MTV's Hottest MC's In The Game VII has drawn to a close and their panel of "experts" has picked a winner for the MC they say had the biggest impact in 2011.

We'll start by listing the rappers who grabbed spots 6-10 in last week's voting.

10) Wale

9) Wiz Khalifa

8) Big Sean

7) Meek Mill

6) Jay-Z

 

Now for the top 5 as decided by the panel Sunday (February 19).

 

5) Lil Wayne

 

 

4) Nicki Minaj

 

 

3) Kanye West

 

 

2) Drake

1) Rick Ross

 

 

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/lil-wayne-kanye-west-rick-ross-nicki-minaj-drake-are-mtv-s-top-5

 

Roc Nation management has landed a huge international superstar in singer Shakira reports XXL. The Colombian beauty leaves Epic management to join Mark Ronson, Melanie Fiona, Rihanna, Santigold, The Ting Tings, Wale, Andrea Martin, Ester Dean, Lab Ox, NO ID, Samantha Ronson and Solange Knowles as artists managed by the house that Jay-Z built according to Roc Nation's official website.

Roc Nation is also the recording home of artists such as Willow Smith, Jay-Z, Bridget Kelly, Hugo, J. Cole, Jay Electronica, K. Koke and Rita Ora.

Shakira is the highest selling Colombian artist of all time having sold more than 60 million records worldwide. She has also won 12 Billboard Latin Music Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards and two Grammy Awards.

Her videos on youtube have surpassed one billion views, with "Waka Waka" closing in on 450 million views alone.

 

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/shakira-signs-to-roc-nation-management

 

 

 

Scott Storch has once again been popped for cocaine possession. The man behind hits like "Lean Back," "Just A Lil Bit" and "Candy Shop" was caught February 4th in Las Vegas according to TMZ.

Cops found a baggie containing 2.7 grams of coke in a trash can after receiving a tip from security at the Cosmopolitan Hotel that Storch tried to hide his stash in there.

Police were initially called to the hotel after receiving a complaint that the producer wouldn't pay for his room. After his arrest he was booked and released on $5000 bond.

Storch has been in recovery since 2005 when he blew his entire $30 million dollar fortune on drugs, cars and cribs.

 

 

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/scott-storch-busted-for-cocaine-possession-in-las-vegas

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, has died. She was 48. Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unclear.

At her peak in the 1980s and '90s, Houston the golden girl of the music industry and one of the world's best-selling artists.

Among her hits were "How Will I Know," "Saving All My Love for You" and "I Will Always Love You." She won multiple Grammys including album and record of the year.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies like "The Bodyguard."

But by the end of her career, drug use took its toll as her record sales plummeted and her voice became raspy and hoarse.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-02-11/whitney-houston/53053070/1

 

Imagine waking up every morning knowing that someone is not only using your government name and life story, but also profiting from them. That's the nightmare Freeway Rick Ross, the former drug kingpin is living.

In his ongoing battle to wrestle his name away from the Miami rapper born William Leonard Roberts II, Freeway Rick was in a Miami court last week, to give his deposition along with Roberts in their trademark dispute over the name Rick Ross according to AllHipHop.

Freeway Rick initially filed a $10 million lawsuit in the United States District for Southern California against Roberts, Def Jam and Universal Music Group accusing them of copyright infringement and profiting off of his name illegally. The case was dismissed.

"In support of his trademark claims, Plaintiff alleges that his name was well known in the drug trade and by law enforcement segments of the urban crime, rap and black comity because he did business as Rick Ross, until he was arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated in federal prison," said the court. "Because this illegal activity cannot be used to establish secondary meaning, such allegations do not provide support for Plaintiff having a valid trademark for his name."

Freeway Rick appealed the case in state court and it is now moving forward.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, Freeway Rick alleges Roberts was initially shook when he thought goons might be coming his way, but now that he sees Freeway Rick doesn't live his life that way anymore he's become disrespectful.

"[He] treated me as if I had done something to him," Ross said. "When he first came to me, he didn't know what position I was going to take, if I was going to send a word out to those young cats out in L.A. or not. That put a little fear in his heart. But now that he knows I'm not carrying it like that, he's a little more courageous right now. "[He] has my name tattooed on his hand."

Freeway Rick has turned his life around and doesn't like the message Roberts is sending kids.

"The first thing that I want to do is I have to help eliminate and erase the mindset that I helped to create," Ross said. "I know I have a lot of work to do, but the first step is to eliminate this guy from going around telling people how great it is to sell drugs."

The case is continuing.

 

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/the-real-freeway-rick-ross-still-in-court-trying-to-get-his-name

 

 

 

 

When Nate Dogg died in March 2011 he left behind a $300,000 medical bill at a treatment facility he stayed in from 2008-2010 after suffering a massive stroke.

CareMeridian rehabilitation facilities sued Nate's estate and a record label owner named David Michery to recoup the costs. A judge agreed with CareMeridian and ordered the bill be paid by Michery and Nate's estate.

Michery tells TMZ he originally agreed to pay the bill in 2010 only because "none of Nate's so-called rapper friends" would help. Michery claims that CareMeridian told him Nate's life depended on him getting the rehabilitation they could provide.

"I was the only person who would come forward because I didn’t want him to die," Michery told TMZ. "Me and Nate have 20 years history together and I did what everyone should have done and tried to save his life ... not let him get kicked out in the streets and die. I would do it again in a minute. I just wish that the people he looked out for all these years and the people who claim to love him so much would help out."

Michery says he owns several unreleased Nate Dogg songs, and will sell those to pay off his medical bills.

One of Nate's good industry friends was rapper/producer Warren G. He denies turning his back on the singer.

"I rode with Nate 'til the end," Warren said. "I did what I could do for him with other things financially. If I was able to pay for his hospital bill, I would have. I made several calls to numerous people for help. I love Nate ... he's my brother."

TMZ said they called several other rapper who were supposed to be close to Nate and didn't get a reply back.

 

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/record-executive-david-michery-claims-none-of-nate-dogg-s-rapper

 

The NYDailyNews writes:

Beyonce and Jay-Z want to control any green made off their beloved baby Blue.

The proud parents filed a Jan. 26 application to trademark the name "Blue Ivy Carter," their infant daughter's now world-famous moniker.

Queen B and her rap mogul hubby are asking for exclusive rights to use the name in connection with cosmetics, recordings, baby products, clothing, toys, video games and motion picture films, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

The move came after New Jersey clothing designer Joseph Mbeh filed but later abandoned a request to trademark "Blue Ivy Carter NYC."

Mbeh, 35, originally wanted to slap the name on a line of children's clothing, even going so far as to submit images of sample products with "Blue Ivy Carter NYC" tags.

But he ditched his application Jan. 24, a day before officials issued a tentative denial.

"I'm a business man. I was trying to foster a relationship with them, not capitalize on their daughter," Mbeh told the Daily News Thursday. "We're big fans of them, and we were shocked they didn't immediately protect the name. We were trying to get the trademark for them before someone else did, with the possibility of doing business with them."

He said his company already "ghost designs" for lots of famous brands, and bad press surrounding his filing caught him off guard.

"They're new parents, and I could just imagine how they felt getting the information in the press. We don't need bad energy around us, it wasn't our goal," he said.

Trademark officials also tentatively smacked down a Queens company called CBH By Benton Clothier that filed paperwork Jan. 20 asking for a trademark on "Blue Ivy Carter Glory IV."

The company wants to use the name for cosmetics products including bubble bath and pet fragrances..

Company owner Cazell Benton did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. He has six months to answer the denial.

"Blue Ivy Carter (is) a famous infant whose parents are singer Beyonce and rap artist Jay-Z," the denial letter sent Feb. 2 said. "Thus there will be a presumption, though incorrect, that a line of cosmetics bearing the name Blue Ivy Carter is connected with the child."

 

http://www.thisis50.com/profiles/blogs/beyonce-and-jay-z-trademark-daughter-blue-ivy-carter-s-name-to-us