Incarcerated rapper Shyne (Jamal Barrow) has been denied the chance for a new trial after being sentenced to 10 years for a 1999 shooting. On Tuesday, a panel of five people representing the State of New York ruled unanimously that the 26-year-old lyricist was proven guilty in the first trial. The rapper was convicted on several counts such as assault, weapons possession and reckless endangerment. The rapper released Godfather Buried Alive in August 2004 and is eligible for parole in 2009.
The powers that be at Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam have pushed Kanye West’s sophomore album, Late Registration back to August 16. The album was initially expected to release on July 12. West’s music video for his first single, “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” directed by Hype Williams, premieres Wednesday (June 15) on BET and Monday (June 20) on MTV’s “TRL.” Shot in Prague, the video depicts the civil war and destruction caused by diamond trading in Sierra Leone. A remix of the song, featuring Jay-Z, is currently in heavy rotation.
50 Cent will attempt to annihilate the competition again with the re-release his multi-platinum opus, The Massacre. The album, which doesn’t have a release date, will offer a music video for each song. Additionally, it will include a number of new songs. Rumors suggest these additions may include recently leaked songs with Mobb Deep and M.O.P., who – despite speculation – have yet to officially sign to G-Unit.