Big Shots
Artist: CharizmaTitle: Big ShotsRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Brolin Winning The past year has been a good one for fans of early-nineties hip-hop. We’ve seen the release of some crucial, previously shelved albums (Dooley-O’s Watch My Moves, Pete Rock’s work with INI and Deda), and discovered new artists who flip the classic styles of old […]

Goapele: Dream Street
People might have a hard time pronouncing Goapele’s name but after listening to the album they will learn what great music is. Her debut CD Even Closer gives your 14 tracks of soulful, sensual, music that good for the soul. The title track alone will force you press the repeat button and listen to it […]

Raphael Saadiq : Escalator Style
Raphael Saadiq has boldly set out to etch his legend in stone just a little deeper. The formation of an independent R&B label is something almost unheard of in the music industry, and if he can pull it off successfully, he will undoubtedly set a new precedent in his already flawless career. His new label, […]

Always Will Be
Artist: J-LiveTitle: Always Will BeRating: 3 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Toshitaka Kondo Whos J-Live? Hes could be the best rapper who youve never heard of. The Source Unsigned Hype alum has all the symptoms of the good rapper, bad luck syndrome. A heavily praised, yet bootlegged and unreleased debut, The Best Part. His nomadic label situation. […]

The Black Album
Artist: Jay-ZTitle: The Black AlbumRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: Quia Querisma It’s no secret that The Black Album was anticipated. The real secret is whether or not Jay-Z is really going to call it quits. Doubtful, but if he does, he’s leaving the game the way you should, while hes on top. Jay pulled no […]

G-Unit, Beanie Sigel Both Working On Saturday Morning Cartoons
In addition to the massive success of his debut album, Get Rich or Die Trying and the debut of G-Unit’s Beg For Mercy, 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks will provide voices to an upcoming Saturday morning cartoon, "Beaver Street Gang." "It’s basically about a bunch of kids at an orphanage hanging out outside," Lloyd Banks […]

Wordsworth Inks Deal, Preps Solo Album
Rapper Wordsworth has inked a deal with Halftooth Records and will drop his highly anticipated solo album. Wordsworth, who gained fame from his role in the Lyricist Lounge showcase, said that his decision to sign with the indie label was based on the owners belief in his music. “I chose to go with Halftooth because […]

New York Council Member Seeks Reparations From Record Labels
New York Council member Yvette D. Clarke joined community activists and elected officials last week, denouncing misogynist and racist lyrics by Eminem and other popular hip-hop artists. Clarke, along with Erica Ford of the Code Foundation, Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement, representatives of the Harriet Tubman/Fannie Lou Hamer Collective, the Masses United for […]

DJ Quik Wanted For Assault
An arrest warrant for David "DJ Quik" Blake was issued by San Bernardino County this week after the rapper allegedly entered his sister’s home and assaulted her. According to authorities, Quik entered the house of his 42 year-old sister on November 2 with two other men while she was sleeping. His sister said that Quik […]

Details In Soulja Slim Shooting
James "Soulja Slim" Tapp was shot and killed yesterday (November 26) in front of his mothers house in New Orleans. Police are investigating a number of leads in the killing, but have yet to charge anyone in connection with the crime. "Slim was wildin’ out, he was on X (Ecstasy) hard," a source told AllHipHop.com. […]

Soulja Slim Gunned Down
According to sources, James “Soulja Slim” Tapp was shot and killed today (November 26) in New Orleans. Tapp was shot several times and killed in the front yard of his mother’s New Orlean’s house, as he exited his vehicle. Police are currently seeking a motive for the rapper’s slaying. Before signing to Master P’s No […]

50 Cent’s G6 Sneaker Debuts Big
50 Cent’s recently released sneaker with Reebok, the G6 from the G-Unit Collection, marked one of the best liquidations of a debut Reebok shoe. According to Reebok, the shoe completely sold out of the Reebok.com store and in key global markets such as New York, Philadelphia and London. “My Reebok G-Unit sneaker blew out of […]

Big Tigger, G-Unit, Wyclef Raise AIDS Awareness
Cable television channel BET will provide special programming to coincide with World AIDS Day, a globally recognized event that takes place on Monday, December 1. The network will utilize hip-hop to kick off the programming, airing a special two-hour edition of Rap City: The Bassment. Host Big Tigger will discuss the important HIV testing information […]

Jay-Z Goes Out On Top At Farewell Concert
Jay-Z held his farewell concert last night (November 25) at Madison Square Garden. The sold out show was a who’s who in rap and R&B music, featuring Beyonce, the Roc-A-Fella family, R.Kelly, Missy Elliot, Foxy Brown and Mary J. Blige. The concert highlighted the phenomenal success the Brooklyn born rapper has acheived. Jay-Z started the […]

Xzibit Forms New Crew
LA rhymester Xzibit has formed Strong Arm Steady, a new group that includes San Diegos Mitchy Slick, former Likwit member Phil The Agony and Krondon.Next year, X and the group will drop a DVD to introduce the collective and reveal their ways through shows and backstage. In addition, the DVD will include an exclusive mixtape […]

Miami’s Pitbull Signs With TVT
Popular Miami rapper Pitbull has inked a long term deal with TVT Records, home to such southern acts as Ying Yang Twins and Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz. “The timing was just right with TVT. The label has its finger on the pulse of the South movement and I wanted to be a part […]

Howard U Keeps Marching Band Out Of DMX Video
Howard University officials ruled that the prestigious school’s marching band could not appear in “We Bout to Blow,” a new video by rapper DMX.Franklin Chambers, Vice Provost of Student Affairs, said the school’s General Counsel did not have enough time to review the contract, due to the timing of the request.Chambers also said the historically […]

DMC Reminisces Over Thanksgiving Dinner
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels will join disco diva Gloria Gaynor, former teen idol Debbie Gibson and Dee Snyder of rock group Twisted Sister on VH1’s first-ever “A Very Classic Thanksgiving.”VH1 invited the “classic” artists to eat food, drink wine, share Thanksgiving memories and discuss music.Highlights of the festivities will be played over a two day span […]

The Source Criticizes Russell Simmons And HSAN
Source owner David Mays has decided to step down from the Hip-Hop Summit Action Networks board of directors, alleging that Russell Simmons was irresponsible for his recent defense of Eminem. Last week, the magazine released a 10-year-old tape of a younger Marshall Mathers rapping disrespectfully about Black women and using the word ni**er. “Russell Simmons’ […]

Eminem Releases New Source Diss Song
In the latest in the war of words between Eminem and Ray “Benzino” Scott, three new songs by Eminem are circulating on the Internet, aimed at the Source magazine’s owners. On the first song “Bully”, Eminem accuses Benzino of extreme jealously and vowed that he would not back down from The Source magazine. “I’m withholding […]