According to Hov's spokesperson, the God emcee is hoping to expand the 40/40 Club franchise into a casino. After opening the first 40/40 Club in NYC back in 2003, the Brooklyn lyricist opened a location in Atlantic City last year. President Carter is presently taking meetings with investors familiar with gambling establishments.

"The 40/40 Club in Atlantic City has been doing great since it opened, and the one in New York is still booming," a source told New York's Daily News. "There's no reason not to expand."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Jay confirmed that 40/40 will soon open locations worldwide.

"There is talk of a possible 40/40 Club casino," Ron Berkowitz told the Daily News. "There is definite expansion into the Far East, into Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and South Korea. By 2008 they will all be built."

Apparently Jay and Beyonce have been seen scouting spots in Vegas since the new year began. Jay-Z already owns several businesses. In addition to 40/40, the mogul owns Roc-A-Fella Records, Rocawear clothing, is part owner of the New Jersey Nets and has ventures with Reebok among others.
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Hip-Hop legend LL Cool J will be honored at the 19th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, presented by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards are being held on June 26 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. This year's event, which is by invitation only, will recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most performed ASCAP songs on the 2005 R&B, hip-hop and rap charts. The evening will also include performances by several award-winning artists.

LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, will receive the ASCAP Golden Note Award, an honor given to songwriters and composers who have achieved extraordinary milestones. The Golden Note has been previously awarded to Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jay-Z, Quincy Jones, Tom Petty, Jose Feliciano, Mark Snow and Stevie Wonder among others.

Since 1985 when Def Jam made his album Radio their first release, LL has dropped nine platinum or better selling albums and eight gold singles. His albums Bigger and Deffer, Walking With a Panther, 14 Shots to the Dome, G.O.A.T. and 10 have been the source of such #1 hit singles as "I Need Love," "I'm That Type of Guy," "How I'm Comin'," and "Luv U Better."

His 12th and latest album "Todd Smith" was recently certified gold. LL has already scored two Grammy Awards for singles "Mama Said Knock You Out" and the Boyz II Men duet "Hey Lover" as well as several MTV Video Music Awards, a NAACP Image Award and the Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements during the Soul Train Music Awards.

In addition to his career in music, LL has also enjoyed a successful acting career in both film (Any Given Sunday, DeepBlueSea, Deliver Us from Eva) and television ("In the House") and in 1997 LL authored an autobiography I Make My Own Rules. His most recent venture, upscale clothing line Todd Smith was launched in 2004.

"LL Cool J is one of the most important figures in the history of hip-hop. He has weathered all the trends in the rap world and is as commercially viable today as he was when he started out in 1985," ASCAP President and Chairman Marilyn Bergman said via statement. "We are very pleased to honor LL Cool J by adding his name to the very elite group of our Golden Note-winning songwriters and composers."

R&B great Bill Withers will also be honored at this years ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. Responsible for classics such as "Ain't No Sunshine," "Lovely Day," "Just the Two of Us," and "Lean on Me," Withers will receive the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award, which is given to ASCAP members who have had a major impact on the legacy of Rhythm and Soul music. Previous recipients of the Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award include Peabo Bryson, Earth Wind & Fire, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Rick James and Chaka Khan.

The 2006 ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards will also feature a special presentation to ASCAP's Songwriter of the Year and "Top" awards will be presented for Publisher of the Year, Soundtrack of the Year, Reggae Artist of the Year, Ringtone of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Song, Rap Song and Gospel Song.

As SOHH previously reported, ASCAP recently honored 50 Cent and Jermaine Dupri at ASCAP's Pop Music Awards. 50 won Songwriter of the Year and Dupri won Song of the Year for co-writing and producing the Mariah Carey song "We Belong Together."
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In late April several news outlets released a report that Michael Jackson and 50 Cent had plans to collaborate on a song "Now That I Found Love" with rap newcomer Lucy Diamonds.

It turns out the buzz was just a rumor, but Lucy sat down with SOHH exclusively to talk about the rumors as well as her much anticipated arrival as a white female emcee.

According to reports DJ Whoo Kid met up with Michael Jackson at a dinner in Bahrain. The encounter was closely followed by a press release (which turned out to be a hoax) announcing an impending collaboration between 50, MJ and Lucy Diamonds on Lucy's currently unreleased song "Now That I Found Love."

"It was kinda weird because I didn't even hear about it until after it hit Rolling Stone," Lucy told SOHH exclusively. "MTV hit my camp asking about what was going on with it. Next thing I know I see John Norris on MTV talking about the whole thing. It's not true, and I just want to say that 'Now That I Found Love' is my song. Not Michael Jackson's and not 50's, so if anybody on G-Unit is trying to do it, they can't."

"50 is savvy," Lucy continued, explaining her concern for her song. "If 50 sees an opportunity for press, he's going to take it. He needs to be concerned about the horrible fails of everybody on that label. Mobb Deep, Tony Yayo... and now Mase is on God's bad side. I almost feel sorry for 50 right now."

Asked whether she was worried her comments might raise the ire of G-Unit's general Lucy responded: "It seems like everybody in the industry is on 50's bad side, outside of the people on his label. He can add me to the list. It doesn't phase me."

The 21-year-old from Houston, TX is currently focused on the release of her debut album Poor Dream Redemption, a title she took from one of her poems (she's also currently penning a poetry collection called The Other Side of Something).

The longtime poetess, who was first published at age 12, says hip-hop was a logical progression in her career.

"Hip-Hop is musical poetry," Lucy explained. "I always wanted to do something different with my music. I look at the female emcees that are out and they all pretty much do the same thing, same gangsta image, selling sex. That's not me. I'm more about using hip-hop beats with a musical influence. It's a whole other style of hip-hop fused music. Skill wise every white female MC that's been put out before me has never been good. Lyrically I try to step up and say something and have a message come across."

As part of her message based mission Lucy is currently embroiled in a battle with KFC over their treatment of chickens. The young vegetarian spoke passionately about her currently scheduled plans to rally in the birthplace of KFC, Louisville, KY.

"I am doing a protest rally, as part of my Boycott KFC campaign (www.petaworld.com). It's already supported by Paul McCartney, Pam Anderson, Common, Dead Prez and Russell Simmons. I'm leading rally in Louisville, KY to march on Colonel Sanders' grave," Lucy told SOHH. "Everybody is going to have to be there to see what I mean."

Lucy plans to release Poor Dream Redemption on her Dough Shop label this June.

"I'm working with DJ Roc Raida, Bad Boy artist Aasim, Fatman Scoop, Grand Puba, Scott Michaels -- he is super talented, definitely about to blow up. Knobody, Vinny Idol, Sean C, LV and Slick Rick's producer Vance Wright. I've also partnered up with MC Lyte. I can't say anything until mid June, but we will change hip-hop," Lucy told SOHH.

Lucy also spoke about her relationship with Jay-Z's former female protégé Amil.

"I don't really know what happened, all I can say is we're not doing business anymore. I don't talk to her anymore," Lucy said. "I do rap about it on the album."

Lucy quickly spits the aforementioned lyrics: "Now me and Amil don't speak like her and Hov/ I lost the major coins, moved out and stayed low/ and then I hit the Jiggaman up on his sidekick/ and told him I got the heat/ that he needed to sign it/ he screwed up and signed that chick Lady Sovereign/ but Hov is gonna figure out it's Lucy who is Queen."

"Hov signed the wrong white chick," Lucy tells SOHH. "My lyrics are deep and meaningful. I like to tell stories from different perspectives that will move people. There aren't a whole lot of new artists coming into the game, the superstars of today are the same as 5 years ago - still Jigga, still Em. We've been waiting for the next really big one although The Game has stepped it up too. But there definitely hasn't been a female superstar in awhile."

Diamonds is confident that she is that great white female superstar hip-hop has been waiting for, and is currently in the process of deciding upon her first single. In the meantime she's taking promotional notes from fellow Houston rapper Mike Jones.

"Since I am from Houston and I love talking to people, I'm going to take a note from Mike Jones and throw my number out there -- 404-840-0245," Lucy said. " This way my fans can talk to me directly."
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Method Man is preparing the follow-up to 2004's Tical O: The Prequel with a new album titled 4:21. The first single from the album is titled "Say" and features Lauryn Hill of the Fugees. Method Man's latest album also boasts guest appearances from Styles P., Fat Joe and others and features production by various top name producers, including Dr. Dre. In related news, Wu-Tang is planning to release Legend Of The Wu-Tang, the first collection that captures all of the group's popular videos, as well as a 21-minute documentary titled Enter The Wu-Tang. The documentary was originally filmed in 1994 and features in-depth interviews with all the original members of the group. Such videos as "Method Man," "C.R.E.A.M", "Protect Ya Neck" and others are featured on the video compilation. Legend Of The Wu-Tang hits stores June 12.
Afeni Shakur, Judge Mablean Ephriam and The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation will award various men for their positive contributions to their communities on Friday June 16, at The First Annual Honoring Urban Fathers (H.U.F.) Awards. The awards will be hosted by Donnell Rawlings and will take place at the Fox Theater Egyptian Ballroom in Atlanta. The awards were created by Judge Mariam Mablean, who presides over various divorce cases on Fox TV's Divorce Court. Over 100 men were nominated for Solo Warrior (Single Father), Love Cares (Married Father), Fatherhood Forever (Divorced Father), Village Dad (Non-Biological Father) and Living Legacy (Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather) awards.

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Nas has signed Tre Williams, a new R&B singer to his Ill Will Records label. The singer was featured on the title track to Petey Pablo's album Diary of a Sinner. Williams has already completed songs with Nas, Styles P., Kanye West and others. Williams, who hails from Daytona Beach, Florida, has released a mix-CD titled Street Gospel that is hosted by Nas and DJ Big Mike. The crooner's first album under the deal will be titled The Depth of My Soul.