Urban Thought Collective

50 CENT DENIES OFFERING MONEY TO RICK ROSS TO SQUASH BEEF
In a videotaped interview between 50 Cent and radio personality Big Boy, the G-Unit leader took the time to deny Rick Ross’ claim that a 50 Cent employee offered Ross $500,000 to end their beef.

I CAN’T EVEN SEE THAT OFFER COMING OUT OF 50′S MOUTH!

50 said in the video clip, “He made that up — I don’t think anybody interpreted that as if it was true. People looked at that like, ‘Huh? … How much more of a fool can you make of yourself?’ People look at it like, now you can’t take anything from him serious.”

50 pointed out that paying to end a feud would not by typical of his character, and that he enjoys beefing.

“I competed with them just to keep the culture active,” he said. “Ask me: Do I need [to beef with] a Rick Ross? I don’t have a release date right now.”

In the interview, 50 also predicted that Ross’ upcoming album, “Deeper Than Rap”, would not be commercially successful.

“People are paying more attention to me and Rick Ross feuding than his actual records. His sales will reflect that.”

M.O.P. IS BACK WITH A NEW ALBUM
Oh yeah! “How About Some Hardcore”…ooh I loves me some M.O.P and hooking up with DJ Premiere is icing on the cake.

After finally escaping two high-profile label restrictions, M.O.P. is back with what’s being billed as their first official album in nine years.

The Brooklyn homies, Billy Danze and Lil Fame will be dropping “The Foundation” this summer as well as two more tentatively planned original releases within the next year. While being signed to Roc-A-Fella and G-Unit Records, M.O.P. has recorded several albums worth of material.

Some of the Roc-A-Fella recordings appeared on one of several releases under the aliases St. Marxmen and Mash Out Posse, in addition to a compilation of greatest hits.

An M.O.P. collaborator since the earliest days, DJ Premier will serve as co-executive producer for the upcoming release, along with production from “Ante Up” maker DR Period, Nottz, Buckwild, Red Spider, and Fizzy Womack.

Billy Danze said, “I told y’all we would outlast both George Bushes.”

The group also revealed to AllHipHop that 50 Cent released them from their G-Unit contract, but still retains percentage points of several upcoming works.

50 is a smart business man, just like Michael Bivens and Puffy, still keeping that money from those groups rollin in!

M.O.P.’s last major label release, “Warriorz,” went on to sell almost a million copies with the help of hit single “Ante Up.” The duo hopes their newest album can repeat.

“The Foundation” is scheduled to drop on June 30 on E1 Music.

FLESH-N-BONE ARRESTED FOR GUN POSSESSION
Flesh-N-Bone, of Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was arrested in Canyon County, California following a routine traffic infraction.

Now you know they are not just gonna pull a brother over and hand out a citation. Flesh, who’s government name Stantley Howse, had his vehicle searched during the stop, where a firearm and marijuana were reportedly found inside his car. Now there could have been some “Cheech & Chong” scent leaving the car if you know what I mean, but in most cases, you know that’s now how it goes down.

Flesh-n-Bone was charged with gun possession. Damn, when will folks learn to stop allowing themselves to get caught up in the cycle of drama? When does your ass get tired of the same ole bull**? I don’t care how hard times are.

This is not the first time Flesh has run into legal trouble. In 2000, he was sentenced to twelve years in prison after assaulting a person with an AK-47 assault rifle. For that case, Flesh ended up serving nearly eight years. He was released in July of 2008.

Because of his prior history, Flesh is being held without bail at the local county jail. It’s unfortunate, but let’s just say I doubt he’ll be seeing daylight anytime soon.

NEWS BLAST
*** Hip Hop producer Tony D was killed in a car accident in his hometown of Hamilton, New Jersey. Police reports indicate that the producer, born Anthony Depula, lost control of his 2002 Jeep when it struck the fence of a cemetery and
flipped onto its passenger side. Tony D produced for the PoorRighteousTeachers, The Outsidaz, Young Zee, King Sun, Pace Won, DJ Muggs and also managed MC Serch. He was 42. Our condolences to his friends, family and fans.

***ROCK THE BELLS TOUR – Nas, Damian Marley, The Roots, Big Boi, KRS-ONE, Common, House of Pain, Murs, RZA, Raekwon, Pete Rock & Supernatural, Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli, Hi Tek), M.O.P., Buckshot and K’naan, Charli2na, and more are booked for the Rock the Bells hip-hop festival, which is set to visit 10 North American cities on consecutive weekends from June 27-Aug. 9. Each tour stop will feature 25 artists on two stages…

***Common has partnered with Diesel clothing to launch a new cologne, “Only The Brave.” Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna have reportedly also secured fragrance deals with a company with ties to Jay, and some are whispering that Beyonce will be next…

***Rumored to tour are Keri Hilson, Keisha Cole & Bobby Valentino…

***Kanye West teams up with GURU Beverage Company on a new, organic energy drink. GURU announced Kanye has become an equity partner in the company. Terms of the deal were not announced, but some in the business community compare the move to 50 Cent’s deal with Glacéau for their Vitamin Water brand…

***Marcus Jordan, the son of basketball legend Michael Jordan, announced Monday that he has chosen the University of Central Florida to play college basketball…

*** Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and two other people were killed when a minivan ran a red light and struck their sports car. Adenhart, 22, died in surgery at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center; he was a passenger in the car…

Big Lez has interviewed everyone from Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. to Mary J. Blige and Tom Cruise. She was host and producer of BET’s landmark show “Rap City” and has enjoyed an extensive tenure in radio as co-host on 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. Check out: www.myspace.com/BODIOGRAPHY