El Da Sensei: El Producto
No longer on a major, no longer selling six-figures, El Da Sensei will not quit. The New Jersey native takes sabbaticals, but constantly hones new fans with a successful solo career. With an entirely new objective, his just-released, The Unusual shows El rhyming over faster beats, with easily digestible messages. With AllHipHop.com, El Da Sensei […]
T.I.: You Still Don’t Know Me
T.I.s loving the game right now. While he didnt release an album in 2005, Tip caked up on features with homies, Young Jeezy, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall. In 2006 however, the Atlanta trap-star aims to conquer the market with, KING coming with the arrival of spring. T.I.s not out to melt anybodys snow or […]
Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Denies Rap Ban
A representative for the Nevada Gaming Control Board has denied reports that gaming regulators are out to ban Hip-Hop from casinos in Las Vegas after a rapper took the life of a police officer. On Feb. 1, Amir “Trajik” Crump, a member of the rap group Desert Mobb, allegedly shot and killed Sgt. Henry Prendes […]
Master P., Silkk The Shocker To Stand Trial For Weapons Violations
Brothers Master P. and Silkk The Shocker were ordered to stand trial for various weapons charges by a Superior Court Judge yesterday (Feb. 27) in Los Angeles. Master P., born Percy Miller and Silkk The Shocker, born Vyshonn Miller, were arrested in Jan. of 2005 after being pulled over by University of California police officers. […]
Chingy Makes Acting Debut In ‘The System Within’
Rapper Chingy will make his acting debut in the film The System Within, a new film that includes veteran actor Hawthorne James and Bryce Wilson. The movie was written by and stars Tariq Alexander as Tony "Wise" Good, an internationally known model from the inner city who falls from grace and lands in the prison […]
Timbaland, Violator’s Mona Scott, ?uestLove Participate In ‘Music Biz 101’
Music producer Timbaland, Violator management co-owner and president Mona Scott, and Roots member ?uestlove are among the panelists scheduled to participate in a Music Biz 101 symposium on April 19. Contestants, who must be currently enrolled in college, are eligible to win an all-expense paid trip to New York City to attend the symposium, and […]
Nelly Expanding Apple Bottom Brand
Rapper and entrepreneur Nelly is expanding his Apple Bottom clothing brand to include lingerie, shoes, handbags, plus size clothing, and childrensware. Apple Bottom, which launched in July 2003, is gearing up for a children’s print ad campaign featuring celebrity rappers, including Nelly, Ali from the St. Lunactics, Big Gipp from Goodie Mobb and Jermaine Dupri, […]
Chino XL Offers Fans Instrumentals, Record Deal
Rapper Chino XL is offering aspiring rappers a chance to be heard, courtesy of his forthcoming album, Poison Pen. Activate, the rapper’s label, and Foundation Chi are sponsoring a contest, which allows fans to write and add their own verses to an interactive mix of one of four bonus tracks on the album. Participants have […]
Busta Rhymes Flies To L.A. To Finish Video; Police Still Investigating
Busta Rhymes flew to Los Angeles over the weekend to complete the star-studded video to his “Touch It” remix. The filming of the video has put the rapper in the headlines, because of the shooting death of his bodyguard during the portion filmed in New York. Rhymes’ bodyguard Israel Ramirez was shot and killed on […]
Gangsta Grillz: The Leak
Artist: DJ Drama/T.I.P.Title: Gangsta Grillz: The LeakRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Alejandro Mojado The King of the South and his court have returned to the scene with a new mix-tape from DJ Drama. With the Atlanta based DJ now signed to Grand Hustle this is the first of many collaborative efforts to come. This time Drama […]
Soft Money
Artist: JelTitle: Soft MoneyRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Max Herman Ever since the Bay Area-based collective Anticon released Music For The Advancement of Hip Hop in 1999, countless Hip-Hop circles have written this crew/label off for what has been perceived as blatant elitism. Whether it be Dose One or Pedestrian, these guys have often made […]
Ma’at Mama
Artist: Ursula RuckerTitle: Ma’at MamaRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Sidik Fofana Surely youve you heard of her. The spoken word sista? Shorty who is down with The Roots? Does it ring a bell now? Though Ursula Rucker is known most potently for her spoken word contributions on Roots albums like Do You Want More??? and […]
Christopher ‘Play’ Martin Preparing ‘Holy Hip-Hop’ DVD Showcasing Gospel Rappers
Christopher “Play” Martin, one-half of the early rap duo Kid ‘n Play, is releasing Holy Hip-Hop, a new DVD that showcases rappers from the world of gospel music. Martin serves as host, director and producer of the 82-minute DVD, which offers an inside look at artists leading the way in the gospel rap scene. “When […]
Audio Tape Of Busta Rhymes Video Shooting Emerges
An audio tape recorded before the slaying of rapper Busta Rhymes’ bodyguard has surfaced and is reportedly being offered to the media for $50,000. The 53-minute tape has not been given to police or prosecutors. The New York Daily News reported that the tape includes the argument that set off the shooting of Israel Ramirez, […]
Judge Temporarily Blocks Auction Of Dave Mays And Benzino’s Stock In The Source
The legal wrangling over The Source magazine continued yesterday (Feb. 23) in a New York courtroom. New York Supreme Court Judge Richard B. Lowe III granted co-founders Dave Mays and Ray “Benzino” Scott a temporary restraining order preventing the auction of their stock in the company. The Source’s bank, Textron Financial, is attempting to auction […]
Former Nas Associate Lake Signs With Suge Knight
Former Nas associate Lake has signed to Suge Knight’s Death Row Records subsidiary, Death Row East. “I’m the flagship artist [of Death Row East],” Lakey the Kid said on DJ Kay Slay’s Hot 97 radio show today [Feb. 24]. “We doing this for the streets. Death Row is back. The streets is ready, the penitentiary […]
Rappers Rip The Runway For BET
Rapper/actor LL Cool J and actress Gabrielle Union have been tapped to host BET’s annual Rip the Runway fashion special. Busta Rhymes, Three Six Mafia, Steve Harvey, Christina Milian, Anthony Hamilton and Ne-Yo will also be featured in the special, which airs March 23 on BET. The one-hour show will showcase LL Cool J’s new […]
Myka Nyne: Nine Lives
Myka Nyne, – known better as Myka 9, of the Freestyle Fellowship has a recording career that stretches back clear to the 1980s and a reputation which pre-dates most Hip-Hoppers with records out today. Mr. 9 and his associates held class at Leimert Park, while the world took notes as they redefined the term freestyle […]
M1: Classified
Best known to fans as one half of the seminal rap group dead prez, M1 has been combining Hip-Hop with activism ever since he was expelled from Florida A&M University with his comrade Stic.man. Now, M1 is combining with a Jazz great to sponsor his solo debut album, Confidential. Read, as M1 discusses his deal […]
Mobb Deep Talks ‘Blood Money’, G-Unit Collaboration
Mobb Deep have a retort for those those fans that thought the group’s G-Unit affiliation would compromise their self-proclaimed "murda musik." The group’s upcoming album, Blood Money, features 50 Cent and many acts like Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and Tony Yayo, but Prodigy and Havoc say their style prevails on the opus. "Basically, to the […]
