The Inc. CEO Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo, Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff and Ja Rule's manager Ron "Gutta" Robinson are expected to be arrested for laundering millions of dollars in drug money later this week, sources say.

Word is authorities will arrest Gotti on federal racketeering and conspiracy charges, drug trafficking and money laundering. Back in April, the Feds attempted to indict Gotti for allegedly running a million-dollar tax evasion scheme through Murder Inc. and his relationship with drug-kingpin, Kenneth McGriff. Meanwhile, McGriff is expected to be arrested in connection with three drug related murders.

Last November, two McGriff affiliates, Dennis Crosby and Nicole Brown were charged with the 2001 slaying of Queens rapper E-Money Bags. The rapper was shot 10 times in his Lincoln Navigator in Queens Village. E-Money Bags' murder is said to be a revenge killing to the murder of Colbert Johnson, Supreme's right hand man. In August 2001, Feds raided one of McGriff's stash houses. Aside from finding $30,000 in cash, cocaine and heroin, they also found a videotape containing surveillance footage of E-Money Bags from July 13th to the final 20 minutes before his execution. Nicole Brown, girlfriend to Crosby, confessed that the videotape was filmed from her home.

Though charges have yet to be specified, sources say, Robinson will also be arrested this week. In November 2004, Murder Inc.'s bookkeeper Cynthia Brent was indicted and charged with laundering drug money and structuring cash to avoid federal reporting conditions. Only a week later, a federal court arraigned Robinson for laundering over $1 million dollars between 1997 and 2002. The indictment read that Robison "knew and believed that some of the laundered funds were the proceeds of ... a controlled substance."

In January 2003, federal authorities raided the Manhattan offices of Murder. The task force went into the offices and seized computers and documents as part of an investigation to see whether Gotti had financial ties to McGriff. Since the raid, authorities have been trying to determine whether Gotti used money from drug trafficking to launch his label and music career. The investigation has also been looking for evidence of money laundering, gang ties and violent attacks sparked by the ongoing feud with rival 50 Cent and the 2002 murder of Jam Master Jay.

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Paramount Pictures and MTV Films recently forked up $16 million to purchase John Singleton's Hustle And Flow and two of the director's future films.

The Singleton-produced Hustle And Flow, which cost $3 million to make, was reportedly purchased for $9 million while the other two Singleton productions were secured for $3.5 million each. The agreement marked the biggest contract ever signed at Sundance's Film Festival and sparked a new structure for an untitled Paramount specialty film subsidiary.

The picture tells the story of a Memphis hustler who goes through a midlife crisis and decides that he wants to rap. Ludacris, Big Momma's House's Terrence Howard and Barbershop's Anthony Anderson star in the movie. Word is the audience gave a standing ovation to writer-director Craig Brewer and Howard during a screening at Sundance's Racquet Club. A bidding war between Paramount, New Line, Warner Independent, Fox Searchlight, Universal and Focus reportedly broke out moments after the standing-room-only screening.

Singleton initially propositioned Paramount to produce the flick for $1.5 million, but the studio passed. Despite being initially rejected, Singleton and long time producing partner Stephanie Allain eventually opted for Paramount because of its marketing reputation.

"Paramount has MTV, BET, CBS and Blockbuster. They get pop culture," Singleton told HollywoodReporter.com. "This company wants to make a statement that it's entering into a whole new era."

Since debuting with Boyz N The Hood in 1991, several rappers including Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris have starred in his movies. Singleton's resume includes 1993's Poetic Justice, 1994's Higher Learning, 2001's Baby Boy and 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious.

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After receiving offers from Island Def Jam and Warner Music Group, Jermaine Dupri has inked a deal to become head of Urban Music at Virgin Records.

Though Virgin's roster presently features acts like Janet Jackson, Guerrilla Black, Jin, N.E.R.D. and recent addition Stimuli, sources say the Urban Music branch is a newly created department at the label. Dupri is reportedly expected to collect $15 million upon signing.

As part of his contract, the Atlanta mogul will move his So So Def imprint from Jive Records to Virgin and record as a solo artist. Dupri will also produce acts for Virgin's parent company, U.K.-based EMI. According to reports, Antonio "L.A." Reid sought to make JD president of Def Jam before Jay-Z took the position. Reid and Dupri previously worked together at Arista Records. Now at Virgin, Dupri will have to answer to CEO Matt Serletic and chief operating officer Larry Mestel. Mestel previously served as Arista's COO.

High off his contribution on Usher's Grammy-nominated Confessions and the success of Anthony Hamilton, Dupri is expected to generate hits for the label, which has been criticized for its sub par chart performance.

After staying with Columbia Records for a decade, Dupri moved So So Def to Arista Records in January 2003 and became the company's Senior Vice President until the label folded in March 2004. So So Def's roster includes the aforementioned Hamilton, Bone Crusher, Youngbloodz, Da Brat and Daz Dilinger.

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After helping to build Eminem's Shade 45 Channel, Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine and Sirius Satellite Radio have joined forces to produce new ventures for the station.

Under the new agreement, Iovine will serve as Sirius' new creative advisor and consultant on new programming projects. Interscope Geffen A&M will also provide Sirius with marketing and promotional opportunities with its artists.

"Over the last 14 years, Jimmy Iovine took Interscope Records from a start-up operation to what is now one of the most influential record companies in the world," Sirius President of Entertainment and Sports, Scott Greenstein said in a statement.

"His artists, including U2, Eminem, No Doubt, Sheryl Crow, 50 Cent and Queens of the Stone Age, among many others, represent the best that music has to offer. He is a forward-thinking entertainment executive who shared our initial vision for Shade 45. I look forward to the exciting new projects we will work on together for Sirius."

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It certainly has been a long time. The last we heard from Lauryn Hill she was polishing off her Grammy’s. After that she went acoustic with her Unplugged album and since has disappeared altogether. The rumor of her return was cloudy and seemed to be a myth. But now, 6 years after she turned the music world on their collective ear, she is back- with a little help from Kanye West.

Lauryn Hill’s long overdue sophomore album is in the works and Kanye West reportedly has recorded two tracks with Ms. Hill. What makes the situation really ironic is the fact that it was Lauryn Hill’s vocals that were originally sampled for the hit “All Falls Down.” But Kanye was turned away when he couldn’t get clearance from Lauryn and opted to go with Syleena Johnson.

Since 1998’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill there has been rumored problems with Lauryn’s personal life that may or may not have caused a delay on any new material. But a ray of light was seen when she joined her Fugee family at Dave Chappelle’s block party. Since then rumors hovered as to when and if she would record again and it seems that there will indeed be another Lauryn Hill album. No release date or title has been set as of yet.


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Tuesday night at Battery Studios in Manhattan, Fat Joe was singing, dancing and get, get, getting it poppin'. Joe, who was playing joints from his new LP, explained that he felt his career and the climate of rap were taking such a serious turn that he's changing the title of his album from Things of That Nature to All or Nothing.

Another change for Joey Crack is that his long-talked-about solo LP has been pushed back one more time to April 26 due to some wheeling and dealing. His "Hold You Down" duet with Jennifer Lopez will now not only be on her Rebirth album, but on his disc as well. Joe also went back in the studio and recorded about six new songs with producers Cool & Dre.

He's finally decided on an official first single: "So Much More." It's another heater for the clubs and finds Joe promising to make your hair stand up like "Growing Up Gotti" and referencing actress Brigitte Nielsen, minister T.D. Jakes and Snoop's "Drop It Like It's Hot," all in a jovial manner.

"I know you came to party, so get up on your feet," he raps on the chorus. Later on the hook he pays homage to Roger Troutman, singing, "I know you been searching for someone who satisfies you and gives you so much more."

Coming down the pike after "So Much More" will be "Get It Poppin" with Nelly, a call-and-response number on which the ladies agree to "get, get, get it poppin'."

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On Friday night, WKYS' Xzulu "The Big Lipped Bandit" was punched and kicked by Interscope recording rap artist The Game and by manager Jimmy Henchmen inside the radio station in suburban Maryland.



The incident allegedly stemmed from an off-color comment the radio personality made to Henchmen about his wireless earpiece.



As Xzulu and a friend entered the lobby, he was approached by Henchmen and his entourage. Words were exchanged and without warning, Henchmen struck Xzulu in the face and a scuffle ensued.



The entourage consisted of approximately 5-10 men, all of whom landed punches or kicks on the radio personality. The men were separated and Xzulu was taken to another part of the building.



Eyewitness accounts say that the Game gained access to where Zulu was, walked up to him and also threw punches.



Xzulu was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was treated for cuts, bruises, and internal injuries.



While Prince George's County police detectives were on the scene, they were unable to make any arrests as the suspects quickly left the premises before police arrived. Police say they are looking for all parties involved.