Tupac Shakur
Shakur's Mother 'Touched' By Dear Mama Honour
Tupac Shakur's mum is proud the rapper's heartfelt hit Dear Mama has been picked for preservation in U.S. archives, insisting the tribute track "speaks" to all mothers.
The late star, who was shot dead in 1996, recorded the song in 1995 in honour of his mother Afeni Shakur, shortly before he was sentenced to prison time.
Dear Mama was this week (23Jun10) declared an American national treasure - it's one of 25 new additions to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, which preserves audio files of cultural significance.
And Afeni insists she is delighted her son's song will be heard for decades to come.
She says, "I'm incredibly touched. It could have been any song, but I'm honoured they chose Dear Mama in particular. It is a song that spoke not just to me, but every mother that has been in that situation, and there have been millions of us. Tupac recognised our struggle, and he is still our hero."
Rapper Tech N9NE Arrested
Rapper Tech N9NE was detained by police on Wednesday (23Jun10) on an outstanding arrest warrant.
The hip-hop star's car was pulled over after he was allegedly caught speeding through Kansas City, Missouri, and he was detained when cops discovered the warrant for his arrest, which was issued after he missed a court appearance.
The rapper - real name Aaron Dontez Yates - had been summoned to face a charge of "placing illegal banners" in Blue Springs, Missouri, but failed to show up, reports KansasCity.com.
Yates told his fans about the incident by posting a message on Twitter.com which simply stated: "I'm getting arrested."
He later uploaded photos of himself being helped into a police car as well as another snap of himself in a prison cell.
Yates is said to have spent less than half an hour behind bars before posting a $300 (£200) bond.
Fat Joe Cleared Over Groping Allegations
Fat Joe has been "officially cleared" over false allegations he sexually assaulted a woman following a concert on Sunday (20Jun10), according to the rapper's lawyer.
The Lean Back hitmaker was detained by cops in Madison, Wisconsin at the weekend (19-20Jun10) following a complaint from an unnamed woman who alleged she was inappropriately groped by the hip-hop star and his entourage.
The female accuser claimed the alleged incident took place during a limo ride with Joe - real name Joseph Cartagena - and his pals following a gig in the city.
The star was questioned by police and later released without charge, and now Fat Joe's attorney Dawn Florio has revealed the star and his associates have been cleared of any wrong doing.
In a statement, she says, "Joseph Cartagena, known as Fat Joe, and others have been officially cleared by the Madison Wisconsin Police Department of any wrongdoing. Fat Joe had no contact with, and never spoke to his accuser. He was questioned for a few minutes at his hotel room and was never detained by the police.
"Making a false claim of a sexual nature in order to extort money is one of the most horrific accusations because it not only tarnishes reputations but has the potential to destroy families. Mr. Cartagena wholeheartedly thanks his family, friends, and fans for their continued support, loyalty, and words of encouragement throughout this ordeal."