The Highlite Zone
Artist: The High & MightyTitle: The Highlite ZoneRating: 3 StarsReviewed by: Paine The High & Mighty is one of hip-hops most well-respected crews. While they keep it defiantly underground, Mr. Eon and Mighty Mi have harbored an undying love for the hip-hop of yesterday thats reflected greatly in their music. Few realize that their 1999 […]
Wooden Leather
Artist: Nappy RootsTitle: Wooden LeatherRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Erin Jackson Nappy Roots 2002 debut, Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz, earned them critical acclaim, and with their sophomore release, Wooden Leather, they seem destined to follow in its successful footsteps. In todays hip hop game, where its often difficult to differentiate artists from their posses of nondescript […]
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Artist: OutKastTitle: Speakerboxxx/The Love BelowRating: 4 1/2 StarsReviewed by: aqua boogie On Outkasts new double album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below they take the bipolar nature of their music to the extreme; creating two separate solo albums. OutKast has always consisted of two separate, though kindred, personalities. As theyve grown artistically and as men, Antwan Big Boi […]
Ishmael Butler : Cherrywine
In the early nineties a young insect by the name of Butterfly founded an insect collective called the Digable Planets. With Ladybug and Doodlebug by his side, Butterfly had all us earthlings expressing how cool we were with the infectiously jazzy Cool Like Dat. The Digable Planets dropped two hip hop gems in 1993s Reachin […]
C-Murder Convicted Of Murder, Mandatory Life Sentence
A jury convicted rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller of second degree murder today (September 30). Miller is accused of shooting 16-year-old Steven Thomas in the chest after an argument inside of the Platinum Club in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana in January 2002. Nine defense witnesses testified that Miller had nothing to do with the shooting or the […]
Closing Arguments In C-Murder Trial Halted
Closing arguments in the murder trial of rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller were halted today, when the state 5th Circuit of Appeals in New Orleans ruled that a judge cannot keep prosecutors from telling jurors that Miller could be innocent of second degree murder. Prosecutors said that jurors should be informed that Miller could be guilty […]
P.Diddy The Marathon Man
Sean "P.Diddy" Combs will enter the 2003 New York City Marathon, hoping to raise millions of dollars for New York City children. "I’m not in it for the hype and publicity," Diddy said. "It’s a personal challenge for me, but most importantly, it’s to benefit the kids. The AIDS epidemic in our communities is real." […]
LL, Chuck D. Take It To Capitol Hill
LL Cool J and Chuck D. will speak along side music industry executives and technology experts will appear on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to speak about downloading music and copyright issues. The panel, titled The Privacy & Piracy: The Paradox of Illegal File Sharing on Peer-to-Peer Networks and the Impact of Technology on the […]
Outstanding Arrest Warrant For Lil Kim In Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck, New Jersey police have an outstanding arrest warrant for rapper Lil Kim, in connection with marijuana possession charges from July of 1996. Kim and crew were arrested when police raided the home of Notorious B.I.G. and found several handguns with missing serial numbers and a stash of marijuana in the house. B.I.G. was charged […]
Little Brother Embarks On First National Tour
The North Carolina trio of Phonte, Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder, collectively known as Little Brother, began their first national tour Tuesday (Sept. 23) in Solana Beach, California as a part of the Hieroglyphics Full Circle Tour. The first performance of the 40 plus-city tour was at the Belly Up Tavern, where Little Brother, […]
Ice Cube: From Tha Hood To Hollywood
Ice Cube has been a fixture on the hip-hop scene for almost 20 years now. Many watched in awe as a group of N##### With Attitudes burst on to the hip-hop scene and changed the landscape of the game’s terrain. After a split from NWA due to money, a consciouss awakening through religion and politics, […]
Jay-Z Sells Out Madison Square Garden
Jay-Z’s concert at Madison Square Garden sold out in a matter of hours on Saturday September 27th. Tickets for the November 25th show went on sale at 9am and were sold out by 5pm. The concert is the beginning of Jay-Z’s retirement and will help hype the release of his final solo album, The Black […]
Big Tigger Leaves NY’s Power 105
Big Tigger has left New York’s Power 105, after being ranked number 1 in the 18-34 last Arbitron ratings. Tigger was not available for comment, but sources said that the popular host left the station because of a contractual dispute. Tigger will continue on Detroit’s FM98 WJLB and Miami’s new 103.5 FM The Beat as […]
Hip Hop Ya Don’t Stop
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? This is the question faced by the current hip hop artist. As defined by Cheryl L. Keyes, the author of the book Rap Music and Street Consciousness, "Hip Hop is an urban youth arts movement comprised of graffiti, emceeing, disc […]
Dead Prez Members Arrested In Brooklyn
Dead Prez’ M-1 and Sticman were arrested yesterday as they conducted a photo shoot, in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. The arrest follows their performance on the 26th, at the New School University, in Tischman Hall. Sources stated that a strong police presence turned out for the free concert the group gave, […]
50 Cent Snags 52 Room Mansion
Rapper 50 Cent recently purchased Mike Tyson’s 52-room house in Farmington, Connecticut. The house sold for $4.1 million dollars and in addition to the 52 rooms, includes 25 full baths and 14 half baths. The house has two three story spiral staircases, several kitchens, a sauna, a hot tub, four whirlpools and brass and marble […]
Trick Daddy Released, To Be Placed Under House Arrest
Trick Daddy was released from jail yesterday, after being arrested Wednesday on a charge of felony drug charges in Homestead, Florida. Trick Daddy and a friend were in the stands of a high school football game drinking liquor, prompting parents to complain to the police. The two were kicked out of the stadium. After a […]
George Clinton Alive And Well
The death of author George Plimpton set off rumors in the hip-hop community that funk legend George Clinton had passed, due to the similarities in their names. Various radio outlets reported at length that Clinton had passed due to an unknown illness, which is false. "George Clinton is very alive and well," his lawyer, Shoshana […]
Outkast Jumps Into Adult Toys
Hip-hop entrepreneurship might have just gotten too big for its britches, among other things. As their album, Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below, is expected to easily top the charts, Outkast plans to start a line of adult toys. Whether the duo of Andre and Big Boi are serious truly remains to be seen, but the pair […]
Trick Daddy Catches Drug Charge
Trick Daddy was arrested Wednesday (Sept. 24) and charged with felony possession of cocaine and a misdemeanor charge for marijuana, according to published reports. While he has had a host of criminal cases in the past, Trick Daddy (real name Maurice Young) maintained his innocence through his lawyer. “He’s very upset that he’s being accused […]