Roc-A-Fella rapper Freeway is hard at work on his upcoming album Free At Last, co-executive produced by longtime friend and Def Jam CEO Jay-Z and G-Unit President 50 Cent. The album is slated to drop July 25 and features guest appearances by several Roc-A-Fella and G-Unit members, including 50 Cent, Young Buck and State Property. […]

Jive Records, BMI and Shine Network have joined forces to launch a national tour to find the next big star. The tour, which kicks off in Oakland, Calif., April 30, will showcase the best talent in each area as they perform for industry executives with hopes of walking away with a record deal with Jive, […]

Public Enemy front man Chuck D is entering the wireless communication market with his new mobile-content aggregation company, Chuck D Mobile. The goal of the service, launched earlier this month at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Wireless Show in Las Vegas, is to wirelessly distribute music and videos to cell phones. The rapper is working […]

Fort Minor, the hip-hop side project of Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda, will unveil a new song to promote TNT’s post-season coverage of the NBA playoffs. The track, titled "Remember the Name," features Styles of Beyond, a collective on Linkin Park’s Machine Shop record label, counting down a formula for success as they declare, "This […]

A close associate of Jay-Z pleaded guilty yesterday (April 24) to disorderly conduct for pepper-spraying R&B crooner R. Kelly during the duo’s The Best of Both Worlds Tour in 2004. Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, vice president of Def Jam Records and friend of rapper Jay-Z, stood trial in a Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday regarding the […]

Fashion designer and entrepreneur Marc Ecko announced the filing of a First Amendment lawsuit yesterday against the Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Councilman Peter Vallone and the City of New York. Filed on behalf of seven artists under the age of 21, Ecko’s lawsuit challenges anti-graffiti legislation that directly impacts the First Amendment rights of young citizens […]

Hip-Hop trio The Black Eyed Peas are set to host The Peapod Benefit Concert in South Africa, the first major event for the group’s non-profit organization The Peapod Foundation. The concert will be held May 28 in South Africa’s Johannesburg Stadium at Ellis Park. Local South African artists and dancers will also participate in the […]

The Outlawz and political rap duo dead prez are hooking up to record a new album titled Can’t Sell Dope Forever. Featuring appearances from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Layzie Bone and Messy Marv, the project aims to spark dialogue, while urging unity, power and progression in the streets. The album title was inspired by Miseducated Society, […]

Grammy Award winning rapper Cornell “Nelly” Haynes, Jr. will be heading to Richmond, Va., next month to team up with the Richmond Braves minor league baseball team, for a celebrity softball game to raise money for inner city youth. The event is scheduled to take place May 2 at The Diamond as part of Nelly’s […]

Trey Songz’ lawyer released a statement regarding the Virginia R&B singer’s riff with law officials at Clark Atlanta University. Songz, born Tremain Neverson, was arrested April 6 by the Clark Atlanta Police Department on charges of obstruction of law enforcement and disorderly conduct. The singer and his lawyer, Attorney Curtis L. Hubbard, Jr., deny the […]

The family of the man allegedly shot by Detroit rapper Proof voiced concern for their safety following a shooting earlier this month. Police say Keith Bender Jr., 35, died April 18 after being shot by the D12 member at the CCC nightclub on 8 Mile Road. Proof (born DeShaun Holton) was also killed during the […]