TMZ has reported that:

Even though jurors in the trial of R. Kelly absolutely believed it was him on the tape, they could not reach a guilty verdict because they said there was "not enough evidence to prosecute." Huh?!

The jurors were also "absolutely disgusted" with the tape. Unlike the bootleg version you can buy on the street corner, the version they got to watch was "clear as day." Ew.

Shout out to Khal on this

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TRACK LISTING

We Made It (Featuring Linkin Park) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
Kill Dem (Featuring Tosh) (Produced By The Neptunes)
Blown (Featuring T-Pain) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On Em) (Produced By Grind Music Productions)
Decision (Featuring Mary J Blige, Jamie Foxx, John Legend & Common) (Produced By Dr Dre)
Right Now (Produced By Focus & Dr Dre)
I’m Go & Get Mine (Produced By DJ Scratch)
If (Featuring Nicole Scherzinger) (Produced By Rick Rock)
Throw It Up (Featuring Lil’ Wayne & Ludacris) (Produced By Cool & Dre)
G-Stro (Tentative Title) (Produced By The Neptunes)
Let Me Show You (Produced By Busta Rhymes & DJ Scratch)
Hits 4 Days (Featuring J. Holiday (Produced By Dready Beats)
If You Don’t Know Now You Know (Featuring Big Tigger) (Produced By Focus)

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Billboard news is reporting:

R. Kelly's child pornography trial was adjourned today (May 28) after a lawyer for the R&B singer said he received a call from a man who claims to have information relevant to the case.

Judge Vincent Gaughan said attorneys needed time to depose the man, who potentially could impeach someone else's testimony, but didn't elaborate. Kelly attorney Sam Adam Sr. said the man was flying to Chicago tonight from another state.

So, could this be it for R. Kelly?

Thoughts? 

Billboard is reporting that the rapper was waiting on the anticipation of leaving to release his music.

Saigon says he's in talks with several major labels as well as a non-traditional music company for his next artist deal. His latest single, "Believe It," was released today (May 21) via TheMegatrondon2.com. Saigon says he has seven viral videos ready to release but was waiting until his contract was resolved.

"I'm not that excited about going to a major label," Saigon says. "They would have to make it so I'm set for the rest of my life. They want too much for the little that they're giving."

Saigon adds that he was left "without much support" when the A&R rep who signed him, Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua, left to join Columbia three months afterward.

"They gave me $18,000 to shoot the video for 'Pain In My Life' and I'm seeing Plies get $100,000 and Lupe [Fiasco] get $150,000," he says. "What the f*ck? Those artists are friends of mine, but now I'm happier than I've been in a minute."

While Just Blaze tells the people via his blog about the recent departure:

We have been quietly working to get released from Atlantic.

Sometimes you need to do things without talking about them. And get what you want.

We finally got that…

With 100% ownership of the masters.

(Most folks who claim they own their masters when they get released may have them (or copies of them) in their possesion, but they don’t own them, so they can mixtape stuff all day, but can’t go on and ever offically release them… we are free to take them wherever we like, however we like )

((Most folks that get a release granted don’t even get their masters period and whatever label they DO end up on will have to buy them from the previous label, plus all types of overrides and fees))

Thank you Atlantic for recognizing the situation for what it really was and doing the right thing.

There are already new situation(s) in the works.

More to come.

(I’m not going Strictly Business- style on this one right now. I have too much going on in Real Life County)

Oh yeah I didn’t forget my promise.

I’m just 4 or 5 weeks late on it.

Had to work out the release first.

Here you go.

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Going on its 5th year R. Kelly could be actually facing 15 years in jail for having sex with a girl who was 13 at the time. Yet, the girl who is accused to be in the video tape of the incident states that it is not her on the tape. 

Nonetheless Jurors are finally hearing the opening statements of the trial as The New York Times reports. Juror were warned:

"On Tuesday by a prosecutor that they would be required to watch a videotape of an “under-age child performing sex acts that you have never seen before.” In an opening statement in Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago, the prosecutor, Shauna Boliker, said, “A child doesn’t choose to be violated and placed on a videotape, a videotape that will live on forever — long after this child becomes an adult,” The Associated Press reported.

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Best Female R&B Artist
Mary J. Blige
Alicia Keys
Keyshia Cole
Mariah Carey
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Raheem DeVaughn
J. Holiday
Ne-Yo
Trey Songz

Best Group
Danity Kane
Day26
Gnarls Barkley
Playaz Circle
UGK

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Missy Elliot
Eve
Kid Sister
Lil Mama
Trina

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Common
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Snoop Dogg
Kanye West

Best New Artist
Estelle
Flo-Rida
Chrisette Michelle
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
The Dream

Best Gospel Artist
The Clark Sisters
Kirk Franklin
Deitrick Haddon
Marvin Sapp
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Video of The Year
Ashanti – The Way That I Love You
Erykah Badu – Honey
Mary J. Blige – Just Fine
Alicia Keys – Like You'll Never See Me Again
UGK feat. Outkast – International Players Anthem
Kanye West feat. T-Pain – Good Life

Best Video Director
Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Best Collaboration
Chris Brown feat. T-Pain – Kiss Kiss
Kanye West feat. T-Pain – Good Life
Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain – Low
Keyshia Cole feat. Lil' Kim & Missy Elliott – Let It Go
DJ Khaled feat. Lil' Wayne, Fat Joe, T.I., Big Boi & Ludacris – I'm So Hood (remix)

Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Queen Latifah
Jill Scott
Chandra Wilson

Best Actor
Anthony Anderson
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Terrence Howard
Denzel Washington

Female Athlete of The Year
Cheryl Ford
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Tamika Catchings

Male Athlete of The Year
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tiger Woods
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Chris Paul

Viewer's Choice Award
Alicia Keys – No One
Lil Wayne – Lollipop feat. Static
Chris Brown – Kiss Kiss feat. T-Pain
Keyshia Cole – Let It Go feat. Missy Elliott & Lil' Kim
Soulja Boy Tell 'em – Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)
Jordin Sparks – No Air feat. Chris Brown

BETJ Award
Raheem DeVaughn
Chaka Khan
Ledisi
Jill Scott
Angie Stone

Lifetime Achievement Award
Al Green

Humanitarian Award
Quincy Jones

Performers (so far)
Usher (opening act)
Lil' Wayne
Mary J. Blige
Nelly

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Saturday wasn't good for the West Coast self-labled King Pin when TMZ states :

As we first reported, Suge was at Shag nightclub when he began arguing with a man he had been talking with. Our spy overheard Suge say, "I want my money!" Suge and his peeps beat the guy to the ground, but the man landed a right hook on Suge's face, knocking him out for around three minutes.

Suge was taken to the hospital where LAPD officers arrived, but he refused to file a report.

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Dropping July 8th thanks to Kock Records the MC Skillz will drop Million Dollar BackPack. Skillz just wrapped up touring with Dj Jazzy Jeff in Europe and is anticapted to go on tour with The Roots this summer. Dates to be announced later.

Million Dollar BackPack features guest appearances by Common, Kweli, Freeway and The Roots, and finds Skillz rapping mostly about the reality in which he lives. 

The first single off of Million Dollar Backpack is “So Far So Good” feat. Common. The track finds Skillz reflecting on how far he has come and what he has to do to keep pushing ahead. On “Crazy World,” he ponders on the many injustices we all face every day. Touching on the hysteria he feels has been creeping into the hood for some time now, Skillz spits: “There’s kids on my block with pockets full of rocks/They used to think that school was cool but that came to a stop/The madness setting in, I know a veteran, sh** he fought for his country and can’t afford his medicine.” The video for “Crazy World” can be seen online and was featured on MTV2’s “Sucker Free” in late winter.

With an album chock full of substance, style and of course skill, Million Dollar Backpack promises to fill the creative void that’s plaguing hip-hop. “Originality is missing in music,” says Skillz. “You don’t have to be a gimmick, just be yourself. I’m not mad at the state of music or what ain’t happening, I’m just making my music and anyone who wants to listen to it I’m greatly appreciative.

3 years later and can still bring the heat – anyone interested in a free copy? 

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If you haven't heard the story here's a video clip of the mom in court

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The kicker in the end is wondering wether or not the media *cough*FoxNews*cough* will blame hip hop on this. If you don't recall when John Gibson spoke with AllHipHop founder Chuck Creekmur where two dallas teenagers (who were black) were teaching their toddler brother how to smoke pot. You can check out the transcript HERE.

So the question to the public is this: will hip hop get blamed when the family is white?

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When we reported early last month concerning the deal between Jigga man and Live Nation it was estimated to be a $150 million dollar deal. The reports are in and according to Billboard:

The company yesterday (May 1) filed a Form-8K with the SEC which states that the artist is getting 750,000 Live Nation shares, plus an option on an additional 500,000 with the exercise price of $13.73. The shares go to Marcy Media, the company affiliated with Jay-Z (born Shawn Carter), in connection with the formation of Roc Nation LLC, a joint entertainment venture between Live Nation and Jay-Z.

ive Nation will reportedly contribute $5 million each year in overhead for five years and offer $25 million to finance Jay-Z's external acquisitions and investments, plus $10 million per album for a minimum of three albums within the deal's term. Jay-Z will also receive another $20 million for other rights including publishing and licensing. Live Nation is already producing the current Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige tour, which is putting up sellout numbers. 

All we can say is congrats Jay and keep doing it!

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