Lawsuit Breaks Out Between Teddy Riley, Former Members Of Blackstreet
Veteran hip-hop/R&B producer Teddy Riley has filed a lawsuit against former members of Blackstreet, accusing the estranged members of illegally using the group’s name.
Teddy Riley and group member Chauncey Hannibal filed the lawsuit against former group members Mark Middleton and Eric Williams on December 1, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia.
According to the lawsuit, Teddy Riley is half of the owner of the Blackstreet trademark, while long time associate Chauncey Hannibal owns the other half.
The pair have held the rights to the name since 1992, prior to the release of any Blackstreet albums.
The lawsuit claims that from 2003 until present, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams have booked themselves as Blackstreet for performances, without the proper permission or consent.
Lawyers for Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal claim that the two men have ignored several cease and desist letters, but still continue to book shows as Blackstreet.
The lawsuit claims that as recently as November of 2011 the pair have claimed that they were Blackstreet.
The confusion has scared away several booking agents, which resulted in the cancellation of an official Blackstreet tour of Europe.
To make matters worse, the two men went on Jenny Boom Boom’s show on Hot 93.7 in Hartford, to discuss the matter.
During the interview, the men admitted to having issues with Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal.
They also claimed that there were two “different sets” of Blackstreet because Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal have refused to share proceeds.
Blackstreet was formed in 1991.
The group’s debut album was released in 1994, with members Teddy Riley, Dave Hollister, Chauncey Black and Levi Little.
Middleton and Williams did not join the group until 1996, when Blackstreet hit big with the Dr. Dre-assisted single “No Diggity,” from their album Another Level.
According to Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams signed contracts which stipulated that they were works for hire, meaning they have no rights to use the Blackstreet name.
“Defendants have used the name and mark Blackstreet in such a manner as to create actual confusion and likelihood of confusion among prospective customers and/or purchasers of the services provided by plaintiffs,” the lawsuit reads.
“Defendants have harmed the goodwill of plaintiffs in the name and mark Blackstreet, causing immediate and irreparable harm to plaintiffs.”
Allhiphop
Gaza Slim surrenders to cops
DANCEHALL Deejay Gaza Slim has turned herself in to the police this afternoon.
The entertainer, whose real name is Vaessa Saddler, was named as a person of interest by the Constant Spring Police last week after she made a report that she was robbed by Clive 'Lizard' Williams, the man with whose murder Deejay Vybz Kartel, is charged.
The cops reportedly seized a cellular phone which contains a message instructing her to fabricate the report.
She faces a charge of perverting the course of justice and is set to be interrogated by detectives.
Gaza Slim walked in to the Constant Spring Police Station accompanied by her attorney.
Jamaica Observer
Hubert Sumlin, famed blues guitarist, dies at 80
Blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin, who played with Howlin' Wolf and inspired the likes of Eric Clapton, has died at the age of 80.
He was with Howlin' Wolf for the best part of 20 years - his guitar can be heard on tracks such as the 1956 hit, Smokestack Lightnin'.
Clapton and Rolling Stone Keith Richards appeared on one of Sumlin's solo albums, About Them Shoes, in 2004.
Richards called him "a gentleman of the first order".
He said in a statement: "With sorrow I received the news of Hubert's passing. He put up a long hard fight. To me he was an uncle and a teacher and all the guitar players must feel the same as myself.
"Warm, humorous and always encouraging, he was a gentleman of the first order."
Stones frontman Mick Jagger called him an "incisive yet delicate blues player".
Sumlin was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2008.
He was recently included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.
Sumlin was born in 1931 in Mississippi but was raised in Arkansas.
He met Howlin' Wolf as a teenager after sneaking into one of the blues legends gigs. They first recorded together in 1953.
Three tracks written and arranged by Chicago blues musician Willie Dixon appeared on Howlin' Wolf's self-titled 1962 album.
Back Door Man, Spoonful and The Red Rooster became more famous later on when they were covered by The Doors, Cream and the Rolling Stones respectively.
Critic Greil Marcus described the Howlin' Wolf album as "the finest of all Chicago blues albums".
Sumlin and Howlin' Wolf collaborated until the singer's death in 1976.
In a 1989 magazine interview, Sumlin said: "Hubert was Wolf, Wolf was Hubert. I got to where I knew what he wanted before he asked for it, because I could feel the man."
Jimi Hendrix was reportedly an admirer of Sumlin - he was said to have been influenced by Sumlin's use of distortion on recordings from the late 1950s.
The news of Sumlin's death was announced on his official website by his manager and friend, Toni Ann Mamary.
"Our dear friends… it is with a heavy heart that the worse has come to fruition. My little Hubert is living the life of a real angel. I'm overwhelmed with grief and so I really need to pull myself together," she wrote.
"I'll spend the rest of my days loving and cherishing all you are and were to me."
Davis Cup 2011: Rafael Nadal seals Davis Cup for Spain
Rafael Nadal beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in a thrilling match to secure the Davis Cup for Spain.
World number two Nadal lost six games in a row in the first set but came back superbly to win a high-class encounter 1-6 6-4 6-1 7-6 (7-0) in Seville.
The victory was his 16th successive win in Davis Cup singles on clay and gave the hosts an unassailable 3-1 lead.
However Nadal said his busy schedule, which includes the Olympics, meant he would not play Davis Cup in 2012.
His success secured Spain's fifth Davis Cup title and their third in four years, while Argentina have yet to win it.
"Today is one of the most emotional days of my career," said Nadal, 25, after winning the title for the third time.
"After such a difficult year, this was a spectacular finale to the season. To win a final this way is very special.
"We are very grateful to all the people of Spain. It was the best atmosphere I have experienced in my career.
"Next year I will not play. Next year is a very complex year. It's an Olympic year. I have been, for many years, one of the players that plays the highest number of games in a year, and I don't want to over play.
"So next year, since it's an Olympic year, my participation in the Davis Cup is impossible."
A strangely out-of-sorts Nadal broke Del Potro in the first game but his opponent battled his way back into the match and dominated the Spaniard's serve to take the opening set to the delight of the Argentine fans in the 28,000 Olympic Stadium.
However, Nadal's indomitable spirit helped him halt Del Potro's run and he took the second set with a typically aggressive display that was greeted by a huge roar from the home supporters.
The 10-time Grand Slam winner took the third set in commanding style and the result looked to be a formality with Del Potro, who lost a near five-hour epic to David Ferrer on the opening day, seemingly tiring.
But, as the tension grew with each point, the 11th-ranked Argentine dug deep and produced a series of magnificent winners to keep the tie alive, taking 10 points in a row and then breaking the Spaniard in the eighth game to give himself the chance to serve for the set.
However, amid increasing noise from the crowd, Nadal went on the attack and broke Del Potro's serve to level the set again.
Nadal broke his opponent again but Del Potro was not beaten yet and broke back immediately, firing a blistering forehand winner to take the set into a tie-break, in which the left-hander was unstoppable.
"On home clay they are probably one of the best teams in history," Argentina captain Tito Vazquez said after Spain stretched their record home winning streak to 21 series.
Del Potro left the court in tears for the second time in three days, having also let slip a lead in his five-set loss in his opening singles match.
"Both my colleagues and I must be happy that we have done a good job, not only in this tie but the whole Davis Cup," said 23-year-old Del Potro.
"We could fight Spain on home turf and we could feel that we could beat them.
"But beyond the defeat, I am particularly happy because of what the team gave me and what my colleagues gave me and their support so that I could play better."
LAST 10 DAVIS CUP WINNERS
2011: Spain bt Argentina 3-1
- 2010: Serbia bt France 3-2
- 2009: Spain bt Czech Rep 5-0
- 2008: Spain bt Argentina 3-1
- 2007: USA bt Russia 4-1
- 2006: Russia bt Argentina 3-2
- 2005: Croatia bt Slovakia 3-2
- 2004: Spain bt USA 3-2
- 2003: Australia bt Spain 3-1
- 2002: Russia bt France 3-2
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo & Xavi shortlisted for Ballon d'Or
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi have been named on a three-man shortlist for the prestigious Fifa Ballon d'Or.
Messi, 24, claimed the accolade in 2009 and 2010, while Barcelona team-mate Xavi, 31, was third in 2009 and 2010.
Real Madrid's Ronaldo, 26, triumphed in 2008 and was second in 2007 and 2009.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been nominated for Goal of the Year, while boss Sir Alex Ferguson is in contention for Coach of the Year.
Rooney has been nominated for his stunning overhead kick against Manchester City last season.
Also on the shortlist is Messi's clever chip and volley over Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the Champions League last 16 last season, along with Neymar's incredible solo effort for Santos against Flamengo in July.
Ferguson is up against Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho for the Coach of the Year award.
The 69-year-old Scot led United to a record 19th English championship - the 12th under his stewardship - as well as guiding the club to the Champions League final, where they lost 3-1 to Barcelona at Wembley.
Guardiola also steered Barca to success in La Liga, edging out Mourinho's Madrid, who gained some revenge by lifting the Copa del Rey with a 1-0 defeat of the Catalans in Valencia.
Argentina international Messi is the favourite to make it a hat-trick of Ballon d'Or wins after another stunning season for Barcelona, scoring 53 goals in all competitions.
"It's great to win individual awards, especially the prestigious ones, but what comes first for me is winning matches and titles." Messi said.
World Cup winner Xavi was the architect of many of Messi's goals, while Portuguese star Ronaldo also scored 53 times for Real Madrid as they finished second in La Liga, won the Copa del Rey and lost out to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals.
Ronaldo tweeted: "It's great to be again nominated as one of the Fifa Ballon d'Or final three contenders".
Brazil's Marta will be looking for a sixth consecutive Women's Player of the Year award but faces competition from Japan's Homare Sawa and American Abby Wambach.
The Fifa Ballon d'Or is voted for by journalists and the coaches and captains of international teams.
The award winners will be announced on 9 January in Zurich.
Jamaican duo moves up in world rankings
Jamaicans Charles Pyne and Gareth Henry have moved up the standings in the latest world badminton rankings, released last week.
Pyne, who was a quarter-finalist at the recent Suriname International singles championship, has jumped from 131 to 115.
Pyne defeated Irfan Djabar of Suriname 21-19, 21-13 in round one, then put out the second seed Rodrigo Pacheco of Peru 13-21, 21-19, 21-18 in round two.
However, he lost out to Alistair Casey of Scotland in a very close match. Pyne won the first game of that quarter-final 21-14 before losing the next two 21-16, 27-25.
On the other hand, Henry's advance was more moderate as he moved up four places to 154 in the world, after having a second-round loss in that same tournament. Henry's loss was to Virgil Soeroredjo of Suriname - 22-20, 21-12 - after getting a first round bye.
The two will next play the Yonex Canadian International Challenge, which will be staged from December 13 to 17.
Rivers, Chargers gouge reeling Jaguars, 38-14
No matter how many interceptions he threw, no matter how many turnovers he committed, Philip Rivers refused to play it safe.
He knew things would change.
They finally did. On "Monday Night Football" no less, and with his San Diego Chargers in the deepest of holes.
Rivers threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, burning Jacksonville's depleted secondary early and often, and the Chargers beat the Jaguars 38-14 to snap a six-game losing streak.
The Chargers (5-7) had been waiting for the three-time Pro Bowl selection to return to form. Some questioned whether it would happen this season. But Rivers never lost faith even though he leads the NFL in interceptions (17) and turnovers (21) and was a key part of the team's disappointing slide.
"It's been a rough six weeks," Rivers said. "I haven't put a complete game together, but I don't care about the numbers. I just want to win."
Rivers was nearly perfect against Jacksonville (3-9), adding to the team's tumultuous week.
He completed 22 of 28 passes - hooking up with Vincent Brown , Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd for long scores - before sitting out the final few minutes. Rivers finished with a 146.1 QB rating, by far his highest of the season.
The Chargers scored on five of their first six drives, then sent most of the home crowd scrambling for the exits with Ryan Mathews ' 31-yard TD run in the fourth. Mathews ran 13 times for 112 yards.
"That's the type of chemistry coming into this season we knew we had," tight end Antonio Gates said. "We stayed on course despite what we've been through these last six weeks. That we were able to get a win tonight speaks volumes for this team."
It was a much-needed victory for a team that trails Denver and Oakland by two games in the AFC West with four to play.
And it was another blow to the Jaguars, who endured the most sweeping changes in the 17-year history of the franchise last week.
Team owner Wayne Weaver fired coach Jack Del Rio and announced he was selling the club to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. Interim coach Mel Tucker fired receivers coach Johnny Cox, reassigned quarterbacks coach Mike Sheppard and waived starting receiver Jason Hill .
The moves seemed to invigorate a franchise that had seemingly gone stale in Del Rio's ninth season. Fans showed up energized for a prime-time game that signaled the start of a new era. Some wore "Yes We Khan" T-shirts. Other donned fake mustaches to emulate the owner-in-waiting.
It made little difference on the field, mostly because Jacksonville's defensive injuries proved too much to overcome.
The Jaguars played without their top three cornerbacks - Rashean Mathis , Derek Cox and Will Middleton - and lost safety Dwight Lowery (shoulder) and defensive end John Chick (knee) during the game.
"No excuses here," Tucker said. "We won't allow ourselves to go down that road."
Rivers took advantage of the injuries, picking on a pair of cornerbacks who were signed off the street in recent weeks.
Rivers threw a 22-yard TD pass to Brown and a 35-yarder to Jackson on the final two drives of the first half as the Chargers overcame a brief deficit to seize control. Those scores came in the final 2:32 of the half.
The opening drive of the third quarter didn't take long, either. On the fifth play, Rivers found Floyd deep down the right sideline for a 52-yard score. Floyd, activated Monday night after missing six games with a hip injury, beat Ashton Youboty badly on the play. Floyd finished with four receptions for 108 yards.
"He's just an outstanding player," Chargers coach Norv Turner said of Rivers. "Like any quarterback, it starts with protection, with the guys up front. He's missed Malcom. We've missed Malcom. When Philip has all his guys, and he can operate like he did today, he's as good as anybody."
It was the second TD given up by Youboty, who was replaced on the next possession by Morgan Trent , signed five days ago.
The biggest cheer for the Jaguars came late in the third quarter, when Weaver was shown on the stadium's large video board. Weaver and his wife received a standing ovation.
The $760 million sale must be approved by the NFL later this month. Khan chose not to attend the game, which turned out to be a good move.
"I don't think anyone has been through anything like that," said Maurice Jones-Drew, who finished with 188 total yards. "This is a $9 billion business. Other than that, we played football. We've got to figure out how to keep going for four quarters and not two."
Jones-Drew was the lone offensive star for Jacksonville - again. He finished with 97 yards rushing and 91 yards receiving. He leads the NFL in rushing with 1,137 yards.
MJD caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Blaine Gabbert to cap a 79-yard drive at the start of the second quarter. The Jaguars managed only 27 yards in the opening quarter.
After a three-and-out by the Chargers, Gabbert and Drew hooked up on a 48-yard shovel pass. It was a beautifully executed play, with Gabbert flicking the ball five yards with his left hand to Drew, who had the middle of the field all to himself and ran down to the 4-yard line.
Chargers cornerback Antoine Cason broke up a potential touchdown pass to Jarett Dillard , but on third-and-goal from the 5, Gabbert found Cecil Shorts in the back corner of the end zone to give the Jaguars a 14-10 lead.
It was all San Diego after that, mostly due to Rivers.
West Indies stay alive
West Indies kept their five-match series with India alive when they beat the hosts by 16 runs in the third one-day international here yesterday.
Defending 260 for five off their 50 overs, the Caribbean side made key strikes at crucial moments late in the contest at the Sardar Patel Stadium to limit India to 244 all out off 46.5 overs.
Rohit Sharma seemed to be carrying India towards their third consecutive win, but he was brilliantly run out by captain Darren Sammy in the 44th over to swing the pendulum the West Indies' way.
Man of the Match Ravi Rampaul claimed four for 57, including two wickets in the second over of the innings that left India reeling at eight for two.
He returned to break a worrying last-wicket stand of 28, removing Abhimanyu Mithun for 23 and sealing victory for the Windies.
The tourists had earlier got 58 from Marlon Samuels, but it was a whirlwind unbroken 79-run, sixth-wicket stand off 46 balls between Sammy and the exciting all-rounder André Russell, that injected life into the West Indies innings.
Losing their way at 181 for five, Sammy blasted 41 from a mere 17 balls and Russell added 40 from 18 balls, as they spectacularly added 73 runs from the last five overs.
Sammy clobbered five fours and two sixes, while Russell matched him blow for blow, counting four fours and two sixes.
Asked to bat first, West Indies were off to a bad start losing in-form opener Lendl Simmons (1) to a catch behind in the day's third over.
Samuels then added 40 with Danza Hyatt (20) and put on another 55 with Darren Bravo before the left-hander retired hurt on 26 in the 26th over.
The right-handed Samuels hit five fours and a six off 93 balls, but was bowled by off-spinner Ravi Ashwin, backing away to give himself room to hit through the off-side in the 34th over.
Denesh Ramdin (38) and Kieron Pollard (29) posted 55 for the fourth wicket but were out in consecutive overs, paving the way for Sammy and Russell to blast West Indies out of trouble.
India had a bad start again with Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir both falling for first-ball ducks to Rampaul.
Sehwag was caught at the wicket slashing, while the left-handed Gambhir offered no stroke and was plumb lbw.
Opener Parthiv Patel (39) and Virat Kohli (20) repaired the innings with a 25-run, third-wicket partnership, but the in-form Kohli became the first of debutant off-spinner Sunil Narine's (2-34) two wickets when he was lbw in the ninth over.
Possible victory
Patel's dismissal at 79 for four in the 15th over sparked a slide which saw India lose three wickets for 26 runs to fall to 105 for six.
Sharma, who faced 100 balls and hit 10 fours and a six, then added 91 for the next wicket with Ashwin (31), to rescue India from collapse and put them in sight of a possible victory.
Ashwin became Narine's second wicket while Vinay Kumar (3) was bowled by pacer Kemar Roach, as West Indies hit back.
The match was turned on its head moments later when Sharma was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Sammy at mid on and the last-wicket fireworks were merely temporary.
SCOREBOARD
WEST INDIES
L Simmons c wkp Patel b Vinay Kumar 1
| D Hyatt c wkp Patel b Mithun | 20 |
| M Samuels b Ashwin | 58 |
| D Bravo ret hurt | 26 |
| +D Ramdin c wkp Patel b Yadav 3 | 8 |
| K Pollard c Jadeja b Vinay Kumar | 29 |
| A Russell not out | 40 |
| D Sammy not out | 41 |
| Extras (lb2, w5) | 7 |
| TOTAL (5 wkts, 50 overs) | 260 |
Did not bat: K Roach, R Rampaul, S Narine.
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Simmons, 2.4 overs), 2-42 (Hyatt, 13.1), 2-97(Bravo, ret not out, 26), 3-122 (Samuels, 33.4), 4-177 (Ramdin, 43.5), 5-181 (Pollard, 44.2).
Bowling: Vinay Kumar 8-1-39-2, Yadav 9-1-75-1, Mithun 7-0-47-1, Jadeja 10-1-37-0, Ashwin 10-0-33-1, Raina 6-0-27-0.
INDIA
| +P Patel b Samuels | 39 |
| V Sehwag c wkp Ramdin b Rampaul | 0 |
| G Gambhir lbw b Rampaul | 0 |
| V Kohli lbw b Narine | 20 |
| R Sharma run out | 95 |
| S Raina c wkp Ramdin b Rampaul | 2 |
| R Jadeja run out | 11 |
| R Ashwin lbw b Narine | 31 |
| R Vinay Kumar b Roach | 3 |
| A Mithun lbw b Rampaul | 23 |
| U Yadav not out | 11 |
| Extras (b1, lb2, w3, nb3) | 9 |
TOTAL (all out; 46.5 overs) 244
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Sehwag, 1.1 overs), 2-8 (Gambhir, 1.2), 3-43 (Kohli, 8.2), 4-79 (Patel, 15), 5-84 (Raina, 16), 6-105 (Jadeja, 20.5), 7-196 (Ashwin, 40), 8-200 (Vinay Kumar, 41.3), 9-216 (Sharma, 43.4), 10-244 (Mithun, 46.5).
Bowling: Roach 10-0-54-1, Rampaul 8.5-1-57-4, Narine 10-0-34-2, Samuels 10-0-50-1, Russell 4-0-25-0, Sammy 1-0-7-0, Simmons 2-0-10-0, Pollard 1-0-4-0.
Result: West Indies won by 16 runs.
Series: India lead five-match series 2-1.
Man of the Match: Ravi Rampaul.
Toss: India.
Umpires: S Asnani, A Hill; TV - V. Kulkarni.
CARICOM concern over plot
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Monday expressed concern over reports of an alleged plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and senior members of her cabinet.
“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) views with deep concern, the disclosure of an assassination plot against the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and some members of her Cabinet.
“CARICOM is relieved to know that this criminal plot was thwarted and commends the security forces of Trinidad and Tobago for their vigilance,” said CARICOM Chairman, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
Dr. Douglas, who is also the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, said that the “plot disclosed by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago runs completely counter to the norms and mores of our societies and is strongly condemned.
“The Community expresses its solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, as the country moves beyond this threat to the security of the leadership of the State and continues to play its leading role in the Region’s integration movement,” Dr. Douglas said in a statement.
Law enforcement authorities in Trinidad and Tobago Monday confirmed that there has been insufficient evidence to link the 17 men, including a senior police officer, to the alleged plot.
Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley has said that Prime Minister Persad Bissessar “must prove that the hysteria she caused in this country for no good reason was justified”.
Nation news
IDs for new voters tomorrow
VOTER identification cards for the new electors who were added to the November 30 voters list, should be ready for distribution to constituency offices by tomorrow.
Public Education Officer at the Electoral Office, Christin Senior, said the office is currently printing and packaging the identification cards for distribution to the offices.
“Several of them have already been printed and they have been sent out by regions to the constituency offices, but we hope to begin officially distributing them by Wednesday,” Senior said.
Last week, the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EoJ) published its latest voters list of 1,648,036 million, of which there are 41,607 new electors.
For persons who were on the voters list prior to the publication of the November 30 list (those who were added on or before May 31, 2011) those ID cards are also available for collection.
“About a month ago at our last check, we had 300,000 ID cards that were yet to be collected,” Senior said.
She said the ID cards “must be collected by the (owner) at the constituency office where you are registered. You cannot send somebody for it; it is not delivered by mail or anything like that. You have to sign for it and we will also verify that the information is correct and we will also verify your identity.”
In terms of voting on election day, Senior explained that if voters do not have their ID card they will still be allowed to vote once their name is on the voters list and their identity can be verified.
Jamaicans will go to the polls on Thursday, December 29.
Jamaica Observer