Queen Latifah Robbed For $10k Worth Of Jewelery
Oscar nominated rapper/singer Queen Latifah became the victim of thieves when more than $10,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from her luxury villa in Tobago on Monday (December 29). Police investigating the incident believe the theft was an inside job that may have been committed by a member of the house and grounds staff […]

Rappers, Producers Reveal New Year’s Resolutions; 2009 Plans
Now that a tumultuous 2008 has come to an end, a number of rappers and producers took time this week to plan the new year and reveal their resolutions for 2009. The year which has now passed seems to have brought these artists closer to their fans, as their resolutions reflect that of the […]

Plies Brother Denies Arrest; ‘Enemies Contacted Police’
Ronelle “Big Gates” Levatte, manager/brother of rapper Plies, has responded to rumors that his younger brother was incarcerated after a show in Atlanta last week. According to reports, Plies born Algernod Washington, was allegedly arrested by federal agents after a performance at the Hot 107.9s Jingle Bash. The show, which took place on […]

Jena 6 Member Hospitalized Over Alleged Suicide Attempt
A member of the Louisiana-based Jena Six is being treated at a local hospital after shooting himself in the chest. The Associated Press reports that Mychal Bell injured himself Monday night (December 29) at his grandmothers house in Monroe. According to a police report, the shooting was reported at 7:40 p.m. At the […]

2008’s Biggest Stories #1: T.I. vs. Jail vs. Shawty Lo
Throughout 2008 T.I. found himself alternating between personal and professional challenges in the form of promoting a new album, legal woes, and a persistent Bankhead rival. On March 27, T.I., real name Clifford Harris, was sentenced to 1 year in prison for two counts of illegally possessing machine guns and silencers, and one count […]

DMX Pleads Guilty To Felony Charges In Arizona
Multi-platinum rapper DMX entered a guilty plea today (December 30) before a Phoenix judge on four counts of theft, drug, and animal cruelty charges. Per the plea agreement, DMX (Earl Simmons) will be sentenced on Friday January 30. The agreement will cover one count of possession of narcotic drugs, a misdemeanor county of animal […]

Flo Ridas Low Crowned Australias Top Ringtone
Even a full year after its release, Flo Ridas smash single Low continues to be a cash cow in overseas ringtones for the Miami rapper. Telstra, Australias largest provider of long-distance and local telephone services, officially recognized Low as the top-selling ringtone of 2008. The countrys ringtone purchases peaked in 2007 at $50 […]

Timbaland Sued By Miami Florist
Super-producer Timbaland will ring in the New Year with a newly processed $11,450 lien against his mansion, courtesy of an ongoing florist bill dispute. The White Tulip Florist, a company based in Miami Beach, filed legal papers against Timbaland claiming the star purchased $25,850.00 in trees, flowers, and lights from their organization. According […]

E-40 Denies Involvement In Denver Shooting
West Coast rap star E-40 is speaking out regarding his role in a recent shooting, following a sold-out performance at a Denver, Colorado nightclub. According to his manager, Chaz Hayes, E-40 and his camp were uninvolved in the unfortunate incident at Club Vinyl in Denver on Dec. 27, 2008. Neither E40 nor anyone […]

2008’s Biggest Stories #2: Hip-Hop Artists Rally Around Obama
President-elect Barack Obamas landmark 2008 presidential run not only galvanized the nation, but ignited a renewed sense of political awareness and music from Hip-Hop artists. The noticeable trend began slowly at the end of 2007 through artists such as Common and Talib Kweli, both of whom publicly supported Barack Obamas then perceived long shot […]

Economy Delays Jay-Z’s Hotel Business
Jay-Zs plans to add the title of hotelier to his ever-expanding empire has been halted, the New York Times reports. The rapper/moguls planned J Hotels, which was scheduled to break ground this year, has been postponed indefinitely, as New Yorks real estate development market takes a heavy hit. The luxury hotel was proposed […]

Talib Kweli’s Blacksmith Music Splits With Warner Bros.
Talib Kwelis Blacksmith Music imprint has dissolved its distribution arrangement with Warner Brothers Records. The Brooklyn MC confirmed the split to AllHipHop.com today after rumors surfaced online that he had been released from his contract with the label. “My label Blacksmith is no longer distributed by Warner Brothers, which means they will not […]

2008’s Biggest Stories #3: Trick Trick Vs. Yung Berg and The Gay COmmunity
Detroits Trick Trick, the self-proclaimed villain of Hip-Hop, made himself one of the cultures biggest talking points this year courtesy of one-sided feuds with Yung Berg and the gay community. Over the summer, talkative rapper Yung Berg was mercilessly beaten and relieved of his trademark Transformer chain mere moments after stepping into Tricks Plan […]

Gully Creeper Creator “Ice” Shot Dead In Jamaica
The Dancehall fraternity suffered a severe loss early Friday morning: Just hours after most celebrated life and love on Christmas day with family and friends, dancer, Ice, was murdered. “Ice,” real name David Alexander Smith, was best known for his internationally acclaimed “Gully Creeper.” The dance took the world by storm after Bad Boy’s […]

2008’s Biggest Stories #4: Diddy Accused Then Exonerated In 1994 Tupac Shooting
14 years ago, a shooting happened that forever altered the course of Hip-Hop history and the lives of three of its most significant artists – Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and Sean “Diddy” Combs. On November 30, 1994 Tupac Shakur was shot five times, pistol-whipped, and robbed in the lobby of the Quad Recordings Studios […]

Five People Shot After E-40 Concert In Denver
Police in Denver, Colorado are investigating a shootout following an E-40 Concert that left five people wounded last night (December 26). According to police, the shooting occurred around 2:00 am outside of the club as it closed, after E-40 had performed without incident inside the venue. Local residents in the area have stated […]

2008’s Biggest Stories #5: Jennifer Hudson Tragedy
Coming off winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2007, 2008 was supposed to follow with more accolades as Jennifer Hudson made her long awaited return to music. Instead, the singer/actress, who garnered a healthy buzz for her debut album with the lead single Spotlight, found herself on the receiving end of a major […]

X-Raided Details Upcoming Unforgiven Projects
Despite serving time in prison, Sacramento, California rapper X-Raided is laying the groundwork for a series of upcoming projects. In a statement issued from Pleasant Valley State Prison, X-Raided confirmed that he will release another installment of his Unforgiven series with his forthcoming album Eternally Unforgiven. According to the rapper, the album has […]

Jennifer Hudson Reemerges With Scheduled Grammy Performance
Oscar-award winning singer/actress Jennifer Hudson is coming out of seclusion to honor singing icon Neil Diamond with a Grammy week tribute performance. According to reports, the entertainer will take the stage February 6 at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala. The event, which will be held at the at the Los Angeles […]

2008’s Biggest Stories #6: Rick Ross Accused Of Being A Corrections Officer
Keeping it real may be cliché in Hip-Hop, but the philosophy behind the statement remains the backbone of many rappers. For Rick Ross, keeping it real was put to the test as the Miami-based rappers credibility came into question amid allegations concerning his background. The rapper, who is known for his gritty rhymes about street […]