Swizz Beatz and DMX
Photo: Kristy Leibowitz/Getty Images

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
You can never front on the legacy of DMX or the Ruff Ryders. We all know about the loudest Ruff Ryder's troubles the last few years, but Swizz Beatz says the Dog is clean and back in the studio.

"Me and X probably have the realest of realest talks," Swizz said of his close friend. "If a person don't wanna help themselves, then there's nothing you can do. The good thing is that X is willing to help himself. I know the X I can work with, I know the X I cannot work with. Right now [he] is the X I can work with. That's why he's on the ['Who's Real'] remix smashing it and we got about seven other records that, if we put out right now, it would mess everybody up.

"But I wanna have the proper setup where he's getting a fair chance and the most attention and most respect right now," Swizz added. "I'm not putting nothing out until we have the lineup together, which we're close to having, and the streets are going to witness that raw uncut street element. X was doing $16 million movies and sleeping outside, just because that's where he felt comfortable. He's the realest in the game. He never was on no jewelry, no cars. X, he's one artist that I truly know is a real artist. It don't get no more real than X."

As for the Ruff Ryders coming back together, Swizz said, "100 percent." While a compilation may be held back due to business reasons, he says everyone — the LOX, Eve, Drag-On as well as DMX — is working on their separate projects to drop soon.

The Streets Is Talking: News and Notes From The Underground
Now that Raekwon has released one of the most talked about hip-hop sequel albums ever, who would the Chef like to see a sequel from?

"That's a mean question," he told us recently in New York. "I'd like to see Nas do another Illmatic. See Snoop do another [Doggystyle]. I'd like to see Hov do another Reasonable Doubt. I'd like to Slick Rick come back with the another Great Adventures of Slick Rick. I'd like to see Rakim do another Paid in Full. ... I'm hip-hop for real. We could go on for days. I would like to see another Criminal Minded [from Boogie Down Productions].

"These are dudes that really initiated the boat to really rock the right way," he continued. "I'm gonna always respect the classics until the young G's show me they really understand it, rather than just looking at it as being a rapper with the bling on and the Phantom parked outside and the girls and the bling on and the paparazzi. I wanna see skills come back to the table. I wanna see creativity come back to the table. I wanna see art. Just do your work. Do what you supposed to do to make us say, 'He stepped his game up.' Shout to the young G's doing their thing though."

Rae isn't sure about the future of the Cuban Linx series of albums — it depends on the fans.

"We at that question already?" he smiled when we asked him about the game plan for Cuban Linx III. "Right now, that's not even thought about. I want people to suck up this album. If the fans start getting on me and I feel like they respect what I do ... I'm looking to see all the people who been talking about II, I'm gonna see where y'all at. I'm looking at the charts and sales and everything to really feel like, 'OK, III is worth it because II showed me they wasn't fronting on me. You never know."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily Video: Wu-Tang, DMX, Lil Wayne And More

• DMX
• Swizz Beatz

Lil Wayne and Chris Brown
Photo: Jive

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Greetings, ladies and gents. Mixtape Daily is up a little later than usual today, but it's not our fault. They tried to Nas us — just think of one of our favorite albums, Lost Tapes. But yeah, we got some great info for you today. We chopped it up with Swizz Beatz a few days ago right after Jay-Z and Alicia Keys (sans Lil Mama) were rehearsing "Empire State of Mind" at Radio City Music Hall. Swizz dropped a few gems, but you only get a taste today. The super-producer says he just finished a new single for Chris Brown called "Transformer," and it features none other than Lil Wayne.

"He's got something to prove," Swizz says of working with Brown. "He worked on 60, 70 songs. He's just on fire. I told him, 'Listen, man, just stay focused on your music. They gonna throw shots at you. Time heals everything.' He has great support; his mother is amazing. I was really scoping out the situation, it could have been something I didn't want to be around, but I really got a great vibe. Honestly."

Swizz says Wayne is in vintage Louisianimal form on the track, tearing the beat down like a bulldozer.

"The Wayne part is just nothing to talk about," Swizz boasted. "He really showed his a-- on this one. It's probably the best feature verse since the 'It's Me [Bi---es]' remix. He really went in on the 'Transformer' joint."

Swizz promises that a video will go into production soon and that the record will hit even sooner.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: Fabolous, Raekwon, Drake, Jay-Z And More

• Swizz Beatz
• Lil Wayne
• Chris Brown

Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News

The list of famous New Yorkers could go on longer than Mayor Michael Bloomberg's term in office, but undoubtedly two of the most beloved natives are Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

The pair will take the stage on Sunday at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards to perform Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind," a Frank Sinatra-like number that name-checks some of Gotham's notable neighborhoods and captures the city's essence, from attending Knicks games (courtside, if you're Jay-Z) to its famous residents.

Keys is featured on the track where she croons on the chorus, "Count on New York, these streets will make you feel brand new/ Big lights will inspire you."

The track is from Jay-Z's recently released Blueprint 3 album and the VMA performance will mark his first time performing the song live. Rehearsals at Radio City Music Hall have had frequent Jay-Z collaborator Swizz Beatz on hand.

The super-producer said the new Big Apple anthem reminds him of another Jay-Z collaboration, a classic from his debut that was more of an ode to Brooklyn — but bigger.

"That's like 'Can't Knock the Hustle' 2009, [but] featuring Alicia Keys," he told MTV News. "It's just like Jay and Mary [J. Blige] with the chemistry there, the love for music is there, the creativity is there — it works. It's not like putting two opposite people onstage and trying to make things happen, no. It's putting two greats on the stage and you know what happens. And that's the result of 'Empire State of Mind.' "

Jay-Z and Blige toured together last year and they paid homage to their roots by naming their joint trek the Heart of the City tour.

Blige has joined Jay-Z on more than one occasion to honor New York — she expects his performance with Keys will be just as big, calling the pairing "huge."

"I just hope it's as crazy as it sounds," she said. "I hope it's as big as it sounds. I hope it looks that big. I believe it will be — she's incredible. And he's Jay, you know? Let's see."

Watch the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Preshow this Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the big event, airing live at 9 p.m. New York is celebrating the VMAs all week long, so stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

• The 2009 VMAs Are Taking Over NYC!

• Mary J. Blige
• Alicia Keys
• Jay-Z
• Swizz Beatz

Swizz Beatz
Photo: Full Surface

Behind The Beats: Swizz Beatz, Part 1

What's good, homies? For this section, we usually go hard in the studio with one of the top producers or DJs, but this is Swizzy — he always has a million things going down. And when the superproducer calls and gives you a couple of exclusives, why wait? Furthermore, Swizz is bigger than the studio. You can catch him in an art gallery, shooting a video in Dubai or even at Whitney Houston's album-listening session. Homes keeps himself active in all aspects of entertainment.

"I seen something on the cover of the XXL: 'The Death of the Super-Producer?' " Swizz said. "It was on the cover. I was like, 'I hope the f--- they not talking about me.' "

Swizz's career demise seems unfathomable. Besides Houston, he's working on that new DMX album, as well as some tracks for Jay-Z's Blueprint 3.

"I've been kicking since '98," Swizz said, "That's what I told Hova: 'We did it in '99, and we 'bout to do it in '09.' That's a blessing. I've been around.

"I'm starting to feel like a senior citizen," Swizz laughed. "I have people coming to me, saying, 'I started to listen to you when I was 9.' But I gotta remember: I started when I was, like, 16, 17. I'mma be 31 in September. Sh-- is crazy."

Swizz said he and Jay should finish up some of their new work together this weekend.

"I like the album," Swizz said of Blueprint 3. "He gotta say a lot. You know who to come through for the gutter [beats]. He just called me from London, spazzin'. Me and Jay, we're so much into the art of music, and we're great friends. This album, we happened to get into a little bit. That sh-- is super fun. We're still working."

Next Wave Of Flav

On DMX's hip-hop album: "By him not coming out on Summer Jam gave us the freedom to do everything we're doing right now [to make the album at our own pace]," Swizzy said. "I'm about to drop this joint that was supposed to be DMX and Jada, but it's gonna be DMX and Eve. I want people to hear Eve in that hard element again. X is on his A-game. They're in trouble. Just the lineup of music I have already done, ignorant! X is gonna come back so crazy. They are both on the way."

On DMX's gospel album: "I'mma let him do his thing later," Swizz said. "Now we gotta stay focused on what we gotta do. We gonna do the gospel later. But if we do the gospel album, it's gotta be with the official gospel people: Mary Mary, this one, that one. I want it to be something that even in the gospel realm is respected."

On the next Swizz Beatz album: "I paused up on my album sh--," he said. "I'm on a different level of expressing myself. I'd rather express musically than lyrically. But any minute, I can go in the studio and jump on some sh-- I made for somebody else and not wanna give it to them."

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From the Underground

"Gucci Mane Starring as Mr. T"? What's up with that? That's what's advertised on the new Gucci and DJ Drama mixtape The Movie Part 2.

"That's Gucci Mane," Drama said. "I'm assuming it's a jewelry thing. I think Gucci is trying to go for the crown, as far as jewels. I told him he's the new Slick Rick."

The duo have been putting this tape together slowly since Gucc was released from prison several months ago.

"Drumma Boy did almost half the tape, if not more," Dram said. "Drumma has a great working relationship. Just like Drumma did most of the first tape. He's been working ever since he got out. We went through a bunch of ideas for the tape. We even toyed with the idea of it being a freestyle tape over instrumentals. But Gucci being Gucci, and the project being a 'movie,' he wanted to go in like the first one and it being almost an album-like project.

"One thing I like about this time, it being 'the movie' and it being a sequel, it's a lot of 'Also Starring.' The tape starts off with 'The Movie Intro,' " Dram said. "You have an awesome intro, then you have 'Pressure.' Real gutter beat. Willie Da Kid is on that beat. Gucci is also spitting. Then it goes into 'Burr.' I put 'Burr' at the top of the tape because people have been taking Gucci's slang. 'Burr' is his explanation of what 'burr' means. Then you have 'Beat It Up' with Trey Songz. 'Lay It Down' is another monster song with Nicki Minaj and Shawnna — the female side of things. I think them two are the [female] front-runners. The girls gonna love that. The tape is really The Movie. It's a bigger blockbuster. Bigger budget. On the tape, I say, 'It's the Transformers. Call me Optimus Dram.' "

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: Swizz Beatz, Slim Da Mobster, Raekwon

• Cory Gunz Mixtape Daily Shoot, 07.15.2009

• Swizz Beatz
• Jay-Z
• DMX

Swizz Beatz and Whitney Houston in New York City on Tuesday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Sony Music

NEW YORK — Swizz Beatz's music is about to hit hard again with tracks on upcoming albums by Jay-Z, DMX, Eve and, of course, Whitney Houston. Swizz was at Lincoln Center on Tuesday (July 21) as one of the attendees at the listening party for Houston's upcoming I Look to You. Swizz and Alicia Keys crafted a track for the project called "Million Dollar Bill," which is just screaming to be a first single.

Swizz started the process on the song four months ago when he got a call from Clive Davis and record executive Larry Jackson. They told Swizzy, "We're working with Whitney. Let's see what you have. We know you have something under your sleeve."

"I went to the office and vibed with Larry," Swizz explained. "I was like, 'She really sounds good. She's on her A-game.'

"At the time I was working on some stuff with Alicia," Swizz added. "I was like, 'We need to bring Whitney back. We need to do some stuff to support Whitney.' Then Alicia was like, 'I love Whitney, she's an icon. I would love to be a part of that.' I started vibing on different things. I didn't want to come with anything that would make her sound too old or too young. That's when I got the vibe to do something that had, like, a disco feel, but still with the hard drums on it — still musical but moving. I wanted to do something that was instant when it came on. Then I played the idea for Alicia to make sure I wasn't bugging out. 'Am I going too far with this?' She was like, 'Nah. That can be a big smash.' "

Swizz and Alicia then sat down and came up with lyrics.

"Million Dollar Bill" is all about the feelings new love can bring. And although the duo felt they had a strong single for the album, Houston and Davis had been choosy when it came to picking the songs for the album that has been over three years in the making. But Houston loved the tune.

"She was so excited Alicia wanted to be involved in her project," Swizz said. "More sisterly love-type of vibe. Like, 'Wow, one of my sisters that I respect in music is reaching out and helping when she could be doing a lot of other things in this world.' "

Keys and Beatz got Tony Maserati to mix the record, but were tweaking right up until the night of the listening party. Davis wanted the drums to be a little harder on the finished version, so Swizz had Maserati take the modulation off the song and turn the drums all the way up.

"I want this to be one of the biggest records of her comebacks," Swizz noted. "I want her to be onstage at the Grammys talking about this record."

At the listening party, the crowd cheered when the track came on.

"To get a standing ovation for a song we put so much work into was like, 'Wow,' " Beatz recalled. "That's why Alicia was taping [the listening party] — we're capturing the moments. We was like, 'We can't miss this, this is history.' I was super happy."

• Whitney Houston
• Swizz Beatz
• Alicia Keys

Whitney Houston, New York, NY, 07.21.2009
Photo: WireImage/Getty

Whitney Houston looked great and sounded even better Tuesday night in New York at her listening party for I Look to You. Houston waited until all nine new tracks were previewed at the event before she came out and addressed the people.

The Grammy-winner walked onstage and danced as her cover of "I Sing For You" played. She also went into the crowd and gave hugs and kisses to some family and friends. After the song, Houston took the mic.

"Thank you all for coming," she said, dressed in a black dress. "I'm truly humbled by this experience. I had other plans about three years ago to live on this little island and open a fruit stand."

Houston's longtime mentor and label boss, Clive Davis, called her and had other plans around that time — he wanted her to sing again. Houston's mom Sissy echoed that sentiment, telling Whitney she was "tired of hearing what's on the radio" and "tired of people taking off their clothes."

The album took three and half years to record and still isn't quite finished. Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Akon, R. Kelly, Danja, Harvey Mason Jr., Tricky Stewart and Stargate are all confirmed as collaborators.

"I sang from my heart, my soul, my spiritual awareness. This is from me to all of you," she said to the crowd.

"You've overwhelmed me. I hope you love it."

Martha Stewart, Andre Harrell, Island/ Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid, journalist Diane Sawyer, Dionne Warwick, über-manager Benny Medina, R&B legend Freddie Jackson, comedian Steve Harvey and actress Vivica A. Fox were all in attendance in the Allen Room of Lincoln center.

The first ballad played was a song called "Didn't Know My Own Strength." It was written by Dianne Warren and produced by David Foster. "I thought I'd never make it through/ I had no hope to hold onto," Houston sings. "I didn't know my own strength/ And I crashed down/ I did not crumble/ I got through all the pain....I picked myself back up."

The title track is another powerful, uplifting song, penned by R. Kelly. In it, Houston sings, "As I lay me down/ Heaven hear me now ... After all I've been through/ who on earth can I look to?"

Kelly also wrote and produced "Salute," which deals with a breakup. "Call You Tonight," another song about love, was co-written by Johntá Austin and Stargate.

I Look to You is slated for a September 1 release.

• Whitney Houston Previews I Look To You

• Whitney Houston Listening Event, New York, NY, 07.21.2009

• Alicia Keys
• Swizz Beatz
• Whitney Houston

Jadakiss performs at New York's Highline Ballroom
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Jason "Jadakiss" Phillips couldn't have picked a better venue to show his skills on Wednesday night than the Highline Ballroom. Though it's in a trendy Meatpacking District hotel, it's also next to a large housing project.

Undoubtedly, the people in the PJs have been some of the Yonkers rapper's main supporters during his almost 15-year career. That 'hood love is what keeps him afloat. Heck, he's given away way more songs on the mixtape circuit than he's sold with two group albums and three solo LPs (including The Last Kiss, which dropped on Tuesday). Jada gets some mainstream recognition here and there, and the respect he has from his peers is reserved for a select mic-elite few. He's rocked with the best of them: Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Eminem, Nas, Snoop Dogg, DMX, all the way to Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne. Jada's charisma is such that even people with whom he's had bitter feuds — 50 Cent, Beanie Sigel, Diddy, DJ Green Lantern — have turned the other cheek and reconciled any differences.

And then there's his lyrical talent. At Wednesday's show, one young woman was reciting Kiss' words so vehemently, you could envision empty Dutch Masters boxes lying at her feet, the smell of chicken patties in the air and the sounds of car engines as they drive by. "Just something about my sh--, you'll never figure out./ It's hot, it's burning my mouth, that's why I spit it out."

You couldn't tell this fan she wasn't standing in front of a corner store in a rap cipher but rather crammed into a ballroom for a show put on by MySpace.

Jada started with a very blunt fan favorite "F--- You," one of the highlights from the LOX's We Are the Streets LP. LL Cool Kiss excited the fans, who put their fingers in the air for the bullying chorus, "Only my man's blood is sacred, c---sucker, f--- you."

Like many of Kiss' most popular records, this one didn't exactly become a radio darling. But that's not where you listen to him. You buy the CD, or cop the mixtape, and you play it in the car. You listen to every acidic line on your headphones while riding the bus or taking that walk across campus. Because trust, you will be replaying songs to make sure you hear every line correctly. You can't do that while listening to the radio.

Jadakiss continued with "Put Ya Hands Up," and the spectators raised the roof. The gunpowder-fueled "Show Discipline" and a Jada verse from the "Made You Look" remix followed.

"Money, Power, and Respect," "All for the Love" and "Wild Out" came next. Kiss has verses. He could do it all night.

Shortly after "Knock Yourself Out," Jada brought out Ryan Leslie for the singer's brokenhearted love jam "How It Was Supposed to Be," on which the "Black Babe Ruth" guest-stars. Sheek Louch came out for self-explanatory banger "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" and their crew anthem "Mighty D-Block (2 Gunz Up)."

Ruff Ryder family member Swizz Beatz made a short appearance while Kiss took a break. The producer performed a medley of his own records, such as "It's Me Bitches" before Jada returned for his new Swizz song "Who's Real."

The last surprise was Busta Rhymes, who was accompanied by Spliff Star. All three guys performed "Conglomerate," the next single from Busta's B.O.M.B. LP.

"It's my pleasure to say that Jadakiss is not just one of my favorite MCs," Bus boasted. "But we're officially giving Jadakiss a new nickname for tonight. He's the new 'Hitman' for New York."

Jada enforced his rep, going with no beat to end The Last Kiss' "Pain and Torture." "Get my insight from an OG with a good job and all that/ But he loves sniffin'/ Sh-- talker, playboy British Walker/ Rappers be home like, 'God, please get him off us.' "

Other records Kiss played from his new album were "Things I've Been Through," which samples Luther Vandross, and "What If." The latter features Nas, but Mr. Esco was back in California.

Jada's show ended with the Grammy-nominated "Why."

• Jadakiss
• Busta Rhymes
• Ryan Leslie
• Swizz Beatz
• Sheek Louch

Jadakiss
Photo: MTV News

Jadakiss really wanted to have his Last Kiss album out on Tuesday, around the time of the 12-year anniversary of Notorious B.I.G.'s death. However, with a gaggle of last-minute studio collaborations, the brutal Yonkers lyricist had his due date pushed back almost a month to April 7. Jada says the wait will be well worth it.

"I just went back in," 'Kiss said of his recording session last week in New York. "I did two joints with Swizz [Beatz]. I got one from [DJ] Khaled by [producers] the Inkredibles [Rick Ross' 'Mafia Music,' Young Jeezy's 'Vacation,' Fat Joe's 'One']. I got Mary [J. Blige] on it. I got another Pharrell joint. You know what it is. As long as they make me keep working and push the date back, I'm going in the studio making more music for the people. Whatever don't go on the album, you definitely gonna get it on the mixtape."

The most visible LOX member's current single is "Can't Stop Me," and he hasn't chosen the follow-up yet.

"I told you I got that joint from Khaled that has Mary on it," Jada said. "I think it's a big, huge record. [I think it's called] 'Grind Hard.' ... Then I have 'What If?' with Nas. That's like an uppercut."

'Kiss said the theme of the Nas featured record is self-explanatory.

"Just a bunch of 'what ifs' " Jada said. "Bunch of realistic, current events and past things. I just asked, 'What if?' I reached out to Esco, and he nailed it. When I say he nailed it, he nailed it!"

• Jadakiss
• Mary J. Blige
• DJ Khaled
• Swizz Beatz

50 Cent
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — This week, 50 Cent's big game is a gun-filled adventure in the desert. Next time? It could be a special G-Unit version of "Tetris."

The hip-hop icon talked to MTV News in the G-Unit offices near Madison Square Garden about "50 Cent: Blood on the Sand," out today on Xbox 360 and PS3.

You may think of 50 Cent first as a rapper, but the man's life is now filled with video games, including titles of his own. First there was "50 Cent Bulletproof," then a PSP spin-off and now "Blood on the Sand." The latest takes 50 to a Middle Eastern-looking city to chase down a crystal skull that's been stolen from him and his crew. The new game has 18 unreleased 50 tracks, plus hits from several G-Unit and 50 albums and a score from Swizz Beatz.

"The game is an intense experience," 50 said. It was developed by the British studio Swordfish, but it's 50 who came up with the skull bit. "The crystal skull actually exists," he said. "It's a diamond, an artifact. I saw it in a magazine in Dubai. I took it and said, 'Make this what they're after.' "

Video games are everywhere for 50. He's got video games on the tour bus, an Xbox 360 in the front and a PS3 in the back. He doesn't play them as much as the rest of the G-Unit. They're giving the PS3 more time than the 360 lately because they just got it. They're playing lots of sports games.

He's got the games he battles Eminem in. "We have different versions of Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and regular Pac-Man in Detroit, in the studio where me and Em record at," 50 said. "We sit there and we pride ourselves on who actually has the higher score on those games."

Eminem has the advantage on 50 right now. "He cheats because he's developed the patterns and sh-- ... After a while you get enough time playing it and you develop these strategies and patterns in the actual game and it's kind of like cheating. I don't get as much time to play in the arcade game."

50's got a lot of video games he wants to make after "Blood on the Sand." You might be surprised at what he's thinking about: "I'd like to be a part of developing, marketing and promoting a game I'm not actually in," he said. "It could be like Tetris. It's one of my favorite games."

He's even got games in his beefs. His video for "I'll Be the Shooter" amps up his beef with Rick Ross thanks in part to the inclusion of virtual firefights from "Blood on the Sand." Gaming as part of rap-battling? It broadens the means of expression, he said.

"So it's not misinterpreted that hip-hop is a negative art-form, I'll take it to somewhere where they can see a sense of humor and where it's productive at the same time."

However, that doesn't mean that 50's going to keep tying his games into his beefs. "I'm not sure, and if I tell you now, they'll be waiting for it. My whole thing is being unpredictable when it comes to each altercation or situation."

And let's not leave this out: He's got the video game he wants to turn into a movie. "I am actually optioning the rights to 'Saints Row' to do a movie about that game," 50 said, referring to the "Grand Theft Auto"-like series from "Blood on the Sand" publisher THQ.

Oh, and 50's got a Wii — we'll have more on that tomorrow on our MTV Multiplayer blog. But today, the game 50 most cares about is "50 Cent: Blood on the Sand," out on the Xbox 360 and PS3, rated M and the latest release in one of hip-hop's most powerful brands.

For more on "Blood on the Sand" and other video games, check out our gaming blog, Multiplayer.

• "50 Cent: Blood On The Sand" Screen Shots

• 50 Cent
• G-Unit
• Eminem
• Swizz Beatz

D-Roc, Notorious B.I.G, Diddy and Junior Mafia circa 1996
Photo: Courtesy of the Wallace estate

NEW YORK — Diddy, Swizz Beatz and members of Junior M.A.F.I.A. were among the many in attendance at Imperial nightclub Thursday night for Damion "D-Roc" Butler's welcome-home party.

Butler was released from prison late last year for his involvement in a shootout between members of Lil' Kim's and Capone-N-Noreaga's camps. C-N-N had collaborated with Foxy Brown, with whom Kim was embroiled in a feud at the time.

The 2001 incident resulted in the imprisonment of Butler and another shooter, as well as Lil' Kim. The female rapper was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for perjury and conspiracy. The shootout and aftermath fractured the relationships among many in Biggie's Junior M.A.F.I.A. circle.

New York radio station Hot 97 DJs Mister Cee and Funkmaster Flex spun sets at Imperial. "If you lived in Brooklyn for more than five years, put one hand in the air for B.I.G.," Cee told the crowd. Memphis Grizzlies players Darius Miles, Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick were also in attendance.

Diddy arrived near 1 in the morning in his Maybach and quickly entered the venue past "hip-hop cop" Derrick Parker, who was working security for the club. Butler and his entourage immediately followed.

Butler grew up in Brooklyn with Biggie, and in the B.I.G. biopic "Notorious," his character is shown taking the fall for his friend on a gun charge in order for Big to try his hand at a professional music career. The Junior M.A.F.I.A. member was later released before being imprisoned again years later following the Manhattan shootout with C-N-N.

Butler had a hand in the production of the popular DVD "Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A.," but he hasn't spoken out much since his release or in support of "Notorious."

• Notorious B.I.G.
• Diddy
• Swizz Beatz
• Junior M.A.F.I.A.
• Foxy Brown

Nas, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz Celebrate Young Jeezy's 'Vibe' Cover

• Young Jeezy
• Nas
• Fabolous
• Swizz Beatz

Saigon's "Come On Baby" Video Shoot

• Swizz Beatz

Beyoncé, 50 Cent, Jennifer Hudson, More At The 2007 BET Awards

• Michelle Williams
• Beyoncé
• Kelly Rowland
• Jennifer Hudson
• 50 Cent

Fabolous' "From Nothin' To Somethin' " Album Release Party

• Fabolous
• Swizz Beatz
• Keith Murray

Kanye, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Ciara, More At The 2007 HOT 97 Summer Jam

• Kanye West
• Young Jeezy
• Ciara
• Lil Wayne
• Ludacris

Chamillionaire, Ludacris, Busta, Jim Jones And More At The 2006 BET Hip-Hop Awards

• Chamillionaire
• Ludacris
• Busta Rhymes
• Ying Yang Twins
• T.I.

Direct Effect Presents: Straight Up Hip-Hop All Week Portraits

• J-Kwon
• Twista
• Cassidy
• Miri Ben-Ari
• D12

Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Party, L.A., CA 02.26.02

• Mya
• Backstreet Boys
• Kid Rock
• N.E.R.D.
• Busta Rhymes

• Swizz Beatz