B.G.
Photo: MTV News

If it were just about the music, the long-awaited Hot Boys reunion probably would have already happened. All four members — Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile and the currently incarcerated Turk — seem to be onboard. There are even some unreleased Turk vocals in the vaults. However, B.G. said that with him and Lil Wayne having problems with the law, it's unlikely a record will drop anytime soon.

"I know I got my own personal dealings to deal with, as far as with the system and things of that nature," said B.G., who was arrested for illegal gun possession recently in Louisiana. Meanwhile, Wayne is expected to be sentenced to a year in prison in a New York court in February.

"I know Wayne's got to face the music with his situation with the system," B.G. added. "But we got time. We got a whole bunch of time to put the album together. We record quick. We already got songs done. But I look at it like, if we record from now until whoever gets sentenced or however it go, we still wouldn't be able to put the album out until [Wayne] comes home. When shorty comes home, I know he'll wanna record a whole 'nother album. So you might have a double Hot Boys CD. You never know. I don't know how it will work out."

Aside from legal woes, the Hot Boys project still poses problems on the business end.

"It's a paperwork thing," B.G. added. "We gotta get the paperwork straight. A lot of lawyers involved, a lot of managers involved — we gotta make sure everything is everything."

Meanwhile, Juvenile is more optimistic. He says he's already received a payment to work on the album.

"We been came to an agreement on that," Juve told us recently. "I already got a check on the new Hot Boys album. I'm probably the only one that has gotten paid. It's all a matter of them getting the business straight with B.G. — I think Wayne is already in — and Turk. Matter of fact, Wayne is in. Wayne is the one who wrote me the check."

Both B.G. and Juvenile say that they have now reconciled with Cash Money Records Co-CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams.

"We spilled our guts out to each other," Juve said of his talks with Birdman. "We put it out on the table. We let bygones be bygones. Let's put all this aside and get money."

• '2012' Clips: Preview The End Of The World
• MTV News Extended Play: Shakira

• Hot Boys
• Lil Wayne
• B.G.
• Juvenile

Juvenile
Photo: Peter Kramer/ Getty Images

It looks like the long-awaited Hot Boys reunion is out of the talking stages and getting serious. Money has been spent to ensure the reunion happens.

"I already signed the deal," Juvenile told Vibe contributor Alison Fensterstock in March. The interview went up on Vibe.com Thursday.

"So for me, I'm gonna definitely say it's a go," Juvenile said. "I already received the check. Wayne is going to put that out, so for me and Wayne, it's a go. I don't know if the business been straightened out, but I know B.G.'s on board and he's willing to do it. I don't know where Turk stands on the business side."

Last year, Hot Boy alums Lil Wayne, B.G. and Juvenile were hyped to join each other onstage at a New Orleans club. But before they had a chance to make it to the venue, shots rang out outside the club and the party was shut down.

"It was going to be a big, historic moment," B.G. told MTV News. "I was just saying that everybody was cool during the All-Star Weekend, then they start shooting. Why'd they have to shoot up on our night? Guess that's Chopper City for ya."

When we spoke to Lil Wayne that same day, Weezy said he was not going to the club to get with his old group but was open to working with them in the future. Late last year before the BET Hip-Hop Awards, Weezy told Mixtape Monday a reunion was in the works, but didn't know when it would launch.

Since the Hot Boys' breakup — amidst business fallouts with Slim and Baby, the heads of Cash Money Records — they've traded disses with one another and reconciled. Last year Juvenile suffered the murder of his daughter, while B.G. was supposed to drop a solo LP on Atlantic Records, but that never surfaced.

Universal Records, Cash Money's distributor, had no comment as to when the album will be released.

• Hot Boys
• Juvenile

Lil Wayne (file)
Photo: MTV News

NEW ORLEANS — The Hot Boys reunion at the club Dream here on Sunday night — featuring Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile and Mannie Fresh — was over before it could even get started: Two 24-year-old women and a 26-year-old man were shot outside the venue by an unknown gunman at around 12:57 a.m. on Monday (February 18).

According to police, the victims were standing on the sidewalk and began running when they heard gunshots. The three were quickly taken to a local hospital, where their injuries were said to be not life-threatening; the venue was closed and the event canceled.

Contacted on Tuesday (February 19), a representative for local police said they still have no suspects or motive in the shooting.

None of the MCs had arrived at the venue by the time of the shooting. MTV News caught up with Wayne not long after the incident. He seemed optimistic that the Hot Boys reunion could be rescheduled, saying that it's "only a phone call away."

The reunion was planned to be a cap on this year's NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans; it would have been the first time in several years that the group had performed. Mannie Fresh was scheduled to take the place of original member Turk, who is currently incarcerated, and a number of MCs — including Rick Ross, Baby and DJ Khaled, along with a host of NBA players — were expected to attend.

"It was going to be a big, historic moment," B.G. told MTV News. "I was just saying that everybody was cool during the All-Star weekend, then they start shooting. Why'd they have to shoot up on our night? Guess that's Chopper City for ya."

[This story was originally published at 2:40 p.m. ET on 02.18.2007]

• Lil Wayne
• Hot Boys

T.I.
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

T.I.'s planned Thanksgiving Day celebration just got a whole lot quieter: The rapper has withdrawn his request to host a holiday bash at his home in suburban Atlanta, The Associated Press reports. The 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., has been under under house arrest as he awaits his trial on weapons charges. ...

First Britney Spears asked fans to "Gimme More" — now she's asking them, do you want a "Piece of Me"? The singer has announced the latter track as her next Blackout single. Spears might have some good luck on her side, as the song was produced by Bloodshy & Avant, the same team behind her Grammy-winning track "Toxic." ...

Kanye West, Wyclef Jean and Nelly will compete for the Music Award honor at the upcoming J.A.M. Awards, a Jam Master Jay- and Run-DMC-inspired event intended to reflect the positive aspects of rap. Jim Jones, DJ Kay Slay, Bumpy Knuckles, Lord Finesse and EPMD have joined the show's performance roster, which already included Snoop Dogg, Mobb Deep, Papoose, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Marley Marl, DMC and more. Two more categories have also been announced for the event, which is being put on by Hot 97, the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music and other organizations: Chuck D, Will Smith and esteemed Princeton University professor Dr. Cornel West are up for the Justice Award; while Spike Lee, graffiti artist Lee Quinones and Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert L. Johnson will face off for the Arts Award. The ceremony will be held November 29 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. ...

Jay-Z is busy shooting videos for and touring behind his new American Gangster album, but that's not stopping him from making business deals. His joint venture Scion recently acquired Artful Dodger after paying $15 million for the apparel company. "They represent what's next and new in fashion," Jay-Z said in a statement. ... Chris Brown, LeAnn Rimes and Usher have been added to the roster of artists set to perform at Movies Rock, which will take place at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on December 2 and air December 7 at 9:00 p.m. on CBS. Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez and others were previously announced as performers. ...

Former "American Idol" Carrie Underwood repeated as Female Vocalist of the Year Wednesday night at the Country Music Association Awards. The singer also took home a trophy for Single of the Year for her hit "Before He Cheats" in a show that featured a performance from surprise Billboard albums chart-toppers the Eagles as well as another "American Idol" alum, Kellie Pickler. She broke down crying while singing "I Wonder," a tune about her estranged mother, who left the family when Pickler was 2 years old. ... Don't expect KT Tunstall to be congratulating Underwood on her new prizes — the Scottish singer/songwriter lashed out at the country star in an interview due to appear in the new issue of Steppin' Out, which hits newsstands Wednesday. Tunstall, whose songs have been used in "Idol," sounded off on Underwood's Grammy win for Best New Artist, saying, "It's pretty weird when the Best New Artist is someone from a reality TV show who sings other people's music. It's also very weird when Carrie Underwood thanks God and Simon Cowell. That's pretty scary! I would hope the Best New Artist is somebody who's writing their own music. Or at least something original." Tunstall didn't mince words about Britney Spears' recent troubles either, saying, "It's frustrating that there's this anti-intellectualism going on with all the magazines who cover her. It's almost like the days of gladiators. The people are begging for death. ... On a spiritual level, I don't want to be part of it. I don't want to feed into it." ...

Lily Allen has signed on to host a new BBC3 entertainment show, according to the U.K.'s Guardian. Assorted celebrities and unsigned bands will join the starlet on "Lily Allen and Friends," and the audience will consist of her online friends. It will air early next year. ... Mya is slated to appear Thursday night at an event benefiting the North Shore Animal League America, an animal-rescue and adoption group. It will be held at the Night Hotel in New York. ... Alchemist is amped to work with Eminem again, according to a new interview he gave to Complex magazine. "If anything, I would bring [a new track] to him, load it into him, let him compute the things that I'm going through, the sounds that I'm finding. Let's interpolate this Eminem style." He added, "I feel like the best out of my connection with Em hasn't happened yet." ...

Joel Madden are Nicole Richie are preparing for their first child, but everything isn't going according to plan in the couple's lives. They have been denied sale of a home in a gated community in Southern California because residents there are concerned about paparazzi swarming in, Us Weekly reports. The magazine also says a baby shower is planned for later this month. ...

More than 100 celebrities — including Kanye West, Coldplay's Chris Martin, Evanescence's Amy Lee, the Beastie Boys, Bright Eyes, Cobra Starship, Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz — have signed on to create personalized lunchboxes for an online auction to benefit a pair of hunger-relief organizations: the Food Bank for New York City and South Africa's Lunchbox Fund. The auction will go live on December 7 at midnight at TheLunchboxAuction.org and run through December 21. Other stars participating in the event include David Bowie, Elton John, Casey Affleck, Eva Mendes, Interpol, Jessica Biel, Cat Power and Courtney Love. ...

Despite Courtney getting involved in a good cause, she's also going off the handle again — and this time, Madonna is in her sights. In a typically incomprehensible, profanity-laden post on her MySpace page, she wrote, "madonna is a great business woma but come on she s weak as an artista nd we akl lknow it — i like madge — but as a relevant musician — its a joke." The exhausting rant is 3,700 words long. ... As for the aforementioned Cat Power, the track list for singer Chan Marshall's upcoming covers album, Jukebox, has been shuffled a bit and will now feature a limited-edition bonus disc with covers of songs by Moby Grape, Nick Cave, Roberta Flack, Patsy Cline and Lil Wayne's all-star squad, Hot Boys. Also slated for inclusion on the January 22 album are covers of songs by Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday and James Brown. ... In related news, Brown's estate is already tangled in a dispute with one of the late rock icon's backup singers who says she is Brown's fourth wife, but now another woman has come forward with a similar claim, AP reports. In court papers recently filed in South Carolina, 73-year-old Velma Warren Brown says she had three children with the late singer and lived with him for 17 years — and that he never served her with divorce papers. ...

The Blood Brothers have finally made an announcement concerning their future. Basically, the band has no future. "After 10 years of making music as the Blood Brothers, we have made the collective decision that our time together has come to an end," the band said in a statement. "We feel extremely fortunate to have spent such a deeply memorable and amazing part of our lives with each other. At this point, however, we feel it's best that our futures move forward on separate paths. We'd like to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all the bands we've played with, individuals who have helped us make our records, and fans who have come to our shows and picked up our music throughout the years. Your friendship, support and love hold such a profoundly special place in each of our hearts. We hope that the memories you attach to our music are as fond as those you have given us." ...

Ozzy Osbourne's tour sure is seeing a lot of drama. In addition to a recent pre-show police sting in Fargo, North Dakota, and a flurry of arrests at Ozzy shows, a young fan was tasered and arrested after allegedly fighting with officers during Osbourne's concert in Sioux City, Iowa, on Sunday, according to a report in the Sioux City Journal. The 16-year-old Sioux City boy, who has not been named, was allegedly trying to start a mosh pit near the end of the show when security called Sioux City police to help remove the boy. Three police officers reportedly tried to take hold of the boy, who was allegedly swinging his arms and being aggressive. After police told him to stop resisting, he refused, after which he was tasered. One officer was slightly injured in the incident, for which the boy was charged with misdemeanor counts of interference with official acts, failure to obey a police officer and assault on a police officer. In related news, the Los Angeles Times reports that a Beverly Hills, California, physician who has been accused of over-prescribing addictive drugs to Osbourne and other celebrities has been publicly reprimanded by the Medical Board of California. Three years ago, the board accused Dr. David A. Kipper of gross negligence in the care of eight patients and threatened to take away his medical license. Osbourne has also filed his own complaint with the board and said the pills he'd been prescribed had a negative impact on his life. "I couldn't talk. I couldn't walk," he told the Times. "I could barely stand up. I was lumbering about like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It got to the point where I was scared to close my eyes at night — afraid I might not wake up." ...

A Perfect Circle mastermind Billy Howerdel has started a new project dubbed Ashes Divide. A song from the band, "Enemies," can be heard on the group's MySpace page. According to the page, the band is signed to Island/Def Jam. ... Bruce Springsteen showcased three songs at a charity event for wounded U.S. troops in New York on Wednesday night, AP reports. The Boss also auctioned off his Harley-Davidson motorcycle for a cool $85,000 at "Stand Up for Heroes," which featured Conan O'Brien as MC and some joke-telling by Robin Williams. Stephen Colbert, James Gandolfini and others were in attendance at the event, which was expected to draw more than $2.5 million for Bob Woodruff's Family Fund, a benefit group started by the ABC newsman who was previously injured in Iraq. ... Many hit songs these days rely on other artists' samples — and now the latter are finally getting their due. Samples that have appeared in songs by Mary J. Blige, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Beastie Boys, Madonna, Dr. Dre and others have been dug up from the archives for the new collection Droppin' Science. The February 12 release will be available as a 10-track CD or 13-song digital album. ...

What do you get when you put Vincent Gallo and Eric Erlandson together? A new band: Rriiccee. Gallo, who wrote and directed "Buffalo 66" and "Brown Bunny," previously released two solo albums, while Erlandson made a name for himself as a guitarist for Hole. Their new abstract project, which may eventually embrace additional members, will formally introduce itself with a tour starting in December — but doesn't plan to record any music or even release anything. "We've chosen not to go into a studio in a traditional way like other bands have done in the past," Gallo said in a statement. "We've chosen to remain open, to grow and change more naturally, and when we play live, the music is often created during the performance." Rriiccee previously played at Japan's Fuji Rock Festival and at a show in San Francisco. ...

"Barfly" actor Mickey Rourke was arrested Thursday in Miami Beach, Florida, on suspicion of driving under the influence — on a scooter, according to AP. He reportedly made a U-turn at a red light and swerved multiple times. "I'm not drunk, I didn't even drink that much," he reportedly said before being taken to police headquarters and failing a breath test. He is being held on $1,000 bond. ...

Are you a "unique" "Star Trek" fan? Not "unique" as in especially devoted, but rather fans who have "long necks, small heads, bug eyes, large foreheads [or] oversized ears"? Then you're in luck. Those are some of the attributes the makers of the J.J. Abrams reboot are requiring as they hunt for extras to appear in the film, according to BBC News. But if you don't match any of those descriptions, fear not — the studio is also looking for "ultra perfect or ultra plain-looking people." Auditions will be held Saturday in Burbank, California. ...

Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore's much-talked-about appearance on NBC's "30 Rock" will air on Thursday evening. The former vice president and environmentalist plays himself but also acts as if he can hear troubled whales calling in the episode, which spoofs NBC's "Green Is Universal" campaign. The show has many days of shooting planned for a 10th second-season episode amid the writers' strike, according to the Los Angeles Times. ... In other strike news, West Hollywood, California's Roxy Theatre is allowing Writers Guild of America members to go to shows for free — so long as the concerts in question haven't already sold out, according to Variety. All the members have to do is show their union membership card.

11.07.07

T.I. is under house arrest as he awaits his trial on weapons charges — but he doesn't want that to get in the way of the holidays. The rapper (real name: Clifford Harris) has asked a judge to let him host a Thanksgiving Day celebration at his home in Jonesboro, Georgia, according to The Associated Press. On Tuesday, his attorneys requested that a list of family members be given "approved visitation to have dinner with the defendant" from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on November 22. T.I. isn't allowed to have visitors without prior approval and can't have more than three visitors at a time, with minor exceptions. His October 26 release on bond is being supervised by a monitoring service, which would also be present for the Thanksgiving celebration. ...

Lawyers for Britney Spears and Kevin Federline will be in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday for an emergency hearing in their ongoing custody dispute, TMZ.com reports. The hearing was reportedly called by Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, who is alleging that the singer has not followed drug-testing procedures. Neither Spears nor Federline are expected to show. In other Brit news, her longtime photographer and friend Mark Lidell revealed to "Extra" what went wrong at the notorious OK! magazine photo shoot earlier this year. "Paparazzi absolutely killed and ruined our day ... they were everywhere ... and it made our shoot absolutely impossible." He said Spears later told him, " 'Mark, if you want me to come back afterwards, I'll do my best and get back' ... but she had to go and finish off the music video [for 'Gimme More']." ...

Embattled pop star Amy Winehouse has been granted a visa allowing her to enter the United States but will still not be making any of her previously scheduled appearances, her publicist confirmed to MTV News on Wednesday (November 7). The "Rehab" singer was set to appear at the mtvU Woodie Awards on Thursday and as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" (which is now in reruns anyway, due to the writers' strike) this weekend. Some speculated Winehouse's recent visa troubles were thought to have something to do with her recent arrest for marijuana possession in Norway. Winehouse will next visit the States in January to kick off her U.S. tour. ...

Lily Allen doesn't show much skin when she performs — but she's stripping down to model lingerie as part of a new six-figure deal, according to MTV UK. Like Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dita Von Tesse and Kate Moss before her, Allen has signed with risqué clothing company Agent Provocateur. The singer has also recently modeled for a shampoo company and is working on a TV show. ...

Michael Jackson's Neverland nightmare might be coming true — according to TMZ, the estate has gone into foreclosure per a Notice of Default report for California's Santa Barbara County. The singer was reportedly delinquent on a $23 million loan as of October 12. ...

Lil Wayne, Against Me!, Juelz Santana, Arctic Monkeys and Fat Joe, all in the same place? Indeed — you'll find those artists, as well as Ol' Dirty Bastard, Lady Sovereign, Pete Doherty and others, showcased in "The Vice Photo Book," a new volume culling shots from the magazine's 13-year history. The 336-page tome will be sold for $45 at bookstores starting in December. ...

Swizz Beatz and T-Pain took the stage on Tuesday night at the "Women of King" Calendar party held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. Q-Tip, radio personality Wendy Williams and Dres of Black Sheep were all on hand as D-Nice manned the turntables at the shindig, which was sponsored by Remy Martin. ... Talib Kweli, Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae got together onstage at Belvedere Vodka's Apollo Lounge in New York's Harlem neighborhood on Tuesday night in an effort to draw more young people to the famed Apollo Theatre. Fonzworth Bentley was in attendance. ...

Diddy got a break on Tuesday when a district attorney in New York decided not to charge him with assault in an alleged incident last month. Well, now comes more good news for the music mogul, albeit of a very different variety: His YouTube search for someone to hold his umbrella has ended, he announced on Tuesday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." He gave the job to Heather Thompson, who remarked, "I understand who the star is in this relationship." Diddy said he's looking for four assistants in total, so his YouTube quest goes on. ...

In what could amount to a case of Jessica Alba mirroring Madonna, the "Fantastic Four" actress, who doesn't have any stage experience, has been approached to star in a new Broadway production of David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow" in which Madge previously starred, the New York Post reports. According to the Post, James Gandolfini is being considered for one of the male lead roles. ...

My Bloody Valentine fans, the wait is over — that reunion album you've been hoping for is a go, and apparently it's even happening this year. TheDailySwarm.com reports that on Monday VBS.tv will launch an exclusive video interview between My Bloody Valentine mastermind Kevin Shields and Ian Svenonius (Weird War, the Make Up) as part of the online TV channel's "Soft Focus" series. In the conversation, Shields reportedly said a yet-untitled album — which involved the band getting back in the studio for the first time since 1995 — will be dropping this year. "It sounds like what we sounded like — different but not radically different. People will go, 'Yeah, it sounds like My Bloody Valentine,' " he reportedly said. ...

Sub Pop — the record label that boasts "Podfisting our way to your blog. Or whatever" as one of its current slogans — has launched a new digital-download music store. Among the initial 200 offerings in the store, which will eventually incorporate out-of-print material, are releases by the Shins, Sleater-Kinney, David Cross, Low, Band of Horses and Iron and Wine. Customers who purchase files through the store will be able to download them multiple times, which also means that fans will be able to get additional bonus tracks or improved sound quality if and when the releases are enhanced. ...

Radiohead's name-your-own-price album scheme has resulted in only two of five listeners paying for the band's new In Rainbows LP, but the noble pursuit might have landed Radiohead some additional profits. Billboard reports that the band's seven previous albums have sold 35.8 percent more copies since Radiohead made the In Rainbows announcement on September 30. ...

Pete Doherty showed signs of improvement in his ongoing battle with drugs last month when a judge gave him a suspended jail sentence after seeing signs of progress — but now there's more bad news for the Babyshambles frontman. "Peter sadly relapsed last week and is now looking to check himself back into a rehab clinic so that he can try to continue the hitherto excellent attempts he had made to break free of heroin," his record label, EMI, said in a statement, according to AP. The announcement was made after a video of Doherty recently injecting himself with heroin surfaced online. According to EMI, Doherty considers the incident "a stupid, stupid action for which I feel only shame." ...

Cowboy Junkies go to church: The Canadian alt-rockers recently returned to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto, where they recorded 1988's The Trinity Session, to commemorate the album, which many consider to be their most important work. Ryan Adams, Vic Chestnutt, Jeff Bird and Natalie Merchant joined the Junkies for The Trinity Revisited, a reworking of the album that is coming out in the form of a DVD/CD set on February 26, in time for the original effort's 20th anniversary. ...

Actors have been showing their support for the writers' strike in recent days, but former Disney chief Michael Eisner has a much different take on the protest: In a word, it's "stupid," he says. "I've seen stupid strikes, I've seen less stupid strikes. ... This is a stupid strike," he reportedly remarked during a panel discussion at a conference in New York on Wednesday, Reuters reports. "It's a waste of their time," he added. "[The studios] have nothing to give. They don't know what to give." ...

Politically inclined music fans are probably familiar with HeadCount, the voter-registration that teamed with the Dave Matthews Band, the Allman Brothers Band and other artists to register 50,000 people for the 2004 election. Well, the volunteer-run group is coming back for next year's races — and has an even loftier goal in mind: to register 200,000 new voters. HeadCount — which more recently became aligned with O.A.R. as well — is seeking volunteers to join its street teams, which will register people at future concerts. Go to HeadCount.org for more info. ...

Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Hank Thompson died of lung cancer on Tuesday, days after he canceled his tour, AP reports. October 8 — which turned out to be the day of his last show — had been declared "Hank Thompson Day" by Texas Governor Rick Perry and Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy. Thompson was 82.

• T.I.
• Britney Spears
• Kanye West
• Jay-Z
• Chris Brown

Hot Boys
Photo: Cash Money Records

It's been four years since the last Hot Boys album, but the New Orleans hip-hop collective are hoping their solo careers have kept the group's gritty street rep from cooling off.

The Hot Boys — Juvenile, Lil' Wayne, B.G. and Turk — are releasing their third album, Let 'Em Burn, on Tuesday.

The follow-up to 1999's platinum Guerilla Warfare, (see "Hot Boys Scorch Charts With Top 5 Debut") the new album features production by Cash Money hitmaker Mannie Fresh, along with appearances by labelmates the Big Tymers on tracks like "Introduction" and "Stick and Move."

Cali singer TQ and newcomer Lac, who appeared on the movie soundtrack for "Cradle 2 the Grave," also collaborated on the album, which includes the Hot Boys' first single, "My Section."

B.G. is the latest Hot Boy to find success on his own, but all four have released Top 25 solo albums (see "Turk Emerges From Cash Money Fringe").

Juvenile, the most well known in the crew, has been plagued with legal troubles in recent months, including arrests for battery and drug possession (see "Juvenile Arrested For Cocaine, Marijuana Possession").

A Hot Boys spokesperson said there are no plans for the group to tour, as they did with Guerilla Warfare.

Let 'Em Burn track list, according to a spokesperson for Universal:

• "Alicia Applefoot"
• "Introduction"
• "My Section"
• "Stick and Move"
• "Down Here"
• "Spin Tha Bend"
• "My Cousin's New Keyboard"
• "Let 'Em Burn"
• "Do Whatcha Do"
• "Gangsta N---a"
• "These Hoes"
• "3 Strikes"
• "Jack Who, Take What"
• "Young Riders"
• "Off Wit Ya Head"
• "Up In Tha Hood"
• "Outro"

• Hot Boys

R. Kelly
Photo: Jive

The fattening of Cash Money Records' roster didn't stop with the signing of Mack 10 earlier this year.

Co-CEO Ronald "Slim" Williams said that in 2002, the label plans to roll out a plethora of new acts, including singer TQ, much-hyped Philadelphia MC Gillie Da Kid and R. Kelly's former protégés Boo & Gotti.

"We thick, bro," Williams said. "Thicker than a Snickers."

It wasn't a matter of Williams and his brother, Big Tymers member Baby, luring Boo & Gotti from Kelly's Rockland label. Williams said that the duo, who rhymed on both the original and remix version of Kelly's hit "Fiesta," reached out to them.

"They called [us]," Williams said. "We used to see them off and on. They called and were like, 'Man, we're trying to do something.' We ain't want no hard feelings with my man [R. Kelly]. We talked to my man. We're businessmen, he's a businessman."

Williams says Boo & Gotti's deal with Rockland had already dissolved, so there were no issues over signing them. "We liked their style," he said. "We thought they had something. I liked the way they carried themselves."

The feeling was obviously mutual. "Before we bring a person to the label, we like a person to come down and check out the operation and surroundings with the label," Williams said. "We don't just sign a person. We let a person come and see if it's something they like."

So with the next Hot Boys album — which Williams said will include Juvenile, who is publicly disgruntled with the label (see "A Happier, 'Sunshining' Juvenile Showcased On Project English") — not on CMR's radar until close to next Christmas, how do the artists who helped build the label feel about waiting in the wings while family newcomers shine?

"They know it's a business," Williams said. "They ain't tripping. They are my love. That's my heart. But I love my other artists just as much as I love my Hot Boys."

The group should be represented on Lil' Wayne's next release, which is scheduled for the summer. In the meantime, the top priorities for the label are spring releases from Boo & Gotti and the Big Tymers.

The first release from the revamped label in 2002 is scheduled to be the soundtrack to the Wesley Snipes drama "Undisputed." Although Williams says the album's talked-about DMX and Fred Durst collaboration is still up in the air (see "DMX, Fred Durst To Record Together Again"), Carl Thomas and Trick Daddy have supplied tracks.

"The first release off the soundtrack is 'Undisputed' with Lil' Wayne, the Big Tymers, Mickey and Lack," Williams said. "[The video] is being filmed in a prison in Nashville.

"My concept of the video was to do the 2002 'Scared Straight,' " he continued. "This video is gonna have a real serious message to it [by] showing [the prison system] to the young teenagers through the eyes of somebody that's in jail: 'You've got to make a choice. You gonna get it together, or you gonna end up here.' "

• The Big Tymers
• Hot Boys

Juvenile
Photo: Universal

It looks like Juvenile will finally get out of the projects, or, should we say, get the projects out. Already delayed several times this year, his Project English not only has an August 28 release date that his label's distributor, Universal, swears is firm, but he has a new single out to get the buzz going. "Set It Off" finds Cash Money Records' biggest seller rhyming about, among other things, police harassment, sex with project chicks and a wild night with his wawdies. According to a Cash Money spokesperson, various CMR artists, including the Hot Boys and Big Tymers, will appear on the LP, which was produced by Mannie Fresh.

Juvenile hasn't been idle while his album's been pushed back, however. He started U.P.T. (Uptown) Records with Sony Music and is looking to release the debut from the label's first act, Big Skip, sometime toward the end of the year. Project English is Juvenile's fourth solo album, and third for Cash Money. Juvenile and fellow Hot Boys BG, Turk and Lil Wayne will release their Let 'Em Burn later this year.

• Juvenile
• Hot Boys
• The Big Tymers

Turk
Photo: Cash Money

Although he's been on platinum albums, heavily rotated videos, hit songs and a bevy of tours, the world is not too familiar with Turk.

Sure, hip-hop fans may know his name and face, but rolling with his more flamboyant family members — the Cash Money Millionaires and the Hot Boys — Turk has more often than not been relegated to background status.

"I blame that on myself because I was shy and laid-back," Turk said. Now opening up a little more, Turk, the only member of the Hot Boys without a solo album (everybody else — Juvenile, BG and Lil Wayne — has at least two), is ready to unabashedly tell his story with his debut, Young & Thuggin', due June 5th.

"This is the hardest album since [Juvenile's] Tha G-Code," Turk said, assuring fans of Cash Money that they can expect more of what they love: girls, guns, getting your grind on and flashing their platinum grills. Not surprisingly, Manny Fresh produced the entire album and the Hot Boys and Big Tymers are featured throughout the LP. Turk said that Cash Money's newest members, Christina (the label's first female rapper), her brother Mickey and Mack 10 will also appear on the album.

"Mack 10 is great. It's like he was here all the time," Turk said about his labelmate, who appears with him and the Hot Boys on "Yes We Do." "Being with the younger guys, [his music] is getting even more gangsta." Turk said Cash Money Records is still one big family — Juvenile included. Lately the industry has been buzzing about a possible severing of ties between Juvenile and his blinging brethren.

"Shoot the messenger!" Turk said jokingly, dismissing talk of any breakups. "You know how they say 'don't shoot the messenger,' I say 'shoot the messenger.' You know how them rumors be. Juvenile is still with us. He's just been taking a break because he started work on his new label. We talk to him every day. He's on my album. They started rumors about me that I was leaving. " It's a wonder that Turk and his crew even have time to hear any innuendo with their current work schedule. They're locked down in the studio.

"We stay working," Turk said. "The new Hot Boys album (Let 'Em Burn) is finished and coming out soon, Wayne got his new album finished. BG got his new album finished, Juvenile's album is coming out soon, and Baby got a solo album coming." Turk also said he's already started on his second solo album, Untamed Guerilla, which will drop early next year, and that there's another Cash Money movie in the making, to be directed by Charles S. Dutton. The first single from Young & Thuggin' is "It's in Me." Turk is currently wrapping up production on the video for the second single, "Freak Dem Girls," which appears on the album as "Freak Dem Hoes."

• Hot Boys
• Cash Money Millionaires
• Juvenile
• Lil Wayne
• B.G.

New Orleans' Cash Money Records crew will ring up another certified hit next week, as the Hot Boys' Lil' Wayne will clock in at number three on the "Billboard" album chart with his first solo album, "Tha Block Is Hot."

The 15-year-old rapper sold more than 229,000 copies of "Tha Block Is Hot" during its first week in stores, according to SoundScan figures. The success has brought the rough-edged Lil' Wayne his fair share of attention from female hip-hop fans, a situation the young star talked about with MTV News' Chris Connelly.

"It feels good," Lil Wayne said,

In addition to his hit album, Lil' Wayne is also currently working on a new movie, "Baller Blockin," which also stars Juvenile and the rest of the Hot Boys posse. The action-comedy will wrap filming this week in New Orleans and is set for a straight-to-video release in December or early January.

The Hot Boys have also announced that they'll be touring with DMX, Eve, and the rest of the Ruff Ryders beginning next February. No dates have been set for the outing yet, but we'll keep you posted.

-- Kara Manning

• Cash Money Millionaires
• DMX
• Eve
• Hot Boys
• Lil Wayne

Featuring the all-star lineup of Cash Money rappers Juvenile, B.G., Lil' Wayne, and Turk, the Hot Boys are set to light up next week's Billboard's Pop Album chart next week, thanks to selling some 142,000 copies of their record, "Guerilla Warfare," during its first week, according to SoundScan figures.