Busta Rhymes Hip Hop Video Shooting

A bodyguard for Busta Rhymes was shot dead during a star-studded video shoot in New York.

Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes and G-Unit members including Lloyd Banks were scheduled to be filming on a ninth-floor soundstage in Brooklyn on Sunday (02.05.06) when trouble started.

Police Sergeant Kevin Farrell said the bodyguard, 29-year-old Israel Ramirez - a longer time member of the rapper's entourage - was killed with a single shot to the chest.

According to witnesses and the police, the shooting may have been the result of a dispute that began inside the building involving members of the film crew and a group of men who were interfering with the video shoot.

A crew member told The New York Times that the row began when the men ignored repeated requests to keep quiet.

He said:

"Words were exchanged, and they were not happy words."

More than 500 people were gathered for the Busta Rhymes video, and it was unclear how many were outside when shots were fired.





More info via NY Post

The married Brooklyn resident with three sons was just two days shy of his 30th birthday.

"We're still stunned," said a cousin of Ramirez outside of the Upper West Side home of the dead man's mother. "Give us a little time."

Ramirez's ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Hires, said she had to break the news of his death to their 5-year-old son, Styles.

"When I told him, he said, 'Why did God take my father away?' " Hires said. "I need someone to answer."

Cops recovered a 9mm handgun that had been tossed over a fence near the shooting scene, as well as at least eight spent 9mm shells.

They took footage that had been shot for the video and were looking into whether security cameras outside the studio had captured the murder.

But they said their probe was hampered by the fact that they were having trouble contacting Rhymes, as well as 50 others they believe were at the studio when the shooting occurred.

Janet Jackson’s New Motto

Janet Jackson has been working out overtime to get her body back into shape by spring/summer for her new album.

The back of her T-shirt says, "You are what you eat, so eat good stuff."

Isn't that always so easy to say?

Regardless, Janet has lost a good amount of weight. Go Janet.






Obvious weight loss here (picture on right from January 13th.)



Wow! She doesn't look this heavy at all anymore and in just a few weeks.