Hearing problems have reportedly been behind some of Foxy Brown's discipline issues while in jail, and now the rapper is asking to be released from prison early to seek treatment for her condition.
Foxy, whose real name is Inga Marchand, is currently serving a year-long sentence for violating her probation in connection with a 2004 assault charge.
Since being in jail, she was thrown in solitary confinement for bad behavior, which she alleged was due to her hearing problem and a battery-operated hearing device that was working improperly.
According to the Associated Press, Brown is seeking the early release so she can travel to a Los Angeles clinic and "have her cochlear implant reprogrammed and repaired or else face imminent harm to her hearing."
The rapper has already had two failed hearing surgeries.
"Ms. Marchand does not want to risk such a sensitive and complicated process to centers that have failed her in the past," the petition says.
In a handwritten letter that was submitted as part of the appeal, Brown said she is worried about her well-being.
"I ask you to please take into consideration that my health is in jeopardy," Brown wrote.
Brown's lawyer, Laura Dilimetin, claims her client's music career is also at stake.
"If her hearing is damaged any further, it will affect the way she hears and it will affect the way she sings," Dilimetin said. "It will have dire consequences on her ability to maintain her profession and livelihood."
No court date has been set as of yet to discuss Foxy's request. She is asking to be released by Jan. 30.
Brown's latest album, Brooklyn's Don Diva, is scheduled to hit the streets on Feb. 5.
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Lupe Fiasco is only two albums deep into his budding rap career, but he continues to talk of retirement plans after his next album.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the eclectic Chi-town rapper says there is an 85 percent chance that his next CD, tentatively titled LupEND, will be his last.
"This game wears on you. It tears you down," he said. "It's perpetual motion for some people who've achieved a level of independence, like Madonna and Jay-Z - they don't need to do music anymore. But there's people who need it. And in that need, that's when it's tough and it tears you to pieces."
In a previous interview with SOHH, Lupe said "Im'a always perform until the day I die. It's just the industry of recorded music doesn't appeal to me."
Although his contract with Atlantic Records includes three more albums, the 25-year-old rapper is willing to take a loss by breaking his contract early.
And how does he expect to get out of his contract?
"There's renegotiations and all types of other plays and ploys that you can put into effect," he said. "I'll pay Atlantic back or whatever. It's like a student loan."
His second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, was released late in 2007, and landed at No. 15 and sold 250,00 copies thus far, according to Nielsen's SoundScan.
Though the skate boarding rapper is well-known for his rap posture that is closer to nerd than thug, The Cool centers around cinematic street tales, and Fiasco says he has the experiences to back them up. While he doesn't glorify guns or project himself as a scowling gangster, Fiasco said using weapons was part of staying alive in the ghetto.
"When the gangbangers would try to pull it, I was like, 'Yo, I will @#*$ you up," he said. "And if you wanna call your cousin, call him. I'll call me! I'll call me right now.' We were shooting TEC-9s when we were babies, so the whole gangsta image, that ain't nothing."
"When I was growing up, there was a crack house next door to us and they were trying to expand," he added. "My father was like, 'Are you serious?' He took his gun, walked next door, and said, 'You're done,' while I aimed my gun out of the window. I was 13 or 14 and to see that, a lot of the facade and the upkeep [of trying] to impress people was eliminated very early for me."
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Scott Scorch is apparently better at making beats than child support payments.
According to TMZ, the successful rap producer is behind on his monthly support payment for his child, Jalen, who will be 2 in April.
Dalene Daniel has filed a legal motion claiming that Storch is behind on this month's and last month's $7,500 payment, is "habitually late" in paying child support, and has bounced checks
The $7,500 payment may seem like a hefty amount, but it's measly compared to Storch's estimated income, which Forbes placed at $17 million for 2006, or $1.4 million a month.
Despite his substantial income, Storch is reportedly behind on more than just child support. According to a recent story in The New York Post, Storch owes $435,602 in back taxes on his house in Miami. He also never paid for a $7,500 painting he had on display in his home, prompting the Miami gallery owner to pay Storch a visit and reclaim the art.
At press time, Strorch has not commented on his financial situation.
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The UK's finest, multiple award-winning artist Estelle is back with 'Shine' - her stunning new album, set for release in May 2008. The first artist signed by US soul sensation John Legend, to his new Homeschool Records label, Estelle's new album features collaborations with Wyclef Jean, will.i.am, Swizz Beats, Mark Ronson and Kanye West, as well as a beautiful duet with John Legend. 'Shine' is a joint venture with Homeschool and Atlantic Records.
"I have known John for a while now...We worked on my first album '18th Day' before he was signed. He featured on 'Hey Girl', played piano on 'Free', and appeared in the video. As I went to do my second album I asked him to help exec-produce it. As I progressed with it, I left my label and he said he'd sign me... and here we are today! We always make great songs together. While I like and listen to a lot of musicians - there aren't many that I respect on a level to help me write songs or upgrade/push me as an artist... but John is one of them."
John Legend continues: "I'm thrilled to be a part of Estelle's career. This album is truly an accomplishment. She will be one of the most of exciting breakthrough talents of 2008. Mark my words." (Press Release)
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A Grammy-winning R&B singer from the popular '90s group Blackstreet was caught and jailed yesterday after a year-long search.
Chauncey Hannibal, a.k.a. Chauncey Black was captured in Los Angeles and extradited to Virginia Beach where he is currently being held without bond, according to the Associated Press. The singer faces charges of grand larceny, failure to pay child or spousal support and failure to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge.
The misdemeanor charge stems from a skipped court date back in September of '07. During that court date Black was scheduled to be sentenced for contempt of court and violating terms of his probation, according to online records.
He is also being held for grand larceny on a January 2007 warrant, according to police spokeswoman Margie Long.
Chauncey allegedly broke into a house on the Chesapeake Bay and made out with everything, including the kitchen sink. Apparently, after the singer was evicted in July, it is believed that he came back and looted and destroyed the property. The property owner filed a police report.
Virginia Beach City Jail spokeswoman Lisa Godley wouldn't say exactly how Black was caught or offer any other details.
Blackstreet was founded in 1992 by Teddy Riley, the artist who was already famous from his tenure with R&B group Guy. The group, best known for the hit singles "Before I Let You Go" and "No Diggity," reached the height of its success in 1997 earning a Grammy.
Blackstreet split in '99 over legal issues and when it got back together to release Level II in 2003, Chauncey was no longer a member.
The 39-year-old has not yet made a statement.
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In an up-coming interview with HHNLive.com, Ice Cube says that ideas are being tossed for a collaborative effort with Nas and Scarface.
When asked about a possible collaboration with Scarface, Ice Cube had this to say:
"Yeah you know…as a matter of fact we have been talking. Me and Scarface……and I think with Nas doing his release this year, we definitely can come up with something. Whether it’s touring, doing a track together or...Scarface, Ice Cube and Nas album would be (sighs). These are things that are definitely in the air right now and I guess you picked up on it..."
Ice Cube also went on to talk about whether or not he would be involved in Dr. Dre's final album "Detox":
"If he calls me I’ll definitely go work on it. But I don’t have any plans."
And how does Ice Cube feel about Barack Obama? Does he support the Democratic "rock star"?:
"I want to see him win. Just because I want to see if it’s better for minorities. For that I want to see him win. But no matter who wins we still have to get up and go to work in the morning. No one is going to tell us to stay home so in that sense we all still have to get the f*ck up and go to work in the morning no matter who’s in there. No one is going to pay your bills for you. Life moves on".
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