An 18 year-old aspiring rapper from Windsor, Ontario recently found himself in hot water after calling Eminem from his ex-wife’s cell phone. According to the Windsor Star, Kyle Pratt stole Kim’s phone while she was smoking a cigarette in front of his family’s Windsor bingo hall. Pratt took the phone about a month ago and returned it shortly thereafter, but he copied down the personal numbers of Em and Obie Trice before handing it over. A short time later, Pratt decided to call the Detroit rapper and ask him to listen to his demo. “He was a real a–hole,” Spratt said. “He pretended it wasn’t him and he did a fake voice.” After the call, Pratt was contacted by the Detroit Police and was told to quit harassing the superstar rapper. Pratt, who recorded his conversations with the police and Em, then used the recordings on a song called “Slim Sellout,” which he posted on his MySpace page. The song attracted 1,400 hits to Pratt’s page, but was removed on Wednesday, and on the same day, the teen received a visit from Windsor detectives. Apparently, Kim Mathers was concerned that Pratt was going to post pictures of her children from the phone on the internet. Pratt denies the allegation and says it was all a misunderstanding. “She assumed that I took pictures off her phone, which I did not. (The police) said that Kim thinks that I’m going to put out pictures of her kids that were on the phone, which is not true.” Mathers declined to press charges against the young man, who lost his job at the bingo hall, saying he had already suffered enough.
Def Jam Records Upsets North Carolina High School
On a recent trip to a Charlotte, North Carolina high school — Myers Park High — Def Jam Records and their promotional team handed out free gifts, such as umbrellas, posters, lip-gloss and CDs. But according to WCNC.com, the school, as well as student’s parents, complained that CDs with vulgar lyrics were handed out without their approval. The trip by Def Jam’s promo team, which was approved by the school, was supposed to be a reward for students with good behavior. But according to Assistant Principal Carlos Grant, “They handed out some things that we were not aware of, definitely vulgar.” Subsequently, the school banned Def Jam from the campus and sent out phone calls to student’s parents letting them know what happened. “I don’t think they’d be very happy at all,” Grace McEwen, a student told WCNC. “My mom would probably complain.” McEwen’s mother, Grace, feels the school’s intentions were in the right place and blames the Def Jam promo team. “I think the school did it [in a] well-intentional manner,” Grace McEwen told WCNC. “I’m not upset with the school. I’m upset with the individual who took advantage of the situation.”
Kanye plans to "Graduate" sooner than expected
Following the release of his widely acclaimed “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” mixtape, news has come that Kanye West is planning to release his new album “Graduation” early.
Originally slated for a September release, according to Def Jam representatives, “Graduation” will now hit stores some time in August. His 1st single/video from the album, the West/ DJ Toomp produced & Hype directed “Can’t Tell Me Nothin” debuted on his site last Friday.
One of the most anticipated albums of the year, it is said to include collaborations with with his G.O.O.D music family, and even Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
Nas Collabos With Dead Prez
In a recent interview with MTV News, conscious Hip Hop duo Dead Prez revealed details of their numerous collabos with Queens MC, Nas.
“We’ve done quite a few songs with Nas,” said M-1. “We have had a relationship for years. Stic had did a song with just him on it. And I did a song with just me and Nas on it. I don’t know when it’ll surface yet.”
Though the duo’s voice has been relatively absent in the mist of controversy such as the Don Imus Scandal and the Sean Bell Shooting, M-1 says he and Sticman have their fair share to say.
“People don’t have political clarity. And young people are not clear on their positions and not able to speak. I don’t know if you consider me young or not,” said M.”
I can tell you my position comes from an informed political stand. ... A lot of positions are ambiguous. ... The leadership has not emerged to be present enough to speak out … I’d be interested to see who does have a position that could give clarity to what is happening now”
“Al [Sharpton] and Russell [Simmons],” he continued. “I think they are more into ambulance-chasing than actually grinding out [a] position that makes sense. I think it’ll take some sincere forces that don’t have any interest in anything other than changing our community and making things better.”
The duo, who are currently looking for a label to release their next joint project will be releasing a couple of records in the near future.
Stic is currently putting the finishing touches on his solo lp.
50 Cent hooks up with Gizmoz
Digital avatar service Gizmoz has expanded their market as of late, investing over $6 Million dollars into venture capital funding, and brokering deals with several mainstream artists, most notably, 50 Cent. Gizmoz software offers the user the capability to create talking, animated avatars which are able to deliver personalized messages.
Gizmoz entered an agreement with 50 Cent and other artists to use their voice and likenesses to coincide with their software launch. They intend for most users to utilize the program for leaving MySpace messages, which visitors will be able to scroll through, and listen to.
