Flipmode Squad rapper Busta Rhymes has garnered criticism from New York Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly for his silence concerning the recent slaying of one of the rapper’s bodyguards, Israel Ramirez. Kelly, who accused Rhymes Wednesday (Feb. 15) of withholding information about the slaying, complained that the silence of several potential witnesses has held up […]

Compton, Calif. rapper MC Eiht recently signed a distribution deal for West Music, a joint venture between the veteran rapper and Paid In Full/Koch. The union will produce a new album from MC Eiht titled Affiliated, which hits stores this spring. “I named it [Affiliated] because there are a lot of misconceptions in the street […]

Russell "Block" Spencer, CEO of Block Enterprises, recently inked a multimillion dollar label deal with Sean "Diddy" Combs’ Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment and Warner Music Group (WMG). "When Block and I first met, I realized he had an ear for the streets of the South," Diddy told AllHipHop.com in a press release. "Block brought us […]

Mos Def appeared in court yesterday (Feb. 14) after filing for divorce from his wife, Maria Yepes-Smith. Mos Def, born Dante Smith, was ordered to pay $10,000 a month to support their 7- and 8-year-old daughters. The rapper has paid roughly $8000 a month since the order was issued, but said obligations to his three […]

Christina Milian is preparing to release her third album, So Amazin’, due April 25. The first single from the album will be "Say I," a collaboration with labelmate Young Jeezy. A video for the Cool & Dre-produced song was shot Feb. 11-12 by director Ray Kay in Los Angeles. So Amazin’ is the follow-up to […]

VH1 is starting production on a new Surreal Life spin-off titled The Surreal Life Fame Games, which reunites ten previous cast members in Las Vegas. Fame Games will be a ten-episode elimination contest featuring cast members from the original series, who will have their "Hollywood survival skills challenged" for the $100,000 grand prize. The show […]

Record executive/Mogul Russell Simmons and rapper Snoop Dogg are tapping into the power of the Internet to aid youth and victims of Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. Simmons, founder of Def Jam and CEO of Rush Communications, is taking part in the fourth annual Lunch With A Leader celebrity online auction, which started Feb. 10 on […]

Following the murder of a Las Vegas police officer, the city’s sheriff has called for a ban on “gangster” rap artists. In a recent Las Vegas Sun editorial, Sheriff Bill Young said he doesn’t believe casinos should book certain types of rap groups because of the violence they breed. “The entertainment industry should be ashamed […]

The Source Magazine has announced the filing of a multimillion dollar lawsuit against the Black Enterprise Greenwich Street private equity fund, claiming members plotted to steal the magazine and illegally fired Source founder Dave Mays as CEO. Mays has retained the law firm of Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard P.A., to help him regain […]

Bail was set for Trillville rapper Don P, who was recently arrested, spending 10 days incarcerated for the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl. A Georgia judge set a $75,000 bail for the Atlanta rapper, born Donnell Prince, after he was charged with rape and two counts of aggravated sodomy. The incident stems from an […]

The Ying Yang Twins and Sir-Mix-A-Lot are among the entertainers taking part in Copyright Awareness Week, a new nationwide initiative that aims to educate young people about the importance of copyright laws. In addition to those rappers, Grammy Award-winning R&B singer John Legend and rock group 3 Doors Down will create public service announcements about […]

Fresh off winning three Grammy Awards last Wednesday (Feb. 8), Kanye West is raking in more nominations. The Chicago rapper/producer is up for Man of the Year at MTV’s fourth annual TRL Awards. The network announced nominees for the event on Monday (Feb. 13). West will compete with Eminem, 50 Cent and Gerard Way of […]

Hot 97 DJ and noted car enthusiast Funkmaster Flex has entered into an endorsement agreement with JL Audio, a Miramar, Fla.-based company that makes aftermarket auto sound components. Under the new alliance, Flex will be JL Audio’s top endorser throughout North America and will play an active role in promoting and marketing the company’s high-end […]

50 Cent is in final negotiations to make his second motion picture appearance in the upcoming film Home Of The Brave, opposite Samuel L. Jackson. The plot revolves around three soldiers returning from the war in Iraq and trying to readjust to civilian life. Jackson plays a doctor who unravels during the course of the […]

Bay Area rapper Mac Minister was profiled on Fox’s long-running television series America’s Most Wanted on Saturday (Feb. 11). Police have been seeking Mac Minister, born Andre Dow, in connection with the May 2005 murders of Kansas City rapper Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins and his companion, Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins. Police suspect Mac Minister and an […]

West Coast rap couple Kurupt and Gail Gotti announced plans to wed this summer and will release an album together on their respective labels.The future newlyweds will release an untitled full-length album together this summer through Kurupt’s Penagon Enterprises and Gail Gotti’s Night-In-Gail Entertainment.Two tracks from the upcoming album, “Ride It Out,” which was produced […]

Funeral services for Detroit rapper/producer J Dilla, who died Friday (Feb. 10) of complications from lupus, will take place this week in Los Angeles. He was 32. A viewing for J Dilla, born James Yancey, will be held Monday (Feb. 13), followed by a funeral on Tuesday (Feb. 14). A memorial concert is also being […]

The North Carolina trio of Phonte, Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder, collectively known as Little Brother, recently participated in a Hip-Hop Summit at their Alma Mater, North Carolina Central University, on Wednesday (Feb. 8). The one-day summit was established to address social issues within the Hip-Hop community and allow aspiring Hip-Hop enthusiasts to display […]

Hip-Hop producer J-Dilla passed away today (Feb. 10) due to an unspecified ailment. Early reports suggest he succumbed to kidney failure, a medical problem which arose in 2004. J-Dilla, born James Yancey, was a member of Slum Village and worked with various Hip-Hop artists including Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and Common’s […]

LL Cool J is the latest rapper to enter the fashion realm. The Queens-bred MC premiered his new Todd Smith men’s and women’s clothing lines earlier this week at the Carlton Hotel during New York’s Fashion Week. For his men’s collection, LL Cool J (whose real name is James Todd Smith) enlisted Jeremy Brandrick of […]