Dawn from Danity Kane nude in King Magazine

Dawn Richard, 25, one of the three remaining members (previously 5 members) of Bad Boy Records Danity Kane, the all girl female group put together on Diddy’s Making The Band Show, has made an appearance in a photo spread for King Magazine’s 50th issue. There’s an all nude photo or should we say a flesh showing photo of the singer circulating believed to be one of the photos taken for her King Magazine photo shoot.

In the revealing photo you can clearly see that Dawn Richards seems to be completely naked while sitting propped on a bar stool with her feet crossed and hands hanging over a flower vine like tattoo on her foot.

In related news, Dawn recently hosted the celebration for King Magazine 50th issue which also features a cover shoot with singer Chrisitina Milian in New York. Other celebrities that attended the event included Busta Rhymes, Free (formerly of BET 106 & Park), Ron Browz, BET’s Alesha Renee, John Singleton, Red Cafe, Nina B, amongst others.

Dawn Richards photo shoot follows behind former Danity Kane member Aubrey O’Day’s nude photo shoot for Playboy Magazine.

Is Rihanna out of hiding?

After multiple reports of Rihanna being in hiding, appearing recently for her 21st birthday in L.A. and possibly being pregnant at the time of an alleged assault by boyfriend and singer Chris Brown, the singer now has appeared under the Mexico sun all glazed and oiled wearing a bikini and looking quite beautiful in the Mexican town of Punta Mita.

Photographed by paparazzi in Mexico you can visibly see no marks on Rihanna in the bikini photographs taken, but one may say makeup artists can do wonderful things. Though Rihanna looked lovely and, as if she just stepped out the pool due to her wet hair and glimmering body, the star had a somewhat sad and depressed look on her face.

Meanwhile, reports are circulating that Chris Brown’s March 5th court date may be pushed up due to lack of evidence by investigators and, in other news, the singer has been losing endorsement deals and his songs have been losing rotation on radio stations due to the photo of Rihanna that was leaked by TMZ.

More photos of the singer will reportedly be shown on The Insider tonight who also has exclusive footage of the singer in Mexico as well.

View up-close cover story photo of Rihanna in Mexico wearing bikini after alleged assault by boyfriend Chris Brown. ~ NY Daily News Print Edition

During the presidential election, Ludacris had a few lines in his rhyme for Obama’s former competing presidential candidate, Republican John McCain, which left a nasty taste in a number of politicians’ mouths and who wanted nothing to do with the rapper. Now that the election is over, Ludacris has called for a mends with John McCain and his wife Cindy.

The apologetic rapper born Christopher Bridges, 31, asked for forgiveness on last Sunday at the NBA All-Star Game according to E! Online for his lyrics in the song “Politics (Obama Is Here)” where one line says “McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed.”

In other news, Ludacris and Shawnna are prepping for the release of their collaboration album “Battle of the Sexes” which is expected to release sometime in ‘09.

In addition to the upcoming album, Ludacris will be acting in the movie “Game” which is scheduled for release in theaters on September 4, 2009. The movie “Game” is a science fiction action thriller film written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor about a future-world where humans can control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online gaming environments. “Game” stars Gerard Butler, Logan Lerman and Milo Ventimiglia with an all-star cast featuring Aaron Yoo, Keith David, John Leguizamo, Terry Crews, Ludacris, Kyra Sedgwick, amongst others.

Kanye's new girlfriend

Kanye West and model Amber Rose are dating..

Rapper Kanye West has been seen out on dates with video model Amber Rose, who’s known for dancing and appearing in music videos such as Ludacris’ “What Them Girls Like,” Young Jeezy’s “Vacation,” and for her very sexy, half-naked photo shoot for Smooth Magazine.

Model Amber Rose is a new face that has been thrown into the mix of the celebrity scene, through multiple appearances lately out with Kanye including appearances at Nur Khan’s Rose Bar in New York, NY and at the Narciso Rodriguez fashion show in New York during Mercedes-Benz fashion week and Alexandre Herchcovitch fashion show.

The two appeared as a couple with both wearing the out-on-the-town celebrity look shades while Amber turned heads in some bright red skin-tight pants.

The two were also spotted at Foxtail in Los Angeles with a group of friends. Rose reportedly gave a little lap dance to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on it)” while standing between the legs of the rapper. The two were seen getting a little cozy with one another and even trading a few smooches here and there.

Unsigned Hype

Up and coming artist Yung Jax is putting out his mixtape right before the summer. I actually had a chance to work with him. Great music!!!! I will be posting one of the songs later for yall

Ny post lost there fuckin mind

The New York Post is drawing criticism for a troubling cartoon which appears to link President Barack Obama to a dead crazed monkey / chimpanzee. In the media, on blog web sites across the net as well as civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton, many are outraged at the possible linking of the president with a rabid chimp.

The cartoon which was in today’s Post and on the New York Post website was illustrated by Sean Delonas and shows a dead chimp splattered in it’s own blood while two police officers stand over it one with a smoking gun while the caption reads, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

The cartoon supposedly refers to Travis the 200-pound pet chimpanzee shot dead by police in Stamford, Connecticut on Monday after it mauled a 55-year-old woman and friend of its owner, tearing at her face.

The Reverend Al Sharpton has condemned the New York Post cartoon stating, “The cartoon in today’s New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys… One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that ‘Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.’”

“At its most benign, the cartoon suggests that the stimulus bill was so bad, monkeys may as well have written it,” writes Sam Stein of the Huffington Post. “Others believe it compares the president to a rabid chimp. Either way, the incorporation of violence and (on a darker level) race into politics is bound to be controversial. Perhaps that’s what Delonas wanted.”

President Barack Obama signed his administration’s economic stimulus plan on yesterday

Rapper Fabolous possibly mentioned in a 500 lb marijuana drug raid of tour bus

Rapper Fabolous may have been mentioned in a drug bust of over 500 pounds of marijuana which was found on a tour bus traveling through Arkansas on it’s way to Boston from Phoenix where the NBA All-Star Weekend took place. It seems that Arkansas State Police initiated a traffic stop on the tour bus as it was passing through the heavily monitored Interstate 40 near Russellville.

According to Michael Ford of Arkansas Courier, there were no rappers on board the bus, however the two drivers were arrested. Edward Thimas, 52, of Douglasville, GA., and Robert Morris, 44, of Augusta, GA both began to offer information as the police interrogated them claiming that none of the items in the locked compartment on the bus containing the marijuana, belonged to them, but actually to the people that they were transporting.

However, the two were still arrested after they gave the conflicting stories to the police.

Thimas told police they were returning from the game in Phoenix after escorting rapper Fabolous (spelled Fabulous in the report by The Arkansas Courier). He added that the two were headed to Boston to pick up another rapper whose name he couldn’t recall.

On the other hand, Morris’ side of the story according to police reports, was that the two had taken three rappers from Atlanta to Phoenix and were going to Boston to meet them as the rappers had flown ahead.

Later Thimas attempted to match his story with Morris’, but the police at this time were already suspicious of the two.

Officers proceeded to search their bus with permission where they found the pounds of marijuana which the drivers, as previously mentioned stating the the contents wasn’t theirs, but the “other guys’ merchandise.” The two drivers had over $4,000 in cash combined in their possession as well as an additional $2400 in a black bag. In an attempt to cooperate with the police further, Morris additionally stated he’d help in the investigation because it was the rappers not them who put the bags and boxes on the bus.

The two were arrested on drug possession and other charges and on Wednesday received a bond of $200,000 for Morris and a bond of $75,000 for Thimas. At the time of their arrest the two drivers had over $4,000 in cash combined in their possession as well as an additional $2400 in a black bag.

The time and location of the arrest both hint that it may have been rapper Fabolous on the tour bus as the rapper was reportedly in Phoenix on that mentioned weekend. According to the rapper’s Myspace page, Fabolous was scheduled to perform at The W Hotel on February 13th, and Club Phoenix on February 15th.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released from Fabolous’ camp about this incident.

This is not the first time that the rapper has been brought into a situation by others. Back in June of 2007, the rapper had gun charges dropped against him for an October 2006 incident in which Fabolous was shot in the leg outside Justin’s in Manhattan, in a parking-lot fracas that occurred after someone snatched a $50,000 chain off NBA point guard Sebastian Telfair. Fabolous was rushed to hospital in a car that was not the same car Fabolous arrived in. The car in which Fabolous was taken to the hospital in was were the weapons were found and why the charges were dropped against the rapper.

In other news, rapper Fabolous is scheduled for BET’s RIP The Runway in New York (Feb. 21st) and has a fifth studio album entitled Loso’s Way scheduled to release in April.

Rihanna turned 21 yesterday/bruised picture fruad!!!!

Rihanna’s father Ronald Fenty is upset and angry over the leaked photo by TMZ showing a woman believed to be his daughter Rihanna, who turned 21 on her birthday yesterday (Feb. 20), covered in scratches and bruises all over her face.

‘Sloppy work on their part,’ Fenty tells PEOPLE about the leaked photo showing the apparent bruised Rihanna.

Fenty described the photo as “terrible” in another interview with Us Magazine. “Yeah, I saw it - It’s disturbing.”

Though Fenty did seem to take note of the advantages of the photo being shown claiming now people will “grasp the situation a lot better.”

“It’s good and it’s bad to see the picture because there’s other people who were thinking differently, that [Rihanna’s injuries] may not be that bad, just a little spank or a little thing,” Fenty added.

LAPD has, since the release of the photo on Thursday, launched a full scale investigation into the leak.

“The unauthorized release of a domestic-violence photograph immediately generated an internal investigation,” an LAPD spokesman said in statement about the photo leaked on TMZ. “The Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations Section began receiving numerous inquiries about the release of a photograph associated with a domestic violence incident that occurred on February 8, 2009, involving entertainer Chris Brown,” the statement added.

With some bit of confirmation that the photo is indeed a photo of Rihanna, the statement continues, “The photograph has the appearance of one taken during an official Domestic Violence investigation.”

“The Los Angeles Police Department takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence,” the LAPD asserted in the statement. “A violation of this type is considered serious misconduct, with penalties up to and including termination.”

Since the incident, Rihanna has yet to speak herself, and as of a last statement by her father, is in her homeland of Barbados resting and spending time with family and friends while investigators complete their investigation and Chris Brown prepares for his court date on March 5, 2009.

Lil Wayne Sued 1.3 Million Over Canceled NY Shows

The saying goes, “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” For Rochester, New York’s RMF Productions, the third time Lil Wayne [click to read] canceled on them called for more than embarrassment. According to TMZ, RMF’s General Manager Edward Strickland has filed a lawsuit against Wayne, amounting to $1.3 million.

Strickland, who was the promoter for all three shows, alleges that he wired Waynean advanced payment of $100,000 last October, but has yet to see any returns afterWayne canceled his performance at the Blue Cross Arena due to a weak sound system. After rescheduling for a December 6 performance, Weezy went missing in action again.

The final straw came on January 21, when Wayne once again stood up Rochesterand Strickland, explaining that it was due to “logistics of the band,” via email. Allegedly, Wayne and his band could not all make the Rochester gig as they had to travel to Calgary the next day for their “I Am Music” tour [click to read]. Because the Rochester show was separate from the tour, Wayne and his management decided to skip New York in favor for Canada, with plans to reschedule an extra leg of the tour for spring 2009.

Lil Wayne’s road manager, Cortez Bryant, was also listed in the lawsuit.

Shyne On The Verge Of Prison Release

After serving roughly eight years of a ten year sentence for his role in the infamous Club New York shooting on December 27, 1999, Shyne looks to be finally on the verge of release. The attorney for the former Bad Boy Records artist spoke toHipHopDX earlier today to clarify the details of his client’s pending parole, as well as provide some insight into Shyne Po’s post-prison plans.

“We’re hoping for April,” said Shyne’s legal counsel, Oscar Michelen, of when he is anticipating his client’s release from the Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County, New York. “[But] they don’t normally let you know [the exact release date] until right before it happens.”

Mr. Michelen went on to clarify that, “A parole hearing is scheduled for June. And if they don’t release him prior to that date, then he gets his parole hearing. But they can advance that depending on the situation at the jail at that particular time. And we’re under the belief that it might very well be advanced [to April].”

Shyne’s stellar personal conduct while incarcerated should contribute to his likely parole this spring.

“He’s been an exemplirary inmate,” Michelen told DX of the now 30-year-old Shyne(who legally changed his name in 2006 from Jamal Barrow to Moses Michael Leviyupon converting to Judaism). “He’s had no problems, been very positive. As a matter of fact, myself and another person were scheduled to go up [on] the 26th of February [to see him]. There’s a dinner in honor of African-American History Month, and so Moses [is] participating in that. And he’s also coordinating, getting some speakers to talk about how things have affected the criminal justice system in the last few years, [and] what we think the affect of the new presidency will be on issues affecting minorities. So he’s always been involved in many positive things at the jail and has never had a problem at all whatsoever. So, he’d be the perfect candidate for [parole]. The only knock against him was that he was convicted of a crime that’s considered a violent crime.”

Shyne was charged and subsequently convicted in March 2001 of four charges—including first degree assault—for allegedly firing multiple shots into the crowded Club New York (and striking three people) after a fellow patron named Michael “Scar” Allen approached Sean “Diddy” Combs, Diddy’s then girlfriend actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, Shyne and their additional entourage and taunted the Bad Boy CEO by throwing money at him.

Diddy was acquitted of all criminal charges for his alleged role in the melee that night. But a subsequent civil lawsuit was filed against both the Bad Boy founder and his then artist by Natania Reuben, who was shot in the face during the incident and is now seeking a $130 million dollar settlement [click to read].

“The matter is still pending in court and we’re awaiting a trial date,” revealed Mr. Michelen, who also represents Shyne in this civil case in addition to providing the rapper’s criminal defense. “Both Mr. Combs and Shyne are being sued; they’re [both] defendants. I’d rather not comment on Mr. Combs’ aspect of it. I can comment on my client. He’s got his own lawyer. But [Shyne] is still a defendant in the lawsuit. There are going to be motions to dismiss. And I guess a judge will ultimately determine whether it goes to trial or not.”

Mr. Michelen did not wish to reveal when asked by DX whether or not Shyne had been deposed in the civil suit yet. Shyne’s testimony was reported to have taken place last year following Diddy’s deposition in March of ’08—marking the first timeShyne would have gone on record (he did not testify during his criminal proceedings in 2001) about the events that took place at Club New York and whether he was or was not acting in defense or under the order of his then label boss, Diddy (Shyne’s then trial attorney claimed that a person in Allen’s entourage shot first) when he fired into the club. Shyne will likely remain on parole for nearly two years following his release, until the maximum expiration date of his sentence on March 12, 2011. Once the aforementioned civil proceeding against him is adjudicated he should be free of any legal entanglements for the first time in more than a decade.

And according to his attorney, the Belize-born/Brooklyn-raised unacknowledged son of Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow [click to read] who went on to gold success as a rapper (first noted for his uncanny vocal similarities to The Notorious B.I.G.) is eager to resume his life free of the criminal justice system.

“I [can] only speak as his lawyer and his friend,” began Mr. Michelen, “but I know he’s anxious to get back into the recording industry. He’s got a lot to say. And people are anxious to hear it.”

“He’s a very spiritual person in general, very committed [to his faith],” he continued.“And of course he wants to see his family. He wants to be able to make decisions for himself for the first time in years. He’s a bright man. He’s still got a lot of things to say. And I think he’s going to try to make the most positive impact out of this very negative experience that he possibly can. And if anybody can do it, he can. He’s a tremendous person. He really is so much more than just a musical artist. And I think he’s gonna be a force.”

Usher's Wife Recovering, Released From Hospital

Earlier this month, HipHopDX reported that usher's wife Tameka Raymond was hospitalized after a routine cosmetic surgery went wrong in Brazil [click to read]. This week, Tameka Raymond was released after eleven days in the Sirio-Libanes Hospital, according to AP reports.

A spokesperson for the medical facility spoke on the matter Wednesday February 18. The spokesperson Ellen Dastry said that Raymond was released Monday but refused to add many more details to the story citing the family's urge to keep the matter private.

While little was known about the surgery before, more details have emerged. According to Dastry, Raymond went into cardiac arrest after being anesthetized for a liposuction surgery. Dastry also noted that Raymond was revived "using heart massage."

Other reports have alleged that complications could have stemmed from the birth of her latest child. Her youngest son was born only a couple of months before the surgery, and doctors have added that more time should be given between birth and surgery before performing liposuction on a patient. "The Fantasics," a Brazillian program alleges that Raymond may have lied about the date of her son's birth.

For now, it appears Tameka Raymond is recovering well and has been released from the hospital. No statement has been issued by Usher's camp this week but we will keep you posted.

Drake Talks "So Far Gone," Ghostwriting For Lil Wayne

In just the last few years, Canadian rapper/actor, Drake has supplanted himself as a Hip Hop artist to watch in 2009. With his latest mixtape, So Far Gone [click to listen], dropping last week, the Toronto transplant spoke to Complex.com about the new project, comparisons to Kanye West, and his work with Lil Wayne.

Describing So Far Gone as a story read through melody, Drake explained the concept of the album cover and title. “It’s this kid in pursuit of love and money...sometimes you just get so far gone, you get wrapped up in this shit.” Drakeadded, “The title has a lot of meanings—as the way we carry ourselves, the way we dress, the way people view us, not to sound cocky, it’s just that feeling that we’re just distanced in a good way.”

Along with his commendable lyricism, Drake has also proven himself to be exceptional crooner on So Far Gone. Commenting on the current trends recently set by T-Pain and Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak [click to read], Drake made it clear that as far as singing goes, he’s in his own lane.

“Kanye West has an amazing mind, but he always has the means that when he thinks something, he can make it happen right away. But I’ve been singing way before ‘808s and Heartbreak.’ I’ve been in the R&B world for a long time, writing for artists, writing for myself, playing with different sounds and stuff.”

Expressing his dedication to R&B, Drake continued, “I love R&B music, man, that’s what you gotta understand, I listen to R&B music more than I listen to rap. That’s kinda my thing. I just want to make genuinely sexy music for women to listen to and for men to play for women.”

With a huge co-sign from Lil Wayne, and subsequently touring with the New Orleans native, Drake is more than on his way to Hip Hop stardom. When asked if he has ever ghostwritten for Weezy though, Drake made it clear that work in the booth is collaborative. “You know, we’re all great artists, great minds, and we all just contribute to each other; there’s been times when Wayne has helped me out, and I’m sure, I hope, I’ve influenced him to do or say things on tracks. We help each other out, that’s part of being two artists who respect each others’ creativity.”

Free Chap

GREENSBORO - After hundreds of tips from the public and a big break created by an argument on N.C. A&T's campus, police arrested a suspect Monday in the highly publicized Dec. 15 homicide at Old Navy at Friendly Center.

Isaam Mattay Chaplin, 28, was arrested by the A&T police department about 3:30 p.m. Monday outside Campbell Hall, officials said.

Chaplin is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Juan Estaban Salado, a guard with Brink's Security, who was shot in the head in an early morning robbery outside Old Navy, police said.

"We are very excited about bringing some closure to (Salado's) family," said Capt. Janice Rogers of the Greensboro Police Department. "This was an ambush-type murder to a man who was doing his job and had a 6-year-old son he left behind and a fiancée. (This happened) for no good cause."

His sister, Joanna Salado, said Tuesday that hearing about the arrest in her brother's homicide was a bittersweet moment.

"I was happy this person was taken off the street, but it hit me again that my brother will not return home," she said.

The robbery and homicide happened about 10 a.m. Dec. 15 after a man wearing nurse's scrubs and a wig entered the store and began browsing, police said.

When the Brink's Security armored truck pulled up, Salado went inside and picked up the store's deposit. A man with a gun approached Salado in front of the store, police said. The gunman fired two shots, with at least one hitting Salado in the head.

Taking an undisclosed amount of money, the gunman fled on foot to a waiting car, police said.

Salado died at Moses Cone Hospital.

All im saying is everybody and there mama can see that the nigga in dat wig is 2 small to be Chap. Free Chap

Nas and Kelis expecting a child

ip hop artist Kelis

Rogers is pregnant with her first child. An insider tells US Weekly magazine that the 29-year-old and her husband, rapper Nas, are “so excited” to become parents. “It’s all they are talking about. She is carrying hip-hop royalty!” the source said. “They are so excited.”

Kelis and Nas were married in January 2005. Kelis is best known for her 2003 hit single ‘Milkshake.’ Nas, whose real name is Nasir Jones, is best known for his 2006 album ‘Hip Hop is Dead.’

Mrs. Officer Video Shoot

Lil Wayne and Bobby V teamed up in Miami to shoot the video for their smash single “Mrs. Officer” directed by Gil Green. The video was shot at the Miami Sea Aquarium on Biscayne Bay with a police officer theme. Bobby V played a flirtatious police officer arresting beautiful women, while Lil Wayne strummed his ever-present guitar on top of a police car. “Mrs. Officer” has proven to be a summer hit and the video will surely help the single regain momentum into the Fall.

So I understand what the fans are saying,” Cam told XXL executive editor Vanessa Satten, who penned the article. “And it’s kinda messed up. But what you gotta realize is that things can always be fixed behind the scenes. But once a problem gets public, it’s kind of unfixable.”

Causes for problems with Jim Jones:
“The two things that you could say it was is: The come to my house and try to start a fake beef between me and [Jim],” Cam explained. “And the kinda like siding with 50 when me and him is in the dead middle of beefing or whatever.”-Marvin Brandon

Will Cam go at Jimmy in a record? Is he going to start up again with 50 Cent giving him more fuel for his album? Not not to mention Tru Life punching him in the face, will he address that? It’s going to be interesting to see what the next few months in Hip Hop are going to be like,

Heard Cam been hitting that Gym too….