Kanye West To Urge Presidential Candidates To Focus On Education In New PSAs

Superstar rapper Kanye West and his Kanye West Foundation has partnered with Strong America Schools and will be featured in a series of public service announcements (PSAs) urging the presidential candidates to address issues within America’s educational system.   West is the spokesman for the Ed in ’08 campaign, a $60 million dollar nonpartisan initiative […]

RZA, GZA, Q-Bert On Board For Hip-Hop Chess Tournament

Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, GZA and DJ Qbert will be among the celebrity rappers taking part in the Hip-Hop Chess Federation’s 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational tournament being held this October in San Francisco.   The Hip-Hop Chess Federation (HHCF) announced the 1st Annual Chess Kings Invitational, which will include a celebrity chess tournament and emcee […]

Blair Underwood Bringing Rap Themed Novel To Big Screen

Veteran actor Blair Underwood has teamed with Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due to author the new book Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Mystery.   Casanegra, which hit stores last month, centers around a character named Tennyson Hardwick, a struggling giggalo-turned-actor, who is the prime suspect in the murder of a rapper/actress named Afrodite.   Hardwick attempts […]

New Documentary Reveals Details On Tupac’s Murder

A new documentary focusing on the still unsolved murder of superstar rapper Tupac Shakur is slated to hit stores on DVD this October.   Bond-Age Films and Step-N-Up Enterprises will release Tupac: Assassination, a documentary written and directed by RJ Bond and executive produced by Frank “Big Frank” Alexander.   Alexander, who penned 2000’s book […]

East Hampton Officials Deny Diddy’s Permit For $100k Fireworks Show

East Hampton town officials in East Hampton, New York have turned down a proposed $100,000 fireworks show planned by mogul/actor/rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs.   According to the Associated Press, Combs was planning an extravagant display of all-white pyrotechnic fireworks over East Hampton’s Northwest Harbor on September 2, to compliment his annual “White Party.”   The […]

AHH Stray News: Swizz, Tribe Called Quest, Hurricane Chris, Yung Berg

Rapper Swizz Beat will perform a free show tonight (August 21) at the Apple store in Manhattan. The producer-turned-rapper will perform singles like “It’s Me Snitches: and “Money in the Bank,” tracks from his latest release The One Man Band, which hit stores today. The performance takes place at the Apple store on Prince Street, […]

Jackson, TN Police Say Hip-Hop Is Camouflage For Gangs

Hip-Hop culture in Jackson, Tennessee has been associated with the city’s rising crime rates, according to Jackson County Police Lt. Pat Willis.   Willis made the shocking comments during a meeting of Jackson’s crime task force yesterday (August 20) during a meeting at City Hall, where Jackson and Madison County Police officials detailed their departments […]

Florida’s DJ Smallz Talks ‘Gunshine State’; Unites 30 Upcoming Artists

Tampa, Florida DJ and radio host DJ Smallz has launched his production career by assembling an all-star cast of upcoming artists from the state of Florida on a track titled “Welcome to the Gunshine State.”   Rappers like Acafool, Brisco, C-Ride, Dirtbag, Flo-Rida, Jacki-O, Joe Hound, Haitian Fresh, Grandy Souf, Plies, Smilez & Southstar, Tampa […]

Diddy’s Version of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ Hits TV This February

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ movie adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun” will air as an “ABC Premiere Event” following the network’s broadcast of The 80th Annual Academy Awards.   The three-hour television movie version of A Raisin in the Sun is executive produced by Combs and features the rapper/actor/mogul as the character […]