http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/13231It doesn't get much realer than P's videos. Grimy and often violent, Prodigy said he prefers the straight-to-YouTube approach to maintain creative freedom.
"My whole reason for doin' what I'm doin' is because I just want to be able to express myself to the fullest," he said, "without having to make changes for certain TV channels that don't want to play (a video) because it's too graphic for them or they don't understand where we comin' from. So instead of doin' that, I'd rather just do what I do without no constrictions, without having to conform. I can just be myself. Because I want the fans to see me, naturally."
U-God Sues Wu Music
Published on 13 January, 2008
U-God Sues Wu MusicThe drama in the Wu-Tang Clan camp continues, as U-God is suing Wu Music Group, claiming the lable owes him over $170,000 in back royalties. The rapper filed the lawsuit on Tuesday the 8th of January in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. U-God claims he has not been paid advances due for the lastest Wu-Tang Clan album, 8 Diamgrams, since signing a deal in May 2007.
The rapper from the Hip-Hop collective, born Lamont Hawkins, is also suing Wu Music for income earned from the groups Rock The Bells tour, a publishing deal with BMG and proceeds from the sales of Wu-Tang merchandise.
"Defendant has failed and/or refused to pay certain monies currently due and owing to plaintiff, despite plaintiff’s repeated demands that it do so," the lawsuit reads.
U-God claims he is owed at least $50,000 from the Rock The Bells tour, $60,000 for the BMG publishing advance and around $40,000 for the Wu-Tang Clan album advance. The lawsuit also accuses Wu Music of intentionally breaching the contract with U-God willfully and intentionally, "without justification". As well as the $170,000, U-God is claiming 9% interest from the date of the lawsuit, which is the 8th of January, and all attorney fees. Other members of Wu-Tang Clan including Ghostface and Raekwon have also made allegations that they have not been properly compensated for their work within the group.
"I feel like I am being taken advantage of. Sometimes we didn’t even get a chance to see no paperwork, so we like hold up hold up, deliver that paperwork, and we agree to agree, or we agree to disagree," Raekwon told Miss Info in November of 2007. "It be seeming like motherfuckers be like ‘you don’t need to see no paperwork.’ I be like ‘What? You talkin‘ reckless to me B and that’s when the bullshit starts."
"A motherfucker may know you love them because you love them like that, and then the next thing you know, he use that as a weakness in your mind. It’s to the point where it’s like yo, you getting beat like a ho now, you might as well be pimpin’ me or something nigga. You aint paying me right and you aint keeping me fresh."
RZA replied to the comments during an interview with BBC Radio 1’s Tim Westwood. "It’s really all good, different directions. It was a disagreement. Everything is back all peace already. I aint never ever take no money from nobody and I don‘t owe nobody no money. Don‘t ever say that. I work hard and I pay all my bills."
Credits: Stuart Hallick
DMX Loses $1.5million Over Rape Claim
Published on 13 January, 2008
DMX Loses $1.5million Over Rape ClaimDMX has lost $1.5million to a Baltimore woman, after a default judgement. The rapper failed to show up in court and defend himself against a defamation of character lawsuit on the 10th of January. Monique Wayne sued Earl "DMX" Simmons, after X told Sister2Sister magazine that Wayne raped him, as he slept during a 2003 stay in a hotel room in Baltimore.
"She raped me," DMX claimed. "DNA says it is my child. I don’t know. If I did have sex with her, I would remember. It ain’t like she’s a pretty girl."
In October 2006, Wayne, 28, defender herself from the allegations made by DMX, and she filed a lawsuit in Prince George's County Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Wayne was seeking $6million in damages.
Monique Wayne's mother, sister, and a psychologist testified on her behalf yesterday. They all claimed DMX's allegations were false and slanderous. X must pay $1million in punitive damages and $518,000 in compensatory damages. Representatives for DMX were not available at press time.
Credits: Stuart Hallick
sursa: http://www.hip-hopkings.com/index.phpWyclef Accused Of Copyright Infringement
Published on 11 January, 2008
Wyclef Accused Of Copyright InfringementThe Fugees rapper Wyclef Jean is now a subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit. The lawsuit is based on the song on Wyclef's sixth album Carnival 2: Memoirs of an Immigrant. Brooklyn rapper Blahz, real name Martell Ellis, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan US District Court. He is accusing Wyclef of sampling his groups Blahzay Blahzay's 1995 hit single "Danger" without permission.
Sony BMG have also been named in the lawsuit, in addition to Wyclef. The lawsuit seeks an undisclosed amount which sources claimed could be as high as $50million.
On the good side, Wyclef Jean kicks off the "Carnival House Tour" on the 14th of January in Providence, Rhode Island, in support of the album Carnival Volume II. The tour covers 21 cities before the end date of the 26th of February in Kitchener, Ontario. Representatives for Wyclef Jean were not available as of press time.
Credits: Stuart Hallick
Aren't street art auctions a bit lame?
I don't agree with auction houses selling street art - its undemocratic, it glorifies greed and I never see any of the money.
What's with all the gallery shows?
None of the print and painting exhibitions in proper art galleries are anything to do with me, it's all stuff they bought previously. I only ever mount shows in warehouses or war zones or places full of live animals (I'm aware the pictures don't stand up on their own).