In todays rap sheet: Pitbull, LL Cool J, Russell Simons, Dallas Austin, Biggie Smalls

Labels battle over Pitbull
A decision was finally made over a lawsuit filed by Miami based record label Slip-n-Slide back in 2005 accusing TVT Records of fraudulently trying to a release an album by the Cuban rapper Pitbull, who is signed to the label.The album To the 305 was made up of tracks that the rapper whose real name is Armando Perez recorded while being signed to the Miami label back in 2001.TVT whose roster includes artists like Lil Jon and The Yin Yang Twins were halted in releasing the album after Slip-n-Slide informed distributors that the album was actually legally unsupported.
TVT have been ordered to pay $9.1 million after a court ruled in favor of Pitbull's former home. Lawyers for the record label have expressed that they will appeal the courts decision.
Pitbull recently released his third album El Mariel on the independent label.
LL Cool J Leaves Def Jam
The first rapper signed to Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin's Def Jam back in the late 80's has decided that the time has come to leave the label now headed up by Jay Z and LA Reid when his contract is up this year.
LL Cool J has voiced his disapproval of how the label has been run as of late. He is set to release his thirteenth and final album on the Def jam imprint later this year.
The album has fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent acting as Executive Producer. The two have been previously been linked when rumors circulated back in the summer of 06 when it was talked about that LL may join G Unit Records.
That has yet to be seen but the two do share the same management company, Violator Management.
Dallas Austin lashes out
Famed producer Dallas Austin recently lashed out at some of musics talented females in a TV interview.
Calling out Christina Aguilera and Joss Stone who he says have engaged in sexual relations with producers in order to secure the best tracks for their albums.
The outspoken Austin was apparently a little upset with English songstress Joss Stone after a recent interview she did with a US website where she spoke about his manager Dave Gates who also up until very recently represented her as well,
Joss Stone just released her third studio album this month Introducing Joss Stone.

Dead but Never Forgotten
Biggie Smalls is once again the King of not just New York but the whole of the US as his Greatest Hits put him on the top of the US Billboard pop chart last week.
The compilation of the rappers most notorious tracks sold 99,000 units according to Nielsens SoundScan report.
This is the second time that Brooklyn's most prominent Hip-Hop icon has sat on top of the charts since his untimely death ten years ago.
The rappers other albums which were deemed classics amongst both fans and critics are ready to Die and Life after Death.
The Greatest Hits compilation which was released under Sean Comb' Bad Boy label to which the Notorious B.I.G was signed also featured some previously released material.
Christopher Wallace was killed in a drive-by murder in Los Angeles on March 9th 1997 in the midst of what was considered a rap war between the East Coast and West Coast.

Melanie J Cornish