VIDEO: Snoop Lion to host BET Hip Hop Awards

The host for the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards is none other than Big Snoop Dogg a.k.a.Snoop Lion. If you'ever watch The Doggfather on his YouTube show GGN News, you'll know that he is hilarious. I think BET made a good choice.

 As far as the nominees, Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with a staggering 14 nods, including Lyricist of the Year, Best Live Performer and Best Hip Hop Video for"F*ckin Problems" along with A$AP Rocky, Drake and 2 Chainz.

Chris Brown Denies Hit-and-Run Allegations

News according to BET

The law never really seems to be on Chris Brown's side, but don't expect him to take his latest legal drama lying down. Brown is accused in a hit-and-run accident that could land him behind bars for probation violation; he is vehemently denying claims of wrongdoing.

The 24-year-old rear-ended a woman's Mercedes near Los Angeles last week, and reportedly refused to hand over his driver's license number, plus gave her fake insurance information. He went on to get peeved with the woman when she pressed him for an ID, before leaving the scene all together.

Beyonce talks about trip to Cuba and Blue Ivy

Jay-Z may have his "Open Letter," but Beyoncé’s response to the outcry over her and her hubby’s recent vacation in Cuba was much more traditional: a TV interview.
In a sit-down with ABC News’ Amy Robach on the London leg of her Mrs. Carter tour, Beyoncé talked about the trip, the reaction to it, family life and Blue Ivy’s future siblings.
Asked about the Cuba controversy, Beyoncé gushed over her experience in the Caribbean country, and said she was surprised by the reaction to it.

Lauryn Hill Sentenced to Three Months in Prison for Tax Evasion

Lauryn Hill paid off the tax man, but she has still been sentenced to serve three months in jail for tax evasion. She has also been ordered to serve an additional three months in home confinement for her mistakes.

The ex-Fugees singer paid up around $500,000 to the IRS to satisfy her state and federal tax bills, avoiding up to three years of additional jail time. Hill pleaded guilty last year of failing to pay her taxes, stating to the judge in an online blog post that she stopped filing around the time she withdrew from the spotlight to raise her six children.

"I also embraced my right to resist a system intentionally opposing my right to whole and integral survival," she said in the diatribe.

Hill didn't hold back on the acerbic rhetoric when addressing the judge presiding over her case today. "I needed to be able to earn so I could pay my taxes, without compromising the health and welfare of my children, and I was being denied that," she said somewhat vaguely.

It's not clear when Hill will report for serving her time or if she will evade imprisonment on a technicality.

UPDATE: Chris Kelly suspected to have died from drug overdose

Chris Kelly was using drugs leading up to his death, according to TMZ. New information surrounding the Kris Kross rapper's untimely passing reveals he was using a combination of cocaine and heroin known as "speedballs."

Kelly's mother, Donna Kelly Pratt, reportedly told police that her son had been high off the drug cocktail one night before he died. His mother and uncle went on to tell authorities of Kelly's "extensive history of drug use," according to a police report.

Paramedics were called to the 34-year-old's Atlanta home yesterday afternoon. They found Kelly unresponsive on the couch and unsuccessfully attempted to revive him. He was later transported to Atlanta Medical Center's south campus, where he was pronounced dead.

"The family is trying to get beyond what has happened and we've lost him," Kelly's ex-manager Mike Mauldin told Fox 5 News. "That's basically where we're at right now."

Medical examiners have yet to release an official cause of death, which may not be available for several weeks pending toxicology reports.

An autopsy was performed on Kelly's body this morning.

Yeezy Announces Album Release Date

Kanye West's forthcoming album officially has a release date. West is set to unveil his new project on June 18 — which also happens to be 10 days after his birthday.

In true Yeezy fashion, the Chicago MC tweeted "June Eighteen" early this morning, with no further explanation. The post sent his more than 9 million followers into a tailspin of speculation, until Rap Radar confirmed with Def Jam that the album will indeed drop next month.

West has been locked away in Paris letting his creative juices flow for the last several months. The 35-year-old has tapped the likes of Chief Keef for new music, but details around the album remain a mystery.

Chris Kelly of Kriss Kross Is Dead

Original Post: HERE

The Fulton Country Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed that Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly died in Atlanta today, according to Fox 5 News. Details are still coming in, but the 34-year-old rapper was found unconscious in his home at 4:30 p.m. ET. After being transported to the south campus of the Atlanta Medical Center, he was pronouced dead an hour later. Officials won't rule on the cause of death until after the autopsy, but they do not suspect foul play.

President Obama says he had nothing to do with Jay and Beyonce's Cuba Trip.

Original Post: HERE

Jay-Z's lyrics aren't always rooted in truth and President Barack Obama has proof.
White House press secretary Jay Carney already denied Hov's lyrical claims of speaking with the POTUS about going to Cuba, as did Obama himself.

In an interview airing on NBC's Today show this morning, the commander-in-chief responded to Jay's "Open Letter" verse, revealing that he was never consulted about Mr. and Mrs. Carter's controversial trip. "I wasn't familiar that they were taking the trip," he said. "My understanding is they went through a group that organizes these educational trips down to Cuba."

But that wasn't the end of his candor. Obama went on to state that the White House is far too busy to be concerned with the travel schedule of hip hop's favorite couple. "This is not something the White House was involved in. We've got better things to do."

Sounds about right.

Man Charged With Threatening Obama With Ricin Letter

Original post: HERE

Paul Kevin Curtis, of Corinth, Mississippi, has been charged with making threats against President Barack Obama and others, the Justice Department reported on Thursday.

Curtis was arrested by the FBI at his home on Wednesday, and he will appear before federal court later on Thursday. If he is convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison, according to the Associated Press:

An FBI affidavit also released Thursday said Curtis sent three letters with suspected ricin to President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and a Mississippi judge. The letters read:

"No one wanted to listen to me before. There are still `Missing Pieces.' Maybe I have your attention now even if that means someone must die. This must stop. To see a wrong and not expose it, is to become a silent partner to its continuance. I am KC and I approve this message."

The affidavit says Curtis had sent letters to Wicker's office several times before with the message "this is Kevin Curtis and I approve this message."