Former rap label boss accused of domestic violence attack on girlfriend

Suge Knight, former head of the bankrupt Death Row Records, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of controlled substances and domestic violence after allegedly attacking his lady. Vegas cops arrested Knight after his girlfriend of three years said he punched her in the back of the head while he was driving early Wednesday. The alleged victim says she grabbed the steering wheel to draw attention to the car, in hopes that she’d receive help. The car jumped a curb and Knight allegedly chased her when she ran; police reportedly arrived just as he caught the woman. Cops say they witnessed Knight kicking the alleged victim and carrying a knife. With his prior record, if convicted, Knight seems a likely candidate to become the next rap industry figure to disappear for a while.

Woman purchases Death Row Records for $24 million

Susan Berg may not have much in common with Tupac or Snoop Dogg, but she owns the label responsible for most of their music. The suburban California beautician was the only bidder in an auction of bankrupt Death Row Records this week, which she scooped up for $24 million. With the purchase, Berg comes into control of 20 unreleased potential Tupac hits – which means a second knockout against ex-CEO Suge Knight, who was left unconscious in a recent street scrap with a barber. How does a 300-pound former bodyguard keep getting chumped by hairstylists?

Kanye West strikes back against festival critics
Remember when fans at the Bonnaroo festival dissed rapper Kanye West for taking the stage hours after he was scheduled? Well Kanye remembers, too. ’Ye put on the caps lock in his blogged rebuttal for anyone who may have missed just how offended he was: “I am sick of negative people who just sit around trying [to] plot my downfall. I understand if people don’t like me because I like me, or if people think tight clothes look gay, or people say I run my mouth too much, but this Bonnaroo thing is the worst insult I’ve ever had in my life. This is the most offended I’ve ever been … this is the maddest I ever will be. I’m typing so fucking hard I might break my f–king Mac book Air!!!!!!!! Call me any name you want….arrogant, conceited, narcissistic, racist, metro, f-g , whatever you can think of…. BUT NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL! NEVER SAY I DIDN’T GIVE MY ALL!” He wrote it twice, so, apparently, that means you have to pay attention.

Barack Obama’s iPod reflects “pretty eclectic tastes”
Hip hop could have a home in the White House. You may have heard that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is a fan of Jay-Z. Sen. Barack Obama tells Rolling Stone magazine that he also enjoys Ludacris and admires Russell Simmons. “I have pretty eclectic tastes,” Obama says in an interview set for publication tomorrow. Among others in his iPod, the politician names Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Obama’s smiling face is featured on the cover of the latest edition of Rolling Stone.