BBC 1xtra DJs Mistajam and Rodney P have signed on to host UK Takeover 4, one of the largest independent British Hip-Hop showcases. The main event will be held May 29 in Nottingham, at Rock City. Headlining artists include Kano, Klashnekoff, Jehst, Professor Green and MOBO award winner Sway. The showcase was launched in 2003 […]

Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul and Mary J. Blige are among the performers slated to take the stage June 4 at New York radio station Hot 97’s 13th annual Summer Jam concert. More than 50,000 people are expected to turn out for the event, which will also feature performances by Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, T.I., […]

Rapper Snoop Dogg was released on bail, without charge, this afternoon after he and five other men were arrested during a disturbance at Heathrow Airport in London. According to police, a fight broke out after the rapper’s entourage was refused entry to the British Airways first class lounge. One police officer suffered a broken hand, […]

College students from around the country gathered last week to attend the music industry seminar Music Biz 101 at Club Pacha in New York. The 25 students were selected from 500 applicants for their academic achievements and outstanding essays. Rapper MC Lyte, Timbaland, the Roots’ Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson, Mimi Valdés (Vibe), Will Griffin (Def On […]

Brooklyn rapper Gravy was shot Wednesday (April 26) outside New York’s Hot 97, moments before conducting a radio interview. The 28-year-old MC (born Jamal Wollard) was hit with one bullet in the buttocks after arriving at the radio station at about 9:30 p.m. Police said a group of men got out of a black Escalade […]

A New York Judge has ruled in favor of releasing a portion of Shyne’s assets that had been frozen under the “Son of Sam” law. Today (April 26), Judge David Vaughan granted a motion for release of $100,000 from the funds that are presently frozen under the “Son of Sam” NY Executive Law section 632-A. […]

Snoop Dogg was arrested in London last night after allegedly causing disturbance at Heathrow airport. It has been reported that a fight broke out after the rapper’s entourage was first refused entry to the British Airways first class lounge. Later, they were not permitted to board their flight, which was due to fly to Johannesburg, South Africa. […]

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Celebrity Cooking Showdown, a reality series created by the Hip-Hop mogul and Ben Silverman, has been canceled by NBC. The show, hosted by Alan Thicke, featured various celebrities including singer Patti LaBelle, model Cindy Margolis and actor Tom Arnold in a boot camp-style race to complete a fancy meal before a frenzied […]

Roc-A-Fella rapper Freeway is hard at work on his upcoming album Free At Last, co-executive produced by longtime friend and Def Jam CEO Jay-Z and G-Unit President 50 Cent. The album is slated to drop July 25 and features guest appearances by several Roc-A-Fella and G-Unit members, including 50 Cent, Young Buck and State Property. […]

Jive Records, BMI and Shine Network have joined forces to launch a national tour to find the next big star. The tour, which kicks off in Oakland, Calif., April 30, will showcase the best talent in each area as they perform for industry executives with hopes of walking away with a record deal with Jive, […]

Public Enemy front man Chuck D is entering the wireless communication market with his new mobile-content aggregation company, Chuck D Mobile. The goal of the service, launched earlier this month at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Wireless Show in Las Vegas, is to wirelessly distribute music and videos to cell phones. The rapper is working […]

Fort Minor, the hip-hop side project of Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda, will unveil a new song to promote TNT’s post-season coverage of the NBA playoffs. The track, titled "Remember the Name," features Styles of Beyond, a collective on Linkin Park’s Machine Shop record label, counting down a formula for success as they declare, "This […]

A close associate of Jay-Z pleaded guilty yesterday (April 24) to disorderly conduct for pepper-spraying R&B crooner R. Kelly during the duo’s The Best of Both Worlds Tour in 2004. Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, vice president of Def Jam Records and friend of rapper Jay-Z, stood trial in a Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday regarding the […]

Fashion designer and entrepreneur Marc Ecko announced the filing of a First Amendment lawsuit yesterday against the Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Councilman Peter Vallone and the City of New York. Filed on behalf of seven artists under the age of 21, Ecko’s lawsuit challenges anti-graffiti legislation that directly impacts the First Amendment rights of young citizens […]

Hip-Hop trio The Black Eyed Peas are set to host The Peapod Benefit Concert in South Africa, the first major event for the group’s non-profit organization The Peapod Foundation. The concert will be held May 28 in South Africa’s Johannesburg Stadium at Ellis Park. Local South African artists and dancers will also participate in the […]

The Outlawz and political rap duo dead prez are hooking up to record a new album titled Can’t Sell Dope Forever. Featuring appearances from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Layzie Bone and Messy Marv, the project aims to spark dialogue, while urging unity, power and progression in the streets. The album title was inspired by Miseducated Society, […]

Grammy Award winning rapper Cornell “Nelly” Haynes, Jr. will be heading to Richmond, Va., next month to team up with the Richmond Braves minor league baseball team, for a celebrity softball game to raise money for inner city youth. The event is scheduled to take place May 2 at The Diamond as part of Nelly’s […]

Trey Songz’ lawyer released a statement regarding the Virginia R&B singer’s riff with law officials at Clark Atlanta University. Songz, born Tremain Neverson, was arrested April 6 by the Clark Atlanta Police Department on charges of obstruction of law enforcement and disorderly conduct. The singer and his lawyer, Attorney Curtis L. Hubbard, Jr., deny the […]