Hot Off The Presses: Andre 3000, Nas, Diddy, Lil Wayne & More
Published: Saturday - March 1, 2008
Words by BallerStatus News Staff
Andre 3000 (Photo: Arista)
Although, for the past few years, he's focused on his movie career -- with appearances in movies such as "Four Brothers," "Be Cool," "Idlewild," and "The Shield" -- Outkast's eclectic member, Andre 3000, is getting ready to get back to the music. The rapper/actor recently told MTV that after he's finished with promotions for his latest film, "Semi-Pro," he will get into the studio to begin work on his solo debut. "After I finish promoting 'Semi-Pro,' I'm going to the studio and kind of staying in there for a while," he promised. "[I'll] bang out something!" He added that he's not actually laid any tracks down for the album, as of yet, but it will be out in the fall. After his solo album, he and Big Boi will begin work on the next Outkast album. ...
Despite rumors of problems of his Nigger album following a negative review by Maxim magazine, Nas' forthcoming release is still set for April 22. In a statement to Sohh.com, the rapper's rep said that Nas has yet to play any music for the press, thus the review by the men's magazine is inaccurate. Also, rumors of a Nas-Jay-Z collaborative project were addressed. While the rumors were either confirmed or denied, rep Tracy Nguyen said that Nas isn't focused on anything but his forthcoming album. ...
Diddy recently revealed that he is moving to Hollywood. With the recent success of the television adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," the Bad Boy Entertainment founder says that he plans to take on more acting roles and in doing so feels he should be located in the middle of the film industry, which is Hollywood. Diddy is currently in Southern California looking at houses, but plans to travel between both Cali and New York. Diddy (real name: Sean Combs) had a starring role in the three-hour television production of "A Raisin in the Sun." When it premiered on Monday (February 25) in garnered 12.7 million viewers. ...
Lil Wayne is apparently addicted to "syrup." The drink, which is usually mixed with soda or juice, is widely known throughout the Southern hip-hop seen -- and became known by other regions with Three 6 Mafia's underground classic "Sippin' On Sizzurp." It also has been revealed to have played a part in the recent death of Texas rapper Pimp C. Lil Wayne recently revealed to MTV that he's addicted to syrup -- a combination concocted from promethazine and codeine, which is supposed to be prescribed by doctors for severe colds and pneumonia -- and he can't stop. "Everybody wants me to stop all this and all that. It ain't that easy," he said, adding that kicking the habit is like "death." "It ain't that easy -- feels like death in your stomach when you stop doing that sh--. You gotta learn how to stop, you gotta go through detox. You gotta do all kinds of stuff. Like I said, I'm a selfish-ass n----. I feel like everything I do is successful and productive. It's gonna be hard to tell me I'm slipping. It's hard to sit and tell a n---- 'Stop.' 'F----, how can we tell this n---- to stop when every f---ing thing he do is successful? This n---- is making progress. He just went and talked to kids and that sh-- was amazing.' Feel me? So what am I doing wrong?" ...
The widow of Bumpy Johnson -- the man portrayed as Frank Lucas' boss in the recent "American Gangster" film -- written a book on her late husband, offering a glimpse into his life story. In the book, Mayme Johnson gives detailed accounts on several personal aspects of Johnson's life including his upbringing in Charleston, S.C., his migration to Harlem as a teenager, his rise to Harlem crime boss, his much hyped gang war with mobster Dutch Schultz and his death in 1968 at the Harlem eatery, Wells Restaurant. "Most of the information that people think they know about Bumpy is wrong," said Mrs. Johnson in a statement. One fact, in particular, she hopes to clear up is Bumpy Johnson's relationship with Frank Lucas, who has long claimed to have been the protégé of Johnson. "There's a difference between being wrong and lying, and what Frank Lucas did was lie," she said. "I understand it was probably to give himself some street credibility because he snitched and Bumpy never did, but Frank still shouldn't have lied. Frank even went and told those Hollywood people that Bumpy died in his arms. Frank wasn't nowhere around when Bumpy died." A preview of the book, titled Harlem Godfather: The Rap On My Husband, can be viewed by logging onto HarlemGodfather.com. The book is slated for release during the first week of March. ...
The host of popular DVD series, "Stop Snitching," has been indicted for reportedly threatening a store owner who refused to sell the DVD. According to the Baltimore Examiner, Ronnie "Skinny Suge" Thomas was recently indicted as part of a larger sting responsible for the arrests of 28 reported members of the TTP Bloods gang, of which authorities claim Thomas is a member. Federal prosecutors claim that the Baltimore-based gang was responsible for a number of violent acts including murders, shootings, robberies, intimidating witnesses and drug dealing. In the indictment, Thomas confronted a store owner who refused to sell his "Stop Snitching 2" DVD on February 14. He then allegedly threatened the owner with violence, saying that members of the gang would come back and attack the store. ...
Producer Dan The Automator has teamed up with Faith No More's Mike Patton to form a new project called Crudo. Not much information has been released about the project or what it will sound like, but they plan to make their live debut during the Sasquatch! Music Festival in Seattle in late May. ...
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