Brooklyn rapper come Mego business mogul, Jay-Z is pullin' Frank Sinatra moves with President-Elect Barack Obama. We've come a long way since Eazy-E dripped Jheri-Curl juice in the oval office.

Taken from HipHopDX.com -

After months of officially and unofficially stumping on the campaign trail, Jay-Z's endorsement of President-elect Barack Obama could be rewarded with a performance spot during January's inauguration. Numerous sources, including the New York Daily News and UK tabloid The Sun, report that Obama is in talks with the multi-platinum emcee to grace the stage on January 20, 2009.

The Sun was the first to break the news, when it cited an unnamed source close to British Pop singer Leona Lewis. Initial reports stated Lewis, Jay-Z, Beyonce Knowles and other A-list artists were approached for the event. For her part, Beyonce has told reporters she would be thrilled with the possibility.

"I'm there. I can't wait," Knowles said. "I feel like all of us, we're ready to do whatever we have to do. Whatever they want. If they need me to volunteer, they need me to sing, I'm there, and I'm ready."

During a heated election campaign, artists such as will.i.am, Bun B and Ludacris offered their unconditional support of Obama and got mixed reactions. If true, the performance would be a first in Hip Hop. The closest thing the inaugural stage has seen to a Hip Hop performance was the inclusion of Stevie Wonder and poet Maya Angelou at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1997.

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"Just Like Me" by Jamie Foxx (featuring T.I.)

Using Swizz Beats' "New York Shit" performed by Busta Rhymes, Nas releases his latest joint, "Something Foul".

Kanye West performs on David Letterman

Dubb Union - “Westurn Union”(featuring BJ & Daz)

Taken from HipHopDX -

It was revealed today that Refugee Camp affiliate John Forte watched his sentence commuted, one of 16 people pardoned by President Bush. Forte and another inmate were given reduced sentences, whereas the other 14 were pardoned.

In 2000, Forte, an alum of the prestigious Phillips Exter Academy, was convicted sentenced to 14 years in prison for aiding and abetting the distribution of over five kilograms of cocaine. Per reports, he is set to be released December 22, to five years of probation.

The reduced sentence comes after numerous high profile celebrities and politicians were writing the President on the musician and producer's behalf. Most notably, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and 1970s singer/songwriter Carly Simon and her son were instrumental in garnering attention to the incarcerated Hip Hop artist. Hatch is also a musician.

Both used Forte's musical abilities as convincing argument to his merit to society as a civilian rather than an inmate.

"Judges have lost a lot of their power because of mandatory minimums. I think the judge in John's case was extremely frustrated by having to go by them and likely would have given John a much lesser sentence if it wasn't for the mandatory minimums," Simon told Rolling Stone over six years ago. The two have remained friends since Forte's schooling with the Simons at Exeter.

John Forte's 1998 Columbia Records album Poly Sci featured DMX and Fugees member Pras. Forte also appeared on Wyclef Jean's hit "We Trying To Stay Alive." In 2002, he released I, John.

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The new Asian N96 Bruce Lee Edition phone, pick one up at your local Chinese bodega. Promotions include legend, Bruce Lee kickin' arse in Ping Pong, (that's Chinese Ping Pong!) Footage from 40 years ago, or not - Peep game.

Bruce Lee lights cigarette with nunchucks -

Someone's stuntin' like Kobe's Nike ads. - Ripnicholson [Ed.]

Taken from Icedotcom -

MC Breed has reportedly died today, November 22nd. The cause of his death has not yet been confirmed however Breed's bout with a bad kidney prompted rumors of his death this past September after suffering kidney failure during a game of basketball in Atlanta. The Flint, Michigan MC born Eric Breed was the first mid-west rapper to have mainstream success with hits such as "Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin" & "Gotta Get Mine" ft Tupac. A friend of the 15 year Hip Hop veteran told Allhiphop.com, “He’s no longer with us. We are in the process of putting together a benefit concert, hopefully at Saint Andrews to raise money for a funeral.”

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MC Breed - "Gotta Get Mine"(w. Tupac)

MC Breed - "Ain't No Future In Yo Frontin'"

Eric T. Breed rest in peace - RipNicholson [Ed]

T.I.'s Full Court Testimony

Taken from [Icedotcom] -

So this morning, T.I. ne Clifford Harris took the stand at the Hamilton County Court in Cincinnati as the prosecution star witness in the murder trial of Hosea Thomas accused in the shooting death T.I.'s best friend and assistant Philant Johnson back in 2006. While many speculated T.I. would finger the shooter, ironically instead Hosea Thomas' brother, Padron Thomas testified his brother was the trigger man while he drove the car from which the shots were fired into the van carrying T.I. & his entourage and ultimately killing Philant. - ICE

[Source]