Urban Informer Interview With Ace Hood

Just days before his debut album dropped, I got a chance to interview Florida's own, Antoine McColister, you may know him as Ace Hood-DJ Khaled's artist from the MIA. As I waited for Ace to finish up that last bite of Quizno's, I wondered how the interview would come out. My intern and I were going over the questions and trying to guess how Ace would be. Sometimes, you get these new artist who feel they have already reached the top. Other times, you get new artist who are hungry for the exposure, reluctant to answer any questions thrown at them, humble, understand the business, and ready to embark on the world. In the middle of my thought, Def Jam Regional Mid-Atlantic Rep, Nicolle McCarty walks Ace into the studio, and the rest is history: Peep This!

So after talking about his desire to work with Keyshia Cole and Robin Thicke, and what led him to start rapping-we talked about his collaboration with Trey Songz, how he wants to be the next Diddy, and who knew that Ace can cook? Peep This!

He was handling the interview like a pro, but you know The Urban Informer had to turn the heat up. I asked who does he think his competition is, where he got the name Ace Hood from, his most embarassing moment, and we played The Name Game. Peep This!

KATT WILLIAMS MAY BE ADMITTED TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL

My South Carolina connect, Chalarmagne Tha God just put me on to some news about one of today's most popular comics.

Funny man, Pimp Katt may possibly be committed to a South Carolina mental hospital. According to South Carolina's Sumter Item.

The comedian, known for appearances on MTV's "Wild 'n Out" and BET's "Comic View" has made media reports recently for exhibiting erratic behavior, including not showing for an appearance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" in New York on Nov. 4 and being arrested on weapons charges later that week after a traffic stop.

On Friday, he turned up in Sumter and allegedly underwent a mental health evaluation for a possible hospital commitment, at the urging of local family members. This was after run-ins with both city and county law enforcement.

The day's bizarre events began with a call to police early in the morning.Sumter Police Department Maj. Perry Herod said officers responded to a call in reference to suspicious behavior by Williams, 35, on Friday morning at the Mount Vernon Inn.

"And officers did talk with him, and then my understanding is he went on his own to Tuomey Hospital," Herod said."

"Basically we just received a call in reference to a possible suspicious person, but that's the extent of the dealings we had with him," said Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson.Patterson said Williams was trying to acquire a room at the motel when hotel employees called at around 8:30 a.m. due to his strange attire: a bathrobe and a towel wrapped around his head. After determining no criminal activity was taking place, officers left."He asked for some directions, which he was given, and we departed," she said.

Williams appeared on the doorsteps of attorney Garryl Deas' office at 201 N. Main St. around 9 a.m. Friday, after his encounter with police, according to Deas. Deas said the actor came and solicited the attorney's help, though he said he has not been hired to represent Williams.

During this brief conversation, Deas said Williams told him he felt the police were "attempting to violate his rights" and he was interested in retaining Deas' representation. Williams also went on to talk about his entertainment career and revealed there were people who thought he was missing because he had failed to report to some engagements, Deas said. The actor said there were even rumors he had perished in a plane crash, which Deas said was obviously not true.

"He was alive and in color in my office this morning," he said.Deas said he talked with Williams until about 9:30 a.m. when the attorney had to leave for a court appearance. Williams asked if he could wait for Deas, and Deas told him he could, Deas said.When Deas returned to his office at about 10:30 a.m., Williams was waiting for him. By this time, Deas said, Williams' behavior had changed."His demeanor was a little troubled," Deas said. He said the actor seemed "disoriented."

About that time, family or close friends of Williams arrived to try to take him to the hospital for mental evaluation, Deas said. He said the family was seeking to have the actor committed. He was under the impression the family members were a teenaged daughter and the daughter's mother. Williams, however, did not want to listen to their urging that he visit the hospital, Deas said.His erratic behavior continued."He just said that he doesn't trust anyone anymore," Deas said. He said he thought "everyone has turned against him. He wasn't really coherent." By that point, the actor was "speaking gibberish," Deas said, though he declined to guess whether the actor was intoxicated.Deas said the family was seeking an order from a probate judge to force him to be seen for a mental evaluation. Sumter Probate Judge Dale Atkinson, however, said neither he nor any of his staff issued a pickup order for anyone by the name of Katt Williams.Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said, however, that an order was issued by the probate court and that because his department becomes involved with these type of matters, his office was called.Dennis said the call came in around noon and deputies arrived to transport Williams to the hospital. Though he was vocal in his desire not to go, Williams was not physically aggressive.She could not reveal whether Williams or his family had been in contact with them, but Kathleen Higgins, clinical director for Santee Wateree Mental Health Center, said in order for someone to be psychiatrically committed, one has to be assessed by a mental health worker, "and then a doctor has to sign the commitment papers."

KANYE WEST & PAPARAZZI JUST DON'T MIX!

Kanye West and the paparazzi just don't mix.

The rapper was arrested early Friday morning (November 14) in England for an allegedly incident involving a photographer outside a nightclub.

British media report that West was detained shortly after getting into a scuffle with a paparazzo outside the Tup Tup club in Newcastle, northern England.

The 31-year-old rapper was arrested later near his hotel, but then later released. While police declined to release West's name, they did confirm that a 31-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of assault after an incident at a nightclub, and later released without charge.

The London Paper blog reports that the photographer claims he suffered a cut face and bruising after West pushed his camera into his face and shouted, "Get the f***ing camera off him."

Kanye West's camp did not comment on the incident.

IS JUELZ SANTANA A THEIF????

Is Juelz Santanna nothing more then a common thief? That's what the word on the street is. Today, Gyant was contacted by an informant who's close to that whole situation, and they are telling that anyone who deals with Juelz and finances might want to watch their backs.

Rumor has it that last year when DJ Drama and Don Cannon got arrested on felony charges stemming from a Magistrate's warrant under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act,Diplomats VP, DukeDaGod caught wind the feds where onto him too.

Panicked, Duke emptied a majority of his bank account and had Juelz hold the cash until the mix-tape drama cooled down. I hear Duke forked over $30,000.

However, Juelz allegedly wasn't dead pressed on giving Duke his money back because sources is telling me that when Duke hit up Santanna to collect, the cash was no where to be found.

Reports are coming in that Juelz used the money to help purchase a brand new all white Lamborghini. And when Duke came around to collect his money, allegedly Juelz told him to go ask Cam'ron for the money since he feels that Cam stole from him initially.

DukeDaGod is supposedly now running around Harlem broke and is pissed off as Juelz Santanna continues to perpetuate a lifestyle that isn't authentic

MARC CLARKE & THE BIG PHAT MORNING SHOW-U WILL BE MISSED!

Bmore will have to say goodby to the ever so popular Marc Clarke and The Big Phat Morning Show on 92Q. Their last show was today.

Clarke came to Baltimore's urban contemporary WERQ in 1999 to do the morning show with co-host Troy Johnson, who got bounced in 2006.

WERQ General Manager Howard Mazer says the change was a corporate decision. It's part of cost-cutting measures designed to save the station bucks. But some fans think it's a bad move. "I have no idea why they would do that especially because he is so popular. He's kind of like a staple for somebody to up and get rid of him. It makes no sense," a listener told WJZ.

As a staple in Baltimore, Marc Clarke, Sonjay, and Porkchop waking you up everymorning will certainly be missed! No word as of yet on what the replacement will be!

On a more personal note, Marc and Sonjay-I love you both dearly. We may not be together int The building, but we are still FAMILY!

To get in contact with Marc Clarke log onto Marc Clarke

To get in contact with Sonjay, log onto Sonjay

Barack Obama Wins 2008 Election!!!

Barack Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois captured the White House on Tuesday after an extraordinary two-year campaign, defeating Republican John McCain to make history as the first black U.S. president.

Obama will be sworn in as the 44th U.S. president on January 20, 2009 and will face a crush of immediate challenges, from tackling an economic crisis to ending the war in Iraq and trying to overhaul the U.S. health care system.

McCain saw his hopes for victory evaporate with losses in a string of key battleground states led by the big prizes of Ohio and Florida, the states that sent Democrats to defeat in the last two elections.

The win by Obama, son of a black father from Kenya and white mother from Kansas, marked a milestone in U.S. history. It came 45 years after the height of the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King.

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, at this defining moment, change has come to America," Obama, 47, told 125,000 ecstatic supporters gathered in Chicago's Grant Park to celebrate.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there," he said.

Obama led sweeping Democratic victories that expanded the party's majorities in both chambers of Congress and marked an emphatic rejection of President George W. Bush's eight years of leadership.

McCain, a 72-year-old Arizona senator and former Vietnam War prisoner, called Obama to congratulate him and praised his rival's inspirational and precedent-shattering campaign. "We have come to the end of a long journey," McCain told supporters. "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him but offering our next president our goodwill."

News of Obama's win set off celebrations by supporters around the country, from Times Square in New York to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, King's home church.

"This is a great night. This is an unbelievable night," said U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who was brutally beaten by police in Selma, Alabama, during a voting rights march in the 1960s. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights leader, joined the celebrations in Chicago, tears streaming down his cheeks.

In addition to Ohio and Florida, Obama won Virginia, Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado -- all states won by Bush in 2004. McCain's loss in Pennsylvania eliminated his best hope of capturing a Democratic-leaning state.

Obama was on the way to winning more than 300 Electoral College votes, far more than the 270 needed. With nearly two-thirds of U.S. precincts reporting, he led McCain by 51 percent to 48 percent in the popular vote.

Evan Ross "DL" Relationship!

There's a "new" rumor going around that Dianna Ross' son, Evan Ross is desperately trying to keep a budding new relationship private. "But it seems he's failed miserably because there's tons of emails going around from industry folks who are saying that Evan and his new handsome model friend attended the Lucky Strike Opening Party in NYC over the weekend. From what I'm being told, everyone was buzzing about Ross' behavior with his new rumored significant other. I hear Ross tried to be extremely low key with and even opted out of walking the red carpet in an attempt to keep things quiet, but my peeps tell me that those two were the talk of the evening."

Kels Sidebar:Why is this a BIG suprise. Peep This! . And no, Im not saying he's dating Mario (at least not now), that's just the only pic i found.

The Real Reason Why 112 Broke Up

Getting straight to the point, accusations of theft have led to the breakup of one-time platinum-selling R&B quartet 112.

Once Sean "Diddy" Combs' pride and joy under his Bad Boy label, the Atlanta-based group soared to success in 1996 with the release of their self-titled debut album and first single "Only You."
As the teens grew into young men, their material entered into adult-themed territory as well; exemplified by the 2001 hit "Peaches and Cream" and their last big single in 2005, "U Already Know," after signing to Def Soul in 2002.

Then suddenly, they were gone.

During an interview with former group member Michael Keith to promote his new self-titled solo album, the singer told EUR's Lee Bailey that the group broke up last year after he and Marvin "Slim" Scandrick fell out with another member of the band.

"I had to leave because I found out that a certain member of the group took my publishing check," Keith told Bailey. "It was made clear that it was intended for myself and another member, Slim."

Keith said he won't name names, but he fully expects the guilty party - either Quinnes Parker or Daron Jones - to come forward and defend himself once this story breaks.

"I'm all about trust," says Keith. "And once you lose that trust with me man, it's just time for me to make a move and focus on my solo career. Everybody else was focused on their solo careers, the outside endeavors, and I just decided it was time for me to make that change and go into solo mode, Michael Keith mode."

Keith said the group was not without its infighting throughout the years. Equating it to a marriage, he says, "We did have our arguments, we did have our disagreements, but all in all we saw that the bigger picture was to maintain the brand, maintain the group."

But the singer says he drew the line when his trust was broken.

"Because I am such a trustworthy person, and I teach my son the value of being a trustworthy person, once you negate all that, it's something there that's irreconcilable in my opinion. I've put so much of myself into 112 and into the brand and into these guys. For it to be a situation that boils down to simply money, that's something I can't forgive."

Keith said it was his business manager who discovered the missing money, and the two are "weighing out" a decision to file charges.

"I'm gonna be honest with you, it's hard. It's hard being with these dudes for the amount of years I was with these dudes and to take legal action," he said. "It's something that I just couldn't fathom. But it's a business. This is a music business. And when something is done wrongly, you've got to be a better businessman. You've gotta handle it."

Damn Homey! Danity Kane Looses Another Member

WENN is reporting that Sean "Diddy" Combs' pop group Danity Kane has lost its third member in less than a month after singer Shannon Bex decided to bounce.

The group, put together by Combs for his reality TV series "Making The Band," is now down to two remaining original members after singers Aubrey O'Day and D. Woods' were fired by the mogul in the finale of "Making the Band 4" earlier this month.

According to New York's Z100 radio host Elvis Duran, Bex said she opted to cut ties with the group because of constant bickering between remaining members and Diddy.

VIDEO: Musiq Soulchild feat. Mary J Blige-If You Leave

You can be the first to check out the new video for Musiq Soulchild "If You Leave" featuring Mary J Blige.

Personally, I love the song anyway-so the video just added to that "Love" factor.

Watch: If You Leave

MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON THE VIDEO!

Beyonce "If I Were A Boy" video

Beyonce's video for one of her new songs, If I Were A Boy, was supposed to premiere on Monday. But for the Beyonce stans, Christmas came early. It just appeared a few minutes ago on Yahoo! Music.

Watch: If I Were A Boy

Its funny to see how tables turn. I was laughing through the entire video because I recognized some of things that I know I do....Will I change.....who knows? LOL. I gotta say, B, look good as hell in that Cop suit. She can be my Mrs. Officer. Sorry Hov!

BE SURE TO LEAVE A 'COMMENT'

LIL WAYNE'S "A MILLI" BIRTHDAY GIFT!

Lil' Wayne celebrated his 29th birthday at a Miami nightclub on Tuesday night. But his mentor and "daddy" Birdman couldn't come up with a suitable birthday gift to give Weezy, who already has everything. Invited guests DJ Khaled and Akon looked on as Baby handed Weezy a suitcase stuffed with a million dollars in crisp hundred dollar bills. Witnesses say Lil' Wayne was overcome with emotion as he threw his arms around Baby's neck. But, surprisingly, the two didn't share a kiss - at least not at the party. I'm sure the IRS will be happy to see these photos though! That cash will come in handy when Lil' Wayne hires lawyers to fight income tax evasion charges.

See more pics from Lil Wayne's Birthday Celebration: Picture 1 Picture 2

T.I. Speaks On Jim Jones Swag Questioning

After reports broke out about Jim Jones questioning T.I.'s "swag," the self-proclaimed "King of the South" spoke with radio personality Clinton Sparks to address the swipe.

See: T.I. response to Jim Jones

Did T.I. comeback like you would have wanted him too? Click on 'Comment' to let me know how you feel!

CIARA'S "GO GIRL" VIDEO

Ciara's video for brand new single 'Go Girl (ft. T-Pain)' premiered earlier today.

Watch: Go Girl Video

Are you feeling it? Click on 'Comment' to let me know what you think of the video.

RICK ROSS FINALLY TELLS THE TRUTH

Rick Ross has finally admitted that he worked as a corrections officer in Florida for 18 months before pursuing his musical career.

He tells Don Diva, "Yes, it's me. I never tried to hide my past. I put my name inside my C-Ds. My company has my [social security number]. I could've put a company name. I never ratted on a [brother]. I never prosecuted a [brother]. I never locked up a [brother]. When I'm making my music and I'm talking about blow, it's because I did it. When I say that I'm rich off cocaine, it's because I did it."

CLICK ON 'COMMENTS' AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK?

Beyonce: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Rihanna can go tuck and hide.....because Beyonce is back. Earlier today, she dropped "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)." To me, it sounds like "Get Me Bodied" part 8, but I am sure the B fans will love it. It's one of the 2 songs that was released from her new album, I Am.... dropping on November 18th.


Listen to Single Ladies






CLICK ON COMMENT, AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU THINK "SINGLE LADIES" IS HOT OR NOT!

MAINO SMACKS-UP YUNG BERG!!!

Lately, it seems like rapper Yung Berg has been taking a number of losses.

He recently received harsh criticism for referring to dark-skinned women as "dark butts" and he also had his chain stolen at a Detroit nightclub and had to deal with the shame of watching the chain-snatcher flaunt his chain all over the Internet.

Most recently, Yung Berg was allegedly slapped in the face by rapper Maino last night at Prime, an Atlanta nightclub.

According to attendee's, Yung Berg approached Maino and said this, "I heard you were talking reckless."

Usher: Trading Places video

Finally, its here! Usher has sent out the video for his new single, Trading Places, off his latestt, Here I Stand album. Peep This!

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS OF THE VIDEO! Just click on "Comments"

Hip Hop Bling Up For Bid

Kanye West, Diddy and 50 Cent are among a bevy of rap celebrities who have donated some of their expensive jewelry pieces to an auction house for charity, reports People.com.

Phillips de Pury & Co.'s "Hip-Hop Crown Jewels" auction next spring in New York will sell off the trinkets of rap's hottest stars to raise money for Russell Simmons' Rush Community Affairs charity, an organization that provides education and resources to over seventy NYC community development programs.

A black Jesus diamond pendant from West will be offered in the auction, which was pushed back from Oct. 1 to March 5, 2009, according to People.

Also on the auction block are Missy Elliott's diamond-and-gold turntable ring; Lil Jon's 13-lb. Crunk Ain't Dead piece, which holds the Guinness World Record as the world's largest diamond pendant; Tupac Shakur's diamond-and-ruby crown-shaped ring, which the late rapper was wearing when he was killed in 1996; a diamond star pendant worn by Jay-Z on the cover of L'uomo Vogue; and a diamond Rolex owned by the late Notorious B.I.G.

Jay Z Rap Line, "I Will Not Lose" Goes To Court

A copyright infringement lawsuit was filed against Jay-Z and the owner of his Rocawear clothing line by a company who claims they took its trademarked name, "I Will Not Lose."

In March 2007, Iconix Brand Group bought the rights to Jay-Z's Rocawear for $204 million. However, the rapper was named in the suit because of the plaintiff's belief that he still oversees the line's product development, licensing, and marketing.

Last year, Rocawear launched an international “I Will Not Lose Campaign,” where celebs gave accounts of how they overcame personal challenges before reciting the “I Will Not Lose” phrase from Jay-Z's 2001 hit single "Change the Game."

Reggie Tucker, CEO of I Will Not Lose, LLC, claims that his company trademarked the phrase first and was subsequently ignored throughout 2007 after attempts were made to settle the matter out of court, reports Allhiphop.com.

The company's Sept. 18 filing in Georgia Northern District Court seeks an undisclosed amount of damages for the dilution of their trademark.

Kanye Avoids Felony Charges

Kanye West and his road manager have avoided felony charges for their involvement in a scuffle with paparazzi at a Los Angeles airport.

Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons says prosecutors handed the case down to city attorneys, who'll decide whether or not to charge him with a misdemeanor, reports the Associated Press. No reason was given as to why prosecutors decided against the felony charges.

The artist was arrested on Sept. 11 for suspicion of felony vandalism after he tussled with a photographer at L.A.X. and broke his camera flash on the floor. West's road manager, Don Crowley, was also arrested on suspicion he broke the photographer's camera, as well as video equipment belonging to TMZ.com.

City Attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan says a decision on a lesser charge isn't expected until next week.

Chris Brown & Rihanna Spotted At KFC

The young "it' couple was spotted at a KFC recently out in Hollywood, California.

Does Rihanna really have to make that face. Maybe they told her she couldnt go shopping that day? You know, thats all she does.

Peep This! Peep This! Peep This!

Fantasia & Young Dro Call It Quits...

Now, I know it's know Beyonce and Jay Z, nor an Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, but Fantasia and Young Dro has called it quits.

The hood's "favorite couple" was spotted over the past year hitting up the Grammy's, and a few other award shows, as well as parties.

From what Ive been hearing, Dro's people were denying that they had broken up. Fantasia's folks were saying in fact that they called it quits. Then, one of my sources ran into Dro this weekend, and he admitted that it's a wrap. From what I hear, Dro even showed up to one event with this new chick on his arm, calling her his fiance'.

Uh oh, he must hasnt heard Jazmine Sulivan's new song, Bust Your Windows? Tasia look like she will pick up a brick in a minute, too.

DIDDY VS. JAY Z

Is Diddy dissin' Jay Z? I think Diddy is feeling some type of way for not being on T.I.'s "Swagger Like Us", hence, he made his own version," Swagga Like Puff".

Wait, there's more.

Bigs up to Illseed for pointing this out too.

He starts the song off with a Jay line"What you want me to do? I’m sorry” As you know Jay-Z was the first to state that but then Puff said, “I ain’t never went no where. I just thought I’d let ya’ll live a bit.” He also says, “I been dating R&B chicks” Hmmmmmm. Here is another notable line-“No one on the corner raise hell like this/ go to war with a Coast and get a star for that s**t!

Oops, did I forget to tell you? There's a Video-Peep This!

UPDATE: Kanye West Out On Bail

Kanye West has just been arrested at LAX for felony vandalism.

A still photographer was trying to take pics of Kanye at the American Airlines terminal.

According to TMZ their camerage guy was on the scene, Kanye allegedly confronted the photog and smashed his camera to the ground.

TMZ's photog then began videotaping the scene when Kanye's assistant grabbed our camera -- a struggle ensued and the assistant threw the video camera to the ground, breaking it.

When Kanye realized their camera guy had videotaped the incident, he rushed our guy and yelled, "Gimme that f**king tape!"


Both Kanye and his assistant have been arrested and will be booked. The tape will be posting video shortly

See the actual "attack" caught on tape-Peep This!

More details as this story unfolds. As it does, Kels will keep you updated.




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