(07-21) 18:17 PDT LAS VEGAS, (AP) --

A jury found a 37-year-old San Francisco rap music figure guilty in
the slaying of a Kansas City rival in what authorities called a West
Coast versus Midwest rap war.

Andre "Mac Minister" Dow faces life in prison after being convicted
Monday of first-degree murder in the May 2005 killings of 24-year-old
Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins of Kansas City, and Watkins' friend, 22-
year-old Jermaine Akins.

Dow is a promoter who has appeared on rap albums, made headlines
several years ago when he brawled with another rapper at a nationally
televised Source Awards show.

Police called the Las Vegas slayings revenge for the November 2004
drive-by slaying in Kansas City of 34-year-old California rapper Andre
"Mac Dre" Hicks.

Another aspiring rap promoter, 29-year-old Jason Mathis, also has been
charged with murder and is awaiting trial.

STRATEGY