After graduating from high school, Drake gave a speech at the graduation ceremony.

Shortly after taking his final exams and graduating from high school, Drake took the podium to give a speech at the graduation ceremony.

The 26-year-old rapper graced the stage at Jarvis C.I in Toronto, Canada during graduation. During the speech, he thanked his teacher Kim Janzen for her role in helping him accomplish his goal.

“I want to let you know today, as I stand in front of you, I get it. I get why this institution is in place for every single one of us. And it’s not necessarily about the books that you’ll read or the science or math equations that you’ll do because you may end up taking a path in life where a lot of the things that you’ll learn, you can’t necessarily fully apply. And that’s OK. It’s not about the popular kids, it’s not about the kids that don’t feel as popular, because all of that changes later in life.”

Watch Drake’s graduation speech below.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MimUlS7SQ_w]

 

Sean Garrett has to pony up for an expensive AmEx bill.

 

Luckily, Sean Garrett has produced hits for Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, and Usher, as he’s going to have to dig deep into his pockets.

 

TMZ reports that the producer has been ordered to pay $108,084 to American Express.

 

The credit card company filed a motion for default judgment last month because Garrett didn’t respond to the lawsuit, so the judge ruled in American Express’ favor.

 

Garrett has other financial woes, as the State of Georgia filed a tax lien against the producer earlier this year, amounting to $732,553.57.

 

Earlier, Garrett’s rep claimed that the AmEx lawsuit “has no merit.”

 

 

 

 With the recent release of West Coast newcomer Kendrick Lamar’s debut album, the Hip-Hop world was set abuzz this week, with many industry insiders, along with fans and listeners, crowning him a “breath of fresh air.”

 

After rapper Shyne spoke publicly about not feeling all of the “hype” surrounding Lamar’s Good Kid, m.A.A.d. city release, many mainstays in the West Coast came to the young rapper’s defense. Both Game and Nipsey Hussle traded shotswith the deported rapper through Twitter.

 

Since the controversy, Shyne reached out to AllHipHop.com to share his feelings directly on Lamar and his new album:

 

“Kendrick Lamar, you know what I’m saying, his album is alright. I don’t see what all the hype is about. He’s nice, he has a lot of potential; definitely didn’t make a Doggy Style, it wasn’t no Ready to Die…

 

“But he’s nice with it, and I like the way he talks about that life without really claiming that life. He explains how he was around that and how he seen that, but he ain’t really saying that he was that he’s saying, ‘I was there, I seen everything that was happening. But I kinda didn’t wanna be involved in that. I kind of ducked out of that.’

 

“I like that. I like that honesty.”

 

UPDATE: Kendrick Lamar has finally responded to Shyne’s comments in recent days, telling Hip Hop Wired from a Samsung event in Los Angeles: “It’s really no response [to him]. I’m not a sensitive guy, so that’s his opinion. Can’t stop what the world thinks, so yeah, that’s him.”

 

Download Shyne’s Gangland HERE

 

RELATED: Part 1 of AllHipHop.com’s recent, exclusive interview with Shyne:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKQ1yySwO7A?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent]

Sean “Diddy” Combs was reportedly involved in a serious car accident, according to TMZ.

 

The full nature of the crash has not been determined.

 

According to law enforcements, a car turned left in front of Diddy’s SUV and and the driver of the Bad Boy mogul’s caravan careened with the other vehicle.

 

Those involved in the accident all complained about being in pain, including Diddy.

 

The extent of the injuries has not been determined. Nobody has been admitted to the hospital at press time.

 

 

Shyne calls out Diddy for not providing financial help to the family of his slain bodyguard.

 

Between attacking Rick Ross’ latest mixtape, questioningDrake’s credibility and even trashing Kendrick Lamar’sdebut LP, Shyne has been keeping himself busy taking other artists to task. Now, in an exclusive interview withAllHipHop, the former Bad Boy once again sets his sights on his old boss Diddy.

 

Shyne explained that the origins of his antipathy for Diddy stem from the lack of financial assistance Diddy has provided for the family of his slain bodyguard Anthony “Wolf” Jones. He said that he witnessed first-hand Jones laying his life on the line for the Bad Boy mogul, only to have Diddy shirk his responsibilities to Jones’ family following his death.

 

“The testament to [my beef with Diddy] is the way he treats Anthony ‘Wolf’ Jones’ mother and his family. If it wasn’t for Anthony Wolf Jones, he [Diddy] wouldn’t be alive today. I know this for a fact,” he said. “Suge Knight was on his back and Wolf was the guy that kept Diddy alive. You would think that after he passed away he would have gratitude forever, especially when you think about the way that he’s rolling. How you not sending your man’s kid’s off to college? How you not take care of your man’s mother mortgage?”

 

Shyne also spoke on his plans to return to the United States to perform. The Belize-born emcee blames President Barack Obama for his current visa issues, saying that he plans to return to the States by March of next year, with or without the POTUS’ help.

 

“We working on that and for whatever reason President Obama don’t see the benefit that I bring to the African and Latin-American impoverished communities throughout the United States of America,” he said. “He doesn’t seem to get the fact that [there is] nobody more [qualified] than myself to speak to these kids in an honest way with integrity, that can influence them to change their lives and turn their lives around. He doesn’t get the fact that I’m the spokesperson to combat the violence in inner cities. But we working on getting that visa, so I should be in the United States in March of 2013, with or without Obama.”

 

 

 

Lil Reese violently attacks a woman in a video clip and later confirms it was him depicted in the footage.

 

A video was released earlier today of Def Jam signee Lil Reese violently assaulting a woman who is allegedly his baby’s mother.

 

In the clip, the two engage in a verbal altercation before they come to blows. The Chief Keef affiliate violently attacks the woman by repeatedly punching her, continuing the assault as she lays on the ground.

 

Reese responded to the video leak on his Twitter page, writing that the clip is years old and that its release is an attempt at “haters” trying to “see a mf Dwn.”

 

 

Watch the violent clip below (via Montreality).

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsYBMJpnGkE]

 

 

 

Alicia Keys and her husband Hip-Hop producer Swizz Beatz have entered into a contract to purchase Eddie Murphy’s mansion in Englewood, New Jersey.

 

According to the New York Daily News, the powerful couple entered into deal to buy the house for $12 million, but the closing has been delayed for unknown reasons for a few months.

 

The mansion, which sits on five-acres, has a bowling alley, marble fireplaces, a private recording studio and an indoor pool.

 

Eddie Murphy’s mansion was originally put on the market around 2005 for $30 million. Keys and Swizz are purchasing the home due to its close proximity to Manhattan.

 

Even though he can’t vote, Lil Wayne is educating himself about the presidential candidates.

Lil Wayne might not be able to vote in the upcoming election, but that doesn’t mean he’s uninterested in politics. During an interview with MTV News, Weezy said that he’s been brushing up on Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, stating that while he doesn’t support one over the other, he’s keeping up with their stances so he knows what to expect when the victor is decided.

“Leaning one way? No, I’m not. I’m not leaning towards no one only because I can’t. I can’t vote, unfortunately, I’m an ex-con. I did follow it, I am paying attention to it and me following it meaning I kinda did my research on who both of these people were because that’s all I can do from a personal standpoint. I can’t vote, so all I can do is figure out who these people are and whoever you guys choose, at least I know a little bit about them.”

Wayne is prohibited from voting due to his conviction on a 2007 gun charge.

 

Pusha T voices his support for President Barack Obama in his bid for re-election.

 

Over the past few weeks, more and more Hip Hop artists have been coming out of the woodwork to voice their support for the re-election of President Barack Obama. Now, in a recent interview with The Smoking Section, one of G.O.O.D. Music’s own lends his endorsement to the Obama campaign.

 

Clipse alum Pusha T recently threw his hat into the ring as one of the many Hip Hop artists who support the re-election of Barack Obama. He said that he feels the G.O.P. candidate Mitt Romney has been disingenuous about his finances and policies, which has reaffirmed Obama’s validity as the best possible POTUS in Pusha’s mind.

 

“I feel like the election’s gonna be great. I feel like Obama is definitely the man and the man we should be putting in office again,” he said. “I feel like the fact that Romney is even being considered with all of his evasiveness and his tax past and his background and his history and family stuff. I think it says a lot, like why are we even considering this man? I think it’s a testament to how classy Obama has been. He could really dig into all of Romney’s policies but he hasn’t. I think Obama has been very tasteful, when others would not have been at all.”

 

 

 

A decade after his death, an alleged suspect has been implicated in the shooting death of  Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell. Curtis Scoon was named by the New York Daily News as ordering a hit out on the legendary  rap figure to settle a decade-long drug debt.

 

In an interview with AllHipHop.com, Scoon reaffirmed his innocence. “I read the article in today’s New York Daily News and was taken aback by the persistent efforts to connect me to the tragic death of Jason Mizell,” he told the site. “I addressed my non-involvement in this crime several months back with ScoonTV, I believe readers will find it quite informative.”

 

Scoon’s lawyer, Marvyn Kornber, also stuck up for his client. “As time goes by, he becomes less and less of a suspect. He’s moved on with his life.”

 

Elsewhere in the case, is Ronald Washington, an associate of the Run DMC member, currently serving a 17-year sentence for armed robbery, was said to have admitted to playing  a part in Jay’s murder. He reportedly  confessed the crime to his ex-girlfriend, who told police, but a source blasted the credibility of Washington and his former lady’s claims. “She [also] changed her story three or four times after,” the source revealed.

 

Although there were five witnesses to his death, police have yet to nab any solid leads. “We never really had a good lead,” noted Vincent Santangelo, the head detective on the case. “Nobody would, or nobody could, tell us the who or what. We’re still looking for that person.”

 

With all the twists and turns in the story, Jay’s family is still looking for closure. “The past 10 years has been really hard,” explained his brother,  Marvin Thompson. “There’s still so many unanswered questions. … I pray that someone will step up and close this case and give us some peace.”

 

Thompson believes that Washington was involved in his brother’s death, while his mother—Connie Mizell-Perry— is confident that karma will get whoever is involved. “One of these days, you’re going to think you have it made and someone is going to tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘Gotcha!’” she said.

 

Jay was shot and killed inside a recording studio in Jamaica Queens, on Oct. 30, 2002

 

Nelly says the drug and gun bust in his tour bus was “alarming” and “baffling.”

 

On October 11, law enforcement officials pulled over Nelly’s tour bus and found heroin, more than 10 pounds of marijuana, and a load .45 caliber handgun.

 

An employee on the bus, Brian Keith Jones, was arrested, and Nelly released a statement claiming he had nothing to do with the matter.

 

In an interview with MTV News, Nelly gave his thoughts on the matter. “I think it’s always alarming. I think in this case it’s really alarming when you find yourself in a situation that you didn’t put yourself in,” he told MTV News on Tuesday (October 23). “That’s the only thing that I think is baffling, and I think that’s the part that hurts the most.”

 

“You work so hard to achieve certain things, and it’s not the consequence that hurts you the most, [it’s] the perception,” explained Nelly.

 

The St. Louis rapper elaborated on what he meant with regards to his public perception. “For 14 years, I made my perception what I wanted to make my perception and now my perception may be slightly changed,” he said. “Not because of what I did, but because of what someone else did and I think that’s the part that hurts you the most.”

 

 

 

Lil Wayne also confirms production from Juicy J, David Banner, Cool & Dre and Streetrunner.

 

Lil Wayne and Kanye West are back to making music together. During an interview with MTV News, Weezy revealed that in addition to production from Juicy J, David Banner and Cool & Dre, ‘Ye will have a “big hand” in his upcoming album I Am Not a Human Being II, dropping in December.

 

“Production on the album, I got people like Juicy J, Cool & Dre, David Banner on down to uh — I mean it’s so many, shoot. Streetrunner, ‘Ye,” said Weezy. “Yeah he got some music on there. It’s crazy, actually I don’t want to give too much up but he’s got a big hand in the album, you’ll see.”

 

West previously helmed “Comfortable” and “Let the Beat Build” for the Young Money honcho’s Tha Carter III.

 

 

 

 

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