Nicki Says Meeting Simon Cowell Changed Her Life

The first lady of Young Money, Nicki Minaj recently confirmed rumors and reports that tied her former "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell and his new television show, "The X Factor." Although she didn't give a lot of details, Nicki Minaj spoke about meeting Simon Cowell and how the face-to-face experience changed her life.

"I can't talk about that, but I love Simon very dearly," the Lil Wayne protégé answered in a British accent. "He's such an amazing man. I had the pleasure of meeting him and my life will never be the same, darling. I told him that. I was absolutely in love with him prior to meeting him. And now that I've met him, it's like I dream about him every night." (MTV)

Update: Jim Jones Released From Police Custody

Diplomat captain Jim Jones was released from police custody after making headlines yesterday when he was arrested in New York City for driving on a suspended license. Taking to his twitter account, Jim Jones let fans know a little update on everything.

"From th pens to th video shoot to th air port chitown here we come #CAPO #April,5th #nomatterwhat," he tweeted Wednesday (March 30) evening.
"Wht I miss when I was gone lol"
"Thnk u to everybody for makin th #EVERYBODYJONES video happen we pulled it off @Nyemiah_Supreme lookin good kiddo #CAPO #April,5th" (Jim Jones' Twitter)

Rick Ross Talks About His Feud With 50 Cent

Florida's own Rick Ross recently spoke about why he wanted to strike first during his infamous feud with G-Unit leader 50 Cent two years ago. Ross speaks about why going after 50 Cent was justified.
"It boiled down to what really was going on. It wasn't nothing at the time that was personal against 50 Cent, but he was attacking people, and began attacking people closer and closer to me, to a point where I had to make a decision. I felt I was gonna be next on that list. So I took the offensive." (RESPECT)

Soulja Boy Tell Em's Brother Dies In Car Crash

Teenage rapper Soulja Boy Tell Em recently broke the news to hus fans that his little brother passed away after a fatal car crash took place last night.

"at home crying my eyes out I can't believe my Lil bro is gone... today is so not my day.. RIP lil brother love you always :(," he tweeted March 21st. (Soulja Boy's Twitter)

Chris Brown On Nude Pics & Tosh.0 TV

R&B signer Chris Brown recently came forward to speak about his recent nude pictures leaking and how somne people think he did it as a way to promote his new "F.A.M.E." album.

"Let me be honest with you. I didn't want to put no pictures out; that's not my intention. A lot of people were saying, 'Yo, he leaked the pictures, he was trying to get promotion,'" the singer said. "For me, I was always a singer, so unless I'm planning on trying to do porn, I don't think I'd want to just leak my wang out to the world before my album comes out...It was disappointing to me that it was out, because I was like, 'Man, now it's gonna [look like] a gimmick behind it,' ... And I don't want a gimmick behind anything that I'm doing." (RapFix)

Slim Thug Accused Of Pistol-Whip Robbery

Texas' own Slim Thug has been accused of pistol-whipping and robbing a man, nearly a year ago. A new lawsuit against the rapper says he was involved in the incident.

A man claims rapper Slim Thug and a crony jumped, pistol-whipped and robbed him when he arrived at a home for a business meeting. Clarence Evans sued Stayve Jerome Thomas aka Slim Thug da Boss Hogg Outlawz and Raymond Thomas III in Harris County Court. Evans claims that "soon after entering the home" for the meeting on March 29, 2010, "defendants suddenly, and without warning, attached [sic] plaintiff and violently struck plaintiff in the face using the end of a pistol. Defendants participated in the attack and directed the other attendees of the business meeting to attack plaintiff and steal any money plaintiff had in his pockets at the time." (Court House News)

2Pac Film Looking For The Right Actor

With the upcoming 2 Pac movie opening up their casting calls to the public, the film makers recently spoke about finding the right actor to play the rapper. “We’re looking for someone with the right mix of raw charm and charisma for the role,” David Robinson says while DJ Skee added “This audition process is a great example of utilizing today’s ever-evolving technology to reach fans and actors around the world to pay homage to a hip-hop legend.”

Wyclef Jean's Shooting A Conspiracy?

After news broke that Wyclef Jean was recently shot in the hand while visiting his homeland of Haiti. Talib Kweli says that we should consider the bigger picture of the shooting...

"wtf? We NEED Wyclef," he tweeted over the weekend.
"All yall talking about calm down its only his hand would change yall tune if someone was trying to murder you. They wasnt goin for his hand"
"we love Wyclef. Glad he's ok. The man sacrifices for his people." (Talib Kweli's Twitter)

Snoop Dogg & Diddy Honor Nate Dogg

Snoop Dogg dedicated his recent (March 19th) show at the Pepsi Max South By Southwest Festival, along with the Snoop Dogg Funk N Soul Extravaganza, to the memory of his friend and long-time collaborator Nate Dogg. Warren G, Daz and Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound, guest singer Mayer Hawthorne and a live band all took the stage wearing their “RIP Nate Dogg” t-shirts.

Later, while playing Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize," Diddy came on stage with his Nate DoggR.I.P. tee as the rest of the crew. Diddy remained onstage to sing along to “Ain’t No Fun (If the Homies Can’t Have None)“ from Snoop’s classic debut, Doggystyle.

Wyclef Jean Shot In The Hand In Haiti

Ex-Frontman for the Fugees, Wyclef Jean, recently was shot while on a trip to his homeland of Haiti.

Hip-hop singer Wyclef Jean was recovering Sunday after he was shot in the hand, his publicist said. Spokeswoman Cindy Tanenbaum said Jean, who was in Haiti, was shot in Port-au-Prince on Saturday -- on the eve of the country's presidential runoff vote. The wound was superficial, she said. The singer was taken to a hospital, treated and released. "He is doing well," Tanenbaum said. (CNN)

Ex-Fugees member Pras also provided information on the shooting.

"Everyone can relax Wyclef is fine... They can't stop us not one bullet or a machine gun!!!!!!!," he tweeted Saturday.
"Yes they shot Wyclef and he's in the hospital and he'll be fine. They just shot his hand .."
"Mess with me, I'll fight back. Mess with my friends, I'll hurt you. Mess with the ones I love, and they'll never be able to identify you." (Pras' Twitter)

Ne-Yo's Dancers Scared To Go To Japan

According to gossip website king TMZ.com, singer Ne-Yo is performing minus some dancers because they are affraid to go to Japan after the recent natural disasters.

Ne-Yo is in the middle of a series of shows in Japan -- but he's doing the concerts minus a few of his backup dancers because, according to sources, they were too afraid to travel to Japan in the wake of the recent earthquake.

We're told when the tour manager informed the dancers they were still going ahead with the Japan dates, several dancers were worried about their safety -- specifically the threat of aftershocks and exposure to radiation.

According to our sources, four dancers decided not to make the trip to Japan. Our sources say those dancers were then told by the tour manager they were dropped from the rest of the tour, which is just one show in Korea on March 30.

Ne-Yo has two more shows in Japan, March 22 and 24, with some proceeds from the shows going to victims of the earthquake. (TMZ)

Dr Dre Wins DVD Lawsuit With Police Officer

Dr Dre recently won a lawsuit involving a former police commander who claimed he was illegally recorded in a retail 2000 "Up In Smoke" tour DVD.

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled in favor of rapper Dr. Dre in a case involving a very important legal principle -- whether the police have a right to privacy while performing their duties. The state high court said no. The court, in a 6-1 ruling, dismissed the suit, saying that there is no right to privacy for police while on the job. The implications of this ruling are far more important than they may seem initially because it explicitly makes it legal in the state of Michigan to record the police while they perform their duties. (Michigan Messenger)

The footage reportedly showed police backstage at one of Dre's shows.

During a 2000 concert, the officers went backstage and told organizers power would be shut off if they showed a sexually explicit video. That confrontation was recorded and included in a popular DVD highlighting the "Up in Smoke" national concert tour that also featured rappers Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. The officers filed the lawsuit, citing a privacy violation. (Associated Press)

Lil Wayne Recording Session A Crime Scene?

According to gossip website TMZ.com, a late-night Lil Wayne recording session is the location of a new claimed-crime.

We're told the man targeted in the investigation is famed music producer Noel "Detail" Fisher -- who owns the house in Canyon Country, CA where the alleged assault went down. According to sources, Detail had several people over to the house (which has a recording studio inside) for a Pre-Grammy party -- during which Lil Wayne was laying down some tracks. Sources tell TMZ the alleged victim was a female catering assistant -- who was hired for the party to take care of the food. (TMZ)

Notorious BIG Cover Baby Speaks Out

The baby featured on the "Ready To Die" album cover, an 18-year old artist, recently came forward to give details on how his baby picture became the cover of Biggies album.

A high school senior who grew up in the Bronx says he's that chubby-cheeked kid on the cover of "Ready to Die" - the acclaimed debut album by slain rapper, Notorious B.I.G. "Every time people find out they ask me if I got a lot of money out of it," Keithroy Yearwood, 18, told the Daily News. He didn't. He made only $150 for the two-hour modeling agency shoot, where he was shot in diapers, sporting a neatly picked-out Afro. "I just want people to know that's me," Yearwood said. "The truth is finally coming out." (New York Daily News)

Diddy's Bad Boy Records reportedly snagged Yearwood through a casting agency.

In the "Ready to Die" cover photo, the baby is wearing a diaper and sporting a large afro. Those associated with album--including the graphic designer-wasn't sure who the kid was. Bad Boy Records, Diddy's label that released the album, couldn't verify whether it is really Yearwood on the album cover; it did say that the baby came courtesy of a modeling agency. (NBC News)

Benzino Continues His Fake Beef

Rapper, slash ex-magazino runner, Benzino updated fans on his past issues with Slaughterhouse in light of the four-member lyrical rap group signing a new deal with Eminem's Shady Records.

"Shout-out to Slaughterhosue," Zino said in an interview with Mikey T The Movie Star. "Congratulations on that Eminem/Shady deal. I probably was real responsible for that. [laughs] Nah, but for real. Big up to my man Slam -- Slam had talked to [a mutual] friend of ours from Detroit and I guess we straightened out [our beef]. It's all good. We actually just put them in the last [Hip-Hop Weekly] magazine, talking about they signed to Shady Records -- Slaughterhouse is like D12 on steroids. I say that, with no disrespect, just lyrical. They're cats that's lyrical in that whole frame of lyricism...At the end of the day, a n*gga beefing with motherf*ckers, unless it's some real sh*t, I think beefing might not be the way to go moving on to 2012 because -- it really has to be about music. If something jumps off, it jumps off. We don't back down from nobody -- but at the end of the day, if you want to get your business right and keep your business going, beef ain't gonna help."

R.I.P Notorious B.I.G

salute the pioneer of east coast hip-hop, Christopher George Latore Wallace known as Biggie Smalls, also known as Big Poppa, notoriously known as The Notorious B.I.G. Biggie died 24 years young today 14 years ago.

Cash Money Young Money Release Dates

BlueDivisionCEO recently took to his twitter account to post a picture of an upcoming release schedile for Cash Money, Young Money albums. Saying the list came straight from Birdman, the paper was also given to other artists...

Waka Flocka Flames PETA AD

Waka FLocka Flame recently shot his ad for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) "Ink, Not Mink" and is the first rapper to take part in the campaign.

Wearing nothing but strategically placed teddy bear and camera necklaces, Waka Flocka Flame is the first rapper to star in PETA's Ink, Not Mink ad campaign. He shows off his tattoos, and a lot of skin, in the new ad, which urges, "Ink, Not Mink. Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin and Let Animals Keep Theirs.

Ja Rule Gets A Few More Months Free

New York rapper Ja Rule was set to start his two-year jail sentence on a gun conviction but now a juge has said he does not have to start till a few months from now.

Ja Rule is set to go to prison in June in a New York City gun case. On Wednesday, a judge set a June 8 date for the platinum-selling rapper-actor's sentencing. His lawyer says he'll spend the intervening months finishing a new album, "Renaissance Project," and taking care of tax matters. The 35-year-old performer pleaded guilty in December to attempted weapon possession. He agreed to a two-year prison term.

Lupe Fiasco Talks Obama Comments

Lupe Fiasco recently name checked President Obama during his "Words I Never Said" record sand explainned taking a show at the political system.

"Traitorous even, or treasonous. I was never on the bandwagon of Obama like that, because I'm not on the bandwagon for the American Government, the Federal Government. It's not all 100 percent evil, but it does a whole lot to not make you think that. The economical policies that are instigated really makes you think that the American government is a bunch of evil bastards. So just because you're black you're still representing that government, and when Obama came into office he enacted the same policies that we would critique other presidents for. The people who are on your economic team and determine the economic polices for the rest of us are the same people who ran those financial institutions, the same people who were corrupt and could possibly face criminal charges, but he's the head of your economic thing. Honestly, what the f*ck is that? That's what you call a WTF. So I think the critiques are poignant."

Lloyd Banks Blamed For Bloody Concert End

G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks recently was attacked for his actionds during the show that ended with two men being stabbed.

Victim Webster Clayton's stepfather, Carl Fleming, questioned, "They got so much security in this place, how did they get a knife in there?" Clayton's cousin, Jarmar Norton, said he was punched in the head before his cousin was stabbed. He said rapper Lloyd Banks was egging on the crowd, which Norton said caused five or six fights to break out on the dance floor. "Cursing, making fun of our town, just getting everybody riled up to the point where it's chaos," recalled Norton. (WIVB News)

Prodigy Gets Out: Everyone Waits

A day after Mobb Deep member Prodigy got out of jail, 50 Cent, Havoc and others have come forward to welcome the rapper home. Check it out below!

"my man Prodigy is free! check out his first pic #WelcomeBackP @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP http://twitpic.com/476ke9," 50 tweeted Monday (March 7). (50 Cent's Twitter)

"Prodigy is released!!!! http://fb.me/wZSyd5fb," he tweeted Monday.
"time to bring that mobb deep music back!" (Havoc's Twitter)

Young Buck Facing 10 Years In Prison?

A notorious rapper from Nashville is in trouble again. Young Buck, whose real name is David Darnell Brown, is facing federal charges for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Channel 4 News was the only station in federal court Monday afternoon when the rapper was taken in in handcuffs to appear before the judge. As the indictment spells out, these latest charges could mean 10 years in prison. (WSMV)

Game's "Red Nation" Backed By Snoop Dogg

Soon The Game will release his new "Red Nation" single and now the song has some big supporters like Snoop Dogg and DJ Khaled.

"just heard the neff's @thegame new single Red Nation its gonna be a problem," Snoop tweeted Tuesday (March 8) morning. (Snoop Dogg's Twitter)

"I heard GAME "red notation". Prod. @COOLANDDRE sounds amazing!!!!!," he tweeted Tuesday.
"RT @COOLANDDRE: Playin @thegam #Red Nation for @TheRealDJKhaled this sh*t is crazy!! @taydoetv # get reddie!!!!" (DJ Khaled's Twitter)

Nicki Minaj Says Shes Not Pregnant

Yesterday a rumor hit the internet that claimed rapper Nicki Minaj was pregnant, but a day later her camp says that it is simply not true.

MediaTakeOut published a rumor that the performer told executives at Young Money that she was expecting a baby. But a rep for Minaj tells Gossip Cop she's "NOT pregnant." Chalk up yet another totally wrong rumor for "MediaFakeOut." (Gossip Cop)

MTV Wants "Monster" Edited Before Airing

During the weekend, reports came out that claimed Kanye's Monster video was banned by mtv for obscene images but the network has came forward to set the record straight.

The video was submitted to MTV, but it wasn't banned; rather, edits were requested based on the channel's decency standards. "MTV has not banned Kanye West's 'Monster' video," the network said in a statement to MTV News. "We have been in constant communication with the label regarding this matter. However, we are still awaiting the edits we requested in order for the video to be suitable for broadcast." (MTV)