Waka Flocka Flame and Gucci Mane are teaming up to pay for the funeral for their fallen friend, Brick Squad rapper Slim Dunkin , real name Mario Hamilton, who as we previously reported was shot and killed at an Atlanta recording studio last Friday. TMZ reports: “The rappers are pooling their assets to ensure Slim is laid to rest in the best way possible … with an elaborate funeral that includes a white horse-drawn carriage, massive white floral arrangements, and a white dove release ceremony.” Cops Say Brick Squad Rapper Slim Dunkin Killed Over Candy [VIDEO] Waka Flocka On Slim Dunkin Death: “Wish It Was Me” Brick Squad’s Slim Dunkin Shot And Killed In Atlanta [VIDEO] Gucci Mane Out Of Jail: “I’m The Last Person That Can Judge Anybody” [EXCLUSIVE] Brick Squad Affiliate Who Beefed On World Star Murdered In L.A. [VIDEO]
The Waka Flocka Flame affiliate fought with man over stolen piece of candy, Atlanta police say. By Rob Markman Slim Dunkin and Waka Flocka Photo: MTV News Atlanta police are still on the hunt for the man who shot and killed up-and-coming rapper “Slim Dunkin” on December 16, but new disturbing details have emerged in the case. On Tuesday, WSB-TV in Atlanta reported that the Waka Flocka Flame affiliate and Brick Squad Monopoly member was shot in an altercation which began over a stolen piece of candy. “The information we’re getting, it’s unconfirmed, but witnesses are saying this whole thing started over a piece of candy,” homicide detective David Quinn told “Action News” on camera. According to witnesses, Dunkin, born Mario Hamilton, grabbed a piece of candy from another man while inside an Atlanta recording studio, which led to an argument and then a fistfight. The scuffle ended with Slim being shot once in the chest. He was then transported to Grady Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. There were a number of witnesses at the scene, but because police first arrived at the hospital and not the scene of the crime, they didn’t have the opportunity to properly interview all of the people who were present. There will be a public viewing on Thursday at Atlanta’s Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home, located at 1003 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, from the hours of 6 p.m. ET to 9 p.m. ET. Dunk was an emerging star in Waka Flocka Flame ‘s Brick Squad Monopoly crew. Aside from key appearances alongside Flocka on his 2010 debut album, Flockaveli, and on Gucci Mane and V-Nasty’s BAYTL LP, Slim was also beginning to make waves as a soloist. This past Halloween the street-bred MC released Menace II Society, a 20-track mixtape that featured Gucci Mane, Roscoe Dash and Pastor Troy. Dunkin’s death has sent waves through the rap community; his close collaborators were undoubtedly hit hard. The day after he was murdered Waka took to Twitter to express his grief. “WISH IT WAS ME … MY F—ING RIGHT HAND IS GONE,” Flocka wrote the day after the murder. The “O Let’s Do It” MC continued to vent over Twitter, writing, “damn I feel dead” and “IM LOST” in reaction to the tragic news. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward and call 404-577-TIPS.
He got a big egooooooooooo. Such a huge ego! From NYMag.com : Kanye West broke his six-week Twitter silence today not to celebrate his Grammy nomination domination but to give a peek behind the scenes of the Watch the Throne tour on VOYR . And it’s a suitably solid clip, giving a nice taste of the tour’s epic vibes with a killer Kanye voice-over to match. “I was just thinking about my funeral and stuff a couple days ago and thinking who would be at the funeral,” Yeezy says, measured and seemingly sans braggadocio. “People who I want to be in the funeral? I wanna have world leaders that were, like, affected, that said, you know, ‘Kanye gave me my shot here.’ Or ‘he pushed me,’ or ‘he told me to believe in myself,’ or ‘when I saw this, it made me feel like that.’ I wanna affect people like that when I, like, pass away.” The clip, a one-off free stream from the $5-monthly service VOYR, also lets you watch Kanye do Kanye things like put on gold bracelets and Air Yeezy sneakers. “I’m on a pursuit of awesomeness,” he says. “Excellence is the bare minimum.” And then he woke up from his dream and remembered Barack Obama called him a jacka$$ and George Bush called him the lowest point in his presidency. After Barack sent that letter to Heavy’s funeral this doesn’t even seem to far off, but Yeezy, please stop it. We don’t even want to think about you dying and you shouldn’t either. Seems like heaven gotta have a ghetto with all the MC’s up there resting in peace. More On Bossip! Wanna Know How Much These Stars Really Weigh??? True Love? Look At These Pics Of Atlanta Falcon Ray Edwards And His Caked Out ATL Boo Centerfolds: The Most Unforgettable Ladies Of Color To Show Up In Playboy Magazine Sour Grapes: The Craziest Rumors Started By Scorned Exes
There was no doubt how beloved Heavy D was at his funeral service today in his hometown of Mount Vernon, NY. Hundreds packed Grace Baptist Church, and people like Jay-Z , Diddy , Will Smith , Usher , Johnny Gill , Queen Latifah , Samuel L. Jackson , John Legend , Jada Pinkett Smith and more were in attendance to pay their respects. Here are some photos of Heavy’s famous friends saying goodbye. RELATED POSTS: Mary J. Blige Discusses Heavy D’s Passing, “My Life II” [EXCLUSIVE] Heavy D’s Family: His “Bear Hugs” Will Be Missed Pete Rock On Heavy D: “I Feel Like He’s Gonna Call Me Any Second” Heavy D: Being A Father Was The “Most Gratifying” [VIDEO] Jay-Z & Kanye West Honor Heavy D In NYC Celebrities On Twitter React To The Death Of Heavy D Rap Legend Heavy D Dead At 44
Veteran Hip-Hop producer Pete Rock recently spoke to BET.com about the loss of his cousin Heavy D , who was instrumental in launching his career. “Heavy was our world,” said Pete, 41. “The craziest, funniest guy to be around.” Here is an excerpt of his memories of Heavy D : Hev lost two brothers and Troy [Heavy’s friend and backup dancer], so we’re familiar with the pain. This news felt like a 12 gauge shot to the heart. It’s hard to grasp, I feel like he’s gonna call me any second. We spoke to each other every other day. I just spent the weekend at his house and we did a song together. He didn’t want me to leave, kept trying to keep me at his house, thinking of things for me to do. I was laughing ’cause I was like, ‘Hev, I got to go home and get back to work [laughs]!’ I now realize that God allowed us to have that time together for a reason. He wanted to put me with him one last time. We had so much fun, ate Chinese food, really ate like crazy in the studio [laughs]. I thank God for Hev believing in me. The last words I heard him say was how proud he was of me. READ THE FULL STORY AT BET.COM Watch Heavy D’s classic “Don’t Curse” produced by his cousin Pete Rock. RELATED POSTS: Heavy D Funeral Services Set For Nov. 18 In Mt. Vernon, NY Heavy D: Being A Father Was The “Most Gratifying” [VIDEO] Jay-Z & Kanye West Honor Heavy D In NYC Celebrities On Twitter React To The Death Of Heavy D Rap Legend Heavy D Dead At 44 BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #65: Trouble T-Roy Dies
Jackson’s dermatologist, director and children have moved on as Dr. Conrad Murray is tried for involuntary manslaughter. By Gil Kaufman Michael Jackson with his kids and friends Photo: Handout/ Getty Images For months after Michael Jackson ‘s death, his inner circle became headline news. From his dermatologist and his assistant to the heads of the concert promotions firm that was mounting the This Is It Tour, his estate executors and Jackson’s mother, even casual Jackson fans knew more about those in his orbit than ever before. Many of those names were front and center during the six-week involuntary manslaughter trial of Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray. With closing arguments completed Thursday and the verdict looming, we take a look at where those players are now: Arnold Klein MJ’s longtime dermatologist was the subject of endless rumors in the wake of his most famous patient’s death, including allegations that he might have been the sperm donor for one or more of the singer’s children. His name was back in headlines during the second week of the prosecution’s case, when it emerged that in a June 27, 2009, interview with police, Murray told investigators Klein was one of the doctors who regularly prescribed drugs to the pop icon behind the cardiologist’s back. TMZ reported that MJ’s production team often complained about the star’s visits to Klein’s office, saying his worst days on set were often after those trips. Klein, whose client list has included Elizabeth Taylor and Dolly Parton, continues to practice, but the dermatologist said the constant negative online chatter has hurt his feelings and reputation. “I don’t like to be called a bad doctor,” he said in early October. Kenny Ortega The longtime Jackson friend and choreographer has moved on from his role as director and choreographer for This Is It (and the blockbuster posthumous documentary) and is now working on a big-screen adaptation of the Broadway hit musical “In the Heights” and a remake of “Dirty Dancing,” both of which he will direct. AEG Live The mega-promoter has barely been a story in the Murray trial after making lots of headlines in the wake of Jackson’s death. It has marched forward with some of the biggest tours of the past two years by the likes of Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Justin Bieber, Paul McCartney and Carrie Underwood. Katherine Jackson MJ’s 81-year-old mother was living her quiet life when she was suddenly thrust into the spotlight in the wake of the custody battle over Jackson’s three young children. She reached a custody agreement with the mother of the two eldest children (Prince Michael and Paris Michael) and has been raising them ever since. And, unlike their sheltered (literally shrouded) lives under their father’s care, Katherine Jackson has allowed the children to be a bit more public, helping them celebrate their father’s legacy with fans. John Branca and John McClain Jackson’s two confidants, attorney Branca and music exec McClain , were named executors of the icon’s estate in the months after his death. In their role, the two men have deftly turned around the Jackson estate’s foundering fortunes, helping to wipe out much of the hundreds of millions in debts that Jackson owed at the time of his death and raking in more than $300 million to date. Prince Michael, Paris and “Blanket” During his lifetime, Jackson’s three children were fiercely kept from the spotlight by their doting dad, who would often put masks or scarves on their faces to avoid having them in tabloid reports. Paris famously eulogized her father at his funeral, and since his death, all three have been pictured in the press attending public events, conducted interviews and appeared at the recent tribute concert to their pop in Wales. Stick with MTV News for full coverage of the Michael Jackson involuntary manslaughter trial, through the verdict and beyond.
Ambition track brings duo back together after calling a truce on Twitter. By Alvin Blanco Wale Photo: Getty Images NEW YORK — Wale and Kid Cudi ‘s reconciliation will be certified with a new song. The Maybach Music Group rapper’s sophomore album, Ambition, is dropping November 1 and will include a song called “Focused,” which features Cudi. While previewing his album for select media outlets, Wale dropped hints about the collaborator — a friend of his that lived in Brooklyn while he was living in SoHo — on the song he was about to play last. “We’re 23 years old at this time, we’re trying to figure it all out,” Wale told MTV News. “We went from not having sh– to having money at our disposal, so it kind of f—ed up our friendship. He doesn’t smoke as much anymore, but his name is Scott.” That “Scott” is Scott Mescudi, a.k.a. Kid Cudi. The two rappers started gaining notoriety in the hip-hop world almost simultaneously a few years ago, with Wale even appearing on “Is There Any Love,” a bonus track from Cudi’s Man on the Moon: The End of Day debut. However, the pair had an infamous falling-out , which, according to Wale, was rooted in a lack of communication. “The last time me and him spoke was Governor’s Island maybe three years ago,” Wale said. “It was a weird exchange. … When you don’t talk to somebody for a long time and you see them on TV and you’re trying to figure them out through music … we bumped into each other, and we spoke, and it was just weird. It was already animosity for me, because I was like, ‘Yo, this is my guy and it’s just weird now.’ Just weird. “I can’t say that word enough,” Wale continue. “So [later on], it was Drake’s birthday party in D.C.; he was there. I’m getting off the elevator and I see him. So he was like, ‘What’s up?’ I was like, ‘What’s up?’ And that was it. Next thing I see is the Complex interview. That was maybe like a year after that.” After that Complex interview, many thought the two would never be friends again. Nevertheless, earlier this year, they reconciled via Twitter. Wale recalled not believing it was Cudi who called him to make up before their Twitter truce. “The main reason why I didn’t believe it was him was because his voice was really light, and I remember it always being raspy,” Wale said. “He was like, ‘I don’t smoke weed anymore, bro. My voice is changing. I’m about to hit you on Twitter right now. This is really me. I saw it was him. I was like, ‘Sup, man, how you been?’ He said, ‘I been good, man. I just wanted to get right to it: I know I’ve been acting kind of f—ed up and weird,’ and this that and a third and all that other personal sh–. He threw that out there, and we just made amends. The next morning, he called me like, ‘I just wanted to let you know I wasn’t high or anything when I called you. I really meant it.’ ” Wale then further extended the olive branch by saying he had a track he felt Cudi would be perfect for. “I never really thought we capitalized off what we had,” Wale said. “I sent him the beat, and we made this record I’ve been trying so hard to keep for myself for a long time.” “Focused” features Wale rapping, with Cudi supplying a chorus in his sing-song, Mr. Solo Dolo type of delivery over a synth-loaded uptempo track. “It’s a testament to where I am lyrically, spiritually, all of that, because this song almost never happened, as y’all know,” Wale said of “Focused.” “It feels like the record that ‘Is There Any Love’ was supposed to be. When they kept talking about me and Cudi in every magazine, this is the record I felt like they needed to hear — the one that everybody was going to get behind, and it was going to go top 40 and not be corny. This is like the best top 40 non-cheesy record that you’re ever going to hear in your life. That’s how I feel about it.” Wale recently dropped a new mixtape called The Eleven One Eleven Theory, which temporarily crashed Hulkshare’s site upon its release. The project features a song called “Chain Music,” that will also be on Ambition. What are you expecting from Wale and Cudi’s collabo? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Wale Kid Cudi
Attention since ‘Drop a Body’ video ‘is crazy,’ Joe tells MTV News. By Steven Roberts Fat Joe Photo: MTV News Fat Joe ‘s video for “Drop a Body” was filled with volcanic eruptions, lightning and a mountain of dead bodies, but when the video dropped in June, Joe’s appearance overshadowed all of that. A considerably slimmer Joe stood atop said mountain, raising eyebrows and the clip’s number YouTube views. Joe said he was just as shocked by people’s reactions to his weight loss, because he was just trying to save his life. “I’m not trying to impress nobody or nothing like that,” Joe told MTV News. “I’m just trying to get healthy so I can be here for my family and take care of my kids and live the life that was intended for me to live, so it was crazy when I started getting all this attention. Two weeks from now, CNN is coming to my house, Sanjay Gupta, a big special, and all this attention is crazy.” Joe said he was 360 pounds when he started losing weight, and after finding himself at much-more-manageable 260 pounds a year later, he still wasn’t satisfied. Initially, he wanted to lose weight because in the past year, several of his friends have lost their lives due to their weight. Joe recalled attending one of his friends’ funerals and seeing himself in that position. He knew then it was time to make a change. “I went to my friend’s funeral in the Bronx, and he was just the funniest, coolest dude on earth,” Joe recalled. “He’s got a daughter, she’s the same age as my daughter, and it just felt like I was there, and I could just see my family in the funeral and I was like, ‘Damn, he left his daughter, and she’s only 5,’ ” he explained. “That was the wake-up call. Then I just jumped on that treadmill and started eating right. It’s not rocket science: It’s the same thing they keep telling you to do, you actually just have to do it.” Joe said he always asked God why he continued to bless him, despite his past and him not being a perfect person. And then he realized his weight-loss battle might be his calling. He hopes that he can inspire others to do the same. “One of my boys lives in Detroit, he said he came out his building, he got two dudes that been the fattest dudes on the block forever, they have weights outside and was running around the block, and he was like, ‘Yo, what’s up?’ and they were like, ‘We on that Fat Joe wave!’ ” Related Artists Fat Joe
Attention since ‘Drop a Body’ video ‘is crazy,’ Joe tells MTV News. By Steven Roberts Fat Joe Photo: MTV News Fat Joe ‘s video for “Drop a Body” was filled with volcanic eruptions, lightning and a mountain of dead bodies, but when the video dropped in June, Joe’s appearance overshadowed all of that. A considerably slimmer Joe stood atop said mountain, raising eyebrows and the clip’s number YouTube views. Joe said he was just as shocked by people’s reactions to his weight loss, because he was just trying to save his life. “I’m not trying to impress nobody or nothing like that,” Joe told MTV News. “I’m just trying to get healthy so I can be here for my family and take care of my kids and live the life that was intended for me to live, so it was crazy when I started getting all this attention. Two weeks from now, CNN is coming to my house, Sanjay Gupta, a big special, and all this attention is crazy.” Joe said he was 360 pounds when he started losing weight, and after finding himself at much-more-manageable 260 pounds a year later, he still wasn’t satisfied. Initially, he wanted to lose weight because in the past year, several of his friends have lost their lives due to their weight. Joe recalled attending one of his friends’ funerals and seeing himself in that position. He knew then it was time to make a change. “I went to my friend’s funeral in the Bronx, and he was just the funniest, coolest dude on earth,” Joe recalled. “He’s got a daughter, she’s the same age as my daughter, and it just felt like I was there, and I could just see my family in the funeral and I was like, ‘Damn, he left his daughter, and she’s only 5,’ ” he explained. “That was the wake-up call. Then I just jumped on that treadmill and started eating right. It’s not rocket science: It’s the same thing they keep telling you to do, you actually just have to do it.” Joe said he always asked God why he continued to bless him, despite his past and him not being a perfect person. And then he realized his weight-loss battle might be his calling. He hopes that he can inspire others to do the same. “One of my boys lives in Detroit, he said he came out his building, he got two dudes that been the fattest dudes on the block forever, they have weights outside and was running around the block, and he was like, ‘Yo, what’s up?’ and they were like, ‘We on that Fat Joe wave!’ ” Related Artists Fat Joe
