The Beats, Rhymes and Life section is in full effect. Big ups must go out to Buddah M.A.C. for some of the news shown here. Plus we do get news from Sohh.com, MTV.com.

50 Cent, was shot once in each leg and once in the jaw Wednesday in New York City. He is in stable condition at Jamaica Hospital in Queens. Police spokesperson Det. Joseph Pentagelo confirmed that 50 Cent and an associate, 22-year-old Alton Brown, were sitting in a parked car in the Jamaica section of Queens, when an unknown assailant pulled up beside them in a blue General Motors car and fired nine shots with a 9MM handgun. Brown sustained a gunshot wound to the hand. The assault occurred at 11:22 AM. After the shooting, the victims drove themselves to the hospital, which isn’t far from the crime scene. Fifty's injuries are not life threatening, said Hospital spokesperson Michael Hink, who added that he was about to go into surgery in the early evening. Brown, Pentangelo said, was treated and released. The suspect is described as a Black male in a black short-sleeve shirt with a stocky build.

Moka Only will be releasing a solo LP on Battle Axe records in the summer. It will feature Swollen Members, Sunspot Jonz, City Planners and more and from the cuts I've heard, will be hot. The title is something alone the lines of 'Lime Green.'

DJ Genius won the Vancity leg of the DMC championships, he will go onto represent Vancouver at the Canadian DMC finals. He fucking ripped it, very much outshining his competitors. In DC, DJ Precious won the DC DMC leg, and will go onto the US DMC finals. All the legs will result in national competitions and then they will go onto the international competition in the millennium dome, in England.

Non-Phixion just hit the studio to record tracks with Def Tones and Kid Rock for their upcomming full lenght album. Word has it that Matador Records will stronglly back Non-Phixion in an effort to blow them up.

Yusef, of The Nonce who emerged in 1995 with the hit "Mix Tapes", was found dead alongside the 110 Freeway in South Central-Los Angeles. Certain reports state that it could have been an act of suicide, but others are speculating that due to the surrounding neighborhood of where his body was found, it may have been murder. There is also a possibility that the artist tripped and fell, or was forced off a remote freeway underpass and causing him to fall to his death. When his body was discovered, sources say that it was difficult to identify him due to the length of time that he was lying at the site. With very little info and no possible leads at this time, investigators are searching for any possible clues in this tragic loss. R.I.P.

Capone & Noreaga have finally finished their second album 'The Reunion.' The album will feature appearances from Nas, Mobb Deep, Nokio and members from Noreaga's Thugged Out Entertainment. There will also be production from DJ Premier, EZ-Elpee, The Alchemist, Dame Grease and others. The first single from the album will be 'Bang, Bang' featuring Foxy Brown, who is calling out Lil' Kim on her verse. Word is that Kim has heard the track and is recording her response now, but Foxy and CNN already have a remix in the bag to throw back at Kim. Get ready for a catfight! Look for the CNN album in August.

Black Rob was arrested in New York City on Sunday morning and charged with drug and weapons possession after being pulled over on Manhattan's Upper West Side. According to a spokesperson Black Rob, and another man, Kwamie Thomas, were taken into custody after undercover narcotic officers spotted a handgun inside the car Rob was driving. Rob had apparently pulled the car over to sign autographs for fans when police allegedly saw the rapper pass a .22-caliber handgun to Thomas. The undercover officers called in a uniformed arrest team, who discovered the gun and several tablets of what was suspected to be the drug Ecstasy during a search of the car. Rob and Thomas have both been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. "He's facing seven years in prison," a spokesperson for the New York District Attorney's office told MTV News. His bail has been set at $10,000 but whether he has been released is still unknown. He is, however, scheduled to return to court on Friday, May 26, 2000.

Planet Asia has signed with Interscope for a pretty dope deal. I can't specify on the details but it's definitely better than what he would have got had he gone with the other label that wanted him. Also, be sure to peep the forthcoming 12" (which was supposed to have already been released) with Asia & Kweli produced by Eclipse 427, and keep your eyes pealed for the new Planet Asia EP, what I've heard of it is hot.

Contrary to excessive rumours, Last Emperor is still on Interscope. However, he was dropped off of Aftermath.

BC heads be sure to check out the following performances :

Fourth World Occupants Monday, May 22nd, 2000

Bookworm & J-StaRRRrrr!!! (Awkward Why?)
Monday, May 29th, 2000

Wildlife Canada
Monday, June 5th, 2000

Birdapres
Monday, June 12th, 2000

Context (@ The Lotus Lounge)
455 Abbott Street, Vancouver
Tickets: 5$ at the door before 10pm, 7$ after
Age: 19 & over, ID required
Info: context@hiphopca.com

Some exclusive news from Evidence himself...Erick Sermon made a remix of 'The Platform.' It won't be released on the album or as a single, but according to Evidence it should recieve major radio attention and airplay.

And some more exclusive news from Mr. Len...the rumoured Company Flow and Blackstar single was just that, a rumor. According to Len there was never a plan for them to collaborate on a 12" single. He also said that most emcees can't and don't like to rhyme over the beats from 'Little Johnny From The Hospital.' Len also told Hitman that to this day he doesn't even know what Sole looks like

For those interested, the archives from tha-real.com which were erased in February of 2000 will be available for purchase on CD Rom. They will go for $25 + s+h and will include over 1000 songs in real audio along with other contents from the site and some other goodies. If you're interested, email archives@tha-real.com

Ice-T has connected with Fox Interactive to voice the main character in their new PC game, 'Sanity: Aiken's Artifact.' The game takes place 30 years in the future where the main character, Nathaniel Cain, is an agent with psionic mental powers who is sent to capture criminals with the same mental abilities. The game is set to be released this fall.

Black Thought has finished shooting his feature film acting debut in 'Brooklyn Babylon.' The film's production company, Offline Productions, told MTV News that the picture is in post production right now and will premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival. No dates have been announced for domestic opening yet. In the movie, Black Thought plays "Sol," a Rastafarian who falls in love with an Orthodox Jewish girl who lives in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. Newcomer Karen Goberman plays the female lead (see "The Roots Play Free Show For Black Thought's 'Brooklyn' Film"). Black Thought wasn't the only Roots member to get involved with 'Brooklyn Babylon;' Rahzel took on the duties of narrating the film. An all-star list of musicians also make cameos in the film, either as actors or performers. Some of the faces you will see include Spragga Benz, Bounty Killer, Scare Dem Crew, Mad Cobra, Common, Lord Jamar from Brand Nubian, M-1 from Dead Prez, Slick Rick (who plays as a music executive), and Yosi Piamenta (the "Jewish Jimi Hendrix") as himself. The "Brooklyn Babylon" soundtrack will include new material from The Roots as well as Me'Shell N'degeocello, Common, Lenny Kravitz, and Soultronix (a side project of D'Angelo and ?uestlove).

Blaze magazine has shut down after just under 2 years of circulation.

DMX turned himself in on Wednesday, to authorities in a Buffalo suburb. A March warrant was issued for his arrest in Cheektowaga, NY, after he missed a court date. On March 3rd, he was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license and marijuana possession. The court date was set for March 21st, but DMX didn't go to court because it conflicted with his tour schedule. He plead guilty on Wednesday to all the charges and was sentenced to 15 days in prison with no bail. He was also ordered to pay $100 for the marijuana possession charge and $200 for not having a driver's license. After after being transferred to a Buffalo, NY holding cell, authorities found more marijuana in his cigarette pack. He was then re-arrested and fined $250. DMX would have be out in 15 days. But, DMX was quickly released that same evening. Lawyers appealed the sentences that he was handed down, stating that it was too "excessive".

The first single from Big L's 'The Big Picture' will be 'Flamboyant'/'On The Mic', produced by Mike Heron and DJ Roc Raida. It will hit stores on May 30, Big L's birthday. L's LP will feature production from DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, Rondell, Show, Buckwild, and Lord Finesse and cameos from O.C., Guru, Sadat X and Kool G Rap.

Plans are underway for the Rock Steady Anniversary this summer. Rock Steady 2000 will take place in New York from July 27th-30th and will feature different activities. Scheduled for Thursday July 27th is an Underground Celebrity Basketball Tournament that will include folks like the TATS CRU, TC5, Rock Steady Crew, New York City Breakers, The Executioners, among others plus an emcee battle hosted by Q-Unique of The Arsonists.

Gee Street Records closed its doors last month, many of the artists on the roster moved directly to V2 Records. In a surprsing turn of events, V2 has now closed its urban department, leaving artists and affiliated labels such as D&D Records out in the cold. Calls to V2 were not returned, but word on the street is that a deal between Tragedy and R&B artist Olu could not be agreed on, prompting both artists to leave the label. After that incident, the label's roster consisted only of D&D artists Afu-Ra and QNC, which V2 felt wasn't good enough to keep the urban department afloat.

Common released the internet only video, 'Heat' from 'Like Water For Chocolate,' on Okayplayer.com. Brian Meehan of Lock Down Entertainment directed the video for Internet-specific release. As a promotional extra, Okayplayer.com will give away a skateboard with Common's logo on it, as well as other Common merchandise

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