Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. yesterday, Minister Louis Farrakhan called upon rappers to be "messengers of good," and to focus on using their celebrity to bring forth change. Speaking about his recent tour of the Middle East & Africa, as well as the current war climate in the world, Farrakhan told […]

Critically and commercially acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson recently said that he wasn’t fond of rappers using their celebrity to become actors. Jackson said that he will not even look at a script that would give a rapper a starring role. "It’s not my job to lend credibility to so-and-so rapper who’s just coming into […]

Riverhead books has secured the rights to release the memoir of music mogul Suge Knight and plans to release a hard cover book in 2003, according to a statement. In a statement released by Riverhead the book will “chronicle the inspirational story of Knight’s emergence from the streets of Compton, CA to become one of […]

Ray "Benzino" Scott, co-owner of The Source magazine entered into an agreement with Florida state prosecutors and will avoid jail time, after being arrested for a confrontation with a police officer during the 2001 Source Awards. Scott pleaded no contest to driving with a suspended license and reckless driving. All of the charges were either […]

Rapper/actor Ice-T is slated to be the national spokesman for Posse Pops ice cream. The ice cream is the creation of Rick Brown, an ice cream vet who worked at Ben and Jerry’s for 20 years. Posse Pops will come in a variety of sweet flavors and wrapped in packaging that will educate the kids […]

Billboard Magazine will honor the legacies of hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa and the Isley Brothers during the company’s second annual Billboard-AURN (American Urban Radio Networks) R&B/Hip-Hop Awards show August 9th. The Founder’s Award, which will be bestowed upon both artists, is a first for Billboard and will recognize the artists for their contributions and influence […]

Cash Money Records and Rodney Jerkins of Darkchild Entertainment have signed a production and distribution deal where the New Orleans hip-hop label will distribute, co-promote and market records with Darkchild Records. Harlem-based rapper FATS’ album, F.A.T.S (Finally A True Story) is the first expected collaboration between the two companies, according to Ronald “Slim” Williams. FATS […]

Police say rapper Mystikal videotaped portions of an alleged rape of a 40-year-old, even though his counsel maintained his innocence, according to MTV news. Authorities seized the tape after finding it in a safe within the rapper’s Louisiana home. The tape has which has been placed in police custody as evidence said Cpl. Mary Ann […]

Def Jam artist Kelly Price, rapper Sauce Money and songwriter Jeremy Graham have sued Sean “P-Diddy” Combs because they feel the mogul cheated them out of millions in royalties stemming from 1997’s No Way Out. The $4 million lawsuit said Combs conspired to defraud the trio out of monies made off of the 6-million-unit selling […]

Roc-A-Fella CEO’s Jay-Z, Kareem “Biggs” Burke and Dame Dash announced that they have purchased imported Scottish liquor brand, Armadale Vodka. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, Dash said the Roc-A-Fella heads were excited about the acquisition. “Roc-A-Fella has always respected quality vodkas, such as Belvedere and Grey Goose. Just like we do […]

Grammy-nominated rapper Mystikal (Michael Tyler), along with two other men, were charged with aggravated rape and extortion, according to the Associated Press. All three men, including Leland Ellis, 36, and Vercy Carter, 34, turned themselves in to police on Thursday morning and were booked in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Thursday afternoon Mystikal was released on $250, […]

Dibiase, one of the point rappers in Jaz-O’s Immobilaire crew, has defected and fallen out with the leader Jaz-O. In the unnamed song circulating, Dibiase turns on his former crew member and lyrically tosses disses at the veteran rapper, who is already in a war of words with Jay-Z and the Roc-A-Fella crew. Dibiase is […]

According to Matador Records, the long awaited album by veteran producer Large Professor will finally hit shelves October 8. Titled 1st Class, the album features Nas, Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes. After several label changes that kept his solo album from being released 1st Class is the Large Professor’s first full album release since he dropped […]

Chicago producer NoID has inked a deal with Def Jam for his label, Face The Music. NoID has produced tracks for Common, Method Man, new Def Jam artist Diego & tracks for Jay-Z, which NoID said would be featured on Jigga’s album, or on an upcoming Roc-A-Fella Allstar album that is being recorded. The first […]

Ice T is executive producing and hosting a new series on TLC, "Beyond Tough." Ice, who served in the U.S. Army’s elite Ranger regiment, is executive producing the series with long time friend Andre Jetmir. The new show focuses on men and women who’s career’s put them in the path of danger and death everyday. […]

Lox member Styles P will serve an 8 month bid starting in November, for stabbing a man in the "backside," according to a published report in the New York Daily News. Style’s, who is known for his hard core lyrics, admitted that he is not looking forward to lockdown. "Who wants to go to jail? […]

Veteran rapper Heavy D is putting the final touches on his 8th album, Hev. According to Heavy, the album unfinished album features Faith Evans, Loon and P.Diddy, while Heavy is locking down other guest appearances. The album will feature production by The Trackmasters, Tony Dofat, P.Diddy and Heavy D. himself. "I’m excited about everything that’s […]

Canada’s Choclair recently shot a video for his second single, "Skunk," off of his latest album, Memoirs Of Blake Savage. The single features Kurupt, who was also on hand for the video shoot, which was shot during Canada Day Weekend by Wendy Morgan. Morgan recently lensed Swollen Members award winning video, "Fuel Injected." The new […]