Reports are circulating that mogul Jay-Z will take his wife Beyonce Knowles’ last name in an effort to maintain her family’s legacy.   The power couple, who wed in a private ceremony in April 2008, will exchange surnames. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, will now be known as Shawn Knowles-Carter. Beyonce will keep Jay’s last name and remain Beyonce Knowles-Carter as listed on the wedding certificate.   According to an anonymous source, the move will ensure the Knowles name lives on, since Beyonce’s parents have no sons, and Beyonce sister Solange Knowles’ son Daniel Julez Smith, Jr carries his father’s last name.   “They want to keep Knowles because Beyonce’s parents didn’t have any sons and they’re keen to keep the name going strong, especially if they don’t produce any children themselves,” the source stated to the UK’s Daily Star.     Beyonce’s parents Tina and Matthew Knowles are currently going through a divorce after 29 years of marriage. Both parties have stated the separation will be private and joint business ventures would continue.     Jay-Z concluded his year with the success of his latest album Blueprint 3. The LP spawned the hit single “Empire State of Mind,” earning the Brooklyn superstar his 11th #1 album and breaking Elvis Presley’s record.     At press time, Jay-Z and Beyonce are enjoying a holiday vacation in the Maldives.

Entrepreneur P.Miller and son Romeo made sure thousands of children this year in Watts, California had a good Christmas after dispersing a U-Haul truck full of toys.   In partnership with the non-profits Reachback LA and OneMillionGifts.org, Miller and Romeo supplied the gifts over several hours to a line of recipients that spanned five blocks around the Bradley/Milken Youth and Family Building.   The predominantly African-American and Latino Watts neighborhood has a history of gang warfare, and was hit particularly hard with several deaths this December.   Chico Brown, founder of the at-risk youth organization Reachback LA, praised the Millers for their hands-on community involvement.   “I just left a funeral a couple days ago. These senseless gang related deaths have to stop,” Brown explained to AllHipHop.com. “It definitely helps to have P. Miller and Romeo constantly be a part of these kids lives in our community, it gives them hope. A lot of these kids look up to Romeo who plays basketball and attends USC which is located in South Central LA. The Millers have been participating and funding this program for four years now. We’re without doubt very thankful for all of the toys and clothes but I think the best gift that these kids have received from P. Miller and Romeo is their time spent in the community.”   This year, P.Miller has visited 25 cities with the goal of distributing one million gifts nationwide. According OneMillionGits.org VP Amber Johns, the objective for 2010 is to double their efforts and reach 50 cities.   “There are so many other communities like this one. Together we can make a difference,” John told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “We’ve been able to help so many less fortunate families. We’re so thankful for all of the donations from individuals and organizations. Every dollar counts and every volunteer makes a difference. We especially appreciate Six Flags Friends for being our toy donations depot. After the Christmas holidays, we will continue fundraising and reaching out to individuals and corporations for our 2010 mission to help more families.”   Those interested in volunteering or donating can visit www.OneMillionGifts.org or www.ReachbackLA.org.

Multi-platinum songstress Mary J. Blige is rebuking reports that she punched her husband Kendu Isaacs in the face Tuesday night at her NYC album release party.   According to initial reports from anonymous “sources,” the fight occurred when Isaacs was seen flirting with several female waitresses, causing Blige to strike and taunt him.   “She turned to him and was screaming, ‘You’re not going to ruin my night,’ ” an alleged witness told the NY Post. “They got up in each other’s faces before someone tried to separate them, at which point she shoved the guy aside, pulled back and popped [Isaacs] in the face. She was yelling at him, ‘What are you gonna do, Chris Brown me?’”   From there, Blige’s bodyguards were said to have escorted Isaacs from the M2 Ultra Lounge venue.   Blige’s publicist Kerynne Tencer released a statement denying the incident, and proclaimed the couple’s relationship is on steady ground.   “People lie and don’t know what they’re talking about,” Tencer explained. “They’re as happy as can be. They’re spending the holidays together with their three children. Everything’s great.”   Blige and Isaacs, who also serves as her manager, have been married since 2003.   On Tuesday (December 21), Blige released Stronger with Each Tear, her 9th studio LP after a 2-year hiatus. To date, Blige has maintained a streak of every album since 1992’s What’s the 411? going platinum or multi-platinum.   The album features guest spots from Drake, T.I., and Trey Songz. Production credits include Ryan Leslie, The Runners, Polow Da Don, The Dream, Stargate, and Tricky Stewart.   UPDATE The NY Post has released footage of Mary J. Blige’s altercation with husband Kendu Isaacs. The viral clip shows the couple arguing, and Blige attempting to strike Isaacs before being restrained by several entourage members. At press time, it is not known if this is footage of the full altercation, or whether a blow was landed before or after.   At press time, Blige nor her publicist have commented on the footage.        

Veteran actor Clifton Powell and Bay Area emcee Yukmouth are among the ensemble cast of Dioncel “Donny” Armstrong’s film Five.K.One, which addresses a controversial informant law.   The movie takes its name from the federal sentencing mandate that gives more lenient sentencing to informants who have committed murder, robbery, or drug conspiracy.   The narrative follows best friends Tiger (rapper Forty Da Great) and Remo (Melvin Jackson, Jr of The Wire), who form the street crew Self Made Bosses (SMB), specializing in drugs, murder, and money.   The organization’s problems begin due to a federal indictment, and Remo’s desire to go legitimate and focus on family life.   Clifton Powell plays the role of a nightclub owner in debt to the SMB, while Yukmouth takes the character of a vicious hitman.   A veteran entertainment entrepreneur who launched his career with the popular independent project Street Life: The Documentary, Armstrong’s inspiration for the film derives from witnessing the federal informant laws effects of urban communities around the country.   “The whole 5K1 snitch [law], nobody ever told it like it is in this movie, how easy it is for a person that’s a snitch to commit all types of crimes and still get off,” Armstrong told AllHipHop.com. “I wanted to tell that side of the story, so this film really tells it without the people pressuring me to change [it]. Soon as I sent it out to distributors and they wanted me to change things like the ending, I decided right then and there to go independent.”   Ironically, the film’s star Forty da Great is in incarcerated due to information provided under the 5K1 law. Armstrong also revealed how he narrowly avoided the same fate before his transition into entertainment.   “My man Forty da Great who is the star of the movie is incarcerated right now because of the same law. Somebody snitched on him and it’s crazy and shows how real it is. This happened before the movie was even shot,” Armstrong detailed. “People need to take responsibility for what they are doing. If 5 people are out there committing crimes together and everyone gets caught, all of them should go to jail. But if only one gets caught, he or she has to understand that they have to go because they got caught. I’m not in the street game, but I’m a product of it. All my family was in it, but I just found something [positive] to do. My years in the street only caused me grief. The person who snitched on me just so happened to not show up in court so I was blessed. I put a little piece of that in the film to show how easy it is for someone to make up a story to the police and have it believed.”   With artists such as Forty da Great and Yukmouth playing significant roles, Five.K.One is a film with direct ties to Hip-Hop music.   Regarding distribution, Armstrong plans to involve overlooked outlets such as barbershops and clothing stores, by allowing them to share profits of the film by advertising at their businesses.   Five.K.One debuts January 19, 2010, and will be accompanied by a soundtrack, and behind the scenes book. For more information, visit www.fivekone.com.

Rapper Keith Murray recently returned to the United States after a trip to Mozambique in Africa, where the rapper was raising awareness about the plight of children with HIV/AIDS.   Keith Murray took up the cause of HIV/AIDS awareness after losing his mother to the deadly disease when he was just 20-years-old.   Three years later, he also lost his older sister to the disease. “My trip to Mozambique was a very emotional and inspirational experience,” Keith Murray told AllHipHop.com. “This is my third trip to Africa but this journey was much different because of the cause. I wanted to help my kids to appreciate the simple things in life and to be generous to others. We can be so ungrateful here in the states.”   The rapper hosted a number of concerts, in addition to making public appearances and engaging in charity work in the country’s capital, Maputo.   According to statistics 16 percent of Mozambique’s 20 million residents live with HIV/AIDS. Of that number, 510,000 are orphan children who suffer from the disease.   “I met young kids with AIDS that don’t know their parents or their own names that smile and appreciate when you give them a hug and a handshake,” Murray continued. “I was the first person with some type of notoriety to visit them and they said I may be the only person that would ever come see them again. It was a humbling experience and it changed my life. I no longer take the simple things in life for granted.”   Now that he is stateside again the rapper is hard at work recording his 8th entitled solo album, in addition to promoting a new album The Undergods with rapper Canibus.

Youngbloodz member Sean Paul was arrested Monday night (December 21), after an altercation at a popular Atlanta night club.   While details are sparse, local reports stated that the rapper was hosting a mixtape party at popular night club Tongue and Groove when some sort of altercation broke out.   Sean P. was initially facing felony simple assault charges, but the charge was later reduced to disorderly conduct following his court appearance yesterday (December 22).   His bond was set at $1,500. Paul is currently finalizing his sophmore album Very Necessary, tentatively due out in early 2010 through Asylum Records.   While no guests have been verified contributing producers are DJ Khaled, Cool and Dre, Nitti, Swizz Beatz, and Lil Jon.   The Youngbloodz last full length LP was 2005’s Ev’rybody Know Me.

The spirit of giving for the holiday season has given way to special assistance from Ruff Ryders affiliate Drag-On.   The rapper/actor was on hand earlier this week to give out gifts at the Yorkville Common Pantry in New York City.   According to Drag-On, the act of goodwill goes deeper than spreading a bit of Christmas cheer.   “There was a time in my life when I didn’t know where my next meal was going to come from,” said the entertainer, who spent his time mingling with families and Pantry staff during his visit to the food bank “No one should ever have to experience that during the holidays. It was only right that I support an organization like Yorkville Common Pantry.”   Drag-On’s donation represents the latest contribution to the Pantry.   The East Harlem-based food bank, noted as New York City’s largest single-site community food provider, estimates it will provide more than 2.5 million meals this year in light of an increased need among those less fortunate.   Last year, the Pantry served 2 million meals to the needy, a 19 percent increase.   Drag-On’s support of the Pantry comes amid the forthcoming release of his third album, My Life, My Legacy, My Melody.   The offering is slated hit stores in Spring 2010.

Kid Cudi was falsely accused of burglary and detained by police as he traveled in California on (December 21.) The rapper was apprehended at gunpoint, according to nme.com. The rapper was in Los Angeles for some live performances and recently left a photo shoot. After the shoot, a number of police vehicles surrounded the rapper’s vehicle as well as the others in his entourage. All at the scene were ordered out of their car and forced to kneel. Soon, they realized it was a case of mistaken identity. “Who knows, really, the story changed a bunch,” Cudi told nme.com. “I’m just happy to be back. I’m a free man! For that moment I was not free. I was in handcuffs. It did not feel very comfortable.”

Atlanta rapper T.I. was officially been released from a low-security federal prison in Forrest City, Arkansas today (December 22).   The rapper, born Clifford Harris Jr., is expected to report to Dismas Charities Atlanta West correctional center tonight, where he will spend three months.   T.I. was sentenced to 366 days in prison after an October 2007 incident, in which federal agents caught him attempting to purchase three machine guns and two silencers.   The rapper, who faced up to 10 years, had given almost $21,000 in cash to a bodyguard who had illegally purchased as many as 25 guns on behalf of the Atlanta rapper just before the BET Awards.   As a convicted felon, T.I. is prohibited from purchasing or carrying a firearm.   In March of 2009, he pleaded guilty to several federal weapons violations and was sentenced to serve a year in prison, as part of a plea deal reached with prosecutors.   He was fined $100,000 and ordered to completed 1,000 hours of community service prior to his jail time, which was documented on the MTV reality show, T.I.: The Road to Redemption.   After he has finished his stay at Dismas Charities Atlanta West, the rapper must complete 500 hours of community service, in addition to another 23 days of house arrest.   T.I. is expected to work during the three months he is confined to the halfway house, according to reports.