Lil’ Kim is already set to address her critics and detractors with the release of her newest single, “Shut Up B***h.” The single is the lead into her newest album, The Naked Truth, and the opus boasts the outspoken Kim of old. However, instead of sexually titillating rhymes, the Brooklyn native spews verses about those people that she feels continuously gossiped about her legal case, plastic surgery, legal matters and other sensational topics. The song boasts a special dis to talk show host and arch nemesis Star Jones. The Naked Truth album features producers like 7 Aurelius, Scott Storch, Fred Wreck, Kanye West and others. On Wednesday, Kim was sentenced to 366 days in prison on perjury charges. Her album is due on Sept. 13 and she is due to report to prison on Sept. 19.
Karrine “Super Head” Steffans opted to cancel a book signing in Harlem on Thursday due to safety concerns stemming from her contentious book “Confessions of a Video Vixen.” The cancellation at Hue-Man Bookstore & Café came shortly after a heated interview which took place on Hot 97’s morning show with rappers Kool G Rap and his wife Ma Barker. In her book, Kool G Rap is a topic of scorn, but the veteran rapper denied most of her charges, which included physical violence. According to sources, Steffans was threatened with physical harm from unnamed parties and wanted to increase her security force before appearing in-person in New York. There were rumors that gunfire erupted at Hue-Man, but reps for Steffans told AllHipHop.com that those reports were false. In the meantime, Steffans has moved her promotional push to other cities on the East coast and will return to New York in the upcoming weeks.
Yukmouth was reportedly arrested for possession of the deadly weapon, the rapper’s official website has released. The details of the case weren’t immediately disclosed. However the Bay Area artist’s representaive did reveal that Yuk posted $75,000 bail and was released from jail on Wednesday July 5. The former Luniz member is moving forward and will release mixtapes from his artists $krilla and Gonzoe in August.
Another Bay Area rapper Balance has signed with independent label SMC Recordings.
As a representation of “The New Bay,” the lyricist has gotten accolades from The Source, XXL and AllHipHop, among other media outlets for his hard, lyrical street rhymes. "I was getting calls from the majors, but I’ve always wanted to stick with the Bay tradition of being independent — at least for my first album," Balance said on ballerstatus.net. "I chose SMC/Fontana because they’re track record for Bay Area artists speaks for itself, and they’ve broken new acts. Plus they’re really behind me on this project." Balance’s debut, Young & Restless, is due in September.