Facebook unveils targeted 'social ads'

Facebook has unveiled plans to target advertisements by injecting them into its members' conversations, and now the popular online hangout must persuade its users to embrace the initiative.

Facebook is giving users some control over whether to share information on their buying habits and other online activities with friends. For the program announced Tuesday to work, enough users must actually say "yes" so advertisers can show users their pitches in the guise of friends' endorsements.

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Ghostface Killah Doll: The Coolest Piece Of Wu-Tang Clan Merchandise Ever?

Action figure talks, has loads of bling — and carries a ghastly price tag.

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Jay-Z Parties It Up With Mariah Carey, Nas, Diddy At 'Roc Boys' Video Shoot

'It felt like a celebration,' Hov says of shoot, which also featured Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel.

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Common "Banks it for Barack"

Although Diddy's "Vote Or Die" campaign didn't get it done (depending on who you ask), hip hop continues to remain involved in the election process. Rapper Common is now featured in one of a series of celebrity public service announcements to Get-Out-the-Vote for presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The videos are funded by the Vote Hope organization.

The 60-second public service announcement features Common letting people know that he'll be voting for Obama. “I’m voting for Obama because he’s just there to do some good in the world,” he says in the video, as he urges others to do the same.

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Pitbull Can't Find His Place, "They Say I'm Too Latin For Hip-Hop"

With his bilingual rhymes and uptempo delivery, Miami-based rapper Pitbull has become a club favorite. But with the release of his latest LP Boatlift, the Cuban MC is looking to let fans know that he's not just a one-dimensional artist. SOHH caught up with Pitbull as he discussed his new album, his international hustle and why you'll never see him iced out.

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Alchemist Eager To Work W/ Eminem Again, "The Best Of Our Connection Hasn't Happened Yet"

In a recent interview, producer and Mobb Deep affiliate The Alchemist revealed that he wants to work with Eminem again.

Al served as Eminem's DJ on 2005's "Anger Management Tour" and produced a number of tracks for the posse album Eminem Presents: The Re Up, but said he has more in mind.

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Playaz Circle, Baby Bash & Project Pat Invade The Charts

DTP duo Playaz Circle, West Coast rapper Baby Bash and Three 6 Mafia associate Project Pat all debuted on the Billboard 200 this week.

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Dipset Back In Full Effect, Cam'ron, Jim Jones & Duke Da God Flood The Streets

The Dipset clique is saturating the streets and the net with new releases this week.

At 5 p.m. today (November 7), Diplomat chief Cam'ron will drop his double mixtape, "Public Enemy #1" via his myspace page, as a precursor to his full-length album, due out in early 2008. Mixtape tracks available that leaked already include "Hot Mess," "Calm Down," "Just Us," and "Glitter." [View a commerical for the mixtape here]. Cam also promised fans he will be handing out copies of the release outside Harlem's infamous Apollo Theatre tonight at 10 p.m. EST.

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Jay-Z Ties Elvis, Buys Artful Dodger Clothing Brand, Opens New 40/40

Jay-Z is on pace to top the Rolling Stones for the most #1 albums, as his American Gangster stands to top the Billboard Top 200 album chart next week.

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Rappers Kanye West, Beastie Boys Design Lunchboxes For Hunger

Rappers Kanye West and The Beastie Boys have teamed with over 100 other celebrities who will design lunch boxes to raise money for two non-profit hunger relief organizations.

Kanye West, The Beastie Boys, Gwyneth Paltrow, Yoko Ono, Elton John, John Mayer, Zac Posen Mike Myers and hundreds of others will create personalized lunchboxes, which will be auctioned off online to benefit the Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund of South Africa.

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The Game, BMF Indictments, MC Hammer, Tony Yayo

The Game will launch his European division of The Black Wall Street with a new mixtape titled Internationally Known.

A new federal indictment has been issued in Atlanta against members of Black Mafia Family (BMF), accusing the group of laundering money and transporting drugs.

Oakland, California rapper MC Hammer is preparing to beta-test his latest venture, social media site Dancejam.com.

The 14-year-old son of Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond will have to testify at Tony Yayo’s assault trial on January 10.

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Rapper Fierce Arrested; Reps Say Police Have Wrong Man

Newark, New Jersey rapper Fierce is facing aggravated assault and attempted murder charges following a recent incident at a house party, but representatives for the rapper claim police have nabbed the wrong man.

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Trey Songz Considering Legal Action Against Police In Massachusetts Incident

Trey Songz says he is contemplating legal action against the Springfield, Massachusetts, police department after he and two members of his entourage were arrested early Sunday morning following a performance at Springfield's Hippodrome.

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Cam's Back: Public Enemy #1 Mixtape Commercial

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J. Hood Lashes Out At D-Block, The Lox

Yonkers, New York rapper J. Hood is lashing out against The Lox’s D-Block record label, claiming the CEO’s refuse to release him from his recording contract.

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Dice Raw, Black Thought Form The Money Making Jam Boys

Philadelphia rapper Dice Raw has teamed with The Roots’ front man Black Thought to form a new group, The Money Making Jam Boys, which also features rappers Truck North and Porn.

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Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 11/4/07

This week finds Hip Hop being drilled out of the top 15. Regardless, Kanye West still is the top selling Hip Hop album on the charts as Graduation creeps to double platinum landing at #17 with 35k sold this week. Right behind ‘Ye on this week’s charts find Keyshia Cole and Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em at #’s 18 and 19. Interestingly enough, Fergie is still moving units in her 59th week on the charts as Dutchess is #29 this week and almost triple platinum.

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T.I. Files Motion to Celebrate Thanksgiving

T.I.'s lawyers filed two motions yesterday (Nov. 6) asking a judge to allow the soon-to-be incarcerated rapper to have more than the permitted amount of visitors in his home for Thanksgiving.

T.I., though out on bail, is on house arrest until a trail alleging his purchase and ownership of illegal weapons begins.

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Diddy Dodges Charges In Club Incident

Various sources report that Sean "Diddy" Combs will not be brought up on any criminal charges for his alleged altercation with Steven Acevedo on Oct. 13. Combs faced the threat of criminal assault charges after the 31-year-old Acevedo claimed Combs got into an argument with him over an unnamed female. Acevedo originally told police that Combs punched him in the face at approximately 3:30 a.m. inside Kiosk club in Manhattan's "SoHo" district.

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Cops find themselves in arms race with criminals

The war on the streets is escalating. As gangs and other criminals pack more firepower, police departments say they find themselves in an arms race.

"It's not nice we have to arm ourselves like the soldiers in Iraq," said Sgt. Laurie Pfeil, who supervises a sheriff's road patrol in Palm Beach County and is now certified to carry a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle on the job. It's the civilian version of the military's M-16 used by U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

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5 foods that get a bad rap

5 foods that should have a place in your diet.

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CD review: Jay-Z, B-plus

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Is Work Making You Sick?

Germs could be lurking at your office.

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Immigration chief apologizes for 'offensive' costumes at her party

The Department of Homeland Security will investigate a Halloween costume party hosted by a top immigration official and attended by a man dressed in a striped prison outfit, dreadlocks and darkened skin make-up, a costume some say is offensive, the department's secretary said.

Julie Myers, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and host of the fundraising party, was on a three-judge panel that originally praised the prisoner costume for "originality."

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Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Cassidy And More, In New Releases

Jay-Z's November Reign? Mogul Takes On Chris Brown, Cassidy, Angels & Airwaves And More, In New Releases

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http://www.prohiphop.com/2007/11/list-of-winners.html

Here are the winners of the upcoming VH1 Soul Presents: VIBE Awards Special to be televised November 14th at 9 pm on VH1 Soul:

Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Lil Wayne

R&B Artist of the Year
Beyonce

Best Collabo
Fabolous featuring Ne-Yo "Make Me Better"

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Robin Thicke

Producer of the Year
Timbaland

Song of the Year
"Buy U A Drank" by T-Pain featuring Yung Joc

Video of the Year
"Umbrella" by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

VStyle (celebrates Hip Hop and R & B's most cutting-edge, influential and innovative style and fashion trendsetter)
Beyonce

VIBE Props
Jay-Z

Mixtape of the Year
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" by Kanye West

Ringtone of the Year
"Party Like a Rockstar" by Shop Boyz

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Brief News On The Roots

Fans of the Hip-Hop band The Roots will have to be patient if they're expecting another album. According to Okayplayer.com, which was co-founded by Roots drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, the group's next LP, entitled Rising Down, is not expected to be released until April of 2008.

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Black Man Charged With Hanging Noose On Tupac Statue

An African-American man has been charged with the noose vandalism of a Tupac statue at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts.

As SOHH previously reported, the center was vandalized early on the morning of October 20. Fliers bearing rants about various rappers, Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 were plastered to the Tupac statue and a noose was left hanging around its neck

43-year-old Dekalb resident, Kenneth Anthony Wilson, was charged with the felony, second degree criminal damage to property, on Thursday (Oct. 1), according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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Rapper Jay-Z Takes On Elvis For Most #1 Albums

If all goes Jay-Z's way, the rap mogul will tie rock legend Elvis for the most number one albums in history, a feat that depends on the success of the rapper's American Gangster album.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, landed his ninth number one album last year with Kingdom Come, which sold about 680,000 in its first week, the rapper's best to date.

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Russell Simmons Unites Muslim, Jewish Leaders From Across The U.S.

Rap mogul Russell Simmons and The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (www.ffeu.org) will host a U.S. summit, promoting dialogue between Muslim and Jewish leaders this week.

On November7, Simmons and FFEU will unite a Rabbi and an Imam from 11 major cities in the United States.

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E-40 Releasing New Album 'Ball Street Journal'

The new album The Ball Street Journal, will be previewed at a November 15 event.

The album is a follow up to E-40’s Gold selling album My Ghetto Report Card.

“I really felt it was about that time again where I brought all of my friends and fam-bam together to have one big pow-wow and toast it up in the air for several occasions. For those who came out to my album release in Hollywood, they know exactly what to expect and if they didn’t make it just know this is Part II just for you.”

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Congress Woman Cynthia McKinney, Rappers Protest Police Brutality

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has teamed up with the National Hip-Hop Political convention to launch a crusade against police brutality in the African American community.

A number of rappers and organizations will support the “Cease Fire: Stop Police Brutality ,” a five day national event in which participants will use peaceful resistance in protest of recent acts of police brutality.

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Rick Ross Helps Launch 'Hip-Hop Grub Spots'; Rapper Gives Back For Thanksgiving

Miami bred rapper Rick Ross and San Francisco 49ers Running Back Frank Gore have teamed up with21st Century Hustle Magazine to launch a new franchise of restaurants named the " Grub Spot" with the first location opening in Miami, Florida.

The Hip-Hop Grub Spot is a themed, healthy fast-food global franchise which features healthy snacks, wraps, sandwiches and energy drinks created by collegiate faculty, students and alumni from both Florida A&M and Johnson and Wales Universities.

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Google developing cell phone software

Search giant aims to shake up mobile phone market with new services.

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Major retailers lure holiday shoppers with big discounts

It's not even Thanksgiving, but the nation's retailers, including Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us, are jump-starting holiday sales with big discounts and door buster specials starting Friday in what's expected to be a lukewarm Christmas season.



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How (not) to get a man

The rules tell you to scheme, flatter, and play hard to get, but our favorite life coach doesn't think that will get you very far. It's time to rethink the dating game.

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Nas' New Album: Where Does It Rank In The History Of Controversial LPs?

Rapper's provocative title is not the first to push the envelope for buyers or retailers; Target representative says stores may stock Nas' LP.

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Mixtape Monday: Jim Jones Drops His Own Gangsta; Jail Doesn't Scare Tony Yayo

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Slip-N-Slide Records Signs Wes Fif

After finding rejuvenating success in 2006 with Rick Ross and 2007 with Plies, Slip-N-Slide Records announced the signing of another fledging Florida rapper, Orlando's Wes Fif. The 22 year-old rapper had been featured with various other rappers, most notably on B.O.B.'s single "Haterz Everywhere," released by Atlantic Records. The rapper had also been featured in April's XXL magazine, along with a "Patiently Waiting" nomination from Ozone magazine.

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E-40 Creates "40 Water" Health Drink

On November 15, E-40 will be celebrating his 40th birthday with a birthday party inside Caesar's Forum Shops at The Poetry Nightclub. In preparation for the bash, the Vallejo, California born rapper announced his burgeoning health drink, 40 Water.

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Despite $46 Mil Debut, "American Gangster" Built On Lies Says Real Life Characters

It's billed as being based on a true story, but real life cops close to American Gangster drug lord Frank Lucas, say the movie is more of a fairy tale.

Lucas, whose character is played by Denzel Washington, admitted to sources that "only 20 percent of the film is true."

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SOHH.com Brings "The Yard" To The Net With New Web-TV Series

SOHH.com and production house Philmbiz Entertainment have teamed up to create an original, dramatic web-TV series entitled The Yard.

The program, which is the first of its kind to blend television quality production with interactive video, blogs and character profiles, is a weekly series that follows the lives of students and the conflicts they encounter at the fictional historically black Thurgood Marshall University. The show revolves around the lives of the six main characters and their varied backgrounds and challenges as they find their way on the college "Yard." [Watch Here]

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Jay-Z Hijacks The Airwaves, Sirius-ly

Jay-Z has already risen through the hip-hop ranks as rapper/business man, but now the rap mogul is taking charge of Sirius Satellite Radio's hip-hop channel--for a week, anyway.

According to the Associated Press, the rapper/CEO will play host on the station's "Hip-Hop Nation," channel 40, starting today (November 5), one day before American Gangster drops.

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Irv Gotti Kicks 50 Cent While He's Down, "F*ck Him"

It's no secret that 50 Cent and Murder Inc. helmsman Irv Gotti have beef. In this SOHH exclusive, Gotti lets loose on the G-Unit General's "tough guy image," questionable features on Curtis, and sales loss to Kanye West.

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Rocawear Teams With Elizabeth Arden For Debut Fragrance

Beauty products company Elizabeth Arden has entered into a global licensing agreement with Jay-Z's Rocawear and its parent company, Iconix Brand Group.

The union will produce and distribute new men's and women's fragrances, cosmetics, and skincare products with the Rocawear brand.

The debut product under the deal will be the first ever Rocawear fragrance.

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Trey Songz Arrested In Springfield, MA Following Shooting

R&B singer Trey Songz was arrested in Springfield, MA early Sunday (Nov 4) along with several members of his entourage following a shooting outside a local venue.

Songz was charged with behaving as a disorderly person and resisting arrest.

The singer, born Tremaine Neverson, was released after posting $500 bond.

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Funk Flex Links With Microsoft To Promote Windows Automotive

Popular Hip-Hop DJ Funkmaster Flex has announced a partnership with Microsoft’s Automotive Business Unit to promote Windows Automotive.

Windows Automotive is a software platform designed to improve in-car “infotainment” for drivers.

The new advanced infotainment systems will debut during Flex’s annual Custom Car and Bike Show Tour and in his reality TV series Car Wars with Funkmaster Flex.

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New Clue Emerges In Murder Of Jam Master Jay

A new clue may have surfaced to help apprehend the murderer who shot and killed legendary Run-DMC DJ, Jam Master Jay.

While no one has ever been named a suspect in the murder, Jam Master Jay’s best friend Randy Allen has revealed a new clue - his sister claims that the gunman had a tattoo on his neck.

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Jive Records Issues Statement Regarding T-Pain Incident

Jive Records has issued a statement explaining the arrest of superstar producer/R&B singer T-Pain.

T-Pain, born Faheem Najm, was stopped driving a Lamborghini Gallardo in June, but his license had been revoked for being a habitual traffic violator, officials reported.

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