(AllHipHop News) Philadelphia rapper Young Chris of Hip-Hop group Young Gunz, has inked a deal to become the first artist on a new label being launched by singer/songwriter Rico Love. Rico Love has notched hits for artists like Usher (“Hey Daddy” “There Goes My Baby”), Beyonce (“Sweet Dreams”, “Radio”) and Dirty Money (“Hello, Good Morning”). He recently launched his label Division 1, which has secured distribution from Universal/Motown. As a member of Young Gunz, Young Chris was signed to Jay-Z and Dame Dash’s Roc-A-Fella label.The group experienced success with their hit single “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” and also released two well received albums, Tough Luv (2004) and Brothers From Another (2005).Additionally, Young Chris was featured on several albums with the Philly group, State Property.”I’m happy that we finally close the situation, I’ve been a big fan for years,” Rico Love said. “My first time I met Jay-Z was when I was opening up for with Usher on ‘The Truth Tour’ in 2004. The first thing I said to Jay when I met him back stage was ‘yo I love Young Chris, I am big fan of Young Chris. He said ‘yeah that’s my little man, he has a bright future’ and I always remembered that.”According to Rico Love, he ran into Young Chris when he was working with Philly hit makers Vidal & Dre in the studio. He later met with Young Chris’ manager, industry veteran Marc Byers, who now also serves as the General Manager of Division 1. After the pair hit it off, Rico Love flew Young Chris to Miami, where he signed the rapper to his new label. Young Chris is currently working on his debut album for Division 1. On November 5th, R&B star Usher will head to Miami, where he will host the exclusive launch party for Rico Love’s Division 1 imprint.

(AllHipHop News) Philadelphia radio personality “Jonsey” aka Miss Jones, recently pleaded guilty to a count of disorderly conduct, after an altercation with her ex-husband in June. Jonesy, born Tarsha Jones, shot to fame as a singer, on classic tracks like “Where I Wanna Be Boy” and AZ and Nas’ song “Sugar Hill.”Additionally, she has remained in the public spotlight as a radio personality, first on Hot 97 in New York and at her current gig as morning host on Power 99FM. According to reports, Jonesy was involved in physical altercation with her former husband Kolon Patrick in which she punched him and attempted to strike him with her Mercedes. Patrick was also arrested in the incident and also pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Both were hit with small fines for the incident. “This was more of a misunderstanding and a disagreement over something minor,” Kevin Hexstall, Jones’ attorney, told The Philadelphia Daily News. Kolon and Jones finalized their divorce last April.

(AllHipHop News) Wu-Tang Clan producer The RZA has snagged WWE star Batista for his upcoming new movie The Man with the Iron Fist. The movie, which is being directed by RZA and also stars Academy Award winning actor Russell Crowe, centers around a blacksmith, who forges weapons for the inhabitants of a village in feudal China when they are forced to defend themselves.In an interview with movie site ComingSoon.net, RZA revealed that the wrestler born Dave Batista, will star in The Man with the Iron fist a character named Glass Body. “I would love to bring these worlds together. That’s what I’m striving to do. My budget is not as big as some of these movies, so I’ve got to pull a lot of favors," RZA said. "Another buddy who is on board is Dave Batista, the world wrestling champion who left and now he’s into Strikeforce and he’s going to be doing mixed martial arts. To have him come on as ‘Glass Body,’ when I talked to him about it, he was like, ‘I always wanted to be The Toad in Five Deadly Venoms, and I said, ‘this isn’t The Toad but the character is very similar,’ and he said it would be his honor to do it. So to have him and Russell Crowe standing beside each other, two men, real men, is exciting. But I’m looking to make this an international thing that brings both worlds under one umbrella and get out a good piece of art.”While The RZA’s "budget might not be as big" as other movies, sources stated that The Man with the Iron Fist is being shot on a budget of about $20 million. In addition to The RZA writing the movie with producer Eli Roth, the flick is also being produced by Quentin Tarantino, Eric Newman and Marc Abraham.RZA will also star in the movie as the "weapons-making village blacksmith" that provides the weapons for the village to defend themselves. The Man with the Iron Fist will reunite RZA and Russell Crowe, who starred opposite each other in the flick American Gangster, which also co-starred Denzel Washington, as well as rappers Common and T.I.Additionally, RZA and Russell Crowe will star together in The Next Three Days, which is being directed by Paul Haggis. The Man with the Iron Fist is in pre-production. According to reports, the movie is due in movie theaters in 2011.

(AllHipHop News) Rap star 50 Cent may have the title of “Godfather” bestowed upon him, should he take up a South African Community group’s offer to adopt a rhinoceros. A community policing group called eBlockwatch is calling upon 50 Cent to become “Godfather” to a black rhino that was shot nine times by poachers. The black rhino, named Phila, had already survived two poaching attacks earlier in the year, prompting the organization to make the bizarre offer to 50 Cent. “We want to ask him if he wants to become the godfather of our rhino so that he can create awareness worldwide about rhino poaching,” said Andre Snyman of eBlockwatch.According to Snyman, he hopes that 50 Cent will adopt the rhino, which will be renamed “One Pound.”50 Cent is not one who allows businesses to exploit his image or likeness. In July of 2007, the rapper successfully sued a company called Traffix for $1 million, after the company created a “shoot the rapper” banner advertisement game featuring an image with characteristics similar to 50 Cent. In November of 2009, 50 Cent and Taco Bell settled a dispute, after the fast-food chain illegally exploited his name in the media, by connecting him to a nationwide promotional campaign that asked him to change his name to .79, .89 or .99 cent.

(AllHipHop News) Prison time for T.I. is inevitable, although prosecutors and defense lawyers representing the rap star are arguing in court over how much time he should spend in prison for violating his probation. According to reports, T.I.’s probation officer has recommended a sentence of eight to 14 months in prison, while lawyers for the rapper countered that at most, T.I. should be sent to prison for 5 to 11 months.  At 2:00 PM on October 15th, T.I. will find out just how much time he will spend behind bars, for violating the terms of his probation on September 1st in Los Angeles. Police stopped the rapper around 10:45PM on the Sunset Strip, after he made an illegal U-turn in his Maybach. A search of the occupants revealed that T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle were carrying a controlled substance, later identified as ecstasy. Additionally, T.I. tested positive for drugs during a test conducted after the traffic stop.T.I. was on probation after being released from prison last March, after serving a year for attempting to purchase machine guns and silencers in October of 2007, just before the BET Awards.

(AllHipHop News) After rapper Lupe Fiasco made peace with Atlantic Records yesterday – just a week before his fans’ scheduled protest – the label has finally announced a spring release date for the much anticipated Lasers album. The album, which stands for “Love Always Shines Every Time Remember 2 Smile,” is slated to be released on March 8th. After the success of his two previous albums Food & Liquor and The Cool, the  public has been anxiously awaiting a set release date for the Grammy-award winning artists’ new compilation. The Chicago-bred MC will release the lead single on Tuesday October 26th via his new website www.lupefiasco.com. Last month, fans of the rapper announced that were planning a protest of Atlantic Records on October 15th, to force the label to release Lasers. Over 30,000 signed a petition requesting Atlantic Records to simply release the rapper’s highly anticipated album.

(AllHipHop News) Florida rapper Brisco recently spoke with AllHipHop.com about his recent tour, his interaction with his fans and upcoming projects with Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. “[I] just came off the second stage of the promo tour, just finished the midwest, then we did that East coast,” Brisco told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive interview. “Man it was like 20 cities on the first phase. We started in New York, New Jersey and worked our way down to the Carolinas, DC, Philly, every time I woke up we were in a different spot.” While he has a solid fan base in the south, Brisco is looking to expand to other states and regions with this tour, as the third leg of the tour begins and will take the Florida rapper out West. “You know a lot of people just love Brisco, just love that voice and the name, but never saw me,” Brisco told AllHipHop.com. “You know what I’m saying? So that’s what I am doing now, is just putting a face with the name and my groundwork has just been so explosive and I’m very experienced, that I guess people were just overwhelmed to see me.” In addition to the work on his latest project Street Medicine, Brisco talked about his work with Rick Ross and their recent record “Lonely Road.” “Me and Ross have done so many records, and I just always had the records in the kinnel just chillin, and I’m like lets just open the flood gates on this Rick Ross and Brisco stuff here. You gonna here me do a lot of features with your favorite rappers,” Brisco stated. “That “Lonely Road” record is a record we just did chillin’. Just a regular record, just down to earth, one of those 10 o’clock in the morning I come to his house we just do that record. It’s a regular, just down to reality, its some we aint too rich, but still hood s**t.” Brisco was also looking forward to reuniting with Lil Wayne, who is featured on their latest single “On the Wall.” “Free Lil’ Wayne before I proceed. That’s the campaign right now, I can wait till he gets home,” Brisco stated. “I just got a bunch of records, like plethora of records that I have to get it to the world, get out to the masses, like songs with all your favorite rappers.”

(AllHipHop News) Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav will be one of several stars featured in a new upcoming celebrity bowling television show titled, Stars and Strikes. Stars and Strikes was shot on location at the Lucky Strike Bowling in the L.A. Live Complex in Los Angeles. The legendary rapper/reality TV star takes part in the show, which pairs an audience member with a celebrity. The audience member also has the right to use a friend in the crowd, if he or she loses confidence in the celebrity partner. Both when teams if his or her celebrity emerges victorious in the bowling competition, which also features Tim Conway, Terrell Owens, Dan Cortese, Shannon Elizabeth and others. Stars and Strikes was created by Spin Cycle Media and former Celebrity Bowling producer Don Gregory. The show is expected to air this Spring.Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons’ new series Running Russell Simmons is set to premiere next month on the Oxygen Network. Running Russell Simmons focuses on the life of the Hip-Hop mogul and the team that help keep the powerful businessman’s operations running. Included are Russell Simmons’ top executives Simone and Christina and their new interns Aly and Sagen who struggle to keep up with Simmons’ fast-paced lifestyle. The series also focuses Simmons’ upcoming projects, as he juggles multiple businesses in the world of fashion, music, film and television. Running Russell Simmons was developed and produced by Simmons Lathan Media Group and Picture This Television. The series debuts November 2nd at 10:00PM. The Hip Hop Caucus has teamed with American Rights at Work, who organized a group of prominent women of color in the labor movement, who are encouraing young people to get out and vote in the November 2nd General Election. “This November 2nd, we as young people, workers, and communities of color have the power to help define the direction of our nation with our votes…,” Hip Hop Caucus’ Reverend Lennox Yearwood stated. “These powerful and awesome women leaders have something to say about the importance of standing up and speaking out in political process, and in the workplace.” To view the video, visit wwww.hiphopcaucus.org.