Carter Maness

Songwriter Blasts Rihanna, Kanye Over Song Publishing
Songwriter Heather Bright is putting the music industry on blast for failing to acknowledge the people that write the bulk of its hits. She's particularly singling out artists like Rihanna, Kanye West and Justin Bieber for failing to pay full publishing fees on songs they didn't write...

Biggie’s FBI Files, Possessions During Murder Revealed
The FBI has been revamping its website and a brand new feature called the Vault should yield some interesting finds.
The site, which contains more than 2,000 documents that have been scanned from paper into digital copies, has unveiled the FBI records belonging to Notorious B...

Mister Cee Public Sex Rumor Confirmed by Police Report
Rumors that longtime New York DJ Mister Cee, real name Calvin Lebrun, was busted for public indecency last week have been largely unfounded until today (April 5). While his fellow Hot 97-associate Funkmaster Flex has been aggressive and staunch in Cee's defense, official police documents confirm that he was indeed exposed in a homosexual act when arrested...

Former Goldman Sachs Employee Drops Rap Single
No one would argue that times have been rough on Wall Street for the last few years, but a former Goldman Sachs employee is making do in something he feels is a little more recession proof: hip-hop. Going by the name Metis, the once-successful proprietary trader is using his wealth to make rap records...

Kobe Bryant Makes Cameo in Chinese Hip-Hop Video
Kobe Bryant -- the Los Angeles Lakers' star player and a one-time failed rapper -- has returned to hip-hop in a pretty odd way. Bryant has surfaced randomly as the hype man in a Chinese rap video.
The clip, for a song by a Chinese MC and pop singer named Jay Chou, seems to be the equivalent of when American celebrities venture overseas to produce commercials that are never meant to surface in the

Black Eyed Peas Partner With Aeropostale for Charity
The Black Eyed Peas have announced a new partnership with clothing company Aeropostale in order to raise money for the group's charity. The stadium pop practitioners have designed a limited edition T-shirt with the brand that will benefit the Peapod Foundation -- a nonprofit organization that helps find shelter, healthcare and education for children worldwide...

Jay-Z, Beyonce Celebrate Third Anniversary in Bahamas
Jay-Z and Beyonce celebrated the third anniversary of their wedding with a plush trip to the Bahamas. As usual, paparazzi dogged the couple through their relaxing beach sessions on the Abaco Islands, but the media savvy duo mostly avoided interruptions during their quick vacation...

Diddy Desperately Trying to Sign Odd Future
Last year, Odd Future was thrust into the spotlight as an offensively creative hip-hop group that fell somewhere between a punkish rap bravado and characters on 'Jackass.' Now, as a result of their popularity, Diddy is reportedly entering a bidding war with other labels to sign the group...

Lil Wayne Jumps on Rick Ross’ ‘9 Piece’ Remix
Rick Ross recently gave a guest verse to Lil Wayne on the latter's comeback single, entitled 'If I Die Today.' Now, Wayne returns the favor on Ross' official first single, '9 Piece,' off his forthcoming LP 'God Forgives, I Don't.'
Similar to their previous collaboration, which took Ross' 'I'm Not A Star' as a guide, this number falls right in the pocket of Rozay's banger 'MC Hammer...

Jamie Foxx, will.i.am Premiere New Song on ‘American Idol’
Last night's episode of 'American Idol' was home to the debut of a new collaboration between crooner Jamie Foxx and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am.
The song, an upbeat number entitled 'Hot Wings (I Wanna Party),' got a premiere audience in the multi-millions via the popular national show...