Coolio To Face Off Against International Pop Stars
Rapper Coolio will take part in a German Television show titled "Comeback – The Great Chance." The show takes stars that had hit records and lets them compete against each other. The winner of the competition will receive a "free" production deal with a yet-to-be announced superstar producer. Coolio will face off against Haddaway, who […]
Seven Heads Launches Recording Studio
Seven Heads, an artist management and recording company, is expanding their services to include a full service recording studio. The company, which has worked with such critically acclaimed artists as J-live, Asheru, Djinji Brown and others, has used the studio for their recording artists for years and decided to open it up to the public. […]
Def Jam Hit With $22 Million Dollar Soundscan Lawsuit
A former music executive at Def Jam is accusing the label of manipulating Soundscan results, in an attempt to distort music charts.Theresa Rossi, filed the $22 million dollar lawsuit, claiming that Def Jam hired a marketing company, Giaco Entertainment.The lawsuit claims that Giaco, owned by Joe Giaco, forced merchants to repeatedly swipe free CD’s of […]
Avant No Limits
Cleveland native Avant landed his first recording contract in 1998 when he was barely 20-years-old, and in 1999 MCA Records released his song Separated on a summer compilation. Avant signed a deal the following year with Magic Johnsons label, which was distributed through MCA Records. In 2000 they released his first full album, My Thoughts, […]
The Undeniable LP
Artist: Phat KatTitle: The Undeniable LPRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine Phat Kat has been a hyped rising artist for two years now. Coming from Detroit, he has caught the attention of the D-12 camp, as well as Phillys Okayplayer crew. His appearances on compilations and mixtapes have gotten some thirst for the LP. Kats dropped […]
Update: Former Hot Boy “Turk” Charged With Attempted Murder
Virgil "Turk" Tab Jr. has officially been charged with attempted first-degree murder, in a shooting that wounded two police officers. As previously reported, Tab, who gave his name to police as Tab Virgil, was a member of Cash Money Records recording group The Hot Boys. Officers were serving a search warrant Monday afternoon at the […]
Nelly’s Pimp Juice Cracks A Million In 3 Months
Rapper Nelly’s energy drink, Pimp Juice, has racked up over a million sales in just over three months.After being named “Best Energy Drink” by Vibe magazine and snagging The People’s Choice of Best Energy Drink in respected trade magazine Bev-Net, Nelly is aiming to distribute the drink via the Internet.”The demand was growing so rapidly […]
Faith Evans Arrested On Drug Charges
R&B singer Faith, former wife of the late Notorious B.I.G., was arrested and charged with marijuana and cocaine possession charges.Evans and her husband, Todd Russaw, were arrested in Hapeville, just south of Atlanta, Georgia, where Evans resides.Evans was also charged with having an improper vehicle tag according to authorities.Evans and Russaw are being held in […]
Krayzie Bone Signs Deal, Recording New Solo Album
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony member Krayzie Bone has inked a deal with Los Angeles label Ball’r and is set to release a new solo album.Krayzie is currently finishing the untitled album. The first single is due at radio in mid-February.”It’s time for Krayzie to shine,” Ball’r CEO Jack G. said. “Ball’r Records is going to bring him […]
Ying Yang Twins Strike Gold
The Ying Yang Twins album Me & My Brother has struck gold.Powered by the success of their singles “Get Low” and “Salt Shaker,” the album has moved over 500,000 copies in just 18 weeks.The album is also the #1 independent rap album in the United States.The duo will be taping an episode of Last Call […]
Royce Da 59: Against All Odds
After garnering critical acclaim as an amateur, Royce Da 5’9” was the favorite to win Rookie Of The Year honors once his debut album officially dropped. Rock City was supposed to catapult him to the ranks of hip-hop’s elite. But it didn’t. Fans couldn’t keep their hands off the unreleased album, like Kobe Bryant couldn’t […]
Jury Selection Begins In Sean “P. Diddy” Combs Case
Jury selection started today in a case against Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, relating to a 1999 nightclub shooting.Combs’ former chauffeur, Wardel Fenderson, alleges that Combs and his former bodyguard Anthony “Wolf” Jones, forced him to speed away from the scene of the shooting, which took place at Club New York, in Manhattan.Fenderson seeks $3 million […]
Lost Boyz Member “Spigg Nice” Sentenced To 37 Years In Prison
Ronald “Spigg Nice” Blackwell, a member of popular Queens, New York rap group The Lost Boys, was sentenced to 37 years for a bank robbery spree.The sentencing took place last Friday (January 16), with Blackwell being the last of four defendants to be sentenced.U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie labeled the string of robberies one of […]
Meth & Red Want Sitcom Success
Method Man has had success packaging his charisma and raw persona on albums and movies. Now, the Shaolin representative is hoping he and partner-in-rhyme Redman can deliver their hip-hop charm to the small screen. The duo will test their fate as they star in a sitcom pilot on Fox. But, Meth admitted he had some […]
Lyor Cohen Leaves Def Jam For Warner Music Group
Island Def Jam CEO Lyor Cohen has accepted a top position at Edgar Bronfman’s newly acquired Warner Music Group.Cohen, to head Warner’s North American operations, worked with Bronfman before Universal was sold to French owned Vivendi. Cohen spent 21 years at Def Jam.”I have been presented with an extraordinary opportunity to continue growing my career,” […]
Mr. Paine & Defari: An Editorial Reply
As a white guy working in the field of Hip-Hop music journalism I could tell you all kinds of stories involving what could be perceived as a general attitude of suspicion towards someone of a Caucasian background trying to break into a field that is dominated primarily by African Americans. But, in the end, who […]
Eminem’s Mother Carjacked At 8Mile
Debbie Mathers, the estranged mother of Eminem, was reportedly carjacked on the outskirts of Detroit last Thursday (Jan. 21). According to local reports, Mathers was sitting in her car as her vehicle was being refueled at a gas station that sits at an intersection at the now-famous Eight Mile road. WDIV-TV in Detroit reported that […]
Tony Yayo Back In Jail
G-Unit member Tony Yayo is reportedly back in prison, for violating terms of his probation.According to sources, he must serve 90 days in prison for traveling to Las Vegas with his G-Unit crew.Other sources refuted the notion that the violation was a result of traveling outside of New York.Interscope representative’s declined to comment on the […]
Regina Carter: Dreaming of Paganini
With the slow, careful movement of a mother carrying her new born child, The Maker gestured to transfer the fragile item he held to its nervous recipient. Ms. Regina Carter, Grammy Nominated violinist and jazz artist from Detroit Michigan, reached to take the priceless apparatus from The Maker. Unsatisfied with Ms. Carters positioning, The Maker […]
Dame Dash Denies Rape Allegations
Roc-A-Fella CEO Damon Dash denied recent rape charge allegations at a press conference in London.Former model Kirstie Thompson filed a $15 million dollar lawsuit against Dash, claiming that forced himself upon her on New Years day of 2003.”Its just ridiculous,” Dash said. “I am not going to do something that dumb.”Dash vowed to fight the […]
