Busta Rhymes' recent arrest for driving with a suspended license has caused a judge to withdraw a plea offer that would have allowed him to escape jail time over two assault charges.

In one case, Rhymes, born Trevor Smith, is accused of assaulting his former driver Edward Hatchett during a dispute over back pay. In the other, Rhymes allegedly assaulted a fan that spit on his Maybach as it passed by in Manhattan, after an Aug. 12 performance on Randalls Island.
Today (Mar. 26), Judge Tanya Kennedy withdrew an offer made on Feb. 20, which would have allowed Rhymes to plead guilty to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

The offer would have required Rhymes to serve five days of community service, two weeks of youth lectures and six months of anger management classes.

Rhymes, 34, was allegedly prepared to accept the offer today, but Judge Kennedy withdrew the deal, because the rapper was arrested on Feb. 22 for driving in Manhattan with a suspended license.

He was arrested just two days after he rejected a plea bargain from prosecutors, who originally offered Rhymes six months in jail.

Today, prosecutors offered Rhymes a new offer that would have allowed him to avoid a trial - but called for the rapper to serve one year in jail concurrently for both of the assault charges.

Rhymes, who rejected the offer, is scheduled to stand trial on the assault charges starting May 8
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Jay-Z could be fired from his role as CEO of Def Jam Records after demanding a ‘several million’ salary...

The hip hop star’s contract is up for renewal this year but label bosses, like Island/Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid, aren’t happy with Jigga’s huge pay demands.

"Jay is asking for several million as a base salary plus big bonus 'bumps' on records that do well. Reid isn't going for it. They're miles apart," a source told the New York Daily News.

Reid is said to be questioning how much time Jay-Z can spend on the label after coming out of retirement to restart recording and touring. He is also reportedly jealous of the attention the rapper receives.

When Jay walks into a meeting, he sucks the air out of the room,” a source said. "Even without trying. At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame awards, Jay and L.A. were sitting at the same table. But it was like L.A. was invisible.”
Since becoming CEO of Def Jam, Jay-Z has signed acts including Ne-Yo, Rihanna and Teairra Mari to the label.

Source: www.chocolatemagazine.co.uk
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