Quan: Still Standing
Don Ferquan, better known as Quan, wants us to know hes back with a lyrical vengeance. After Nas introduced him to the world on the single Just A Moment from the Streets Disciple album, the no-nonsense artist has matured both mentally and spiritually since his constant legal run-ins and greater background role at Nass Ill […]
J-Zone: After Taxes
J-Zone named his acclaimed 2002 album Pimps Dont Pay Taxes, and while the IRS hasnt sniffed him out yet, plenty of beat-buyers have. The Queens slick-talker, known for his penchant for early 90s gangsta rap, now has greater desire to be the respected producer that hes become on the low, having produced for Biz Markie, […]
Do Or Die’s Belo Prepares For ‘The Truth,’ October Murder Trial
Do or Die member Belo is preparing The Truth, due out on The Legion Records/Asylum/WMG.The album could be the final release before a stint in prison as the Chicago-based rapper, born Darnell Smith, is charged with the first-degree murder for the Nov. 2002 murder of Raynard Pinkston.Belo’s murder case drew national attention, when the rapper’s […]
Talib Kweli Talks New Album ‘Ear Drum’
Brooklyn bred rapper Talib Kweli is preparing to release Ear Drum, which is the follow-up to 2004’s critically acclaimed release Beautiful Struggle.The album is being released on Kweli’s own imprint Blacksmith Music Corporation, which is distributed by Warner Bros. Records. "This record [Ear Drum], I just tried to make it about the sounds and about […]
Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit Town Hall To Air On Comcast’s CN8
The National Voter Coalition announced that it will premiere its taping of The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Town Hall Meeting on Community Empowerment to east coast homes on August 21 at 10:00 pm on CN8, a Comcast network station.The town hall meeting was shot live in Philadelphia on July 12th at the University of Pennsylvania […]
Jedi Mind Tricks To Release New Album, North American Tour
Indie hip hop group Jedi Mind Tricks is slated to drop their new album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell, Sept. 19 on Babygrande Records.The group’s fifth album, which includes collaborations with ILL Bill, Sean Price and R.A. The Rugged Man, will also feature tracks with noted indie rock artists like Sufjan Stevens and vocalist […]
Pimp C: I Kept It Real For You Part 2
AllHipHop.com: Since the late 90s, a lot of artists have complained about the Souths dominance, but by all accounts you guys are tight with a lot of East Coast artists, including Brand Nubian. How was that experience? Pimp C: Yeah, theyre friends of ours. As a matter of fact, I was a fan of theirs […]
Pimp C: I Kept It Real For You Part 1
Feel free to nod in agreement if youve heard this one before. Rapper on the brink of huge crossover finds his success stalled by the inevitable penitentiary sentence; in a shocking turn of events his subsequent prison stay not only creates more of a buzz for the hugely successful album but also generates street credibility […]
Busta Rhymes Arrested After AmsterJam
Rapper Busta Rhymes was arrested shortly after an appearance at Heineken’s AmsterJam Festival last night (Aug. 19) on Randalls Island. While details of the arrest were not immediately available, police claim Rhymes may have assaulted a concertgoer that allegedly spit on his car, after his performance around 5 p.m.The New York Daily News reports that […]
Young City Appears In Baltimore Court, Bail Set At $75,000
New Orleans Rapper Young City, formerly known as Chopper, attended a hearing yesterday (Aug. 18) in Baltimore County Circuit Court for armed robbery charges dating back to September of 2001.Kevin Lamont Barnes, Jr., who gained widespread popularity as the young, rambunctious rapper known as Chopper on Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ MTV series Making The Band, faced […]
Trina Departs From Atlantic Records, Looks For New Label
Slip-N-Slide Records’ rap diva Trina, born Katrina Taylor, has officially cut ties with her distributing label Atlantic Records, and is now searching for a new recording home.Ted Lucas, owner of Trina’s label Slip-N-Slide Records, said that Atlantic was no longer able to assist the rapper in her upcoming endeavors.“We decided to look for another label […]
Jermaine Dupri Booked As Music Director of AmsterJam Festival
Producer and Virgin Records president of urban music, Jermaine Dupri, has signed on to be musical director of the 2nd annual AmsterJam, an 8-hour music festival at Randalls Island.The concert pairs musical acts together from various genres of music. As musical director, Dupri will be responsible for helping artists like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers […]
C-Murder Back On House Arrest
No Limit Records artist Corey “C-Murder” Miller has been ordered back into house arrest. The one-page order was handed down yesterday (Aug.17) by 24th Judicial District Court Judge Martha Sassone in response to a 5th Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling on Tuesday (Aug. 15). “Corey Miller is to be placed on complete home incarceration and […]
Atlanta Gets Krunk With New Professional Basketball Team
C&C Music Factory’s Freedom Williams and noted producer/pioneering New York rapper Duane "Spyder D" Hughes have joined forces to create Atlanta Krunk Basketball, LLC, a new Continental Basketball Association (CBA) franchise.Originally called The Charlotte Krunk, the team was forced to move when other teams in the American Basketball League division shut down and canceled numerous […]
Hip-Hop: Still All The Way Live
Everyone needs to calm down. Everything is going to be okay. Hip-Hop is alive and well, and here to stay. I know I’m not the only one who is tired of people complaining about the "State of Hip-Hop." Hip-Hop is doing just fine. Actually, it’s doing better than just fine. Why is it that every […]
Da Banggaz: Knuck if You Buck
S t. Louis, usually known as the gateway to the west, has a new movement forming and Da Banggaz are right in the middle helping it cross the river. With hopes of going beyond the niche that Nelly and the St. Lunatics carved, Da Banggaz aspire to bring in a New St. Louis still respecting […]
Ali & Gipp: Kindred Spirits
A li, the elder statesman of the St. Lunatics has done something that has some in Hip-Hop furling their eyebrows. Hes lent his Pop Star notoriety to the lyrical and eclectic flows of Big Gipp of Goodie Mob fame. Hip-Hop evolving the way it has it seems only right for the two artists to try […]
Notorious C.O.P. (Book)
Artist: Book ReviewTitle: Notorious C.O.P. (Book)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana When the NYPD decides that it’s going place heavy surveillance on a culture of black musicians, to say that an explanation is warranted is a ripe understatement. With the almighty dollar as a wonderful lubricant, retired NYPD detective Derrick Parker teams up with journalist […]
Diddy and Essence Hook Up For Black Style Now Gala At Museum of the City of New York
Rap mogul Sean “Diddy Combs will team up with Essence magazine to help kick off New York’s Fashion Week. Combs will host the Essence -sponsored Black Style Now opening gala from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Museum of the City of New York. The event will celebrate the opening of Black […]
Black August Benefit (Concert)
Artist: Concert ReviewTitle: Black August Benefit (Concert)Rating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Robert Longfellow Who says conscious rappers can’t get down? This year’s 9th Annual Black August Hip-Hop Benefit Concert was held on Sunday, August 13 at New York City’s BB Kings in Times Square. The sold out show proved to be equally entertaining as enlightening. Hosted […]
