Yesterday Joaquin Darren and Chivon Dean of the Ruff Ryders issued an official statement with regards to Monday nights backstage brawl at Boston's Fleet Center. In it they expressed their condolences to those who were stabbed and injured. They also sent out apologies to fans who attended the show only to be sent home before the Ruff Ryders took the stage. One of the stabbing victims was identified as Antonio 2G of the group Made Men. Boston police have announced they will pursue a vigorous investigation into the drama. Thus far more then 50 people were questioned about the incident. Unfortunately not much cooperation has come from the camps of the Ruff Ryders and Made Men who went at each other. The irony of this latest scenario is that it came at the heels of the Ruff Ryders publicly proclaiming how the tour had been going peacefully and without incident.

Congratulations are in order to the Westside Connection's ultimate rider-Mack 10. He is about to hang up his pipe and bachelor robe and jump the broom with T-Boz of TLC come this August. They are also expecting their first child.. Not to be out done, TLC fellow TLC member Left Eye will also be tieing the knot in a quick minute to her man Sean Newman who is a professional model. Both Left Eye and Mack 10 are finishing up albums. TLC is doing a solo joint which has yet to be titled. It will include everyone from Lil Kim to Lenny Kravits to country singer Garth Brooks. Mack 10 is helping finish up a new Westside Connection lp entitled 'Re-up'. That album should drop in mid May.

It looks like things are about to heat up in Chicago. More then a 100 of Chi Town's Hip Hop community, including artists like Newsense (Drama Ward), Bigg Nastee', Rubberoom, Mercenaries, Ang 13, Malik Yusef, Pacifics, Hip hop's First Cyberstars La Junta and Rigamortiz to name a few, will be joining community leaders like George Daniels of Chicago's famed George's Music Room, Mark Anthony of the African Journalist Association, DJ Spank Boogie of WGCI FM and community leader Byrone Price. They have all joined forces to launch a boycott against Chicago's premier venue The House of Blues. A press release was sent out explaining that Chicago Hip Hoppers have trouble with HOB not for allowing local artists to perform at their venue. They described the HOB actions or lack of actions as 'the gentrification of urban youth music in downtown'. They pointed out that groups from all over the country can grace the stages of HOB, but the local Hip Hop community is ignored and disrespected. HOB is also being accused of unfair business practices. The final straw was when the HOB turned down a professionally planned industry event.

This coalition of groups have put together a compilation CD called 'The Chicago 7' which includes a broad cross section of Chicago Hip Hop artists. The title was taken from the historic trial that took place in 1969 in which seven activist including Black Panther leader Bobby Seale were accused of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 democratic Convention. One of the demands being forth by the HOB boycotters is to have the House Of Blues provide show casing opportunities for the promotion of the CD and to open its doors and help bring to light Chi Town's underrated Hip Hop scene.

In the press release Sleepy who is the president of one of Chicago's more successful independent record labels Wicked Entertainment stated, "The House Of Blues uses the good name of blues to promote its venue. Well, we’re the new generation of Chicago blues artists who are being ignored now just like they were back in the day. We will not allow this venue to use the good name of Chicago’s own Blues and ignore neighborhoods were the blues came from.". Apparently the HOB boycotters have a a lot of support within the city. Should their demands not be met they will not only boycott the venue but also target actor Dan Akroyd who is one of the founders. They also target the upcoming HOB initial public offering.

A press conference will be held this Friday April 7th at 11am Chicago time in front of the House of Blues which is located 329 N Dearborn Street. There a list of demands will be read. For more info drop an email to mailto:info@bocamusic.com


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