Ras Kass Claims L.A. Crown "Tupac is dead, rest in peace. Ice Cube is a movie mogul."

If The Price Is Right Ice-T says he'd consider a "New Jack City" sequel — for a big paycheck.

• Ras Kass
• Ice-T

Britney Spears (file)
Photo: Zomba Label Group

For Valentine's Day, Britney Spears expressed her romantic side by posting a letter Friday (February 11) on her fan site about her life with Kevin Federline. "I fall more and more in love with Kevin every day," she wrote. "We've been away from each other for a week now and I think I'm losing my mind! It's the longest we've been apart from one another." But it's Federline's work schedule keeping them apart, she says, not hers. She's been at home in Kentwood, Louisiana, with her mother while her husband has been posing for the March issue of Details. "The pictures are so hot!" she bragged. "Stay away, girls!" In the meantime, Spears has been playing mom by shopping for "the cutest dresses" for Kori, Federline's daughter with Shar Jackson, as well as dressing her dogs in Von Dutch clothing ("I think my dogs are so much cuter than Tinkerbell"). She's still having trouble training her dogs, which is "kind of bad because we have white carpets." And she hopes to build a dream house right behind her mom's home in Kentwood once she starts a family of her own. ...

Paris Hilton will fill out Barbara Eden's harem pants when she guests on "American Dreams" as the "I Dream of Jeannie" star. The episode airs March 16 at 8 p.m. on NBC. ... Martin Bashir's 2003 documentary on Michael Jackson, "Living With Michael Jackson," helped bring down the pop star and spark a criminal investigation. Now, Bashir, who has since become an ABC News correspondent, has a follow-up, called "Michael Jackson's Secret World," which will air as a two-hour special edition of "Primetime Live" on February 17 at 9 p.m. ET. It will include new interviews, details, and further allegations about Jackson's friendships with boys. ...

Before the major unveiling of his new live lineup at the Coachella Festival on May 1, Trent Reznor will get some road work in with Nine Inch Nails on a trio of West Coast dates: March 23 in Fresno, California; March 24 in Reno, Nevada; and March 25 in Davis, California. The band will also play a pair of dates in London on March 30 and 31. NIN's upcoming album, With Teeth (May 3), will be preceded by the single "The Hand That Feeds," due out in April. ... Several of Los Angeles' most renowned lyricists — Ras Kass, Kurupt, Jayo Felony and newcomer Scipo — came to party at Hollywood's Highland club Thursday night. Talib Kweli also joined the fray. Meanwhile, downstairs, the Roots, Common and Musiq competed against each other at a bowling alley. ...

On Wednesday, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx won his case against Vans Incorporated for using his picture without permission, according to "Celebrity Justice." "Somebody has to stand up, and I was willing to spend my own money and my own time to stand up for myself and other people," he told "Justice." The company reportedly ran an ad featuring Sixx in the sports magazine Thrasher without informing the musician. The jury awarded Sixx $600,000 plus interest. ... "Nirvana - Nevermind: Classic Album," a DVD documenting the making of Nirvana's breakthrough release, is due March 22. Along with a documentary featuring interviews with bassist Krist Novoselic, drummer Dave Grohl and producer Butch Vig, the DVD will include mini-docs on Grohl joining the band, the album's artwork and the song "Drain You." ...

Tricky is getting back into the acting game — the trip-hop godfather is guesting on four consecutive episodes of "Girlfriends," starting March 21. Tricky plays Finn Robinson, the leader of a band holding auditions for a new singer, who is impressed by an impromptu performance by Lynn (played by Persia White). The show airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on UPN. ... Nine days after their Coachella performance, Austin, Texas, indie-rockers Spoon will release their fifth album, Gimmie Fiction, on May 10. The follow-up to 2002's Kill the Moonlight will feature 11 tracks, including "My Mathematical Mind" and "I Turn My Camera On." ... After a brief tour last month, Sub Pop act the Album Leaf — who have quickly become a favorite on "The O.C." — will hit the road again next month. The three-week tour starts in Phoenix on March 13 and ends April 3 in Montreal. ...

02.10.2005

The Roc rocked New York's Fashion Week Wednesday night when Damon Dash teamed with famed designer Patricia Field to launch their House of Rocawear collection. Held at Ono at the Hotel Gansevoort, the party celebrated the 30-piece limited-edition collection, created by Field for fall. Ja Rule, Lil' Kim, Cam'ron, Naomi Campbell, Irv Gotti, Sugar Ray's Mark McGrath,Michael Imperioli, of "The Sopranos" and others danced alongside models and fashionistas to the sounds of DJ Clark Kent. ...

Missy Elliott, Kid Rock, DMC, Chuck D and a host of others will be on hand February 25 for the JMJ: Superstar gala benefit in New York, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Adidas Superstar sneaker and honoring the life of late Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay. The event will raise funds for the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music, a nonprofit organization that provides funding and resources to support free, public school music education programs. Taking place at New York's Skylight space, the event will feature surprise performances and multimedia installations. For information and tickets, check out www.jmjfoundationformusic.org. ... Nelly and Ryan Cabrera will join a host of other celebs for the McDonald's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Denver, airing live February 18 on ESPN. The players, who also include Jermaine Dupri, Brian McKnight and rocker-turned-TV-host Mark McGrath, will hoop it up alongside WNBA star Lisa Leslie and others in the league. R&B songstress Ciara will provide the halftime entertainment. ...

Hey, do you live in Texas? Were you at the Bright Eyes show in Fort Worth on Monday? If you weren't, then you were probably busy lassoing steers and forcing yourself upon Native Americans — at least according to Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst, you were. According to a review of Bright Eyes' show at the Ridglea Theater in The Dallas Morning News, Oberst "drained another bottle of beer" and then began bashing the Lone Star State before a shocked audience. "I don't know about you, but I hate your f---ing state," Oberst announced. "I'd put a f---ing gun to my head before I'd live in your state." Later on in the show, he continued the verbal assault, noting that "if you came to this show tonight, you're not a normal Texan. If you were a normal Texan, you'd probably be roping steers and ..." Well, we'd rather not even reprint the rest. ... The second edition of the Plug: Independent Music Awards was held Wednesday night at New York's Webster Hall, with rockers TV on the Radio winning Album of the Year for Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes and Interpol taking both Indie Artist and overall Artist of the Year awards. The Arcade Fire won New Artist of the Year, rapper Jean Grae was named Female Artist of the Year, and Tom Waits won Male Artist of the Year. Also winning awards were Madvillain, Dillinger Escape Plan and Death Cab for Cutie, among others. ...

Chris Rock isn't scared of Lil Jon or George W. Bush either, and he proves that on his new album, Never Scared. Due Tuesday, the album — Rock's fourth — also features this year's Academy Awards host's commentary on marriage, sex and child-rearing. The material, taken from Rock's 2004 HBO comedy special of the same name, also includes a DVD with behind-the-scenes footage. ... Jessica Simpson will introduce her new lifestyle brand at industry trade show MAGIC next week in Las Vegas. The singer will meet with top retailers to sell her lines — Sweet Kisses, the JS Collection and Princy (also Simpson's nickname) — which will include sportswear, shoes, sneakers, jewelry, hair care, perfume and even accessories for the home. Simpson said in a statement, "Now with the launch of my own brand I will be able to share my love of fashion and my lifestyle with my fans ... I am loving this new part of my life." Simpson's products will be available this fall. ...

Ozzy Osbourne's Prince of Darkness box set, originally set for release on February 8, will now hit shelves on March 22. The four-disc compilation, which is composed mainly of Ozzy's solo hits, will also feature newly recorded covers of songs by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, and duets with such unlikely collaborators as Miss Piggy and the Wu-Tang Clan. ... Motörhead and Corrosion of Conformity are heading out on the road together this spring for a 14-date trek that starts March 9 in Sayreville, New Jersey, and ends April 12 in Spokane, Washington. "Corrosion of Conformity are a fine band as everybody knows," Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister said in a statement. "Also, they must be one of the few bands who have been going as long as Motörhead! Still, we'll give them a run for their money. Glad to have those boys along." ...

After hosting a symposium last year at New York University, De La Soul have decided to take their act to other universities. The hip-hop trio have slated a series of March dates at such schools as Howard University, Morgan State University and Clark Atlanta University. At some schools, the group will speak to students in the day and then perform on campus that night. ...

• Britney Spears
• Michael Jackson
• Nine Inch Nails
• Ras Kass

Jennifer Lopez will launch a second fragrance line in October directed toward a more upscale market than her top-selling Glow. There's no name yet for the scent, but a spokesperson said the ads will again feature the singer, this time in vintage gowns. ...

Green Day were the big winners at the California Music Awards ceremony on Sunday, taking home awards for Outstanding Group, Artist of the Year, Spirit of Rock and Outstanding Guitarist for Billie Joe Armstrong. Other winners included Queens of the Stone Age's Songs for the Deaf for Outstanding Album and "No One Knows" for Outstanding Single, Audioslave for Outstanding Hard Rock/Alternative Album, the Donnas' Spend the Night for Outstanding Punk Album, Red Hot Chili Peppers' By the Way for Outstanding Rock/Pop Album and Jurassic 5's Power in Numbers for Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Album. ...

Though he's already shot three videos in the last two months, R. Kelly has plans to be in a fourth. He appeared in court in Chicago on Thursday (May 29) to ask permission to leave the jurisdiction for a number of trips in mid-to-late June to New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. Kelly hopes to be able to shoot a video, attend the BET Awards in L.A. on June 24, and then participate in a charity basketball tournament, all in time to be back in Chicago by July 7. The judge granted a continuance until next week to discuss Kelly's travel requests. He's due back in court on child pornography charges June 4. ... Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette and Robbie Williams will perform songs in "Just One of Those Things," the upcoming musical based on the life of Cole Porter and featuring music by the songwriter. Vivian Green, Elvis Costello and his fiancée, Diana Krall, will also sing in the movie, which stars Kevin Kline, who, as Porter, performs 14 numbers, including a duet of "In the Still of the Night" with Ashley Judd. ...

Los Angeles rapper Ras Kass was arrested in Las Vegas early Saturday and taken into custody by the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. The MC, whose real name is John Austin, has been a fugitive from L.A. law enforcement since January, after he failed to show up for sentencing following a DUI conviction. According to Las Vegas police, he is expected to be extradited back to California. ... After scoring huge hits with "Can't Fight the Moonlight" for "Coyote Ugly" and "How Do I Live" for "Con-Air," LeAnn Rimes and songwriter Diane Warren are teaming up for another soundtrack single. Their "We Can" will be the centerpiece song for "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde." ...

Your PlayStation 2 is about to get bigger and badder. The PSX, which combines the game- and DVD-playing functions of the PS2 with a digital music player, a television tuner and a personal video recorder that can store 60 hours of programming, will be available in Japan by the end of this year and in the U.S. in 2004. ... The WB network is launching a primetime music countdown and performance show that will air Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET beginning July 16. Joel Gallen, who has produced past MTV Movie Awards and Super Bowl halftime shows, is behind the show, called "Pepsi Smash" and sponsored by the soda company. ...

Good ideas inevitably spur innovators and imitators, and Apple's revolutionary iTunes download system, released last month, has some competition. Through its Rhapsody music service, listen.com is offering burnable downloads for 79 cents apiece, undercutting Apple's fee by 20 cents. ... Hard rock indie imprint Roadrunner Records is one of the first labels to open its entire song stable to the online revolution. For 99 cents a song, visitors to the Vault (on www.roadrunnerrecords.com) can download any track, past and present, from the label's catalog, as well as B-sides, demos and unreleased studio outtakes. Entire LPs are available for $9.99. Both fees are identical to what iTunes charges. ... And just as iTunes is looking too good to be true to the recording industry, it turns out that it is. One of its features, Rendezvous, which gave users the ability to stream songs from other people's libraries, was disabled when pirates were able to alter the application so that the songs could be downloaded, in effect creating a Kazaa-like file-sharing network. Apple issued an update to the software on Tuesday that corrected the problem. ...

The Flaming Lips are among the newly announced artists slated to play Bonnaroo NE, a multi-band festival taking place August 8-10 in Riverhead, New York. Other additions to the lineup that already includes Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Dave Matthews are Steve Winwood, the Radiators, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Lake Trout. ... Great White will team up with L.A. Guns and XYZ for a summer tour to raise money for victims of the Station fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Dates have not yet been confirmed. ...

Vancouver power-pop powerhouse New Pornographers will launch a tour on Monday in Salt Lake City. Dates run through July 15 in Cleveland. The band will be on the road to support its new album, Electric Version, which came out May 6. ... Eric Clapton and B.B. King make guest appearances on Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy's new album, Blues Singer, which comes out Tuesday. Clapton plays on the Frankie Lee Sims cover "Lucy Mae Blues" and both he and King solo on John Lee Hooker's "Crawlin' Kingsnake." ...

English credit rating agency Moody's has put David Bowie's "Bowie Bonds" on its negative credit watch, and pointed out a possible downgrade in the future. Bowie conceived the securities in 1997 as investments fans could make on future profits generated by Bowie's recording and publishing rights. Other stars including Rod Stewart and Iron Maiden followed suit with their own bonds. ...

5.29.03

"Set Me Free" — the first original song to be released by the ex-Guns N' Roses band known as the Project — was previously designated to run in the closing credits for "The Hulk," but now it's slated for the flick's soundtrack as well. Though the band's original deal with Universal Pictures only secured the song for the movie itself, it will now be released as the only song with vocals on the soundtrack, the rest of which features a music score by Danny Elfman. The soundtrack is due in stores June 17. ...

First Britney Spears donated her bra for charity. Now Christina Aguilera is giving up her shoes. The pop star was among the many celebrities who donated autographed sneakers to generate funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Other celebs who handed over their kicks include Vanessa Carlton, Alanis Morissette, Mike Myers, Tina Turner and Cher, who will find their sneaks auctioned off on eBay Canada through June 9. ... Linkin Park will perform June 27 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's the Joint for the Boost Mobile Pro of Skateboarding, one of the biggest boarding events of the year. Fifty-one skaters are competing, including Bob Burnquist and Bucky Lasek. ...

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee is set to meet June 5 in New York to discuss potential nominees for next year's induction ceremony, according to a member of the committee. Among the front-runners eligible for the class of 2004 are the Cars, the Cure, the Pretenders, Van Halen and X. The Rock Hall wouldn't comment on the schedule of its meetings. ... Four tracks from Radiohead's upcoming Hail to the Thief are streaming at www.capitolrecords.com/radiohead. "There There," the first single, is available, along with "Myxamatosis," "A Punch-Up at a Wedding" and "Sail to the Moon." ...

Jeremy Michael Ward, 27, the "sound manipulator" for the Mars Volta, died of an apparent drug overdose on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. The band had just returned to L.A. for a week of downtime between stints opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Although Ward didn't perform onstage with Mars Volta, he contributed background vocals and effects to the band's music and was considered a fifth member. The band's debut full-length, De-Loused in the Comatorium, comes out June 24. ... After one season as a teacher on "Boston Public," Joey McIntyre's contract will not be renewed. The former member of New Kids on the Block is one of four cast members axed by producer David E. Kelley, who last week sent six of "The Practice" stars packing. ...

Paul McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills, announced on Wednesday (May 28) that they're expecting a baby before the end of the year. "We are delighted with this happy news," they said in a release. ...

Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti has taken Orlando, Florida, band Submersed under his wing and will co-produce the band's debut album. He's also acting as a headhunter. When Submersed were looking for a guitarist, Tremonti introduced them to Eric Friedman, who met the Creed axeman last year at the NAMM music convention in Los Angeles and is currently taking lessons from him. ... Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has announced that the band has 13 new songs written for the follow-up to last year's Heathen Chemistry. The disc is tentatively slated for release in 2004. ...

Eve 6 will play a series of a headlining club dates and radio-station festivals in support of the July 22 release of It's All in Your Head, which includes the single "Think Twice." The band's summer outing begins June 20 at the Roxy in West Hollywood, California, and includes a June 29 appearance at Milwaukee's Summerfest. ... After almost 10 years together, the Dismemberment Plan are launching their final tour. The first U.S. date is Wednesday in their hometown, Washington, D.C., and the farewell show also looks to be in the nation's capital. ...

Christiane J, the singer for Los Angeles punk band S.T.U.N., cut his head in an onstage accident Tuesday in Dallas and was rushed to the hospital, where he received 10 stitches. The band was on the second-to-last song in its set when J slipped while jumping on the bass drum, and his forehead connected with one of bassist Nick S's tuning pegs. Despite the injury, S.T.U.N. continued without canceling a show. ... Thomen Stauch, the drummer for German operatic black metal band Blind Guardian, has suffered nerve damage in his hand and has dropped off the group's summer tour. He will be replaced by Rhapsody drummer Alex Holzwarth. ...

• Jennifer Lopez
• R. Kelly
• Audioslave
• Sheryl Crow
• Ras Kass

Jadakiss
Photo: MTV

Sometimes when you talk to Jadakiss, it's hard to get a straight answer out of him. Take discussing the casting of the video for his next single, "Knock Yourself Out," for example.

"I might not get kids this time," explained the MC, who featured dancing children in his video for "Put Your Hands Up." "I might get midgets, or some fat girls to do the [Harlem] Shake." Produced by the Neptunes, "Knock Yourself Out" features Jada "miseducating them like Lauryn Hill" as he promises one member of his harem a blank check to buy jewelry, among other things.

"I just called [the Neptunes] up," Jadakiss recalled nonchalantly of the cut's origins. "I needed them [to appeal to] the bitches and the clubs. It's still grimy, though." The rapper is more serious when discussion turns to his first solo LP, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye. Originally scheduled for a May release, the album was pushed back to August 8 despite the strong buzz created by "Put Your Hands Up," the instant underground classic "We Gon' Make It," and his many guest appearances on R&B tracks. The delay is only helping to build anticipation, Jadakiss explained.

"The same thing happened with Big's [Life After Death] and it went seven times platinum," he said. "It's comin' now. The wait is up. I'm happy with it." While he was not able to secure an Eminem appearance as planned ("Jadakiss Finishing Up Solo LP; Joined By Eminem, Nas, Dre"), 'Kiss recently finished a track called "Ugh Huh" with his longtime compatriot DMX, and Nas finally laid down his rhymes for "Show Discipline." "Dirty South Scenario" features Fiend, 8Ball and Yung Wun and was produced by Swizz Beatz. Swizz also supplied the haunting, piano-powered track "Jada's Got a Gun," with a chorus that plays off of Aerosmith's "Janie's Got a Gun." Jadakiss, who spent a few weeks recording some tracks in Los Angeles, also teams up with Snoop Dogg, spreading California love on "Cruisin'." Here, Jada keeps the party going by scoping girls at the Beverly Center before spreading bullets around like chicken pox. "We Gon' Make It," an underground hit last year, featured Jada and his fellow LOX member Styles interchanging lines about street mayhem. The two MCs plan to do a whole album following in the vein of that song.

"We sit there and write the whole thing together," Jadakiss said of how the track developed. "He says the parts he wants to say, and I say what I want to say. When we throw the beat on, we make the whole sh-- pop." The song's beat caused controversy earlier this year when Ras Kass threatened to sue the track's producer, the Alchemist, claiming he had been sold the same beat ("Alchemist Responds To Claims Of Double Dealing").

"That controversy is with Alchemist and Ras Kass," Jadakiss said. "He played the beat for me, I paid him his money and I laid my vocals on it. I ain't got nothing to do with that other sh--. I ain't get a call from Ras Kass, no nothing, so I'm good. The album is my only concern for the next six to eight months." Jadakiss will soon be heard alongside Prodigy and Butch Cassidy on "Livin' the Life" from the compilation Violator the Album: V2.0, due July 24 ("Busta Rhymes Leading Violator 2.0 Charge"). 'Kiss is also being rotated on Jermaine Dupri's white-label release "Hate in Your Blood," which also features Freeway.

• DMX
• Jadakiss
• L.O.X.
• Ras Kass
• N.E.R.D.

Xzibit
Photo: Loud

Xzibit had just flown to New York on Sunday after bringing the ruckus all night at a Baltimore concert, and he was in desperate need of a quicker picker upper.

"I didn't even know it was Sunday," he told one of the members of his small entourage on the way to breakfast. "I just went to the [Loud Records] office and they were closed." The best way of waking up for the Golden State mic warrior isn't Folgers coffee. All you have to do is let him know you're not an L.A. Lakers fan. "How can you not like the Lakers?" X asked rhetorically over his cell phone, making fun of one of his crew members' aversion to Shaq and company's game play. "[Philadelphia] had no answers for him.

"I wasn't even there for the [Lakers' NBA championship victory] celebration," he said. "I haven't been home in so long." Constantly touring since last year, X is trying to spend more of his time holding things down at the fort. He's started to lay down the blueprints for his fourth album, and his top priority is making time to record it.

"I'm definitely gonna take my time with it and make sure the next [LP] we come out with is a big one," he said. "We got a lot of people pulling for us. We made a lot of movement in the last year and it's time to ante up and make it happen." The rapper has learned from Xperience. "Restless was cool," Xzibit said of his current LP, which was his first platinum success after two previous efforts. "I wish I had more time to put it together. I was traveling, I was on the Up in Smoke Tour, I was helping Snoop do his record. There was no set time where I had months and months to sit with the album and work on it. It came out good but we can do better." "We" meaning himself and Dr. Dre. The rhyme hurler said that hip-hop's most acclaimed beat maker will not only once again act as executive producer for his next album, but for all of his future releases as well. "Everything from here on out we gonna make it crack," X said. "Dre gave me a CD with 38 beats on it." (Some will be used for Xzibit's album, some for Dre's upcoming Detox). "That dude ain't playin'. We just gotta sit down and collabo and make sure that we pick the right tracks." With four songs already in the can, Xzibit said his next LP, Man Vs. Machine, will be addressing issues such as the industry's high expectations of him, its obsession with SoundScan, and any notion of him going commercial. "Once you get [success], it seems the whole hip-hop game is stuck on if you platinum or if you doing this or doing that. That's the machine," X lamented. "I got a lot of answers. They want to know 'What you gonna do now?' I'm just one man. I'm gonna show you what a man can do." What he did was call on a few familiar men to help him with his latest opus.

"Right now, we working with the same people who did Restless," he said before disclosing that along with Dr. Dre, producers such as Rockwilder, Mel Man and Rick Rock will lay tracks. On the MC side, the husky-voiced rapper said he's going to keep that in the family as well. "[I'm going to have] the usual suspects — Snoop, Em[inem]." X is hoping to get Man Vs. Machine out by Christmas, though with summer outings scheduled for Europe and Japan, as well as a few spot dates, he concedes that early 2002 might be a little more realistic. "I'm so sick of the road," X said. "Whenever I'm not on these shows, I'll be in the studio. I got a busy next three months." Part of his studio duties will be recording the Golden State Project with Ras Kass and Saafir (who will also appear on Man Vs. Machine). However, X said do not expect to see him go in the booth to lay vocals for the long-talked-about Likwit Crew family album anytime soon.

"We're cool. We are cool," X said. "There are no problems whatsoever, but musically we go different directions." He said he's looking to make more gritty, street-oriented songs as opposed to Tha Liks' style of party-flavored b-boy freestyles and battle raps. Funny, because X is in full battle mode Sunday morning, defending Shaquille O'Neal's elbow throwing while being defended by Dikembe Mutombo.

"Shaq's real big," he said with a smile. "He's just moving around. Give that man some room."

• Xzibit
• Dr. Dre
• Ras Kass
• Saafir
• Snoop Dogg

Ras Kass
Photo: Michael S. Miller 

Hip-hop producer the Alchemist, who has been accused by rapper Ras Kass of selling the same beat twice, says Ras' claims are off-base.

Ras Kass claims he paid the Alchemist for the music used on his "Home Sweet Home" song, which was scheduled to appear on Ras' forthcoming Van Gough and has also been featured on mix tapes from New York's DJ Kay Slay and Cornerstone Promotion. When the same instrumentation appeared on Jadakiss' "We Gon' Make It," Ras Kass attempted to block the release through his lawyers (see "Ras Kass Blasts Beat Alchemy").

The Alchemist and Ras had verbally agreed in November 1999 that the producer would supply three beats for Ras' album, according to the Alchemist. Last summer, the Alchemist — whose credits include Mobb Deep, Bumpy Knuckles, Dilated Peoples and Mr. Voodoo — said he found out through an associate that Ras' album, originally scheduled for an early 2000 release, had been put on hold.

The process usually works as follows: a producer is paid half of the money up front and the other half either when the work is complete or when the album is released. But after more than six months, the Alchemist said he was uncertain of the status of his work with Ras.

"Priority (Ras' label) put me on hold and left me hanging," he said. "After I got the first half, they left me on hold. ... For whatever reason, his A&Rs and whoever was related to his project was ignoring me." Then, the two met up in August at the Source Awards in Pasadena, California.

"He was like, 'Yo, I'm not f---ing with Priority anymore. I might be f---ing with Snoop, but yo, that 'Home Sweet Home' sh-- is hot. I'm running with that one for sure,'" the Alchemist said. "I'm like, 'You don't know how many artists I've shown that beat to.' He hadn't ever called me. I'd been showing it to everybody. 'Kiss was only one that was feeling it like that." After Jadakiss expressed interest in using the beat, the Alchemist said he attempted to contact Ras' representatives at Priority to let them know he was using it elsewhere.

"I tried to call everybody to let them know, but nobody wanted to return my calls," he said. "So finally when I reach him to tell him that I'm using it, I start hearing it on mix tapes. I called Priority and was like, 'Hold up, we don't have any paperwork for this.' This is a situation where the record company is f---ing it up. Now Ras Kass is heated at me. But I called Ras Kass and said, 'Forget this beat. I'll give you some new sh--. That was '99. The label played me.' They really jerked both of us.

"Now I see in the press that Ras is saying, 'I bought this beat off of Alchemist eight months ago, and he just sat around with the paperwork.' What he's talking about is eight months ago when he found out that it was coming out with somebody else, he had his lawyers send over paperwork for the production of one beat, 'Home Sweat Home,' $7,500 full payment. They just took it upon themselves to make that first half of the three beats [be] the full payment for one beat, which we never discussed. Of course, I just put that paperwork to the side. I laughed at it. I had already seen him in L.A. and told him." Calls to Priority and Ras Kass were not returned by press time, but last month Ras said, "Dude cashed the check, and now he's playing stupid." The Alchemist said he has the documentation to support his claims and blames Ras' legal team for creating the problem.

"Having found out that they loved this beat so much, they had two years to shoot paperwork over to my lawyer," the Alchemist said. "There were three beats in the deal. Nobody even wants to talk about those other two beats. What if I go sell one of those beats? He's going come out again and say that's his beat? "I tried to call Ras and extend my hand to him," he continued. "I said, 'If you want that money back, I'll give it right back because I don't want it to feel like I got over on you or your record label. I'm not trying to get over on anybody. I got beats. I wish we could just continue to work. ... It's a shame that it had to happen like this." The Alchemist isn't letting this situation affect his work. He recently produced "Connected," a song from Tha Eastsidaz's forthcoming album that features Mobb Deep and the Lady of Rage. Plus, the New Yorker's work will appear on new albums from Ghostface Killah, Fat Joe, Royce Da 5'9" and Mobb Deep.

The Alchemist will also be releasing Chemistry Files on his own Alchemy Records in mid-July, with a lead single featuring Bid Daddy Kane. Other cuts will feature Mobb Deep, Infamous Mob and Dilated Peoples.

• The Alchemist
• Ras Kass

Ras Kass
Photo: Priority

Ras Kass is accusing heavyweight hip-hop producer the Alchemist of selling the same beat twice. The California rapper said he paid the beatsmith for the music used on his "Home Sweet Home" song, which was scheduled to appear on Ras' forthcoming Van Gogh album and has also been featured on mix tapes from New York's DJ Kay Slay and Cornerstone Promotions.

But the Alchemist also offered the track to Ruff Ryders, who secured the same instrumentation for Jadakiss. The MC raps over the beat on "We Gon' Make It," a song which is slated to appear on his Kiss the Game Goodbye album, due June 12, and has already garnered airplay on New York radio station Hot 97.

Ras said he and his lawyers were in negotiations with lawyers from Ruff Ryders two weeks ago, trying to make sure that the same beat he paid for wasn't used by another artist.

"I paid [the Alchemist] for the track and picked the track," said Ras Kass, who has not heard the Jadakiss song. "I don't know what the circumstances were, but he ends up trying to sell it to Ruff Ryders and Jadakiss specifically and tries to play like he didn't do it." Calls made to Interscope Records, which handles Jadakiss and Ruff Ryders, were not returned by press time. Attempts to contact the Alchemist, who has produced for Mobb Deep and others, were also unsuccessful.

"Dude cashed the check and now he's playing stupid," Ras Kass said. "After we try to resolve the situation, they take it to [New York radio station] Hot 97 and try to blast off on the sh-- and give it to [radio personality and mix tape king] DJ Clue. That's some foul sh--. Alchemist needs to step up and be a man. For him to sell them the same beat, that's his wrong. At the same time, I don't know what the conversation was for them [Jadakiss' people] to go and take it to Hot 97 when we've been trying to deal with this for the past two weeks with our lawyers." Ironically, Van Gogh, due in stores in August, was to feature a song with Sheek, who, like Jadakiss, is a member of the LOX. The follow-up to 1998's Rasassination also includes "TV Guide," a socio-political epic, and tracks produced by Battlecat (Tha Eastsidaz), Rockwilder (Method Man & Redman) and Mike City (Carl Thomas). Ras Kass said the album's first single will feature Xzibit on the chorus and production courtesy of Dr. Dre.

Named after the famous Dutch painter, the collection is said to outline Ras' musical mission.

"Van Gogh was known for dying poor and after his death he was critically acclaimed," Ras said. "He was also known for cutting off his ear and mailing it [to someone]. Symbolically, I'm cutting off my ear and mailing it to the world. The album is my experience in the Hot Game [the cutthroat rap business] and looking at my position in it." After Van Gogh arrives in record stores, Ras Kass will be completing work on the Golden State Project, a super group that also includes Xzibit and Saafir (see "Xzibit Launching Record Label, Recording With Side Project"). Ras said the group's debut album will be released in the first quarter of 2002.

Ras Kass is also a member of the 4 Hrsmn (4 Horsemen), a group with Kurupt, Killah Priest, and Canibus. They, too, are working on an album.

Don't expect the Alchemist to produce any songs on either the Golden State Project or the 4 Hrsmn's collection.

"I definitely wouldn't want to work with the cat," Ras said.

• Ras Kass
• The Alchemist
• The Lox

Master P and Ice T will make cameo appearances in the forthcoming video for the Ras Kass/Dr. Dre/Mack 10 collaboration dubbed "Ghetto Fabulous."

• Dr. Dre
• Ice-T
• Mack 10
• Master P
• Ras Kass

Dr. Dre and Mack 10 will hook up with rapper Ras Kass in Los Angeles this week to shoot the video for "Ghetto Fabulous," the first single from Kass' upcoming new album.

For "Ghetto Fabulous," Kass sampled the orchestral loops from Dre's "Been There Done That," but the rapper thinks that the new territories explored on the new record are not an all-too dramatic, forced departure from that of his 1996 debut, "Soul on Ice."

"I do what's considered really underground music," Kass said in an MTV Radio Network interview. "When I first started doing this, I would get some hesitant responses because it didn't sound like Biggie or N.W.A. or whatever."

"I'm the type of person," Kass continued, explaining his if "it-ain't-broke" policy for the new album, "where if I didn't like a song when it was nothing, even if it sells three billion companies, I still won't like it. But it's funny how this music business is, as soon as people say [your music] is the bomb or it's dope, then everybody wants to jump [onboard] and say, 'Oh, it's hot.'" [480k Audio]

"Rasassination" is the rapper's new album, and features guest vocals from Rza, Kurupt, Jah Skillz and Twista. The record also features Xzibit and Saafir, with which Ras recently formed a new group, the Golden State Warriors.

"Ghetto Fabulous" will be released to radio in August, while "Rasassination" is set to drop in record stores on September 15.

• Dr. Dre
• Mack 10
• Ras Kass