Confirming yesterday's rumor, while ODB's free with a new track spinning on the radio called "Welcome Home," it appears his Wutang brethren may be slamming the door in his face. Buzz has been circulating that there's beef brewing at Wutang headquarters over ODB's recent signing to Rocafella Records.

The rift apparently stems from ODB failing to consult his Wu brethren before signing with Dame Dash -- a deal that took place weeks before ODB was to be released from jail. In a radio interview with Hot97 (NYC), Raekwon expressed his disappointment about not being informed about ODB's decision and finding out the day the announcement was made to the press.

ODB, now known as Dirt McGirt, admitted to radio host Sunny of Hot97 that he didn't speak with his Wu family prior to signing the deal. "I'm not to much of a talker... I just did what I had to do... period," remarked ODB cavalierly. Rumors are swirling that ODB also fought with his Wutang management on the phone about the signing, with ODB retorting that Wutang failed him while he was locked up.

However, it appears that the love is not totally lost between the Wu as ODB is in talks with Wutang members Raekwon, Ghostface and Rza about guest appearances on his new album. ODB also says that Wutang is not breaking up.

Despite the drama, ODB's wasted no time getting to work with his new record label. He's already recorded two tracks, one featuring Beanie Sigel and another with rapper Nicole Rae called "Welcome Home." No word on a confirmed date for his yet untitled album.
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A federal appeals court reopened a lawsuit filed by Rosa Parks against Outkast today, over their hit song that uses her name in the title.

Parks' initial lawsuit had been dismissed in 1999. Parks claimed that the group was using her name for profit and not compensating her.

Parks was also offended at the racial slurs used in the song, as she is one of the civil rights movement's most recognized faces.

A federal judge ruled that Outkast's use of her name was protected by the first amendment and that they did not need to compensate her.

Parks' hired super lawyer Johnnie Cochran to help with her appeal and it appears that move helped her case.

"Rosa Parks is an icon in this country. She's the mother of the civil rights movement," Johnnie Cochran argued before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "Because she stood up, we can all stand up."

A three judge panel from the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals found that while Outkast's free speech defense is valid, Parks' claim that using her first and last name in the title of the song could suggest that she is somehow affiliated with the group.

The judge's said that Outkast now needs to prove that they have a valid artistic reason to show why they named the song 'Rosa Parks.'

"The fact that Defendants cry 'artist' and 'symbol' as reasons for appropriating Rosa Parks' name for a song title does not absolve them from potential liability for, in the words of Shakespeare, filching Rosa Parks' good name," the ruling said.

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Fulfilling the fondest wishes of some and realizing the worst nightmares of others, SVG Distribution (through one of its subdivisions) plans to show a "Music Video Video Game" starring hip-hop star Eminem at video game convention E3 this year. The demo unit may be spotted in the Conspiracy Entertainment corner of SVG's display.
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MIAMI — We've seen it happen to plenty of labels — Bad Boy, Cash Money, No Limit, Def Jam and Death Row. Label executives ride a wave of commercial success, putting out nothing but hits, only to eventually hit a wall. While some companies are able to bounce back and be embraced once again by the public, others ultimately fall by the wayside. Murder Inc. is trying hard to avoid that fate.

Having gone through a bit of a rough patch these past few months — on top of its beef with Eminem, Dre and 50 Cent, the label is in the middle of an ongoing federal investigation stemming from a raid of its New York offices back in January — company CEO Irv Gotti says he's well aware of the backlash, especially when it comes to his biggest star, Ja Rule.

Case in point: Ja's 2002 LP, The Last Temptation, is his lowest selling since his debut, Venni Vetti Vecci, and his current single, "The Reign," isn't getting the record-breaking radio spins the Queens MC has grown accustomed to. On a recent episode of BET's "106 and Park," fans panned the song's video and called for Ja to stop singing so much. To make matters worse, the public has been showing overwhelming support for Rule's lyrical foe, 50 Cent.

"Rule's been out since 1999. He came out in 1999 and we dropped an album every year since [then]," Gotti said Saturday, rationalizing Ja's seemingly fading popularity. "He's been on the radio — probably the most played rap artist [from] 1999 till now. I'll give the people that — maybe y'all want a little break from my man. I'll give you six months. Y'all could ride with whoever. [Regardless of what they say,] it's all good 'cause they talking about my man. As long as y'all talking about my man, we'll deliver."

Gotti says that Rule is going to keep relatively silent during the next half year. He's been turning down interviews and the two aren't thinking about dropping Ja's next album until sometime in 2004.

"We're going to come with a double album 'cause [there's] a lot to talk about," Gotti revealed. "We're going go make some records. When the records are finished, the album will come out."

—Shaheem Reid