Rapper Sadat X will headline the 12th Annual Hip-Hop Project this Sunday in New York. Sadat, a founding member of legendary rap group Brand Nubian, will be joined by special guests that include DJ Bobbito Garcia, DJ Beverly Bond, A-Alikes, Rebel Diaz, Blitz the Ambassador and Shadia Mansour. Black August was started by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement in 1998, to spread awareness about U.S. political prisoners incarcerated worldwide. This year’s event takes place at BB Kings on Sunday (August 30), starting at 8:00 PM.
Talib Kweli, MC Lyte, DJ Premier and DJ Reborn will be featured as part of “A Labor Day Weekend Explosion” taking place in Brooklyn over Labor Day weekend at Sputnik. On Friday, September 4, MC Lyte will headline a show, will rapper Talib Kweli will grace the stage on Saturday (September 5). “We know that people typically bolt out of town during the Labor Day Weekend. But we also know, especially given the state of the economy, that many will be stuck in town looking for something to do. We’re excited to be able give music fans affordable options for a live show during the holiday weekend,” said event organizer, Vic Black. Tickets for the show start at $18.
Lil Wayne and 50 Cent will be the subject behind the newly re-launched Behind the Music series that will air on VH1. The re-tooled series will premiere on September 10 with a look at the life of Lil Wayne. The special will discuss Wayne’s childhood upbringing and his road to became one of the most sought after artists in the world. Other Hip-Hop artists that will be spotlighted include T.I. (October 8) and 50 Cent (October 13). VH1’s Behind The Music featuring Lil Wayne will air September 10 at 10:00 PM ET.
Police arrested an employee of 50 Cent’s last week, after a woman accused the man and a woman of assaulting her on the rapper’s property. Police received a 911 call from a distraught woman last Sunday (August 16), claming Dwayne McKenzie, 28, and Michelle Kryzykowski, 21, assaulted her on the property. The woman said she was struck over the head with an unknown object, before she managed to pepper-spray the assailants and get away. The woman had a head injury and other lacerations, according to police. McKenzie was arrested last Thursday, while Kryzykowski turned herself in the same day. McKenzie was also arrested in 2007 for carrying a weapon and again in May of 2008 for striking a woman he had been dating with a belt on 50 Cent’s property.
