Spitzer’s announcement this afternoon came following the arrest of four individuals connected to the Emperor’s Club VIP, a high-end, online prostitution ring.

While Spitzer offered no details about his involvement with the Emperor’s Club, the New York Times reported today that a person with knowledge of his role believes he is identified in court papers as “Client #9.”

He also allegedly met a prostitute in Washington, D.C.

“Today, I want to briefly address a private matter. I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and that violates my or any sense of right and wrong,” Spitzer told members of the press from his office in Manhattan. “I apologize first and most to my family. I apologize to the public, to whom I promise better. I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what is best for the state of New York. But, I have disappointed and have failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”

Spitzer is best known within the music industry for his 2005 investigation into the major record labels and their use of “payola” to obtain airplay for certain records, during his eight-year stint as New York’s Attorney General.
In July 2005, following a subpoena to all four major labels, Spitzer entered into an agreement with Sony BMG in which the label agreed to pay a $10 million fine and change it’s radio promotions practices.

Four months later, Warner Music Group entered into a similar agreement, paying $5 million to settle the law suit levied by Spitzer.

The last label to settle was EMI, which agreed to a settlement of $3.75 million in June of 2006.

As a result, several DJ’s and programming directors were fired or resigned, as a result of the investigation.

The album will feature guest appearances by Scarface, Westside Connection member Dub C., Nas, Musiq Soul Child, while Wreck, Maestro, Emile and others handled the production.

Raw Footage is the follow up to Ice Cube’s 2006 gold-selling album Laugh Now, Cry Later, which debuted at #2 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop sales chart and #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 sales chart.

Ice Cube, who is currently in the recording studio tweaking the album, will perform the album’s first single “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” and other material next week at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival on March 15.

The rapper has partnered with Microsoft’s new Silverlight technology to stream his SXSW performance live via his new website, uvntv.com, which was launched with producer DJ Pooh.

“We are excited to partner with UVNTV.com and SXSW to bring this live concert into the homes of people globally, using our Silverlight technology which delivers the high-def experiences that Ice Cube’s fans will love,” said Rob Pulciani, Microsoft’s senior marketing manager.

Ice Cube’s new album Raw Footage is due in stores June 17th via Ice Cube’s Lench Mob Records.

The nominations for the Grammy Awards were announced yesterday at The Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood, with celebrities as Chris Brown, Ludacris, James Blunt, Evanescence’s Amy Lee and Mary J. Blige in attendance.

Blige’s album The Breakthrough led all nominees with eight nods including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Album, Song Of The Year and others.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers earned six, while James Blunt, the Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Danger Mouse, Prince, Rick Rubin, will.i.am and John Williams were each nominated a total of five times.

T.I., Beyoncé, Gnarls Barkley and Justin Timberlake each earned a respectable four nominations.

“These nominations truly reflect a diverse and vibrant community of music makers and creators who represent some of the most remarkable music of the year,” said Neil Portnow, President of The Recording Academy. “Once again, the Grammy Awards process has delivered a well-rounded group of excellent nominees, which promises music lovers a spectacular show filled with dynamic performances and “Grammy Moments” that can only be seen on the Grammy Awards telecast.”

Gnarls Barkley’s album St. Elsewhere will compete for the coveted Album Of The Year Award against The Dixie Chicks (Taking The Long Way), John Mayer (Continuum) the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stadium Arcadium) and Justin Timberlake (FutureSex/LoveSounds).

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live from the Staples Center on February 11 from 8 – 11:30 p.m. on CBS.

Mr. Jones then stated his position, sharing that he’s now past feuds and wishes for rap artists to unite. “What we do is a form of unity,” Nas explained. “It’s easy to sell records if I diss you. Who can sell records on love?” “It’s easy to tattoo somebody’s crew on your knuckles and act like you tough,” the lyricist continued. “But be a man, let’s see how far you get. And I believe in Mobb Deep. I believe that they will prosper even though they say negative stuff. They my little duns. Those are my little babies.”

The R&B powerhouse presents an emotional soul ballad from her upcoming feature film Dreamgirls.

Find more beyonce – ‘listen’ music video clips or check out the related video tags: Beyonce Dreamgirls Listen r&b Soul Dreamgirls Soundtrack soundtracks Music Videos

Luda recently visited Northwestern University Students in Chicago and met with U.S. Senator Barack Obama. The rapper talked safe sex and condoms to the students and held a one-hour Q and A.

The Atlanta rapper said in a statement to the students, “I talk about sex in my music, but you don’t ever hear me talk about condoms. I can’t speak for other rappers, but I think it’s important that I let you know to be safe when you’re having sex.”

The rapper then met with Senator Obama after the session with the students. The meeting was closed to the press however, he says he and the senator talked about empowering youth. Obama declined to comment on the meeting.Ludacris ordered the media out of the room after introducing his mission because he says he wanted the students to feel free to ask him honest questions, and he wanted to be able to respond freely.

The rapper then met with Senator Obama after the session with the students. The meeting was closed to the press however, he says he and the senator talked about empowering youth. Obama declined to comment on the meeting.

Top artists like Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, Cool & Dre, Timbaland and Kanye West are to be expected on the lineup.

“Dre will E-mail Jay some new beats,” a source told the Daily News. “Jay will E-mail him the lyrics, then Dre will E-mail him the mix.”

According to sohh.com the album could hit stores as early as Thansgiving.

Do you think it’s possible that Jay-Z comes back and drops a new album?

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While the South is currently dominating Hip-Hop, West Coast rap icon Snoop Dogg is confident that his beloved region is ready to reclaim its top spot.

With his new solo album Blue Carpet Treatment, due in October, the Long Beach, Calif., rapper hopes to restore the West’s dominion.

“I hate losing. I’m a sore loser,” Snoop told AllHipHop.com. “That’s why when the West Coast was losing, I had to come step the game up so we could get back in the game. We just want to get noticed one more time and then once you notice us and start to hear us, then you’ll start to feel us.”

Although the West has been unusually silent in the rap scene the past few years, Snoop sees recent activity as a sign of change.

“Ice Cube’s album is out doing tremendous things right now and E-40′s record came out bangin’,” the lyricist noted. “Keak Da Sneak did his thing, my n***as Tha Dogg Pound just came out [and] they s**t smoking. Everybody’s gearing up for my new record so it’s coming back around. The Waist Deep movie just came out, which is West Coast s**t. So it’s like the movement is coming back full circle. It’s got to come back home.”

To further capitalize on the West’s momentum, Snoop is developing two new groups in an effort to present a united front.

Western Union is comprised of artists from Los Angeles, Inglewood, Long Beach, and Watts, while the War Zone is based in Compton, Long Beach, and Watts.

The new factions include artists such as Supafly, Bad Luck, MC Eiht, Kam, Goldie Loc, and Lady of Rage.

“My thing is trying to build the West Coast up by putting n***as together and formulating groups so we can learn how to group up as opposed to putting n***as out individually,” said Snoop. “I figured if we do groups and then one member shines, then we can push him solo. Put the group first and that way everybody eats.”

Never one to shun controversy, Snoop expressed discontent at artists from other regions who take advantage of the West’s dormant state.

“I’m fin to put a stop to all that s**t,” he said. “All you motherf**kin’ suckers that ain’t from the West Coast, n***a, your pass has been revoked. Time out. We need our b***hes back, we need our lowriders back, n***a. We need all that back n***a — with interest. We don’t need y’all comin’ out here wastin’ time shooting our videos in our hood and then by the time we want to shoot, it look like some s**t we stole from y’all. Get the f**k out of here.

“They know not to confront me and I wish one of them would,” Snoop continued. “I’m talking to every last one of you n***as. Straight from the Dogg’s mouth. All that doing videos and s**t out here n***a without checking in with Snoop Dogg is over with.”

But Snoop said his frustration goes deeper than artists using the West as a background for videos. The rapper also feels that people on his coast are being overlooked for possible employment opportunities.

“A lot of these n***as just come out here using us, and not using us. If you gonna come to the West, start using some of these n***as and give them jobs,” said Snoop. “I can’t come to your town and shoot a video without hiring some of your people and checking in with the right folks and what not. I’mma get ran up out there. Come on man. Show some love.”

Snoop Dogg’s Blue Carpet Treatment hits stores October 18. Source

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Police said the man allegedly assaulted, identified in reports as Miad J., accused the rapper of punching him several times in the bathroom of The Cheetah’s strip club early Thursday (July 13) morning on Detroit’s 8 Mile Road.

Miad J. claimed that the rapper was using the bathroom when a man started talking to Eminem. Hip hopper Slim Shady then prompted his bodyguards to tell the man to be quiet.

“I said ‘the guys not saying nothing, he’s just talking to him, he’s not saying anything,’” Miad told reporters shortly after the incident. “Eminem got done and boom. He started swinging. I wasn’t even expecting it. I was just minding my own business, taking a leak.”

According to reports, Detroit Police Department officials do not know why Miad J. did not press charges.

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The five-time Grammy winner will play the role of the devious lawyer Billy Flynn –
Richard Gere’s part in the 2002 Best Picture Oscar winner — producers Barry and Fran Weissler said on Friday.

Usher, 27, joins a list of stars who have appeared on Broadway this year that includes Julia Roberts (“Three Days of Rain”), Denzel Washington (“Julius Caesar”) and Christina Applegate (“Sweet Charity”).

Usher will be opening in the long-running revival of “Chicago” on August 22 and stay with the show until Oct 1.

“Being on Broadway allows you to connect to audiences in a whole new way that’s different from music and movies,” Usher said in a statement.

Usher, whose full name is Usher Raymond, was discovered in a talent competition at 13 and has since released five albums with his hit songs including “Confessions,” “Burn,” and “Yeah!”

He has also appeared on several television shows and films such as the thriller “The Faculty,” the high school comedy “She’s All That,” and romantic comedy “In The Mix.”

We wish you all the BEST.

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