Legendary rap gruop EMPD will reunite for their first performance in New York City in eight years this fall. The group, comprised of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith, will hit the stage Oct. 14 at BB King Blues Club in Times Square. The event will coincide with activities surrounding VH1’s annual Hip-Hop Honors awards show.As […]

40/40 Club interior designer Ilan Waisbod filed a lawsuit against the Club’s owner, Shawn “Jay-Z’ Carter, last week, alleging that the rapper reproduced his décor designs for a new 40/40 Club without his permission.Waisbod’s design, complete with flat-screen televisions, hanging chairs and a Lucite safe to guard the Cognac and other highly-priced spirits, was allegedly […]

Former pop/rap group L.A. Boyz member, Jeff Huang, was indicted this week (Aug. 11) for a three-year-old song with threatening lyrics towards Taiwanese lawmakers Huang, who was also a member of the rap group Machi, is accused of threatening Taiwan government officials on various songs, in response to a 2003 amendment to change copyright laws […]

Rapper/producer Wyclef Jean is collaborating with multiplatinum Asian pop star Sun on the singer’s forthcoming U.S. album. The duo has been recording at Jean’s Platinum Sound Recording Studio in New York and is working on an as yet unnamed single. Sun describes the track as a feel-good song with lyrics that “tell everyone to get […]

After successfully completing 10 months in a Philadelphia women’s prison and 30 days of house arrest, which ended Aug. 3, Lil’ Kim is back in business and looking for a new record deal.   The rapper’s attorney, L. Londell McMillan, said Thursday (Aug. 10) that Kim and her label Atlantic Records are currently “having discussions” about […]

Rapper Ja Rule has sued Fred "Nickels" Moore and Nickleplated Inc., claiming Moore and company illegally signed a performance contract of before of Ja Rule. The lawsuit, which was filed in New York County Court, claims that Moore misrepresented himself and signed a performance contract on behalf of Ja Rule for a performance in Korea. […]

Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, frontwoman for the Black Eyed Peas, is releasing her first solo project, The Dutchess, on Sept. 19. Produced under fellow group member Will.i.am’s music label, Fergie’s album will feature her chart-topping single “London Bridge,” as well as collaborations from Ludacris, Rita Marley, and others. “London Bridge” rose from No. 84 to No. […]

Def Jam president Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has partnered with MTV to create a documentary titled Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life, about the global water crisis. The new venture was announced Wednesday (Aug. 9) at a press conference at the United Nations in New York. The legendary rapper, alongside MTV president Christina Norman, announced that […]

Rapper Young City has been arrested for an armed robbery charge he picked up as a juvenile.The New Orleans native, who was arrested July 31 in an Atlanta, Ga. suburb, was cited for speeding by Gwinnett County authorities. Police continued to hold the rapper (born Kevin Barnes) after discovering he was wanted for armed robbery […]

Former Ultramagnetic MCs member Kool Keith, more widely known today as "Dr. Octagon," announced his national tour Wednesday (Aug. 9). The outing will kick off tomorrow (Aug.10) at the famous Abbey Pub in Chicago. The tour is in support of the rapper’s current album The Return of Dr. Octagon. Kool Keith first made a name […]

Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams, along with his brother and co-CEO Ronald "Slim" Williams, opened his wallet Monday (Aug. 7) and donated $3,000 to the Morningside Park Soccer Program in New York City. The donation, made on behalf of the label’s foundation, "Cash Money For Kids," was sent directly to the program to […]

Rappers Guru and Chuck D. are featured on The Dirty Dozen’s upcoming album What’s Going On, a reinterpretation of Marvin Gaye’s classic 1971 album. For almost 30 years, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has taken the traditional brass band music of New Orleans and combined it with funk, jazz, gospel, soul and now rap. The […]

Rap pioneer Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell is preparing for the first season of his first annual National Youth Football League (NYFL).The program, developed in conjunction with the Orange Bowl Football Youth League (OBFYL), will run simultaneously with the rapper’s Liberty City Optimist Program. The Optimist Program, founded 17 years ago in Liberty City, Fla., is […]

The 9th Annual Black August concert is scheduled to kick off on Sunday (Aug. 13) in New York’s Times Square. Brand Nubian’s Sadat X and Lord Jamar, CL Smooth, The Beatnutz, M1 of dead prez DJ Evil Dee and others will perform during the concert, which takes place at B.B. Kings Blues Club from 8pm-12am. […]

Mixtape master J. Period has teamed up with Hip-Hop group The Roots to present The Best of the Roots (hosted by Black Thought). The promotional mixtape features over 50 tracks of remixes, freestyles, unreleased material and exclusive J.Period remixes. The mixtape also boasts appearances from Jay-Z, Rakim, Nas, Stevie Wonder and Def Poet Mayda Del […]

Rapper Rakim has announced a 22-date national tour starting later this month. The tour kicks off on August 19, when Rakim makes an appearance in Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing.The tour will make stops in Texas, Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Georgia, before winding down in Washington, DC. […]

Rapper MC Lyte will attend the second annual Hip-Hop Leadership Camp in Los Angeles this year, being held in Los Angeles. A variety of entertainment industry professionals will attend the four-day camp for at-risk youth, which takes place Aug. 10-13 on the campus of UCLA. "This camp is more than just a series of classes," […]

Def Jam Records president and CEO Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter will take part in an effort to educate the public on the world’s water crisis.The mogul will be joined by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and MTV president Christina Norman on Wednesday (Aug. 9) to announce the details of the venture at the United Nations, 1st […]