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Legendary Hip-Hop co-founder DJ Kool Herc is joining forces with US Senator Charles Schumer and residents of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue to unveil a tenant-sponsored plan to buy the affordable housing project.

The location, which is noted for being the birthplace of Hip-Hop, is currently on the auction block as it stands to lose its affordable housing program when its owners, BSR Management, sell the project to a private investment group.

Since receiving notice of BSR’s plans in February 2007, tenants have been actively working to preserve the cultural and affordable character of the building.

The cause received a boost later that year as 1520 Sedgwick officially became eligible for listing on the State and National Register of Historic Places as the official birthplace of Hip-Hop in July.

Last month, 1520 Sedgwick residents received another glimmer of hope when BSR offered to step out of the deal and let residents purchase the project.

Despite the gesture, residents may have an uphill battle in obtaining the property.

Preservation sales are difficult due to the inflated value of real estate throughout New York City.

1520 Sedgwick Avenue is held in high regard among Hip-Hop purists. In 1973, DJ Kool Herc laid groundwork for the invention of Hip-Hop during a party in the 100-unit apartment complex’ community room.

In addition to birthing Hip-Hop culture, 1520 Sedgwick Avenue is one of the few remaining affordable housing complexes in the West Bronx created through the NY State Mitchell-Lama program.

The City of New York is doing its part to help preserve the project by assisting the tenants with the preservation proposal.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) have tentatively committed several million dollars in subsidy to advance the tenants’ plan.

The 1520 Sedgwick Avenue tenants, along with Schumer and DJ Kool Herc, will reveal their financial and long term ownership plan for the preservation of the project at a press conference.

The event will take place today at 9:45 am Tuesday (January 15) in the 1520 Sedgwick Avenue community room.

Rapper Remy Ma has been slapped with an $80 million civil suit filed Wednesday (Jan. 9) from a former friend that maintains the artist shot her.

The suit comes one day before Remy Ma was to appear in court for pretrial proceedings, according to a report in the Village Voice.

Makeda Barnes-Joseph charges that Remy shot her twice in the abdomen on July 14, for allegedly stealing $2,000.

Universal Music Group and Sure Shot Recordings are are also named in the suit for helping cultivate Remy’s image.

Joseph’s attorney Lauren P. Raysor issued a statement to the Voice, which said, “Only by pursuing those who we believe are legally responsible for this vicious and callous act of violence, can we hope to put an end to this senseless cycle of violence that is glorified by Hip-Hop marketing.”

The wounds Joseph sustained from the shooting have resulted in three surgeries and frequent hospital visits.

Remy Ma’s lawyer said that the suit shows Joseph’s true motivation. Remy’s attorney Ivan Fischer told reporter Chloé A. Hilliard, “It strikes me that this is part of a publicity stunt. The claims she makes are inaccurate. She reaches into every conceivable deep pocket...It’s grossly irresponsible.”

This suit is an upgrade from a similar suit levied last month in the sum of $20 million.

Remy Ma has proclaimed in innocence in the shooting case.

(Allhiphop) Compton, CA rapper The Game appeared in L.A. County Superior Court today (January 9) stemming from charges that he assaulted a man and pulled a gun on him during a game of basketball.

The rapper previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. Today, the rapper appeared in court, where a judge set a trial date of February 4.

Lawyers for The Game also claim that the LAPD has refused to give back $44,000 dollars that was confiscated during a May 2007 raid of the rapper’s Glendale, California home.

The Game, born Jayceon Taylor, is accused of assaulting a rival player during a game of pickup basketball at the Rita Walters Educational Learning Complex in South Los Angeles.

Police accuse the rapper of punching the man and pulling a gun on him during the incident.

In May, LAPD officers searched The Game's house seeking evidence in connection with the altercation when they confiscated the $44,000 dollars.

More controversy followed shortly after the raid, when footage hit the internet showing The Game counting $3,000 in a county jail holding tank, while flashing gang signs.

The footage resulted in an internal investigation by the LAPD, who reportedly disciplined an unnamed officer for leaking the footage on the Internet.

The judge also set a hearing for January 22, where he will decide if the LAPD is in contempt of court for refusing to return the cash.

In related news, The Game is currently in the recording studio, putting the final touches on his album, which is reportedly titled LAX.

The Associated Press reports that Sigel was ordered to serve one day in federal prison and six months in a halfway house, after he was found guilty on Wednesday (Jan. 8) of a second probation violation for taking a trip to Atlantic City, N.J.

U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick also found the rapper (born Dwight Grant) guilty of being in contact with a convicted felon.

As a result, Sigel’s probation, which was originally set to end next month, was extended by 18 months.

The sentence is the latest setback for Sigel, who has been at the center of various legal situations in recent years.

The rapper, who spent a year in federal prison on a gun charge, was later acquitted of attempted murder in September 2005, a month after being released.

Later that same year, he was jailed briefly for failing to pay $27,000 in child support.

In 2006, Sigel continued to stay in the eyes of the law, when he told police he was shot by men who surrounded him and stole his cash and jewelry.

Last year, a federal judge extended Sigel's supervised release amid allegations that he violated parole.