GEORGE BUSH GIVES JOHN FORTE A PARDON

President George W. Bush has pardoned rapper John Forte, an affiliate of the Fugees, who has been serving prison time for smuggling drugs, sources told us. 

Forte was one of 14 persons that Bush has pardoned or granted commuted prison sentences.

This wave of White House pardons is Bush’s latest, as he has less than two months in his presidency. A pardon cannot be overruled.

Forte was arrested at Newark International Airport in 2000 and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute. Police caught him accepting a briefcase with about $1.4 million worth of liquid cocaine in it.

Forte was hit with a 14-year sentence in a federal penitentiary under minimum sentencing laws even though it was his first offense and he was a non-violent offender. He began his bid in jail in 2001 and has fought the laws vehemently.

Through the ordeal, he maintained his innocence and turned down a plea deal.

John Forte has released two albums, Poly Sci and I, John.

John found an ally in legendary singer Carly Simon and her son Ben Taylor, both close friends. Forte lived at Simon’s estate in Martha’s Vineyard for about six weeks in 1999 and even spent the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the family. Simon and Taylor have lobbied on Forte’s behalf since he was incarcerated.

Much speculation has been made of others Bush may opt to pardon. Most of these involved those that government employees that may have unjustly interrogated suspected terrorists in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

SWIZZ BEATS COMMENTS ON EMINEM RELAPSE

‘It’s the Eminem that you missed, that you loved, that you need,’ producer says of long-awaited album. 

Eminem mentioned during the “TRL” finale earlier this month that he’s hard at work on his upcoming album Relapse — but he wasn’t giving up many details.

However, when we caught up with one of his producers, Swizz Beatz, at the Black Ball, Keep a Child Alive’s annual fundraiser, in New York earlier this month, he filled in a few blanks for us.

Swizz said he’s worked on five songs with Eminem, including one featuring both Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. “I don’t know the title yet, but it’s classic,” he said. “It’s sounding big.”

Another song Swizz worked on with Em is a track they’re referring to as a “Stan Part 2.” “You know how ‘Stan’ … was the big [song]?” Swizz asked, referring to the obsessed-fan track which sampled Dido’s “Thank You.” “So I worked on part 2, and I think it was, like, totally genius.”

Swizz said that while Eminem has apparently been away from the mic for a long time, he’s in good form on Relapse. which, Em said on “TRL,” will be out next year, in “probably January, February.”

“It’s different,” Swizz said. “Different sound, different mindframe. He’s clear. But it’s the Eminem that you missed, that you loved, that you need, especially right now in the industry, going into ‘09. He’s coming back to take the cake.”

Swizz said that politically minded songs like “Mosh” are “not really” on the agenda as much as “a lot of personal stuff.”

Asked whether that subject matter involved Eminem’s rehab stint, the death of his close friend/ D12 member Proof, his second divorce from Kim Scott, or his mom’s recent memoir, Swizz laughed and said, “I can’t give it away!”

Making a key difference in Em’s new mindset, however, is that he has “a lot of people supporting him this time,” Swizz said. “I just think you can hear a new energy in him. And, you know, the producers, everyone’s bringing forth their best on that level.”

On “TRL,” Eminem also mentioned that he’d “done probably a hundred songs in the last couple of years,” and Swizz said that it’s still being decided which tracks will make the final cut.

“How it works: They get a whole bunch of songs,” the producer explained, “and it’s not over until the budget is closed and the artwork is done. It’s just an ongoing thing.”

COMMOM FEAT KANYE WEST – PUNCH DRUNK LOVE

listen/DL

JOE BUDDEN T.V. : TIGHTEST JEANS

DIDDY IN THE STUDIO WITH T-PAIN

BUSTA RHYMES – I GOT BASS (VIDEO)

BEYONCE ON THE AMA’S – SINGLE LADIES

INDIANA INMATES ESCAPE TO HAVE SEX

NIGGAS STILL SINGING FOR CHICKEN

 

NIGGAS CAN’T BE DOING THIS IN 2009

STOP SINGING FOR CHICKEN NEGROES DAM!!!!

JOE BUDDEN FEAT THE GAME – THE FUTURE

listen/DLNEW SINGLE OFF JOE BUDDEN ALBUM 

PADDED ROOM

CLARK KENT LOUD FAVORITES PART 5

M.C. BREED PASSES AWAY

 Flint, Michigan rapper MC Breed has died at the age of 36. An anonymous source, reportedly a friend of the late rapper confirmed the passing of the industry veteran. “He’s no longer with us,” the source said. “We are in the process of putting together a benefit concert, hopefully at Saint Andrews to raise money for a funeral.”

He was hospitalized September 6 after suffering from a sudden kidney failure [click to read].

Born Eric Breed, he had been in the music industry for 15 years. Notable collaborations include the late 2Pac (“Gotta Get Mine), and Too Short. Breed’s biggest single was “Ain’t No Future in Yo Frontin’,” which reached number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.

One of the people working with MC Breed near the end of his life, publicist and writer Jonathan Hay and partner Chad Kiser informed that the Flint, Michigan legend was reportedly on the verge of resigning with Ichiban Records.

It was with Ichiban that Breed released his 1991 self-titled debut with DFC, including the hit “Ain’t No Future In Yo’ Frontin’”. After releasing a stream of other albums on Wrap Records, Breed returned for 1996’s Da Hood Tapes, 1997’s Saucy and two compilations in the last six years.