Insomniac recently released The Mic Planet Sessions, a unique, nationally distributed full-length that features many respected lyricists from around the hip-hop map. The Insomniac release (a division of the insider publication of the same name) delivers performances from artists with solid followings such as Kool Keith, MF Doom, Mystic, Bahamadia, Planet Asia, Styles of Beyond and others. Top-of-the-line battle emcees who have made names for themselves, such as Blaze Battle champ Breez Evahflowin, make appearances. Immortal Technique who was featured in last month’s issue of The Source are featured as well. The project’s executive producer, who was originally signed to B Boy Records in the Bronx back in the 80’s and is also the founder of Insomniac Magazine, Iz-Real, also lays down some lyrical gems along side some of the artists. He comments to AllHipHop.com, "this is a collection of some of the top lyrical talent on the planet. These artists are favorites among fans who crave quality hip hop and top notch lyrics." Each copy of The Mic Planet Sessions comes with a limited edition hip-hop trading card that features info and stats on select artists from the release. Insomniac also gives purchasers the ability to get more cards free by mail. As a side note, Insomniac, the long time quarterly magazine is also celebrating its 7-Year Anniversary with a new issue that features a "Where Are They Now" theme with interviews with 80’s hip-hop stars such as stars as T La Rock, Just-Ice and MC Shan. The special issue also features an engaging interview with radio drama queen Wendy Williams, hip-hop business articles and other items of interest. Both the 7 Year Anniversary Issue and The Mic Planet Sessions CD and vinyl are available in stores such as Tower and Virgin and also on Insomniac’s websites www.InsomniacMagazine.com and www.InsomniacMusic.com.

Common, Talib Kweli, Killah Priest, Saigon and DJ Kuttin Kandi will headline the “Hip-Hop for HealthCare” G.A.ME benefit concert and help launch the “Poetic HealthCare Plan Initiative.”The healthcare plan is named in honor of fallen Gravediggaz member Anthony “Poetic” Berkeley, who passed away in 2001 after a two year battle with metastatic colon cancer.Hosted by Dead Prez’ M1, the concert will take place on Halloween Friday, October 31st and will also honor Poetic’s life and achievements.G.A.ME, which stands for Grassroots Artists MovEment, is an organization designed to insure artists’ rights in the music industry and build health coverage for the working class community.The event kicks off at 6:30 P.M. in Manhattan at the Martin Luther King. Jr. Labor Center located at 310 West 43rd Street between 8th & 9th Street.

Rapper Snoop Dogg has taken many forms in his ever evolving rap career. Snoop is a G, a Pimp, a television host and mogul, owning his own clothing line and record label. Now the rapper is turning into a toy and will soon be available as a doll. California based Sota Toys is designing the dolls. Sota Toys has provided dolls for such films as Planet of the Apes, Lord of the Rings, Resident Evil, Star Trek and others. The dolls will retail for $50. Snoop inked a deal earlier this year with Vital Toys and released two action figures, the Snoop Dogg, Little Junior and the Snoop Dogg, Snoopafly doll. Snoop is preparing a new album by 213, which features Snoop, Nate Dogg and Warren G.

50 Cent continued his award winning streak and took home Five World Music Awards which took place in the Riviera town of Monaco. 50 snagged the Best Artist of the Year prize as well as Best New Artist, Best R&B act, Best Hip-Hop act and Best Pop act. In addition to 50 snagging multiple awards, Eminem took home the Best U.S. act award. Other winners included Dido, Justin Timberlake, Norah Jones, Shakira and Russian group t.A.T.u. The World Music Awards were hosted by tennis star Anna Kournikova and actor Rupert Everett.

Rapper Chino XL is in the recording studio and working on his latest album, Chino XL Is Poison Pen. The album was supposed to be released in February of 2003. Chino explained the delay, saying he wanted to re-record the album, because the first version of the album was "too dark." "It’s a completely different album," Chino told AllHipHop.com. "This album is my actual expression about how much hip-hop really means to me. You might only get into this mode once in your lifetime, so I figured let me just do it." Chino said that the album is being created in a four month span and during the time he is recording, he has scaled back his budding acting career to focus on the music. Chino will also make a guest appearance on one of the most anticipated collaborations albums, between four of the most gifted rappers in hip-hop. Despite Canibus being in the Army and Ras Kass being locked down, The Four Horsemen album, which also includes Killah Priest and Kurupt, will be finally see the light of day. "It was an inevitable thing," Chino said. "Priest is featured on my album, me and Canibus have wanted to rock together for awhile and I got a crazy respect for him and you know me and Ras go way back. I am going to be on two songs so far." With Ras being locked down and Canibus in the Army, the obstacle of getting the rappers recorded is currently being worked out. "I would love for us to all get in the same room. You can send tracks back and forth and have correspondence and communication, but when you get artists in the room who have love and admiration for each other and the art, the cohesion between the artists and what they right becomes something, even if they don’t talk to each other. I would like to record some of the songs in the studio together." Recording is slated to start at the end of the month, when Canibus finishes his Army duties. There is no release date for the Four Horsemen project. The group is currently negotiating a deal. Chino XL’s Poison Pen hit’s stores next year on Activate Records.

Rapper Foxy Brown is no longer with Def Jam Records after publicly butting heads with the CEO of the Island Def Jam Music Group, Lyor Cohen. Brown’s management confirmed with AllHipHop.com that she was no longer with Def Jam, but would not provide details on her release from the label. In April, Brown appeared on Wendy William’s WBLS radio show and made it clear that she wished to sever ties with the label, after her album Ill Na Na Part 2: The Fever, was shelved indefinitely. "[Cohen’s] response was, ‘Over my dead body am I letting you go. You’re stuck.’ Verbatim," Foxy said. During that interview Foxy expressed a desire to work with Dre’s Aftermath label, citing the creative freedom his artists seem to enjoy. Def Jam refused to comment. Def Jam and Bad Boy announced that they would jointly release albums by 112 and Foxy Brown in February of 2003, after 112 jumped ship from Bad Boy to Def Jam. Not to be outdone, Combs filed an injunction against the label and announced that he would executive produce Brown’s album. The two resolved the dispute out of court by agreeing to split the profits on both Brown and 112’s future releases and feature both label’s logos on the releases. It is not clear how Brown’s departure from Def Jam will effect that agreement.

WBA Heavyweight Boxing champ Roy Jones Jr. is finishing up recording his second album, Round Two, I’m Ready. The album will be released on Jones’ own Pensacola, Florida based Body Head Entertainment and will feature appearances from Pastor Troy and Lil Jon as well as production from platinum producer LT Hutton. "I want to develop talent right here in Pensacola," Jones said. "Our goal is to build Body Head [to compete] among the elite, independent record labels." Jones recently returned from a four day visit to Nairobi, Kenya, promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and education. The trip was sponsored by Africans Unite Against AIDS Globally. Jones met with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and visited local hospitals, public schools, slums and boxing facilities. Jones also served food to hungry citizens and treated enthusiastic fans to a live performance and showcase featuring artists from the Body Head label. Going to Africa was one of the most incredible experiences in my life," Jones continued. "Not only was I able to give help and hope to people who are really in need. But I was able to experience Africa. Going there, for me, was the start of a new beginning, it was like a new book in my life." Jones next scheduled bout in the ring will be November 8, against Antonio Tarver.

Big V from platinum selling rap group Nappy Roots now shares more in common with Lil’ Kim than just their Atlantic Records recording home. On Wednesday, October 7th the elaborate chicken claw piece Big V can be spotted wearing around his neck turned up missing upon arrival in Indianapolis, Indiana, after Nappy Roots had flown in from Los Angeles, California. Southwest Airlines officials in Los Angeles asked him to check in the charm, citing that it could be used as a weapon. "It’s too sharp and too rigid I guess for me to have it on the plane, so they made me check it," Big V told AllHipHop.com. He discovered it was missing after examining his luggage upon arrival in Indianapolis. "As soon as the plane lands I get out to check my luggage to make sure…cause you know, motherf*ckers go through sh*t working at the airport. They human too, they might have habits or some sh*t. And this time my chain happened to be gone." The charm, which is made of white gold, combined with its accompanying chain, is worth in the neighborhood of $20,000. According to Southwest Airlines’ website, "unless excess value is declared and charges paid at the time of checkin, Southwest Airlines’ liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage is limited to $2,500.00 per fare-paying customer." But, airlines officials were hesitant to claim responsibility. "Man, motherf*ckers talking about they ain’t responsible for lost jewelry. How the hell can that be when they make you check it? This is jewelry and you explain that when you check it in. You seen it and I seen it. If we don’t see, it then you responsible," added a frustrated Big V. To make matters worse, Big V didn’t have his expensive neckwear insured. "I filed a report at the airport and my lawyers are on it cause something got to be done. Other than that man I’ll take the bullet to the face and learn to get my s### insured. When you don’t do wrong sh*t, you don’t think of wrong sh*t coming back to you. You learn. I got one under construction now. I’m going to come back stronger than Scottie Pippen." When AllHipHop.com spoke with Big V, the Nappy Roots were in Pensacola, FL for a show that evening. In his own words, "the show must go on."

Rapper Jadakiss has signed on to be spokesman for a new brand of cognac, Nyak (pronounced nigh-yak). The liquor, which spokespeople call "the first drink specifically for the hip hop generation," comes in a variety of sizes including a 50 ML cigar tube which was designed by the CEO of the company, Patrick Charpentier. Charpentier started the company in 2002 and with Jadakiss as the spokesman, the company is aiming for the urban market. "They just started a national campaign," a spokesperson told AllHipHop.com. "They have a whole street team that’s gonna put up posters, t-shirts, all of that. They are pushing it like it’s a hip-hop record. Barbershops, car washes and any place that people will be listening to hip-hop." In addition, an exclusive Nyak mixtape featuring Jadakiss and the D-Block crew, along with a tour is in the works.

Pharell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shay, who make up the group N*E*R*D, fellow Star Trak members Clipse and rock outfit Spymob will headline a Rock the Vote benefit concert in New Orleans.The performance will take place at the inaugural New Orleans Media Experience on October 30. The Experience, which runs from October 26-November 1, is a festival celebrating the best of music, film, advertising and videogames.The concert will be held at the Morris F. X. Jeff Auditorium in Louis Armstrong Park.”We are excited to be partnering with N*E*R*D*, the Clipse, and Spymob, and know that their music and influence will help inspire young voters to become a part of the political process and realize that their vote does make a difference,” said Jehmu Greene, executive director for Rock the Vote.All profits from the concert will be donated to Rock the Vote, which is dedicated to empowering young people through political action.

According to reports, Roc-A-Fella CEO Jay-Z and Bad Boy’s head honcho P.Diddy have both expressed interest in buying New York’s Glens Falls Wild Cats basketball team. The U.S. Basketball League franchise is up for grabs for a cool $300,000. Realtors who are representing the team said that both moguls are seriously interested and have signed confidentiality agreements. The representatives said that Bad Boy was especially interested, because of a nonprofit organization that was created the company created to bring urban youth to the Glen Falls area. The team is expected to be sold in a matter of weeks.

Tupac Shakur’s Hummer will once again be placed for sale on Ebay.com, after 95,000 people bid on the Hummer in August. Bidding reached $1,000,000, but the winner of the auction did not honor his bid, thus placing the Hummer back up for sale. "They weren’t serious about completing it," the owner of the Hummer told AllHipHop.com. "I offered it to the next bidder and they weren’t serious either, I don’t know why people bid and then not be serious about purchasing." The current owner of the souped up SUV won the vehicle from BET in a contest titled "Picture Me Rollin’." The near mint condition H1 Hummer has been in storage since Shakur was shot and killed in 1996 and has only 5,465 original miles. The vehicle also features a 6.5 Liter Turbo Diesel engine, 12 Disc Clarion CD Changer, GPS Navigation System, PA system with three different sirens, full motion spotlight, 12,000 lb. winch, diamond plate bumpers, and beige leather interior with burlwood trim. Also included in the auction are several personal items found in the Hummer, including an invitation for Tupac to a Labor Day Party at the Opium Den in Miami dated September 1 st, 1996, his hand towel, a cassette tape holder, and a hand-drawn map on a piece of cardboard. The owner said photos and official ownership papers are available to the lucky winner of the auction. Proceeds from the auction will go to an educational fund for the current owner’s two children. Bidding starts at $500,000 with no reserve and will end Thursday, November 20th.

Defense attorney’s for convicted rapper C-Murder will make a motion for a new trial in a matter of weeks, after the rapper was convicted of murdering a 16-year-old teen in a Jefferson Parish, Louisiana night club. The jury that convicted the rapper was called back into the court house to meet behind closed doors with the attorneys on both sides and Judge Martha Sassone. Attorney’s nor jurors are allowed to speak about the case because of a court imposed gag order. The move is unusual because after a conviction, jurors and attorneys are allowed to speak to reporters and attorneys. For some reason, Sassone has yet to lift the gag order pertaining to the case. Miller was unanimously convicted by the jury on September 30 of shooting 16-year-old Steve Thomas to death inside of Club Platinum. Miller is facing a mandatory life sentence.

Police providing security to a 50 Cent concert tonight are on high alert in the U.K., fearing violence in the crowd may erupt during his concert at the Manchester Evening News Arena. According to sources, the reason for the heightened security is a drug war taking place in the surrounding area of south Manchester between the G#### and Doddington gangs. Police will search every patron of the concert for weapons and while they said the chance of violence erupting in the arena is slim, they are worried about violence outside of the arena. Police will be on patrol throughout the areas of known violence outside of the arena, while undercover police will mix with the crowd to prevent any violence inside of the sold out concert. In addition to the escalating tensions between the two gangs, gun violence in the U.K. has become a serious problem. Manchester has had issues with gang-related violence since the 1990’s. Last week when 50 arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport, authorities detained him and questioned the rapper for almost four hours. Officials wouldn’t clarify why he was questioned, but was granted entry into the U.K.