A Little Music News

Jay-Z and former business partner Damon Dash are being sued for $15 million by an author from Philadelphia, who claims the duo stole his book concept for their movie State Property. In the lawsuit filed earlier this month, Antonne Jones alleges the 2002 movie bears striking similarities to his own novel, The Family: A Philadelphia Mob Story, about four men who seek to gain money, power and notoriety. The writer claims he was in talks with Roc-A-Fella to hand over the rights of the book for use in a movie, but negotiations fell through because Jones wanted $450,000 more than Jay and Dash were willing to pay. It was only when the Beanie Sigel-starring State Property was released that Jones realised the similarities in the two plots. The film’s distributor, Lions Gate, is also named as a defendant in the legal papers. Moving on, and rap newcomer Mims has been hit with a $7.5 million discrimination lawsuit, after a New York promoter claimed he had backed out of a concert because of his misogynistic views towards women. Club promoter Marquitta Blair claims she paid $2,500 to the rapper’s agents for a gig at the Manhattan club, Eugene. But Mims failed to turn up for the show; an action Blair believes is down to his discriminatory views towards the fairer sex. The lawsuit states his supposed views are “a pattern of conduct involving the belittlement and degradation of females as ‘bitches and hoe’s’.” Blair goes on to quote several of Mims’ lyrics in the suit. Meanwhile, Young Jeezy was arrested outside a club in Atlanta, Georgia, early last Thursday (May 24). Jeezy, born Jay Jenkins, was allegedly involved in an incident outside Stoker’s strip club and was later arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Public Information Officer for Dekalb County Sherriff’s Office, Mikki Jones, said: “I do know that there was no physical altercation between them. This was a verbal confrontation.” Jeezy was eventually released on a $284 (£142) bond. News on 50 Cent now, and the Queens rapper is going ‘Straight To The Bank’, after receiving a reported $400 million payout. The drinks firm Glaceau, which produces the rapper’s vitaminwater energy drink range, has been taken over by The Coca-Cola Company for $4.1 billion , meaning 50’s 10 per cent share in Glaceau is now worth $400 million. In related news, the rapper has denied reports his new album ‘Curtis’ has been pushed back from June to September due to the poor feedback of his new songs. In contrast, the G-Unit general insists the delay in its release is to ensure fans across the world can get hold of the album at the same time, with a worldwide release set for September 4. He says, “I’m an international artist. My fans worldwide deserve to receive my album at the same time as my fans here in the US. Taking that into consideration moving the album to September was a necessary course of action.”