Three months ago, former Dipset affiliate Max B (real name Charles Wingate) was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery (among other charges) stemming from a 2006 incident in northern New Jersey. Today, the Harlem rapper was sentenced to 75 years in prison.
A jury found Max B guilty of nine of the 11 total counts he faced during his trial, all of which stemmed from an incident wherein the rapper and two other men attempted to steal $30,000 from another pair of men at a Holiday Inn, leading to one of those two getting shot. Max fired his attorney Gerald Saluti shortly before the sentencing and plans on appealing the sentence.
The rapper was first introduced to the rap world as a member of Jim Jones' Dipset offshoot crew Byrd Gang a few years ago and is known best for delivering a scathing verse on a Jay-Z dis track called "You Gotta Love It," which was anchored by Cam'ron. He was just building a healthy mixtape portfolio when he was arrested in 2006. He has still managed to release music, most notably the Coke Wave mixtape (a collaboration with French Montana) and a proper full-length album that has seen its release delayed by a falling out with Jones and his ongoing legal troubles. In fact, G-Unit's Tony Yayo talked to MTV News correspondent Shaheem Reed back in December and said that he was considering trying to acquire Max B's contract. However, B's musical future is clearly in doubt, though incarceration hasn't stopped other rappers — like Shyne and C-Murder — from putting out albums.
Jim Jones was arrested last night in Teaneck, New Jersey, for an outstanding unpaid traffic ticket from 2005 — for $120. The Diplomat Capo talked about being stopped by police, arrested and taken down to the station on his Twitter page.
"Well it didn't go the way I wanted," he Tweeted. "I'm in the precinct but I still have my phone. They ain't trippin'. They said just procedure."
Jones, who put out his Pray IV Reign LP a couple of weeks ago, had more than enough to pay his fine in cash and was back on the streets in his black Bentley in no time. He didn't seem stressed out in his Tweets.
"Once again I twitted when I got pulled over on Mon and now its all over the news and newspapers in NJ," he posted on his page today. "Sheeesh. Can't do nothin right lol. Love it."
MTV News' very own Sway, along with former New York Knick John Starks and rapper Jim Jones, have joined forces as the board of directors for the Entertainers 4 Education Alliance's "I Will Graduate" campaign.
The effort seeks to empower youth by promoting education and positive decision making using famous faces to help spread their message.
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· The Black Eyed Peas are set to perform today for about 700 people in Shanghai to support Red Cross relief efforts for victims of the recent earthquake in China.
· N.E.R.D., Death Cab For Cutie, the Ting Tings, and Lightspeed Champion are among the acts lined up for the second iTunes Live series.
· One of Jim Jones’ bodyguards was arrested on Sunday after a skirmish between police and the rapper’s entourage at Hot 97’s Summer Jam show at Giants Stadium.
· Rage Against the Machine took the stage dressed as hooded, orange jumpsuit-wearing prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detainee prison camp on Sunday during an appearance at the Pinkpop Festival.
