Urban Thought Collective

HIP HOP’S CASH KINGS OF 2008
First it saddens me that there are no female Cash Queens on this list (myself included. working on it though & I’m getting closer!

But don’t sleep on the income coming in for Hip Hop’s Finest. Some of those politicians and Hip Hop Haters are sick to their stomach at these numbers, but oh well, take your big girl pills and face the truth. Hip Hop is here to stay and the lil’ Annie & Billy in Idaho just proved it by continually filling their pockets, check the stats.

And while you may look at some of these names like “Damn he didn’t even have a song out this year” don’t forget they are writers, the are producers, they have movie deals, royalty checks don’t stop coming and neither do their endorsements or other ventures like clothing lines & soft drinks. Here’s your top 20, government names and all.

14. Hakeem “Chamillionaire” Seriki $10 million (tie)

14. OutKast $10 million (tie)

14. Jayceon “The Game” Taylor $10 million (tie)

13. Jonathan “Lil Jon” Smith $11 million (tie)

13. Jermaine Dupri $11 million (tie)

12. Aliaune “Akon” Thiam $12 million (tie)

12. Lonnie “Common” Lynn Jr. $12 million (tie)

12. Marshall “Eminem” Mathers $12 million (tie)

11. Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter $13 million (tie)

11. Clifford “T.I.” Harris $13 million (tie)

10. Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges $14 million

9. André “Dr. Dre” Young $15 million

8. Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus $16 million

7. Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean $17 million

6. Pharrell Williams $20 million

5. Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley $22 million

4. Kanye West $30 million

3. Sean “Diddy” Combs $35 million

2. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter $82 million

1. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson $150 million

WILL.I.AM vs. FERGIE…WHERE’S THE BEEF
Now I should have asked Will, but we were too busy reminiscing and grooving to real Hip Hop to be talking about Fergie.

Anyhoo, “The New York Post’s Page Six” is reporting that Fergie and her budding film career is causing turmoil within her group, the “Black Eyed Peas.” Word is bandmate Will.i.am is said to be “furious” with the singer because she “won’t commit to a tour schedule to promote the album.” Fergie is currently on location in Europe shooting “Nine” with Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson, and filming is expected to go into late fall.

Now I find it hard for Will.I.Am to be hating on the girl he put on as well as the fact as he is producing for other folks, designing clothes, doing a solo project but then again maybe he’s a closet Ike Turner ruling with an iron hand and not the back hand…nah I doubt it..

LAURENCE FISHBURNE TAKES OVER CSI
Its official, the ink is dry and the contracts are all signed; Laurence Fishburne is headed to the small screen and will join cast of CSI in ninth episode this fall.

Fish (like I really know him) is replacing departing actor William Petersen. Laurence (or should I say Larry) will play a forensics scientist who is also a college lecturer and former pathologist focused on the reasons why people commit violent acts. When Fishburne’s casting was still in the rumor mill, the character was described as having a genetic profile that has been identified in serial killers

Fishburne says, “I am elated and delighted to be joining the cast of `CSI,’” adding that he anticipated a “wonderful collaboration” with the other stars of the show.

The air date for Petersen’s final episode has not been announced but will be early next year. His character, Gil Grissom, will be reappraising his life after years of high-tech forensics investigations with the Las Vegas Police Department and after facing personal turmoil. The actor will remain an executive producer on the series.

Check your local listing for “CSI” (Crime Scene Investigation) season debut. I just want Fish to hurry up and star in and direct “The Alchemist” my favorite book in the world. A good read y’all.

SHAQ & SHAUNIE BACK TOGETHER AGAIN
After filing for divorce months ago, Shaquille O’Neal and his wife Shaunie are reportedly getting back together. Now y’all even though we thought we knew all the dirty details of what went on, we did not live inside their four walls.

Forgiveness is a hard pill to swallow. I still have a hard time jumping that hurdle, but all I can say is, “ALRIGHT FOR THE STATISTICS OF BLACK

MARRIAGE/FAMILY DIVORCE/SEPARATION RATE GOING DOWN!”

Shaunie told “Extra” that “things are great, and we’re moving on to the good stuff. We’ve both learned a lot and know that our family comes first and that’s the main thing for both of us. Neither one of us could probably answer why we were getting [divorced] in the first place. Things have been going so great, that someone actually had to remind us that ‘Hey, you do remember those papers are still there.’ Literally, it was days ago,” she said. “So, we’ve agreed that before we leave Florida in a few days we’ll make sure that that’s gone away.”

Go Shaq! I’m, proud of you boo.

YUNG JOC HAS BABY MAMA DRAMA
Yung Joc’s baby mama says she’s struggling while he’s living large. Now do the math with me y’all and please don’t think I’m defending any man or woman that owes a penny for their child’s welfare but I think you may feel where I’m gong with this right? I’ll play devil’s advocate…

Rapper Yung Joc has been sued by the mother of his 7-year-old son for failure to pay back child support. Word is, Joc owes about $2,000 dollars to Fatimah Jester for their son, Amoni. Jester says it has been difficult collecting payments from the rap star.

Here’s where things get tricky. He’s 7 years old (not 7 months) and owes $2,000.00, not $20,000 but $2,000. These days to fill your gas tank up for a week feels like it costs about $2,000 so I get the need for money.

Before I continue, here’s what else she has to say. “I never thought he would be putting me through some of the stuff I’m going through now. I

can’t even get in contact with him for things for my baby…it’s just hard. Mr. Robinson has all kinds of cars, Bentleys, Mercedes Benz, Range Rovers, two Range Rovers.”

So my points are:

Why go to the press if you can have his wages garnished? It should be easy to track through the record label. Is she working? Has Joc been a father to his child or just the sperm donor and check writer for 7 years? Will we be seeing her in court in a few months requesting $25,000 month in child support?

Fatimah says that despite his lavish lifestyle, she and Amoni struggle financially on a daily basis. Yung Joc, who’s government name is Jasiel Robinson, is due in court on Sept. 11.

Now on the flip side, ghurl get your money…every penny counts. I just hope the money is for the child and not a Fendi bag. Hopefully he won’t throw a fist full of dollars in her face.

Big Lez has interviewed everyone from Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. to Mary J. Blige and Tom Cruise. She was host of and producer of BET’s landmark show “Rap City” and has enjoyed an extensive tenure in radio as co-host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show in Los Angeles, plus stints at New York’s WQHT/Hot 97, Atlanta’s WAOK/V103, LA’s Big Boy Morning Show at KPWR/Power 106 and Sirius Satellite Radio. Currently, Lez is partnered with DVA Media + Marketing as producer and host of the syndicated urban radio report, “The Urban Eye,” which launches nationwide this summer.