Next month, Roots frontman Black Thought will star in actor Mark Webber’s anticipated independent film Explicit Ills.   The drama revolves around characters in four interconnected stories trying to succeed in Philadelphia amid struggles with love, drugs, and poverty.   Black Thought (Tariq Trotter) plays the role of Kaleef, a fledgling entrepreneur who labors to […]

In preparation for the release of his new album on March 24, Houston’s Slim Thug has announced a 24-city promo tour and a brand new mixtape.   Seeking to build on the success of his 2005 national debut Already Platinum, Slim explained that the new album is free of the major label constraints he was […]

Lil Wayne has pleaded not guilty to gun possession charges stemming from a New York City arrest in 2007.   Wayne, real name Dwayne Carter, was arrested in July 2007 following a performance at the Beacon Theatre.   After the show, a police officer searched the megastar’s tour bus on the allegation that she smelled […]

A 2007 lawsuit filed against Universal Music Group involving Hip-Hop megastar Eminem will finally go to trial today (February 24) over alleged downloading proceeds owed to the rapper.   Representing Eminem in the case is publishing company F.B.T. Productions.   The grievance revolves around what percentage of digital royalties Eminem should receive when Universal sells his music […]

News Corporation Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch personally apologized today (February 24) for a cartoon published in The New York Post.   The cartoon, which was published last Wednesday (February 18 ) in The New York Post, featured two police officers – one with a smoking gun – standing over a bullet-riddled dead chimp.   […]

Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo has announced a May release date for his sophomore autobiographical effort Carlos, the follow up to his 2008 debut, Units in the City.   Carlos features appearances from a number of top rappers, including Lil’ Wayne, Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, Bun B, T-Pain, Lil Kim, fellow group members D4L and singer […]

Amaru Entertainment has responded to a lawsuit over the rights to the film adaptation of rapper Tupac Shakur.   MorganCreek filed the lawsuit against Amaru Entertainment in Los Angeles Superior Court last week.   The lawsuit claims Amaru Entertainment is in breach of contract for refusing “to honor and perform a contract of a production […]

Rapper Xzibit has lashed out at media outlets for putting what he labeled “spin” on comments he made about mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.   When Xzibit recently appeared on Sirius Satellites’ Foxxhole radio where he shared a story about his New Year’s party with Combs and Karrine “Superhead” Steffans.   The trio then headed to […]

Queens, New York rap star N.O.R.E. was arrested in Miami Beach, after getting into an altercation with a customer inside of a Fatburger restaurant.   According to Miami Beach police, N.O.R.E., 31, was arrested early Sunday morning (February 22).   The rapper and another unidentified man were reportedly arguing inside of Fatburger, when N.O.R.E. ripped […]

Award-winning British rapper M.I.A. can add another accomplishment to her list of accolades, courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.   The entertainer took home an Oscar for best original song last night (February 22) at this year’s Academy Awards.   M.I.A. received the honor for her work on the tune “O […]

The nation of Jamaica has instituted an island-wide ban of all music which glorifies violence or sexual activity.   The ban, which became official earlier this week, is targeted at quelling the growing dancehall trend called “daggering,” where participants stimulate sexual intercourse on the dance floor.   The style was popularized by dancehall star Mr. […]

Under intense death and kidnapping threats, hitmaker T-Pain has pulled out of a scheduled concert in Guyana. According to show promoter Kerwin Bollers, T-Pain was set to perform a headlining Monday Mash set today (February 23) as part of the nation’s Carnival celebration. The promoter elaborated that the repeated threats, made through phone and email, […]

East Orange, New Jersey Hip-Hop group Naughty By Nature will embark on a cross-Canada tour starting tomorrow (February 23). The group will kick off the tour at The Queens Hotel in Nanaimo and will travel through 16 different markets before winding down March 15 in Ottawa at the Capital Music Hall. Toronto rapper Peter Jackson […]

The Game may be ordered to pay over $1 million in damages stemming from an alleged basketball –fueled assault in February 2007.   Shannon Rodrick, a basketball coach, claims that the Compton star, real name Jayceon Taylor, punched and threatened him almost 2 years ago during a Los Angles City Hoop game.   According to […]

Convicted rapper T.I., who is set to serve time in prison next month on gun possession charges, has recently launched a 12 city tour to promote his latest album Paper Trail.   The tour, which started Thursday (February 19), is expected to make stops at 12 cities throughout the US before concluding on March 15, […]

The automotive industry in Detroit is under serious financial duress, but BET will highlight the positives with a television special.   The network will examine the North American International Auto Show with a 30 –minute one-off entitled “Still Rollin’: The 2009 Detroit Auto Show, “airing tonight (February 21) on the network.   The special, hosted by Big […]

Popular mega-church televangelist Creflo Dollar announced today (February 20) the signing of a new artist to his gospel-based Arrow Records.   Founded in 1998, Dollar’s Arrow Records state their goal is “to restore gospel music back to its original purpose, to usher in the power and presence of God” by utilizing not just gospel, but […]

VTech (R) and Mochilla will pay tribute to the late J Dilla during the second concert in their four-part “Timeless” concert series at the Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex in Los Angeles on Sunday (February 22).   The Showcase will be lead by headliners Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, as they perform an […]

Famed director Spike Lee, Judge Greg Mathis and number of others will rally in front of The New York Post’s offices today (February 20), as the fallout from a controversial cartoon continues.   The controversial cartoon, which was published on February 18, featured two police officers standing over a bullet-riddled dead monkey, with the caption […]

Chicago rapper Kanye West will make a second appearance on Saturday Night Live, just two months after a previous, high profile appearance went awry. The rapper will return to SNL this Saturday (February 21) where he will perform “Love Lockdown” and “Heartless,” taken from his critically acclaimed and commercially successful album, 808 & Heartbreak. In […]