2PAC WANTED TO JOIN NO LIMIT RECORDS, REVEALS MASTER P

No Limit Records boss Master P recently revealed how close he came to signing Tupac Shakur to his renowned music company and how much of a close-knit relationship they had.

Although Master P managed to sign former Death Row Records rapper Snoop Dogg to No Limit, he could not cash in on the late 2Pac.

"To be honest wit'chu, at one time, I was thinking about signing Tupac," replied P when asked by DX if there were any other big-name free agents, in addition to Snoop Dogg, that The Colonel tried to bring over to Hip Hop's most successful label of the 1990s. According to Master P, he attempted to sign the Oakland-based Tupac several years before No Limit's commercial explosion, when the label had yet to center its operations in P's native New Orleans, Louisiana and was still headquartered in Richmond, California as one of several up-and-coming Bay Area independent labels. "[Tupac] was liking the movement of what we was doing," explained P, "but we wasn't fully there yet. ... That was one little piece that I was looking at like, 'You know what? This could be alright.'" (HHDX)

Percy Miller also said Pac was just one amongst numerous artistswho wanted to take their talent to No Limit.

"Everybody was interested in No Limit," replied P when asked if 'Pac personally expressed interest in enlisting as a No Limit soldier. "I don't think there was one person in the music business that wasn't interested in being a part of that movement." (HHDX)

Back in 2009, G.O.O.D Music's Pusha T told SOHH The Clipsealmost sided with Master P's label.

"We honestly were gonna sign with P," Pusha revealed. "We were gonna sign with P. We were thinking about signing with P, definitely. Definitely. Some type of collaborative situation, you got to understand who P was to us at that time, I mean even the area. I mean, like, that whole movement was so crazy to us. The Neptunes are still right there but it was just gonna be another facet to me. Whatever happened, the business of course, they came to DC, we shot a video up there." (SOHH)

Master P officially relaunched No Limit two years ago after some previous financial woes.

After the label filed for bankruptcy over 7 years ago, Master P's family is announcing their intentions to re-launch his once highly profitable record imprint, No Limit. Master P's son,Romeo Miller (formerly known as Lil' Romeo), is taking over the reigns as the president of the renamed "No Limit Forever" label, while Master P's brother Silkk the Shocker will serve as COO and their cousin, Black Don, is being named Senior VP of A&R. (Prefix Mag)

NEW MUSIC: JEREMIH FT. LIL WAYNE "ALL THE TIME"

Jeremih gave Billboard the green light to debut a revamped version of his track "F*ck You All the Time." Weezy comes through to help. Look out for this track on Jeremih's upcoming project,Thumpy Johnson, which drops in April.

LORD FINESSE CASHES OUT $10 MIL-LER LAWSUIT: "I DON'T HAVE NO BEEF W/ MAC"

New York rap veteran Lord Finesse has confirmed his past issues with Mac Miller over the unauthorized usage of his "Hip 2 Da Game" 1996 anthem are settled despite a publicized $10 million lawsuit last year.

According to Finesse, there is no bad blood between him and Miller since coming to a legal agreement last December.

Finesse claims that the lawsuit was blown out of proportion and that he and Miller remain amicable. "I don't have no beef with Mac," Finesse says. "I think Mac is a cool dude. But [the lawsuit] became a lightning rod and people made it more than what it really was. It's just the way the media makes it look. At this point, I just want to move forward and I wish Mac the best moving forward. "I'm just glad that it's over and I'm definitely relieved that we moved past this," he adds. "From day one, I never looked publicly to use this for attention and I purposely never talked about this from the beginning. This will be the only time I speak on this." (FUSE TV)

Around mid-January, Miller could not dish out too many details but confirmed they had settled the case.

"I'm actually legally not allowed to say anything about what happened," Miller said. "Other than that it's been resolved and we didn't go to [trial]. If that was really a problem, people would be getting sued left and right." (Complex)

According to reports a day prior, the legal matter officially got settled in early December.

According to court records obtained by HipHopDX, a successful settlement conference for this case was conducted in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman for the Southern District of New York on December 6, 2012. A settlement conference is a mandatory mediation attempt initiated by the trial judge, which Federal District Judge Harold Baer ordered on September 21, 2012. The settlement conference process is confidential and details as to the terms of the settlement reached between the involved parties are not disclosed to anyone other than Judge Baer. (HHDX)

Prior to reaching an agreement, Finesse issued a statement on the publicized dispute.

"Permission was never given. A lot of money was made on my song," he continued. "At the end of the day, I only stepped to these people for proper credit and compensation. I have done a lot of great things in hip hop and I never wanted a lawsuit. Never. I made every attempt to resolve this. But, when I reached out to these people their attitude was I should be grateful Mac was using my music to sell out concerts because it keeps me relevant. How does it keep me relevant if I'm not being credited or compensated? You've heard Mac, you've heard a portion of it from me. The truth will come out in court." (Statement)

Super Bowl Synch Report: 9 Ads For Universal, 8 For Sony/ATV, 7 For Warner/Chappell

It was another healthy synch marketplace for the Super Bowl this year. The top three publishers reported a combined 24 synchs placed in the Big Game, with nine for Universal, eight for Sony/ATV and seven for Warner/Chappell (Kobalt, the fourth largest publisher, also scored one for Budweiser with Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide”). Although that total was slightly down from 2012, the combination of on-camera synchs (Flaming Lips, Stevie Wonder and PSY all made appearances alongside their songs) and rare uses of catalog classics (Supertramp’s “Give A Little Bit,” Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” and an update of Sam & Dave’s “Hold On I’m Comin’”) made this a strong, diverse year for music.

Super Bowl Commercials That Rock: Watch All The Music-Based Ads From The Big Game

Fun.’s “We Are Young,” the breakout synch of Super Bowl 2012, even made an unexpected return this year via “Viva Young,” a Spanish-language take for Taco Bell. “We’ve never had this happen with the same song two years in a row...It just shows the sustained cultural relevance of the song,” says Dave Pettigrew, senior VP-licensing at the song’s co-publisher Warner/Chappell. “It’s interesting. The first year you had it being this anthem for young kids in their late teens and 20s. Now you got it in this Taco Bell spot with people at the end of their lives going out to do their thing.”

Beyonce Top-Tweeted Artist for Super Bowl 2013 by a Mile: Brand Bowl

Several synchs were unconfirmed until they aired Sunday night — as Brian Lambert, Universal’s exec VP-film and television music, can attest. Both Coca-Cola’s use of “Give A Little Bit and Toyota’s re-record of Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” were Game Night surprises, giving the publisher an unexpected boost. “The whole goal of the advertiser is to get the attention of people, whether their eyes are glued to the TV or their back is turned, and having a great song really helps with that,” he says.

Stevie Wonder/ Bud Light Squeaks Past Jimmy Cliff/ Volkswagen for Most-Tweeted Super Bowl Ad: Brand Bowl

And though advertisers are paying upwards of $3.7 million just to air their spot during the big game, major synchs can fetch anywhere from $100,000 to upwards of $1 million, depending on the artist, number of territories airing the ad, the length of the commercial "flight," or airtime, and whether the song has been synched previously.

One synch likely on the upper tier of that spectrum is Stevie Nicks’ “Landslide,” which was commercially licensed for the very first time for Budweiser’s Clydesdale spot, which debuted online early Thursday. “We knew she was very protective,” Paul Chibe, Budweiser’s VP of marketing, says of Nicks’ tentative approach to synchs, “but when she saw the script she felt it was an appropriate presentation, that it was an elevation of the music and not something that would take away from it.”

Budweiser also generated buzz for its new Black Crown beer with two spots from ad agency Translation synched with indie rock — the SoHo Dolls’ “Stripper” in one, Peter Bjorn & John’s “Second Chance” in the other. “Our music strategy is about discovery and reintroduction,” Chibe added.

And as for that lengthy post-Half Time blackout, advertisers aren’t expected to be impacted by the delay. “All commercial commitments during the broadcast are being honored,” Jennifer Sabatelle, VP-communications of CBS Sports, said in a statement of the incident.

NICKI MINAJ'S BOY TOY REALLY "DID" CHEAT, GUCCI MANE BLOODIES UP DJ, COPS ARREST 7 YEAR-OLD SCHOOLBOY?

Fiasco Friday. Things are a bit out of order to get the weekend started, beginning with Nicki Minaj's boyfriend Safaree now getting "confirmed" for cheating on the rap star with a former adult star. Too many stars, not enough facts? Speaking of facts, someone needs to get to the bottom of rumors about Gucci Mane beating a deejay nearly to death over playing...music? Some people take offense to the smallest things, especially when it involves arresting a seven year-old over $5? All this coming up in SOHH Whatcha Think.

[Editor's Note: The views expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of SOHH]

1. He Said, She Said

If denials from Safaree and Beauty Dior weren't enough, then just continue with the claims that Nicki Minaj's alleged boy toy really did cheat on her with the former adult star. Seems a bit like deja vu, especially since this made big headlines just a few days ago but now there's new inside scoops claiming it all really went down.Radar Online is all over this:

However, in an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com, Sara Percy, a fellow party reveler and eyewitness to the events, shoots down Safaree and Beauty's denial, and says the porn star's claim that they had "no sexual relations" is totally bogus! "I know for a fact that he paid Beauty money for sex," Sara tells Radar. "Beauty came out of the closet after she was with him and walked up to us and boasted, 'I got my money, I can go home now!' Then, less than 10 seconds later, Safaree walked out the same closet pulling up his pants! They weren't discreet, nor was it a secret, it was just plain obvious for all to see what they had just done. After he finished with Beauty, Safaree approached me and tried to chat me up. He was walking up to girls all night, flirting and saying things like, 'Can we get it on?' It was disgusting and I felt terrible for Nicki." (Radar Online)

Could Safaree be playing games behind Nicki Minaj's back? The media and gossip blogs have had a field day with this rumor but as long as we see Nicki and Safaree still together at all times, there's no need to worry about the cheating rumor, right? #SOHHWhatchaThink?

2. Run That Beat-Down Back

When did playing music become a crime for deejays? Turns out Gucci Mane has big problems with deejays playing tunes he has not authorized. But even if a track were to leak out and get play in the club, he'd at least handle it like a gentleman and ask for it to be pulled, right? Media Take Out has a different outcome:

February 01, 2013: If there's anyone out there who DOESN'T think that rapper Gucci Mane is a REAL STREET DUDE - think again. Last night, MediaTakeOut.com learned that rapper Gucci Man ALLEGEDLY viciously beat - and nearly KILLED a Memphis DJ. (Allegedly=#teamnosnitchin#) Anyways Gucci and his friends went to the Yellow Rose exotic mens club in Memphis last night and they were doing there thing - making it rain, etc. But then, they realized that the DJ was playing one of Gucci's new UNRELEASED TRACKS. Gucci and em reportedly CONFRONTED THE DJ. And then somebody (again #temnosnitchin#) BEAT HIS AZZ. They also destroyed all of the DJs equipment and beat him near death. Police and ambulances were on the scene but Gucci and them LEFT before anyone saw them. The DJ is currently in the hospital in stable condition. (Media Take Out)

Gucci Mane's street credibility has never really come into question. Seems like he's been able to make Atlanta anthems and gain the respect from the streets. He's gone at everyone from T.I. to even challenging rappers to a boxing match. Is there any reason to believe this couldn't have gone down? #SOHHWhatchaThink?

3. Cops

It's been about a year since the Trayvon Martin tragedy went down and since then, there have been tons of incidents involving adults taking action on children and teenagers. But who would have thought New York cops would take an elementary school student and put him through a "Beyond Scared"-type of experience over five dollars? Gossip Daily has the inside:

The family of a 7-year-old Bronx, New York boy is suing the police and the city for $250 million. Cops handcuffed and interrogated the boy for ten hours after a scuffle over lunch money at school. Over a scuffle!? And only FIVE DOLLARS! Here's how it's being reported: [Wilson Reyes, a student at Public School 114 in the Bronx reportedly got into a fight with a fellow student in December after he was accused of taking $5 of lunch money that had fallen on the ground in front of him. Responding to a complaint of assault and robbery, the police were called and took the boy to the local police precinct where officers allegedly handcuffed and interrogated him for ten hours, according to the lawsuit. "Imagine how I felt seeing my son in handcuffs," Wilson's mother, Frances Mendez, told the New York Post. "It was horrible. I couldn't believe what I was seeing," she said. The claim, filed by family attorney Jack Yankowitz, accuses the NYPD, among other things, of false imprisonment, physical, verbal, emotional and psychological abuse, and deprivation of Reyes' constitutional rights. Robbery charges against the boy were later dropped, and the NYPD, though it disputes the accusations in the suit, is investigating the incident.] (Bossip)

Suing for $250 million? It's hard to argue the police were doing their job in a fair and orderly manner, but to ask for anything close to $250 million sounds a bit silly. Ten hours of interrogating does appear horrific but enough to ask for that much money? #SOHHWhatchaThink?

That about wraps it up for today. This is SOHH On The Spot giving you the morning scoop from your favorite gossip sites.

NICKI MINAJ KNOWS WHY SHE DIDN'T GET A GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATION THIS YEAR

Nicki Minaj was one of the major artists who got snubbed by the Grammy committee recently. Despite the fact that she released her successful sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, as well as a string of hit singles, including "Starships," last year, the Young Moneyrapper will not be winning any Grammy Awards this year. She wasn't even nominated for any during the Grammy nominations last month. And, she thinks she knows why the Grammy committee left her off the ballot.

"I think the Grammys had a different reason, that I do not want to discuss…and that's just between me and them," she told the AP recently. "But I respect their organization and I'll get a Grammy eventually. I'm not worried about it."

So, what was the reason? Was it because they didn't enjoy Roman Reloaded? Was it because Nicki spent more time on the set of American Idol than she did in the studio? Was it because they're still mad at Nicki for performing a fake exorcism on the Grammy stage last year?

We'll probably never know. But, what we do know is that Nicki doesn't appear to be losing any sleep over not being nominated this year. Much like Justin Bieber, she's more worried about catering to her fans than winning Grammy Awards.

"I understand that artists and critics make a big deal over the Grammys," she said. "But when I go to my shows and I'm selling out arenas in London, and when I'm in Australia and Japan, there aren't any Grammys there. There are human beings who I've touched. There are human beings who are inspired by me, who I love dearly. And that's what my career is based on."

Nicki won't be winning any Grammy Awards next month. But, if you're interested in finding 

Business Matters: Pandora, Live Nation, Sirius XM Stocks Riding High

The stock market reached new highs Friday as the Dow Jones surpassed 14,000 for the first time since 2007, but music-related stocks have performed even better recently. Shares of Pandora, Live Nation and Sirius XM are up between 11.8% and 24.7% in the first 32 days of the year. In comparison, year-to-date the Dow Jones is up 6.7%, the S&P 500 is up 6% and the Nasdaq is up 5%.

Pandora is up 24.7% this year and is up 61.7% over its 52-week low set in November. Its Friday close of $11.45 is still well below its 52-week high of $15.25, however. The rise of Pandora nearly matches that of Facebook, another advertising-based company whose fortunes also depend on its ability to monetize its users' increasing mobile usage. Facebook is up about 55% since November. A drop could be right around the corner, however. Apple is likely to introduce itsInternet radio service some time this year. Whether or not Apple will be a long-term Internet radio competitor, investors are all but guaranteed to send Pandora's share price down when Apple's service launches.

Live Nation shares closed at $10.41 Friday, up 11.8% this year and 17.9% over the last 6 months. The stock price got a boost when Irving Azoff left the company on December 31 and sold a portion of his shares to Liberty Media. It also got a small lift in January when Live Nation announced the hire of an SVP of Government Relations who formerly worked for eBay, the owner of Live Nation’s adversary in various states' ticketing legislation, StubHub. Investors seemed to be reacting to the hire's potential impact on legislation that could be financially beneficial to Ticketmaster.

Sirius XM is up 11.8% this year and is up 50.2% over the last 6 months. The stock closed at a 52-week high of $3.23 on Friday. Sirius XM has been rising ever since it reported Q2 earnings and raised its 2012 guidance on August 8. In December, the stock was helped a little by the Copyright Royalty Board's rate decision and the company's announcement of a $2 billion share buyback plan. Shares dipped slightly after Liberty Media gained majority control of the company but have since rebounded. Another possible factor: short Sirius XM investors -- there are a lot of them these days -- are covering their losses and driving up the price.