Hip Hop Honey For Now: Francine Dee

Francine Dee was born in July of 1978 in Hong Kong. Her ethnic background is Filipina and Chinese. Her family moved to the Philippines when she was a few months old. In 1983, her parents moved to the United States, where they settled in the Orange County area of California. She first made waves when she appeared on the cover of Oriental Dolls in high school. She had her breasts enhanced before the shoot and was sporting blonde hair.

About one year later, she did a shoot for a calendar featuring black women. Feeling at ease with this type of work, Francine continued to do more calendar work and then graduated to posters and studio shoots. Her work in the import car show scene began in 1998, when her friends encouraged her to get in on the thriving industry in California. She can now be seen on an array of sites devoted to the pastime. During this chapter in her career, she started her business major. At the age of twenty, Francine began to pose nude, as she signed on with Hollywood Asians (she made two nude live video appearances on the latter) and had a site sponsored by Vivid Dreams.

Homepage of Francine Dee: francinedee.com

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Mos Def Ordered to Settle Divorce

Posted at 6/30/2006 11:29:00 AM

Rapper/actor MOS DEF was shocked on Tuesday (June 26) when a Brooklyn, New York judge ordered him and his wife to work out their acrimonious divorce immediately.
The hip-hop star, real name DANTE TERRELL SMITH, is seeking a divorce from MARIA YEPES-SMITH, his wife of 10 years.

A Brooklyn judge urged the rapper and his estranged wife to settle their messy divorce out of court during a hearing yesterday (June 27). According to the New York Post, Justice SARAH KRAUSS told the parties, "Work it out, right now. I have 50 cases here." The couple have two children together.

-article courtesy of PR-Inside.Com

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Lil’ Flip Leaves Sony Music Group

Posted at 6/30/2006 11:25:00 AM

After his yet-to-be-released album, I Need Mine, saw its release date pushed back several times, Lil’ Flip has decided to leave the Sony Music Group, his attorney and manager announced yesterday.

Flip’s manager and attorney Sandy Lal gave no reason for the split but he indicated that he negotiated the rights to keep the masters of the Houston rapper’s forthcoming disc.

“Usually, it’s like the labels have all the power,” said Flip in a statement. “No one else could have negotiated a release so favorable to me as an artist—and I got to take my masters with me! Incredible.”

Lil’ Flip’s I Need Mine was initially slated for a late 2005 release. Its most recent release date was Tuesday (June 27), but the still has not hit stores. It leaked to the internet earlier this week.

Although Flip has not officially signed a new deal, XXL Magazine’s online component reports that the rapper is in talks with the Warner Music Group.

-article courtesy of NobodySmiling.Com

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LOPEZ TRYING TO STOP EX-HUSBAND’S TELL-ALL: Book reportedly details their first sexual encounter, mother’s alleged racism and other tidbits.

Posted at 6/30/2006 11:17:00 AM

Ojani Noa, the one-time husband of Jennifer Lopez, is being pressured by the singer’s attorneys to keep his planned tell-all book from seeing the light of day.

According to E!, lawyers for the entertainer filed for a preliminary injunction in April to stop Noa from moving forward with his planned book, “The Unknown Truth: A Passionate Portrait of a Serial Thriller,” alleging that he offered to leave the tome alone if Lopez gave him $5 million. She is also requesting that he not be able to profit at all from any private details about their relationship, whether they are published in the book or not.

According to the latest filing, Noa is planning to write about J.Lo’s "multiple duplicitous sexual affairs" on the set of 1997's “Anaconda” and about her having a relationship with Marc Anthony while he was still married to Dayanara Torres and while Lopez was still dating Sean "Diddy" Combs. The court documents also state that Noa’s book accuses the singer’s mother, Guadalupe Lopez, of being racist and having a gambling problem.

Also among the more than 285 pages of documents filed Friday was the allegation that Noa recently tried to sell videos of Lopez primping for their wedding and honeymoon and another featuring her in a skimpy bikini to the National Enquirer.

"Sadly, no personal detail is too sacred to be sold by Noa for profit," the papers, filed by Lopez's attorney, Paul Sorrell, state. "Noa will do anything within his power to make money off his ex-wife--and thinks nothing of willfully breaching the agreement and hurting [Lopez] in the process. He is out of control."

According to E!, the agreement he's referring to is a $125,000 settlement reached by both Lopez and Noa after he sued her for allegedly failing to keep a promise to let him manage one of her restaurants. As part of the settlement, Noa was told he could not divulge any intimate details about his former wife or their relationship for monetary gain.

Sorrell is due in court today to argue for the injunction against Noa's lawyer, Robert Vasquez, who filed a six-page document last week denying Lopez's allegations that his client's "compliance could be bought for the right price."

All of this started back in April after the New York Post reported Noa was shopping around the project in which each chapter was named after a title of one of Lopez's films.

"I mean, I live in a free country, no? I can express myself," Noa said in a deposition taken earlier this month. "I can talk and say whatever I want to."

Lopez and Noa were married for 13 months – from Feb. 1997 to Mar. 1998.

-article courtesy of EurWeb.Com

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Beanie Sigel Readies Return, Talks About Hip-Hop's Downfall

Posted at 6/30/2006 11:12:00 AM

Beanie Sigel is looking to fellow Philadelphians Dre & Vidal for help crafting his forthcoming album.

Sigel (born Dwight Grant) told Billboard.com that he's been in the studio with the songwriting/production duo, and hopes to complete the currently untitled set in time for an early release next year. Beans is confident the Philly triumvirate will turn out a classic album.

"Dre & Vidal are the new millennium Gamble & Huff," Sigel told Billboard.com. "With me, you're looking at the new Teddy Pendergrass of hip-hop. We're here to turn off a lot of people's lights."

"Both musically and lyrically, hip-hop has declined within the last three years," the MC added, speaking frankly about the current state of hip-hop. "There's no substance. No one is talking about anything but there's a lot going on in terms of current events and other issues."

There has been plenty in the way of current events and issues for Sigel, who was recently shot twice in the arm during a botched robbery attempt this May. He managed to drive himself to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was treated for his injuries and released within a day. The police investigation that followed resulted in controversy when a SOHH.com source revealed that police were looking at the possibility the shooting might have been a publicity stunt.

The new album follows up Sigel's 2005 release The B.Coming, which sold 405,000 copies domestically according to Nielsen SoundScan. According to sources Beanie is still signed to Roc-A- Fella Records.

-article courtesy of SOHH.Com

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Blade TV Show Featuring Sticky Fingaz Draws Record Audience For Spike TV

Posted at 6/30/2006 11:08:00 AM

Spike TV's first original scripted action-adventure show Blade: The Series drew record ratings for the cable TV network, pulling in 2.5 million viewers, making it the most watched premiere of an original series Spike TV's history.

Rapper Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones is the star of the show, playing the title role as an immortal half-man, half vampire who battles various creatures of the night, who are attempting to take over mankind.

"We promised action and adventure with our first scripted series and really delivered," said Doug Herzog, president, Spike TV. "Our targeted audience of men came through for us with big numbers. Blade: The Series serves as a launch pad for future original scripted shows."

The series also features a supporting cast that includes Jill Wagner, Neil Jackson, Chthon House and Nelson Lee.

Blade: The Series is produced by New Line Television, along with the original producers of the Blade film franchise.

Spike TV is available in more than 90 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.

-article courtesy of AllHipHop.Com

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Pretty Ricky Call on Fans For New Album Title

Posted at 6/30/2006 11:04:00 AM

Hip hop and R&B group Pretty Ricky needs their fans help.

The Blue Star Entertainment International/Atlantic recording artists want their fans to help choose their next album title.

On Wednesday night (June 28), the Miami-bred group held a live online chat for 500 fans, where they announced details of the special contest. Fans will now have one week to submit their title names and ideas to the group via their website: "prettyricky.com"

The winning fan will receive a liner note credit for their title. In addition, the vigorous group will call the fan to thank him or her.

Pretty Ricky’s new album is scheduled for a fall release. The group consists of singer, Pleasure and rappers: Slick 'Em, Baby Blue, and Spectacular. Pretty Ricky released their album, Bluestars, last year.

-article courtesy of Vibe.Com

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Lil' Kim to be Released From Prison on Monday

Posted at 6/30/2006 11:00:00 AM

Independence Day will arrive a day early for Lil’ Kim.

After being deemed a model prisoner, rapper Lil’ Kim has been granted an early release from prison. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Kim is scheduled to exit Philadelphia's Federal Detention Center on Monday morning (July 3) between 6 and 10 a.m.

Kim’s laywer James J. Leonard Jr. says his client will head straight to an undisclosed New Jersey location for processing, following her release from prison.

Kim was convicted of perjury for lying to protect a friend on trial over a shooting outside New York City-based radio station Hot 97. The diminutive rapper then turned herself into authorities on Sept. 20 of last year to begin her original sentence of a year and a day.

Despite the early release, Kim will have to begin serving a month's house arrest at her North Jersey home.

-article courtesy of Vibe.Com

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Thursday, June 29, 2006   MUSIC |  VIDEOS |  INTERVIEWS  | NEW ARTIST  | HOME

BOW WOW TO HANG UP THE MIC AT AGE 19?: Rapper says his upcoming LP may be his last.

Posted at 6/29/2006 10:19:00 AM

Bow Wow ain’t been in the rap game but a minute and already he's looking to bow out.

It was just yesterday when the youngster announced he was dropping the “Lil” from his rap moniker to signify his transition into manhood. His maturity, the rapper says, also brings with it new interests that are drawing his attention away from recording.

The star of "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" told MTV.com that Hollywood is beckoning, and his upcoming fifth album “might be the last one.”

"[If so], we're going to go out with a bang," he said. "It's definitely going to be the biggest album that I've ever done.”

Due sometime around Halloween, the Jermaine Dupri-produced as-yet-untitled set already has a first single.

“It features Chris Brown and it's called 'Shorty Like Mine,' so that definitely could be the biggest record of my career," he said.

Describing the album’s style, he says: "I'm going for a more edgy, kinda mature sound. Now that I'm 19, I'm able to talk about a lot of things that I've experienced in my life."

As for acting, Bow Wow says offers are “coming into the office daily so I'm reading, trying to pick the next one. There's actually one in negotiations right now, but they don't want me to say. But definitely get ready to see me in at least two more movies. Last year I promised myself I'd do three movies and this ["Tokyo Drift"] is one right here."

-article courtesy of EurWeb.Com

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BUSTA RHYMES WRAPS UP BITTER CUSTODY BATTLE: Rapper’s lesbian ex reaches out to media to ‘set the record straight.’

Posted at 6/29/2006 10:17:00 AM

Busta Rhymes’ turbulent relationship with the lesbian mother of his three children makes the “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” relationship in his latest video seem like the blissful union of Will and Jada.

According to the New York Post’s Hasani Gittens, the rapper has just ended “one of the nastiest four-year custody battles in hip-hop history - rife with allegations she had lesbian sex in front of their children, that she does drugs in the house and that she’s an absentee mom.”

The woman in question, Rhymes’ ex-girlfriend Joanne Wood, was Busta’s high school sweetheart and had a roller-coaster romance for 10 years, a relationship that bore three children. Then, Wood decided to come out of the closet and all hell broke loose.

She tells the Post in an exclusive interview that the rapper’s hate for her is rooted in his manhood being challenged after she left him for a woman.

“His ego is definitely hurt,” she said. “If he’s being emotional, then let him just be emotional - that’s like the b*tch in him. If you want to be emotional, I don’t have a problem with that,” but “he’s wearing his emotions on his sleeve.”

Rhymes has been taking verbal swipes at his former flame while promoting his new album, “The Big Bang,” which entered Billboard last week at No. 1. According to the Post, “he’s called her names from dangerous to crazy to gold digger to other unmentionables.”

In her first interview to address the situation, Wood, 32, wants everyone to know that Rhymes did not turn her away from men.

She explains: “A relationship is a relationship. It happens. I have nothing negative to say as far as our relationship, whether it was good or bad, sexually, or not. That had nothing to do with me doing what I did [becoming a lesbian]. It’s not like I spitefully did it.”

“He had a problem with everything,” she laughed. “He’s a Taurus - he’s a real arrogant person, he has a problem with everything. But on the other hand, he’s soft-hearted - he’s a softy, at times, when we’re together. I don’t know what happened.”

For the past four years, the couple has been embroiled in a bitter custody dispute over their sons, T’Ziah, 13, T’Khi, 6, and Trillian, 5. Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, won custody of the kids in December when Judge Burton Joseph in Nassau County Family Court ruled he was a more fit parent.

In making his decision, the judge made more than a few references to Wood’s “lover” and “lifestyle,” leading her legal camp to believe she was the victim of discrimination.

Meanwhile, Wood says Rhymes’ recent remarks in the press “pretty much makes me out to be a crazy person. He said what he had to say and that’s fine. I don’t have any problem with that.

“But my kids can read, they can see the negativity that he’s saying about me. He needs to focus on his music and hope that his album goes double platinum or whatever, because you know at this point in his career if you don’t make it now, that’s it.”

Wood currently has visitation rights twice a week and every other weekend to see her kids, who now live with Rhymes’ mother in New York while he tours. She is currently trying to gather enough funds to appeal the custody decision.

“Honestly, the kids are the one that got hurt through this entire ordeal,” she said. “As you get older and you have kids, they change your life, and honestly, I thought that they would have changed Trevor’s life, but it didn’t.

“He’s a great father, when it comes to sitting down, talking to the kids. And we can agree on certain things, but I have to say, this fighting me because your ego is hurt, you’re not hurting me, he’s hurting the kids. They know exactly what’s going on, which bothers me. But I can say they’re happy, we spend good times together. I know they don’t see their father as much as he claims he does.”

-article courtesy of EurWeb.Com

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Juvenile Drafted For Army Tour

Posted at 6/29/2006 10:09:00 AM

Juvenile will be embarking on a short tour to perform for troops stationed in U.S. Army Bases in Hawaii and South Korea.

The New Orleans bred rapper will kick off his to