MTV made an open national call for aspiring rappers to come to their New York City studios for a high stakes emcee contest. But they weren't prepared for the turnout yesterday and were forced to shutdown the contest after a riot ensued.

Thousands of wannabee emcees jammed the streets and sidewalks near MTV's studios on 44th and Broadway for a shot at a Def Jam record deal and $25,000 cash prize. The contest, announced on MTV over the past weeks, instructed emcees to call a hotline for details which included explicit instructions against "camping." However, despite the warning, almost 2,000 aspiring artist of all races from as far away as Alaska began lining up the night before bundled in heavy coats and blankets, smoking weed, drinking liquor and rhyming in "ciphers."

According to aspiring artist VVS of New Jersey's RNN Entertainment chaos ensued when daylight broke and MTV officials failed to communicate with the crowd. "They just came around with clipboards and picked a few people out the crowd... They weren't telling people what was going on." Frustrated, tired and cold, the crowd began to get rowdy, yelling and pushing one another.

Elsewhere in the mass, witnesses say an emcee battle went awry when one emcee got disrespected and pulled out his gun. "People started screaming and running full force into the barracade. People getting stomped on...it was crazy."

The police called in reinforcements to control the mob scene and closed off the entire block telling contestants to leave as the contest was cancelled. This further incensed the crowd that then began to throw garbage and yell angrily at the police. Some rushed the MTV building and were later carried off by the police. "The cops was kicking ni99as asses, spraying them with pepper spray and beating them with nightsticks," VVS continued.

MTV has made no announcement as to whether the contest will continue at another date or if it's officially cancelled.

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We realize we've been a part of the problem... and we're ready to take our responsibility seriously." That's what Dave Mays, founder and publisher of The Source Magazine told a room full of industry heavyweights and media during yesterday's "State of Emergency" press conference.

The conference, held at New York's Millennium Hotel, was called by The Source to discuss a multitude of issues that have plagued the Hip-Hop community, from police and federal targeting of artists to Bill O'Reilly and the media. In attendance were local leaders in the Hip-Hop business including Roc-a-fella CEO Damon Dash, Jermaine Dupri, Irv Gotti, Ruff Ryders CEO Darrin Dean and Shakim Compere, CEO of Flava Unit Management.

The Source contends that Jermaine Dupri's recent audit by the IRS and the raid of Murder Inc's office by the feds represent a deliberate and systematic attack on Hip-Hop culture and its leaders. Fox News's Bill O'Reilly (Hip-Hop's new nemesis post C. Dolores Tucker) was also blasted for his repeated attacks on Hip-Hop artists. Mays, who recently sparred with O'Reilly on his primetime conservative show The O'Reilly Factor, reiterated his position that the show was being used as a platform to "alienate white middle America."

Though no specific resolutions or plans were made with regard to addressing the problems highlighted, David Mays promised future conferences and a change at The Source Magazine to a more responsible, conscious publication. Says Mays "We need to take a moment and look around at what's happening to our culture...or it can be taken from us."

(Yeah, right. IMO, The Source has very little, if any, credibility left. They're just grasping at straws 'cause their reputation has been damaged even more recently by Benzino/Eminem publicity. Believe a change, when you see a change - Rob)
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Just hours after leaving a press conference held by The Source yesterday, Murder Inc. president, Chris Gotti, brother of Murder Inc founder, Irv Gotti was shot in the leg on West 49th Street. According to the NY Daily News the incident happened at about 8:30pm Monday night and Gotti was taken to Bellevue Hospital and was listed in stable condition.

No other details were given whether Gotti was shot in an attempt on his life, or if the wound was accidentally self-inflicted with his own gun. Chris Gotti is best known for discovering Ashanti. There's no word on if police will be investigating this incident.

Mr. Boombostic