*The city of Los Angeles has reinstated its $50,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever killed the Notorious B.I.G. nearly 10 years ago, reports KNBC. The late rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was shot and killed as he left a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum on March 9, 1997. His family alleges in a wrongful death case against the city that rogue Los Angeles Police Department officers, acting on behalf of Death Row Records mogul Marion "Suge" Knight, were involved in the killing. A judge is scheduled to hear arguments in the civil case on Feb. 27.
*A Buju Banton concert scheduled for Oct. 2 in Los Angeles was cancelled in the wake of protests from gay rights groups who take issue with his violent lyrics about homosexuals. After receiving angry e-mails and phone calls from patrons, the Highland nightclub and restaurant decided against inviting the controversial reggae star. "We felt it was the right thing to do after doing some research on the matter," said general manager Adam Manacker. Two of Banton's early songs, "Batty Rider" and "Boom Bye Bye," celebrate the shooting of gay men.
*Dynamic duo Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre have reunited for several tracks on the Long Beach rapper’s upcoming album, "The Blue Carpet Treatment," due Nov. 21 via Doggystyle/Geffen. According to Billboard, one of the songs will be the set’s first single, “Imagine.” The lyrics discuss hypothetical situations, such as life without hip hop. ("Imagine Russell [Simmons] still struggling/no Def Jam," Dre raps) and if Tupac Shakur never died. Dre and Snoop last collaborated in 2001.Other talent on “Blue Carpet” includes Nate Dogg, Ne-Yo, R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder, the Game and Ice Cube.
*Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am is busy working on his first solo album for a tentative December release. He’s also produced tracks for The Game’s new album “Doctor’s Advocate,” due Nov. 14 via Interscope. Will says of the Compton rapper: "He rolls with a different type of people. I was nervous; I didn't know what to expect. But I got to know him in the studio, and he had fun just like everyone else. He loves music just like I love music. That was the bond and respect that we took from that studio session." Will has also worked on new LPs from Nas and Snoop Dogg.
*During an interview last week with Sirius Satellite Radio, Lionel Richie said a reunion of his old group The Commodores is being planned for the near future. Performing six songs live for a studio audience on channel 51, Heart & Soul, Richie told the host: “I am prepared to tell you at this time there is a reunion in the works.”
*Tuesday (9/26) marks the release of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars debut album “Living Like a Refugee” (Anti Records), a blend of varied elements including reggae, hip hop, soul and indigenous West African music. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars literally met in a refugee camp in remote Guinea, but an award-winning documentary film and a well-received tour of summer festivals this year introduced them to the world. They’re set to tour the U.S. this fall, beginning Oct 20 in Nashville. Click here for tour dates: http://www.shorefire.com/artists/refugee/pr_refugee_09_14_06.html
*One person is dead and three are injured following a shooting after a concert in Virginia by rapper Jim Jones. The incident took place around 2 a.m. Sept. 22 at the Miami Restaurant and Lounge in Virginia Beach, sources tell allhiphop.com. "The shooting occurred when the club was clearing out," Virginia Beach Police media relations officer Margie Long told AllHipHop.com. "We are still conducting interviews, because there were numerous shooters. One victim died and the [other] victims suffered serious injuries. One victim was flown out by helicopter to [a] local trauma center."