Music 360 Watchdoggin': JAY-Z TO SIGN $150 MILLION LIVE NATION DEAL: Rapper to leave Def Jam for one of richest contracts ever

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter is reportedly ready to sign with concert promoter Live Nation in a 10-year deal worth about $150 million, a total that rivals the biggest music contracts ever, the New York Times reported.
The rap tycoon will officially bounce from his longtime record label, Def Jam, and enter into a partnership that includes recordings and tours – as well as the financing of his new entertainment venture Roc Nation - an umbrella company that will include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing. The venture would split profits with Jay-Z.
The rap mogul will reportedly receive $25 million upfront and another $10 million each for at least three studio albums. The deal also includes $25 million for concert tours and $50 million to finance his other investments.
Jay-Z's partnership is the latest in a series of new pacts between Live Nation and mega-entertainers. Earlier this week, the company announced a 12-year agreement to handle the merchandising, digital and branding rights and touring of Irish group U2.
Live Nation, which unveiled a $120 million deal with Madonna five months ago, has been expanding its business model to develop more far-reaching and deeper relationships with artists beyond just handling their touring as CD sales plunge.
Jay-Z, 38, in December left his post as president of Def Jam Records, saying he wanted to "take on new challenges."

Aww Man! Obama Blazes!

Senator Obama has a fowl habit...He's a smoker! Does your church have a smoking section Senator Obama? I know yo Pastah taught you mo betta than that! While Barack allegedly quit smoking back in February 2007, ABC News Correspondent Jake Tapper says he ran into the Illinois senator in August when he "reeked of cigarettes." Poof! I won't be ridin' in the Obamamobile fo sho! Obama even admitted he "fell off the wagon" on last night's "Hardball." He fell off and hard we say! Maybe we can get Obama some a dat Nicoderm CQ...Um Hm!! If BO wants to stay off the cancer sticks, he should just take his own advice and say: Yes We Can! A rep for Obama would not comment. Come on Barack! Say it! "Yes I Can"!

I Sense Something Wrong In This Picture: NFL Convict Busted Again

Is it just me, or does it seem like something looks strange in this pic. It's just a mugshot that has not been retouched, but it looks like something has taken this dude over. It's errie! Check this out:

Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals is determined to flush his NFL career down the toilet.

The 24-year-old wide receiver -- who was arrested a whopping four times in a 14-month span and suspended for half of last season by the NFL -- turned himself into police yesterday after an 18-year-old guy accused Henry of hitting him in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.

A spokesman for the team said they are aware of the incident, but had no comment. Henry's agent said Henry had a different account of what went down, but wouldn't say more.

UPDATE: Mission accomplished -- the Bengals have cut Chris Henry. Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement, "Chris Henry has forfeited his opportunity to pursue a career with the Bengals. His conduct can no longer be tolerated."

I think he's got something that has been "Played In" and needs to be "Played Out"...or maybe "Prayed Out"! Eeek!

Ya Think? STUDY SAYS RAP MUSIC GLAMORIZES DRUGS: Research sampled 341 hip hop lyrics between 1979 and 1997.

A new study suggests that hip hop music has increasingly glamorized the use of illegal drugs, portraying marijuana, crack and cocaine as symbols of wealth and status, according to a new study by the journal Addiction Research & Theory.
The study found that rappers had moved away from lyrics that warn against drug use, an approach that was more common in hip hop during the early days of the genre, reports Reuters.
"This study showed that in fact much early rap music either did not talk about drugs at all, or when it did had anti-drug messages," said Denise Herd, of the University of California at Berkeley, who headed the research team.
"So intrinsically rap music is not necessarily associated with these themes," she added.
After sampling 341 lyrics from rap music's most popular hits between 1979 and 1997, the researchers found references to drugs had increased six-fold over that period.
Of the 38 most popular songs between 1979 and 1984, only four contained drug references. But by the late 1980s the incidence had increased to 19 percent, and after 1993 nearly 70 percent of rap songs mentioned drug use.
Lyrics describing drug use have not only become more frequent but the context changed from concern about the devastation of drugs to a more positive portrayal. For example, Grandmaster Flash's "White Lines," recorded in 1983, warns cocaine does nothing except "killin' your brain," but more recent tunes by popular rappers such as 50 Cent's "As the World Turns" refers to cocaine and heroin as positive things.
"I think society has some responsibility to give kids some alternatives to the glamorized view of drugs they see in this music," Herd told Reuters. "There are solutions that go beyond the family and home, and a lot rests with us as an American society in general."

Watch Out There! CNN'S Lou Dobbs Almost Calls Condoleezza & Obama 'Cotton Pickin' Politicians!

CNN host Lou Dobbs was able to catch himself before he blurted out the racially offensive term "cotton pickin'" in reference to recent comments about race by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
In an exchange with "Situation Room" anchor Wolf Blitzer on Friday (Mar 28), Dobbs said it was "unfortunate" that Rice had referred to the issue of race as America's "birth defect."
After going on a tear about how America is the most "socially, ethnically, religiously and racially diverse society on the face of the earth," Dobbs broadened his response to the overall discussion of race sparked several weeks earlier in a speech by Sen. Barack Obama.
"To hear a politician, whoever it may be, talk about how difficult it is to talk about race – well, the heck with them," he said. "And I can guarantee you this. Not a single one of these cotton pick…I mean…these, just ridiculous politicians should be the moderator on the issue of race. We have to have a far better discussion than that."

HUH? STEVIE WONDER TAKES SKIING LESSON: Music legend brings family to Mammoth Mountain for a day on the slopes.

Well, it's a blessing to know that all things are possible! Check this out: Stevie Wonder and his family hit the slopes at Southern California's Mammoth Mountain Ski area Monday, where the musician took a class on how to ski.
According to local station KSRW, Wonder was given lessons by members of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra. The instructors, Maggie Palchak and Cleland Hoff, said "Stevie was just as sweet and wonderful as he seems during performances," according to KSRW.
The singer was accompanied by his young sons and other family members. Word has it he loved the experience and said they would be back.

LEVERT'S FAMILY WANTS FBI TO PROBE DEATH: Cousin says Sean was never 'out of control' as warden described.

The family of singer Sean Levert has asked that the FBI get involved in the investigation of his death following an episode at Ohio's Cuyahoga County jail.
Warden Kevin McDonough had described Levert as "out of control," "hallucinating" and pounding on his cell door right before guards placed him in a restraining chair. But Levert's cousin, Michael Gibson, said he never had any such outburst, according to the Associated Press.
The 39-year-old Levert died Sunday night at Cleveland's Lutheran Hospital after collapsing at the county jail, where he was serving a 22-month sentence for failure to pay child support.
An autopsy did not determine the cause of death. Toxicology tests are expected to take weeks.
FBI spokesman Scott Wilson says agents would meet with Levert's family.
Meanwhile, TMZ.com is reporting that Levert's body is being held at the Coroner's office longer than usual as his wife tries to decide whether to hold a private or public service.