Bubba Sparxxx Owes Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars To Government

by SLAVA KUPERSTEIN

UPDATE: Bubba Sparxxx can be added to the who's who list of people who owe money to Uncle Sam.

Bubba Sparxxx is now officially a member of a group with a dubious distinction: emcees who are in tax debt.

Like Bow Wow, Nas, Mase, Lil' Kim, and many others before him, Bubba owes back taxes.

TMZ.com reports that Timbaland's former artist owes $29,266.88 in back taxes from 2006. Originally, the amount was only $15,000, but interest and fees have accrued, doubling what the rapper owed.

The State of Georgia is now reportedly garnishing the rapper's wages through BMI, taking $3,622.45 since March of this year thus far. BMI is responsible for sending out royalties to artists, and the amount garnished was all the money Bubba was owed during that period.

Sparxxx's camp has yet to comment on the matter.

[June 24]

UPDATE: While Bubba Sparxxx owes $30,000 in back taxes to Georgia, the former Beat Club rapper actually owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Federal Government.

"I was having a good time and just wasn't attentive to a lot of issues," he told TMZ. My main issue was Mr. Tax Man, which I neglected because of doing things I had no business doing.

"This past year I have now changed all of that. I have stopped partying and hanging out ... I got a tax lawyer and a business accountant to get my tax situation handled," he continued. "I plan on paying my debt with my new album."

Mary J. Blige Says Appearing In Burger King Ad Was A "Mistake"

by STEVEN J. HOROWITZ

Mary J. Blige admits that participating in the controversial Burger King campaign

Mary J. Blige caused controversy when she appeared in a Burger King commercial, inciting reactions that deemed the advertisement as racist. MJB finally broke her silence on the controversy during an appearance on Hot 97’s The Angie Martinez Show, explaining that the backlash to the ad “broke my heart.”

"I just felt like there was no need for me to say anything, because everyone was crucifying me and going crazy,” she said. "I pulled back and watched everyone and everything, [because] it's just something that I thought would've been a great branding opportunity. I went online to listen to the remix that I did with Fat Joe, I'm looking for 'Another Round,' and all I could see is Burger King, chicken and buffoonery, and it just broke my heart.”

She explained that she understood why people would react to the commercial in that way, but was offended that some were making nasty comments about her when she wasn’t the culprit. Blige considered it a lesson in who her true friends really are.

"I understood the laughter and the jokes and the stuff that was happening — you're supposed to do that when something like that happens — but the thing that hurt me is when people were starting to say vicious, negative things that didn't have [anything] to do with that," she continued. "It exposed everyone and everything in my life and showed me who my friends are."

The Queen of Hip Hop/Soul acknowledges that it was a mistake for her to participate in the campaign, and that she was “crushed” by it for several days.

"It was a mistake and I did it because I thought it was something that wouldn't come out like that. No one had mercy, and it's cool, it was a learning experience. It hurt my feelings, it crushed me for two days, but after those two days, I got up and I kept going. I want to apologize to everyone that was offended or thought I would do something so disrespectful to our culture. I would never do anything like that purposely."

Snoop Dogg Busted With Weed In Norway

by Grouchy Greg 

Snoop Dogg has run into issues with authorities in Norway over his drug of choice – marijuana.

According to TMZ.com, Snoop was busted at an airport In Norway this morning 8 grams of marijuana on his person, at the Kjevic Airport in Kristiansand.

Snoop, who reportedly cooperated with authorities, was fined $1,980 and released from custody.

The internationally known rapper is in the country, booked to perform at the Hove Festival.

Wyclef Jean Set To DJ In NYC For Fourth of July; Lil Jon Also Part Of Arrival Fest Lineup

by Seandra Sims 

Former Fugees member Wyclef Jean will take a step away from the microphone and the guitar next week to play DJ for the Fourth of July.

Housed at New York City’s picturesque The Waterfront on Pier 92, “ARRIVAL: An All-Day Rooftop Beach Party” will be deejayed by Wyclef Jean, along with appearances from superstar producer and rapper, Lil Jon, and well-known Australian DJs, Hook N Sling, who produced “The Best Thing” and “Gotta Make a Move”.

ARRIVAL concertgoers will also see performances from Ken Loi, known for his LMFAO remixes, The EC Twins, electronic up and comer Serge Devant. Fans will want to stay through the end of the night for the 40,000-light Macy’s “Ignite the Night” display over the Hudson River – billed as the best fireworks show in America.

Event planners will donate a portion of the event’s proceeds to the Hudson River Park Trust partnership, aimed at constructing and beautifying the historic Hudson River Park.

Tickets for the “ARRIVAL: An All-Day Rooftop Beach Party” are available now at www.ARRIVALnyc.com. 

Quincy Jones Calls Diddy Musically Illiterate

by Sydney Lace 

Legendary producer Quincy Jones wants Diddy to learn his craft. During the launching of Spotify’s new app yesterday, Jones told Bruno Mars that, “P. Diddy wouldn’t know a B-flat if it hit him.“ Coming from one of the most respected producers in history, that’s got to hurt!

Jones, who has worked with everyone from Michael Jackson to Ray Charles, went on to say, “P. Diddy has a doctorate in marketing…. He’s got clothes companies and Ciroc vodka.”

It’s obvious Jones has no love for Combs.

Although Quincy Jones was just speaking the truth, Diddy can’t read music like him, but he makes hits – point blank, period.

Magic Johnson, GMC launch new Atlanta-based cable network Aspire June 2012

 by Rodney Ho

Magic Johnson is investing major bucks into his new cable network Aspire. CREDIT: AP

Earvin “Magic” Johnson has spent a lot of time on TV over the years, as a Hall of Fame point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA analyst and for a brief moment in time, a TV talk show host.

Now he is now working behind the scenes, launching his own Atlanta-based cable network called Aspire that will focus on family-friendly programming.  It debuts Wednesday, June 28, at 8 p.m. Johnson is a majority owner but is in partnership with Atlanta-based GMC, which carries its own brand of uplifting shows.

“I’m a great believer in partnerships,” Johnson said in a phone interview Monday. “If I didn’t partner with GMC, I wouldn’t be in the business. We needed someone with some expertise. I thought it was a natural fit.” The name of the network, he added, is meant to reflect the positivity he hopes will come out of the programming.

Aspire was created as part of an agreement with the Federal Communications Commissionwhen Comcast purchased NBC Universal. Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator with about 23 million subscribers, was required to start four minority-oriented networks.

I haven’t gotten much in the way of details when it comes to programming. It’s about 27  hours from launch, and my Comcast DVR schedule does not have Aspire up yet as an option.

On Monday, they sent out their first press release about programming: an original two-hour block of independent black features hosted by actor Omari Hardwick. In general, there will be a mix of films, documentaries, music and comedy.

Charles Humbard, president and CEO of GMC, said “Soul Train” repeats will be on the slate, partly because GMC is majority-owned by InterMedia Partners, which also has the rights to the classic music show. (Johnson has worked with InterMedia in the past.) Humbard also namedropped “I Spy,” the 1960s drama starring Bill Cosby. Otherwise, I do not know what’s on the schedule but will update this as I get more details.

Aspire will now enter an increasingly crowded sphere that already has BET, Centric, TV One and Atlanta-based Bounce, which launched just nine months ago. Humbard said the network will have access to about 7 to 10 million households out of the gate. (Locally, you’ll be able to find it on Comcast Channel 188.)

“They’re banking on Magic’s name and personality,” said Brad Adgate, head of research at Horizon Media. “Time will tell. It depends how good the programming is. There are a lot of choices out there.”

On the sales side, Magic was able to get category-exclusive deals with several advertisers, including Atlanta’s own Coca Cola, L’Oreal, Chrysler, Wal-Mart and Nationwide Insurance.

Johnson said the network did focus groups and found a hole in the market for family-friendly African-American programming. “Nobody is going to mess with BET. They’re doing a great job. We understand the other guys. But we feel good about where we are. Based on the research and homework, we have a great opportunity. If everyone was satisfied already, I wouldn’t be launching Aspire.”

Aspire, which is moving to offices in College Park next month, has hired 15 employees with a few more on the way. GMC’s former counsel Paul Butler was picked last month to be general manager of Aspire. Given the network’s limited marketing budget, it hopes to generate buzz not only through Johnson but through social media. It has hired two employees to workTwitter/Facebook magic.

Beats by Dre Black Market Favorite, Lil Wayne Talks New Headphones

Written by Dave

Dr. Dre's Beats By Dre are accordingy to police the crooks favorite thing to steal, along with iPhones. A few months ago in New York police busted a massive counterfeit ring that had over 4200 counterfeit Beats by Dre headphones. Showing their value on the black market. Also stolen Beats by Dre are very hard to trace back due to their lack of gps/seriel number system. The city's thugs have a new favorite to go with their stolen iPhones -- stolen Dr. Dre headphones. The legendary rapper's pricey, high-tech headphones, called Beats by Dr. Dre, are the new rage among bandits because they're seen as "status symbols," a police source said. Although they have yet to dethrone the iPhone as thieves' top target, the headphones -- which retail for $300 to $500 -- are being snatched from kids at an alarming rate since the latest model hit the market at around Christmas. "They're very hot among thieves," the source said. "It's like, 'I see it. I want it. I can have it. I'm taking it for me, or my sister needs a pair,' " the source said, adding that crooks also resell them. (New York Post) In north Brooklyn alone there have been dozens of Beats stolen in the past four months. Still, getting exact numbers on how many Beats have been lifted is tricky, as police suspect their thefts are underreported (since they are untraceable and are rarely insured). Anecdotal evidence and police sources, however, show a growing problem that has even spread into "trendy" neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights. That's where, on April 17, a teen had his Beats stolen--and was punched in the face for the trouble. (Gothamist) With all the headphone competition with the Beats by Dre, Snoop Dogg's Skullcandy's and SMS by 50 Cent to name a few. You would think the market was sewn up. NOPE. Lil Wayne is coming to the headphone game. While not giving much details, Lil Wayne said to MTV "Dr. Dre Beats, I've got my own beats coming out coming out soon. I get money.".