Common Tapped To Headline Europe’s Largest Anti-Racism Festival
Chicago rapper Common has been added to London’s anti-racist festival, Rise: London United. The event is Europe’s largest anti-racism festival, taking place in Finsbury Park. The rapper, known for his conscious lyrics and positive stance, joins London rapper Sway, Killa Kela, DJ Kayper, jazz legend Roy Ayers, The Wailers, Graham Coxon, Buzzcocks, MC Inja and […]
Damon Dash Sponsors ‘Kingdome Basketball Tournament’, Giving Away Free Sneakers
Mogul Damon Dash and Pro-Keds will launch "Pro-Keds Day" on July 1 as part of a celebrity basketball tournament taking place during New York’s Kingdome Basketball Tournament. The ten-week basketball competition which is in it’s third week, features top talent from high school, college and the NBA. For the third year, Dash and Pro-Keds are […]
Juvenile, Youngbloodz To Peform At Free Concerts For U.S. Military
New Orleans rapper Juvenile is hitting the road this week to perform a series of free concerts for members of the United States military. On Friday (June 30), the UTP/Atlantic artist will travel to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, to perform at Bayfest Hawaii 2006 to support his latest album Reality Check. The rapper will […]
DJ Quik Sentenced To 5 Months In Prison
Rapper/producer DJ Quik has begun a five-month stint in jail for assaulting his sister. The rapper (born David Marvin Blake) surrendered in Fontana Superior Court last week to begin his sentence. The incident occurred in 2003 when Blake pulled a gun on his sister during a family argument, according to police reports. The rapper was […]
Legend Of The Wu-Tang: The Videos (DVD)
Artist: DVD ReviewTitle: Legend Of The Wu-Tang: The Videos (DVD)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Jason Newman Compiling all of Wu-Tang Clan’s videos on one DVD, Legend of the Wu-Tang: The Videos (Loud/RCA/Legacy) is an illuminating study in frustration. Arranged chronologically and covering every group release, what starts out as excitement over a new sound-sh*t, an […]
Kanye West, Chris Brown & Mary J. Blige Big Winners at 2006 BET Awards
Rapper/producer Kanye West and singers Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown emerged as the big winners Tuesday (June 27) with two awards each at this year’s BET Awards. West, who grabbed the award for Best Duet/Collaboration with Jamie Foxx for “Goldigger,” tied with Blige for the Video of the Year award. The songstress garnered the […]
LL Cool J Earns ASCAP’s Golden Note Award
Rap legend LL Cool J was honored with ASCAP’s Golden Note Award last night (June 26) at the 19th Annual ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Kevin Liles, former Def Jam president and current VP of Warner Music Group co-presented the award to LL Cool J […]
D.M.C., Photographer Ernie Paniccioli Ink Deal With ‘Omage’ Clothing Line
Rapper DMC of Run-D.M.C. and longtime Hip-Hop photographer Ernie Paniccioli have entered a deal to license images to Omage, a new retrospective line of clothing. The collection features graphic t-shirts inspired by Hip-Hop’s five elements: break-dancing, graffiti, deejaying, emceeing and knowledge of self. The shirts, priced at $24-$32, are currently available at select retail locations. […]
Reality Check: Junior M.A.F.I.A. vs. Lil Kim (DVD)
Artist: DVD ReviewTitle: Reality Check: Junior M.A.F.I.A. vs. Lil Kim (DVD)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Alejandro Mojado Ever since their “split”, one of the biggest Hip-Hop beefs has been going on between Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Lil’ Kim. This is related to perjury charges filed against Kim after her testimony in the now infamous 2001 Hot […]
Black and Blue: Legends of the Hip Hop Cop (DVD)
Artist: DVD reviewTitle: Black and Blue: Legends of the Hip Hop Cop (DVD)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana The premise of the movie Minority Report is that we would one day live in a world where we can predict crimes before they happen. If done by enhanced psychic photographs, this movement is simply revolutionary, […]
Day One (Mixtape)
Artist: DJ Drama/Young DroTitle: Day One (Mixtape)Rating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Alejandro Mojado DJ Drama and Grand Hustle are back at it again with another scorching mixtape. This time Young Dro is up to bat for the Atlanta based team with a better batting average than the Braves. For this outing, Drama and the self […]
Da Muzicianz
Artist: Da MuzicianzTitle: Da MuzicianzRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: AJ Fresh Embracing “Snap” and “Crunk” is the hardest thing to bear for hardheaded “true Hip-Hop” fans venturing out of East Coast rap confines. However, the latest release from Da Muzicianz, Da Muzicianz (TVT Records), is a commendable effort that might help smooth the transition for Hip-Hop […]
Rapper Monsieur R Avoids Prosecution By French Government
French rapper Monsieur R has avoided prosecution by the French government for controversial lyrics that compared France to a s### and the government to Germany’s infamous Third R####. In the song, FranSSe, Monsieur R (born Richard Makela) makes reference to relieving himself on Napoleon and General Charles De Gaulle while repeatedly referring to France as […]
Lil’ Scrappy Shoots Two Videos Off New Album ‘Bred 2 Die, Born 2 Live’
Rapper Lil’ Scrappy is setting the mood for his forthcoming sophomore album, Bred 2 Die, Born 2 Live by shooting videos for two of the album’s tracks. The Atlanta native will travel to Los Angeles, CA this week to shoot videos for “Money in the Bank” and “Gangsta Gangsta.” Both clips will be helmed by acclaimed […]
GM Grimm: The Hunger For More
GM Grimm, perhaps better known as MF Grimm, has lived the life that many rappers can only write fictional rhymes about. Emerging in the early 90s, Grimm collaborated with Hip-Hop greats Kool G Rap, Akinyele, and KMD, to name a few. The rugged rapper even penned undisclosed parts of Dr. Dres The Chronic for West […]
Lord Jamar: The Greatest Story Never Told
S temming back to Eric B & Rakim classics like In the Ghetto, the Nation of Gods and Earths, otherwise known as Five Percenters, have been some of the most successful MCs and producers to date. From Busta to Raekwon to J-Live, this powerful belief system changed the Hip-Hop vernacular from using words like God, […]
Supreme Court Refuses TVT Appeal Of Def Jam Ruling
The United States Supreme Court has decided against hearing a petition filed by TVT Records to overturn a legal decision, which voided a $132 million jury verdict to TVT from Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG). According to reports, the decision comes after a June 2005 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, […]
Foxy Brown To Perform At AIDS Benefit Concert, Sources Say Hearing Regained
Rapper Foxy Brown has been tapped to perform at the first HIV/AIDS awareness reggae concert by LIFEbeat’s Hearts & Voices Benefit Concert Series. The concert, dubbed "Reggae Gold Live 2006 Summer Jumpoff," is presented in conjunction with E.A.R.S. Entertainment Group and New York’s Power 105.1 FM. The sixth annual Hearts & Voices AIDS Benefit Concert […]
Pharell Williams Tapped For Louis Vuitton 2006-2007 Fall/Winter Ad Campaign
Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams has been tapped to appear in Louis Vuitton’s new fall 2006 and winter 2007 ad campaigns. The nationwide advertisements will feature the rapper/producer surrounded by monogrammed Louis Vuitton suitcases, as well as the fashion house’s new Innsbruck carryall bag. “We brought to this campaign a touch of the street, elevated […]
Babs Bunny Arrested In Brooklyn
Bad Boy rapper Babs of Making The Band fame was arrested early Saturday (June 24) after an altercation at a Brooklyn, N.Y., house party. According to representatives, Babs spent the night in jail after an incident involving two unidentified women. One woman allegedly believed Babs had stolen her former boyfriend. The two women showed up […]
