All's not well in the music industry's hip-hop, soul and ska areas.
Earlier this month, Blaze magazine editor-in-chief Jesse Washington was hospitalized after he was beaten by four men who broke into his Manhattan office.Last week, authorities arrested Deric "D-Dot" Angellettie and Anthony Hubba on suspicion of taking part in the beating.
Both men were charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
Washington alleged that An-gel-let-tie, Hubbard and two other men kicked him in the head and face and beat him with chairs. Apparently Angellettie was upset that the magazine revealed he was the anonymous rap/hip-hop personality known as "The Madd Rapper."
- HIP-HOP FLIP-FLOP: The star-studded Hip-Hop Unity Festival has been moved from the 55,000 capacity L.A. Coliseum to the Sports Arena, which holds about 16,000.
Promoters for the Dec. 4 event were expecting a sold-out Coliseum date, but only 10,000 tickets were sold as of Wednesday. Other reasons for the move include concerns over sound quality and weather problems.
The lineup will feature DMX, Ice-T, Run-DMC, Shaquille O'Neal, KRS-One, Warren G., Xzibit, Nate Dogg and Kurupt.
The concert was pitched as a united tribute to the late Tupac Shakur, Eazy E and Notorious B.I.G.
- RICK JAMES UPDATE: James, known for the hit "Super Freak," is undergoing intense physical therapy in a Los Angeles hospital to overcome the symptoms of a stroke he suffered on Nov. 9.
James waved off surgery and opted for therapy instead. The singer, 50, can talk, but is unable to walk. However, he can move his legs while lying down.
- MORE BAD NEWS: Tragedy also struck in the ska world this week.
Skatalites saxophonist Roland Alphonso died in L.A. on Nov. 20 from a brain aneurysm. The 67-year-old saxophonist collapsed during a Nov. 2 concert at the band's Key Club show in West Hollywood.
Alphonso had been making progress while in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center but fell into a coma Nov. 17.