Bay Area rapper Mac Minister was profiled on Fox’s long-running television series America’s Most Wanted on Saturday (Feb. 11). Police have been seeking Mac Minister, born Andre Dow, in connection with the May 2005 murders of Kansas City rapper Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins and his companion, Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins. Police suspect Mac Minister and an […]
West Coast rap couple Kurupt and Gail Gotti announced plans to wed this summer and will release an album together on their respective labels.The future newlyweds will release an untitled full-length album together this summer through Kurupt’s Penagon Enterprises and Gail Gotti’s Night-In-Gail Entertainment.Two tracks from the upcoming album, “Ride It Out,” which was produced […]
Funeral services for Detroit rapper/producer J Dilla, who died Friday (Feb. 10) of complications from lupus, will take place this week in Los Angeles. He was 32. A viewing for J Dilla, born James Yancey, will be held Monday (Feb. 13), followed by a funeral on Tuesday (Feb. 14). A memorial concert is also being […]
The North Carolina trio of Phonte, Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder, collectively known as Little Brother, recently participated in a Hip-Hop Summit at their Alma Mater, North Carolina Central University, on Wednesday (Feb. 8). The one-day summit was established to address social issues within the Hip-Hop community and allow aspiring Hip-Hop enthusiasts to display […]
Hip-Hop producer J-Dilla passed away today (Feb. 10) due to an unspecified ailment. Early reports suggest he succumbed to kidney failure, a medical problem which arose in 2004. J-Dilla, born James Yancey, was a member of Slum Village and worked with various Hip-Hop artists including Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and Common’s […]
LL Cool J is the latest rapper to enter the fashion realm. The Queens-bred MC premiered his new Todd Smith men’s and women’s clothing lines earlier this week at the Carlton Hotel during New York’s Fashion Week. For his men’s collection, LL Cool J (whose real name is James Todd Smith) enlisted Jeremy Brandrick of […]
Essence Magazine and the Berklee College of Music are looking for Hip-Hop’s next generation of stars through their first ever Hip-Hop Songwriting Contest. Students from ages 15-18 who are unsigned can submit their music until Feb. 28. Entries will be judged based on cleverness and innovativeness of lyrics, as well as melody and composition. "This […]
Rapper Busta Rhymes has issued a statement about an early morning shooting last Sunday (Feb. 5) that took the life of his longtime bodyguard. Authorities believe an argument between Ruff Ryders President Swizz Beatz and Tony Yayo and G-Unit sparked a deadly shooting on the set of a video shoot for Busta Rhymes’ single “Touch […]
Ice Cube’s forthcoming comedic film Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is being redone as the sequel to the rapper’s 2005 movie, Are We There Yet? According to Variety, the change occurred after Revolution Studios announced it had ceased development of new product. The big opening for Martin Lawrence’s new movie, Big Momma’s House 2, […]
Los Angeles-based Hip-Hop duo People Under the Stairs (aka PUTS) is releasing their fifth album, Stepfather, this May under the independent Hip-Hop label, Basement Records. The full-length album features guest appearances by legendary Funkadelic and Parliament member George Clinton, Monty Stark of Stark Reality, and Kat of Crown City Rockers. The CD will be accompanied […]
A wake for the slain bodyguard of rap superstar Busta Rhymes was held yesterday (Feb. 9) in New York. Mourners laid Israel Ramirez, 29, to rest at the Century Funeral Home, where hundreds of family and friends turned out. Police believe Ramirez was shot and killed as he shielded Busta Rhymes during an altercation between […]
Multi-platinum selling rapper Kanye West scored three Grammys last night (Feb. 8), including the coveted Best Rap Album award at the 48th annual ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Fueled by the success of his sophomore album, Late Registration, the Chicago MC took home honors in three categories, including Best Rap Album, Best […]
Rap newcomer Penelope Jones will appear on the crime-solving television show America’s Most Wanted Feb. 18 to discuss the still-unsolved murder of her brother. Jones (born Juarita Jones) has been aggressively searching for the murderer of her brother Tony since he was fatally shot in his home three years ago in front of his two […]
Miami-based record label Slip-N-Slide Records has inked a multi-million dollar deal with Def Jam, headed by rapper/mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. While Trina, Trick Daddy and Ft. Meyers rapper Plies will remain signed as Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic artists, newcomers Rick Ross, of Miami, and Citty, of Atlanta, will record under the new Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam imprint, where a new […]
Twista recently headlined an event at Chicago’s Roosevelt University, as part of National Black AIDS Awareness day yesterday (Feb. 7). The rapper encouraged young fans to engage in safe sex and use condoms. The event was sponsored by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS (BASUAH). According to the U.S. […]
Diplomat affiliate Juelz Santana is branching out beyond music and stepping into the world of fashion with his new clothing company, the Z-Line, due out this fall. The rapper will then launch Mazia, a clothing company licensed by Z-Line Clothing, Inc. The line signals the MC’s desire to become "a driving force in the urban […]
Grammy Award-winning rapper Kanye West has been selected to interpret the theme to the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible movie franchise. West follows in the paths of U2, who reinterpreted the theme for the first movie in 1996, and Limp Bizkit, who recorded their version for Mission: Impossible II in 2000. Mission: Impossible III […]
Critically-acclaimed author and Hip-Hop activist Bakari Kitwana has collaborated with the Community Technology Foundation of California to kick-off Rap Sessions, the first national tour that explores race and Hip-Hop. Rap Sessions presents a multiracial panel of Hip-Hop experts who will tour the nation to engage youth and community leaders in candid, compelling conversations about the […]
Police have widened their investigation of a murder that occurred Sunday (Feb. 5) on the set of Busta Rhymes’ new music video. In addition to seeking out G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo, authorities are now looking to question Swizz Beats and Busta Rhymes himself. Detectives believe Busta Rhymes was standing on the sidewalk when the shooting […]
Rapper/actor Ice Cube has announced that he will release his seventh solo album, Laugh Now, Cry Later, in June via his independent label, Lench Mob Records. The album is the follow-up to Ice Cube’s Greatest Hits collection, which hit stores in 2001. The rapper, born O’Shea Jackson, put his film career on hold to focus […]