T.I. has decided to kick labelmate and new artist AlfaMega out of Grand Hustle after learning that the rapper cooperated with the federal government. The rapper made the announcement on the radio HOT 107.9 in Atlanta late Thursday night.
“I am stunned and totally surprised by the news about Alpha ‘Ced’ Zellers. Even though all our artists and employees are asked by us to be honest and open about their past history, at no time did Alpha never disclose to me or Grand Hustle which is now appearing in the news,” T.I. said, reading from a prepared statement. “He essentially deceived us by failing to fully disclose information about his past, and there is no place in our organization for dishonest and misleading behavior.”
Alfamega was sentenced to a federal prison term of 110 months in September 1995, after being found guilty of selling weapons to an undercover federal agent. Zellars “agreed to cooperate with authorities and was debriefed” about the criminal activity of several individuals. In particular, he was debriefed concerning the drug trafficking activities of a Mr.Ali Baaqar, according to a government court filing. During his cooperation against Baaqar, Zellars met with a DEA agent and a federal prosecutor, and he also testified at trial. Baaqar was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin based upon the trial testimony of Zellars and others. In return for his testimony, Zellars had 18 months removed from his original sentence and was resentenced in July 1997.
T.I. said that he wished his former artist well, but said he wouldn’t help in his growth as an artist or person.
“As I’ve always said, you must take responsibility for your own actions. We at Grand Hustle cannot support or condone blaming others for our own mistakes. I hope that he prays to God bless his plans, but I don’t for see me or my company playing a role in his personal or professional business.”
Prior to his court records being released, Alfamega was preparing to release his Grand Hustle debut ‘I Am Alfamega’ sometime this year.
According to various sources, the rapper is said to be convalescing in an Atlanta hospital after an altercation with police.
Irv Gotti Drops Ashanti From Murder Inc
It seems that the end has come for the Princess of Murder Inc. After a very terrible selling last album and a highly publicized relationship with rapper Nelly, the CEO Irv Gotti and Ashanti have departed ways.
Ashanti was once a top tier R&B act, but after taking fours years off, she wasn’t able to recapture the success she’s had in the past with last year’s return, ‘The Declaration.’
The Princess of Irv Gotti’s The Inc. label is now a free agent. Gotti recently revealed, during an interview with MTV, that he and
Ashanti haven’t spoken in a long while, and he’s finally dropped her from his label.
“The relationship has run its course,” Gotti said. “The chemistry of what’s needed — we’re in two totally different places. You’re talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist — 503,000. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up.”
According to Gotti, he had no input in last year’s album from Ashanti, and that’s the reason the project was her first studio album to not reach platinum sales.
Gotti says she strayed away from her winning formula, resulting in her worse effort to date.
“I personally believe for her to be successful, it took the energy … when you seen her, it was 30 n****s around her, and she’s the princess so nice and pretty walking through,” he said. “The music was great, but it was the energy that was created. It wasn’t just her standing there and singing a song.”
“We don’t really speak or talk or anything like that,” he continued. “It’s sad in a way. But in another, it’s like it’s all good.”
Gotti went on to say that Ashanti needs “some guidance” to reach the success she saw in the beginning of career, and without that, he doesn’t feel she can win.
“I don’t think she can win. She needs some guidance with that,” Gotti added. “But she’s not thinking like that. Really, I couldn’t tell you what she’s thinking. So that relationship has run its course and honestly, I’m gonna just drop her.”
Rick Ross Defends His Trick Daddy lyrics In “Valley Of Death”
It seems that the off and on again relationship with Rick Ross and Trick Daddy has taken another turn in this mysterious “beef.” One week there’s no beef and the next, they’re blasting each other on the radio and other various media outlets.
Rick Ross and Trick Daddy clearly aren’t on the great terms they once were. Weeks ago, Trick told MTV News that he was disgusted that Ross would mention his name disparagingly in the song “Valley of Death” from ‘Deeper Than Rap.’
“Very first line he called Trick Daddy stupid/ Said he had AIDS, telling people it’s lupus,” Ross raps about a letter he received from a friend in prison.
“I think it’s pretty much clear,” Ross said recently in Miami about the line. “It is what it is. Like I say, I received a letter, and, you know, I feel like when it comes to a situation like this, I don’t know, [Trick’s health] situation. I didn’t feed into it. It was a letter. It is what it is.”
Trick told MTV News that Ross has known about his lupus for more than 12 years. On Wednesday morning, Trick reiterated his harsh feelings toward Ross when he called into Angela Yee’s Shade 45 radio program.
“I’d like to apologize for my kid’s misbehaving in class. … I let Ross start eating table food too fast,” Trick joked to Yee. “When you don’t raise your kids, they will throw their hands up at you.”
Ross admitted that him and Trick haven’t been on the same page.
“Right now, I feel like over the last year, I got to see a lot of the people that was halfway down,” the Bawse said when asked about the status of his and Trick’s onetime friendship. “I’m finnin’ to play it like we do in the streets. Everybody who I feel was halfway down, praying on the Bawse’s downfall, I feel they gonna have to answer for that. I’mma most definitely address it. I’mma keep addressing it. That’s why it’s always best to be 100 from the jump. Be real from the jump. People I show respect to ain’t got nothing to do with money and power and fame. I just keep it 100. It is what it is, and we gonna wait and see.”
It seems like the root of the problems with Ross and Trick is the picture of a teenage Ross at a correctional officers graduation ceremony that popped up online last summer. It was rumored that Trick Daddy leaked the picture. Trick denied that rumor last year and blamed some members of the press.
“You know how the media go,” Trick said last July. “I’m just surprised it comes from so many so-called professional people that they would even involve my name in that. I had nothing to do with that from day one. They don’t need to make up lies like I leaked pictures or I’m beefing with Plies and Rick Ross. Definitely not Rick Ross — that’s my homeboy.”
“When the Trick Daddy speculation came up, I was on tour. I gave him a call,” Ross said during an April BET special named after his album. “Gangster to gangster. I wanna check your temperature. I know Trick Daddy, if he did do it, he wouldn’t tell me. … He knows what would come of that. So, most definitely, he denied it. I respected it, cool.”
Can this be resolved???
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