Halie: The Baddest VH1 Reality Chick

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Hot and humble. That might be the best way to describe Heather “Halie” Scoggins, from VH1’s Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch. Upon learning that she took the top spot on XXL’s 50 Baddest Reality Chicks list last week, Halie accepted the adulation modestly.

“I’m very happy,” said the half-black, half-white curvaceous 24-year-old model and video vixen, who splits time between Atlanta and Miami. “I found out just from Twitter. I guess it got re-tweeted.”

The 36D-25-41 (yes, 41)- measuring stunner adds that the fact that VH1’s reality shows have casted beautiful women throughout the years and she was still named No. 1 only sweetens the deal.

“Yeah, it makes it even better,” Scoggins said. “There was some pretty girls, especially on For The Love of Ray J. All of the shows had some pretty girls. Caviar (from For the Love of Ray J) was pretty. Hoops (from Flavor of Love) was definitely very pretty. Rubi from our show was a pretty girl. All the shows had attractive girls, so I guess it’s personal taste. It’s definitely interesting to see how the staff rated. I was No. 7 on (The Ultimate Catch). I wasn’t my normal self on the show. I’m happy people can look deeper and past the show.”

After winning the crown on XXL’s list, she has her sights set on another goal: acting. Having already done modeling for T.I.’s Akoo clothing line and appearing in music videos for the likes of Trey Songz and Nicki Minaj (“Bottoms Up“), DJ Khaled (“All I Do is Win“) and Jamie Foxx (“Blame It“), Scoggins says she loves modeling, but would like to transition into the acting world, even if it’s behind the scenes (although we’re sure the fellas hope she’s in front of the cameras).

“I definitely want to work on the next step, broaden my horizons,” Scoggins said. “I would love to do something behind the scenes on a VH1 show or any show or act. That’s my ultimate goal.”

The kind of work Caviar – who’s now starring in adult films – is doing, we ask? “No,” Scoggins says, “not that kind.” —Mark Lelinwalla

Eye Candy Vital Stats
Relationship Status: Single.
Favorite Car: Lambos are always sexy! To drive, Range Rover.
Celebrity Crush: Lance Gross.
Dream Date: A horse & carriage ride to a romantic dinner on the water.
Something odd about me is… “I grew up in the country.”
When I’m stressed, I like to… “Workout or read, definitely spend time alone.”
I’m eye candy because… “of my natural curves, unique face and outgoing personality.”

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Ms. Cat, Open For Business [Eye Candy]

 

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Don’t mistake Catya “Ms. Cat” Washington for your average reality show chick. The former Bad Girls Club cast member may turn heads with her bump, but it’s her non-stop grind that has her five steps ahead of the rest of the chicks in the game. Since getting a taste of the industry while dating Beanie Sigel in college, the Philly native has made a name for herself as a video model, reality star and former XXL Eye Candy. But if her plans for 2011 are any indication, she’s only just begun. By the end of the year, Cat intends to add actress, designer and founder of a modeling agency to her already stacked resumé. The hottie hustler took a quick break from her grind to tell us why regular dudes don’t have a shot with her, who she thinks the baddest bitch in Reality TV is and why she pulled out a box cutter on G-Unit during a video shoot. —Calvin Stovall

XXLMag.com: What have you got coming up for 2011?

Ms. Cat: Right now I’m shooting a feature film – Must be the Music – directed by Charles Dutton starring Jadakiss, Trina, Tariq from the Roots and Snoop from The Wire. It’s like an all-star cast. The movie is actually about the movie industry. It’s awesome. I’m also doing a play called Single Black Female, which I’ll be doing May 7th. I’m [working on] my own reality project, which I won’t talk too much about, I’m writing a book [called], Memoirs of a Bad Girl, which will be being published soon. As well as starting my own modeling agency. I’m doin’ a lot of different things these days. I’m also doing music. Somewhere between rap and pop. It’s kinda hip-hop, but you know, not too hardcore. I’m not trapping and all that. I have a single out called “Just Walk,” which they can find on my website, http://www.catwashington.com.

XXL: A movie and a play? Do you have any kind of acting background or is this something you’re just now dipping into?

Ms. Cat: No, I’ve actually been like in a few indie films. But this is my first major film. The main character Charles Benton, I play his daughter. It’s an awesome script, too. We’ve been shooting for like a month now.

XXL: Your fellow BGC alum Natalie Nunn has been acting out lately. What are your thoughts on her?

Ms. Cat: Well, I don’t know Natalie to really speak on her character. I don’t really know too much about Natalie. So I don’t know. I know we all did the show, but I don’t really address other females. Kind of like a non-factor. Isn’t that what Evelyn said? Bitches are a non-mother-fucking-factor. Yeah, something like that. Now, we can talk about her…

XXL: Oh, you want to talk about Evelyn from Basketball Wives?

Ms. Cat: Yeah, isn’t she gorgeous? I mean if you want to talk about bad bitches we can. But please with the Natalie stuff. That’s like, c’mon really?

XXL: Who are the baddest bitches on reality TV then?

Ms. Cat: On the reality scene, you have to understand…there’s not much to pick from. A lot of times, especially with like the Bad Girls Club, I’m one of the few who actually had a career prior to the show. Prior to the show, I did KING, Smooth, XXL, Black Men and all that kind of stuff. Most of the girls from the BGC, they’re just like scragglers that the producers just walked up on and thought, Maybe you could bring some light to the show. Like they were literally nobodies before the show. Like a lot of them were like waitresses and bartenders and that kind of situation… You know who I like? I like Tamar. Tamar Braxton… I like her, she’s adorable. Just her overall personality. She got that, “I’ma bad bitch, so what?” thing kind of going on. She got a lot of sisters and so do I. She’s dope. Everlyn’s hot. Everybody else: Ehhhh, not so much.

XXL: You’ve been in some high profile videos, what’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on a set?

Ms. Cat: The craziest thing that’s ever happened to me was on the set of a 50 Cent video. It was called “Feel Good…” And that was like a crazy experience. What happened was, we were all chillin’ – we were at 50’s house. Some of his entourage was throwing girls in the pool— it was like funny, you know. So one of the guys walked up to me and was like, “Say something!” And I was like, “What?” So I went in my bag and I had this box cutter. I pulled it out. But I ain’t say nothing, I just pulled it out. So he was like, “Ohhh, this bitch is crazy!” And he was like, “Where are you from?” And I was like, “I’m from Philly.” And then that whole they day they kept bringing it up like, “She Philly, she crazy. Leave her alone, leave her alone.” And then out of nowhere me and Yayo started talkin’ and he was like, “They got to fuckin’ with you, huh?” And I was like, “Nah, it was cool.” He was like, “I heard you pulled out on somebody.” I was just like, “Yeah.” It was like the funniest thing ever. I had to tell ‘em like, I’m really not for the bullshit. Please don’t touch me because I will cut somebody in this bitch. And ever since then, we all just been super cool. That was my first video, actually.

XXL: What advice can you give to aspiring Eye Candies to not get eaten alive in this game?

Ms. Cat: Only thing I can really say is to not be sidetracked with the rappers. Always know that the money is the motive. You can suck a dick any day, all day, but the money is supposed to be the motive. Stay focused on that. Some of these girls get kinda caught up in the— I just heard a story recently. A chick was saying that a rapper had told her to fly out to do his video. And my thing is this, if you want me to do your video, you’re paying me right? Why would I fly out for free? And they get sidetracked with the fact that, “Oh, well he personally invited me.” If he really likes you, then he’ll cut you a check. People get kind of sidetracked with the whole he personally invited me thing. Well, (he) can personally cut you a check.  [Girls] get caught up in the hype of what’s goin’ on and not what they’re supposed to be focused on, and what they’re supposed to be focused on is the dollar… I don’t do the whole advice. People are grown, you do what you wanna do. Just be able to handle the backlash. And if you’re fucking rappers at least have your rent be paid. Don’t do it and you’re on Section 8. That’s not a good look.

XXL: So what should these ladies be doing to get tight like you for the summer?

Ms. Cat: Work out everyday. If I’m watching TV, every commercial I do crunches. That’s probably the best fitness tip I can tell people because sometimes time doesn’t permit us to work out the way we want to.

XXL: Do regular (non-industry) dudes have a shot when they approach you?

Ms. Cat: Not really. When they say people in the industry only deal with people in the industry, it’s true ‘cause it’s just convenient. If you on set 19 hours a day and you have a boyfriend who works at the bank, he’s not gonna understand. And you’re on set with stars all day. It makes men really insecure. So, like a lot of times no one wants to end up dealing with people in the industry, but you just do because they understand. So it’s sort of like the gift and the curse. They might be just as busy as you, so you don’t really get a chance to enjoy them or your relationship.

XXL: Word is you are coming out with your own line of cat suits. Why?

Ms. Cat: Because I look amazing in cat suits, and every time I wear one I get thousands of people who are like, “Woah, where did that come from?” So, me and my business partner are teaming together to make an entire line of them. They’re hot and sexy and fun. You know, little cute club outfits, for videos, stuff like that. I like fun easy stuff, I don’t like anything too serious.

XXL: Well can we say that you are open to the possibility of being on future reality shows?

Ms. Cat: I am open to everything if it’s about a check.

XXL: You might want to be careful about saying that. You might get some crazy offers when people read that.

Ms. Cat: [Laughs] Well, we’re not talking porn. Let’s put that on the record. You will never see me in porn. Negative. Some people get in this industry just for the fame. But the fame does not pay the bills at the end of the day. So, I’m not saying to take anything just for the sake of being paid, hell no. You supposed to know your worth. That’s one of the things I always used to say on the show. Men know their worth and women, we should know ours. So no, there’s certain things I will not do. I mean, don’t get it twisted, don’t think people have not approached me to do shit like that. Like the craziest stuff.

XXL: What’s the wildest request you’ve gotten?

Ms. Cat: [I] always get the message to my booking e-mail, “We want to book you for a party.” I give them the rate and tell ‘em, “Where’s the venue, how many people?” And then they say something crazy like, “The Ritz-Carlton, four people—” and I’m like “What? [Laughs] What did you just say? Listen sir, serious inquiries only. No thank you. C’mon, there’s people you can hire who would love to do that for you, but it’s definitely not me.”

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Tahiry: Enough Drama for Reality TV

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Although she suffered a tough loss to Melyssa Ford in the second round of XXL’s The Baddest Chick in the Game Tournament, Tahiry José still maintains her spot as one of the most desirable vixens in hip-hop, not to mention one of the sassiest.

As if the numbers, 34-26-43 weren’t enough to make a grown man cry, the Dominican bombshell continues to prove why she is a big deal, a very big deal. Currently on the cusp of releasing an athletic wear line, among a number of other projects, the Harlemite is determined to become more than just a video vixen. XXLMag.com recently caught up with Ms. José to discuss a range of topics including her business ventures, her future as video model, and of course her take on the VH1’s reality show, Love & Hip-Hop. — Ralph Bristout

XXLMag.com: What have you been up to lately?

Tahiry José: I’ve been finishing with calendars then going and having my pre-release parties and I’m dealing now going back and forth with my athletic line for women. It’s called Fit By Tahiry Females In Training because I’m always in training. I’m not the pro, but I know it works in what I do and when I need to get ready. A lot of my fans ask me on Twitter what is it that I do to stay thick and not lose the booty and keep it all together. So, in doing that you know I teamed up with Angerwear and I’m coming out with like my Yoga pads, sports bras, tank tops, and something really comfortable and affordable for women to work out in.

XXL: When is that going to hit stores?

Tahiry: Well, right now we’re in the process of approving the last bits and pieces of everything that I want in it, so in about two months it’ll be probably ready.

XXL: Are you gonna appear in any hip-hop videos soon?

Tahiry: I just actually did a video, [DJ] Enuff has an artist. It’s French. Jobere is his name. He’s a rapper. Jim Jones is featured and so is Pusha T. I just did that you know. Me and Enuff go back 10 years, so why not do that video. So far, I don’t know about hip-hop videos. I don’t really consider myself a hip-hop video vixen or a video girl to begin with. I’m more like a personality.

XXL: You did a couple though?

Tahiry: I did, absolutely. Of course, first video [was] 50 Cent; second video, Fat Joe and [Young] Jeezy. Of course I’ma do certain videos, but do I consider myself a video vixen? No.

XXL: What rap video wouldn’t you do?

Tahiry: : Anything that I have to drop it like it’s hot, put it in a glass with oil. Like, I’m not the drop-it-like-it’s-hot girl, I’m not the girl that you’ll ever catch in the tub just feeling herself. We good. I’m the girl with the mouth, but I just look good in a thong.

XXL: Have you seen Love & Hip-Hop on VH1?

Tahiry: Abso-fucking-lutely I’m a fan. I’m a fucking fan! Well first off, I’m a fiend, I literally just watch Reality TV shows. Second of all, it’s the first show that I think we have after Basketball Wives. I think that Love & Hip-Hop is the one show that people that love hip-hop and just like the whole urban thing [have]. We didn’t have anything, everything [is] Jersey Shore. You know, we don’t see them shows in the projects so we have Love & Hip-Hop. I believe every one of these girls [is] somebody [women] could relate to and their struggles. There’s always a chick at home and nigga doing what he doing, living the life and [she’s] unhappy; and there’s always a chick who wants to be famous and drops everything to come to New York. You know, everybody has a story, so I’m a fan.

XXL: Would you appear on a show like that?

Tahiry: I thought about it while watching it. I’m having a problem with Reality TV shows period right now because it’s more about beefing. I mean of course everybody wants to see the train wrecks, we get it, you know what I’m saying. It went from being allowing somebody into your home and allowing people to see certain things, even if it’s scripted somewhat, to now everybody’s fucking acting a fool and fighting and acting crazy. I think first episode, you speak to me a certain way, I think that that’s it, hello Bad Girl’s Club. So, would I be in it? It all depends. But, just follow me around and I have enough drama so I don’t even have to pretend.

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Cali Swag District Deny M-Bone’s Gang Affiliation

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The grieving members of Cali Swag District addressed the murder of their 22-year-old group mate Monte “M-Bone” Talbert” in a live stream on TMZ yesterday (May 17), taking pains to dispel the rumors that the ‘Dougie’ dance originator’s shooting was gang-related.

“I wanna clear up: It had nothing to do with gang violence, it wasn’t nothing like that. It was just a ‘wrong place at the wrong time’ situation. We just gotta stay strong for the homey,” explained Cali Swag rapper C-Smoove. “We don’t know who’s responsible for it or what the case may be. It’s just bad, man. We’re just gonna leave it up to the law right now because there’s really nothing we can do.”

While M-Bone’s girlfriend has claimed that the drive-by shooting was the result of a Twitter war with a jealous neighbor, C-Smoove stressed that M-Bone’s death was not related to any kind of gang activity.

“He went to the store to get something to drink and, randomly, somebody pulls up, don’t say no words, don’t shoot a lot of shots, just did what they had to do and got on,” C-Smoove said. “It had to be something, but we really can’t tell exactly what it was.”

In the heart-wrenching interview, M-Bone’s group mates continued to express their sadness over the death of their fallen family member.

“We was the closest thing Mante had [to family]. He was always on his own and when we started Cali Swag, we tried to do a family,” JayAre lamented. “He was a brother to me. He meant a lot. I don’t even feel the same without him.”

While M-Bone’s murder is still being investigated, Cali Swag District’s 2010 hit ‘Teach Me How to Dougie, was nominated for a BET Award yesterday (May 17).
Watch Cali Swag District’s ‘Teach Me How to Dougie’

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Kanye West’s New Love, Angela Martini Denies Reports

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Last week, Kanye West was caught canoodling with a blonde woman while in France for the Cannes International Film Festival, the two engaging in a steamy lip-lock on a balcony. While various sources claimed 18-year-old Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Kate Upton was the golden-haired lady in question — she took to Twitter to deny the reports — his rumored new girlfriend, Miss Universe Albania Angela Martini, had something to say about it.

“I find it funny that everyone is talking about me dating Kanye West when he is photographed on the balcony kissing some girl,” Martini tells GlobalGrind.com. “What man in their right mind would be dating me and kissing some other girl?”

Martini, a model represented by NEXT Model Management, has reportedly been dating the ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ creator for several months.

“They are dating,” a source revealed to the NY Daily News. “I just don’t know if it’s exclusive.” A second informant disclosed that the 5-foot-10-inch brunette “really likes” West and is “hoping they’ll announce a relationship soon.” The publication reached out to West’s camp for a confirmation but were unsuccessful in getting a response.

If the pair were indeed coupled up behind-the-scenes, West’s recent antics at Cannes kissing the blonde in question may have squashed all hopes of securing a promising relationship with Martini.

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Mack 10 Says He May Release Solo Album Later This Year

 

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As Mack 10 slowly recovers from an April stomach surgery, the West Coast rap veteran continues to garner buzz from his acclaimed collaboration album, ‘Money Music,’ with new school California MC Glasses Malone. The project, which was released off Mack 10’s Hoo Bangin’ label, saw the re-emergence of the platinum rapper, who first gained prominence as the protégé of legendary hip-hop icon and Hollywood heavyweight Ice Cube in the mid ’90s.

Backed by such standout solo albums as his classic self-titled 1995 debut, 1997’s ‘Based on a True Story’ and works with the multi-platinum supergroup Westside Connection, Mack 10 talked with excitement about his time back on the concert stage before his surgery. “Me and Glasses stay doing shows,” Mack told the BoomBox of some of the show dates he has done with Malone, who he signed to his label imprint. “The fans lose their minds over my whole catalog. I have classics. You think ‘Foe Life’ is going to wreck, but then ‘Only in California’ comes on and people go crazy [laughs]. Then ‘Backyard Boogie’ comes on. The list goes on.”

Mack said that while he’s not one to live in the past, he understands why fans have held on so tightly to the ’90s rap era. For him, it was a fruitful time for mostly everyone involved. “In the ’90s you were getting basketball money,” Mack explained of the monetary level of success rappers were achieving. “So if you were a successful rapper you were living like you were playing in the NBA. And you were putting up real numbers. There were 10 times more record labels than there is now. You could sell 10 times more records and there wasn’t any downloading. So all you could do was sell records. The only thing you had to worry about was music bootleggers and that wasn’t so bad compared to today.”

However, Mack said today’s music era is high with possibilities. “I love the fact that you can instantly connect with the fans through [online],” he added. “Right now I’m just focused on this Mack and Malone record. But I might give them another Mack 10 solo album. I haven’t really buckled down and decided when, but I’m sure later on the year I will release something.”
Watch Mack 10’s ‘Mirror Mirror’

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Prodigy Reveals He Wrote 20 Albums in Jail, Is ‘Competing’

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Prodigy doesn’t mince words when it comes to his time behind bars. As one-half of the bruising hip-hop duo Mobb Deep, the bantam veteran MC, along with his rhyme partner-producer Havoc, blazed a nearly 20-year standout career that saw the pair take New York gangsta rap to a brazenly dark and complex direction with such classic albums as ‘The Infamous’ (1995); ‘Hell on Earth’ (1996) and ‘Murda Muzik’ (1999). But Prodigy admits that his three years spent in prison for criminal possession of a loaded gun was more than just a sobering moment.

“Going to jail is beyond what anyone thinks it is,” Prodigy explains to the BoomBox of his incarceration. “You can go to jail for a year and end up doing life in there because you may have to hurt somebody. You may end up killing somebody. You can bump into some C.O.s [correctional officers] that wanna just throw a razor in your cell, throw a knife in your cell. Or a C.O. could just say, ‘Yo, he spit on me.’ And that’s a seven-year assault charge. So little things like that can happen to you. But you don’t even realize it can go that far.”

Simon & Schuster

Prodigy, born Albert Johnson, has since made the most of his March prison release. He has dropped a well-received autobiography ‘My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy,’ a book that details his wild times in and out of the proverbial spotlight. There’s family-driven tales of growing up in Long Island, his brotherly relationship with Havoc and their coming-of-age story in the notorious Queensbridge, New York projects, and the early days of a teenage Mobb Deep. But what’s grabbed most of the headlines is Prodigy’s often times harrowing and hilarious stories detailing his experiences with a who’s who of hip-hop royalty. From Havoc accidentally shooting a Def Jam employee and Prodigy’s beefs with the late Tupac Shakur and Jay-Z to Prodigy attempting to bed Lil’ Kim, it’s all there, many times without filter.

“I wanted to tell my story,” Prodigy simply says of his reasons for writing the book. “A lot of industry people already knows some of these stories, but the fans didn’t know.” But it was his time in prison that really sparked the project. “I did a lot of reading … I read a lot of books. I’ve never read that much in my life,” Prodigy adds with a laugh. “You stuck in this hole, in this cell, and you are not really progressing in a sense. So in order to overcome that, I decided that when I go in there I was going to transform myself mentally, physically and spiritually. I ain’t do too much watching TV and playing card games. There was nothing else to do but to workout, read and write.”

Of course Prodigy was also writing lyrics for new music. “I wrote about 20 albums in there,” he says. “So yeah, I got a lot of work done in there, so I used my time wisely. I think that I definitely did what I planned on doing with the time.”

Mobb Deep fans have already gotten a taste of the group’s next artistic phase. Prodigy recently released his solo work, ‘The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP,’ a digital-only project that doesn’t stray too far from Mobb Deep’s double-fisted roots. “It was a gift to the fans,” Prodigy says of the set. “I’m not doing anything different … Just being me. I just wanted to release something that could [hold down] the fans until we release a new Mobb Deep album.”

But the question remains: What does a new Mobb Deep album sound like in 2011? Both Havoc and Prodigy have managed to stay relevant throughout label changes and sweeping musical turns. The duo, who were dropped from 4th & Broadway Records in 1993, following the lackluster sales of their debut album, ‘Juvenile Hell,’ went on to help drive legendary hip-hop imprint Loud Records, an influential label that had the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Xzibit, and Dead Prez on its storied roster. And while a 2004 switch to Jive Records didn’t work out for Mobb Deep, the pair was able to bounce back after signing with 50 Cent’s G-Unit label. So what’s next?

“We are not signed to a label right now,” Prodigy says of Mobb Deep’s current state. “We will worry about that later. But we are working on new material. We have a lot of songs ready to go. It’s about competing. Me and Havoc want to show that Mobb Deep can be that hip-hop group 20 years [into a] career and still make a great album. That’s what we are trying to do.”
Watch Prodigy’s ‘Give It to Me’

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Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa Banned From Filming at High School

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Two months ago, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa announced that they would begin filming their stoner comedy ‘High School’ in May, but the duo have already run into some trouble on set.

LA Weekly reports that the two were kicked off the set, which was at a local California school, while filming the video for the movie’s title track ‘High School.’ Snoop and Wiz were granted permission to film the video at Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach for a going rate of $3,000 a day, but the school’s principal Ben Dale was forced to pull the plug when he discovered — surprise, surprise! — that the two were using marijuana on set.

“It was evident to us that they did not act with professionalism, and did not understand where they were — a high school campus,” Dale said in a statement to Manhattan Beach Patch. Video footage from the set has appeared on YouTube, which clearly shows Snoop lighting up on school grounds.

“In the video, the rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, Jr., can be seen pulling a box of what appears to be cigars from inside his jacket, but what another crew member refers to as ‘pre-rolled,'” Dale said, of the video. “He’s only talking about one thing.”

The idea to collaborate on a stoner comedy and an accompanying soundtrack for the film was birthed after Wiz contributed a guest verse on Snoop’s 11th album ‘Doggumentary.’

Watch incriminating video footage of Snoop here.
Watch Wiz Khalifa’s Interview With The BoomBox

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Swizz Beatz Raises Money for Bronx Charter School

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Producer-turned-rapper Swizz Beatz helped raise money for the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, auctioning off items for the charity in New York City on Tuesday (May 17). Swizzy teamed with a host of his celebrity friends including Estelle and model Tika Sumpter, who both showed up at the event held at Manhattan’s 1Oak nightclub.

The auction featured original art from students at the Bronx Charter School for the Arts. All proceeds from the event will benefit the school’s 2011-2012 after school program. The Bronx native also got some love from his wife, Alicia Keys, who tweeted praise for her hubby.

“Congratulations 2 my love @therealswizzz for an INCREDIBLE event to raise money for his Bronx charter School! What an unstoppable force!” she wrote.

Swizz’s support doesn’t stop with the auction, he also announced that he would donate 30 percent of the profits from his next album to the school. He first visited the school in May of last year and has since signed on as a sponsor to help in buying necessities like computers for the after school program.

In other Swizz Beatz news, the rapper recently released the music video for ‘Everyday (Coolin’),’ the lead single off his forthcoming album, ‘Haute Living.’

Watch Swizz Beatz’ ‘It’s Me Snitches’

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New York Yankees Player Face of T.I.’s AKOO Clothing Line

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New York Yankees baseball player Curtis Granderson has inked a deal to become the latest celebrity face of T.I.’s AKOO clothing brand.

The Yankees center fielder joins musical personalities B.o.B., Travis Porter, Meek Millz and DJ Drama, who have all appeared in promotional campaigns for the urban clothing line. Granderson will appear in both print and video ads and will be expected to make public appearances as well.

Jeff Belizaire, Marketing Director for AKOO Clothing, announced the company’s newest recruit in a statement on the brand’s blog. “We’re honored to have Curtis Granderson join the AKOO family as he is a remarkable individual, athlete, author and broadcast commentator,” Belizaire said in a statement. “He’s a well-rounded role model who represents our overall brand’s message.”

AKOO — which stands for A King of Oneself — was founded by T.I. in 2008. In May 2010, following his release from jail, the Trap Muzik CEO launched a new ad campaign starring rapper Donnis, telling MTV News, “The direction of the clothing line, in my eyes, is upscale urban apparel. I just wanna continue to diversify. Continue to grow. Continue to speak to the cool kids of America. That’s my idealistic outcome.”

T.I. is currently behind bars in an Arkansas correctional facility, completing an 11-month sentence for violating his probation from a previous arrest. He will be released from jail on Sept. 29, 2011. T.I.’s sixth studio album, ‘No Mercy,’ was released during his current sentence on Dec. 7, 2010.

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