US rapper Twisted Black, real name Tommy Burns, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. His alleged co-conspirator, one Courtney Iglehart, testified as to how he had met Burns at a recording studio in Texas back in February of 2005 and paid him $4,500 for a quarter of a kilogram of powder cocaine. Another witness testified to the fact that Burns and a friend, aspiring rapper Zet, aka Zeteral Perkins, were dealing as much as a kilo of coke per three week period throughout 2005.
The rapper, who released four albums via 3R Entertainment/Scarred 4 Life between 1995 and 2005, had just signed a new deal with TVT Records when he was arrested by officers of the Drug Enforcement Agency in July this year. His first album for TVT is due in 2007. Which is all good timing, jail sentences often boosting hip hop record sales of course. Though it being a life sentence it's probably less good news for his long term relationship with TVT.