Russell Simmons Replies To ‘Blood Diamond’ Director’s Comments
A week after returning from a fact-finding mission for his Simmons Jewelry company, Russell Simmons is facing criticism from film director Edward Zwick. Zwick, who helmed the new Leonardo DiCaprio movie Blood Diamond, implied that Simmons is merely a public relations puppet for diamond companies. Simmons’ recently returned from a trip to South Africa and […]
AHH Stray News: Public Enemy, Ecko, Busta Rhymes, Jada Pinkett-Smith
Public Enemy performed twice last week in Arizona for the first time, since the group launched a boycott of the state. The socially conscious group imposed the ban on Arizona with the controversial release of “By the Time I Get to Arizona," taken from their classic 1991 album Apocalypse ’91: The Enemy Strikes Black. The […]
Tragedy Strikes Family Of Cash Money’s Williams Brothers
Tragedy has struck the family of Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Baby" Williams yesterday (Dec. 11) when their sister Tamara Williams, 26, was killed in a head-on collision in New Orleans. Williams, who majored in psychology and was studying for a nursing degree, died when her 2006 Toyota Camry was struck by a motorist who […]
Evel Knievel Sues Kanye West Over “Touch the Sky” Video
Legendary daredevil motorcycle stuntman Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Kanye West, claiming the Chicago rapper tarnished his image in the video for the hit single "Touch The Sky."The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court, accuses Kanye West of trademark infringement and unauthorized use of the Evel Knievel […]
More Fish
Artist: Ghostface KillahTitle: More FishRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Martin A. Berrios Ghostface Killah must love his craft. Starks dropped one of the best albums of ’06 with Fishscale but the sizeable sales numbers to match his rep still elude him. Instead of going into hibernation after taking that respectable “L”, Tone is back in […]
The Game: Not Like Daddy
When The Game visited the UK last week, I was honored to be granted a face-to-face interview. I was however warned that he may not turn up, say little, or could lock it off at any time. As I waited in the lobby of a posh London hotel, the previous journalist emerging from his own […]
Legal Wrestling Match Between DDP & Jay-Z Continues, Rocawear Added To Lawsuit
The legal wrestling match between wrestler Diamond Dallas Page and Jay-Z continues in court, as the wrestler has added Roc-A-Wear to a trademark and copyright infringement lawsuit.Diamond Dallas Page filed the original lawsuit in December of 2005 in Los Angeles Federal Court, claiming that Jay-Z’s popular Roc-A-Fella diamond hand gesture was illegally adopted from his […]
B.G. Introduces Chopper City Boyz’ Debut
New Orleans native B.G. will introduce The Chopper City Boyz’ debut album We Got This on his Chopper City Records imprint this February. B.G. has helped The Chopper City Boyz (Sniper, Hakim aka Hakizzle, VL Mike and Gar) develop a following by featuring the group on four of his last studio albums that were released […]
Will Smith Discusses Shift in Acting Style in ‘Pursuit of Happyness’ Experience
Through the course of his career, Will Smith has carved a niche as a likable actor who brings a bit of himself to each role. But that persona, according to the Philadelphia rapper, is nowhere to be found in his latest feature, The Pursuit of Happyness. Instead, Smith brings a new dimension to his acting […]
First Annual Urban DVD Awards Brought Together Emerging New Artists
Hip-Hop fans packed New York’s Club Avalon last Wednesday (Dec. 6), for the first annual DVD awards, where the Artist to Watch Movement was launched.The event was produced by The Best of the Block CEO, Littles, and NY Event promoter, Mook Diamond. The awards brought together a group of emerging East coast artists, known as […]
Big Cat Records, Gucci Mane Ink Seven Figure Deal With Atlantic
Atlanta-based Big Cat Records is ending 2006 on a high note, after signing a seven figure deal with Atlantic Records for Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane.Atlantic’s track record of developing the careers of artists proved to be the catalyst for Big Cat owner Marlon "Big Cat" Rowe to make the deal official. "We’re excited about the […]
Déjà Vu: Power Moves
Maybe video killed the radio star and satellite radio killed the radio listener, but neither affected the stock value of radio personalities. Scanning radio stations in every city across the country, there are a number of local celebrities waiting to make someones day on the air. Listeners in the New York tri-state area know that […]
Semtex: Oceans Apart
If you look up the word Semtex in the English dictionary, you would find the definition: A general-purpose plastic explosive. But ask anyone from the UK to define Semtex and you would get: Hip Hop Radio/ Tour DJ, Def Jam UK Head A&R/ Marketing Honcho and UK Music Ambassador. With an insight in both the […]
Styles P: Black is Back
Regardless of any current trend in Hip-Hop, Styles P continues to remain one of the streets most provocatively blunt and respected lyricists over time. His career and personal life has seen many changes since 1998. He went from being a Bad Boy to being a Ruff Ryder, from getting jiggy to getting high, from enjoying […]
Howard University Unveils New Hip-Hop Courses
After exploring ways to enhance academic course offerings by including courses that focus on Hip-Hop, Howard University recently unveiled three new Hip-Hop related courses in the spring semester of 2007. The upcoming classes are geared toward engaging undergraduate students in a critical analysis of Hip-Hop using research, policy, and program review, as well as including […]
Bred 2 Die Born 2 Live
Artist: Lil ScrappyTitle: Bred 2 Die Born 2 LiveRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Latifah Muhammad What’s the recipe for an album that’s sure to have sick enough beats that the lack of lyrical range gets lost in the bass? Simple, ask Lil Jon and 50 Cent to executive produce. You may not remember his last album, […]
Police: Grudge May Have Been Reason Carl Blaze Was Gunned Down
Police are doubting reports that Power 105.1 DJ Carl Blaze was the victim of a robbery and are now exploring the theory that an old grudge may have been the reason the DJ was shot 13 times early Thursday morning (Dec.7) in New York. Officials said DJ Carl Blaze worked a party at the X-Bar […]
Dr. Dre To Detox In September 2007
Apparently, Dr. Dre has settled on a time frame to release his highly anticipated album, Detox.In a video clip in circulation on the Internet that features Dre, the producer and his protégé Bishop Lamont reveal that the album will be released in September of 2007.The clip is a mere 31 seconds long, but Bishop Lamont […]
Lil’ Wayne Explains Jay-Z Comments, Clipse Fire Back At Lil’ Wayne
After setting the streets ablaze with controversial comments about Jay-Z, The Clipse, Young Buck and Pharrell in the December/January issue of Complex magazine, Lil’ Wayne recently called in to DJ Absolut’s Hot 97 show in an attempt to temper his words. During the 7-minute interview, Weezy addresses comments he made to Complex about Jay-Z.“I don’t […]
Justo’s 10th Annual Mixtape Awards Cut Short
Hundreds of fans and industry executives braved the frigid New York cold for Justo’s 10th Annual Mixtape Awards, which were held at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem last night (Dec. 7).What was supposed to be a celebration honoring Orpheus "Justo" Faison’s legacy and the music industry’s top mixtape DJ’s turned into a chaotic scene, […]
