Victims of a 2006 Florida nightclub shooting are suing the rapper Plies claiming he has increased his credibility in the violent gangsta rap world and made money because of their suffering.

The five victims had non-life threatening gunshot wounds after a fight broke out between the entourage of rapper Plies and another rapper at the club in Gainesville.

An amended lawsuit filed Wednesday in Alachua County Circuit Court adds the rapper's brother and his record label, Big Gates Records, to an existing civil suit against Plies, whose real name is Algernod Lanier Washington. The lawsuit was originally filed in April 2008.

Plies pleaded no contest to illegal possession of a concealed weapon found after the shootings and served no prison time. His brother, Ronell Levatte, served three years in prison after pleading no contest to weapons charges.

The plaintiffs' lawyers say the rapper makes references to the shooting in his lyrics and has generally used it to promote his street cred.

"The irony is that when you criminally prosecute (gangsta rappers) their stock goes up," said Chad Roberts, a Jacksonville-based attorney representing the shooting victims. "It's hard to punish them. The only way to punish is them is to hold the record company accountable."

Robert Rush, Washington's Gainesville-based attorney, called the suit "baseless propaganda." He said his client didn't have a gun in the club and that it's not clear who fired the shots that harmed the plaintiffs.

He also accused the plaintiff's attorneys of trying to grab publicity by amending a lawsuit that had been stagnant for months in a county court.

"This is defamation of character and it is all false. If his music wasn't any good, he wouldn't have gotten anywhere. This happened four years ago, his record sales are not doing great because of this," Rush said.

The public truce brokered last December between Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane appears to be compromised following a violent altercation between their affiliates in downtown Atlanta yesterday (March 4).

The brawl began around 4PM outside of the Walter?s Clothing Store in downtown Atlanta, ironically the location where Jeezy and Gucci Mane first met several years ago.

According to Patrick Morrison, an eyewitness and Walter?s Clothing employee, the animosity was renewed when Waka Flocka?s entourage entered the store and came face to face with Slick Pulla and other Young Jeezy affiliates.

?They just started going at it,? Morrison told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

In the midst of the struggle, a security guard for Waka Flocka discharged his firearm, possibly as a warning to dispel the fighting.

Numerous sources allege that Flocka was attacked by Slick Pulla, an artist signed to Young Jeezy?s Corporate Thugz Entertainment label, and member of the group USDA (United Dope Boyz of America).

?Story has it that Waka Flocka and Slick Pulla have been beefing since an altercation that happened in Miami a few months ago,? explained celebrity photographer Freddy O. ?Slick Pulla wanted to get it popping and that?s what he tried to do. After a tussle and fight throughout the entire Walter?s store, with customers, gunfire rang out. In the end, Slick Pulla left the store while Waka was left with a bloody nose and eye.?

Patrick Morrison confirmed the assault as well, stating ?whoever he (Waka Flocka) is he?s got a big swollen eye now.?

Slick Pulla was just released earlier this year from prison after serving a 2 year bid for parole violation. The terms of his release allowed him to leave the location on work release, which may now be violated if criminal charges are levied.

Thursday?s brawl marks the second Atlanta attack in three months on Waka Flocka Flame. In January, the young rapper was shot in the arm at a car wash on Old National Highway after refusing to give up his jewelry.

Flocka took his Twitter several hours ago, and offered a different version of earlier reports that he was left battered and bloody.

In his response, the Atlanta rapper made light of the conflict and boasted that he administered his own beating to his attacker.

"Shout out to shawty who ran up wit the lumps on his face that look like Martin Lawrence ...... lol," quipped Flocka, alluding to a memorable episode of the comedian's sitcom where Lawrence was humorously disfigured after a bout with boxer Tommy Hearns.

At press time, neither camps have released official statements.

Eight teenagers were shot after a performance by Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka Flame late Friday evening (March 5) in Gary, Indiana.

Waka Flocka Flame performed at the World of Skates skating rink.

During the event, a fight broke out, prompting security to order all patrons to leave the venue.

As 200 teens waited in the parking lot, a gunman or gunmen opened fire on 200 teenagers who were waiting for their rides.

The wounded teens were taken to St. Catherine Hospital, Methodist Hospitals and Saint Margaret Mercy in Hammond, Ind, where they were treated for non-life threatening wounds.

Police accused Waka Flocka?s hype man of inciting the crowd by pitting the ?East side? against the ?West side,? which may have started the fight Police Cmdr. Michael Mallett told the Post-Tribune.

 "The kids have separated themselves into east and west sides," Mallet said. "They've been doing it for many years now, but it's gotten worse, especially when you have entertainers making references to East Side vs. West Side. The youth in our community have taken it to heart."

No arrests have been made as of press time.

After a delay at his request due to dental surgery, a postponement Tuesday because of a courthouse fire and then rescheduling his court date Wednesday, Lil Wayne is set to finally be sentenced and begin his one-year prison term stemming from a 2007 gun arrest on Monday (March 8).

The rapper was set to be sentenced last month, but Wayne's attorney requested a delay so the rapper could undergo eight root canals. Judge Charles H. Solomon agreed to the last-minute request and rescheduled the proceedings for Tuesday.

Then, just hours before he was set to appear before Judge Charles H. Solomon on Tuesday, a fire broke out at the Manhattan Criminal Court Building. At the first sign of smoke, the building was evacuated and all appearances were postponed. Lil Wayne's attorney, Stacey Richman, confirmed to MTV News that her client's case had temporarily been postponed as a result of the fire. The next day, Weezy's court date was once again rescheduled.

Wayne is now set to appear before Solomon on Monday afternoon and plead guilty to attempted gun possession. He's then expected to turn himself in immediately to begin his prison term. Lil Wayne has spent his unexpected free time partying in NYC, traveling back to his Miami home and, of course, recording.

The rapper reached a deal with prosecutors in November to plead out to a lesser deal, and in return, he is expected to be released from prison as early as October. In 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested for attempted gun possession following his first headlining performance in Manhattan at the Beacon Theatre.

New York is among the toughest states in the country when it comes to gun-possession laws. In other states, Lil Wayne could have gotten off with a misdemeanor rap and probation. However, in New York, only law-enforcement officials and those affiliated with authorities are permitted to carry firearms.

Ultimately, what Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to amounts to him being able to have access to a gun. Police did not find a weapon on the rapper when his tour bus was searched. Rather, the gun ? registered to his manager ? was in a bag located near the rapper, hence the "attempted" charge.

Lil Wayne has been working feverishly in recent weeks to complete a number of videos and songs to stay relevant during his physical absence. That pace he's gotten accustomed to, however, will come to a screeching halt, according to a New York corrections officer who spoke to MTV News.

"He'll be housed with inmates who are classified in his category, and he'll be able to be a regular inmate," the guard said. "He'll be able to watch television, go into the day room and congregate with people of his classification.

"He'll have no preferable treatment at all. He'll be treated like a regular inmate," the guard, who declined to be identified due to the classified information he discussed, added.

Lil Wayne is still facing charges in Arizona, and that trial is set to begin March 30.

Authorities in Arizona say rapper DMX has been arrested for allegedly violating his probation by using drugs.

DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, had served about half of his 18-month supervised probation when he was booked Tuesday night into the downtown Phoenix jail. The rapper was released from jail in May after serving a 90-day sentence for felony convictions including cruelty to animals, theft and two drug counts.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says his deputies have arrested Simmons five times now, including an August 2007 raid on the rapper's north Phoenix home where they found 12 neglected dogs, three buried dogs, drugs and a cache of weapons.

Simmons pleaded guilty in late December to cruelty to animals, theft and two drug counts. In 2008, Simmons was arrested for speeding on a Phoenix freeway and allegedly going to a Scottsdale clinic and giving a false name to receive care with the intent of not paying.