Mississippi’s David Banner is representing all sides of the state that he hails from, including reminders of the hardships African-Americans faced in their attempt to obtain civil rights in the United States.Banner is launching a line of throwback Jersey’s that will honor the murder of Emmitt Till, a teenager who was murdered in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white woman.”I’m wearing a fifty-five on my chest for the year he got murdered,” Banner told AllHipHop.com. “Emmitt Till was a young man who got murdered for winking at a white lady. I’m trying to have everything in the store, around summertime. It’s cold outside right now.”On August 21, 1955, Till arrived in Money, Mississippi from Chicago, to visit his great uncle, Moses Wright.On August 24, 1955 Till joined a group of teenagers, seven boys and one girl and went to a store, Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market in Mississippi, to get refreshments after a long day of picking cotton.Bryant’s Grocery was owned by two whites, Roy and Carolyn Bryant and sold goods to a mostly black clientele of sharecroppers.Children outside of the store later claimed they heard Till whistle at Carolyn Bryant.On August 28, Carolyn’s husband Roy and his half brother J. W. Milam kidnapped Till from his uncle Moses Wright’s house, savagely beat him, took him to the edge of the Tallahatchie River, shot him in the head, tied a large metal fan with bobbed wire around his neck and threw him in the river.The next day Bryant and Milam were charged with Till’s kidnapping and later his murder, when his decomposing body was pulled from the river.The two men were put on trial in Sumner, Mississippi. African-American’s and women were banned from the trial and an all white male found the two men innocent after deliberating only 67 minutes.One of the jurors told a local reporter that they would have reached a decision faster, if they hadn’t “stopped to drink pop [soda].”Banner will release MTA2: Baptized In Dirty Water on December 23.

While there is considerable anticipation surrounding the sequel to Three 6 Mafia’s “Choices,” one of the top selling VHS/DVD releases of 2001, members of the film’s crew aren’t happy with the companies that are producing “Choices 2.”Neal L. Fredericks, who is working as Director of Photography on the film and was the eye behind the smash film “The Blair Witch Project,” said many staff members are waiting to be compensated for their work.”The three parties making the film: Three 6 Mafia/Hypnotize Minds, Howard Gibson (producer)/Fig Tree Ent. and Sony Entertainment have actually not paid the production crew and vendors all of their salaries,” Fredericks told AllHipHop.com. “We are in a fight to get paid for the work performed on the film.Fredericks said the crew has contracts or deal memos and despite having their terms in writing, are still locked in a financial dispute with the companies.”Hundreds of checks were written and all bounced,” Fredericks alleged. “As of now several hundred working professionals in Los Angeles have not been paid. The checks were written knowing they would bounce.”Fredericks said that Gibson allegedly advised certain crew members to hold off on depositing checks and that others didn’t know at all, depending on their relationship with Gibson.”We tried to verify his [Gibson’s] bank account through Bank of America and found there was no money in the accounts and that they have been frozen,” Fredericks continued. “The film was done for such a low budget, we aren’t talking millions of dollars.”DJ Paul confirmed that a producer had indeed stiffed some of the crew members, but said he was attempting to rectify the situation.”I hired a producer to produce it and he ran off without paying everybody so I’m bout to sue him and get my money he f*cked off back,” Paul told AllHipHop.com. “Until then I been paying everybody who called me or came by, its just a lotta people trying to take advantage of the situation because we don’t know the arrangement with the producer, so they are making up prices they were due without giving me return checks to prove it.”Fredericks said that he harbored no animosity towards DJ Paul or Juicy J.”They are nice guys and they treated everyone very well. But it has been over two months. We just want to get paid. Sony is distributing the picture and Sony knows about it. This is our livelihood. Word spreads really quick in the film industry.”

Xzibit and Contrabandit.com are taking their “Rhyme Night” unsigned hip-hop talent showcase to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Taking place at the Parkbar on January 4, “Rhyme Night” will be hosted by MTV’s Real World television show alumni, Teck Money, who recently launched his own rap group, The Firemen.The event’s co-founder, Ryan Ford, said he hoped to highlight the undiscovered talent that is hidden in “Brew City,” nicknamed so because of the many beer brewers located in the city.“Brew City is just one hit away from becoming the next St. Louis (Nelly, St. Lunatics) or New Orleans (Master P, Cash Money),” Ford said.Hopefuls can drop their audition demos off at Beanhead (1915 N Martin Luther King Dr) and Perfect Cleaners at 624 W. Center Street.Those selected will perform in front of Ryan Ford and talent scouts from Xzibit’s Open Bar Entertainment.Rhyme Night will take place January 4th from 9:00 pm-2:00 am at Parkbar 788 N. Jackson Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Mr. Len is preparing to release Class-X A Tribute to Company Flow, an album filled with unreleased and hard to find tracks by his former group, Company Flow.The album, which drops on Len’s newly formed imprint Smacks Records, features 17 tracks, of which five have never been released.Len also continues Company Flow’s tradition of innovative artwork. The CD booklet folds out into a commemorative poster inspired by the group.In addition to the Company Flow tribute, Len’s label Smacks recently released Roosevelt Franklin’s Something’s Gotta Give album, a collaboration between Len and The Masterminds’ Kimani and the single “Competition,” by Kice Of Course.”Smacks is not just a hip-hop label,” Len said. “It’s ultimately a reflection of all the music I like to listen to and what I feel should be made available to listeners.”Class-X A Tribute to Company Flow hits stores January 27.

The latest album from Westside Connection, Terrorist Threats moved more than 136,000 Copies its first week on the shelves and was the higest debuting rap album of the week.The album, a follow up to 1996’s Bow Down, landed at number 16 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album’s chart.The group, which features W.C., Ice Cube and Mack 10, are gearing up for a busy December/January.The group is scheduled to make appearances on Fox’s Mad TV December 20, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on December 30, FOX’s New Year’s Special, America’s Party on December 31 and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on January 5.

A Chicago, Illinois business man, a Principal of a local elementary school and members of the Chicago Police Department will protest an appearance by Bow Wow at a radio station.Harold “Noonie” Ward said he hired Bow Wow to visit, pass out toys, and raise the spirits of poor youth on Friday December 19, the last day of classes before Christmas recess at Aldridge Elementary School.Ward said that after school had let out, Bow Wow agreed to distribute more toys in the Chicago Our Lady of the Gardens Community Center.Ward alleges Bow Wow’s management cancelled his appearances with the children of Chicago’s Southside, less than 72 hours before his scheduled arrival and will instead appear at local radio station WGCI’s Pepsi Jam and famed record store, George’s Music Room.Ward, who is running for State Representative in 2004, will picket Bow Wow with the Principal and members of the police force starting with his engagement at WGCI at 1:00pm and the United Center at 6:00pm.Bow Wow’s representatives were not available for comment at press time.

Snoop Dogg has teamed with Nokia and will star in a series of interactive commercials that will air during the 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl.The spots, which are being directed by Guy Ritchie, feature Snoop trying to discover which celebrity guest is trying to steal the championship trophy, which either the Tigers of Louisiana State University or the Oklahoma Sooners will take home.In return for their help in identifying the would be thief, fans have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes including Snoop Dogg CD’s, new Nokia phones, a trip to the 2005 Sugar Bowl or the grand prize of $100,000.The commercials will start airing on December 27 and a new celebrity “suspect” will be revealed in each spot until the Sugar Bowl airs.”Nokia has done many valuable promotions around the Nokia Sugar Bowl in its nine years as title sponsor, but none have been able to involve the home and in-stadium audience to the extent that this year’s promotion will,” said Jo Harlow, vice president of marketing for Nokia Americas. “By working with talents like Snoop Dogg and Guy Ritchie, we are adding another layer of entertainment value to the Nokia Sugar Bowl.”During halftime, a 3 minute music video created by the rapper will air for the television audience and the 75,000 fans that are expected to attend.The 2004 Nokia Sugar Bowl takes place January 4 at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Rap veteran Luther Campbell is gearing up to release his CD/DVD Don Of All Dons.According to Campbell, the CD features the party music that he is known for as his opinion on recent events and the politics of hip hop.”Nothing is off limits, if you got caught out there like Kobe did I’m speaking on it, If you are a rapper and you are letting the system pimp you, I’m speaking on it,” Campbell said. “It’s all in fun.”The DVD for Don Of All Dons. is the repackaged version of the platinum-selling release of “Luke’s Freakfest – Tha Movie.”Freakfest, which also features Luke, Bishop Don Juan, Big Tigger, 36 Mafia and others, was released only to mom and pops stores across the country.The repackaged and renamed version on sale across the country in Blockbuster Video stores in February 10, 2004.The releases commemorate the almost twenty years Campbell has spent in the rap industry. Campbell released his first single, “Throw The D,” which introduced a nationwide audience to what is known as the Miami bass sound.”With the state of the music industry and all of the obstacles I’ve faced and fought for in this business it feels great to be approaching the 20-year mark,” Campbell continued. “I’ve always said I wanted to be like the Rolling Stones and the O’Jays – everlasting, historical people in the business. I’ve never stopped releasing my videos, touring, or releasing albums. In my travels I’ve found that my music is still very viable. People still love bass music. You hear it everywhere.”

DMX will star in and produce two new movies via his Bloodline Films production company.”Winners,” centers around an architect who must stand up for what he believes in after witnessing the murder of a friend.The second film, “Past Tense,” is an action flick. The movie is about two police officers attempting to bring a Hong Kong gang leader down.”Past Tense” is slated to be directed by Stanley Tong, who also shot the hit movie “Rumble In The Bronx.”

Nas has turned himself in to authorities and has been charged with assault after an incident that occurred on December 10 in a Manhattan nightclub.According to reports, Nas, 30, and several other men were at club Ciclo when a man approached him, claiming the rapper had grabbed him.Police said a fight ensued and was broken up by bouncers at the club. Police said while bouncers were talking to Nas, he threw a bottle and struck the unidentified man, cutting him.The rapper was charged with assault. Nas or representatives were not available for comment at press time.

Soon, Andre 3000 of OutKast will shake cash around like a Polaroid picture as he and Big Boi have partnered with the camera company in a new advertising campaign.In the song “Hey Ya,” Andre 3000 directs women to hit the dance floor and “Shake it like a Polaroid picture.”After hearing the line, MVBMS, an international ad agency working with Polaroid, brokered the deal between their client and the top-selling hip-hop duo.Under the partnership, OutKast will bring Polaroid cameras on stage with them during their performances.Though the partnership is a recent union, OutKast has been generating publicity for Polaroid for some time.Democratic presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark was quoted as saying: “I don’t know much about hip-hop. But I do know OutKast can make you shake it like a Polaroid picture.”Polaroid is looking to attract a younger demographic and, according to a report in Adweek, the campaign may begin as early as New Year’s Eve.Andre 3000 and Big Boi continue to be the recipient of good news, as their album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, has recently been certified six-times platinum. In addition, the group was nominated for six Grammy awards, more than any other act.

First Diddy ran the city, now the Bad Boy will run over to Broadway where he will star in a revival of “A Raisin in the Sun,” according to the New York Post.The hip-hop mogul reportedly auditioned for the part several times with the director, the casting director and an agent representing the estate of Lorraine Hansberry, the late playwright.The producer of the show was impressed with Diddy’s humility toward auditioning.”Most big stars won’t audition at all, but Sean was exactly the opposite,” David Binder said.Diddy will be billed under his birth name, Sean Combs, during the production, where he will star as Walter Lee Young.The character dreams of making it rich and escaping the ghetto, while often butting heads with his wife over what to do with an insurance check they’ve inherited.Sidney Poitier starred in the original production of the play, and also in the movie version that was adapted two years later.In recent years hip-hop has proliferated Broadway, as Mos Def starred in 2001’s Topdog/Underdog opposite Jeffery Wright, and Russell Simmons brought his successful HBO show Def Poetry Jam to the famous New York street.Though Combs has no live theatre experience, he has appeared in the independent film “Made” as well as “Monster’s Ball,” which garnered him critical praise for his performance.”A Raisin in the Sun” will be directed by Kenny Leon and most likely open at the Shubert Theatre in April. No other roles in the play have been filed as of yet.

Lawyers for Eminem have blocked The Source magazine from including a CD of Eminem using racial slurs in their February issue.Lawyers for the rapper won a court injunction yesterday. The Source planned to put a CD in 800,000 copies of the February issue, which focuses on the CD and race in hip-hop.The magazine is consulting with lawyers to determine their next step and said the February issue would go on sale January 12.The magazine released controversial tapes of the rapper using the N word and making negative comments about African-Americans.The rapper has apologized two times since the tapes were released in February, saying that he made the recordings when he was an angry teenager.The magazine claims he was 21 when the recordings were made.Last week, Dave Mays, the founder of The Source, offered the rapper the opportunity to come to the magazine’s New York office to participate in a round table discussion on race relations and hip-hop.

After the success of meshing hip-hop and b-ball in the NBA Street series, video game developer EA Sports BIG is set to release the first installment of NFL Street, featuring music by Kay Slay with Three 6 Mafia, among a host of others. True to the game’s street moniker, Electronic Arts kept their ear to the pavement and reached out to Kay Slay. “We played the track for EA Sports and they liked the song,” Kay Slay told AllHipHop.com. “So the track is in the game.” To coincide with the release of both the video game and the mixtape DJ’s next major album release, The Street Sweeper Vol. 2, Kay Slay shot a football scene in the clip for his forthcoming music video. “That video game is gonna help cross promote my album,” Slay explained why he picked “Who Gives a What Where You From” as the first single. The song features the Three 6 Mafia. NFL Street is set to arrive in stores January 2004. In addition, the video game will feature music by Graph, the Bravehearts, Lil’ Flip, Baby D, Killer Mike, Nas, B. Real, and the X-Ecutioners. Kay Slay’s next album will be released in May of 2004. The album will feature songs by Cam’ron & the Diplomats, 50 Cent & G-Unit, Bun B, Sauce Money, and countless other rappers who previously appeared on the DJ’s mixtapes.

Roc-A-Wear has launched several new lines of clothing, attempting to capture a larger share of the lucrative clothing industry.According to Dame Dash, the Rocawear Red Label consists of shirts & denim, which are less baggy, while Wash House consists of hand finished vintage denim, which will be available at high end retailers.”We’re trying to take over every demographic to ensure that we are the best at everything,” Dame Dash told AllHipHop.com. “We’re still doing urban. We’re not going away from what we’ve been making – we are adding to. You see Jay wearing dress shirts and things like that. [We’re striving] for a more adult look, a more boutique look, a tighter fit. But, were not going to stop making what we are making.”Additionally, Dash said that a new line, Team Roc will be available exclusively through Footlocker and Champs.”We’re going after that And 1 (the clothing company) money. I have it on in a couple of the videos. We want to take over everything…we are going to touch everything.”Dash said the Rocawear Red Label is available in Bloomingdales, while Wash House will be available only in boutique stores.”You want the ability to sit in the boutique stores like a Fred Siegel, with a higher price point, better quality, but never straying away from our core audience and core market,” Dash said.

Contrary to published reports, Fat Joe denies being involved in a scuffle with Cuban Link in a Miami nightclub on Saturday night.In fact, the Bronx rapper said he is currently out of the country with his family for the holidays.”This incident the websites are reporting on never occurred,” Fat Joe said in a statement released to AllHipHop.com. “This is a publicity stunt from Cuban Link. If Cuban would spend more time marketing his current product he’d have less time to make up false accusations…oh I forgot he’s never had an album out to market.”Though Joe called the report a promotional ploy, Cuban Link’s manager stated the report is true. He also clarified it did not occur at a nightclub.Dren Starr of CLK Management said the two rappers went toe-to-toe in front of the hotel where he, Cuban Link, and their entourage were staying.”It was around 5:30 in the morning, the strip was crazy empty and Joe rolled up in his range,” Starr told AllHipHop.com.Starr said Fat Joe stepped out of the car and started yelling at Cuban Link, refuting the claims that he set up his former protégé.Before Joe could reach Cuban, however, Starr said the Cuban rushed the Terror Squad leader.Police quickly subdued the situation within a matter of minutes, according to Starr. He said police, club owners, and everyone in general area knew that the feuding rappers were both in town at the same time.Fat Joe reportedly attended at party Ja Rule threw at Bermuda Bar, while Cuban Link was at Club Zno after a show with a local Miami rapper, Starr stated. Joe declined further comment.Starr insisted the attack was a premeditated plan. He said his entourage flew in to Miami from New York and weren’t prepared to handle a situation like the one that occurred Saturday night.Starr then added that Fat Joe doesn’t fly, explaining that he and those with him were in a better position to assault Cuban Link with weapons.The Miami Police Department is still investigating the incident, as a local newspaper reported the county is undecided whether to file charges against any of the parties involved.

Trick Daddy’s appearance at an annual party held by the city of Miami for underprivileged children drew criticism because of the rapper’s checkered past.The children were invited to the party by the Mayor of the city, Manny Diaz, who wanted to make up for an event that never happened, when a promoter took off with a group of children’s field trip money.”Well, we, I suppose, we have a lot of people in this community who in the past have gotten in trouble with the law and now they want to give something back,” Diaz told Miami’s Channel 10 News.Trick Daddy is waiting to go on trial for drug possession after he was arrested in late September at a high school football game and charged with cocaine and marijuana possession.In February, the rapper was arrested after allegedly pulling a gun during a game of basketball.Trick said that despite his past, he was dedicated to the children.”It’s for the underprivileged kids you know, and I was once an underprivileged child, you know … So, Trick love the kids,” Trick Daddy added.Police are still searching for David Ellisor, the man who originally scammed the children.