Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo's lawyers are seeking a separate trial from his co-defendants who are facing the death penalty for murder.

In court documents, the Gotti legal team cleaned up the moguls' past by dropping the "Gotti" moniker used by Irv and his brother Christopher. Meanwhile, The Inc., previously known as Murder Inc. is referred to as MI Records.

"These young men are not charged with any acts of violence," stated Chris' lawyer, Gerald Shargel. "I don't think repeating that name [Murder Inc.] is terribly helpful."

The Lorenzos are charged with laundering profits from drug lord Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff's drug trade into their record label. Under the same indictment, McGriff, Nicole Brown and boyfriend Dennis "Divine" Crosby, are charged with the drug-related murder of aspiring Queens rapper Eric "E Money Baggs" Smith and might face the death penalty.

Word is the Lorenzos doubt they can get a fair trial if they have to sit through the crime scene photographs, autopsy reports and drugs and guns testimonies of McGriff's case.

The court papers state, "The Lorenzo defendants seek a speedy trial at which they will be able to clear their names and their business reputations."


_________________________

A petition has just surfaced to support former Source Magazine executives Kim Osorio and Michelle Joyce's sexual harassment suit.

Only a day after the suit became public, Chief Brand Executive Raymond "Benzino" Scott announced that The Source intends to counter sue Osorio for defamation of character. Zino also said he had proof that Osorio had sexual relations with several high profile rappers and that it would play in his favor once the two parties go to court. Last night, a petition created and written by author, critic, and former Essence Magazine editor Joan Morgan, former Village Voice writer and Vibe Magazine editor Elizabeth Mendez Berry and author Jeff Chang surfaced on the Internet

The petition criticizes Benzino and co-founder David Mays for responding to the suit. The petition mentions that Zino and Mays' responses indicate that they "condone and reinforce a climate of discrimination against women." The petition also goes on to describe Zino and Mays' allegations as "a calculated attempt" to divert from The Source's alleged sexual harassment issues.

The statement later blasts Zino and Mays and other community leaders that "claim to be concerned about injustice, [when] they are clearly exploiting racist and racially divisive stereotypes of women of color." Lastly, the petition questions whether community leaders like Al Sharpton and Black Enterprise requested that Zino remain in office after he announced his departure from the publication in early April.

"We are deeply concerned that a community leader like Sharpton, who professes to be seeking a more humane Hip-Hop industry, would align himself with a magazine that so clearly ignores the humanity of women," the statement reads.

The petition has collected 169 signatures to date.


______________________

Universal has been hit with a $100 million dollar lawsuit by two promoters, who claim that the label defrauded artists, including Nelly, out of money by forcing them to submit phony invoices. Promoters National Music Marketing and Majestic Promotions claim that top name artists like Nelly unintentionally paid for other artists promotion. The promoters also claimed that Universal warned radio stations not to do business with the companies, unless they agreed to submit the fake invoices. Universal is accused of fraud, trade libel, breach of contract and racketeering.

Representatives for Fat Joe deny that his Terror Squad was involved in a melee that left four people with injuries in the Bronx, New York. A spokesperson for the rapper said that Joe and company were performing at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia when the altercation occurred. Three men we cut with a box cutter and one was hit over the head with a bottle of liquor, when they allegedly booed a group of men performing as Terror Squad. The men "I have a deep love for my people in The Bronx," Fat Joe told The New York Post in a statement. “And I feel really bad because I would never want anyone's parents to think that Fat Joe would be involved in a situation like this, where people were hurt." In related news, Joe will headline the King of Kings Tenth Anniversary Splash in New Kingston, Jamaica on June 4.

Reebok has announced that 50 Cent will continue to be a part of the “I Am What I Am” ad campaign, despite the rapper’s commercials being banned in the UK. The campaign, Reebok’s biggest in ten years, helped the company post an 11 percent gain in sales, the company announced yesterday. The boost came courtesy of Jay-Z’s S. Carter Collection and 50 Cent’s G-Unit line. 50’s line saw a spike in sales due to the success of his album The Massacre