Straight Up Brands, Inc. has announced various deals to produce wines and branded spirits in conjunction with Hip-Hop stars and nationally known celebrities.The three-year old company, headed by CEO David McCallen and president Vincent Viola, will produce five branded products that are developed by various celebrities along with leading vineyards, master blenders and world-class distillers.The […]
Miami rapper Pitbull is preparing to release his sophomore album El Mariel.The new release is named after the infamous Cuban boatlift that relocated almost 125,000 Cubanos to Florida. According to Pitbull, El Mariel will offer a political perspective from the rapper, who addresses the current state of his native Cuba, as well as the war […]
Cypress Hill’s B-Real, legendary rapper Kid Frost and Oscar nominated actor Edward James Olmos have teamed up with Snoop Dogg for his new video for "Vato."Directed by Phillip Atwell, the video casts Snoop Dogg and B-Real as gang members who come together as a show of solidarity.In wake of violence in recent months in L.A., […]
Rapper Eminem has teamed up with Nike to create a limited edition run of the company’s Air Max series shoe.The effort will go towards raising money for the lyricist’s Marshall Mathers Foundation and ninemillion.org.Eminem will design limited-edition uppers of eight different shoes in the series, from the Air Max ’87 to Air Max 360. Sixty-four […]
Rap City VJ Mad Linx is scheduled to perform and host the U.S. Open’s Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day on August 26.The pre-tournament celebration for families, named after one of tennis’ most famous players, is designed to attract scores of families to Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, N.Y. to show support for tennis and music, […]
Daz Dillinger will chronicle the history of Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound on the small screen with his new documentary titled DPG Eulogy. The project, set to debut on September 1 on Pay-Per-View, Starz, Vongo.com, and Comcast, will highlight the prolific history of the careers of Daz, Snoop Dogg and the entire Dogg Pound […]
Atlanta’s V-103 DJ Greg Street has teamed with DJ Kay Slay to create The Champions: North Meets South, a new compilation album which hit stores August 22.The album’s first single "Can’t Stop The Reign 2006" features Miami Heat basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, Papoose and Bun B, with a remix added featuring Busta Rhymes. The video […]
Rapper DMX has canceled a planned week-long tour to entertain United States troops in Kuwait and Iraq.According to the United Service Organizations, the rapper, born Earl Simmons, was supposed to depart for the Persian Gulf region on Aug. 22. DMX delayed his departure until Aug. 23, but failed to appear on time for a flight […]
No Limit Records founder and rapper Master P. is taking his new Hip-Hop gospel play on the road. The play, titled Uncle Willy’s Family, features Terry Miles as Uncle Willy, an ex-Vietnam vet who would do anything for his family, even the ones he doesn’t care too much for. Willy, who lives with his niece […]
Rapper 50 Cent joined undefeated welterweight contender Dmitriy "Star of David" Salita at a benefit for the Tikva Children’s Home at Chelsea Piers in New York. 50 Cent was present at the event for the non-profit organization, which is dedicated to caring for abandoned and homeless Jewish children in Odessa, Ukraine. Salita, who will face […]
Actor/comedian Bill Cosby went on the offensive against rap music Tuesday (Aug. 22) while encouraging fathers to raise their children. The 69-year-old author and Grammy-winner, who spent the last five minutes of his speech voicing his displeasure of the content of rap, spoke in front of a standing room only audience at the Heritage United […]
Foxy Brown skipped another court hearing today (Aug. 23) on charges filed by a former colleague. Brown’s lawyer, Brian J. Neary, told Judge Cynthia D. Jackson that Inga "Foxy Brown" Marchand would be present to contest the two complaints filed by Rasheeda Ellis, who did not have a lawyer present. Jackson told the rapper’s lawyer […]
Angela Simmons, daughter of rap pioneer Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, has hooked up with Word Up! magazine to launch a new magazine for teens. The monthly publication, titled Angela’s Rundown, will target youths age 14-18 and cover teen issues, style, music and fashion while offering fashion tips and in-depth celebrity interviews. Among those featured in […]
The family of Keith Bender Jr. filed a lawsuit today (Aug. 22) in Wayne County Circuit County against the estate of rapper Proof. The lawsuit, which seeks an undisclosed amount, is seeking damages for a fatal shootout at the CCC Club on Eight Mile Road on April 11. The lawsuit alleges Proof was responsible for […]
DMX will perform for American troops stationed in the Persian Gulf region, as the rapper is preparing to embark on his first United Service Organization (USO) tour. The event, which is sponsored by AT&T, brings entertainment to troops stationed througout the world. Past guests include Master P., Lil’ Romeo, Shinedown and La Mafia. DMX recently […]
Flipmode Squad leader Busta Rhymes will be the subject of a civil lawsuit to be filed this week by a man who said Rhymes assaulted him on Aug. 12.The incident occurred after Robert Lebron accidentally spit on the vehicle the lyricist was riding in."Me and my friends were walking across the street. I spit on […]
Mos Def has been selected to join an all-star cast for a new comedy called Be Kind Rewind, which will begin shooting in early September and is scheduled to release in 2007.In the New Line Cinema film, the Brooklyn-born emcee plays a video store employee who has to deal with a mischievous customer named Jerry […]
Do or Die member Belo is preparing The Truth, due out on The Legion Records/Asylum/WMG.The album could be the final release before a stint in prison as the Chicago-based rapper, born Darnell Smith, is charged with the first-degree murder for the Nov. 2002 murder of Raynard Pinkston.Belo’s murder case drew national attention, when the rapper’s […]
Brooklyn bred rapper Talib Kweli is preparing to release Ear Drum, which is the follow-up to 2004’s critically acclaimed release Beautiful Struggle.The album is being released on Kweli’s own imprint Blacksmith Music Corporation, which is distributed by Warner Bros. Records. "This record [Ear Drum], I just tried to make it about the sounds and about […]
The National Voter Coalition announced that it will premiere its taping of The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Town Hall Meeting on Community Empowerment to east coast homes on August 21 at 10:00 pm on CN8, a Comcast network station.The town hall meeting was shot live in Philadelphia on July 12th at the University of Pennsylvania […]
