Flesh-N-Bone gets 11 years in jail
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Flesh-N-Bone was sentenced Friday in Van Nuys, Calif., to 11 years in a California state prison for threatening a friend with an AK-47 in December 1999. He had been facing a maximum sentence of 19 years in the case. Flesh's manager, Gary Ballen, was quoted as saying that he was "very pleased with the sentence." His lawyer, Jonathan Kissell, said that he felt the sentence was fair, adding that he did not expect Flesh-N-Bone to serve the entire 11 years. "While this may appear to be a lengthy sentence, it will not serve as a life sentence. He will continue to write music, to interact with people in the music industry, and use his talents creatively for others' enjoyment. He will be back in society's grasp within five years and will have learned a very valuable lesson in life." In June, Flesh was found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon for threatening a friend with an AK-47 that he pulled out of a baby's crib.
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You may have never heard of Shade Sheist, but you probably have heard his voice blessing one of late summer's hottest joints. Sheist's "Where I Wanna Be" featuring Nate Dogg, Kurupt and production by Damizza was the second-most added single at R&B radio stations last week and fourth-most at urban stations, but as anyone who spent any time in Los Angeles this summer can tell you, the track has been in heavy rotation on Damizza's own Power 106 for quite some time. The track, which might pick up even more momentum thanks to a recently released video, will be featured on Damizza's upcoming compilation album that features Bone, Ja Rule and additional production by Jermaine Dupri, Kay Gee and Warren G. Damizza Presents...Where I Wanna Be, which also promises a heavy dose of Sheist, is scheduled to hit stores on Oct. 31. 
Scarface, who has been laying low for the past year or so, will debut high on the Billboard 200 albums chart next week. According to figures released by SoundScan, Scarface's Last of a Dying Breed sold more than 133,000 copies to check in at No. 7. Mystikal's Let's Get Ready slipped just one spot to No. 2, while Nelly's Country Grammar continued to show considerable staying power by locking down the No. 3 spot. The week's other noteworthy debuts include Guru's Jazzmatazz: Street Soul at No. 32, Death Row's compilation, Too Gangsta For Radio, at No. 171 and Soul Assassins' Chapter II at No. 178. 
As rumors circulate about Busta Rhymes and his Flipmode Squad switching from Elektra to Def Jam, the man himself has been more concerned with resolving some issues in the courtroom. Busta received five years probation last week in connection with an incident in which police found a loaded pistol in his 1995 Mercedes-Benz. Busta pleaded guilty in May 1999 to the charge, which carries up to a seven-year prison term upon trial conviction. In the meantime, Busta has been serving as the guest host for the first few episodes of The Source's new show, "Sound Lab," which premiered Oct. 7 on UPN. Meanwhile, one of the Flipmode artists that he's always proud to promote, Rah Digga, is starting work on her first major film. "13 Ghosts" is a remake of a 1968 film about a doctor who stashes a fortune in his haunted home and wills it to a poor relative. And what about all those rumors? "As far as I know, those rumors are just that and Busta is still on Elektra," said an Elektra representative when contacted by The 411 Online.
Philadelphia 76ers guard 
Jermaine Dupri's latest young protege, 
Wardel Fenderson, the chauffeur that was driving Puff Daddy's vehicle the night in which the Bad Boy CEO fled a shooting at a Manhattan night club that he and Shyne allegedly were involved in, is suing him. Fenderson, who claims that Puffy ordered him to "take off" in the vehicle after the shooting and was told not to stop for the police or anyone else, is seeking at least $3 million from Puffy and Bad Boy Entertainment, on claims of assault, false arrest and emotional distress. Puffy and bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones face weapons possession and bribery charges in connection with the shooting, while Shyne has been charged with attempted murder, assault and reckless endangerment. 
Wyclef Jean now has his own record label thanks to a deal he signed with Clive Davis' J Records. Clef Records is the first joint venture for the former Arista head's new label. Wyclef will sign and produce the artists, while J Records will take care of sales, marketing and promotion. "I feel honored and privileged that Clive Davis chose me as a musical partner to enter the new millennium," Wyclef said in a press release announcing the deal. Wyclef is currently on tour with De La Soul and Black Eyed Peas promoting his critically acclaimed sophomore album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II A Book. Meanwhile, DMX has started a joint-venture label with Def Jam. Bloodline Records will start out as a hip-hop label, but eventually will include pop, rock and other styles of music. DMX will continue to record for Ruff Ryders/Def Jam. 
After a one-week slump, hip-hop once again will claim the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart. You'd think that after Nelly ruled the chart for five weeks, someone as mainstream as Madonna might hold on to No. 1 for a while. But Mystikal snatched the title from her by selling more than 330,000 copies of Let's Get Ready, his first album since leaving No Limit. The disc, which undoubtedly was helped by the hit single "Shake Ya Ass," marks the XXL cover boy's return to Jive, the record company that picked up and distributed 
Remember when 
Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce remains hospitalized in fair condition after being stabbed 11 times at about 1 a.m. Monday during a private party. Most of the wounds were superficial, but one near his sternum was reported to be seven inches deep, nicking a lung and requiring surgery. Doctors credited Pierce's leather jacket with preventing further damage. According to witnesses, Made Men got into an altercation with security at the club, but police are unsure of how Pierce might have become involved. "Members of the local rap group Made Men may have been involved in this," police spokesperson Mariellen Burns said during a live television interview. A witness who was working as a security guard for the party told police he recognized the suspects as members of the group. However, Made Men said in a statement that they had nothing to do with the fight. "We can say absolutely that Made Men had nothing to do with the melee that took place last night," said Made Men's Raymond "Ray Dog'' Scott in a statement. "We do not condone or advocate violence against anybody." Made Men, originally dubbed Almighty RSO, is best known for getting preferential treatment in The Source. Last year, publisher David Mays upped a reviewer's rating of Made Men's album from 3.5 mics to 4.5, and the group has been prominently featured in the magazine and at the past two Source Awards, despite not having a hit. The group reportedly holds a financial stake in the magazine.