Rapper sentenced to anger management.

The Game can avoid time behind bars if he completes 36 anger management classes by February. A judge set aside criminal charges that could’ve led to the rapper’s imprisonment, instructing him to undergo the counseling. Game, whose real name is Jayceon Taylor, appeared in a Cali court Tuesday, after an alleged battery at the funeral of his cousin. The cousin’s brother reportedly confronted Game about costs associated with the funeral, which led to a physical clash. Game briefly served jail time early this year on unrelated criminal charges.

                                                                  
The Game’s troubles stemming from that ugly confrontation at his cousin’s funeral a few months back have new life. Robert “Kirky” Kirkwood , brother of the relative who passed, apparently wasn’t content to bad-mouth Game about his alleged disrespect of the family at an L.A. homegoing. He’s now filed charges against the Game for criminal battery. The Game says Kirkwood confronted him in a dispute about Game’s alleged agreement to cover funeral costs. Game says he responded only when Kirkwood became threatening. The rapper is already on probation for a felony weapons charge he caught last year at a basketball game.

Battery Records has urban focus. A new Sony music company will revive the practice of artist development, AllHipHop.com reports. Battery Records is to oversee early development among performers on the rosters of RCA and Zomba. “We started operation back in mid-June, so it’s a brand new division,” head man Neil Levine tells All Hip Hop. “It’s really an incubator imprint label. Our main focus is really taking developing artists that are signed to our frontline labels.” Artist development has been used throughout the recording industry to groom new label recruits in career longevity and preparation.