50 Pleads Innocent*

50 Cent pleaded not guilty to assault charges stemming from an alleged incident at a concert.

Steve Leary, the lawyer for the rapper, entered the plea Monday in Springfield District Court, said James Orenstein, first assistant district attorney for Hampden County.

50 Cent didn't appear in court.

At a concert in Springfield in May, Jackson allegedly jumped into the crowd after someone threw or squirted water at him. Three women were injured. After an investigation and a hearing last month, a clerk magistrate decided there was probable cause for assault and battery charges.

50 Cent, who lives in Farmington, Conn., is scheduled to appear for a pretrial conference February 8th.

Vibe Awards

LL Cool J is set to host the 2004 Vibe Awards with model Tyra Banks next week.

UPN will broadcast the second annual Vibe Awards on Tuesday, November 16th. Game , 50 Cent, DJ Quik , Mary J. Blige, Eve, Missy Elliott, OutKast, Ludacris, and Chingy have been confirmed to perform.

During the show, Dr. Dre will receive the Vibe Legend Award. The two-hour special event will air Tuesday, November 16th (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

To peep the list of nominees...CLICK HERE.

U-God, Cuban Connect With Don King**

New tracks by Wu-Tang Clan member U-God and Bronx bred rapper Cuban Link will be featured on a 30 minute preview show produced by Don King, in anticipation of a highly anticipated boxing card this weekend.

King is promoting the card this weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York. WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz will face Andrew Golota, IBF champion Chris Byrd will defend his crown against Jameel McCline; Hasim Rahman will take on Kali Meehan and Evander Holyfield will take on Larry Donald.

The preview show features the two current and two former world heavyweight champions that will slug it out Saturday (November 13th).

The music will be combined with the “strife of heavyweight champions” the preview show seeks to capture.

“I love to see talent, promote it and watch it blossom,” Don King said. “A wise Chinese man once said 'to see things in the seed, that is genius.' This is great promotion for the artists and good marketing for the fighters and I'm pleased and proud that Don King Productions is now producing these shows and taking more active control of how our fighters are promoted and building a fan base for these tremendously talented warriors, athletes and musicians all of whom are fighters from the womb to the tomb."

Just as Don King is taking control of his business, U-God is doing the same with the launch of a new record label.

"This allows me to express my music,” U-God said. “I have my own style which I want to bring to the Hip Hop community. Independence is the only way I can control my own destiny. I don't need anyone's approval for any moves I want to make. I can make a decision and roll."

Cuban Link expressed his pleasure being involved with the fight and expressed that he had a deeper connection to the evening’s event.

"I'm a big fan of John Ruiz," Cuban Link said. "I saw him when he took the belt from [Evander] Holyfield to become the first Latino world heavyweight champion-and that was history. Writing for boxing is easy for me because from the age of 17 to 21, I wanted to be a boxer and me and Pun would always talk about that. When I spit my lyrics, I think I'm going into the ring. I wrote that song for Ruiz and that's for him for forever."

Also featured on the preview show will be Tomeka, a New Orleans native signed to Evander Holyfield’s Real Deal Records.

Credits: Associated Press*/ AllHipHop**