Notorious B.I.G. Lawsuit Retrial Set for October
A date for a retrial in the wrongful death lawsuit of the late Notorious B.I.G. has been set. The Associated Press reports the retrial will be October 16. U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper, who made the ruling Thursday (June 8), ordered the plaintiff and defense attorneys to continue the information-sharing process in preparation for the […]
RIAA To Announce New Gold/Platinum Award For Ringtones
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), along with Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) and Billboard will announce a new Gold and Platinum Award, recognizing sales of mobile ring tones. The event will take place on June 14 at the Time Warner Center in New York, at which point 128 different racks will be […]
Tyrese Hip-Hop Album Leaked On The Internet
Tracks from R&B singer/actor Tyrese "Black Ty" Gibson’s new dual-disc LP Alter Ego have been leaked to the Internet. According to sources, several songs from the double disc set were leaked. The album features Tyrese recording R&B songs on disc one, while the second disc introduces his new rap moniker "Black Ty" and will only […]
Bruce Willis Gets Down With Hip-Hop With New Documentary
Hollywood actor Bruce Willis has executive produced an inspirational documentary about inner city youth and the power of Hip-Hop culture. TheWord.Life: The Hip Hop Project features Willis, alongside MTV’s Sway and Hip-Hop pioneers Russell Simmons and Doug E. Fresh, and chronicles several years in the life of New York City teenagers who transform their life […]
Rick Ross and Nina Sky Featured on The Fader Magazine’s First iTunes-Distributed Issue
Miami rapper Rick Ross and singing duo Nina Sky will grace the cover of The Fader Magazine’s summer music issue. The edition, which features a look at what’s hot in music for the summer, will be the first full magazine posted on iTunes and featured on iTune’s “New and Notable” podcast section. Although the magazine’s […]
Jay-Z Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ with One Night Only Concert
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, Brookyln rap icon Jay-Z will take the stage June 25 for a one-night only concert at New’s York’s Radio City Music Hall. The Def Jam Recordings President will perform songs from the album in their entirety. The concert marks a milestone for Jay-Z, who […]
Devo Springsteen: Whip It!
A brother with strong business acumen is extremely important in todays America, especially when youre dealing with the pythons and cobras of the recording industry. Devo Harris is in a real G.O.O.D spot. He proudly encourages, Naysayer, please show me one example why Kanyes crew aint the s**t and I could refute you with five, […]
GLC: Heaven Knows
I n the Hip-Hop world, a memorable cameo appearance and endorsements from A-List artists can be both a gift and a curse. After impressive guest spots alongside one-time mentors on EPMDs Hardcore and Dr. Dres Deep Cover, Redman and Snoop Dogg respectively proved that artists can parlay a quality 16-bar verse into a successful solo […]
Fabolous Founds Hip-Hop Clothing Line
Fabolous has finally made the leap into fashion with his new clothing collection, Ric Yung, a line he said would evoke a classic look with a Hip-Hop twist. “It’s the hottest s**t in a minute. If anybody likes the classic Polo from back in the days, this is about to be a new Polo for […]
Texas Rap/R&B Community Unite For The DJ Screwfest and Car Show
A variety of Texas rap legends will unite and pay homage to the late pioneer DJ Screw at the first annual DJ Screwfest and Car Show. The event takes place July 22 at the Pasadena Convention Center & Fairgrounds in Houston. Confirmed performers include various members of DJ Screw’s Screwed Up Click, as well as […]
Singer Sleepy Brown Prepares Debut Album On Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon Label
Atlanta singer Sleepy Brown is set to release his debut album Mr. Brown this fall via Purple Ribbon/Virgin Records. The new LP features production by Brown and his group Organized Noize, as well as the Neptunes and the Black Eyed Peas. Guest artists include Big Boi of Outkast and Erick Sermon, among others. The disc […]
Queen Latifah Helps Usher in National Women’s Confidence Day, New Curvation Project
Rapper/actress Queen Latifah was on hand yesterday (June 7) to welcome the arrival of the first annual National Women’s Day on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. Latifah, along with the YWCA USA, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and VF Intimates’ Curvation(R) brand, acknowledged the day, which helps raise awareness for, and celebrate the positive impact […]
Common & Rakim: Forces of Nature
B rother J of the X-Clan once rapped, Ill walk with the lions, stalk with the elephant / pivot like gorilla, pigs become irrelevant. Fifteen years ago, Hip-Hop and nature seem to have existed on a much more parallel plane than today. However, gear peddler extraordinaire, Marc Ecko seeks to change that. For decades, Ecko […]
Laugh Now, Cry Later
Artist: Ice CubeTitle: Laugh Now, Cry LaterRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Conan Milne No-one screams West Coast OG quite like Ice Cube, and “screams” seems is a pretty apt choice of words considering the rage that “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” once delivered his ferocious lyrics with. Yet it has been some time since Cube was considered […]
Have You Seen?
Artist: RampageTitle: Have You Seen?Rating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Robert Longfellow Rampage has always been dependable for a good sixteen bars (check the “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)”) but being the Lieutenant in Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad has also meant perpetually lurking in its shadows. Nearly a decade since his underrated 1997 sophomore act, Scouts Hono…By […]
Russell Simmons, Dr. Ben Chavis To Ring NASDAQ Bell To Celebrate HSAN Anniversary
The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will celebrate its fifth anniversary June 14 by ringing the opening bell of the NASDAQ Stock Market in Times Square, New York. HSAN Chairman Russell Simmons and HSAN President/CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis will do the honors at the NASDAQ Stock Market, the largest U.S. electronic stock market with over 3,000 […]
UK Hip-Hop Comes Under Fire from Conservative Leader
British conservative leader David Cameron is speaking out about the damaging effects of Hip-Hop music in the UK. Cameron, who made his views known Tuesday (June 6) at a British Society of Magazine Editors event, accused BBC Radio 1 of encouraging knife and gun violence through its airing of rap music. He singled out the […]
Crunchy Black Out Of Three 6 Mafia
A spokesman for Sony Records has confirmed that Three 6 Mafia Member Crunchy Black has severed his relationship with the Academy Award winning group. Although there was no reason given for his sudden exodus, the Sony representative indicated that Crunchy (real name Darnell Carlton) made the decision to leave on his own and that he […]
Managing Director Of Cristal Not Impressed With Rap Patronage
In a special edition of The Economist Magazine, the managing director of Louis Roderer Cristal addressed the popularity of the brand amongst Hip-Hop artists. In an article titled “Bubbles & Bling” in a special Summer 2006 issue, Frédéric Rouzaud, the managing director of Cristal, stated that the company observes its association with the rap world […]
Jimmy ‘Henchmen’ Rosemond Sentenced to Three Years Unsupervised Probation
Czar Entertainment CEO Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond was sentenced Tuesday (June 6) to three years of unsupervised probation and fined $2,500 for his role in an incident involving a Washington disc jockey. Several of Rosemond’s supporters, including his business partner Bryce Wilson, Queen Latifah, Flavor Unit’s Shakim Compere, Czar Entertainment staff, close friends, and family, were […]