Master P. has announced his own reality show America's Next Hip-Hop Stars, which will offer the next big rapper and group a $50,000 recording deal.

According to Master P., born Percy Miller, twelve solo artists and six groups will perform various Hip-Hop songs to be critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges, which includes Snoop Dogg, Paul Wall, Free of 106 & Park and Master P.'s son, Romeo.

"When you look at what's going on the big shows out here, Hip-Hop is influencing a lot of this stuff," Master P told AllHipHop.com. "Even the show I did [Dancing with The Stars], the ratings is so big on this stuff. I was one of the highest rated entertainers on that show and it was a cross over show. Hip-Hop is influencing the game. I wanna do it to show people that we [are] growing in Hip-Hop. There's so many talented people, we don't have to wait around for them to expose us.

Master P. will serve as America's Next Hip-Hop Stars' host and a celebrity DJ will be featured each week, along with a performance by a well known Hip-Hop artist or group.

While the show does not have a home on the small screen as of press time, Master P. said negotiations are underway to launch the show on a major network or a cable/pay per view channel.

"I've been in negotiations since last week," Master P. continued. "It's going to be a great show. We have an exciting cast of judges. A lot of things are catered to Hip-Hop, you got a bunch of these companies marketing their brands. There's a lot of great things happening in Hip-Hop and this can show the corporate world that we are growing and maturing in Hip-Hop."


To launch the show, the mogul said he was planning a "Set It Off" benefit concert through his nonprofit organization Team Rescue One, to raise AIDS awareness and to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city of New Orleans.

"This is a way that America can see the untapped talent out there and vote for it," Master P. said of the show. "Right now with the way Hip-Hop is going, a lot of people are giving up. Everybody can't afford a video and that stuff to get exposure and this show will help find that talent. I think this is something for our culture that everyone can respect and appreciate and we will make a lot of people's careers."

_______________

DMX was arrested and charged with various driving violations on Friday (JUne 2) after police pulled the rapper over in White Plains, New York for speeding.

Police stopped DMX for driving his 2001 Chevy Suburban at high speeds. He was also ticketed for making an unsafe lane change.

According to police, the 35-year-old rapper didn't have a drivers license and was not wearing a seat belt when he was pulled over.

He was ticketed and ordered to appear in court on June 16.

Last month, DMX was arrested at London's Heathrow airport for allegedly verbally abusing the cabin crew on a flight to England. In that incident the rapper, born Earl Simmons, refused to button his seat belt as the plane was landing.

He was arrested and issued a caution by officers in London.

DMX has an infamous driving record and has been arrested numerous times over the years for driving erratically.

In 2004 he was arrested at JFK Airport in New York after a road-rage incident involving a parking space.

He violated his probation in that case when he was ticketed for driving 104 mph on Interstate 684 in upstate New York. Another incident occurred where he was cited for striking a car, which in turn struck a police cruiser on the Major Deegan highway n the Bronx.

In Nov. of 2005, DMX was sentenced to serve 70 days on Rikers Island for the infractions but was released from prison on Dec. 30 for good behavior.

In Jan. of 2006, the platinum-selling rapper's wife also ran afoul of the law, when they clocked her driving her 2000 Mercedes-Benz 106 mph in North Castle, N.Y. on Interstate 684 - the same road DMX was arrested doing 104 mph in Dec. 2004.

_________________