Slim Thug Addresses LeToya Relationship, Independent Album
Houston, Texas rapper Slim Thug has never been silent concerning the success of artists out of his home state. While the rapper took home Best R&B Video at this year’s MTV Awards for his “Check on It” collaboration with Destiny’s Child lead singer Beyonce, the rapper is equally proud of fellow Texan, ex-Destiny’s Child member […]

Nas Says ‘Hip-Hop Is Dead’ Could Be His Best Album
Nas says his greatest work is ahead of him, but the veteran rapper said his fans will intimately determine if his latest album Hip-Hop Is Dead reigns over his classic albums like Illmatic (1994), It Was Written (1996), Stillmatic (2001), God’s Son (2002) and others. "It’s probably the best record I ever did," Nas told […]

Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey Top 2006 Billboard Awards
Producer and songwriter Jermaine Dupri’s took home Top Songwriter and Top Producer at the 2006 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held in his hometown of Atlanta, GA on Friday (Sept. 8).Dupri, CEO of So So Def, won in the Top Songwriter category, beating out Johnta Austin, R. Kelly and Scott Storch. Dupri also bested Mr. Collipark, Bryan-Michael […]

Aphilliates Music Group Inks Deal With Asylum
Asylum Records has announced a partnership with Atlanta-based Aphilliates Music Group, the label founded by DJ Drama, DJ Sense and Don Cannon, with Lason Jackson acting as President. As part of the agreement, Asylum will provide marketing, distribution and sales services to Aphilliates Music Group, which was launched in 2003."We are excited to work with […]

Producer Needlz Opens New Boutique in New Jersey, Working on New Material
Producer Needlz is crafting more than great beats with the launch of his new boutique store Pieces.The beat maker, who has created music for 50 Cent, Young Buck Game, Talib Kweli, Trina, Ludacris, Fabolous, held a VIP preview opening Friday (Sept. 8) for the new boutique, which will be located in Hoboken, New Jersey.A public […]
Intellektual Property (Revised)
Artist: Intellekt & Dirty DigitsTitle: Intellektual Property (Revised)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana Fruity Loops and a karaoke mic. Now, these are not the semi-archaic production tools that Intellekt & Dirty Digits used to record their debut album Intellektual Property (Revised) (ATF Records), but those two items serve as an easy reminder that good […]

Here
Artist: NicolayTitle: HereRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Anthony Carr To the average listener, the producer known as Nicolay doesn’t ring a bell, but in the underground his name is affiliated with the critically acclaimed The Foreign Exchange (Connected) project with Little Brother’s own Phonte. For those lost in the mainstream, Nicolay is considered one of the […]

Respect The Jux (Book Review)
Artist: Book ReviewTitle: Respect The Jux (Book Review)Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana “When you party with crooks/You have to learn to respect the jux.” This one endorsing couplet from 50 Cent on Lloyd Banks’ single “Hands Up”, has the streets buzzing about a hood pulitzer for the urban thriller, Respect the Jux (Keeplock Entertainment), […]

Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It
Dem Franchize Boyz

The Runners: Track Stars
The Runners dont look like two men with their ear to the streets. The Orlando-based production duo is more GQ than they are AllHipHop. Their unapologetic fashion sense is a little flashier and more form-fitting than two men ingrained in Hip-Hop typically have. Thats a risky move in an industry that places as much emphasis […]

Bohagon: Bo Knows
A lot can be said of Lil Jons patience. Years before he was the Crunk kingpin that was parodied by Dave Chappelle, revitalizing careers for Ice Cube and E-40, he was a studio rats for So So Def. On So So Def All-Stars volumes, fans hear a pre-sunglasses Lil Jon as well as one of […]

Lil’ Scrappy: The Reinvention of…
While most 22-year-olds are too busy making petty mistakes, Darryl Kevin Richardson II seems to have the wisdom and experience of a man who has seen much of what life has to offer. Luckily, even though the album is called Bred to Die, Born to Live, Richardson, better known as Lil Scrappy, is nowhere near […]

Bone Crusher Stomps Into Rock, Sheds Pounds
While many fans recognize heavyweight rapper Bone Crusher from his hit single "Neva Scared" and his starring role in the latest season of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club 4 reality series, the Atlanta-bred MC is hoping to find new success in the rock world.Bone Crusher, born Wayne Hardnett, recently assembled a group of musicians to form […]

DJ Khaled Arrested For Weed Possession, Released From Jail
WEDR 99 Jamz DJ Khaled is out on bail following an arrest Thursday night (Sept. 7) for misdemeanor marijuana possession. According to reports, DJ Khaled and another man were in a Bentley on Washington Avenue in Miami. An undercover narcotics officer allegedly witnessed DJ Khaled pass the driver of the vehicle a vial of marijuana. […]

50 Cent Arrested In Manhattan For Bad Driving
50 Cent was arrested Friday afternoon in Midtown Manhattan. Officers pulled him over near the Penninsula Hotel around 2 p.m., for allegedly driving his Lamborghini erratically. 50, born Curtis Jackson, was arrested for allegedly refusing to produce his drivers license. He was issued four traffic tickets including unsafe lane change, no plates, driving without insurance […]

Eve Tapped For M.A.C. Cosmetics’ HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign
Rapper Eve has come on board as the newest spokeswoman for M.A.C. Cosmetics’ new M.A.C Viva Glam VI campaign.Eve will join fellow celebrities Debbie Harry, Dita Von Teese and Lisa Marie Presley for the campaign. Proceeds from sales of the company’s Viva Glam VI lipstick and lipglass will be donated to the M.A.C AIDS Fund, […]

Snoop Dogg Heading To Nigeria To Celebrate Nation’s Independence From Britian
Snoop Dogg will help Nigeria celebrate its independence by participating in the first annual This Day Music Festival.Taking place on Oct. 7 and 8 in Lagos, Nigeria, the two-day event will commemorate the 46th Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence from Britain.The festival will be marked with a series of activities and concerts aimed at promoting the […]

U-God: Boxed In
It’sprobably safe to say that the Wu-Tang Clan, sans actual instruments (a la The Roots), is the only group in Hip-Hops history to really come across as an actual band. Yeah, a band. Remember those? I know, you thought those were just for Rock & Rollers. Each member plays his respective role and serves as […]

Rewind the Rhyme: GZA
“You know dead rappers get better promotion…” -Styles P, “We Gon’ Make It” Something many forget or refuse to recognize is that art is immortal. Long after an artist’s life is over, they continue to live through their work. Music is no exception. 2Pac and B.I.G. are perfect examples of artists who in their lives […]

RZA: Still Bringin’ the Ruckus
As Wu-Tang week winds down, a running theme with the Clan members has been one of disenchantment. Whether it was Meths dissatisfaction with Def Jam, Raekwons pressure to meet expectations, or Inspectah Decks need to be heard, the brothers from Shaolin all seem to have something to talk about. And as its been years since […]