New England Sun-Times

by Slava Kuperstein Jimmy Henchman's litany of legal woes continued as he faces a murder rap in retaliation for an assault on his son. On Friday (June 22), six men were charged with conspiring to murder the associate of 50 Cent . Among the men is Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond, who is charged with arranging the murder Lowell Fletcher in 2009. In 2011, two Rosemond associates had been charged with the murder. Rosemond, who has long been accused of involvement with the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., was convicted of running a multimillion-dollar cocaine ring earlier this month. Fletcher's murder was allegedly in retaliation for an assault on Rosemond's son. Rosemond “operated like a mini-gang, allegedly committing a revenge killing, and a host of drug and firearms offenses,” said United States attorney Preet Bharara, according to the New York Times . The indictment provides that Fletcher was shot to death o...

 Rodney King’s family says his fiancée Cynthia Kelley is not invited to his funeral! The services will be held next Saturday in Hollywood but the family hasn’t contacted Cynthia since the day after Rodney died and apparently they don’t plan to. We’re told Cynthia hasn’t made any efforts to make arrangements for Rodney so the family doesn’t feel they need to reach out. We’re told the family is also still thinks Cynthia’s story about how Rodney died is shady! She told cops she heard Rodney banging on the window around 5 AM Sunday and then heard him fall in the pool. The family doesn’t believe Rodney drowned on his own because, as one source put it, Rodney was always a great swimmer. Close friend Damon Feldman, a long-time associate of King’s says that King had grown unhappy with his relationship with Kelley and was about to break up with her. King and Kelley met when Kelley served on the jury that awarded King $3.9 million in a civil case. They ha...

Sorry Maxwell fans, but you won’t be checking him out in concert this summer! The sexy R&B singer has cancelled his short U.S. tour after developing vocal swelling and hemorrhaging. A representative for the singer said Friday that he has been advised by doctors to rest and undergo treatment. Maxwell’s six-date summer tour had shows planned for Los Angeles, Atlanta and Newark, N.J. for July and August. Maxwell said in the statement that cancelling the tour “sucks” and he plans to hit the road when his new album, “blackSUMMERS’night,” is released later this year. The 39-year-old made his return to music in 2009 after a seven-year break with the platinum album “BLACKsummers’night.” It won the singer-songwriter two Grammy Awards, among other accolades. The statement also said refunds are available. Did you already have tickets? SCOOP: BILLBOARD

by Roman Wolfe June 22nd, 2012 @ 9:11pm (AllHipHop News) Rapper Jay Electronica took to Twitter earlier today and threatened Ben Goldsmith, the soon-to-be ex-husband of Rothschild heiress Kate Rothschild. Jay E. took to Twitter to address reports that he is having an affair with Kate Rothschild, who runs Roundtable Records, a UK-based label. Goldsmith, who is the son of billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, married Rothschild in 2003. But the pair announced they will divorce today, after allegations of infidelity from both sides. Earlier in the year, Goldsmith was arrested and cited for assault for slapping Rothschild at their mansion. The New-Orleans rapper, who is currently living in London, was the aggressor via Twitter. “@BJGoldsmith: ‘ben you need to stop going to the press w these b******t stories. Dont be a f***ing hypocrite. I’ll come see you.,” Jay Electronica Tweeted. “you wanna go public, i’ll go public and you ain...

By the CNN Wire Staff updated 2:20 AM EDT, Sat June 23, 2012 Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- A jury convicted former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky on 45 of 48 counts related to sexual abuse of boys over a 15-year period, ending a painful chapter for victims and the Penn State community. Jurors delivered the verdict around 10 p.m. Friday after deliberating for 21 hours. There were convictions related to all 10 sexual abuse victims, with the three not-guilty verdicts applying to three different individuals. Sandusky stood slightly hunched, looking down with his hand in his pocket but showing no visible emotion as the guilty verdicts were read out in court. His wife, Dottie, blinked back tears. Judge John Cleland revoked Sandusky's bail and ordered his arrest. Sandusky left the courthouse in handcuffs, headed for a police car destined for the Centre County jail. When asked if he had anything to say to the victims, the 68-yea...

A San Francisco couple is accused of allegedly tracking an alleged pimp across California before finally hunting him down and killing him. Police say the couple, whose teenage daughter was allegedly being pimped by a 22-year old Compton man, shot him to death near Candlestick Park . Attorneys for Barry Gilton and his longtime girlfriend, Lupe Mercado admit the couple tried to rescue their 17-year old daughter from Calvin Sneed, but say they didn’t kill him. On June 4, Sneed was in San Francisco, driving his Toyota Camry at 2 a.m., when someone shot him with a .40-caliber handgun. Sneed, an alleged member of the Nutty Block Crips, crashed into a parked car and died a short time later at San Francisco General Hospital. Authorities believe the pair were also responsible for a shooting last month when someone fired into Sneed’s car in North Hollywood. Gilton and Mercado face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and one count of discharging a firearm at...

“Stop hitting her! Stop hitting her like that!” That’s what Sandra Duncan says she screamed when she saw a man beating an elderly woman after what appeared to be a fender bender in Northwest Detroit. It happened late Tuesday morning after the unidentified man rear-ended the 82-year-old woman. When the elderly woman, who asked not to be identified, got out of her car to inspect the damages, Duncan says the man grabbed her and began to beat her in the chest with his fists. “He just came over and grabbed me… literally lifted me off the ground. He’s a big man” she says. She also says she yelled at the man, “Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Why are you doing this?” Duncan yelled out for her husband and other neighbors to help the elderly woman who was alone in her car. The man, who also appeared to be alone, took off in an older red Pontiac Grand Am. Witnesses were able to write down the license plate, but we’re told the plate did not match the vehicle. As a result of the...

Folks say they’ve had enough of the reality tv drama, its the ones showcasing black folks actin’ a fool! Love & Hip Hop Atlanta may not enjoy more than one season if petitioners have their way. After premiering its first episode this past Monday to over 3 million viewers, Erin Harper of Atlanta launched a boycott on change.org ! It’s not surprising given the content of the first episode that saw Joseline Hernandez battle Mimi Faust over cheating allegations with her longtime boyfriend music producer Stevie J, K. Michelle exposing an abusive past with ex boyfriend Memphitz and Erica Dixon fighting to keep her off and on boyfriend Scrappy faithful. It’s more of a soap opera and less about women in hip hop hoping for a big break. This is how Erin summed it up… “ After we made a ruckus about Basketball Wives, sponsors began to pull ads. Well, it’s that time again, folks! While we should respect the perceptions and experiences of the men and women featured o...

Chris Brown’s father says Rihanna is trouble and he wants his son to stay da hell away from her! He has urged the singer to dial back his friendship with his ex, insisting it would be best for his career if he keeps his distance. The former couple recently put aside their tumultuous past to work together on two new tracks, but the pair’s collaborations infuriated fans of Rihanna, who were upset by the news she’d teamed up with the ex who left her black and blue after a pre-Grammy Awards fight in 2009. Brown’s dad, Clinton Brown, (seen below) has voiced his concerns about a possible reunion, revealing he has advised his son to stay away from Rihanna to prevent further problems. He tells Star magazine, “I do not condone everything that goes on with Chris, but I love my son with all my being. I am always concerned about him. … He can make his own decisions. But, as a concerned parent, I would rather they not have any involvement.” But Brown’s dad assures fans up...

This story is gaining national attention and soon you’ll see why! Have you ever heard of MIAKA? That acronym stands for Men Interested in AKA. They’re a group of gay men who want the right to pledge and join the ranks of the sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha. But apparently, there’s a problem with that idea…they’re men. However, this minor detail hasn’t stopped them, rumors are swirling they’ve filed a discrimination lawsuit against the sorority. Critics have come forward outraged at the idea and say no matter how sensitive to women’s issues or in touch with their feminine side, MIAKA does not fit the key qualification that it takes to be a part of the non-profit, community centered, women’s service organization. The AKAs were established in 1908 on the campus of Howard University and they, in 104 years, have yet to induct a man into their sorority. The alleged lawsuit charges AKA with discrimination and homophobia because they won’t allow this group of gay men t...

The University of Minnesota is launching a new program this fall in an effort to increase the retention and graduation rates of Black men. Ten Black male freshmen will live together in a living/learning community called Huntley House that will be located in Sanford Hall.  The goal of Huntley House is to provide a sense of community and connectedness for African American males and opportunities for personal and academic growth in a supportive atmosphere to ensure their success in college and beyond.   The university’s Office of Equity and Diversity will facilitate mentorships with upperclassmen and faculty members to guide these first-year students through the educational process. All 10 Black men will enroll in a credit course entitled “Black Men: Representations and Reality.” As a group, students will attend various cultural events and activities in the Twin Cities, often with the staff and faculty of the Department of African American ...

by Morris Moore June 21st, 2012 @ 11:01am (AllHipHop News) A popular community activist/security guard was shot and killed after a Yo Gotti concert early yesterday morning. Marcel Jackson, acted as a security guard at Pandemonium Nightclub in Detroit on Tuesday (June 19) . Earlier in the evening, Jackson had intervened in an argument between a woman and an unidentified male, who was harassing her. After the man assaulted the woman, he was removed from the club. The same man returned Pandemonium Nightclub later in the evening, but he was refused entry, because he refused to be frisked for weapons. As Jackson was leaving the venue, a Dodge Charger pulled up to Jackson and a passenger in his car and opened fire on the vehicle. Jackson, who had six children, died early Wednesday morning. In a separate incident earlier this week, police apprehended two suspects who shot and killed a concertgoer outside of a Yo Gotti concer...

by Sean Ryon posted June 21, 2012 at 9:10PM EDT LL Cool J announces his new virtual live studio computer program and reveals he's got a new LP in the works. LL Cool J has already cut his teeth in the music and film industries , now the legendary rapper is looking to add technological entrepreneur to his résumé. According to The Boombox , Ladies Love Cool James has teamed up with Sony and his own social network site Boomdizzle to launch a new production software My Connect Studio. My Connect Studio gives musicians the opportunity to record music with each other from entirely different locations. Inspired by email replacing emcees and producers spending time in the studio together, LL explained at a recent press conference that the program will help connect far-flung producers and emcees live in a virtual studio "[Producers] e-mail me the track, I'm e-mailing vocals - they don't like something, I'm s...

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, seen below, is suing a New York City club and its operators for $20 million over a scratched retina he says he suffered during a fight involving singer Chris Brown and members of hip-hop star Drake’s entourage. The suit was filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Thursday. It says the W.i.P club in SoHo and its operators were negligent in security and supervision, which allowed the fight to take place. Chris Brown, his girlfriend and his bodyguard were among eight injured during the fight inside the club last week. Police say members of Drake’s entourage stopped Breezy as he was leaving. The fight escalated and bottles were thrown. Breezy posted this pic of his injury hours after the brawl. What do you think? SCOOP: WAPO

A woman from inside a jail told a 911 operator that she was being held against her will, but that’s what happens when you’re arrested. DUH! Scottsdale police arrested 52 year old Pamela Mason and booked her for DUI. When she was taken to the city jail to make a phone call to an attorney, she instead dialed 911, the police report states. “Are you in the jail?” the operator asks. “You can’t call 911 unless you have an emergency. If you’re at the jail, you don’t have an emergency.” “I’m being held against my will,” the inmate said. When an officer went into the telephone room to tell Mason to stop calling 911, she replied, “But I only called once,” according to the report. In addition to the DUI charge, Mason was also book on “misuse of 911.” Moments before she dialed 911, investigators said she began to lie down on the floor and start an abdominal workout. What do YOU say? SCOOP: ABC

When it rains, it pours for Basketball Wives star Jennifer Williams! Not only are reports suggesting Shaunie O’Neal had Royce Reed, Jennifer Williams and Kesha Nichols fired, she’s about to have her Bentley repossessed after being slapped with an unpaid bill for more than $92,000. You may remember, she was also slapped by Nia Crooks. Rough month! The Toyota Motor Credit Corporation in Syosset, N.Y., filed a lawsuit against Williams, claiming she stopped making payments on her 2006 Bentley in 2009. According to the lawsuit, TMCC has made attempts to peacefully repossess the vehicle … but was unsuccessful. Now it’s going the legal route. TMCC is also demanding Williams pay her full balance : $92,310. OUCH! A rep for J-Dub said: “Jennifer hasn’t been served documents in reference to this lawsuit. Anything related to community property acquired during the marriage, such as the car , is an issue that is currently being addressed in her divorce proceedings.” Basica...

Halle Berry’s ongoing dispute with baby daddy Gabriel Aubry just got expensive. The “Monster’s Ball” actress, who has been battling Aubry in court over custody of their young daughter Nahla, 4, has been ordered to cough up $20,000 a month in child support! In May, Aubry asked a Los Angeles judge to award him the large sum in order to properly raise Nahla, and on Monday, a judge ruled that Berry, 45, would have to shell out the nearly quarter of a million bucks a year. This is the first time an explicit child support order has been issued in their ongoing case. But Berry may very soon be wiring those funds from across international waters. The actress recently asked for the court’s permission to move Nahla with her to Paris, where she and her fiancé, French actor Olivier Martinez, seen below, hope to call home. There, Berry hopes to escape the prying eyes of the American press so that her daughter can grow up in peace. Incidentally, Berry’s stalker Richard Fran...

Saying he’s lost the trust of officials, a city manager fired a central Florida police chief who was criticized for his agency’s initial investigation of Trayvon Martin’s shooting death at the hands of a neighborhood watch volunteer. Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte sai he relieved Chief Bill Lee of duty because he “determined the Police Chief needs to have the trust and respect of the elected officials and the confidence of the entire community.” “We need to move forward with a police chief that all the citizens of Sanford can support,” Bonaparte said. “I have come to this decision in light of the escalating divisiveness that has taken hold of the city.” The initial lack of an arrest following the death of Martin, an unarmed black teenager, by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in February led to protests across the nation and spurred a debate about race and the laws of self-defense. Zimmerman’s father is white and his mother is from Peru. ...

Yes, its really happening folks, with F. Gary Gray directing – the NWA biopic project, Straight Outta Compton is in the works! We toldya several months ago Ice Cube said that it was definitely happening, but he didn’t reveal much detail. He did say they were on the hunt for a director. But the project has obviously found its guy in Gray. F. Gary Gray’s last big screen project was in 2009 with Law Abiding Citizen. Since then he’s been attached to helm 3 or more different projects, and none has materialized; would be great to see him back at work again. Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez are producing the NWA project via Cube Vision, along with Eazy-E’s widow, Tomica Woods. And via Twitter, Gray shared the following: “ I’m casting for my next film STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON. Spread the word! Thanks! ” And with that tweet came the photo below…so if you’re interested use the info & send your stuff in! What do you think? SCOOP: INDIEWIRE

The red carpet is rolled out to welcome the iconic Bishop T.D. Jakes and his wife, Serita, at the black-tie gala to celebrate 35 years of ministry. Photo Credit: Vernon Bryant, courtesy of TDJ Enterprises/The FrontPage Firm -- Thousands Gather in Dallas to Pay Tribute to Worldwide Spiritual Leader, Highlighted by Oprah Winfrey Surprise Appearance, Moving Tributes and Uplifting Performances -- Dallas, TX (June 14, 2012) -- World leaders, dignitaries and celebrities from around the world gathered in vibrant Arts District near downtown Dallas Friday to attend an historic event honoring global humanitarian and faith-based entertainment mogul Bishop T.D. Jakes' 35 years of spiritual leadership and service.  Aptly titled "A Triumphant Journey," the three-hour, black-tie celebration was hosted by director/writer/producer Tyler Perry and CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien at the state-of-the-art AT&T Winspear Opera House.  ...

-- Johnson Urges Race-Recognition Remedies to Address Wealth Gap during remarks at the Congressional Forum on the "Economic Empowerment in the Black Community" -- Bethesda, MD (June 19, 2012) -- In an address to the Conservative Black Forum hosted by Congressman Allen West (R-FL-22) focusing on the economic empowerment in the African American community, Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies, called for a renewed national discussion on the growing wealth gap which he referred to as a "wealth gap Tsunami threatening African Americans". Johnson cited a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, which concluded "The wealth gap between white and African American families has more than quadrupled over the course of a generation; the racial wealth gap increased by $75,000, from $20,000 to $95,000; the median weal...