Afeni Shakur’s Tupac Center for the Arts will host a star-studded benefit concert next month in celebration of the late Tupac Shakur’s birthday.   Partnering with Ms. Shakur is comedian Mike Epps, who will co-host the event with M1 of Dead Prez.   Even with the promotional requirements of his national comedy tour and the […]

Rapper Trina’s camp is vehemently refuting rumors of any romantic involvement with LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant.   In a written statement released to AllHipHop.com Friday (May 22), Trina’s publicist called out popular urban gossip site MediaTakeOut.com for two items published about her client this week that insinuate the Miami rapper was previously romantically involved […]

The Blastmaster KRS-One found out that pioneers are well respected in the Dirty South, as Atlanta emcees came out in droves to bless the mic last night (May 21) at the Midtown District’s Loft venue.   The Bronx legend was in town for his organization’s Atlanta Hip-Hop Appreciation Week, which runs until May 24.   […]

Slaughterhouse, the lyrical super group comprised of Joe Budden, Crooked I, Royce Da 5’9” and Joel Ortiz has found a recording home with E1. E1 is the label formerly known as Koch Records and houses a number of independent rap entities. “We’re working on it. It’s a one-off [a one album deal],” Joe Budden told […]

Popular Hip-Hop producer/rapper Pharrell Williams and advertising executive Steve Stoute are among the executives that will take part in Billboard and Adweek’s first annual Music & Advertising conference.   The new two-day inaugural event will take place at the W Hotel in New York on Lexington June 4-5.   The conference is designed to explore […]

The defense lawyer for the man that shot and killed rapper Dolla has revealed that a mall surveillance tape will show the Atlanta emcee threatening his client before the fatal shooting.   According to Los Angeles attorney Howard Price, his client Aubrey Berry killed Dolla in self-defense despite the rapper being unarmed.   “He believed […]

T.I. has requested that he be allowed to remain free while he tries to find a new minimum security facility that will allow him to serve his prison sentence closer to home.   As previously reported, the Atlanta rapper, born Clifford Harris, is scheduled to turn himself in by no later than noon on Tuesday […]

After more than a decade of providing a consistent string of hit albums and songs, Jay-Z is leaving Def Jam Records.   The rap mogul confirmed the amicable split Thursday (May 21). Jay-Z’s departure from Def Jam puts an end to rumors regarding the buy out of his contract with the iconic label, for a […]

NBA star Carmelo Anthony has finalized a joint venture with his imprint Krossover Entertainment and Atlanta-based record label Block Entertainment.   For the last few years, Block Entertainment has been a consistent force in Atlanta’s music scene due to the star power of Yung Joc, Gorilla Zoe, and Boyz N Da Hood.   The joint […]

Hip-Hop star Eminem continues to be one of the music industry’s top selling acts, despite an four-year hiatus from the business. After two days in stores, the rapper’s sixth album Relapse is on pace to move over 650,000 copies, making it the year’s best debut thus far. The Shady/Aftermath/Interscope release will easily beat U2’s record […]

In a live phone call on New York City’s Hot 97 Thursday morning (May 21), Canadian Hip-Hop sensation Drake denied that he is romantically involved with singer Rihanna.   During a promo call for a performance in conjunction with the station next week, the former child actor told morning show hosts Cipha Sounds and Paul […]

Will Smith’s production company has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment to bring to life the story of one of the many heroes of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the two companies announced Wednesday (May 20).   Overbrook Entertainment and Sony have earned the film rights to the story of former Marine John Keller, who rescued nearly […]

The much hyped Hip Hop Soda Shop in Tampa, Florida has announced it will close it doors, citing the poor economy and real estate issues as the culprit.   According to reps for parent company H3 Enterprises, the company is exploring other opportunities in Tampa Bay in hopes of securing another location to house the […]

Producer Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) has requested a court-approved gag order in the divorce proceedings with R&B singer Mashonda.   Upon announcement of the divorce last year, gossip columns and sites began speculating the reason for the split was due to Swizz Beatz’ alleged affair with R&B superstar Alicia Keys.   After vehemently denying the […]

Nas has filed a response for Kelis’s request for divorce and has asked the court to deny the singer any sort of spousal support. The claim was filed in Los Angeles court on Wednesday. Kelis filed for divorce last month, claiming irreconcilable differences. Kelis is pregnant with the couple’s first child. She is due in […]

The murderer of rapper Dolla has admitted that he shot the gun that killed the artist, but said that the act was done in self-defense, according to his lawyer. Howard R. Price, lawyer for 23-year-old Aubrey Louis Berry, said that he had a previous altercation with Dolla that lead to a fatal confrontation. Price alleged, […]

Independent powerhouse label Duck Down has announced their most recent coup in the acquisition of Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, and Sean Price as the super group Random Axe.   Random Axe marks the fourth major signing announcement by Duck Down in less than a month.   The label has also secured deals with Marco Polo […]

Nicki Minaj of Lil Wayne’s Young Money Crew is changing her image and scaling back on the raunchy, overtly sexual mantra that has carried her thus far.   Fresh off the Iron Music Tour with Wayne, Nicki Minaj said she is toning it down and focusing more on her rapping/singing style.   The rapper affirmed […]

Independent Hip-Hop label Slip-N-Slide has announced their signing of former Grammy winners and R&B chart-toppers Jagged Edge.   The four-man group was one of the more popular groups of the late 90s and early 2000s, dropping three gold (A Jagged Era, Hard, Jagged Edge) and two platinum albums (J.E. Heartbreak, Jagged Little Thrill) in a […]

Female emcee pioneer and international favorites The Black Eyed Peas are both set to perform this Wednesday (May 20) on American Idol.   Latifah and BEP will be a part of an all-star gathering of past and present music stars in celebration of reality show’s season finale.   Also confirmed to appear are 80s stars […]