In response to comments by Senator Trent Lott (R-Mississippi) the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network calls upon President George W. Bush to ask for Senator Lott's resignation from the United States Senate.

On two occasions, Senator Lott has publicly endorsed Strom Thurmond's (R-South Carolina) segregationist policies. Last week at a birthday party for Senator Thurmond, Mr. Lott said: "I want say this about my State: When Strom Thurmond ran for President, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) stated: "President Bush should take immediate action to stop Trent Lott from being the Senate Majority leader. Lott's comments expose deep-seated racial prejudice and our Nation deserves better quality leadership."

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of the HSAN added: "Strom Thurmond ran for President in 1948 as a staunch segregationist, and for Trent Lott in 2002 to express support for a Presidential candidate at that time running on a policy based on bigotry and hatred is an insult to human dignity. We in the Hip-Hop community are opposed to all forms of racial segregation.

A few years back, Jermaine Dupri made everyone look when he hooked up with Jay-Z and rocked the song 'Money Ain't A Thing'. he accentuated that point a couple of years later when he announced that on his new album Instructions that he was gonna be an even bigger baller and accentuate his riches even more. I'm not sure if he was uttering those words when the IRS came raiding his house the other day where there confiscated computers, cars, furniture and everything else of value.

According to Uncle Sam, JD's attitude of 'Money Ain't A Thing' got out of hand and he forgot to pay his taxes to the tune of almost 3 million dollars. Hence the IRS came a took his stuff. Dupri on the other hand is claiming there's some sort of accounting mix up and he doesn't owe that much... I guess we'll know in a couple of weeks when all this paper work gets straightened out.

Sad news for Universal Zulu Nation spokesman TC Izlam lost everything including his dog, memorabilia, Hip Hop artifacts, recording equipment, vinyl etc in a horrific fire that engulfed his New Jersey home this past weekend. Despite the loss Izlam is ok and trying to make plans to regain what he's lost although it will be difficult. If anyone is in a position and is down to help reach out to TC via Sammy Kane..1104 Washington st #7, Hoboken NJ 07030.. he's in need of funds, equipment etc.. We hope he can land back on his feet.. God knows what a set back a fire can be when you lose everything.

Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine was on Connie Chung's 'Tonight' show the other night where he claims that Sony Music's head honcho Tommy Mottola called out Murder Inc mogul Irv Gotti. According to Jackson Mottola called Gotti a 'big fat black nigger'. Now I know there's a number of you reading this who are scratching your head wondering if Mottola called him a 'Big Phat Black Nigga' [note the spelling of Phat and Nigga] or if he said it the way I first printed it.. Afterall, nowadays we have all sorts of cats who like to play mind games with themselves and claim that the spelling of the N word makes a difference. 'Nigga' is supposedly friendly while 'Nigger' is harmful and racist. I'll say it again for the record-That's totally ridiculous...

Any case there's been no response from Mottola, although I'm sure there will be lots of industry types ranging from Russell Simmons to Ricky Martin who will come to his aid and deny any wrong doing as they did earlier this year when Michael Jackson levied charges of racism against the music mogul. If this did go down and what Jermaine Jackson is saying is true, do you think Irv and the Murder Inc fam will go after Mottola they way they went after DMX? Now thats a battle I'm waiting to hear and see.

Since were on the subject, who will go after Bill O'Reilly? That's the pompous idiot who every couple of weeks picks a rap artist to go after. The latest artist in his scope is Jay-Z who was recently profiled on '60 Minutes'. This time O'Reilly has problems with all the schools who embraced Jay-Z and had him come to their schools and serve as principal for a day. This was part of Jigga's tour where he not only served as a principal but held high school assemblies. Say what you want about Jay-Z and I've had my share of criticisms from time to time, dude was not in the schools telling the kids to do something foul. He's an iconic figure who kids admire... Perhaps they will listen to him and stay in school if he stresses the importance of education.. Wasn't the 'Terminator' Arnold Schwartznegger in school the other day.. Most kids know him for his violent action movies.. Arnold doesn't walk into school with a gun and start 'terminating' people.. and Jay-Z who is a grown man is not going to go to a high school with a gun, smoking a joint and being inappropriate. There's a time and place for everything. We complain that the artist aren't giving back and showing up for the kids. Well damn that's what Jigga did..He showed up and represented... What's O'Reilly's beef?

Anyway maybe Jigga will hook up with Nas and they both go after Bill and shut 'em down..but I gotta be honest at this point in time I have to say this.. The dopest MC for 2002 was Bill O'Reilly. He's been stepping up the mic all year long and blasting cats left and right. He's been shutting cats down left and right and there's been no audible response from the cats he targets. I mean I don't agree with dude, but damn what else can I say? He's been on the air issuing challenges.. He's been calling cats out telling them to step on up to his show and he'll slap them something silly. He's been taking money out of cat's pocket and totally rearranging the game. Man he even shut cats down when he went on Ed Lover and Dr Dre's show on Power 105. He controlled the interview and it was their show! My question is 'Who's Next'? You can't deny his skillz... He hasn't lost a battle yet. Maybe Mobb Deep should re-record the song 'Shook Ones' and let O'Reilly kick a verse cause he definitely got cats shook...

As folks are still dealing with the tragic death of Jam Master Jay , DMC is putting the final touches on his soon to be released solo album 'Checks, Thugs and Rock 'n' Roll'. On that offering will be a tribute song called 'I'm Missing My Friend'. If all goes well this will be released as a 12" single that will be out before year's end. DMC states that he wants the proceeds to go to Jay's family. DMC noted that he wants to make sure that Jay's kids have enough money to go to college. Whatever money he donates will go along ways considering that the IRS and NY's Taxman have no intention of easing up on the huge debt that JMJ left behind.

On a side note, more and more cats are running into some serious money woes as of late... The plight facing JD and JMJ are just the latest and most visible, but there a number of other cats who are in dire straights. All this week on our Hard Knock Radio Show we've been doing shows focusing on money and money management. Today E-40 will be blessing our airwaves. He will explain the importance of not buying an 85 thousand dollar car before you buy a house.

Several months ago E-40 sat down and explained how one can purchase 3 houses for the amount of a fancy expensive car. 40 who is somewhat a financial wiz will be on to break down the science and art of handling your mail. Also joining us on Hard Knock Radio on Friday will be Paris. For those who don't know Paris graduated with a degree in economics and has managed to set himself and his family up for life.. If you're not in the Bay Area or can't get our signal 94.1 FM check out our show on the web kpfa.org.. Hard Knock Radio airs every afternoon at 4pm Cali time.

With the death of JMJ folks are wondering if this will be one rap tragedy that actually gets solved. We haven't heard a whole lot of updates in the news as of late. But there's been a few prominent theories floating around. My folks over at Allhiphop.com who have been monitoring this case recently unearthed the following scenario....

According to sources, investigators are checking possible links to Jam Master Jay's business partner, Randy Allen and his sister, Lydia.

Sources told AllHipHop.com that the several men in the studio knew that Jam Master Jay was going to be shot on October 30th. Michael Bonds, Urieco "Pretty Tony" Rincon and Lydia were all present when Jam Master Jay was gunned down as he sat playing a video game.

"How Lydia could open the door for someone she doesn't know is beyond me," the source said. "All of these people that were present were Randy Allen's people."

Lydia Allen was also the bookkeeper for Jam Master Jay's JMJ Recordings.

Randy Allen, who recently returned from Hawaii, also allegedly withdrew money from a bank account that he and Jam Master Jay shared and was allegedly looking for new recording studio space in Manhattan just days after JMJ was gunned down.

The source also stated that Allen sent Jay's nephew, who was also a member of the group Rusty Waters, to the barber shop minutes before Jay was gunned down. "I don't think he [the nephew] had anything to do with it," sources told AllHipHop.com. "He had nothing but love for Jam Master Jay."

Police have not been able to locate Allen's sister Lydia, since Jam Master Jay's funeral. According to the source, Randy Allen relocated Lydia and his brother Teddy Allen to an undisclosed location in Los Angeles with another sister, Lisa.

The theory is that Allen knew of a possible beef between Jam Master Jay and Curtis Scoon, the original suspect in the shooting. Scoon's beef with Jay may have been exploited to make it appear that the shooting was the result of tension between the two men.

The source also discounted a connection between Scoon and another man, who allegedly served as a lookout named Tenard. The source said that Scoon and Tenard have a well documented beef.

Tenard was also living with Jam Master Jay's sister in a property he owned in Hollis, Queens, shortly before Jay was gunned down. According to sources, Jay took issue with Tenard living in the property and requested that he leave, which may explain why authorities are investigating Tenard's possible role in the shooting.

"I doubt that Tenard had anything to do it with, although he is definitely capable. I think that Randy and other men present at the studio were involved."

"All I know is this. These guys in the studio knew it was going down," one source told AllHipHop.com. "If you won't talk to the cops and you won't handle it on the street, then you had something to do with it, period."...

You got further questions drop them a line at editorial@allhiphop.com