Jadakiss denied
Famed rapper Jadakiss and his D Block brethren were told that a charity basketball tournament they were scheduled to play in at the Yerwood Centre in Connecticut was cancelled yesterday. The committee organizing the event received up to 60 complaints from numerous people within the community citing that the presence of Jadakiss and D Block could encourage violence at such an event.This move to deny such an event to take place was encouraged by the Jere Eaton, a potential presidential candidate for the NAACP's Stamford branch who was once on the board of Yerwood who demanded that the rappers be replaced with 'clean' entertainers.The organizer of the event Deborah Sewell said "I'm disappointed, because I really felt this would have been a great opportunity for the community to band together and show up in force,"Talking about if the tournament was to go ahead Ms. Sewell said "It doesn't matter who you bring in there's a potential for an issue of violence."
Usher makes changes
With a pending wedding ahead of him and a new album to release, Usher has made some changes which have shocked the music industry this week. Usher, who is set to marry former stylist divorcee Tameka Foster later this year has opted to change management.Usher born Usher Raymond has throughout his career been managed by his mother Jonnetta Patton and it was his mother who fired his now fiance from her position of his stylist.

There have been rumors circulating that the singer would actually appoint his future wife as his manager but he has strongly denied these rumors.

Usher's sixth album is set to be released in the Autumn of this year.

Busta update

Busta Rhymes declined a plea deal yesterday in a court in Manhattan.

The rapper was in court from numerous charges, including two charges of assault, one a fan and one on a former driver, and DWI and strongly opposed the prosecutors deal which would have sent him to jail for a year, a fine of $1500 and a stint in an alcohol treatment center.

He is set to appear in court again to face the charges of assault and DWI on July 10th.

Cuts at WMG

Warner Music Group, the mother company of labels such as Atlantic, Bad Boy and Asylum are expected to be cutting jobs in the next few months.

An estimated 400 jobs are expected to be lost as the company changes with the times and puts 'further emphasis on digital strategy and distribution.'

Warner Music was founded in 1929 and is one of the four major record companies in the world. Its main competitiors are EMI, Universal and Sony BMG.

Melanie J Cornish