Talib Kweli Says Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas Are Rap Nerds The BK MC said the rappers are street, hustle and Queensbridge nerds, respectively. Being a nerd used to be frowned upon. Talib Kweli, though, considers himself and some of rap’s elite rhymers nerds. “I most definitely know Biggie was a nerd,” Talib told Fuse. “His life situation led him to a street life, but he was able to put words together like that. He was a street nerd…Jay-Z is hustle nerd. Nas is Queensbridge nerd. Everybody’s a nerd in their own way.”  Talib Kweli, who feels as though he’s been pigeonholed, hence the title of his new Prisoner Of Conscious album, has long been connected to fellow Brooklynite Jay-Z. He was famously referenced by Jigga on The Black Album cut “Moment Of Clarity” in 2003. Jay-Z rapped, “If skills sold, truth be told, I’d probably be lyrically Talib Kweli.” A year earlier, Hov also appeared on Talib Kweli’s “Get By” remix. Elsewhere in the Fuse interview, Talib said that Jay-Z put an emphasis on hustling and getting money, though the two shared a quest for lyrical supremacy. “I think there’s a top-tier, upper echelon of lyricism,” the BK MC said. “Jay-Z’s in it and I’m in it, too…He said he would do what I do. If the world was different, he would do what I do. If the world was different, maybe I would do what he did…I think I got in respect what he got in wealth.”     

Texas Shooting Takes Place During Travis Porter Concert A deejay for Travis Porter nearly shot as a shooting erupts during the group’s performance in Lubbock, Texas. Atlanta trio Travis Porter were performing at the Cactus Courtyard, an open-air venue in Lubbock, Texas, when shots rang out mid-performance. Wave 3 News reports that a little after 1 am on May 8, shots were fired into the Cactus Courtyard as the group was performing. In total, two gunshots were fired during the incident. One bullet hit a back wall while the other hit the venue’s sound system. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported although one concert attendee did suffer from a minor injury due to falling debris. A suspect in the shooting has yet to be found, but police are looking for an African-American male, 5 ‘8 to 5 ’9 and around 180 pounds. Those with any leads are asked to call the Lubbock Police Department Crime Line at (806) 741-1000. Members of Travis Porter have yet to respond publicly to the shooting. News of the shooting comes just two months after the group released their newest project, Mr. Porter.

Chief Keef Officially Joins Gucci Mane’s Brick Squad, Forms 1017 Glo Gang Gucci Mane claims that Chief Keef has the spot in Brick Squad that Waka Flocka Flame left open. Chief Keef has reportedly filled Waka Flocka Flame’s spotin 1017 Brick Squad. Gucci Mane, while currently paroled from an aggravated assualt trial, welcomed the Glory Boyz Entertainment/Interscope Records artist Chief Keef to the fold on Twitter today, as reported by RapRadar.com. In the tweet, Gucci also included a logo of 1017 Glo Gang, which is a hybrid of both artists’ imprints. Brick Squad, which is both a group and a record label, includes OJ Da Juiceman, Young Scooter and Wooh Da Kid. Besides Gucci, the label’s biggest star was Atlantic/Warner Bros. Records artist Waka Flocka Flame. In early March, Waka, who owns Brick Squad Monopoly was outed by 1017 Brick Squad, allegedly following a verbal dispute between he and Gucci Mane. Yesterday, Gucci Mane revealed that he will reveal Trap House III later this month, on May 21—over six weeks earlier than planned. Last year, Chicago, Illinois-based Chief Keef signed with Interscope before releasing his studio debut,Finally Rich. The effort debuted in the Top 30 of the charts, selling approximately 50,000 units.

Layzie Bone Arrested & Released On Bail Layzie Bone is the latest member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to have a brush with the law, after police discovered outstanding warrants and cuffed the veteran emcee. Founding Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Layzie Bonewas arrested this morning. The Cleveland, Ohio native was arrested in Calabasas, California after he had what TMZ called, “an encounter” with police at a local hotel. Upon running the former Ruthless Records artist’s information, police discovered that L-Burna had two outstanding warrants for his arrest, related to traffic violations. TMZ reports that both warrants were from missed court dates. Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.   Layzie Bone was released on $80,000 bail from the Lost Hills Sheriffs Station earlier today. Last year, Layzie’s band-mate Krayzie Bone was arrested and incarcerated for DUI offenses. Last week, HipHopDX reported that currently Tha Dogg Pound and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are working on a Thug Pound collaborative album. Kurupt, praising Layzie in particular, acknowledged the two group’s onetime beef in the mid-1990s.

Chris Brown Misses Gala Due To Emergency Plane Landing Chris Brown able to make it to the Met Gala after-party after experiencing an emergency landing earlier in the day. Plans for an evening at the annual Met Gala were ruined for one star following an emergency landing the plane he was traveling in was forced to make. TMZ reports that the Gulfstream 3 jet R&B crooner Chris Brown was onboard was forced to land in Burbank, California when the plane’s cockpit began to fill with smoke minutes after takeoff. “It was a lot of smoke … everywhere,” one source revealed to TMZ. The Teterboro, New Jersey-bound plane did in fact land safely and no injuries were reported. Fortunately for Brown, he was able to board another flight to the East Coast a mere hour after exiting from the grounded plane. Although he was unable to attend the Metropolitan Museum Of Art gala, the singer did partake in the gala after-party at the Boom Boom Room. The Met gala was attended by many notable Hip Hop and R&B acts including Beyonce, Solange and Kanye West. The latter even served as a performer at the gala, treating attendee’s to a performance of his new song, “I Am (A) God.”

George Clinton Compares Chief Keef To Funkadelic Funk pioneer George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic says he loves the Chicago rapper’s “I Don’t Like.” George Clinton found an interesting musical link. TheFunk pioneer said he compares Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like”to Funkadelic’s “Get Off Your Ass and Jam,” a 1975 song Clinton wrote that has been sampled by Public Enemy, Tupac and Schoolly D, among others. “I love that record,” Clinton said of Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like” during a VladTV interview. “[Chief Keef has] got the attitude. It’s like, ‘Shit! God damn! Get off yo’ ass and jam!’ ‘That’s that shit I don’t like,’ and they do it with such conviction.” Clinton also discusses the extensive number of rap artists who have incorporated his work, citing the music of Public Enemy, Erick Sermon, Digital Underground, Dr. Dre and N.W.A. “[Dr.] Dre, they did the West Coast version of P-Funk,” Clinton said. 

Usher To Play Boxing Legend Sugar Ray Leonard In “Hands Of Stone” Usher’s acting chops return in a biopic on boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. Usher will further an acting career that started when he took on the role of Gabe Santora in the 1998 Horror/Sci-Fi/Mystery film The Faculty. The Atlanta, Georgia-based entertainer who is known for his singing, dancing and hit making skills is gearing up to play Sugar Ray Leonard inHands Of Stone; a film about Panamanian boxing hero Roberto Duran that is slated to hit theaters at some point in 2014.Currently, the upcoming film is in pre-production andUsher is working hard behind the scenes. Billboard reports that Usher has been prepping for the role as Sugar Ray for over a year and still has to lose 25 pounds before filming commences in October. Hands Of Stone will be shot in Panama. Usher will be in good company being he is a part of a star studded cast that includes Oscar Award-winning actor Robert De Niro, who is expected to play the memorable boxing trainer Ray Arcel. Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramirez Arellano will be playing the lead role of Roberto Duran. Usher believes his dancing skills will make him a good fit for the part. “You couldn’t find a more stylized boxer than Sugar Ray Leonard.” Said Usher, according to HotNewHipHop.com, ”He was an incredible motion guy, the way he moved around the ring, and I think my dancing will make it easier for me to pick up his moves. I’ve been working on familiarizing myself with the ring, sparring and just understanding how to move in the ring.”Usher will make an appearance in another motion picture besides Hands Of Stone in 2013, he will also be in the lighthearted movie The Muppets…Again!. In other news related to Usher, the R&B singer performed with Adam Levine on “The Voice” this Monday. Adam Levine is the Grammy Award-winning Maroon 5 singer that is known in the Hip Hop community for his work with rappers like Eminem, 50 Cent, Mac Miller, and more.

Scott Storch On 50 Cent: “We Can’t Make A Bad Record” The platinum producer also dishes on his work on “Detox” and with Dr. Dre in the late 1990s. Scott Storch says he and 50 Cent can’t lose. The Miami, Florida-based producer of Curtis Jackson’s “Candy Shop” and “Just A Lil Bit” says he hopes to work with the G-Unit general again because of their flawless track record. “50 [Cent], he’s ill,” Storch said in the two-and-a-half minute clip. “For some reason, we can’t make a bad record. Every time me and him make a record, it’s some fucking dope, fly shit. The success rate is 100% with us doing stuff together.”  Storch also discussed his work on Dr. Dre’s Detox in the video. He says Dre probably has about “3 million” songs recorded for the album, but he does not discuss when or if the long-delayed project will ever come out. Elsewhere, Storch reflects on his work with the Aftermath Entertainment mogul in the late 1990s and how they created what would become Storch’s signature piano- and string-driven sound that was featured on Dre’s 2001 LP and elsewhere.

Kanye West Dedicates “I Am (A) God” To Kim Kardashian The Chicago rapper-producer performed the highly-anticipated song last night at the annual Met Gala in New York City. Kanye West’s god complex continues. The rapper-producer debuted his new song “I Am (A) God” yesterday at the annual Met Gala in New York.  The song, as performed last night, is a tribute to West’s pregnant girlfriend Kim Kardashian, according to reports. Vogue is slated to release an HD video of West’s performance Friday, according to XXLMag.com. Kardashian accompanied West to the event and was reportedly smiling during West’s performance of “I Am (A) God,” a song likely culled from his forthcoming album. West is also expected to perform “I Am (A) God” when he appears on “SNL” May 18 . The song gets its title from The Bible passage Psalm 82, which includes a line that, “You are gods.”  Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Miguel also attended the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s gala, which highlighted the museum’s “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition. 

Lil Wayne Reveals Cash Money Is Considering A Big Tymers Album With Drake The duo of Birdman and Mannie Fresh may return after nearly 10 years, though it’s either getting an addition or a replacement in Drake. Between 1998 and 2003, the Big Tymers released five albums. The early breakthrough duo for Cash Money Records included producer/rapper Mannie Fresh and label co-founder/rapper Birdman (p/k/a Baby). The group disbanded in 2003, after Mannie Fresh left Cash Money, citing financial disputes, before signing a solo deal at Def Jam Records. In the last two years, there has been discussion of Mannie Fresh producing for Cash Money acts—namely Mystikal—with whom he was working with before the longtime No Limit/Jive Records act signed with CMR. Lil Wayne made a bold revelation though, telling MTV’s Rap Fix that there is a “possibility” of a Big Tymers reunion, with a multi-platinum addition. “[There is] a possibility of a Big Tymers album—adding Drake. But that kid is busy; there’s all kinds of possibilities.” At present it is unclear if the album would include Mannie Fresh.

Diddy Slams Bullying In WWE-Sponsored Clip Diddy partners with WWE’s Be a STAR initiative to combat bullying. Diddy has a new cause. The mogul appears in a new video for WWE’s Be A STAR anti-bullying initiative. The man born Sean Combs calls bullying a “very serious” issue in the 60-second clip. “No matter the form or the location, it’s gotta stop,” Diddy, a Be a STAR ambassador, says in the video. “Remember, we’re all in this together. So, look for help. It’s out there. If it’s not you being bullyied, help somebody who is…Be a star and stand up to bullying.”  WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon released a statment celebrating Diddy’s partnership with Be a STAR. “WWE is proud to continue its partnership with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and join together to put an end to bullying,” McMahon said. Diddy isn’t the only rap connection to Be a STAR, though. The businessman wears a shirt from Damion “D-Roc’s” Butler’s Invisible Bully clothing line in the video. Butler was one of the late The Notorious B.I.G.’s best friends.

Lauryn Hill Sentenced To Three Months In Prison For Tax Evasion Despite paying $900,000 just hours ago, Lauryn Hill will serve time after all. Despite paying close to a million dollars in federal back-taxes, Lauryn Hill is headed to prison. The Associated Press reports that the emcee/vocalist was sentenced to three months in prison today in a federal court based in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Hill was facing up to three years in prison, but received a reduced sentence. Following a guilty plea, Ms. Hill and her attorney were seeking probation. She paid her $900,000 tax bill this weekend. This will be Hill’s first stay in prison. She could be released in as soon as a month.

Mountain Dew Drops Lil Wayne Over Emmett Till Lyric After a week where they pulled the plug on an Odd Future ad, Mountain Dew breaks ties with Lil Wayne, ending the “#DEWeezy” campaign. Cola-maker Mountain Dew and parent company PepsiCo have been in the headlines this week, for pulling an Odd Future ad, after several groups claimed it portrayed racism and violence against women. Now, at week’s end Mountain Dew has severed its relationship with rapper Lil Wayne. Previously, they had created a #DEWeezy brand,including a 2012 South By Southwest event. The Associated Press reports that the relationship was compromised regarding Wayne’s lyrics on a February remix to “Karate Chop” by Atlanta, Georgia rapper Future. Wayne rapped, “I beat the pussy up, like Emmett Till,” comparing sex to the 1955 beating and subsequent murder of a Mississippi teenager after allegedly flirting with a White woman. The two men accused of killing Till, who was visiting from Chicago, were later acquitted. Mountain Dew responded in a statement today, calling the lyrics an “offensive reference to a revered civil rights icon does not reflect the values of our brand.” While Weezy had released an apology in the form of a letter at mid-week, a cousin and spokesperson for Emmett Till’s family, Airickca Gordon-Taylor, refused the apology a day later, claiming it “falls short.” Lil Wayne’s publicist claimed the parting of ways was due to “creative differences,” calling the split “amicable.” Lil Wayne has yet to react publicly. This comes nearly a month after another high-profile rapper and frequent Wayne collaborator, Rick Ross, was dropped from a similar partnership with Reebok. Ross was criticized by online petitions and retail store protests for lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” that were perceived to endorse rape. The deal was estimated to be worth as much as $5 million.