,
Fans watched as Missy hobbled up the stage at the AMA's to accept her second annual award for Favorite Female Artist: Rap/Hip-Hop. What they didn't see is that backstage she was leaking plans for a new autobiographical movie.
"I'm working on my own movie on my life, which probably a lot of people don't know."
More eyebrows raised when she admitted that "It's a detailed [look at] Missy Elliott's life, 'cause I've been kinda like a character in the TV world as far as videos and stuff, so they really don't know my life story about my father being abusive, the rape [at age 8, by a 16-year-old cousin]. So y'all will see that soon."
Due to her Achilles tendon injury, which she describes as the "worst pain ever", Missy has had plenty of free time to gather thoughts for the movie. Unlike her last film appearance "Pootie Tang", this should provide a more serious look into the life of the rapper.
Missy has yet to decide if she will appear in the film or have someone else play her. Either way, the injury will have Missy literally "sittin' pretty until January.
Twiddling her thumbs though, she is not. Missy is off to the Kora African Music Awards in South Africa, and in mid-December she'll return to Los Angeles to shoot her next video. She recently worked with Ashlee Simpson on the remix to "L.O.V.E.'. Also, look out for what recipe she will cook up next from The Cookbook album.
Catch 'Teary Eyed', but don't cry because Missy is more outta control than ever.
In more "I know you know I got money, but I still ain't trying to pay my child support" news, Jeezy the Snowman recently settled his on-going child support case. On Monday (Nov. 28) ATL's "Trapper of the Year" was ordered to $1,400 per month in his child support case.
While $1,400 only amounts to $16, 800 per year, it's a big step up from what he was paying. See prior to the ruling, Jeezy was breaking his son's mother off with $178 per month. Huh? $178 a month, that's $2, 136 a year. That's probably the cost of two or three stones embedded in Jeezy's Snowman pendant. My math skills are tight, right?
Anyways, back to this $178. Here's the funny thing: Back in 2001, Jeezy was ordered to pay $178 based on a reported income of $89.30 per month. Oh for real? Jeezy was only getting $89 a month in 2001? I thought before the fame, he was trapping. Meanwhile, Tynesha Dykes, Jeezy's former girlfriend and mother of his 9-year old son, says she lives in poverty in a rural HUD project in ATL.
Here's Dyke's lawyer on Jeezy: "Mr. Jenkins is one of the fastest rising Hip-Hop/rap performers on the Billboard Chart, with well over a million records in sales in the past year and a mansion in Atlanta. He lives in high style, tours the country and is in the close company of stars like Jay-Z and Beyonce." Oh really? Here's another funny: Jeezy had to submit a financial statement documenting his recent good fortunes. A review of the document reveals that Jeezy had an income of $15,000 per month, with $300,000 in the bank and $50,000 in jewels. What happened to $89 a month?
In the end, everybody got what they wanted. Dykes got paid and Jeezy got his name out the paper. On another note, not paying your child support seems to be the "in thing" these days. Diddy didn't want to do it. Beanie Sigel didn't want to do it. Swizz Beatz didn't want to do it. Two words: Stop playing.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Young Jeezy Settles Child Support Case
Check out the Audio interview at: http://www.blastro.com/player/juelzsantanainterview.html
Blastro: Can you tell me a little bit about what it was like working with Jay- Z at Def Jam?
Juelz Santana: It was pretty much no different than my last album. I pretty much did what I had to do. It wasn't like no different. I did my album and I handed it in. I did everything I wanted to do. It was just like may last album, we were on Def Jam Roc-A-Fella my last album. He's the CEO over there, so it wasn't like a big transition. It wasn't like Jay- Z is in the studio with me; you know what I'm sayin'. It was like the same thing. I did what I had to do. Actually I was kind of more workin with "LA' Reid, but he's the president he still is involved.
Blastro: What are some things Def Jam has done differently this time around to promote your CD?
Juelz Santana: I just think they look at me as a lot more of a priority.
Blastro: Who's featured on the new album?
Juelz Santana: Sizzla, of course, gotta give a shout out to him. He's a reggae artist, like Bob Marley right now. He's crazy, you know what I mean. Of course Cam, Jim Jones, the Diplomats.I got Jeezy on the album, and I got Lil' Wayne on the album.
Blastro: That was my next question: Are you working on a next album with Jeezy and Lil' Wayne?
Juelz Santana: Me and Jeezy are working on a project together called "The Best of Both of Us'
Blastro: What kind of feedback are you getting from "There It Go' and "Mic Chec'?
Juelz Santana: Aw man, they got me where I am at right now. This buzz is goin' on. They got this frenzy so it's beautiful. "Mic Chec' was like the perfect warm up record to sing. It was a back to basics, pure hip hop record. Everybody loves that record, from the old skool age, to young dudes, to females; anybody who likes hip hop will like that record. The "Whistle' record is tearin' the clubs up; it's tearin' the radio up. Everybody loves it. The ladies love it. My dudes love it because they can relate to it. They got me hollerin at the chicks. It's all good. I got all my street records; my mix tape is out there. That album is killin', killin', killin' the streets right now.
Blastro: So about your mix tapes, do you actually make money off those or do you use them as a tool to get your name out?
Juelz Santana: I use it as a tool man, that is why I appreciate it if everybody would go out and buy my album. My mixtape, I feel like I put out enough music on the streets. I don't get nothing back off my mixtapes. I just look at that as a tool, and a way to market myself and always keep myself out there. It's how I made my living and my career. Just getting to the point I'm at. Feedin' the streets, bubblin' the streets up. Cause the streets are going to talk.
Like despite what gets played on the radios, what gets played in peoples' car. I mean, when you are not listening to the radio, stuff like that counts. I made it to where I have been real effective in that area so, I'm going to continue to do it
Blastro: I understand that you paid for the video "Mic Check' out of your pocket. Can you tell me a little bit about why it went that way? Usually the label will cover the cost of that.
Juelz Santana: It was pretty much, like I said, the reason for me staying at Def Jam was because I wanted to be a priority at a major label. I felt like they definitely had the machine and everything to put behind me.if I was a priority. So I didn't feel like I was a priority at that time. I was kind of lost in the big system. Def Jam is a big system. You can get lost. I knew my street credibility was always effective. My last album everybody still wanted Juelz Santana, they knew what it was. But I didn't know if the people in the building really understood. I knew I had 160 songs, I knew it was crazy. But the label didn't know that. I had to get that attention, and get them focused on me. I didn't wait for them. I didn't wait for them to say "alright this is the record here, we gonna run with this'. I put it out. I let the people talk. The radio picked it up. I worked it all by myself
Blastro: That's a bold move to do that.
Juelz Santana: I actually paid for two more videos out of my pocket, which you'll see on my DVD, when you get the album. It's for a video called "Shottas' which I got with Cam and Sizzla. I paid for that video out of my pocket. And a song I got with me, Jeezy, and Lil' Wayne called "Make It Work for U. That song, I paid for out of my pocket and that video, I paid for out of my pocket. And that will definitely be on the album and advanced DVD, special addition.
Blastro: What really happened when Cam' Ron got shot? What were your thoughts on that?
Juelz Santana: It is what it is. You've got people who hate it anyway. We don't know what the real reason was or what the real motive was for what happened. We can't really pinpoint anything. The bottom line is you got haters everywhere. You've got people always trying to come up. It's a dirty game out there. It's not something we want to happen. We come from the streets so we know what's out there. This is something you look at as a learning experience. It has nothing to do with D.C., that could've happened anywhere, it could happen in Harlem. They could run up in your crib, try to take what's yours. It could've happened anywhere.
Blastro: Do you guys think you all are going have more security?
Juelz Santana: Nah, nothing like that. The situation was real unorthodox, the way it happened. We can't really pinpoint the way anything happened. We just have to always be on point, and that's it. Who was it got shot? Was it Kennedy, who got shot right in front of everybody? He got shot in his head, The President. How many people did he have around him? It could happen anywhere. So the bottom line is, if there is someone that really wants to get you and they are that determined, it's gonna happen, no matter how many security guards you got. A nigga can come out with an AK 47 and shoot all the security and you. It is what it is, and I know niggas who play like that. When you know niggas who play like that you've got to expect that there are other niggas out there who play like that, who you might NOT know, and might be against you. Enough said. It is what it is baby.
Blastro: What is the 1-888-DIPSET7 Hotline?
Juelz Santana: That's the hotline. We're giving away 10,000 dollars on my album. You now find out "What the Game's Been Missing'. It's really to promote everything that Juelz has got comin' up. Everything I'm doin', where I'm going to be at. I pretty much update every week. When you call you can find out what's going on with Juelz Santana; where I'm going to be at, stuff like that. Like I said, you can find out more information on how you can win 10,000 dollars, if you really want to win that 10,000 dollars. " Blastro: So I think you've got a movie in the works, "The Killa Season"
Juelz Santana: Yeah "The Killa Season', I am co-starring in that. It's coming out in February, Valentine's Day.
Blastro: Who's putting that out?
Juelz Santana: I don't know who is putting out the movie; I've actually got to find out.
Blastro: We look forward to that.
Juelz Santana: I usually pay for the movie to get shot, so actually right now I think we are about to get a real big distribution for the movie. I know that the album will be coming out on.records
Blastro: I know you got your hands in some clothing. I know you are a sponsor for Lot 29. Blastro's going to be running a contest to win some of that gear and a signed album of yours and a poster or two. We are pretty excited about that. I think you have a clothing company coming up called Z-Line?
Juelz Santana: Yes, clothing line, called the Z- Line, right now. Called Vengeance and then we will have the couture line called the Z-Line.
Blastro: What kind of style is that going to be? I know that Lot 29 has the Warner Bros. characters and stuff like that. Is this going to be a little different than that?
Juelz Santana: Yes, a lot different. It's going to be all sorts of fly. We are stickin' to one scripts, there;s all sorts of flyness.
Uh-Oooh, Uh-Oooh, Lumidee's been set up. In "I wish I made some money off my debut CD, but I didn't so now I'm a mule" news, R&B one hit wonder Lumidee was arrested at LaGuardia International Airport this past Friday (Nov. 25) for allegedly attempting to smuggle almost $1 million in frozen cocaine.
Yeah you read right, $1 million dollars in frozen coke. But wait, there's more! Apparently she also had over 7,000 ecstasy pills with a street value of over $500,000 in her bags. Uh-Oooh, Uh-Oooh.
Let the Feds tell it, Lumidee is reportedly involved in a suspected $50 million bicoastal drug ring, that also includes model Gloria Velez, who was also arrested on drug charges in 2004. Smuggling + Drug Ring Ties = Uh-Oooh, Uh-Oooh.
Velez was promoting the release of her calendar & DVD when she was charged after police seized 200 pounds of cocaine, $800,000 in cash and four other vehicles, where nearly $1 million cash was found. It was unclear how much money or drugs allegedly were pulled from Velez's bus, but you can read the whole story here.
You probably remember Lumidee from her irritating single "Never Leave You (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)" which topped the Billboard charts for 2 weeks in the summer of 2003. Too bad for Lumidee. On another note, I bet you know who wished they were there so they could have gotten their hands on Lumidee's goodie bags.
Eight words: It was all good just a week ago.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Lumidee Arrested, Facing Drug Smuggling Charges
Mariah Carey, 50 Cent and Green Day are the leading finalists in the race for the 2005 Billboard Music Awards. Held on Dec. 6 at the Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena, the Billboard Awards will be hosted by the Hip-Hop legend LL Cool J. I'm told the event will feature performances Gwen Stefani, Daddy Yankee and Pharrell.
My main man 50 is a finalist in eight categories, followed by Carey with seven and Green Day with six. All three will vie for artist of the year and album of the year for "The Massacre," "The Emancipation of Mimi" and "American Idiot," respectively. The other album of the year finalist is Eminem's "Encore," while Kelly Clarkson is the fourth artist of the year finalist.
According to Billboard, Green Day is also a finalist for group of the year, along with the Black Eyed Peas, Destiny's Child and the Killers. In the new artist of the year category, the finalists are Stefani, Fantasia, the Game and Rob Thomas.
Other multiple-award finalists are Fantasia, the Game and Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz (four), Stefani, Clarkson, Eminem, the Killers and Destiny's Child (three) and Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, Mario, Ciara, Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails (two). You can get a complete list of the nominees here.
No time for funnies as I'm about to hop on the plane. I'll holla when I touch down.
BTW, what's going on with the Williams sisters? One is apparently dating a married man, while the other is in the studio trying to cut an album? Four words: You can't be serious.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Mariah, 50-Cent Lead Billboard Music Awards Finalists
Right back like I left something, wishy-washy EbenGregory's in the house. Today, I report on the second week of the Murder Inc trial. Two words: Pony Show. Let me re-cap.
On Monday, the comedy, I mean trial started with a standoff between prosecutors and defense attorneys as they argued over the relevance of text messaged conversations between Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo and Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. Here's the message Irv wrote: I love the shit out of you. The defense contends that's Irv talking to his wife. The prosecution contends that Irv's talking to McGriff, thanking him for shooting of 50 Cent.
Oh yeah, JA Rule didn't show up and the attorney's spent the rest of the day arguing whether $70,000 in denominations of fives and tens could fit in a shoebox. I can fit $70,00 in a shoebox; I just need the $70,000. Irv wore a blue suit to court. You can read about the rest of day one here.
On Tuesday, the trial turned into the 50 Cent show. Judge Edward Korman ordered the jury to leave the courtroom as he heard arguments from the defense and prosecution about the relevance of the May 24th 2000 shooting of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson to the trial. Some clown testified too, but I missed that. I was down Scores spending my Blastro per diem on the ladies. You know how I like it.
On Wednesday, after long hard deliberations, Judge Edward Korman finally made the decision that any information regarding the May 24, 2000, shooting of rapper 50 Cent had no relevance to the case. The prosecution is not even allowed to utter the rapper's name in the presence of the jury. The decision is defiantly an astronomical blow to the prosecutions case. Earlier this week, their two star witnesses, Donell Nichols and Phillip "Dalu" Banks, both discredited and contradicted themselves.
That's all I got for today. Actually I'm supposed to be in court right now covering the case, but I'm having too a good time at Scores right now to leave. So what I've been here since last week?
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Murder Inc Trial Update: Week 2
Thanks to one high profile peanut gallery, convicted killer, Stanley "Tookie' Williams, may be able to avoid his scheduled December 13th death on a clemency reversal.
L.A. governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, announced Friday that he would meet with Williams' lawyers, Los Angeles County prosecutors and other parties involved during a private hearing at his Sacramento office on Dec. 8.
The Crips co-founder turned peaceful protagonist, was convicted of killing a convenience store worker and, days later, killing two motel owners and their daughter during a robbery in 1979.
During his 26 years behind bars, Williams, now 51, has written countless children's books promoting antiviolence, for which he has been recommended for numerous peace and Nobel prizes.
Mike Farrell, former M*A*S*H star, is at the forefront of the "save Tookie' siege. He has gathered hunderds of reputable signatures, claiming that "the crimes Williams was accused of were "heinous but Williams has made an extraordinary transformation."
Even the animal population has stuck their nose in the hoopla. On Oct. 19, Snoop Dogg told about 1,000 people rallying outside San Quentin State Prison that Williams' transformation is inspiring.
"His voice needs to be heard," said the rapper, whose new song, "Real Soon," touts Williams' anti-gang efforts.
The FX cable channel's aired "Redemption" in 2004, a movie that chronicled the story of the crusader. Williams was played by Jaime Foxx who used the premiere of "Jarhead" to reiterate his stand. Other death penalty opponents, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Bianca Jagger, have spoken out for Took.
Hopefully Schwarzenegger wont terminate this plea. The convicted murderer maintains his innocense to this day. If you'd like to show your support and receive more information: www.savetookie.org, tookie@tookie.com or 510-253-5418.
Yeah, my good friend Raymond "Benzino" Scott is back in the hot seat. This time, he's being charged by the United States attorney's office in Massachusetts with failing to tax returns in 1999 and 2000. Apparently he didn't want to tell the Feds about that $1.5 million in combined income he made in the years in question. I think he's got it tucked away in his shoeboxes.
Here's the FBI on Benzino: "There was an extensive investigation into this matter," reports FBI spokeswoman Gail Marcinkiewicz. "We took a sweeping look at this individual. We were aware of the allegations of murder and everything else. This is what we came up with."
Zino plead innocent in a U.S. District Court to willful failure to file tax returns on Oct. 28. The Made Man was arraigned and freed on $10,000 unsecured bond. I just wrote about Zino and his latest troubles here.
As far as the other legal and financial troubles of the Source Magazine, I can break that down in 282 words:
In October 2005, Textron Financial--the Source Magazine's principal lender--attempted to take over the self-proclaimed "Hip-Hip" bible for defaulting on an $18 million loan. Alleging fiscal mismanagement and financial loses of $11 million over a 4 year period, the lending firm asked a New York Supreme Court to place the Source Enterprises into its control in order to protect the company from financial ruin.
Also in October 2005, the Source Magazine's current editor-in-chief turned himself in to authorities to answer to charges of desecrating a Jehovah's Witness assembly hall in New York. Dasun Allah has been accused of criminal mischief and spreading graffiti over an incident in which he allegedly spray-painted the assembly hall.
In July 2005, two Source executives pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting three men at a Chelsea bar in Manhattan. Police report that Leroy Peeples, the Source Magazine's President and Alvin Childs, the Source Magazine's Marketing Director were charged with shooting and wounding three men after an argument over one of the victim's rap albums.
A few months earlier, in April 2005, former Source Magazine Editor-In-Chief Kim Osorio and former Vice President of Marketing Michelle Joyce filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the Source Magazine.
Osorio and Joyce are accusing the Source co-owners, David Mays and Raymond "Benzino" Scott, of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation against women working for the company.
Despite the mounting legal woes, the Source Magazine is currently engaged in a bitter war of words with Hot 97 on-air personality Funk Master Flex. Earlier this year the Source accused Flex of accepting payola in exchange for playing records, a charge that he vehemently denies.
Six words: Stop kicking it with Bobby Brown.
Click here to Watch EbenGregory - Benzino Charged With Tax Evasion
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