Monday, September 26, 2011
Markets to vote on new UBS chief
Pentagon extends program to defend cyber networks
What It Takes to Become a Millionaire (BLOG)
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The idea of becoming a millionaire may seem like a pipe dream.
When it comes to retirement, most Americans doubt they've saved or invested enough to retire comfortably, let alone reach that million-dollar milestone. A new AP-CNBC poll finds nearly one-third (31 percent) of U.S. residents believe they would need a minimum savings of $100,000 to $500,000 if retiring this year in order to be confident of living comfortably in retirement, and 22 percent believe the minimum is $1 million or more to retire comfortably.
Only one-fifth of U.S. respondents think it's likely that their net worth will total at least one million dollars in the next 10 years, while 62 percent said that is "very unlikely." The consensus from the majority of respondents (61 percent): It is "extremely" or "very difficult" to become a millionaire in the United States today.
But many are still trying to hit that million-dollar mark — and millions of Americans have already attained that goal.
The number of millionaires in the country is growing. The U.S. has more than 10 million. Despite the European debt crisis and worries about the U.S. economy, a May 2011 report from the Deloitte Center for Financial Services projects that the number of millionaire households in the U.S. will more than double to 20.5 million in 2020, with combined wealth of $87 trillion, up from $39 trillion in 2011.
Money makes money, but it can be tough to make that money grow in these rocky financial markets. The AP-CNBC poll found six in 10 U.S. residents (62 percent) say their confidence in investing has been shaken by recent volatility in the stock market. That sentiment has increased over the past 12 months. Today, 65 percent of those who own stocks, bonds and mutual funds are less confident about investing, compared with 61 percent last year.
Respondents in the AP-CNBC poll say they're making saving and investing a top priority. The survey asked people what they would do with a million dollars and found, on average, that Americans would spend 31 percent on saving or investing; 17 percent on giving to family; 14 percent on spending; 13 percent on paying down debt; 12 percent on buying real estate and 11 percent on charitable donations. Unfortunately, the reality is that mounting expenses, lower wages and job losses require many Americans to dip into those savings to pay for household bills or pay down debt.
[Click here to check savings products and rates in your area.]
The reality is that investors who stayed the course and did not pull their money out of the market in the last few months may actually have fared pretty well. Despite an almost 8 percent decline since mid-July, the broader stock market, represented by the S&P 500 Index, is up nearly 8 percent over the past 12 months. Certainly it's been a rough few years with the S&P 500, down 8 percent in five years. But over the past decade, the broader stock market is up by more than 10 percent.
In most cases, the road to financial security in retirement comes with steady savings, strategic investing, and probably a later retirement date than you may have envisioned at the start of your career. Keep these three rules in mind: First, you need to live within your means. Next, you have to commit to saving a certain amount every month and stick to that goal. Then, you have to make sure your investments are in a diversified portfolio — a mix of stocks, bonds, and alternative investments (commodities and real estate) and rebalance that mix to attain your goals for growth.
So how long will it take until you're a millionaire?
If you start with an initial $10,000 investment and your portfolio grows by 5 percent every year, here's how much you need to save each month to reach your $1 million goal by age 70, according to Bankrate.com's calculator.
• 25-year-olds have to save $450 a month. That's just $15 a day for the rest of your working years.
• 35-year-olds have to save $850 a month.
• 45-year-olds have to save $1,700 a month.
• 55-year-olds have to save $4,000 a month. (Of course, with an average inflation rate of 3 percent, that $1,000,000 nest egg will only be worth $642,000 in today's dollars. So that means you'll likely wind up having to save even more.)
Still, for those who start early and save often, becoming a millionaire doesn't have to be a pipe dream.
View the Original article
When it comes to retirement, most Americans doubt they've saved or invested enough to retire comfortably, let alone reach that million-dollar milestone. A new AP-CNBC poll finds nearly one-third (31 percent) of U.S. residents believe they would need a minimum savings of $100,000 to $500,000 if retiring this year in order to be confident of living comfortably in retirement, and 22 percent believe the minimum is $1 million or more to retire comfortably.
Only one-fifth of U.S. respondents think it's likely that their net worth will total at least one million dollars in the next 10 years, while 62 percent said that is "very unlikely." The consensus from the majority of respondents (61 percent): It is "extremely" or "very difficult" to become a millionaire in the United States today.
But many are still trying to hit that million-dollar mark — and millions of Americans have already attained that goal.
The number of millionaires in the country is growing. The U.S. has more than 10 million. Despite the European debt crisis and worries about the U.S. economy, a May 2011 report from the Deloitte Center for Financial Services projects that the number of millionaire households in the U.S. will more than double to 20.5 million in 2020, with combined wealth of $87 trillion, up from $39 trillion in 2011.
Money makes money, but it can be tough to make that money grow in these rocky financial markets. The AP-CNBC poll found six in 10 U.S. residents (62 percent) say their confidence in investing has been shaken by recent volatility in the stock market. That sentiment has increased over the past 12 months. Today, 65 percent of those who own stocks, bonds and mutual funds are less confident about investing, compared with 61 percent last year.
Respondents in the AP-CNBC poll say they're making saving and investing a top priority. The survey asked people what they would do with a million dollars and found, on average, that Americans would spend 31 percent on saving or investing; 17 percent on giving to family; 14 percent on spending; 13 percent on paying down debt; 12 percent on buying real estate and 11 percent on charitable donations. Unfortunately, the reality is that mounting expenses, lower wages and job losses require many Americans to dip into those savings to pay for household bills or pay down debt.
[Click here to check savings products and rates in your area.]
The reality is that investors who stayed the course and did not pull their money out of the market in the last few months may actually have fared pretty well. Despite an almost 8 percent decline since mid-July, the broader stock market, represented by the S&P 500 Index, is up nearly 8 percent over the past 12 months. Certainly it's been a rough few years with the S&P 500, down 8 percent in five years. But over the past decade, the broader stock market is up by more than 10 percent.
In most cases, the road to financial security in retirement comes with steady savings, strategic investing, and probably a later retirement date than you may have envisioned at the start of your career. Keep these three rules in mind: First, you need to live within your means. Next, you have to commit to saving a certain amount every month and stick to that goal. Then, you have to make sure your investments are in a diversified portfolio — a mix of stocks, bonds, and alternative investments (commodities and real estate) and rebalance that mix to attain your goals for growth.
So how long will it take until you're a millionaire?
If you start with an initial $10,000 investment and your portfolio grows by 5 percent every year, here's how much you need to save each month to reach your $1 million goal by age 70, according to Bankrate.com's calculator.
• 25-year-olds have to save $450 a month. That's just $15 a day for the rest of your working years.
• 35-year-olds have to save $850 a month.
• 45-year-olds have to save $1,700 a month.
• 55-year-olds have to save $4,000 a month. (Of course, with an average inflation rate of 3 percent, that $1,000,000 nest egg will only be worth $642,000 in today's dollars. So that means you'll likely wind up having to save even more.)
Still, for those who start early and save often, becoming a millionaire doesn't have to be a pipe dream.
___
View the Original article
Hell's Angels motorcycle club member facing charges in deadly casino brawl (BLOG)
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(CNN) -- A member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club was facing charges including assault with a deadly weapon Sunday after a brawl between club members devolved into a gunfight that left one person dead.
Police identified the victim of the shooting at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada, as Jeffrey Pettigrew, 51, president of the San Jose, California, chapter of the Hell's Angels. Two other people, both of California and members of the Vagos motorcycle club, were in stable condition at hospitals after being shot in the abdomen and the leg, respectively.
Cesar Villagrana, 36, was arrested after surveillance video showed him "shooting into the crowd" during the Friday night melee, Sparks police said in a statement. "However, it cannot be confirmed at this time if any of the projectiles struck the victims."
Besides assault with a deadly weapon, Villagrana also faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon; aiming a firearm at another; aiming or discharging a firearm where a person is endangered; and possession of stolen property/firearm, jail records show. His bail was set at $500,000 cash only.
Authorities appealed to bystanders who may have photographed or videotaped the event to contact police.
A second shooting occurred at 10:49 a.m. Saturday, police said. A motorcyclist was traveling down a street when a car pulled alongside him and he was shot in the stomach. The name of that victim was being withheld, but he was in stable condition, authorities said.
Witnesses said a black four-door BMW with two people inside was seen speeding away just after the shooting.
"We are unable to definitively link the two shooting incidents at this time," police said.
The incidents occurred during the Street Vibrations Fall Rally, an event that began Wednesday and was expected to continue into Sunday. After the shootings, however, the Sparks portion of the event were canceled through the weekend, the city announced Saturday. The mayor of Sparks also declared a state of emergency.
"Whenever you have people who enter our city with bad intentions, bad things are going to happen," Sparks Mayor Geno Martini said Saturday.
Police said they have increased the number of foot and mobile patrols in the city.
Authorities reported that as many as 30 people took part in the casino brawl. Police responded with assistance from overhead helicopters.
There has been no violence since the Street Vibrations rally expanded into Sparks, police said.
"The Sparks Police Department wants to acknowledge the acts of these two motorcycle clubs do not represent a majority of the motorcycle enthusiasts that come to the Street Vibrations event," authorities said in a statement.
View the Original article
Police identified the victim of the shooting at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada, as Jeffrey Pettigrew, 51, president of the San Jose, California, chapter of the Hell's Angels. Two other people, both of California and members of the Vagos motorcycle club, were in stable condition at hospitals after being shot in the abdomen and the leg, respectively.
Cesar Villagrana, 36, was arrested after surveillance video showed him "shooting into the crowd" during the Friday night melee, Sparks police said in a statement. "However, it cannot be confirmed at this time if any of the projectiles struck the victims."
Besides assault with a deadly weapon, Villagrana also faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon; aiming a firearm at another; aiming or discharging a firearm where a person is endangered; and possession of stolen property/firearm, jail records show. His bail was set at $500,000 cash only.
Authorities appealed to bystanders who may have photographed or videotaped the event to contact police.
A second shooting occurred at 10:49 a.m. Saturday, police said. A motorcyclist was traveling down a street when a car pulled alongside him and he was shot in the stomach. The name of that victim was being withheld, but he was in stable condition, authorities said.
Witnesses said a black four-door BMW with two people inside was seen speeding away just after the shooting.
"We are unable to definitively link the two shooting incidents at this time," police said.
The incidents occurred during the Street Vibrations Fall Rally, an event that began Wednesday and was expected to continue into Sunday. After the shootings, however, the Sparks portion of the event were canceled through the weekend, the city announced Saturday. The mayor of Sparks also declared a state of emergency.
"Whenever you have people who enter our city with bad intentions, bad things are going to happen," Sparks Mayor Geno Martini said Saturday.
Police said they have increased the number of foot and mobile patrols in the city.
Authorities reported that as many as 30 people took part in the casino brawl. Police responded with assistance from overhead helicopters.
There has been no violence since the Street Vibrations rally expanded into Sparks, police said.
"The Sparks Police Department wants to acknowledge the acts of these two motorcycle clubs do not represent a majority of the motorcycle enthusiasts that come to the Street Vibrations event," authorities said in a statement.
View the Original article
Is it Going to Be Google+ vs. Facebook? (BLOG)
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(yahoo)COMMENTARY | The social media gauntlet has been thrown out and two Internet heavyweights are starting to circle each other. Current social media champion Facebook has announced a few changes. Those changes timed out rather interestingly with Google+ being made available to everyone. A social media showdown could be in the making.
Perhaps it is just users not liking change, but a survey of 1,000 users revealed about 86 percent of Facebook users strongly dislike the changes to the social platform. Plus, another hoax is making the rounds on that Facebook will start charging. However, the changes will be rolled out completely on Sept. 30.
That date could give Google+ a little more momentum. If Facebook users are truly upset with the changes and do not want to stick around, another social network is opening its arms wide. Google+ could fill the void for many users who are just tired of changes with little or no advanced notice.
The strange part about folks leaving Facebook in favor of Google+ is that change is still change regardless if it is on another website or not. Therefore, if Facebook does see a massive exodus, the company might never really know how much the changes influenced departures. A few years ago, MySpace was the biggest thing on the Internet, but a series of changes, tweaks, and a variety of other reasons led users to Facebook. History could be repeating itself, or maybe the Internet has room for more than one social media heavyweight.
Of course, that is one of the big questions: How many social media sites will users embrace at one time? Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and even MySpace offer a host of different experiences. However, Facebook has more than 750 million user accounts and Google+ has around 25 million, so the score is pretty lopsided right now. But Google definitely has the cash and the Web experience to give Facebook a serious run for their money.
Working against the flood of social networks is an old foe: time. There is a finite amount of time people will spend updating and checking different sites. Folks are probably going to do what their friends do, which is what drives social media anyway. Is it going to boil down to Facebook versus Google+, or is there enough room for both to thrive? Oddly enough, time will tell.
View the Original article
Perhaps it is just users not liking change, but a survey of 1,000 users revealed about 86 percent of Facebook users strongly dislike the changes to the social platform. Plus, another hoax is making the rounds on that Facebook will start charging. However, the changes will be rolled out completely on Sept. 30.
That date could give Google+ a little more momentum. If Facebook users are truly upset with the changes and do not want to stick around, another social network is opening its arms wide. Google+ could fill the void for many users who are just tired of changes with little or no advanced notice.
The strange part about folks leaving Facebook in favor of Google+ is that change is still change regardless if it is on another website or not. Therefore, if Facebook does see a massive exodus, the company might never really know how much the changes influenced departures. A few years ago, MySpace was the biggest thing on the Internet, but a series of changes, tweaks, and a variety of other reasons led users to Facebook. History could be repeating itself, or maybe the Internet has room for more than one social media heavyweight.
Of course, that is one of the big questions: How many social media sites will users embrace at one time? Google+, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and even MySpace offer a host of different experiences. However, Facebook has more than 750 million user accounts and Google+ has around 25 million, so the score is pretty lopsided right now. But Google definitely has the cash and the Web experience to give Facebook a serious run for their money.
Working against the flood of social networks is an old foe: time. There is a finite amount of time people will spend updating and checking different sites. Folks are probably going to do what their friends do, which is what drives social media anyway. Is it going to boil down to Facebook versus Google+, or is there enough room for both to thrive? Oddly enough, time will tell.
View the Original article
Idaho boy, 10, escapes clash with mountain lion (BLOG)
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View the Original article
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A 10-year-old Idaho boy who came face-to-face with a mountain lion in rural Boise County escaped with minor scratches — and concerns that his friends at school wouldn't believe his story, according to state wildlife managers.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game said Friday the mountain lion was tracked down and killed after the encounter late Thursday. The boy, whose family asked not to be identified, received first aid at home for minor scratches and was expected to get a tetanus shot Friday.
The boy was not traumatized from his encounter, state wildlife officials said.
"His biggest concern was that his schoolmates wouldn't believe him, which is kind of funny," Senior Conservation Officer Matt O'Connell said.
The boy came across the mountain lion while searching for a missing hunting dog with his father near their home in a rural subdivision about 15 to 20 miles northeast of Boise. The boy ran from the predator but stumbled and fell. It was then the mountain lion took a swipe, scratching the boy's arm and hand.
The child then yelled to his father and stood up, pulling out a hunting knife, which made the predator back down and gave the dad enough time to fire off several shots from his 9mm handgun to scare the lion away, O'Connell said.
Conservation officers with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, along with an off-duty officer from the Meridian Police Department, responded to the reported encounter and a couple hours later, tracked down the big cat.
The mountain lion, which was estimated to be about 18 months old, was found feeding on the carcass of the family's missing hunting dog, O'Connell said.
"When a lion has actually made physical contact with a person and in conjunction with that, has killed a domestic animal and has been close enough to that residence, the animal did need to be euthanized at that time," O'Connell said.
These types of encounters are extremely rare in Idaho, said southwest regional wildlife manager Steve Nadeau. Wildlife managers could recall only one other injury by a cougar. That involved a 12-year-old boy and was reported in the early 1990s on the Salmon River, he said.
"It happens in surrounding states more frequently," Nadeau said.
View the Original article
Monday, July 11, 2011
(AllHipHop News) The widow of Chad “Pimp C.” Butler is speaking out against a recent lawsuit filed by Rap-A-Lot Records in court, over the late rapper's master recordings.
Rap-A-Lot Records 2K filed the legal action against Chinara Butler on June 17th, claiming that she was withholding 10 master recordings of unreleased material by Pimp C. that the label contractually owns.
The lawsuit was filed after Chinara Butler sent Rap-A-Lot a cease and desist letter regarding the use of Pimp C.'s music, name and likeness for an upcoming album.
In an exclusive interview with AllHipHop.com, Chinara Butler broke her silence regarding the Rap-A-Lot lawsuit and the struggles she has experienced since Pimp C. died of sleep apnea and drug use, in December of 2007.
According to Chinara, she is not feeling the selection of music for an upcoming album tentatively titled Still Pimpin' featuring unreleased recordings by Pimp C.
"I want to make sure everyone understands that with those songs and my whole issue is that, I don’t feel like we should try to do something new with Chad’s music, if he didn’t do it," Chinara Butler explained to AllHipHop.com. "To me its not right and clearly I’m not feeling it. Just like the songs, I’m not feeling a lot of the singles."
According to Chinara, lack of communication is one of the reasons the legal actions on both sides have started.
"I think its been about three years or so since we [Rap-A-Lot CEO James Prince] had contact and we got together and we talked about what he wanted to do and what I wanted to do," Chinara Butler said.
The other reason is simple. Butler said she has not received any sort of payment for the upcoming Pimp C. project, which she is also supposed to be be executive producing.
"I’m being sued when you [Rap-A-Lot] are putting out a project and I haven’t even received any money or anything from? I will never amend anything," Chinara Butler told AllHipHop.com. "This is about him [Pimp C.] and all I can do is make him proud and make sure no one tarnishes his legacy, and what he built his whole life…I just think its sad."
Chinara Butler was clear that her issues were strictly business, and had nothing to do with Pimp C.'s rap partner, legendary artist Bun B.
According to Chinara, she is teaming with Bun B.'s wife to host a breast-cancer awareness event later this year.
"Me and Bun’s wife are doing something for breast cancer in October and we have Chad’s event in December," Chinara Butler told AllHipHop.com. "I just have to teach my kids that when times get hard you have to be positive and stand for what you believe in."
Rap-A-Lot Records 2K filed the legal action against Chinara Butler on June 17th, claiming that she was withholding 10 master recordings of unreleased material by Pimp C. that the label contractually owns.
The lawsuit was filed after Chinara Butler sent Rap-A-Lot a cease and desist letter regarding the use of Pimp C.'s music, name and likeness for an upcoming album.
In an exclusive interview with AllHipHop.com, Chinara Butler broke her silence regarding the Rap-A-Lot lawsuit and the struggles she has experienced since Pimp C. died of sleep apnea and drug use, in December of 2007.
According to Chinara, she is not feeling the selection of music for an upcoming album tentatively titled Still Pimpin' featuring unreleased recordings by Pimp C.
"I want to make sure everyone understands that with those songs and my whole issue is that, I don’t feel like we should try to do something new with Chad’s music, if he didn’t do it," Chinara Butler explained to AllHipHop.com. "To me its not right and clearly I’m not feeling it. Just like the songs, I’m not feeling a lot of the singles."
According to Chinara, lack of communication is one of the reasons the legal actions on both sides have started.
"I think its been about three years or so since we [Rap-A-Lot CEO James Prince] had contact and we got together and we talked about what he wanted to do and what I wanted to do," Chinara Butler said.
The other reason is simple. Butler said she has not received any sort of payment for the upcoming Pimp C. project, which she is also supposed to be be executive producing.
"I’m being sued when you [Rap-A-Lot] are putting out a project and I haven’t even received any money or anything from? I will never amend anything," Chinara Butler told AllHipHop.com. "This is about him [Pimp C.] and all I can do is make him proud and make sure no one tarnishes his legacy, and what he built his whole life…I just think its sad."
Chinara Butler was clear that her issues were strictly business, and had nothing to do with Pimp C.'s rap partner, legendary artist Bun B.
According to Chinara, she is teaming with Bun B.'s wife to host a breast-cancer awareness event later this year.
"Me and Bun’s wife are doing something for breast cancer in October and we have Chad’s event in December," Chinara Butler told AllHipHop.com. "I just have to teach my kids that when times get hard you have to be positive and stand for what you believe in."
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Beanie Sigel Defends Rick Ross' Correctional Officer Past
The Broad Street Bully sympathizes with the Bawse's previous line of work.
Despite the premium Hip Hop fans claim to place on the genuine, backlash against Rick Ross for lying about being a correctional officer has largely died down.
Still, Beanie Sigel, who has quite a rap sheet, defended the Miami rapper - with a caveat.
"I just don't think he should have lied about it," said Beans in an interview with Forbez DVD. "He should have just kept it real. He had a j-o-b. He was gigging," said Sigel, echoing sentiments Kool G. Rap conveyed to HipHopDX earlier this year.
"He probably took that job to be in a position where as though he had people in there that he could look out for. My mom was a correctional officer. When I went to jail, there was niggas who had the will. Life. Never coming home..."
HipHopDX
Waka Flocka Flame Says He is Quitting Rap
Waka Flocka Flame Says He is Quitting Rap. "Rather work at Wal-Mart"
Big Daddy Kane Says He Could Beat Rakim in a Battle "No Competition"
Big Daddy Kane Says He Could Beat Rakim in a Battle "No Competition"
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Check out CEO King Boola (@kingboola) & Dutch Dinero (@DUTCHDXT) Hymalaya (@HYMALAYA) AT Dayfest 2011
Make sure you Follow the big homey @Kingboola and Follow his artist Dutch Dinero and Hymalaya Check out the site at www.infglobalmedia.blogspot.com
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Clayton Hill Confesses To Being An Accessory To The Murder Of The Notorious B.I.G
Former Nation of Islam member, and currently incarcerated federal felon, Clayton Hill has confessed to his role as an accessory after the fact to the murder of The Notorious B.I.G.
After first contacting HipHopDX on June 8th, Hill disclosed to DX that in October of 2010 he met with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy DePodesta and two agents with the F.B.I.’s Domestic Terrorism Unit and revealed that in May of 1997, while acting under orders as an official with Muhammad Mosque #15 in Atlanta, Georgia, he took possession of a semi-automatic handgun from a fellow N.O.I. member from Los Angeles, California who introduced himself as Dawoud Muhammad.
“[Dawoud Muhammad] stated to me that he was on the run for the murder [of The Notorious B.I.G.],” Hill wrote to HipHopDX via the CorrLinks email system for federal inmates. “He disclosed that he was the shooter of The Notorious B.I.G. because he (Dawoud) was a former Blood gang member and was paid to do so.”
In his forthcoming e-book, Diary of an Ex-Terrorist, Clayton quotes Dawoud bragging to him of that payment, “And I made twenty-five ‘g’s’ off that.”
Hill, who is currently residing in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago (inmate #61829019), convicted of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Identity Theft, examined pictures of both the long-suspected gunman and mastermind in the Notorious B.I.G. shooting, Amir Muhammad and David Mack, that were included in a magazine upon HipHopDX’s request.
“I have looked at the pics in the mag,” Hill wrote, “and although I cannot say conclusively and with absolute certainty because that was 14 years ago, Amir Muhammad looks like the person who used the name Dawoud.”
“A member from L.A. wouldn’t know a member from Atlanta so you wouldn’t completely trust them,” explained Hill when queried by HipHopDX as to why Amir would adopt the false name Dawoud while dealing with fellow members of the Nation of Islam. “Also, consider that the N.O.I. is a paramilitary organization and all members do as instructed so if he or I were told by someone to give a false name as precaution then he would and it would be accepted without question.”
According to Hill, he was initially contacted in mid-May 1997 by Minister Tony Muhammad, the Western Regional Minister of the N.O.I., and asked to pick up someone from the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Atlanta. This unnamed person was coming from Los Angeles headed through Atlanta.
Before ending his alleged call with Tony Muhammad, Clayton claims that he explained to the minister that he needed regional approval before proceeding with his request. Per Hill, a couple of hours later he was contacted by Brother Melvin Muhammad, the Account Executive based at the Chicago headquarters of the Nation assigned to the office of the Supreme Captain of the Southern Region, Abdul Sharrieff Muhammad, with instructions from the “Supreme” in reference to the earlier call from “Brother Tony in L.A.”
According to Clayton, Melvin Muhammad reiterated Tony Muhammad’s previous request. And after picking up the man he had been introduced to as “Dawoud,” Hill procured the weapon he claims he was instructed to retrieve. Writing in his book Clayton explained, “I told [Dawoud Muhammad] I had instructions to collect some property from him. He must have been given the same instructions because he didn’t hesitate or show any signs of doubt as he bent over and removed a trash liner out of a waste can and handed it to me to hold open. He reached into the duffle bag he brought with him and pulled out a semi-automatic hand gun that could have been a .9 millimeter or a .40 caliber wrapped in a white undershirt. Carefully he placed it into the trash bag making sure his hands never touched any of the exposed parts of the gun.”
After allegedly receiving his final instructions from Melvin Muhammad, Clayton claims he was instructed to take the “property” to Louisville, Kentucky. In Louisville, Hill delivered the gun to Emile Muhammad, the personal driver of Minister Louis Farrakhan. Emile Muhammad then allegedly transported the gun to its final destination within the headquarters of the Nation of Islam.
“Somebody in Chicago wanted that weapon,” Hill replied when asked by HipHopDX why a murder weapon would not be immediately disposed of and instead be taken on a cross-country trip from Los Angeles to Atlanta to Louisville to the N.O.I.’s HQ. “Who wanted it? I can’t say for sure but whoever wanted it had to be high ranking.”
Clayton does not believe that “high ranking” official within the Nation of Islam was its highest ranking member.
“I doubt if Minister Farrakhan knew anything,” wrote Hill. “He would have been insulated from that.”
HipHopDX has been unable to locate any previously published reports putting forth the theory that the Nation of Islam attempted to conceal the fact that a member of the N.O.I. had just murdered the then most popular rapper in the world by hiding the murder weapon used in that crime.
HipHopDX has additionally been unable to establish if Amir Muhammad was in Atlanta in May of 1997, or if he ever fled from his reported residence in Los Angeles at any time during that year. It has however been previously established by former lead detective in the Notorious B.I.G. murder investigation, Russell Poole, that Amir was in L.A. visiting the father of his godchildren, David Mack, seven months after Clayton Hill’s alleged run-in with the murderer of Biggie Smalls, in December of 1997, while Mack sat in jail after being arrested for robbing a South Central branch of Bank of America of $722,000.
Clayton Hill left the Nation of Islam in 2000, and only came clean a decade later about the illegal activities he engaged in during and after his time with the N.O.I. to spare his wife a possible lengthy prison term for her alleged involvement in Clayton’s most recent criminal activity.
Writing in the prologue to his book Hill explained, “Four years ago, in 2006 I created a scheme to file false tax returns on debit cards and withdraw the proceeds from ATM’s all over the city. I filed 122 tax returns and according to the government I netted a little over three hundred thousand dollars. The government went after my wife to get at me and she was three floors below me [in the M.C.C.] on the twelfth floor and had been incarcerated as long as I had. Because we had a two-year old daughter who was being passed from family friend to family friend I made the decision to proffer against myself so Tamara, my wife, could get a reduced sentence and get back to our daughter.”
Tamara was eventually sentenced to time served after being released on a signature bond, without objection from the prosecution, just one week after Clayton’s meeting with the government.
“My proffers protect me from anything I say,” he noted to DX, “but you have to realize that anyone [in the N.O.I.] who confirms anything can be charged as an accessory after the fact.”
A credible source close to Clayton’s case, who requested to remain anonymous for this report, confirmed with HipHopDX that the meeting he claims to have had with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy DePodesta and the F.B.I. in October did in fact take place, with Hill revealing the same information to the government that he shared with DX.
While his wife received credit for this disclosure, Hill himself did not receive a sentence reduction for his revelations regarding the cover-up of the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. A criminal defense attorney specializing in federal cases advised HipHopDX that this likely occurred because Clayton’s criminal history would preclude his usefulness under cross-examination in any future trials, making Hill an ineffective witness for the government.
Clayton’s inability to definitively identify the man he knew as Dawoud likely further frustrated the government and led to a lack of credit for his revelations.
“I reviewed pics with the F.B.I. and could not conclusively identify the person they showed me,” Clayton explained. “But the face did look familiar. It has been 14 years.”
Even with the failed I.D. and lack of credit for his confessions, Hill remains adamant that his statements to the government were the primary catalyst for the F.B.I.’s revelation to CNN in January that their now 14-year-old investigation into the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. had been “reinvigorated.”
After first contacting HipHopDX on June 8th, Hill disclosed to DX that in October of 2010 he met with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy DePodesta and two agents with the F.B.I.’s Domestic Terrorism Unit and revealed that in May of 1997, while acting under orders as an official with Muhammad Mosque #15 in Atlanta, Georgia, he took possession of a semi-automatic handgun from a fellow N.O.I. member from Los Angeles, California who introduced himself as Dawoud Muhammad.
“[Dawoud Muhammad] stated to me that he was on the run for the murder [of The Notorious B.I.G.],” Hill wrote to HipHopDX via the CorrLinks email system for federal inmates. “He disclosed that he was the shooter of The Notorious B.I.G. because he (Dawoud) was a former Blood gang member and was paid to do so.”
In his forthcoming e-book, Diary of an Ex-Terrorist, Clayton quotes Dawoud bragging to him of that payment, “And I made twenty-five ‘g’s’ off that.”
Hill, who is currently residing in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago (inmate #61829019), convicted of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States and Identity Theft, examined pictures of both the long-suspected gunman and mastermind in the Notorious B.I.G. shooting, Amir Muhammad and David Mack, that were included in a magazine upon HipHopDX’s request.
“I have looked at the pics in the mag,” Hill wrote, “and although I cannot say conclusively and with absolute certainty because that was 14 years ago, Amir Muhammad looks like the person who used the name Dawoud.”
“A member from L.A. wouldn’t know a member from Atlanta so you wouldn’t completely trust them,” explained Hill when queried by HipHopDX as to why Amir would adopt the false name Dawoud while dealing with fellow members of the Nation of Islam. “Also, consider that the N.O.I. is a paramilitary organization and all members do as instructed so if he or I were told by someone to give a false name as precaution then he would and it would be accepted without question.”
According to Hill, he was initially contacted in mid-May 1997 by Minister Tony Muhammad, the Western Regional Minister of the N.O.I., and asked to pick up someone from the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown Atlanta. This unnamed person was coming from Los Angeles headed through Atlanta.
Before ending his alleged call with Tony Muhammad, Clayton claims that he explained to the minister that he needed regional approval before proceeding with his request. Per Hill, a couple of hours later he was contacted by Brother Melvin Muhammad, the Account Executive based at the Chicago headquarters of the Nation assigned to the office of the Supreme Captain of the Southern Region, Abdul Sharrieff Muhammad, with instructions from the “Supreme” in reference to the earlier call from “Brother Tony in L.A.”
According to Clayton, Melvin Muhammad reiterated Tony Muhammad’s previous request. And after picking up the man he had been introduced to as “Dawoud,” Hill procured the weapon he claims he was instructed to retrieve. Writing in his book Clayton explained, “I told [Dawoud Muhammad] I had instructions to collect some property from him. He must have been given the same instructions because he didn’t hesitate or show any signs of doubt as he bent over and removed a trash liner out of a waste can and handed it to me to hold open. He reached into the duffle bag he brought with him and pulled out a semi-automatic hand gun that could have been a .9 millimeter or a .40 caliber wrapped in a white undershirt. Carefully he placed it into the trash bag making sure his hands never touched any of the exposed parts of the gun.”
After allegedly receiving his final instructions from Melvin Muhammad, Clayton claims he was instructed to take the “property” to Louisville, Kentucky. In Louisville, Hill delivered the gun to Emile Muhammad, the personal driver of Minister Louis Farrakhan. Emile Muhammad then allegedly transported the gun to its final destination within the headquarters of the Nation of Islam.
“Somebody in Chicago wanted that weapon,” Hill replied when asked by HipHopDX why a murder weapon would not be immediately disposed of and instead be taken on a cross-country trip from Los Angeles to Atlanta to Louisville to the N.O.I.’s HQ. “Who wanted it? I can’t say for sure but whoever wanted it had to be high ranking.”
Clayton does not believe that “high ranking” official within the Nation of Islam was its highest ranking member.
“I doubt if Minister Farrakhan knew anything,” wrote Hill. “He would have been insulated from that.”
HipHopDX has been unable to locate any previously published reports putting forth the theory that the Nation of Islam attempted to conceal the fact that a member of the N.O.I. had just murdered the then most popular rapper in the world by hiding the murder weapon used in that crime.
HipHopDX has additionally been unable to establish if Amir Muhammad was in Atlanta in May of 1997, or if he ever fled from his reported residence in Los Angeles at any time during that year. It has however been previously established by former lead detective in the Notorious B.I.G. murder investigation, Russell Poole, that Amir was in L.A. visiting the father of his godchildren, David Mack, seven months after Clayton Hill’s alleged run-in with the murderer of Biggie Smalls, in December of 1997, while Mack sat in jail after being arrested for robbing a South Central branch of Bank of America of $722,000.
Clayton Hill left the Nation of Islam in 2000, and only came clean a decade later about the illegal activities he engaged in during and after his time with the N.O.I. to spare his wife a possible lengthy prison term for her alleged involvement in Clayton’s most recent criminal activity.
Writing in the prologue to his book Hill explained, “Four years ago, in 2006 I created a scheme to file false tax returns on debit cards and withdraw the proceeds from ATM’s all over the city. I filed 122 tax returns and according to the government I netted a little over three hundred thousand dollars. The government went after my wife to get at me and she was three floors below me [in the M.C.C.] on the twelfth floor and had been incarcerated as long as I had. Because we had a two-year old daughter who was being passed from family friend to family friend I made the decision to proffer against myself so Tamara, my wife, could get a reduced sentence and get back to our daughter.”
Tamara was eventually sentenced to time served after being released on a signature bond, without objection from the prosecution, just one week after Clayton’s meeting with the government.
“My proffers protect me from anything I say,” he noted to DX, “but you have to realize that anyone [in the N.O.I.] who confirms anything can be charged as an accessory after the fact.”
A credible source close to Clayton’s case, who requested to remain anonymous for this report, confirmed with HipHopDX that the meeting he claims to have had with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy DePodesta and the F.B.I. in October did in fact take place, with Hill revealing the same information to the government that he shared with DX.
While his wife received credit for this disclosure, Hill himself did not receive a sentence reduction for his revelations regarding the cover-up of the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. A criminal defense attorney specializing in federal cases advised HipHopDX that this likely occurred because Clayton’s criminal history would preclude his usefulness under cross-examination in any future trials, making Hill an ineffective witness for the government.
Clayton’s inability to definitively identify the man he knew as Dawoud likely further frustrated the government and led to a lack of credit for his revelations.
“I reviewed pics with the F.B.I. and could not conclusively identify the person they showed me,” Clayton explained. “But the face did look familiar. It has been 14 years.”
Even with the failed I.D. and lack of credit for his confessions, Hill remains adamant that his statements to the government were the primary catalyst for the F.B.I.’s revelation to CNN in January that their now 14-year-old investigation into the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. had been “reinvigorated.”
Monday, July 4, 2011
State Property Reunite For Performance In Atlantic City, New Jersey (VIDEO) (@phillyfreezer)
As anticipated, State Property reunited at Summerfest 2011 two nights ago. During the performance, Freeway gave a rendition of "Flipside" with Peedi Crakk and Beans performed "Beanie (Mack Bitch)" before the entire group reunited for "Roc the Mic." Watch footage from the concert below.
How to make money in the rap Game (VIDEO)
Check this old video on MTV 2 showing how the industry works and how you actually make money from the rap game. Notice how this is back in 2002, and they are speaking about record sales slumping... smh its 2011 and people still living off the old school format!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Ain't No Doubt About It - The Game (@thegame ) (Feat. Justin Timberlake & Pharrell)
Check out the Game Feat Justin Timberlake & Pharrell - Aint no Doubt about it
Saturday, July 2, 2011
My Eyes - Chill Moody (@ChillMoody) Feat. Cody Kahmar
Check out Philly Emcee Chill Moody Feat. Cody Kahmar - My Eyes
Finals - Rick Ross (Feat. Meek Mill & Gunplay)
Check out the Video From Rick Ross feat Meek Mill & Gunplay
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