T.I. Is Expected To Testify In Philant Johnson Murder Trial

Hip-Hop superstar T.I. is expected to testify in a Cincinnati court tomorrow (November 19) about the events that took place on the night his close friend and assistant, Philant Johnson, was murdered.

According to Cincinnati's Local 12 News, a jury was chosen on Monday (November 17) in a case against Hosea Thomas, one of two brothers allegedly responsible for Johnson's death. Earlier today the jury visited the crime scene and opening statements were given in court.

T.I. is scheduled to testify in court tomorrow.

As previously reported, both Hosea and Padron Thomas were charged with the murder and felonious assault of Johnson back in May 2006 at Club Ritz in Roselawn.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, details emerged last June explaining that both men took issue with T.I. and his entourage, when they were denied didn't allow them access to exclusive areas at a late night party and performance.

"T.I. and his group were in the VIP area," Cincinnati Homicide Detective Tim Gormly told the Enquirer. "The suspects wanted to get in the VIP area and weren't allowed to."

Upon being turned down, a member from Tip's crew allegedly struck one of the brothers in the head with a bottle and later taunted them. This led to the Thomas duo following the rapper's crew in SUVs and exchanging gunfire. Johnson reportedly died as a result of this gun fire.

Jennifer Sister lashes out on Myspace

SMAG had learned from TMZ sources that Jennifer Hudson's sister posted a picture which wrote under it " NOW THAT JASON'S GONE I'M THE PRETTIEST ONE," an apparent reference to brother Jason, whose body was found shot to death along with their mother's.

Source:TMZ

Katt Williams Arrested On Gun Charge In New York

Comedian Katt Williams was arrested in New York City early Thursday morning (November 6) along with six other individuals, hours before he was scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall, the New York City Police Department informed AllHipHop.com today (November 7).

The Ohio-born funny man and his entourage were taken into custody around 1:45 am, after an investigation of two vehicles yielded a total of three fire arms.

According to NYPD Public Information officer Lieutenant John Grimpel, police officers observed two parked vehicles on the corner of West 28th Street and Broadway in the late night hours, one of which was a Cadillac Escalade with no license plate.

That prompted the patrolling officers to investigate the vehicles.

Upon inspecting the two vehicles, police uncovered a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun and a 9mm Taurus in the Escalade.

An additional handgun, a .45 caliber Glock, was discovered in the second vehicle, described by Grimpel as a Mercedes-Benz “party van.”

The 37-year-old comedian, born Micah S. Katt Williams, was arrested alongside three men and three women.

Williams was charged with criminal possession of a handgun and taken to Manhattan Criminal Court, as were his co-defendants Steven Echols, 38, Larry Tolbert, 30, Marcus Clinton, 32.

Also taken into custody were Darnishia Gross and Victoria Meza, both 22, and 32-year-old Lena Smith, who provided authorities with the same address as Williams.

At press time, a request for an update on the crew’s arrest status from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office was unavailable.

Coincidentally, Williams was arrested on similar charges in Los Angeles two years ago today.

The self-proclaimed pimp made headlines on November 7, 2006 after a stolen handgun was discovered in his suitcase during a security check at Los Angeles International Airport.

Williams was released on bail and eventually made his scheduled appearance at Carnegie Hall.
SOURCE: ALLHIPHOP.COM

Rick Ross Talks About New Mixtape

Rick Ross is inspired more than ever. He doesn't seem to be getting lazy, even with back-to-back #1 albums. The Boss' next album, Deeper Than Rap, comes out next year with a single possibly coming before 2008 is a wrap, MTV reports.

"I feel that I can do both," Ross explained of making a mixtape and album at the same time. "I yell, 'Trilla,' everywhere I go. Mixtapes, I do it for the love. That ain't for the money. We having fun. It's a lot of hot music right now. It's a lot of stuff to hop on right now. I look at it like a sport. I call up Inf, he's playing all the hot records in the background: 'That sounds appropriate for the Boss.' "

Just like his LP title says, it's deeper than rap music with Ricky. He's getting his business on and alluded that all his future music is coming out through his own Maybach Music imprint with Def Jam.

"I'mma make a big announcement," he said. "We got some negotiations going on. I got love for Slip-n-Slide [Records]. We did a lot of positive things over there. They gave the boy his big break, but I'm bossin' up right now. It's most definitely one of the biggest and bossiest moves. You gotta think big."

"Swagger Like Ross." "I felt like [the song 'Swagger Like Us'] was reminiscent of 'Luxury Tax' for me," the Boss explained about rapping over T.I. and Jay-Z's beat. "A Down South 'Reservoir Dogs.' The best of the best. That's the record of the year right now. Classic. When I heard it, I said, 'Wow, that's a piece of history. That's a memory.' So I wanted to be a part of it. I got the instrumental and did what I had to do. The streets are feeling it. That's what's important, to say what up to Tip, Jay, Kanye, Weezy."

"Paper Planes" freestyle. "What's funny about that record, I was up one night eating a Hot Pocket," he remembered. "Like 4 in the morning, watching one of them video shows. The [M.I.A.] video came on. This was two or three weeks ago. I had never heard the record. I was like, 'What's this? It's dope, whatever it is.' The next morning — I must have been late — when I got up, it was the phenomenon. I had to boot that up. One of my favorite lines from my freestyle is I when I mention my chick: 'She's around a lot of pot smoke/ Gucci down and not allowed to rock Coach.' Them bags with the C's on it, we'll fix that. Holla at your boy."

"Jockin' Ross." "That beat, that's Jay, the big homie," he said about jacking "Jockin' Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh)." "That's the biggest inspiration in the game for me, for a lot of reasons. Other than him signing me to Def Jam Records, what he's done for being a young, black entrepreneur — it's deeper than rap. If you think that big, it lets you know your potential. Shout-out to Jay-Z and his new label. It's love."

Def Jam VP Shakir Stewart Commits Suicide

Def Jam executive vice president Shakir Stewart committed suicide (Nov. 1) in New York. Shakir died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to sources.

Stewart succeeded Jay-Z at the top of the Def Jam ladder in June and also retained his duties as senior VP of A&R at Island Def Jam. The Oakland, Calif., native signed such artists as Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and newcomer Karina Pasian.

Stewart cut his teeth as a music executive at Hitco Music Publishing, where he was creative director and later senior VP of creative/GM and signed Beyonce Knowles.

Even before he gained a rep for promoting rap concerts during his Morehouse College days, Stewart was "the guy who was the head of passing out fliers at seven clubs a night, seven days a week in 20-degree weather," he told Billboard this summer.

Stewart said at the time it was his goal to help develop "new, young executives ... The hot executive who's 21, 22 years old and has a serious passion for music and the desire to work 27 hours a day. That's where I was at that time in my life. And that's who I'm looking to mentor. I don't see many people like that. Instead, I see a lot of kids who want to live the lifestyle but don't want to put in the work and do what it takes."