Jamie Music Publishing is suing The Diplomats, Roc-A-Fella Records, The Universal Music Group and Island Def Jam Music Group.

Jamie Publishing asserts the Diplomats song “I’m Ready” (Diplomatic Immunity) infringes upon the Barbara Mason hit “Yes I’m Ready.” Jamie Publishing owns the rights to this song which was originally released in 1965 on the Philly soul label, Artic.

As of this time there has been no reaction from the Diplomat/Rock-A-Fella camp.

Did you know that you can Search the Web right from Hip-Hop Toolbar?

Next time you need to search for anything — from a new car to Carmen Electra, from a hot club to a golf club, do it right. Search for it with the Hip-Hop Toolbar.

Rev. Run has recently partnered with shoe designer Kevin Saer and Phat Farm to launch a new sneaker line dedicated to the countless honorable members in the African-American community. The new “Legacy Collection” is scheduled to be in stores in February ’06.

The first release of the “Legacy Collection” will be a shoe dedicated to the late tennis player, Arthur Ashe. Ashe lost his life in 1993 to AIDS after contracting it from a blood transfusion.

Some of the monies collected from the shoe will be donated to the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, addressing the numerous issues of inadequate health care provided for minorities.

The “Legacy Collection” will be in stores during Black History month.

On Wednesday, December 10, 2003 Film Stew wrote an article featuring Master P and his son Lil’ Romeo.

The father son duo signed a two movie deal with Disney-based Beacon Pictures, “UNLCE P and SHORTY,” where Master P also served as a producer.

Super producer Jazze Pha and Goodie Mob’s Cee-Lo have joined forces with Capital Records to release Happy Hour, their debut collaboration.

Jazze Pha says “It was inevitable that we would do a project. Jazze Pha When we came together to do Happy Hour, we both knew exactly what the other was wanting to bring to the table, so that in itself was worth the time, to see what type of genius would come out of our minds.”

Happy Hour features artists like Nate Dogg, Mannie Fresh and The Pussy Cat Dolls, will be a mixture of new school Hip-Hop with old school funk.

The album also includes guest appearances by R&B legends Keith Sweat and Aaron Hall, which was an unforgettable experience for Cee-Lo.

“I just feel grateful that [Keith Sweat and Aaron Hall] even wanted to do the album,” Cee-Lo said. “For them to step into the studio and record with us and even know who we are is amazing and something we will never forget.”

Happy Hour hits stores February 14th, 2006.

Did you know that you can Search the Web right from Hip-Hop Toolbar?

Next time you need to search for anything — from a new car to Carmen Electra, from a hot club to a golf club, do it right. Search for it with the Hip-Hop Toolbar.

Atlanta superstar Clifford Harris aka T.I. recently launched his new project he’s been working on –Crucial nightclub, last night (Nov. 28) in Atlanta, GA.

The rapper used his own construction company, New Hope Construction to build his club. Crucial is located in the heart of the Bankhead area of Atlanta, which is the hood that T.I. grew up in.

In related news, the rapper is currently on his T.I. Georgia Power Tour featuring Young Jeezy, Lil’ Wayne and more. The “King of the South” is also working on his upcoming project King, and two untitled films—a Chris Robinson directed comedy and a biopic joint about his life.

New Era Cap’s 59Fifty recently launched a signature line of baseball fitted caps paying homage to Hip-Hop with its Capture the Flag line.

Andre Trenier, who’s known for his customized kicks, has designed a new line of fitted caps in either black or rogue white leather with hand crafted paint of four elements of Hip-Hop.

The hats will include hand painted emceeing, break dancing, grafitti or deejaying on four of the six panels. The last two panels will have “graph tags.” Embroidered on the lining will be the words “Pain, Struggle, Strength & Enlightenment.”
Some of the prior Capture the Flag caps were designed by MTV’s La La, Fabolous and Spike Lee.

The caps are now available in select stores, including New York’s Genesis, Miami’s Shoe Gallery, Chicago’s Kicks and San Francisco’s Huf.

R&B newcomer T. Pain, who’s hitting the scene hard with his single “I’m Sprung,” is getting ready to switch his style to rap.

Pain, whose real name is Faheem Najm, claims that singing is fairly new for him, he’s only been singing for about 9 months. He says that before singing, he was a rapper. T. Pain reveals that he will return to the rap game on his next album.

Pain said, “I’m definitely going to have to go back to rapping. Yea, I think I’ll switch it up on the next album. The R&B s#*t still going to be there. I ain’t going to totally push back. It’s not just totally R&B right now.”

Pain’s “Hard & B” album, I’m Sprung is slated to hit stores on December 6.

Rapper/actor Hev (formerly known as Heavy D) will be honored with the “NAACP Spirit Award” during the 2006 NAACP Theatre Awards next February.

Hev is being honored for his leading role in the Delroy Lindo directed play –“Medal of Honor Rag.” His accomplishments in music, film and television will also be rewarded.

Hev commented, “Sometimes when you do things in life, you never know that people are paying attention. It’s a wonderful feeling to be looked upon as someone they consider to have made a contribution to theatre.”

“Medal of Honor” is about a depressed Vietnam veteran and his relationship with a psychiatrist.

The play was executively produced by Will Smith, and ran in Los Angeles earlier this year from June 1 - July 11, and again October 13 – November 16.

Some of the previous recipients of this award include Fayard Nicholas, Danny Glover, Phylicia Rashad and Art Evans.

“What an honor to be amongst such great entertainers. This award is like a dream come true. This proof that a little boy, who dreams, can see those dreams turn into reality,” said Hev.

The 16th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards is scheduled to take place on February 20, 2006 at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

Rapper Busta Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith recently changed his look. After 15 years of growing his hair, he chopped off his dreadlocks.

“I started growing these sh#*s in December ’89. I was 17. I signed my [record] deal and said I ain’t combing my hair no more. I don’t have to,” said Busta.

His haircut was video recorded in front of family and friends while Busta added commentary remarks as the dreadlocks were cut one by one.

Busta added, “This is it kid. I haven’t felt clippers touch the side of my head in 15 years. Y’all gonna see the sexiest head you’ve ever seen in your life when I’m finished.”

Busta Rhymes’ new Caesar haircut can be seen in his new video for his single “Touch It.” This is the first single off of his forthcoming project on Aftermath/Interscope Records, The Big Bang, which is slated for release in the first quarter of ’06.

Did you know that you can Search the Web right from Hip-Hop Toolbar?

Next time you need to search for anything — from a new car to Carmen Electra, from a hot club to a golf club, do it right. Search for it with the Hip-Hop Toolbar.

Rapper Ja Rule and R&B Princess Ashanti are both preparing to release their first individual compilation album.

Ja’s project, Exodus, will be his seventh release and will feature his hits from all of his prior albums. The album will feature 19 tracks spanning from 1999-1005. Some of the songs on the project are “Holla Holla,” “I Cry,” “Put It On Me,” “Always On Time,” “New York,” “Livin’ It Up,” “Wonderful” and more.

The opus will also have three unreleased tracks, two which were co-written by Rule and produced by Seven Aurelius and Irv Gotti called “Exodus (Intro)” and “Exodus (Outro)” to open and close the album. The third song was co-written by Ja and produced by Arizona Slim and Irv.

Exodus is slated to hit stores on December 6th.

On the flip side, The Inc’s R&B Princess Ashanti is also readying her first collection of remixes.

Her forthcoming release—Collectables is a compilation album of six of Ashanti’s singles, and includes four new songs. Her first single off of Collectables, “Still on It,” features Paul Wall and Method Man. There will also be remixed versions of “Rain on Me” and “Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)” featuring Charli Baltimore, Ja Rule and Hussein Fatal.

Other artists who appear on Ashanti’s album include Black Child, Juelz Santana, Cam’Ron, Free and Tah.