Sez Yahoo News:

Rapper Busta Rhymes has been arrested and charged with assault, police said Sunday.
Few details about the arrest and the attack that prompted it were immediately available, although police Officer Martin Speechley said they occurred about a week apart.

Police have been wanting to interview Rhymes since the February shooting death of one of his bodyguards, Israel Ramirez. Ramirez, 29, was killed outside a Brooklyn studio where Rhymes was recording a music video.

I was hoping they would arrest him for squandering his advance on dookie chains. I bet he’ll start snitching now.

Biz Markie, Rocsi, and others were in the house to support the new clothing line by Knicks guard Stephon Marbury. $14.98 for a pair of sneaks? $9.99 for a crisp tee? How real is that?

(click to enlarge)

Ludameister was on a winning streak with “War with God” and “Tell it Like it Is,” but he ended it with this complacent single. Still, I’m hoping he’ll make me proud by emptying the vault on Release Therapy.

Ciara backstage at “So You Think You Can Dance”

50 Cent on “Fish Bowl” with Bill Maher

Rev Run & Ludacris at MTV’s TRL

Gnarls Barkley concert in St. Elsewhere

Common Gap Ads

I was gunning for a Rick Ross Port of Miami CD contest this week, but when the mighty ‘O’’s camp makes you an offer at the last minute, you take it.

In conjunction with the good folks over at Special Ops Media, I’ve decided to reward five people with “Idlewild” CDs, T-shirts, and posters. All you have to do is answer three super easy questions:

1.) In the “Idlewild” movie, Antwan Patton plays the character named __________,while Andre Benjamin plays________
2.) Name OutKast’s first six CDs in the order they were released
3.) What other feature films has “Idlewild” director Bryan Barber handled ?

Send your answers to rizoh1 at Gmail dot com. Please include your mailing address in the email in case you win. The first five correct entries will each receive an “Idlewild” package courtesy of The Rap Up and Special Ops Media.

Good luck!

“Idlewild” Sneak Peaks:
Funeral
Angel’s Performance
Trumpy
Big Boi’s Performance
Terrence Howard/Big Boi Chase Scene

UPDATE: Believe it or not we already have 5 winners. Thanks to everyone for playing. Rick Ross next week (unless Hov or Nas calls at the last minute or something.)

Lil’ Kim fresh off house arrest.

-Rick Ross “hustles” his way to the top of Billboard. Now all he has to do is “Push It” to platinum.

-Beyonce leads MOBO Awards nominations. How so? What has she done lately?

-Is Kelis cheating on Nas?

-MTV bans The Pack’s “Vans” video. Received an email about this yesterday and couldn’t help thinking WTF!! I mean, I just started digging the video. Prohiphop.com has the update on this.

-“Give Houston a second chance” - Beyonce’s dad.

-YouTube plans to have every music video ever created within the next 18 months. Did you know that 60% of videos watched online in the U.S. are viewed on YouTube?

-Def Jam Video Retrospect of The Roots crew (link self-destructs on 8/29/06)

-Download: Killer Mike’s I Pledge Allegiance Advance

I don’t get the whole siren + screaming antics. I heard that this song has something to do with Rihanna trying to steal her man. So, yeah, that’s good enough reason to get all paranoid and scream my ears out?

Related Posts:
Beyoncé ft. Jay-Z - “Déjà Vu” Video
Beyoncé Déjà Vu Promo Photos

The copy of CL Smooth’s yet-to-be-released American Me that landed on my desk a couple weeks ago came without a press release. The rest of the floor-to-celing high package I received the same week were all embelished with media features, press statements, etc. Granted, this is teleological reasoning but it dawned on me that CL needs no introduction. If you’re not familiar with CL Smooth by now, then you’ve got your work cut out for you.

American Me, CL Smooth’s upcoming solo album on Shaman Works, reminds me of two things:

1)Smooth’s flow hasn’t changed much in ten years. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, seeing as he was ahead of his peers when The Main Ingredient and Mecca & the Soul Brother dropped.

2)CL Smooth minus Pete Rock (this is going to be a hard pill for many to swallow when American Me drops) is not unlike Guru without Preem.

That said, there are plenty of souled out grooves on here.

CL Smooth - American Me
CL Smooth - I Can’t Help It
CL Smooth - Smoke in the Air

“Jamaican Girl” is one of several missteps on Second Round’s on Me. From Eminem’s regurgitation of a bootlegg Timbaland beat to Obie’s elementary rhymes. Flavorless. Yet, it goes without saying that it’ll quickly become a club favorite and help O. Trice go quadruple diamond in no time.

Akon ft. Eminem - Smack That(mp3)
I was just getting ready to unveil some brand new CL Smooth when this Akon + Eminem collabo fell out of nowhere. Never saw this one coming. Strictly designed to move your body, not your soul.

Bonus Cuts:
Lil’ Kim - Who Shot Ya
X-Clan - Weapon X