like Young Jeezy, Polow Da Don, Jazze Pha and others have been blamed for stiffing recording studios and refusing to pay thousands of dollars in studio fees.

According to CBS Atlanta, they have obtained unpaid invoices and court judgements against Producer Polow Da Don who owes an engineer named Tony Terrebonne over $20,000 in studio bills and attorney fees. Young Jeezy is also accused of failing to pay $20,000 to 11th Street STudios in Atlanta. 

CBS Atlanta states that producer Jazze Pha is the worst offender for non payment, he owes over $135,000 to four different studios. 

Jeezy’s company YJ Productions issued a $20,000 payment to 11th Street after finding out about CBS Atlanta’s investigation. 

Polow Da Don’s camp issued a statement about the accusation.

“Polow always handles all of his business vendors with the utmost respect and timely payment, but this situation is a unique private dispute and as such Polow will not dignify any celebrity smear campaign by comment,” a rep for Polow Da Don said in a statement.

Zac Recording Owner, Jim Zumpano contacted CBS Atlanta about the issue because he said he is tired of his colleagues “getting dogged.”

The music stars “are out partying on my money,” said Zac Recording owner Jim Zumpano, who contacted CBS over the issued. “I’m looking for that money to help me run my business.”

Spotted at AllHipHop.com

Derrick Price, Doc Mob Records and IHip Hop Music filed the lawsuit against Trey Songz, Atlantic Records, Kodak, manager Gee Robertson, producer Kane Beatz and others.  The lawsuit, which was filed February 2nd in the Southern District of New York, Doc Mob hired producer Milton James aka “Tony Scales” to produce the original, copyrighted track for “Bottoms Up” for his company, Doc Mob Records.

Price and Doc Mob further claim the track was originally produced by James in Price’s home studio.  James teamed with producer Kane Beatz who added production to the song, which was eventually used by Trey Songz and Nicki Minaj.

The lawsuit claims that “Bottoms Up” was contained on Trey Songz’ hit album Passion, Pain and Pleasure but only listed Kane Beatz as producer of the song.

Doc Mob’s Derrick Price alleges that he sent multiple cease-and-desist letters to Atlantic Records and Trey Songz, but they were allegedly ignored by the defendants in the case.

Kodak has been dragged into the $18 million dollar lawsuit, for using the song in an advertising campaign featuring Trey Songz.

 
Allhiphop.com and Triple Beam Entertainment teamed up to bring us “The King Of Paper Chasing–” a much needed film about transformation and the innate want for the “American Dream.”

Growing up in the inner city, Carter Blanche and his two best friends find themselves on a non-stop hustle for the “almighty dollar” by any means necessary. Carter (Dwayne DL Clark), after years of living an unhealthy lifestyle, finds him self transitioning from a money-hungered thug into a hard-working man. Although he meets resistance upon his transformation he is determined to succeed.

 “The King Of Paper Chasing” is inspired by the life of main character DL and others.

So who better to talk to about how to be the king of your own journey than he?

It is very evident that black men face more obstacles than other races. It has also been made very clear that you or anyone can overcome those hindrances. DL gives us some advice in our 2 Part interview on how you can be a “King of Paper Chasing!”

How do you get into corporate America coming from the “street” background?

“The thing to do is show and prove! It’s unfortunate but we are dealing with a disadvantage with peoples perception, speculation and assumption– you have to show them that you are self sufficient, determined and resourceful. After a while people will take notice. If you show those qualities and that drive people will def listen and want to get involved.”

How does someone transcend from the streets into following their dreams like you?

“Everything in my life that I did I had reason for it–it was seldom that I did anything just because. Have a plan, and sometimes people may not agree with your methods to achieve your goal but at the end of the day you have to have a bunch of small goals en route to that large goal and you have to stay true to it regardless of what people think or want you to do.”

How can one become a King Of Paper Chasing?

“That’s the beauty of the movie, King of Paper Chasing isn’t just about me it talks about all the people in the movies walks of life. Everyone has a hustle so to speak. Everybody is in search of something to make them happy. Depending on what you’re looking for you have to have tunnel vision, don’t let your self be distracted! Go for it!”

Stay tuned for part 2…

50 Cent’s Film Company Lands $200 Million In Funding

Getting Paid By Getting Laid: The Fast Path to Fame [from TheBVX.com ]

Bun B’s 12 Greatest Hip-Hop Duos [from Vibe.com]

Sesame Street Represents For The Soul Sistas! [from TheSmokingSection.com]

Tyler Perry Addresses Flap Over Directing ‘For Colored Girls’[from Blackvoices.com ]

Behind The Scenes Of Cee-Los New Show “Lay It Down” [from Fuse.com]

Liquor Tycoon M.J. Silver has announced a press conference will be held tomorrow in Times Square to protest Combs’ statement that “if you’re not drinking Ciroc vodka, then you’re drinking pee pee.”

According to AllHipHop.com, a war has been declared against Sean “Diddy” Combs after the mogul declared that other vodka brands were “pee pee.”

Liquor Tycoon M.J. Silver has announced a press conference will be held tomorrow (March 25) in Times Square to protest Combs’ statement that “if you’re not drinking Ciroc vodka, then you’re drinking pee pee.”

Combs made the statement during a party he was hosting earlier this month at New York hot spot, Greenhouse. Silver who owns Georgi Argent, one of the best selling vodkas in New York, took offense to the statement and is demanding an apology from Combs.

Now, Silver and the owners of Alexi vodka and other American spirits will protest Combs’ French made Ciroc Vodka, the brand Combs’ has a 50% stake of, with the other half belonging to Diageo.

“They will be putting a liters of Ciroc into a large toilet bowl and having it delivered to Diddys offices near Times Square,” a representative of the vodka wars coalition said in a statement.

The protesters will express their dismay with Combs at 2:00 PM, in front of the mogul’s oversized Sean John advertisement.

German magazine Neon has been fired for printing a story that claimed Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce Knowles had a "marriage contract"

According to AllHipHop.com, a writer for German magazine Neon has been fired for printing a story that claimed Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce Knowles were bound by a “marriage contract.”

The magazine admitted to doubting the credibility of a series of articles published by writer Ingo Mocek, who claimed Bey and Jay-Z had a $10 million dollar wedding contract.

The article also implied that Beyonce was not enamored with “white music producers.”

“We assume that the interview did not take place as claimed,” said the magazine in a statement. “We sincerely apologize to Ms. Knowles and her management for all personal inconvenience that may have arisen due to the publication of this interview.”

Interviews with rapper Snoop Dogg and singer Christina Aguilera have now been called into question by Neon as well.

According to reports, Mocek was fired over the articles.

Waka Flocka was originally arrested Tuesday evening (March 16) in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for smoking marijuana before a show.

According to AllHipHop.com, ATL rapper Waka Flocka Flames has been released from the Houston County Jail yesterday (3/18), after being arrested for violating his probation.

Sources told AllHipHop.com that the rapper was originally arrested Tuesday evening (March 16) in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for smoking marijuana before a show.

Waka Flocka, born Juaquin Malphurs, is an artist on Gucci Mane’s So Icey record label. He is riding the success of his single “O Let’s Do It” which is #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart. The remix also features Bad Boy Entertainment CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs. Read AllHipHop.com’s full Q&A with Wack Flocka.

A 17-year-old from Gary, Indiana faces multiple charges after a Waka Flocka Flames concert at a local skating rink on March 5th

A 17-year-old from Gary, Indiana faces multiple charges after being arrested in connection with a shooting after a Waka Flocka Flames concert at a local skating rink on March 5th. 

According to AllHipHop.com, Devontius Hutcherson (17) was arrested and charged with multiple felonies for his role in the shooting last Friday.  He was also hit with murder and attempted murder charges for a separate shooting on January 19th in Miller, Indiana.

In that incident, Hutcherson allegedly shot and killed a 22-year-old and wounded the man’s cousin, after the two men refused to give Hutcherson $5 dollars to attend a rap concert.

Hutcherson then stole money and jewelry from both victims. Police confiscated a rifle Hutcherson allegedly used in the March 5th shooting after the Waka Flocka Flames concert.

Hutcherson is being held without bail while police investigate the latest shooting and prepare to file more charges related to the incident.

Source: AllHipHop.com