New DVD Teaches Producers; Easy Mo Bee, Midi Mafia, Others Contribute
Following in the trend of Hip-Hop DVDs, Firestorm Media, a company based in Delaware and Baltimore recently lunged in to the realm with a video that will guide young producers in the ways of crafting sonic backdrops. Hot Trax Production Magazine, the DVD, will serve as a template for aspiring and seasoned producers to establish […]
From the Vaults: Master P, circa 1992
The other day, while going through some old boxes in my garage I found a box of cassette tapes. Most of them were unmarked. I put some of them in my recorder and to my amazement they had old interviews with Master P and many other Bay Area and LA giants. But these interviews were […]

AHH Stray News: Hammer, Raphael Saadiq, Seal, Donald Goines
Rapper MC Hammer officiated at the wedding of Motley Crue member Vince Neil yesterday (January 9th). According to reports, Neil, 43, struck up a friendship with the multi-platinum rapper while they filmed the reality television show “The Surreal Life” in 2002. Neil married his girlfriend Lia Gerardini in Las Vegas, Nevada. Producer/singer/songwriter Raphael Saadiq is […]

Nas & Kelis Married In Atlanta
Its official. Hip-hops golden son Nas and his proclaimed wifey Kelis have gotten married after a two-year engagement. The crazy-in-love hip-hop pair hitched Saturday (Jan. 8) in Atlanta, according to sources with AllHipHop.com. The small ceremony consisted of only close friends and family, including Nas father Olu Dara, who appears on Nas latest song, Bridging […]

Will Smith Sells Real Estate Holding For $10.5 Million
Philadelphia-born actor and rapper Will Smith recently sold a property in his hometown where he planned to develop a hotel and shopping center. The city initially gave Smith the go-ahead to build a luxury hotel and retail complex on the vacant lot in Philadelphia’s historical Society Hill section several years ago, promising $9 million in […]

50 Cent, Whoo Kid Prepare Massacre
Before unveiling his new album St Valentines Day Massacre to the public, 50 Cent recently collaborated with DJ Whoo Kid to compose a brand new mixtape entitled 2050: Before The Massacre. The mixtape, which is scheduled to hit the circuit later this week will contain an exclusive collection of all new freestyles and will feature […]

Readers Repy: Coon Picnic
Below is my official response to many ‘questions’ or rebuttals emailed to me. As of now, I’ve received over 800 emails of varying thoughts and opinions on my article. I appreciate all of them regardless of their content. The public debate has begun and that’s most important. In order to respond to ALL of you […]

In Defense of Nas & Hip-Hop
While “Ants at Nas’ Coon Picnic” raises some thoughtful and persuasive critiques of the rapper’s diatribe against “sellouts” in media and entertainment, the author’s fundamental premise is flawed, his opinion misinformed, and his tone quite elitist. Morris O’Kelly deserves kudos for pointing out the factual errors in “These Are Our Heroes.” Nas, by saying on […]

Aaries: Only The Best
The idea of singing twins oozes of a contrived marketing gimmick, however the buzz surrounding identical twin singing group Aaries has not dissipated since their subtle emergence in 1999. You might remember hearing fellow Philadelphian artist Musiq speaking highly of Ayana and Ayinke whenever he found the opportunity. Aaries vocals can be heard all over […]

Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of The Word “Pimp”
Rappers from Snoop Dogg to 50 Cent and Nelly have used the word "pimp" in both its negative and positive subtexts in their rhymes, but controversy over "pimp" recently spilled into the courts, leading to a decision supporting the term’s usage. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday (Jan. 4) in favor of […]

Zulu Nation’s Seattle Chapter Planning First Hip-Hop Celebration
The Universal Zulu Nation’s Seattle Chapter is hosting their first ever anniversary celebration of Hip-Hop culture which will be held in Seattle, Washington , from February 17-20, 2005. Besides celebrating the chapter’s anniversary, they will honor Black history month and attempt to unite the elements of Hip-Hop culture (emceeing, deejaying, break dancing, visual art, and […]

Nelly Donates 50k To Martin Luther King Jr. Monument
St. Louis, Missouri native Nelly presented a $50,000 check as a donation to the Martin Luther King Memorial Project Foundation. The donation will help build a memorial on the mall in Washington, D.C., in honor of the civil rights legend, who was assassinated in 1968. Founders of the project hope that the monument will educate […]

Cam’ron Stays With Def Jam; Talks P####, Flicks And Fashion
Late last year, Camron announced through the radio that he was leaving Def Jam after the presidential appointment of Jay-Z and the sale of Roc-A-Fella Recordings. But, now sources inside the label have revealed that the Diplomat chief is still with the label. While details are scarce, Cam was still contractually bound to the label […]

Pharrell Sues Reebok
Neptunes producer Pharrell Williams and his clothing company BBC are reportedly suing Reebok for $4 million in damages, alleging that the sports apparel giant violated a contract between the two parties. Pharrell’s clothing and footwear brand BBC (Billionaire Boys Club) filed a complaint in New York court Dec. 17, 2004, claiming that Reebok did not […]

Andre 3000, Mark Walberg Star In John Singleton Flick
Adding yet another rapper to his catalog of co-stars, actor/former rapper Mark Wahlberg will star alongside OutKast’s Andre 3000 in a new action-drama film. The John Singleton-directed movie centers around four adopted brothers who seek to avenge their mother’s murder. "This cast is gonna kick ass," Singleton told AllHipHop.com. "It’s a real man’s movie full […]

Demand Makes Skillz Release “04 Rap-up”
The year 2003 was supposed to mark the end of Skillz’s popular yearly “Rap Up” songs, but the Virginia native has exclusively released the 2004 to the glee of fans, DJs and other MC’s. After opting out last year, he said the public convinced him to forge ahead with the series, which explains why the […]

D-Dot: Breaking Silence With Science
When Notorious B.I.G left the planet in ’97, we were left with musical memoirs that reminded us of why he was crowned “legendary”. It wasn’t just B.I.G’s voice and lyrics that captured us, but the hypnotic beats that surrounded those vocals. Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie provided a considerable amount of those tailor-made beats to one of […]

Andre 3000s Jimi Hendrix Movie Looks Bleak
Andre 3000s upcoming biopic on rock legend Jimi Hendrix is at risk of being scrapped altogether, because the guitarists estate has forbid the directors from using music from his archives. A probable hit, the movie was to chronicle the turbulent life of Hendrix up until his tragic death at 27 years old. The movie showed […]

M.O.P, Remy Martin To Perform At Benefit Concert For Tsunami Victims
M.O.P will perform at a special benefit in New York hosted by Terror Squad member Remy Martin, designed at raising funds to aid the relief effort for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami, which killed hundreds of thousands of people. "M.O.P is proud to be a part of this very special event," said Laze Elliot, […]

AHH Stray News: Ice-T, Eminem & The Source, TrakStarz
Ice T’s political lobbying has apparently paid off. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a tax break law Monday (Jan. 3) in favor of film and television production companies that work in Manhattan. Ice T testified before the New York City Council last month to support the tax credit on TV and movie production […]