Entertainment Briefs

Busta Rhymes’ Jeep Shot Up Before Grammy Awards
Busta Rhymes almost missed the much-anticipated Clive Davis pre-Grammy Award party Friday night after his SUV was shot up by an unidentified gunman. The rapper, who was nominated for an award was not in the vehicle at the time. 
Six bullets hit the GMC Suburban while it sat empty in front of the W. 25th St. offices of Violator Records and Violator Management, the company that manages Busta’s career. 
The vehicle was shot mere moments after the rapper parked at Violator’s offices. Sources told the New York Daily News that the darkly-tinted customized SUV was shot up by a  revolver. 
According to the report, the rapper entered the offices with a Violator executive at about 10 p.m. and when he came out 18 minutes later, the car was riddled with bullets. 
 
2003 Grammy’s: Not a Big Night for Hip-Hop and R&B
After a four-year absence, the 45th Annual Grammy Awards  made the trek back to New York City from Los Angeles, but the evening wasn’t ripe with awards for the R&B and hip-hop entertainers present.
Jazz singer Norah Jones beat both Eminem and Ashanti for Best Album of the Year and Best New Artist at the show, which took place Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The singer went on to snatch up seven honors, tying Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys for most wins by a female artist on a single Grammy night.
Nelly took home two awards and, quietly, Blues statesman B.B. King won two as well, making that a total of 13 in his illustrious, pioneering career.
India.Arie finally won two awards after losing in all seven nominated categories last year. Winning for best urban-alternative performance for “Little Things” and best R&B album for “Voyage to India.” Puffy Combs bestowed The Best Rap Album honor to Eminem for The Eminem Show, which bested Mystikal, Ludacris, Nelly and Petey Pablo, but the Detroit rapper offered a special twist to his acceptance speech. 
“Instead of me coming out here and thanking the people I usually thank, because all those people that had something to do with my album know who they are, I made me a little list of emcees that I wanted to name off that inspired me to bring me where I am today,” Eminem said. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be here without them.” Eminem gave his props to Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Kool G Rap and Master Ace. 
Descending from the ceiling, Nelly rocked his number one hit “Hot In Herre” complete with a set full of simulated fire and flames and sultry dancers. Later in the performance, the rapper was joined by Destiny’s Child’s Kelly Rowland who cooed the pair’s duet “Dilemma.” The duo concluded their performance with an awkward mega-mix of the two songs that seemed disjointed.  
Irv Gotti’s Brother Shot Outside Murder Inc
Christopher Lorenzo, the brother and manager of Murder Inc mogul Irv Gotti, was shot in the leg Monday night outside of the label’s midtown NY office. Lorenzo was immediately taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment.
The 39-year-old victim was found at about 9 p.m. in a courtyard behind the offices, located at Eighth Avenue and West 49th Street. The New York Times reported that Lorenzo was in stable condition as of Monday night.
Investigators have not been able to determine whether or not the shooting was self-inflicted or the wounds were the result of an attack. Still, detectives said the trajectory of the bullet suggested that Lorenzo shot himself. 
Nevertheless, the shooting is one of several acts of violence that have plagued the hip-hop community.