Belo, from the Chicago rap group Do or Die, has been charged in a murder case that took place in 2002, while his girlfriend is being charged for witness tampering.

According to reports, the rapper (born Darnell Smith) is currently on trial for the death of Raynard Pinkston. Prosecutors allege that Belo shot and killed Pinkston in November of 2002.

Recently the prosecution ran into some obstacles that may amount to witness tampering. According to the prosecution, there were eight or more witnesses to the shooting, but recently several have changed prior testimonies to defense attorneys.

Felicia Hamilton, Belo’s 34-year-old girlfriend, has been charged with two felony counts each of communication with a witness and obstruction of justice. On July 27th she was ordered to be held without bail.

“There are four total witnesses who say they got paid off,” Cook County Assitant State’s Attorney Brian Sexton said “We suspect they all got paid off.”

Hamilton became a witness tampering suspect in March, after allegedly paying $500 to one of the witnesses in Belo’s case. After reporting the payoff to police, the witness wore a wire during another meeting with Hamilton where he was told “not to come to the trial” Sexton said.

Currently on probation for possession of a controlled substance, she will appear in court again Tuesday August 1st to face the obstruction of justice and communicating with a witness charges. A judge will determine whether her probation was violated in court on Wednesday (August 2).

Queensbridge rappers Prodigy and Havoc of Mobb Deep landed in Japan on Friday (July 28), kicking off a series of international shows.

The group is performed last night (July 30) at Shibuya-AX in Tokyo. A host of Japanese artists are featured on the bill including Naomi Yoshimura, DJ Muro, DJ Mikan, DJ Masako, Ryu Butcher and Shige KiXxxxx.

On Aug. 1-5, the group will then head to Australia to play four different shows throughout the country, making stops in Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

On Aug. 8-9, Mobb Deep lands in New Zealand for two shows, one in Auckland and one in Wellington.

While the Mobb haven’t faired to well on the charts as of lately, the two talented mc’s have enough hits in their carrying bag to divey out while performing across seas.

Tour dates and venue’s are listed below:

July 30: Japan Tokyo Shibuya AX
Aug 1: Australia Gold Coast Bedroom
Aug 3: Australia Sydney Metro Theater
Aug 4: Australia Melbourne Metro Club
Aug 5: Australia Brisbane Mercury Club
Aug 8: New Zealand Auckland Logan Campbell Center
Aug 9: New Zealand Christ crunch Westpac Trust Stadium

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Criminal charges against controversial radio jock Star will be dropped in six months, according to the District Attorney’s office.

Star (born Troi Torain) was fired in May Power 105. FM for what Clear Channel Radio, said were “wholly unacceptable” comments about rival, DJ Envy.

Star was accused of making anti-Asian comments about DJ Envy’s wife, Gia Casey. In addition Star made remarks implied a threat of sexual abuse against the couple’s four-year-old child and threatened to urinate on the girl.

He also offered $500 to any listener who provided details about where the girl went to school.

Star was arrested by two days later and charged with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Star’s lawyer Benjamin Brafman said his client’s words were the culmination of a long-running verbal battle that had “spiraled out of control.”

The charges against Star will be dropped if the 42-year-old on-air personality serves three days of community service and stays away from the four-year-old victim of his comments.

Star labeled the ruling a victory for freedom of speech.

Reported by Allhiphop.com on July 28, Mona Scott, President of Violator Management & Marketing, opened J’s Southern Express in Lower Manhattan in 2005. Scott guided the careers of Missy Elliot, 50 Cent and Mobb Deep to name a few. The restaurant was inspired by Scott’s Mother-n-law’s red velvet cake, which is available on the menu as Ma Dell’s red velvet cake.

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Wu Tang Clan legend Method Man is unhappy with radio personality Wendy Williams revealing the status of his wife’s health.

Williams recently broke news to her listeners that Meth’s wife has cancer. The rapper, who kept the status of his wife’s health a secret, was angered by Williams’ disregard for his privacy.

“Wendy gets on the air and said [Method Man] ‘his wife is sick and she not doing too well,’ and I’m like this f***king b***h man,” Method Man said “This [is] the big “C,” big “C” [for cancer]. I was ready. I was so mad, I was crying right there and I’m like I’m gonna kill some f**king body and these [Wu Tang friends] kept me in there, kept me in L.A.”

Since the show, Method Man has had to deal with increased exposure from the fallout.

According to the rapper, his wife, who is going through chemotherapy treatment, had not told family members about her battle with cancer.

Method Man’s frustration continued to build upon hearing that Williams allegedly insinuated that he was having an affair with a doctor, who is treating his wife.

“She said me and [the doctor] was f**king. What kind of s**t is that, man?,” he said. “You don’t do that to nobody. You say the f**k you want to say about me, say nothing about my family, man.”

This comes as Method Man prepares for the August 29 release of his new album, 4:21…The Day After.

The Museum of African American Music is set to launch its 1st Annual Music Festival in Newark, NJ this weekend.

The event, which will be three free days of festivities, is meant to showcase the many musical contributions that African Americans have made to the world.

The festivities include a film screening of Afro Punk on Friday (July 28th), a Skateboarding camp and concert featuring dead prez’s M-1 on Saturday(July 29), and performances from Rhymefest, Large Professor, Big Daddy Kane and DJ Red Alert, among others on Sunday (July 30th).

“This is the first in a series of events which will promote Lincoln Park and Museum of African American Music developments and connect the entire community of Newark and fans of this music everywhere” said Baye Adofo-Wilson, Chief Project Executive of the Museum of African American Music via a statement.

The 1st Annual Festival Concert will take place in Newark’s Lincoln Park while the movie screening and photo exhibits will be held at the City Without Walls Gallery.

For more information on the event visit www.myspace.com/moaamevents.

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With his sixth solo album, Year of the Dog, Again about to hit stores, DMX is scheduled to premiere the album on Clear Channel Radio’s Online Program.

Starting July 25 through the 28th Clear Channel will provide previews of the album which, will then be available On-Demand July 29- August 5. Year of the Dog, Again marks X’s sixth solo album.

In related news, DMX’s “Soul of a Man” has generated a strong buzz for his forthcoming album. Airing on BET, the series followed X earlier this year as he prepared to serve a jail sentence.

DMX’s Year of the Dog, Again is scheduled to hit stores August 1.

The CMJ Music Marathon began on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 in New York City. Reverend Run of Run DMC and the father of MTV’s reality series “Run’s House,” gave the Keynote Address at Lincoln Center.

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KRS-One’s 2001 song “Steady Bounce” is the theme music behind the new marketing campaign for Chrysler’s Compass SUV, launching on July 31st.

The multi-million dollar campaign is targeting city residents who are college educated and between the ages of 22-30.

The pioneer’s song, taken from his album Strictly for the Breakdancers & Emceez, is utilized in four 30-second television spots that feature dozens of bobblehead characters.

In using Hip-Hop for the campaign, Chrysler executives have stated that want to differentiate the Compass from larger Chrysler brands like the Jeep Wrangler and Cherokee.

In support of the launch, Chrysler is making use of the Hip-Hop culture, as well as the Internet, fashion magazines, and a bonus Jeep Compass “Uncharted” music tour for unsigned artists, kicking off next month in New York.

Queens rapper/actor Sticky Fingaz recently had a weapons possession charge dropped in a Criminal Court in Manhattan.

Last year the former Onyx emcee was faced with weapons possession charges after an unregistered pistol was found in his room at a New York Hotel.

According to police,a housekeeper found a 9 millimeter semiautomatic while cleaning the room just vacated at New York’s Flatotel. Sticky wound up surrendering on Oct. 18.

The charges were dropped in Manhattan Criminal Court earlier this week after the failure to find evidence proving he was the owner of the firearm found under his hotel bed.

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