C-Murder's legal team File Appeal for New Trial

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

C-Murder, former No Limit rapper and younger brother to the CEO, Master P. All of this was not enough to keep the jury from finding him guilty on murder charges. Upon being found guilty, C-Murder was sent to prison for life.

Now, C-Murder's legal team has appeared before a panel of judges, to appeal the ruling. They are arguing the trail judge forced the jury into finding the embattled rapper guilty. Prosecutors also claimed C-Murder had threatened jurors, without having any proof.

C-Murder's legal team wrote, "No DNA. No fingerprints. No gun. No ballistics. No testing for gunshot residue. No incriminating statements. Not one piece of physical evidence directly linking Corey Miller to the shooting. The irreconcilable tales of two flip-flopping, deal-driven and reluctant (to testify) witnesses is the only evidence propping up the state's case."

Back in 2002, C-Murder supposedly murdered a teenage fan.

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Leading Suspect in Soulja Slim's Murder Killed

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

When New Orleans rapper, Soulja Slim, was murdered, in 2003, Garrelle Smith was the leading suspect. Law enforcement said Smith would have been convicted for the rapper's murder. However, this was thwarted by the disappearance of several key witnesses.

However, this is all irrelevant, as Garrelle Smith, himself, has been fatally shot. Smith was murdered in New Orleans, on August 13, 2011, according to HipHopDX. He was suspected, along with four others, of murdering the former No Limit Records' rapper.

There is no word on if the Soulja Slim murder case will continue, with the death of the primary suspect. However, a case will be opened on the murder of Garrelle Smith.

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On the Rise: Joey T. Quincy

By The Rap Scout
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

The Louisiana hip hop scene is known for powerhouse labels, such as No Limit Records and the current hip hop-leading label, Cash Money Records. While Cash Money is dominating the radio waves, there are other independent record labels in the area.

Joey T. Quincy is the head of a new movement in Louisiana, Street Kingz Entertainment. Quincy is not only the CEO of the label, he is also the flagship artist. Not like most rappers with labels, Quincy has a roster full of talent and he is ready to show them to the world.

Recently, Hip Hop Vibe caught up with Joey T. Quincy and he gave us an interview over the phone. In the interview, Quincy discussed several of his upcoming projects and how he handles his life and his business.

"I don't just have dreams, I go out and get 'em" - Joey T. Quincy.

Read the interview below:

What made you interested in music?
I've been on the scene for four years as an artist on an unsuccessful record label, so I did what was best for myself on a personal and professional level, I launched my own label.

So, you are an artist also?
Yeah, I'm a rapper and I also run a record label. Street Kingz Entertainment has a full roster of talent, including rappers and an R&B singer.

Have you released any albums to date?
No, I have not released any albums yet, but I do have a mixtape out.

Tell us more about Street Kingz Entertainment?
The Street Kingz label was born when I left my old record label and I left, along with two other artists who were signed to the label. Once I set things up, I signed those artists to my Street Kingz Entertainment label.

Who are the other artists signed to Street Kingz Entertainment?
Epic, Dangerous D, Craze-Boi, Q-Tee, and myself under the name J-Slimmm. I have the three m's because I am just that good.

Is it hard managing your own career and running a full label?
At times, it can be hard, but I have a lot of hustle and determination. I have met a lot of people and I will not stop. I know where I want to go and I will not stop until I get there. In order to get what you want out of life, you have to go through struggles, so I welcome the challenge.

Do you feel pressure from the No Limit and Cash Money movements?
No, because I believe in our own talent and our determination. If we had the kind of exposure those two labels have had, we would be dominating the game right now.

How do you go about exposing the Street Kingz music?
I test the music out on all genres. Sometimes, I even play some of our songs for senior citizens and they have embraced the movement. Street Kingz is much more than a rap label, we do it all.

How do you plan on going international?
By using different promotions and branching out into different genres. We also advertise on magazines and I do everything in between to make sure Street Kingz reaches a new fan each day. Truth be told, I'm a hustler.

Have you run across any heavy hitters?
Actually, I have. I work at a casino, so I run into celebrities all of the time. Over the years, I have met Juvenile, Katt Williams, Mystikal, and DeRay Williams. After meeting Katt Williams, we recorded together and he is a funny person on and off the camera. Through hard work and networking, I have met plenty of people, big names and minor ones.

Where do you intend for Street Kingz Entertainment to be ten years from now?
Everywhere. I want to expand into owning restaurants, having clothing lines, and having an overall entertainment company. I see myself as a Russell Simmons-type figure.

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Romeo adds three New Artists to No Limit Records

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

During the 1990s, No Limit Records was the most-popular label in hip hop. They reached their peak when Snoop Dogg signed to the label in 1997. Already the biggest rapper in the game, aside from the boss of No Limit, Master P, he made No Limit into a superteam.

But, once his contract was up with No Limit Records, Snoop Dogg left and created his own label. Before long, Master P's popularity had waned and Lil' Romeo was not as popular as Lil' Bow Wow. Soon, the company reorganized and Romeo went off to college.

Now a college graduate, Romeo is the head of No Limit Records and working on his next album. Aside from his own music, Romeo has added three new artists to the label. Silkk Tha Shocker remained the only holdover artist from the 1990s.

Romeo has signed new acts, such as Miss Chee, Oak Tree, and Kay-I. There is no set release date for any of these new artists.

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Snoop Dogg talks about his Days on Death Row

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Twenty years deep in the game, Snoop Dogg has a long story to tell, as he grew up in the spotlight. In his early twenties, he was involved in the biggest beef in hip hop history. Once the dust settled, Snoop Dogg sought to leave Death Row Records and record music in a less hostile environment.

Snoop Dogg was among the last members to leave Death Row, but he had wanted to leave sooner. Suge Knight, the founder of the label, forced Snoop Dogg to stay with the label. But, when Knight was sent to jail, Snoop left and joined No Limit Records. Even after getting out, Snoop Dogg often discusses his time with the label.

Recently, he explained how Suge Knight treated up-and-coming producers. Snoop Dogg explained how he met a young producer and used his beat for the Murder Was The Case album. Snoop used the beat, paid him $5,000 for the beat, and gave him the publishing rights. Suge Knight did not operate that way, instead he wanted Snoop to pay him $500 and take credit for the beat, himself, and get rid of him.

Snoop Dogg did not operate that way because he likes giving people chances to prove themselves.

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New Orleans rapper, Magnolia Shorty, gunned down

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Outside of the success of Cash Money and No Limit, New Orleans hip hop is known for tragedy. In 2003, Soulja Slim was gunned down. In 2005, the entire city was torn to pieces by Hurricane Katrina. Now, another of the city's rappers has been murdered.

Magnolia Shorty was named by Soulja Slim, as they were from the same projects. Through her connection with Slim, she was introduced to Birdman who introduced her to the game. She was signed to Cash Money Records for a short period of time.

She was only the second artist signed to Cash Money Records, but she did not remain on the label long. After her Cash Money days, Magnolia Shorty returned to the streets of New Orleans. Her legacy grew despite her not going back and trying to land another label deal. She last appeared at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.

Early reports say Magnolia Shorty was shot over 26 times in her old neighborhood.

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