Jerome Almon, CEO of Detroit-based Murdercap Records, has filed a $900 million lawsuit in federal court against the government of Canada, the State Department, and US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice for "wholesale profiling" of rappers and African Americans.

For well over a decade, Almon and numerous rappers including 50 Cent, Eminem, and DMX, have either been turned away or faced lengthy interrogations at Canadian borders. Almon's suit, which was prepared by the chief of Detroit's ACLU ( The American Civil Liberties Union), alleges that Canada launched its attack on African Americans and rappers "in an effort to both blame them for the increased gang violence and gun murders in the cities of Toronto and Vancouver, as well as in retaliation for the alleged profiling of Canadian Muslims by the Bush administration."

The suit names 50 Cent, Olivia, DMX, Jay-Z, P. Diddy, Oprah Winfrey, Colin Powell, Toronto Mayor David Miller, Eminem , Condoleezza Rice and Spike Lee, among others, as witnesses.

Almon also alleges that "the State Department has in its possession secret internal Canadian investigative reports admitting that the country is worse at racial profiling than the US, yet, Secretary Rice has sided with the Canadian government against African Americans in what is destined to become 'The State Department's Katrina."

The label head claims that "the State Department hypocritically touts rap as the great American ambassador on its official web site, while selling out its top artists to a foreign government."

Last year, Canadian authorities sought to ban 50 Cent and other "gangster" rappers from perfoming in the country. Almon claims those same authorities also drew up Bills C-254 and Bills C-95 , which would ban all US rappers and their CD's out of Canada by categorizing hip-hop as hate speech.

Almon, who seeks to challenge the aforementioned bills, asserts that "confidential documents from the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the State Department, and members of the Canadian Parliament show a huge cover up and a blatant bribery attempt by the State Department and Canadian government during the 50 Cent Canadian tour debacle." Almon also alleges that Canada profiles U.S. rappers while protecting known terrorist such as the Khadr family, who are responsible for the killing and the planned killing of U.S. soldiers and civilians. He also claims Canada has a Rap Intelligence Unit that regularly trades information with the FBI.

"Hip-hop is a multi-billion dollar industry that has created millions of jobs in America, Canada, and worldwide. Not only does hip-hop drive the music business, but has moved fashion, movies, auto industry, and video games to an unprecedented level in sales," Almon explained to SOHH via a statement. "Canada rolls out the red carpet for artist like 50 Cent, Jay-Z, P.Diddy, DMX, Emimem, and The Blakkattakk when we are putting major cash into their economy,but then stabs us in the back when we come to make some bread doing shows."

"They let terrorist in,but seek to completely ban hip-hop (with Bill C-254)- you tell me how this makes sense?," continued Almon. " It won't stand. We ain't goin' back to the back of the bus, never. The Canadian government offered me a resident's permit to live in Canada and a bag of money if I would just lay down for them and put on a snitch jacket and say somethin' against the other rappers with records. The day I put on a snitch jacket for them motherfuckers is the day they put me in a hole."

Almon has called out House Judiciary head John Conyers to hold hearings on the issue and has also requested for an official Canadian inquiry. He plans to make several surprise announcements concerning a boycott, his legal representation, and a travel advisory , via a press conference at the National Press Club and through the Web site http://www.kkkanada.com

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Toni Braxton recently filed a lawsuit against her former manager, Barry Hankerson, claiming he owes her at least $10 million for signing the singer to his label under false pretenses.

"Hankerson actively sought to destroy Braxton's relationship with Arista through underhanded 'double-talk,' telling Braxton that Arista was not interested in working with her anymore, while telling Arista that Braxton no longer wanted to record for Arista," states the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

In March 2003 the six-time Grammy Award winner ended her relationship with Arista where she was first signed in 1991. Braxton's debut self-titled CD on the label went on to sell 10 million copies. Each of her subsequent albums on Arista also achieved worldwide platinum or multi-platinum status.

In the lawsuit, Braxton accuses Hankerson of fabricating creative disputes over the selection of songs, producers and video directors. The lawsuit further alleges that after Hankerson secured the singer's release from all future recording obligations with Arista, he convinced her to let him issue a press statement saying she was leaving Arista for Blackground Records, his own record label.

Braxton also claims that she was duped into signing a multi-record deal with Blackground Records and was later deprived of her contractual rights by not receiving accounting statements and was misled about business deals Hankerson allegedly said he made.

According to Braxton's lawsuit, she made several attempts to fire Hankerson but he responded by engaging in a vendetta against her, insisting he remain her manager and refusing to communicate with any of the several managers she sought to employ. Hankerson could not be reached for comment.

In related news, The Essential Toni Braxton, a double disc collection of songs, including all 16 R&B singles from her years at Arista is slated to be released February 20th.
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The new season of MTV2’s Crank Yankers will offer the usual line up of characters, as well as a star-studded guest list featuring rappers Lil Jon and Chamillionaire.

The critically-acclaimed puppet prank call show premiered in 2002 on Comedy Central.

The show will make its debut on MTV2 with eight new episodes that include previous regulars like Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, Jim Florentine, Dave Chappelle, Dane Cook, Robert Smigel and Sarah Silverman.

In addition to Lil Jon and Chamillionaire, Good Charlotte, Andy Milonakis, Steve-O, Ryan Dunn and Nick Cannon will lend their voices to the puppets featured on the series.

“It was fun fu**ing with people on the phone,” Lil Jon told AllHipHop.com. "I'm always joking anyway and I have been a fan since day one. So I am glad they put me on the show.”

Crank Yankers will also get a new theme song, courtesy of rapper Rhymefest. The show premieres at 10 p.m. Feb. 9.

MTV2 will follow Crank Yankers with the new season of Celebrity Deathmatch.

The series --- which highlights battles between clay versions of musicians, actors, sports figures and movie stars --- will offer a new line up of fights for viewers.

Hip-Hop skirmishes include 50 Cent vs. The Game, Paul Wall vs. Mike Jones, Bow Wow vs. Lil Romeo and Lil Flip vs. Lil Wayne, as well as bouts featuring Owen Wilson vs. Evince Vaughn, Mischa Barton vs. Kristin Cavallari, Tobey Maguire vs. Jake Gyllenhaal, Hilary Duff vs. Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson vs. Nick Lachey.

The new season of Celebrity Deathmatch kicks off at 10:30 p.m. Feb. 9.