50 CENT ON CHIEF KEEF GETTING LOCKED UP: "I KNEW THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN"

G-Unit's 50 Cent has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Chicago rapper Chief Keef in light of his unexpected arrest this week on a reported probation violation.

In Fif's opinion, he felt Keef's publicized bad boy antics would eventually catch up with him.

"With Chief Keef, it's unfortunate to hear that he's actually locked up," Fif told MTV News on Wednesday (January 16), a day after Keef was detained in Chicago when he was videotaped holding a gun, which is in violation of his probation. "I feel bad, because I feel like I knew that was gonna happen. I knew what continues to happen afterwards if you let it spiral out of control." (MTV)

No matter the legal outcome, Fif still believes in Keef's talent as a hip-hop artist.

Fif is still rooting for Keef, even though they haven't spoken since the youngster left him high and dry. "I haven't been in communications with him following that, and I wish him the best," 50 said before remarking on the rap rookie's potential. "Chief Keef, I think he has something, obviously. Even within the system, no one has done anything for Chief Keef. He's still just this raw music, raw talent, because he shot all of these music videos in the living room." (MTV)

Back in September, 50 said Interscope Records nearly dropped Keef.

"There was some energy there in the [Interscope] building, they was actually thinking about dropping him," 50 said in an interview. "I was like, 'D*mn you can't just like drop him.' That's what hip-hop culture is. It's an opportunity for you to make it from anywhere. If you from the bottom right now you could listen to this music that comes on, write something and put them cards back they gave you and deal yourself some new ones." (Hot 97)

The Chicago rapper got taken into police custody Tuesday (January 15).

Just weeks after releasing his debut album, "Finally Rich," South Side rapper Chief Keef was taken in handcuffs from juvenile court Tuesday after a Cook County judge ordered him held in custody. Judge Carl Anthony Walker ruled that Chief Keef had violated his probation for a 2011 gun conviction by holding a rifle at a gun range in New York while a video was being shot last summer. (Chicago Tribune)

Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey Fuss as 'American Idol' Premieres in New York

It was a tale of furry clothing accessories, "Mean Girls" quotes and British accents on the season 12 premiere of "American Idol," its first with Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and Keith Urban as judges, joining the stalwart Randy Jackson. 

After months of questions -- could so many big names mesh well together? Would Minaj and Carey play nice? -- "Idol" came to New York with a skip in its step, following the major success of defending winner Phillip Phillips, whose smash hit, "Home," opened the show. 

But rather than focus on the talent that came to the audition room over two days, much was said and shown of the rivalry between the show's female judging crew. From the get-go, the pop legend and superstar of today got in their little kicks, from the moment the latter walked into the room with a furry drum major hat. 

"We can have accessories? I didn't know that was allowed. That's the last thing I'll say," said Carey snarkily, prompting some choice stares from the rapper/singer. Later, Minaj could be heard whispering "she's a b*tch, she's a b*tch" through clenched teeth, Mariah announcing that she'd rebuke it if Nicki was, in fact, calling her such a word. 

So civil certainly wasn't the name of the game. Following a war of British accents, prompted by Minaj talking in one and Carey responding in one mockingly, and deliberation about a "Mean Girls" quote to which Nicki had apparently responded incorrectly, Minaj left the auditions claiming that she wanted to "strangle one of the divas on the panel, but I won't tell you who." She certainly wasn't speaking of Urban, who deserves a raise for being able to sit in between the two during their constant bickering. 

Such was the season premiere of "Idol," a show that once prided itself on focusing on both the good and the bad of America's talent during its audition rounds. Instead, only a select few full auditions were even shown, with only three falling under the category of laughably bad. This isn't your older brother/sister's "Idol," but that was evident in 2012. 

New York brought some star potential, as it often does. Sarah Restuccio stood out after a country-girl-turned-rapper audition that won Minaj's heart. Gurpreet Singh Sarin -- the Turbanator -- injected some soul into the day with "Sunday Morning" (and confirmed that he owns 40-50 turbans). Angela Miller provided the day's top audition despite major hearing loss. Frankie Ford went from subway busker to Hollywood-bound. 

The show's preview of the next episode -- Chicago -- tendered a glimpse into what can be expected from the judging panel, which appears to be enough of an argument between the usual gang that they implore the auditioning contestant to leave the room before things get messy. Though it's unclear if choice singing talent will be featured on the show in upcoming episodes, one can be sure of one thing: the diva fight may be just getting started.

GUERILLA BLACK & FOUR AFFILIATES ARRESTED IN MEGA CRIME CASE

West Coast rapper Guerilla Black and a handful of associates were reportedly arrested Wednesday (January 16) on charges related to a credit card fraud case.

Details of the elusive hip-hop artist's latest predicament emerged hours after he got taken in by police.

Compton rapper Guerilla Black was arrested in connection with a major credit card fraud investigation, police said Wednesday. The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is Charles Tony Williamson, was taken into custody Wednesday morning by local officers and agents from the U.S. Secret Service, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department. Black and four others were apprehended by authorities who served search warrants at seven locations across Los Angeles County. Black was on a pre-trial release after being indicted by federal authorities in Washington on fraud charges, Manhattan Beach police said in a statement. (Los Angeles Times)

Black initially ran into problems when police arrested him last summer in connection to the credit card case.

A rap artist is in jail after allegedly buying and using thousands of stolen credit card numbers that were hacked from Seattle area businesses. The rapper, known as Guerilla Black, was arrested in Los Angeles Thursday on a 22 count indictment. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Charles Williamson, 33, bought more than 27,000 stolen credit and debit card numbers. Williamson is accused of working with two other men who've already been indicted for hacking into computers at a restaurant in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood and a restaurant supply company in Shoreline. (My Northwest)

The scam reportedly lasted from January 2011 to February 2012and earned Black roughly $150,000.

Williamson's alleged conspirators David Benjamin Schrooten, 22, of the Netherlands, and Christopher A. Schroebel, 21, of Keedysville, Md., were indicted previously; Schroebel has since pleaded guilty. Prosecutors contend the young men stole and sold the credit card information, which Williamson put to use within hours of the thefts. Prosecutors claim Williamson received at least 27,257 stolen credit card numbers and stole at least $150,000. Williamson is alleged to have emailed instructions to Schroebel and Schrooten, telling them that he wanted to purchase "dumps" of stolen credit card numbers in lots of 100, 500 or more. (Seattle PI)

A detailed listing of charges Black faced also surfaced in mid-2012.

He's being charged with conspiracy to access protected computers to further fraud, to commit access device fraud and to commit bank fraud. He's also facing two counts of accessing a protected computer without authorization to further fraud, six counts of access device fraud, eight counts of bank fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft. (KOMO News)

A$AP Rocky Set for No. 1 Debut on Next Week's Billboard 200 Chart

 

Rapper A$AP Rocky is aiming for the No. 1 slot next week on the Billboard 200. Industry sources suggest his major-label debut "Long.Live.A$AP." could sell around 130,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, Jan. 20. 

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 23. 

The set, released through A$AP Worldwide/Polo Grounds/RCA Records, has spun off a top five hit single on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with "F**kin' Problems." The song, which features Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar, hits a new peak this week, rising 5-4 on the tally. 

A$AP Rocky's new album might be one of only two debuts in the top 10 next week, as the only other title aiming for the region is the new "Kidz Bop 23" compilation. The effort features kid-friendly covers of such recent top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits Rihanna's "Diamonds," Justin Bieber's "As Long As You Love Me" and One Direction's "Live While We're Young." 

If "Kidz Bop 23" starts in the top 10, it will mark the sweet 16th top 10 effort for the long-running franchise from the Razor & Tie record label. The last "Kidz" set, the 22nd volume, debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Aug. 4, 2012 chart with 64,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

WATCH: BEHIND THE SCENES ON "MAJOR DISTRIBUTION" WITH 50 CENT AND YOUNG JEEZY

50 Cent is back in a major way, and his new song with Young Jeezy has made a big splash. Go behind the scenes of the video shoot here!

Digital Radio Boom: SoundExchange Distributions Grew 58% to $462 Million in 2012

SoundExchange distributed $462 million in digital performing royalties in 2012 -- a 58% increase over 2011 -- the organization announced Wednesday.

The 22,000 payments, totaling $134.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, were 10% higher than the $122.5 million paid out in the previous quarter and 50.7% higher than the same quarter in 2011.

Exclusive - SoundExchange Financials: How Much Paid vs. How Much in Limbo?

SoundExchange is the U.S. organization that distributes royalties for the digital performances of sound recordings by Internet radio, satellite radio and cable TV music channels. It has paid out over $1 billion to record labels and featured recording artists since its inception in 2003.

The growth of this revenue stream underscores the importance of services such as Pandora -- and other webcasters -- and Sirius XM Satellite Radio in today's digital marketplace. Pandora, which supported the Internet Radio Fairness Act that could have led to a change in webcasters' statutory royalty rates, finished 2012 with 67.1 million active listeners, up 41% from 2011. Sirius XM added 2 million subscribers to finish the year with 23.9 million.

Along with subscription services and advertising-based digital services like YouTube, digital radio represents the growth of recorded music revenues. It's just what the industry needs, too. The $170-million increase in SoundExchange payments grew in 2012 will help offset some of 13.5% decline in CD sales last year.

"SoundExchange's increasing annual royalty payments are a positive indication of where the industry is heading," said SoundExchange President Michael Huppe in a statement. "As digital radio continues to grow, so should the amount that performing artists and rights owners receive for the use of their content."

PORN STAR TEACHER CAN'T RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER LOSING APPEAL

This porn star teacher is in hot water. A California judge recently denied a middle school teacher's appeal to return to teaching after she was fired for her past career in porn.

The porn star teacher, 32-year-old Stacie Halas, was dismissed in April from her job at Haydock Intermediate School in Oxnard after online videos of her in X-rated films were discovered by students and teachers.

"We were hoping we could show you could overcome your past," Halas lawyer Richard Schwab said Tuesday. "I think she's representative of a lot of people who may have a past that may not involve anything illegal or anything that hurts anybody."

"Although her pornography career has concluded, the ongoing availability of her pornographic materials on the Internet will continue to impede her from being an effective teacher and respected colleague," Judge Cabos-Owen said in the 46-page decision issued Friday by the Commission on Professional Competence.

The AP reports:
Halas, 32, was continually deceitful about her nine-month career in porn before she went to work at the school, the judges said.

Schwab said Halas "was being honest and forthright, but was embarrassed and humiliated by her past experience in the adult industry."

Student claims that the teacher was moonlighting as a porn star were initially dismissed after school officials said they couldn't find any images of her on the Internet — but they were using the school's computers, which don't allow access to porn.

Teachers then showed administrators downloads of Halas' sex videos from their smartphones.