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Rap Sheet: Stop the Violence 2.0

• The jump off: Check out this “Self Construction” preview featuring host KRS-One, Nelly, The Game, Chamillionare, Busta Rhymes, Dougie Fresh, Fat Joe, and other notables.

• Payback: 50 Cent was ordered to pay an “undisclosed amount” of money to a NY Post photographer who got ruffed up by the rapper’s security guards back in 2003.

• Acting up: Rapper/producer, will.i.am, of Black Eyed Peas fame will play mutant John Wraith in the next installment of the X-Men movie. His character has the power to teleport and like Wolverine, was a test subject of the Weapon X program. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” is set for release in May, 2009.

• Smart music: ?uestlove not only likes to entertain fans, but also educate them too. Especially when he’s behind the turntables, “Usually in my set, I cover about 80 to 90 years’ worth of music, you know. I think it’s important to be all-inclusive. I think it’s important to educate people and give them a sense of history. I don’t want to be [one of] those DJs that just give you what you already know, you know.”

Popularity: 19% [?]

Smirnoff Remixs Vodka With Rappers

Smirnoff takes its mantra, “Mix Well, Drink Responsibly” to another level with their new music campaign. This February, the spirits brand known for a flavorful range of vodka, enlists Just Blaze, Cool and Dre and DJ Premier to remix classic material by Common, Q-Tip and KRS-One for the Signature Mix Series. With each collaboration, a new drink will be created, aptly named after it’s ingredients, like “Blueberry Abstract,” Just Blaze’s interpretation of Common’s “The Light.” Click SmirnoffSignatureMixSeries.com to download the songs for free.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Rap Sheet: Prodigy Claims Clean Bill of Health

• Healthy: Prodigy maintains he’s not sick despite reports by his lawyer. And although the judge delayed his incarceration for a 2nd time due to so called medical conditions, the rapper claims he’s fine. Ouch, someone’s getting into trouble.

• Sound off: Common, KRS-One, and Q-Tip are remixing their classic tracks in a new campaign with Smirnoff with the help of some legendary producers, “Just Blaze is remixing Common’s 2000 song “The Light,” DJ Premier will work on KRS-One’s 1988 hit “I’m Still #1,” and Cool & Dre are remaking Q-Tip’s 1999 party track “Vivrant Thing.” They will all then perform live at a launch party for the vodka maker on February 26, and the tracks will be available for download on Smirnoff’s website.

• Innocent: Marvin Bernard aka Tony Yayo has been found innocent of slapping the shit out of Jimmy “Henchman” Rosemond’s 16-year-old son.

• Flying colors: Swizzy got down with the Gap and their “Sound of Color” campaign. Basically each artist was assigned a color and they created an original song for it. The mega producer and Kidrobot partner did a song called “Candy Green.”

Popularity: 10% [?]