Akon Accused of Fabricating his Criminal Past

New York, NY. – We’ve all known about the troubled past of Akon as his lyrics depict the pain and suffering he went through in prison. Upon his initial release, he used his past to push his career into the future and how we see him today. Recently, an article was published by ‘The Smoking Gun’ website sometime last month that Akon might have fabricated his criminal past just to push his character. They are stating that he only stole a single car and served little time in an Atlanta jail. Apparently, they are using the confessions of Atlanta police and court corrections records.

In several interviews the leader of the Konvict movement has always claimed that he once was an infamous carjacker and he ran his own carjacking ring that secured four chop shops that catered to celebrities and drug dealers. He told reporters that the music changed his life around and that it is keeping out of prison. He recently spoke to MTV News as they confronted him about the published article by ‘The Smoking Gun.’ MTV is stating that he didn’t directly come out and deny the article; his belief is that it hasn’t done any damage to his career.

These were his comments to MTV News:

“It’s an article, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions and views. At the end of the day, the Konvict movement is keeping me out of jail. It’s nothing I want to glorify or go back to. Honestly, I’m glad something like that came out, because it opens the minds of other people who’re thinking positive.”

He continues to add:

“We’re doing so many positive things, to go back and focus and put energy on negative things like that, to try to discredit an artist, it makes no sense to me. If there was a motive for it, it would be worth entertaining. I’d rather keep it the way it is and leave the article out there. It only helps me. It’s not something I was trying to glorify or turn back to. It was something I was trying to forget. Actually, it worked out for me in a positive way.”

At press time, Akon is still in the process of completing his long-awaited album, ‘Acquitted.’ It follows the storyline of court proceedings dealing in his life. As always, the album has been pushed back to an unsecured release date.

Keep posted to 24hourhiphop.com for updated news on Akon’s new album.

I honestly respect him in not getting upset about an article or a journalist’s opinion sort of say. We as journalists, at the end of the day, have a job to do. I’m not quite sure it was a good idea to publish something that will hurt his career, but I guess that’s showbiz. Either way, even if his past isn’t real, his music is still phenomenal.


DMX Pleads Not Guilty

Phoenix, AZ – After being arrested last week of charges of drug possession and animal cruelty, there was a brief court hearing where DMX pleaded not guilty. The court hearing was held on Thursday, where he even arrived late.

Upon apprehension at his home in Cave Creek, Arizona, he was indicted on 11 felony counts of marijuana possession and 7 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. All these stem from a raid on his home in August of last year. We’ve all known DMX to have a crazy extensive rap sheet, it seems like the former Ruff Ryder apparently enjoys tangling with the law.

At press time, X is currently signed under Bodog Music Group is still in the process of completing his seventh studio album. He goes on to state that there will be a two album release, one being Gospel and the other being traditional Hip-Hop. He has incorporated mega beat producers in his new album, one rumored to be the infamous Dr. Dre. The album is currently titled ‘Walk with Me Now And You’ll Fly with Me Later.’ There is no current set release date, but as soon as 24hourhiphop.com acquires a secured date, you’ll be the first to know.

I’ve been saying it since last year, X needs to calm his ass down. All these arrests and court proceedings isn’t doing anything but costing him major amounts of money and causing his repetition with his fans to deter further. Hopefully this new album will take us back to his roots when he was still hungry, when ‘It’s Dark and Hell is Hot’ became an instant Hip-Hop classic.


T.I. & Tiny Welcomes New Arrival to their Family

Atlanta, GA – Recently, even with all the legal issues floating about and the process of completing his next album, T.I. and girlfriend, Tiny kept their spirits high as they welcomed a new edition to their family. Tiny gave birth to a healthy baby boy of 5lbs. and 15 oz. after midnight Friday morning.

The happy parents named the child Major Harris and this is the couple’s second child between them, however this is T.I.’s fifth child. The couple already has a three year old named King Harris.

24hourhiphop.com congratulates both T.I. and Tiny on the new edition to their family.

At press time, T.I. is in the process of completing his sixth studio album, ‘Paper Trail.’ Sources have confirmed that while under house arrest he is still avidly recording on a day to day basis. He has confirmed over 50 recorded tracks, but states that he only likes 16 so far. Confirmed producers working on the project, at present moment, include J.R. Rotem, DJ Toomp, Danja Handz, Timbaland, Kanye West, and Mannie Fresh.

Keep posted to 24hourhiphop.com for more updated news on ‘Paper Trail.’


In related news, there are rumors circulating about that another Atlanta native, Shawty Lo, has recently asked anyone in the A-Town to provide him with T.I.’s high school yearbook picture to further prove that T.I. is not originally from Bankhead. A video was released on May 16 with Shawty Lo making the request. Recently, Shawty Lo expressed his feud with T.I.P. in his last single ‘Dunn, Dunn,’ where he omitted some choice words. T.I. retaliated with his own diss track called ‘You Done It Now,’ while on his most recent digital single ‘No Matter What’ he also states ‘So you up and coming rappers wanna diss, just kill it. I’m officially the realest, point blank, period.’ Shawty Lo is offering cash to anyone that brings him that requested yearbook picture.

Congrats to both T.I. and Tiny on the birth of their child. Okay now on to this ATL beef, on the real, does it matter where anyone is from anymore? I mean let’s be honest, after people make it big and their finances gross increase they are entitled to move out of the hood while they have rights to still rep that hood to the fullest, it is human nature.