After fallen seriously ill in the past year, former Slum Village and A Tribe Called Quest producer Jay Dee aka J Dilla has reportedly been hospitalized and remains in critical condition.

The Roots drummer ?uestlove posted the news on the Okayplayer website -- asking the users to pray for the producer who is presently in and out of a coma. According to ?uest, Dilla was found in a near coma and rushed to the hospital. Though he was put on a respirator and came through several hours ago, Dilla's life is still believed to be in jeopardy.

While details on his condition are still sketchy, ?uestlove alluded to the beat maker needing a new liver. The Detroit musician has had health problems in the past year. The usually slim Jay Dee appeared to have gained massive weight when posing alongside partner Mad Lib on the cover of URB magazine's March 2004 issue.

In recent months, the producer has been working on several projects including Common's upcoming Be alongside Kanye West.

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With former president Kweisi Mfume recently resigning, Russell Simmons is now considered an ideal candidate to takeover the NAACP's helm.

Presently in the midst of restructuring their organization, the NAACP hopes to find a leader that speaks to the younger generation of Black Americans. J. Whyatt Mondesire, head of the NAACP's Philadelphia branch believes an influential figure like Simmons would appeal to the youthful demographic they seek to reach.

"We are basically 2,200 local organizations with a national title," Mondesire told Newsday. "The organization needs a heavyweight with a national reputation who can raise money, who has a vision and who has the connections to push us forward with a modern civil rights agenda."

Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut district also supports the idea of Simmons taking over.

"He would bring the young people into the association and wouldn't be beholden to corporations or special interests," Esdaile said of Simmons.

The mogul didn't return calls for comments. If he does decide to take on the challenge, Simmons will have to persuade insiders who feel that their next leader needs to be a current member of the organization.

"The lesson to be learned is they should search internally for someone who knows the operation, rather than someone who has a name but doesn't know the operation's special nature," former fund-raiser and public relations director, Gilbert Jonas offered.

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After largely contributing to the burgeoning buzz of the reggaeton movement over the past year, Latin star Tego Calderon recently vetoed P. Diddy’s offer to model for his Sean John Spring Collection, in light of the company’s alleged use of sweatshop labor in Central America.

Under the conditions of the deal, Calderon was scheduled to appear in several ads across the country including a large billboard posted in Times Square.

But according to Tego, he felt disrespected by the company’s reputation and the offer in its entirety.

“I heard about the human rights violations in his [P. Diddy] clothing factories in Central America, but frankly there was more," Calderon confessed to the New York Post. "Me faltó el respeto, [he dissed me] with his offer. I just did a $75,000 commercial in Puerto Rico with Nydia Caro. Someone like Puffy could have offered more than $2,000 — but again, it wasn't about the money. I was not persuadable. It was about the principle."

After his passing on the offer, Caldreon was shocked to see that fellow Reggaeton artists - most notably Daddy Yankee - weren’t as reluctant to oppose to the deal.

“It's the principle. I don't think he [P.Diddy] knows what I am about. What hurts me the most is that my colleagues accepted the offer thinking that it was a great opportunity. This was about respecting us, and what we do," Calderon exclaimed. "Forgive me, but I don't need Time Square, I don't need a billboard. I am not trying to conquer white Middle America. I already won the hearts and respect of those I wanted to win — mi gente Latina, my people, the street, my black brothers and sisters.”

In response to the allegations, P.Diddy revealed in a statement that his company has never violated any human and/or worker’s rights since its launch in 1999.

“Sean John has long had very strict policies with which all of its vendors are required to comply. Our compliance team inspects and certifies all of our factories around the globe. We have absolutely zero tolerance for non-compliance with our policies.”

After appearing on several cuts from N.O.R.E and Fat Joe, Calderon is currently seeking US distribution for his yet-to-be titled CD.


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Island Def Jam Music Group artists Ludacris and Sum 41 will appear together on next week’s edition of Saturday Night Live, hosted by actor Paul Giamatti. Ludacris will be performing his single “Get Back” with his fellow label mates. According to reps for Island Def Jam, Ludacris has always been a fan of the group, who jumped at the chance to play with the bestselling rapper. The performance airs live on January 22, on NBC. In related news, Ludacris recently inked a long term partnership with Island Def Jam Music group.

DJ Spooky is touring and promoting his latest work, a remix of the 1915 film, “Birth of a Nation.” Spooky presents a multimedia experience in “Rebirth of a Nation,” that changes the racist story line of D.W. Griffith’s film, into a modern version that makes comments on social divisions in modern culture. Spooky digitized Harvard University’s copy of the microfilm and sliced a new storyline together, set to his original music. "The film was made at a crossroads of American culture, and I feel like we are again at a type of cultural crossroads," Spooky recently told NPR. “I feel like this film in particular is relevant again in today's society."

Mos Def continues to diversify his acting portfolio and has signed on to star in the film version of John Kennedy Toole’s novel, “A Confederacy of Dunces.” Mos will play the role of a porter named Burma Jones, who holds on to his job only because the police will arrest him for vagrancy. The comedy first went into development in the early 80’s shortly after Toole’s unpublished work was released, with Richard Pryor and John Belushi slated to star. Production has stalled on the flick several times. The latest attempt will be directed by David Gordon Green, with Scott Kramer and Steven Soderbergh handling the writing chores.

DJ J. Period won the New York Regional title for the “Scion Free Up Your Mix DJ Contest.” J. Period is now one of 12 semifinalists, who will compete for cash and the opportunity to perform at Scion’s monthly events, which take place in six major United States markets. Additionally, the grand prize winner will mix Volume 12 of Scion's CD Sampler, which will be released in April of 2005 with a nationwide distribution of 500,000 promo copies.


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The new movie Detroit Hoops revolves around a young drug hustler who is hiding where no one will ever find him... Behind his High school basketball jersey!

Erick Powell (played by Fedro Starr), is a High school baller caught up in a dangerous web of deceit. Erick practices his own deadly brand of street balling. He sets up drug deals, then robs and kills the dealers. But when discovered by a Lamar Allen (played by Lamarr Pickett), who lives in his neighborhood, he tries to pin the murders on him.

The producers of Detroit Hoops are now casting actors, rappers and ballers for the film and are looking for investors for the project. If you are interested please contact Lisa Carter on 313-647-1290.

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With Game waving the flag for Compton and the rest of the West Coast, it's hard to imagine Dr. Dre's protégé on any other label but the G-funk godfather's. But if you listen to his LP, The Documentary, Game very well could've ended up elsewhere if other CEOs hadn't been sleeping.

On the album, Game name-drops former Def Jam prez Kevin Liles, ex-Elektra CEO Sylvia Rhone, Death Row's Suge Knight, the heads of Roc-A-Fella and Murder Inc., and even his buddy P. Diddy as those he tried to align with before ultimately turning to Dr. Dre.

"We called Puff and said, 'No hard feelings, no love lost, but we're going with Dre," Game said. As the stone-faced MC tells it, Diddy's attention was focused on Loon and Black Rob at the time he was trying to climb aboard. So when Game got the call from Dre around the same time Diddy was finally starting to come around, he signed to Aftermath instead.

"Me and Puff still been good friends since then, and I plan on working with Puff in the future outside of rap," Game said.

Since hooking up with mentor Dre, Game said he's been growing as an artist.

"Lyrically I've elevated so much," he said. "I think I did the best job I could of shedding light on the situation that I lived through the last 17 years on my CD. In no way, shape or form am I glorifying gangbanging, killing, drugs, any type of violence, Bloods, Crips — I'm just giving you my story so you can feel at one with the Game. Instead of prejudging me and thinking I'm just banging on wax, here's a joint called 'Like Father Like Son.' "

The track Game refers to is the last track on the album, and the song he holds closest to his heart.

"[That's] a gangbanger, a real n---a from the 'hood telling you how much he appreciated the Lord Jesus Christ helping in the aid of the birth of my son," he said. "I left the camcorder in the car [when he was born. The listeners] know because I tell them. I went through Lamaze class; they know that because I tell them."

Busta Rhymes raps on the chorus, conveying the message that they want their kids to grow up and become great.

"I felt real compelled, so I got Busta Rhymes on the hook," Game continued. "He had kids, he heard the song and felt honored. He gave his all. Anybody who has kids should feel that song. He gave it his all 'cause he loves his kids."

Game's The Documentary drops Tuesday (January 18), and as he sees it, it's just the first of many future accomplishments.

"It's easy to stay in the mix if you apply yourself," he insisted. "If you look at people who are succeeding and who are not succeeding and wither out, the problems, the success and put them together, you can stay around in this rap game. I plan on being here for a long time."

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