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| by kenn on 3/21/2005 04:12:00 PM |
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Associate Ty Ty a fugitive; R. Kelly hires P.I.; Def Jam signings.
Source:
 *“Page Six” reports that Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, the associate of Jay-Z accused of macing R. Kelly at Madison Square Garden last October, is reportedly on the lam from authorities after skipping a court date to face criminal charges.
Smith, who works for Jay-Z at Def Jam records, was due to be arraigned in December for the incident, but never showed up to court.
"To go on the run from a misdemeanor assault seems like he's trying to avoid being a witness in the civil case," Kelly's lawyer Ed Hayes told the column.
Kelly claims in a $75 million civil lawsuit that his attack was instigated by Jay-Z to force him off their joint tour. Last month, Jay-Z countersued, charging that the tour was a "nightmarish odyssey fueled by R. Kelly's financial woes, insecurities, unsafe and unpredictable behavior." Kelly's suit was termed a "calculated stunt to deflect attention from his upcoming felony trial involving an alleged sexual liaison with a 14-year-old child."
According to “Page Six,” Kelly has recently hired a private investigator to dig up dirt on Jigga, and insiders say it may give his business associates — who include Universal Music chief Doug Morris (who hired Jay-Z to run Def Jam) and Jay-Z's partner in the New Jersey Nets, Bruce Ratner — something to think about.
"R. Kelly is the victim here," a source told the column. "They scared the guy to death."
Speaking of Def Jam, Young Hov told MTV about the new artists he has already signed to the label, including 17-year-old Detroit native Tierra Marie, who will be executive produced by Sean Garrett ("Goodies," "Yeah!," "Lose My Breath"). Marie’s debut album will drop via Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam in the spring.
Jay-Z has also signed 16-year-old Barbados-based Rihanna, who will be produced by Vada Nobles (“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”). Her first single will be "Pon de Replay."
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