::: Ahmed Khatib :::

Dr. Dre's Son Passes Away

Dr. Dre’s son was found dead at his home in Woodland Hills on Saturday morning, according to reports. He was only 20 years old.

Andre Young Jr. was found when his mother went to check on him around 10AM after he had come home around 5:30AM. She found him to be unresponsive and rang 911 but the young man was pronounced dead on the scene.

The cause of death is unknown, pending completion of a toxicology report, but foul play is not suspected.

We would like to extend our condolences to Dr. Dre and the Young family.

Mediatechnics Corp. New Owner Of Death Row Records - Valued At $32 Million

MediaTechnics Corporation not only signed a letter of intent to purchase Global Music Group – New York (GMG-NY), but they also won the bid to acquire the assets and complete ownership of Death Row Records.

“We are delighted by the prospects that this imminent transaction could bring to our two companies and believe the outcome, both financially and creatively, can be an incredible force,” stated Susan Berg, President of Global Music Group in New York.

Along with the incarceration of Marion “Suge” Knight in early 2000, Tha Row was hit with several law-suits that heavily contributed to the down-fall of the notorious record label.

In April of 2006, Marion Knight filed for bankruptcy of Death Row Records, which led to the sale of the label to Global Music Group for $24 million.

Death Row Records was home to Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and the late Tupac Shakur.

Snoop Dogg Unzips New Clothing Line Inspired By The "Rich & Infamous"

Snoop Dogg will be unveiling his latest clothing line called Rich & Infamous at the Magic fashion trade show in Las Vegas this week.

According to Daily Variety, the clothing line is inspired by famous icons like Jimi Hendrix, Dean Martin, Albert Einstein, Ronald Reagan and Muhammad Ali, among others.

“[It’s] a fraternity of sorts — from presidents to gangsters — who’ve been able to endure the burden of gaining wealth at any cost,” said Snoop Dogg. “These men savor the fruits and relish the spotlight”

The line is a venture between Snoop Dogg, Robert Thorne Co., IMG World and Industry Concepts.

Snoop will promote the Rich & Infamous clothing line in his music videos, films and his reality show, Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood. The line will offer accessories, grooming and home products in the future.

Swizz Beatz Settles To Run With "That Oprah," Speaks On Upcoming Album

Superstar producer Swizz Beatz recently revealed that he will be releasing “That Oprah” as an official single and will be shooting a video for it.

“That Oprah” samples Coldplay’s hit song “Viva la Vida” with Swizz rapping about his love for the legal tender.

“The record started off a freestyle, then the traction went real major,” Swizz told MTV. “Being that I’ve got a relationship with Coldplay already — I’ve worked with them a while back — I was like, I wanna turn it into a real record. I took care of the legal side. I’m about to shoot a video to that. Plus, that’s where I wanna be at musically anyway. The remix is gonna be crack.”

Swizz will be releasing his second solo album, which is currently untitled, later this year.

“It’s major,” Swizz said about the album. “It’s showing a different side. We had the One Man Band that was a lot more hype, a lot more all over the place. This album we got Mary J. Blige on the album. John Legend did my intro. We’re just exploring a whole other side of my movement.”

Swizz Beatz Owes IRS $900K

Although he was listed at No. 7 on Forbes’ Hip-Hop Cash Kings this week, earning a reported $17 million in the past 12 months, Swizz Beatz doesn’t exactly have his taxes in line.

The super-producer is in debt to Uncle Sam (aka the IRS) for nearly $900,000.

IRS records show that Swizzy (real name: Kasseem Dean) and his estranged wife Mashonda have an $842,644.52 tax lien against them.

Calls to Violator Management, who manages the producer’s career, were not returned at press time.

By comparison former NFL legend Bernie Kosar owes $228K, while Mini-Me, otherwise known as Verne Troyer, has a $300,000 lien against him.

Swizzy is not the only one who may be going through financial woes. Michael Jackson has been long rumored to have his own money issues.

The New York Post’s is reporting that Michael Jackson owes his brothers — Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie Jackson — to the tune of $840,000 in royalties paid from his long list of hits as the Jackson 5.

It is also said that Michael hasn’t spoken to his brothers since his widely publicized child molestation trial three years ago.

Since they haven’t spoken, it’s unlikely he will join his siblings at the BMI Urban Awards where they will be presented with a lifetime achievement award.

T.I. Not Impressed With "Swagger" Leak, Reveals Paper Trail Features

T.I. Saturday (August 23) expressed his disappointment with the leak of a single from his upcoming album Paper Trail.

The single in question is the track titled “Swagger Like Us” which features appearances from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. The track leaked onto the net Friday (August 22).

“That’s some bullsh—,” T.I. told MTV. The Atlanta bred rapper had planned to release the single in a bigger fashion later in the year.

“Don’t ruin the event,” he lamented. “Wait till the cake comes out the kitchen before you eat it. That’s like a kid who sees his toys before Christmas; it takes away from me and I think it takes away from the fans as well. When it’s time, I’mma give it to you. They leaked my record with me and The Dream [“Like I Do”] too. Leakage is never a problem I have had. I’m not used to it.”

Despite the leaks, T.I. remains positive. The rapper took time out to reveal that “Swagger Like Us” was produced by Kanye West and will also be appearing on Jay-Z’s upcoming album Blueprint 3.

The rapper also revealed Usher, B.O.B., Rihanna and Justin Timberlake will be among the features on Paper Trail which hits shelves on September 30th.

T-Pain, Rick Ross & Kanye West Get Drafted For "True To The Game"

T-Pain, Rick Ross and Kanye West will be among various hip hop artists featured on a compilation titled True To The Game which will benefit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

The compilation will include new songs by the various artists and will hit shelves on October 21st. Other artists featured on the project include Chingy, Akon, GLC, Yung Joc and Mario.

The first single off the compilation is “Beam Me Up” which features Ross, T-Pain and Tay Dizm.

A percentage of the CD’s profits will help fund a $15 million education and research center which will be built where the Negro Leagues were established.

The Outlawz tour Australia; launch new project

The Outlawz are set to tour Australia this September and with it launch a new project; the world wide evolution of Tupac’s One Nation ideology.

“This is our way to give back to the fans overseas. They always show us nothing but love and they keep bringing us back,” an appreciative Young Noble explained. “Our international fan base really appreciates the kind of music we do!”

One Nation was Tupac’s concept and planned projects where artists from different backgrounds and genres would come together and collaborate on albums. At the time of his death he was working on a joint album with New York rappers The Boot Camp Click; putting to rest all the West vs. East tension.

The September Australia tour will feature the Outlawz collaborating with Aussie vocalists, rock, and Hip-Hop artists.

The events will be chronicled in a documentary named Outlawz Worldwide: Volume 2.

The DVD will also include highlights from the Tupac Still Breathin Tour in Australia along with footage of the recording process with top Aussie artists.

In addition to the One Nation project, the group will drop a double LP entitled Outlawz and Hip-Hop TV Presents America 2 Australia: the Best of the Best.

“They love and support real Hip-Hop and Australia really has great artists too,” Young Noble states. “We are very excited about going back for this tour and looking forward to recording this album will all the top Aussie talent”
The Outlawz are currently promoting their latest studio album We Want In, released on August 5.

Tour Dates:

Sydney - Sat 13th September, Big Top Luna Park
Melbourne - Thu 18th September The Forum
Adelaide - Fri 19thth September Thebarton
Brisbane - Sun 20st September The Arena
Sydney - Sat 21th September, Roxy Theater

EXCLUSIVE: The Outlawz respond to Faith Evans' claims about Tupac

The Outlawz; both blessed and burdened with the torch of Tupac are of course his representatives while he isn’t here, and EDI wanted to release this statement about the allegations, book, and Ms. Evans.

“Let me start off by saying that this is not an attempt to fight Tupac’s battles. Over the past twelve years there have been numerous articles, books, DVD’s, movies, interviews, etc about Pac and his life. We normally do not speak nor comment on shit because it’s really not worth it and we all have better things to do than argue with idiots.

But recently I heard about a book by Faith Evans and there is an excerpt released to the media in which she portrays Tupac as some sort of sick gorilla pimp or sex offender. Of course Ms. Evans wants you, the reader, to see her as the victim, even though she admits to cheating on her husband with not one but two different men at the same time; but Tupac wasn’t one of them? Of course!

Look none of us was there when it happened but I know what Pac told us and Pac was a lot of things, but a liar he was not.

I am sure the publishers would not have cut her the check if my homies’ name was not in the book, so I understand her dilemma. But it is cowardice to make such an allegation when he isn’t even here to defend himself.

Would she be saying this if Pac or Biggie was alive? Too bad we’ll never know. What we do know is that times must be hard for the former “First Lady of BadBoy” if she has to stoop to these levels to sell books.

— EDI, The Outlawz”