Hip-Hop Media Training

50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Diddy Manager Chris Lighty Dead At 44
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Thu, Aug 30, 2012 5:01 PM EDT
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50 Cent, Chris Lighty (photo: Denise Truscello, Wire Image)Chris Lighty, arguably one of the biggest artist managers in hip-hop, died Thursday, a spokesperson for the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to Yahoo! Music. He was 44.

While the coroner office representative could not confirm any details surrounding the death, sources told the New York Daily News that the mogul shot himself while arguing with his ex-wife.

[Related: 50 cents talks childhood]

Lighty, who has directed the careers of Diddy, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey and 50 Cent, died around 11:30 a.m. in his Bronx apartment, police told the Daily News.

A .9mm handgun is believed to be the weapon used in the killing, Chief police spokesperson Paul Browne told the Associated Press.

Several artists on Lighty's Violator management roster mourned his death via Twitter.
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Michael Jackson’s Kids Celebrate Dad’s 54th Birthday In Gary, Indiana
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Aug 29, 2012 6:17 PM EDT
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Paris and Prince Michael Jackson (photo: TMZ)Michael Jackson's children, Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket, are celebrating their father's 54^th birthday in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. According to TMZ, the kids traveled with their grandmother, Katherine, aunt, La Toya, and co-guardian, T.J., to participate in the four-day Goin' Back To Indiana: Can You Feel It festival that began Wednesday, Jackson's birthday.

[Related: Judge rules website violated Jackson copyrights]

The events kick off with a Candlelight Tribute Vigil at 8 p.m. at the King Of Pop's old home located at 2300 Jackson Street. Reverend Jesse Jackson will open the program with a "message on love, peace and understanding," according to a statement on the ceremony's Facebook page.
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will.i.am Teams With NASA To Premiere ‘Reach For The Stars’ From Mars
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Tue, Aug 28, 2012 6:07 PM EDT
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Artists and their reps are selective when picking an outlet to premiere their new music. Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am just raised the bar. On Tuesday, the "I Got A Feeling" rapper debuted his new single, "Reach For The Stars," from Mars -- not a nightclub named after the Red Planet, but the actual celestial body located fourth from the sun in the solar system.

The rapper and producer, who is big on science and technology, teamed with NASA to broadcast the uplifting song via the Curiosity Rover that landed on Mars earlier this month.

For the premiere, will.i.am joined NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California for an educational event to speak to students about Mars, play the song and explain the technology used for the transmission.
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DJ Premier, Questlove And Chuck D Among Hosts Of 8-Week ‘GrindXDesign’ Series
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Mon, Aug 27, 2012 9:47 PM EDT
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DJ Premiere

Music industry conferences offer fledgling artists and executives opportunities to receive insight from respected experts in the field. But many independent acts can't afford the conference registration fees or costs required to travel to New York, Los Angeles or Austin for the events.

Hip hop activist and media assassin Harry Allen has a solution for the rap community. Allen has enlisted the support of legendary artists Chuck D, Questlove and DJ Premier, as well as other respected hip hop personalities, to offer GrindXDesign ("grind by design"), an 8-week series of 60-90-minute conference call meetings, moderated by the music business veterans.
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Exclusive: T-Pain Releases New ‘Stripper’ Anthem ‘Don’t You Quit,’ Preps ‘Stoic’ Mixtape
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Aug 22, 2012 6:12 PM EDT
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"I'm 'n Luv (Wit A Stripper)" singer, rapper and producer T-Pain has another anthem for the ladies who stack crisp and clean $1 bills. On Wednesday, he premieres with Yahoo! Music his new song, "Don't You Quit."

The bombastic track boats infectious handclaps and video game sound effects that compliment T-Pain's motivational directives: "Ah naw don't you quit let a brother see what you workin' with," "Put that booty on Instagram," and "Get it poppin. Crack a leg." There's even a Mario Bros. analogy that isn't appropriate to quote here.

"Don't You Quit" is the first release from T-Pain's Stoic mixtape due out on September 30.
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LL Cool J Reportedly Breaks Nose And Jaw Of Burglar
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Aug 22, 2012 4:36 PM EDT
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LL Cool J (photo: Andy Kropa, Getty Images)

Most celebrities need bodyguards to protect them. Not buff, 44-year-old rapper and actor LL Cool J.

LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, confronted an intruder who broke into his home in Studio City, California just before 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for the Van Nuys Community Police Station confirmed to Yahoo! Music.

One of the rap star's daughters called 911 as her father held the assailant until police arrived.
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Meek Mill Is The Star Of Mariah Carey’s ‘Triumphant’ Video
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Tue, Aug 21, 2012 8:09 PM EDT
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I don't believe Mariah Carey's new single "Triumphant" is really her song. Fast-rising MC Meek Mill has the best positioning on the track and video.

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Ne-Yo, Melanie Fiona, Swizz Beatz To Celebrate Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ For Pepsi/Billboard Concert
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Tue, Aug 21, 2012 10:42 AM EDT
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photo: Jason Merritt, Getty ImagesNe-Yo, Melanie Fiona and Swizz Beatz join the talent lineup for Pepsi/Billboard's Summer Beats Concert Series. They will perform in New York Wednesday, August 29, during a tribute to Michael Jackson's Bad album which will celebrate its 25^th anniversary on August 31.

The concert which will be broadcast from Pepsi's Twitter page livestream will allow viewers to influence elements of the show. When Nicki Minaj performed her Summer Beats date on August 14, fans helped shape her set list.

During the Bad celebration, Ne-Yo will sing Jackson's "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" as well as songs from his forthcoming album, R.E.D.
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Tito Lopez Compares Hip Hop To ‘The Hunger Games’
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Mon, Aug 20, 2012 7:57 PM EDT
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Mississippi rapper Tito Lopez received affirmation that he should title his latest mixtape The Hunger Game when watching the movie The Hunger Games, a story about children fighting until death to win food for their hometowns.
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2 Chainz Says Father’s Death Makes Album Success Bittersweet
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Thu, Aug 16, 2012 6:39 PM EDT
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Based On A T.R.U. Story, the debut album from Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, is projected to debut at No. 1 on the charts next week, but the artist who has recorded with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne said the good news is bittersweet.

During an interview this week with Angie Martinez on New York's Hot 97 radio station, 2 Chainz said he is having a difficult time coping with the recent death of his father.
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50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Diddy Manager Chris Lighty Dead At 44

Michael Jackson’s Kids Celebrate Dad’s 54th Birthday In Gary, Indiana

will.i.am Teams With NASA To Premiere ‘Reach For The Stars’ From Mars

DJ Premier, Questlove And Chuck D Among Hosts Of 8-Week ‘GrindXDesign’ Series

Exclusive: T-Pain Releases New ‘Stripper’ Anthem ‘Don’t You Quit,’ Preps ‘Stoic’ Mixtape

LL Cool J Reportedly Breaks Nose And Jaw Of Burglar

Meek Mill Is The Star Of Mariah Carey’s ‘Triumphant’ Video

Ne-Yo, Melanie Fiona, Swizz Beatz To Celebrate Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ For Pepsi/Billboard Concert

Tito Lopez Compares Hip Hop To ‘The Hunger Games’

2 Chainz Says Father’s Death Makes Album Success Bittersweet

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