Harvard Law School Hip Hop panel is a HIT

Ryan Leslie, Sid the Kid, Tone Capone, Conrad 'Rad' Dimanche

Cambridge, MA, 3/27/09 – On March 14, 2009 Harvard Law School’s Black Law Student Association (BLSA) and The Hip Hop Entertainment Law Project (HHELP) hosted a mini-music seminar featuring music’s Renaissance man, Ryan Leslie; Conrad Dimanche former Senior Director of A & R, Bad Boy Ent.; Tone Capone, Producer Hot97 NYC, EVP Universal/Motown/CMG; Adrian ‘607’ Tillman, Independent Artist and Activist; Najja Campbell M.A. Juvenile Re-Entry Associate. The seminar titled “The Bizness behind The Business!” was held at Harvard Law School.

The panel received rave reviews from the panelists, the Harvard community, and attendees. Panelists discussed the importance of staying in school, staying out of trouble, and how to pursue a career in the music business. Attendees were able to ask panelists questions about how to obtain internships in the business, the best way to go about pursuing specific careers in music, and how to maximize their exposure to the general public and major labels. One of the major topics of the panel discussion was the important role the internet plays in helping individuals with entertainment industry career aspirations. Of course that is in addition to hard work and education. Over 150 students attended the event including, Harvard alum, Singer and Actress Tatiana Ali, from the long-running hit show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Attendees were from various public schools in the Boston area as well as Berklee College of Music, Boston College , Northeastern University , and Boston University . Check out video from the event at www.thisis50.com and www.amazashow.com

For more information about the panelists please visit their websites:

Conrad Dimanche: www.pmpworldwide.com

Ryan Leslie: www.ryanleslie.com

Tone Capone: www.musicindustryonline.info

Adrian ‘607’ Tillman: www.myspace.com/607

Also, if you would like to find out more about the state of the recording industry and how you can still be a successful artist during these difficult economic times please visit: www.amazashow.com

The event was co-sponsored by The Hip Hop Entertainment Law Project. The HHELP was created to combat the devastating effects the School to Prison Pipeline has on inner-city youth. The HHELP uses the music industry and hip hop music to motivate students in school. The HHELP was also created to give minority law students the opportunity to pursue careers in the music industry.  For regular twitter updates please add: http://twitter.com/LiciatheHHELP For more information on the music seminar or the HHELP please visit: www.thehhelp.com ,or https://thehiphopentertainmentlawproject.wordpress.com <!– p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:”Times New Roman”;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue;text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple;text-decoration:underline;} _filtered {margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;} div.Section1 {} –>

Y’all remember Fire Marshall Bill????? Well, he’s back!!!!! (I know I’m wrong for this….but I couldn’t help it!)

Ok so I found this while on one of my favorite forums…shouts to L.A. ! I laugh every time I think of this mess! When I first saw it I laughed for a good hour! Everyone remembers Kriss Kross right? Well it seems as though one of the members of the former popular teen group has ummmm changed (or had a change) of appearance…..and yes I’m going to church on Sunday!

Oh and here is his video response…..

T.I. Upbeat As He Enters Atlanta Courtroom For Sentencing

Tip smiles and waves to people in courtroom.

By Jayson Rodriguez

Tip

ATLANTA — It was a dreary, warm and wet morning in Atlanta as T.I. prepared for his sentencing on felony weapons charges at the Richard B. Russell Federal Courthouse Friday morning (March 27).

Shortly before 9:30 a.m., the rapper arrived at the 23rd-floor chamber, where he would appear before Judge Charles Pannell Jr. His manager, Jason Geter, was present beforehand. The sterile building was largely quiet as federal workers, lawyers and citizens slowly filed in. In the courtroom, there was a mix of teens, curious employees from the building, and the rapper’s family, including his longtime partner, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle. A hushed tone overtook the room with T.I.’s entrance. Lawyers were still entering.

T.I. was greeted warmly by his legal team. He was wearing a charcoal gray suit, dark dress shirt and matching tie. His spirits appeared up as he flashed a smile to different people as he scanned the room. Outside, a number of media outlets awaited word, just like T.I., on whether the rapper’s plea deal would be honored or not.

The rapper, who was arrested in 2007 after trying to illegally purchase firearms, had previously worked out a plea deal that significantly cut down his jail time. T.I. — who will discuss how he feels about his upcoming jail time on “T.I.’s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning,” airing Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV — made a plea deal last March that suggested if he completed 1,000 hours of community service before sentencing, paid a $100,000 fine and agreed to complete another 500 hours of community service after his time behind bars, he would be sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

The sentence is notable, according to legal experts, because of the specific length. If T.I. were to be sentenced to one year in prison, for example, he would be required to complete the entire sentence. The sentence of one year and one day could allow T.I. to be released earlier for good behavior, if warranted.

Don’t miss “T.I.’s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning,” airing Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

T.I. Prepares For Prison Sentence

POSTED BY: Jaye Watson

Add me on twitter: LiciatheHHELP

ATLANTA — Rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris will be sentenced in federal court at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

Don Samuel, Harris’s defense attorney, says his client will be sentenced to 12 months and one day per a binding agreement with the court. Adding the one day to Harris’s sentence allows for 15 percent of the time to be served to be shaved off.

Samuel says Harris will spend approximately ten months behind bars, in a federal prison yet to be determined.

In October of 2007, federal agents arrested T.I. in a midtown parking lot as he was trying to buy machine guns and silencers. He pled guilty and received the one year sentence in exchange for one year of community service.

T.I. has spent the past year on a nationwide odyssey, trekking through 25 states, speaking to thousands of teens, telling them how not to wind up like him. One of T.I.’s last speaking engagements was at Georgia’s Supreme Court last month.

During his talk he told teens, “I know what’s it’s like to walk outside your house and on the way to the bus stop you see six drug dealers, seven robbers, three or four prostitites, a hundred junkies, all on the way to school. I know what’s it’s like to walk outside your house and look around and say well how am I supposed to be any better than what’s around me. I answer that question by saying you become better than what’s around you by believing you can be better than what’s around you.”

He urged the teens to stay in school so they can eventually have everything they want.

“Those of you who ain’t found out how to sacrifice a good time now for a great time later, you ain’t going to never have nothin’ period,” he said.

Asked what his greatest regret was he said, “If it wasn’t for all the things I’d done I wouldn’t have went through the experiences and I wouldn’t have gained the knowledge that I have right now that allows me to stand up here in front of you and tell you what not to do.”

Samuel says T.I. went way above and beyond what the court required of him this past year, but that he didn’t do it hoping for a reduced sentence. Samuel says the sentence was binding and that there was never any chance it would be reduced. T.I. will report to a federal prison, yet to be determined, in the middle of May.

The Music Industry: What’s Next @ Amaza Show

THE AMAZA SHOW
The Music Industry: What’s Next

It’s no secret that the music industry needs a bailout of its own. With CD sales becoming practically obsolete over the next few years, to record stores closings, i.e. TOWER RECORDS (The Entire Chain), and the VIRGIN MEGA STORE, in Time Square, NYC; it’s becoming tougher and sometimes impossible to survive the music business. While major labels downsize and reduce they’re marketing budgets and staff across the board, with lay offs at SONY BMG, WARNER MUSIC GROUP, EMI and UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP. The effects to the BUSINESS MODEL has suffered, has been in large part of the MAJOR LABELS refusal or slow grasp of the digital trends , and falling behind on what was ultimately the inevitable! “THE DIGITAL MUSIC BUSINESS”. UNIVERSAL’ MUSIC GROUP launch of INGROOVES is the FUTURE of recorded MUSIC, distribution 5 or 10 years down the road…. Which ITUNES has perfected and sells about a billion singles a year! YES, 1 BILLION SINGLES; But when its all said and done, good music sells and average music falls at the way side. To the independent labels and artists, keep creating the music that will sustain a business that will continue to prosper if the value is put into developing the talent and sound.
4 trends to follow in the music industry:

1) Social, Social, Social!

Building your buzz and fan base is not about asking people to check out your music on MySpace. Whether you like it or not, survival and relevancy in the music industry depends on how social and networked you are. Check out TWITTER, http://www.musicindustryonline.info and LINKEDIN. Create the conversation that will create curiosity and build (SEO) ranking on the WWW. How do you think artist like CASSIE and SEAN KINGSTON did it.
2) Blogging anyone???

The future of music promotions, is all about Focusing your public relations efforts on blogs and ezines. If you don’t have one, create one! Go to http://www.blogspot.com and in a few simple steps, you are a new citizen journalist of your music life! Increase your music sales and create a new impactful picture of who you are and whom your music speaks to. Traditional media out lets are still very relevant and many still seek the next breakthrough artist! Make it easier for them to find you.
3) Digital Download Cards or USB Music Sticks?

Those little plastic DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CARDS are similar to the ITunes Download cards you buy (Of your favorite artist) at Starbucks or Target. Now you can put your image and music on these cards that you can sell or use as promo tools at music conferences or showcases; look at it like your Music Business Card and press up a 1000 of those bad boys and get to networking and making $$$. FYI each DDC goes for about .50 or .60 so for about $500 or $600 you’re up and running! By the way DDC is also Sound scan approved, so every card that you sell at your gigs are credited towards Sound Scan sales. 5000 sold = a Major Label deal! ASK ME HOW? 212-560-2273. The USB has replaced floppy disks and is also being used for music. USB Music Sticks allows you to sell and or promote your album or single on a USB stick included with digital songs and other content – videos, photos and so on. Get with the times and DROP the CD, it’s 2009.
4) How about A&R 2.0?

A&R2.0 is just the hottest technological shift http://www.musicindustryonline.info brings to the emerging and aspiring artist, band, music business entrepreneurs, producer, manager or anyone looking to network in the music industry! Get in touch with keys music artist sponsors, Dj’s, senior label executives, talent buyers, publishers and more. How about trying A&R Music Industry 2.0? What exactly is it? Imagine owning all the same resources and contacts that the MAJOR RECCORD LABELS use to promote and market their artist to the masses! In simple terms, it simply means that you’re leveling the playing field and now you control your marketing and promo efforts! Ensuring that all of your online promotions are effective and strategic!
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Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 by Tone Capone filed under

* Tone Capone,
* Music,
* Technology

Russell Simmons Rallies for Drug Sentencing Reform @livesteez.com

Hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons, joined hundreds of protesters outside the Manhattan office of Governor David Paterson in hopes to end the controversial Rockefeller Drug Law.

Simmons marched alongside a mass of local community organizations such as Families Rally for Emancipation and Empowerment (also known as FREE), the New York Civil Liberties Union, and the Correctional Association of New York. Director of the board of directors for the Correctional Association of New York and granddaughter of Nelson D. Rockefeller, Meile Rockefeller, is also planning to rally.

According to Legislativegazzette.com, Paterson, then a state senator, and Meile were arrested in 2002 for civil disobedience for their involvement in the “Drop the Rock” crusade disputing the same Rockefeller Drug Laws that are presently under scrutiny.

Executive Director to the Corrections Association of New York, Bob Gangi, argues that Paterson has abandoned his position on drug reform since he was elected Governor. “He is not exercising his power; we urge him to embrace his better political self, restate past issues, and help the legislature to move toward the drug law reform,” Gangi said.

Simmons told Allhiphop.com, “We are at the pivotal point where our hard work pays off. But we can’t let up now. The fact is the Governor and State Senator both fought for the changes that the assembly has proposed to them. But both the Governor Patterson and the State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith need to hear your voices. They are being pushed by forces that are not interested in changing this horrible law which has devastated black and brown communities for two generations.”

In 1973, the Rockefeller Drug Law was passed and initiated extreme mandatory sentencing of 15 to 25 years imprisonment for anyone attempting to sell more than 56 grams of narcotics or marijuana. The bill sparked criticism by those who have been affected claiming that law unfairly imprisons non-violent, minority offenders mostly in possession of small amounts of crack cocaine. It is estimated that 90% of the 12,000 offenders convicted under Rockefeller laws are African American and Latino.

Simmons also urged the community and anyone who has been a witness to unjust imprisonment to get involved and inspire change. He concluded, “Call or write Governor Paterson or State Senate Majority Leader Smith and push them to be true to the communities that made them. Tell them now that they are in power they can make the difference.”

T.I. to be sentenced to prison Friday

Prayers going out to T.I. tonight….Stay strong!

By BILL RANKIN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Federal weapons charges, with their accompanying harsh sentences, are enough to take anyone down. Yet since his guilty plea a year ago, Atlanta rapper T.I. has enjoyed the greatest success of his career.

His CD, “Paper Trail,” debuted atop the Billboard charts in October. He produced two No. 1 singles, including “Live Your Life,” featuring Rihanna. Last month, he appeared at the Grammys, where he won an award for best rap performance by a duo or group.

Enlarge this image

File photo
T.I. pleaded guilty to illegal firearms possession and being a convicted felon with a firearm.
Related links:

* Photos: T.I.’s guns
* Timeline leading to arrest
* Letters of support sent to court (pdf)
* Complete coverage of T.I.

Recent headlines:

* Technology helps Central Parking drive profit
* Design for civil rights museum will make statement
* Lawyer for fired 911 operator points at troubled system

• Atlanta and Fulton County news

But T.I., one of the world’s best-known rap artists, is about to take a one-year hiatus at a federal detention facility. On Friday, as part of his extraordinary deal with federal prosecutors, T.I. will be sentenced a year after his guilty plea.

According to the plea agreement, T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., will be sentenced to one year and a day.

The extra day means T.I. can carve 15 percent off of his sentence with good behavior. Under U.S. Bureau of Prison rules, inmates can earn such credit only if they are sentenced to longer than a year in prison. T.I. should serve an estimated 298 days — or a little less than 10 months. He is expected to get credit for the two weeks he sat in jail after his arrest and before posting a $3 million bond.

T.I.’s troubles began Oct. 13, 2007, just hours before he was to receive two awards at the BET Hip-Hop Awards ceremony in Atlanta. He was arrested in a Midtown parking lot by federal agents for trying to buy machine guns and silencers. A search of his car and home yielded a number of handguns and rifles, a problem because T.I. had a prior felony conviction for cocaine distribution.

T.I. pleaded guilty to illegal firearms possession and being a convicted felon with a firearm.

Federal sentencing guidelines recommended T.I. serve at least four years and nine months behind bars.

But T.I.’s defense team worked out an unheard-of deal with federal prosecutors: If T.I. would perform at least 1,000 hours of community service, telling kids about the pitfalls of crime, drugs and gangs and encouraging them to respect the law, he could surrender to the Bureau of Prisons a year later and get a reduced sentence.

Area criminal defense lawyers howled in protest, saying T.I. traded his celebrity for leniency. Federal prosecutors countered the rapper’s influential message would help prevent crime.

T.I. has fulfilled his part of the bargain, Steve Sadow, one of the rapper’s lawyers, said.

“T.I. took this opportunity and ran with it beyond anyone’s expectations.”

A sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday by T.I.’s defense team says the rapper has complied with all the requirements of his plea agreement. This includes serving 300 days of home confinement, attending more than 260 events and earning 1,006 hours of community service credit.

T.I. has been to 25 states and spoken to tens of thousands of teens and adults.

Over the past year, he went to 58 schools, 12 Boys and Girls Clubs, nine churches and other community functions. He was visited two Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, one in Columbus and another in DeKalb County.

After T.I. spoke to 160 high school teenagers at the Georgia Supreme Court, Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears called the rapper’s presentation “outstanding.”

“You have the courage to carefully search your soul, oftentimes wrestling with demons that the rest of us are terrified to disturb,” Sears wrote in a letter attached to the sentencing memo. “I am sure that you have touched many young lives.”

About the Hip Hop Entertainment Law Project

The Hip Hop Entertainment Law Project (HHELP) was created to:

1.  Stop the School to Prison Pipeline using the music industry to motivate high-risk teens to do well in school.

2.  Provide minority law students with opportunities to pursue careers in the music industry through artist education and empowerment.

HHELP Goals:

1. Educating inner-city youth on the business behind the Entertainment Industry
2. Introducing high-risk inner-city youth to careers in the music industry
   
3. Providing a realistic career track program for teens who want a career in the music industry.
4. Motivating students in school.
5. Closing the generational gap controversial music has created to form a collective fight against the gap between generations to create a collective fight against the School to Prison Pipeline.
6. Providing career opportunities for underrepresented law students in the Music Industry.
7. Assisting artists and groups that find themselves in precarious business situations while simultaneously showing them the key role their knowledge of the business plays in whether or not they succeed in the music business.
8. Using seminars, symposiums, and clinics to teach artists the importance of implementing and maintaining ethics along with integrity in their business dealings.
9. Educating artists on the important role an understanding of legal contract terms plays in their ability to properly develop a viable financial plan during and after their career.
   
10. Stressing to artists the importance of seeking legal counsel before signing contracts or making any agreements.


For more information about HHELP please visit www.thehhelp.com