Lost Boyz member Mr. Cheeks has formed a new record label, One Fam Music, with his business partner Stephen Marley. Also, Cheeks & Marley’s younger brother, Damien, are planning to record an LP. Currently, the record label is planning a summer tour that will feature all dreadlocked musicians. Mr. Cheeks and the Marley’s are also finishing up the construction of a recording studio. In related news, Cheeks will appear on Judge Hathcett, Monday January 28th. On Monday’s show, Cheek;s will share his feelings with a teenager about the murder of childhood friend and Lost Boyz member Raymond "Freaky Tah" Rodgers. During the show, Cheeks urges the 16 year old to channel his energy in a positive manner.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has gone from legally attacking small bootleggers to currently striking a blow to the massive communications conglomerate Verizon. In a landmark decision a judge recently ruled in favor of the RIAA, a watchdog group for record labels, where Verizon must hand over the name of a single person they claim downloaded 600 songs in one day. The group filed litigation against Verizon last summer when the internet provider declined to give the name of the customer that allegedly downloaded the songs. Verizon claims that doing so would infringe on their customers’ privacy, making them a policing force for the RIAA. In addition, Verzion disputes the notion that they should be required to prevent users from accessing sites that allow illegal file swapping. Disagreeing Judge John Bates told CNN, “[The law] applies to all internet service providers … not just to those service providers storing information on a system or network at the discretion of a user.” Verizon is currently in the process of appealing the ruling against them. “Verizon is not attempting to shield customers who break copyright laws. We are, however, seeking to protect the fundamental privacy and due process rights that should be afforded to our customers and all internet users,” Sarah B. Deutsch, vice president and associate general counsel for Verizon said. Even more aggressively, Hillary Rosen, chairman and CEO of the RIAA, plans to seek reparations from companies that have offered downloading through file swapping. “We will hold ISPs more accountable. Let’s face it. They know there’s a lot of demand for broadband simply because of the availability (of file-sharing),” said Rosen in a speech at the Midem music conference on the French Riviera. Furthermore, the RIAA wants schools, businesses and internet providers to locate and turn over those individuals that have illegally downloaded music from the internet. “Now that the court has ordered Verizon to live up to its obligation under the law, we look forward to contacting the account holder whose identity we were seeking so we can let them know that what they are doing is illegal,” said Cary Sherman, president of the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA represents AOL Time Warner, EMI Group, Sony Corp, Vivendi Universal, and Bertelsmann. They credit file swapping and illegal piracy as the chief contributor to a 6% decline in record sales.

Kevin Powell, founder of HipHop Speaks and former MTV "Real World" star, is leading a clothing drive for Safe Horizon/Streetwork Project on Tuesday, December 18th, at 545 8th Avenue, between 37th and 38th streets. The Streetwork Project represents over 800 young people between the ages of 13 and 23 and they are particularly in need of coats for the winter. Drop off will be 11AM-6PM. The first 50 people over 21 to show up with coats will be given a pass to Kevin’s private holiday party happening at FUN on Thursday, December 20th. For more information about the Streetwork Project, call Ines at 212-563-9648 or email her at irobledo@safehorizon.org

After closing their West Coast office last month, Rawkus Records laid off over 50 percent of their New York City staff on Friday, December 7th. Despite rumors that Def Jam was buying a stake in the label, sources state that Rawkus has inked a new distribution deal with MCA Records. "I came to work, they called us into a meeting and just told everyone that we were done until further notice," said one employee who was laid off. Rawkus has had problems the past year with some of the artists on their roster not being happy with the way their projects were promoted, most notably Hi-Tek and DJ Evil Dee. MCA Records has recently signed Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle Records imprint and is home to such acts as The Roots, GZA, Common, Kardinal Offishall & Doggystyle Records.

Executives at hip-hop magazine XXL have responded to an ex-employee’s charges of racism filed in a $10 million dollar lawsuit last week. Donald Morris, whom the New York Post referred to as a cofounder of the magazine claimed that Stanley Harris and executive Dennis Page routinely used anti-black slurs in the workplace, referring to blacks as "n###### & monkeys." Speaking on the issue for the first time in public to Allhiphop, Dennis Page denied the allegations. "First off, Don Morris is a disgruntled ex-employee. He was the art director, not the cofounder of XXL," Page asserted. "His work began to slip and he was fired." This was a sentiment echoed by other employees at XXL, who have come to support Page as a "stand up guy." “Morris is using this to cover up for his incompetence,” Adam Matthews, who writes for XXL said. Page, who said he has been very active in the community said that Morris was simply playing the race card. "We’ve been in business 20 years, (publishing XXL for 5 years) have a multiracial staff, and have NEVER had a single complaint. Not one advertiser has pulled out due to this lawsuit and we will fight this lawsuit in court." Editor In Chief of XXL Elliot Wilson also defended Page. "I’ve been working for Dennis Page for the past two years and he has treated me with nothing but respect," Wilson said. "I’ve never witnessed him using the N word. Bottom line: The termination of Don Morris didn’t have anything to do with racism. It’s as simple as that."

Justo’s 6th Annual Mixtape Awards went down without a hitch, at New York City’s famed Apollo Theater on Tuesday, December 11th. The scene in front of the Apollo started to get hectic an hour before showtime, with Street teams from various labels postering the entire area up with Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang, G-Dep and Bubba Sparx/Jadakiss promotional materials. By 9:00pm, the Apollo was sold out and organizers refused entry to anyone, including The Lox. On hand were such mixing legends as Kool Herc and Kay Slay and DJ Premier as well rappers like Craig Mack, Mobb Deep, Fat Joe and new comer, Choobakka. Here is a listing of the winners. You can catch Justo’s 6th Annual Mixtape Awards on BET December 22nd. Winners: Best Mixtape DJ – DJ Kay Slay Best Artist on a Mixtape – Jadakiss Best Freestyle on a Mixtape – DJ Kay Slay Best Commercial Mixtape – DJ Clue Turntable Assassin – J-Love Best R&B Mixtape – DJ Famous Best Female Mixtape DJ – Lazy K Best Personality on a Mixtape – DJ Kay Slay Best Hip-hop Mixtape – DJ Clue Best Mixtape Producer – Ron G. Best Reggae Mixtape – Bobby Konders Best Blends – Bobby Blends Pink House Award – DJ Screw Brucie Bee/Starchild Award – DJ S&S Best DJ Mixtape Duo – Tony Touch and Doo-Wop

Universal Records rap group the St. Lunatics have gone platinum, with their debut album Free City, signifying sales of more than one million copies. Free City debuted in the # 3 position the Billboard 200 this past summer. Comprised of Ali, Kyjuan, Murphy Lee, Nelly and the group’s silent hypeman Slo Down, the ST. LUNATICS’ lead single, "Midwest Swing" generated a formidable buzz, and helped to establish the ST. LUNATICS as one of the hottest new groups of 2001. The group continues to garner rave reviews from the media. The Source magazine says that Free City, "proves that Nelly’s hot stuff wasn’t a crap roll of the St. Louis dice, and there is a whole crew holding down the Lou." Playboy declares: "No matter how you rate Busta Rhymes or Snoop Dogg, you’ll rank their crews lower. St. Lunatics’ Free City is the exception." In other St. Lunatic news, member Ali is recording his solo album, Heavy Starch, due out early next year. Currently, the hip-hop music lover hosts his own 2-hour radio show on one of St. Louis’ top urban radio stations, 95.5 FM (WFUN), every Sunday from 6-10PM. Additionally, member Nelly’s song, "#1" from the Training Day soundtrack is the #7 Most Played Rap Song on the radio, according to Billboard’s Airplay Monitor.

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network took to Capitol Hill on yesterday (Wednesday Dec. 6th) to question findings in the recently released by the Federal Trade Commissions study on the entertainment industry’s marketing practices. Minister Benjamin Chavis Muhammad, CEO of The Hip-Hop Summit Action likened the commissions findings to racial profiling. Minister Muhammad and Ed Towns, a Democrat from New York and member of the Congressional Black Caucus, were troubled that over three quarters of the music that was reviewed by the FTC was Hip-Hop music. The Commission suggested that the music was inappropriate for teenagers because of the content. "The FTC is engaging in a type of racial profiling aka Rap Profiling," the Minister said. "It is coming in the most terrible form: censorship of freedom of artistic expression." While the report blasted the music industry, it did commend Hollywood studios for a number of marketing reforms after blasting the movie business in their September 2000 report for marketing R rated films to kids. The FTC has insisted that it is not focused on the content of the music, but on the marketing practices and who the target audience is. Critics maintain that the content is the issue and that the FTC is making judgment as to what content is suitable for children and what content isn’t.

The Council Of Presidents, which is a coalition of people who represent African American college Fraternities and Sororities are planning to meet this weekend to discuss the images that Rappers are portraying in music videos that are airing on the once black owned BET. The Council is concerned about the impact images of artists dripping in ice and pushing Bentley’s is having on African American youth. In a letter sent to BET Founder and Chairman Robert Johnson, the group denounced Johnson for not operating in the best interest of the African American community and also said that BET doesn’t support black businesses, leaders or institutions. The group threatened to boycott BET, Viacom and their advertisers. The Council met with Johnson in September and aired their complaints to the Billionaire. According to members of the Council, Johnson made it very clear that he is a business man and that BET is a business. Johnson did say he wanted to continue dialogue with the group and try to come to a happy medium. Exec’s at BET say that they do not control the content of the videos that they receive, which are sent to them by record companies and Johnson suggested that the Council air their complaints to the record companies that actually make these types of videos. BET is coming off of their highest rated season. Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam and who more recently founded 360HipHop.com which was recently bought by BET before they in turn were bought by Viacom contacted Allhiphop.com in defense of the network. While he doesn’t condemn rappers, or view their images as being negative, Simmons said that it’s simply just time for a change, echoing sentiments he aired at his 2nd Hip-Hop Summit this past summer. "N####’s need to stop the b####### and write some different songs or shut the f### up. You can quote me on that one, please," Simmons said.

Universal Records rap group the St. Lunatics have gone platinum, with their debut album Free City, signifying sales of more than one million copies. Free City debuted in the # 3 position the Billboard 200 this past summer. Comprised of Ali, Kyjuan, Murphy Lee, Nelly and the group’s silent hypeman Slo Down, the ST. LUNATICS’ lead single, "Midwest Swing" generated a formidable buzz, and helped to establish the ST. LUNATICS as one of the hottest new groups of 2001. The group continues to garner rave reviews from the media. The Source magazine says that Free City, "proves that Nelly’s hot stuff wasn’t a crap roll of the St. Louis dice, and there is a whole crew holding down the Lou." Playboy declares: "No matter how you rate Busta Rhymes or Snoop Dogg, you’ll rank their crews lower. St. Lunatics’ Free City is the exception." In other St. Lunatic news, member Ali is recording his solo album, Heavy Starch, due out early next year. Currently, the hip-hop music lover hosts his own 2-hour radio show on one of St. Louis’ top urban radio stations, 95.5 FM (WFUN), every Sunday from 6-10PM. Additionally, member Nelly’s song, "#1" from the Training Day soundtrack is the #7 Most Played Rap Song on the radio, according to Billboard’s Airplay Monitor.