Week one of the trial against PLIES wraps up with the rapper finally taking the stand. His testimony was revealing, bringing out facts about his upbringing: high-school homecoming king, best dressed student and a full-ride scholarship to Miami of Ohio University to play football. Attorneys show that there’s two sides to the man who calls himself PLIES.

Florida rapper Plies was associated in a shooting that occurred back in 2006, during his performance in Gainesville, Florida. The incident that left five audience members injured has found the rapper profiting off the injuries, according to two civil suits against him five years later.

In early reports, Plies’ brother Ronell Levatte and two other men fired shots in Gainesville’s 283 West nightclub. The shots were not aimed at anyone in particular. Plies testified in court last week, stating he was not affiliated with his brother or the other two parties guilty of the charge.

Plies currently faces $10 million civil suit, which is the second of two against him over the incident. The first was issued in February 2010, but a court judge dismissed the case in July 2010, reasoning that the rapper did not have any involvement because he did not fire the weapon.

But after seven days of testimony, Plies and his brother were found civilly liable for the shooting. The victims will be rewarded $200,000 total. The defense plans to file several motions that may lead to an appeal of the decision. --

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Plies was scheduled to perform at VH1's 2010 'Hip Hop Honors' -- which was filmed in NYC on Thursday night (June 3) -- but the Florida rapper decided to bail in favor of a meet-and-greet with his fans. Enthusiasm for the televised event has been lukewarm at best. Several artists and potential honorees -- including Scarface, Uncle Luke and Tony Draper -- have opted out of attendance at the annual show, explaining that they were offended by this year's 'Dirty South' theme.

Plies told AllHipHop that the show wasn't his priority. "I had to make a choice between personally meeting with my fans during my album promo tour or performing at the VH1 'Hip Hop Honors' and the choice was easy -- fans come first," Plies said.

The rapper broke no sweat about canceling his performance, promising that he would make up for it with the launch of his U.S. tour later this summer, following the June 8 release of his album 'Goon Affiliated.'

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In a move made to possibly distance themselves from the travesty that is Plies, elected officials in Fort Myers, Florida are attempting to ban Hip-Hop music in many popular city venues.
Spearheaded by Councilman Warren Wright with backing from Mayor Ready Henderson, the move would effectively and immediately make it a crime to play Hip-Hop music at any event or within any concert hall.
Using an age old argument, one that would have people think Hip-Hop and violence go hand and hand, the idea is gaining momentum among Fort Myers' geriatric community.
Never one to silence himself, Mayor Henderson remarked on his disdain of the seemingly immortal musical art form that to local press, revealing just how far he is willing to fight the genre.

But That Let Marilyn Manson Do This, And He Has Swine Flu

The ‘We’re From America’ rocker has been officially diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, although he does not have a life-threatening case and is expected to make a speedy recovery.

Joking about his diagnosis on his MySpace Celebrity blog, he wrote: “So I have officially been diagnosed, by a real doctor, with THE SWINE FLU.

“I know everyone will suggest that f***ing a pig is how this disease was obtained.

“However, the doctor said my past choices in women have in no way contributed to me acquiring this mysterious sickness. Unfortunately, I am going to survive. M [sic]”

Manson isn't the only celebrity to have been diagnosed with the potentially fatal disease, which originated in Mexico and has the symptoms of a heavy cold.
‘Harry Potter' actor Rupert Grint - who plays Ron Weasley in the hit wizard film franchise - thought he was going to die when he contracted the highly contagious disease.

He said: "It was quite scary when I first found out I had swine flu. I thought, 'Am I going to die?' But it was just like any other flu really. I had a sore throat and I went to bed for a few days."

Kasabian singer Tom Meighan was rushed to hospital in Sydney, Australia, where he was diagnosed with the virus.

A day later, his bandmates guitarist Serge Pizzorno, bassist Chris Edwards and drummer Ian Matthews were left bedridden after coming down with the same symptoms.

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