The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), along with Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) and Billboard will announce a new Gold and Platinum Award, recognizing sales of mobile ring tones. The event will take place on June 14 at the Time Warner Center in New York, at which point 128 different racks will be […]

Tracks from R&B singer/actor Tyrese "Black Ty" Gibson’s new dual-disc LP Alter Ego have been leaked to the Internet. According to sources, several songs from the double disc set were leaked. The album features Tyrese recording R&B songs on disc one, while the second disc introduces his new rap moniker "Black Ty" and will only […]

Hollywood actor Bruce Willis has executive produced an inspirational documentary about inner city youth and the power of Hip-Hop culture. TheWord.Life: The Hip Hop Project features Willis, alongside MTV’s Sway and Hip-Hop pioneers Russell Simmons and Doug E. Fresh, and chronicles several years in the life of New York City teenagers who transform their life […]

Miami rapper Rick Ross and singing duo Nina Sky will grace the cover of The Fader Magazine’s summer music issue. The edition, which features a look at what’s hot in music for the summer, will be the first full magazine posted on iTunes and featured on iTune’s “New and Notable” podcast section. Although the magazine’s […]

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, Brookyln rap icon Jay-Z will take the stage June 25 for a one-night only concert at New’s York’s Radio City Music Hall. The Def Jam Recordings President will perform songs from the album in their entirety. The concert marks a milestone for Jay-Z, who […]

Fabolous has finally made the leap into fashion with his new clothing collection, Ric Yung, a line he said would evoke a classic look with a Hip-Hop twist. “It’s the hottest s**t in a minute. If anybody likes the classic Polo from back in the days, this is about to be a new Polo for […]

A variety of Texas rap legends will unite and pay homage to the late pioneer DJ Screw at the first annual DJ Screwfest and Car Show. The event takes place July 22 at the Pasadena Convention Center & Fairgrounds in Houston. Confirmed performers include various members of DJ Screw’s Screwed Up Click, as well as […]

Atlanta singer Sleepy Brown is set to release his debut album Mr. Brown this fall via Purple Ribbon/Virgin Records. The new LP features production by Brown and his group Organized Noize, as well as the Neptunes and the Black Eyed Peas. Guest artists include Big Boi of Outkast and Erick Sermon, among others. The disc […]

Rapper/actress Queen Latifah was on hand yesterday (June 7) to welcome the arrival of the first annual National Women’s Day on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. Latifah, along with the YWCA USA, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and VF Intimates’ Curvation(R) brand, acknowledged the day, which helps raise awareness for, and celebrate the positive impact […]

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will celebrate its fifth anniversary June 14 by ringing the opening bell of the NASDAQ Stock Market in Times Square, New York. HSAN Chairman Russell Simmons and HSAN President/CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis will do the honors at the NASDAQ Stock Market, the largest U.S. electronic stock market with over 3,000 […]

British conservative leader David Cameron is speaking out about the damaging effects of Hip-Hop music in the UK. Cameron, who made his views known Tuesday (June 6) at a British Society of Magazine Editors event, accused BBC Radio 1 of encouraging knife and gun violence through its airing of rap music. He singled out the […]

A spokesman for Sony Records has confirmed that Three 6 Mafia Member Crunchy Black has severed his relationship with the Academy Award winning group. Although there was no reason given for his sudden exodus, the Sony representative indicated that Crunchy (real name Darnell Carlton) made the decision to leave on his own and that he […]

In a special edition of The Economist Magazine, the managing director of Louis Roderer Cristal addressed the popularity of the brand amongst Hip-Hop artists. In an article titled “Bubbles & Bling” in a special Summer 2006 issue, Frédéric Rouzaud, the managing director of Cristal, stated that the company observes its association with the rap world […]

Czar Entertainment CEO Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond was sentenced Tuesday (June 6) to three years of unsupervised probation and fined $2,500 for his role in an incident involving a Washington disc jockey. Several of Rosemond’s supporters, including his business partner Bryce Wilson, Queen Latifah, Flavor Unit’s Shakim Compere, Czar Entertainment staff, close friends, and family, were […]

Manchester United soccer star Wayne Rooney reportedly paid £150,000 pounds at David and Victoria Beckham’s recent World Cup charity auction so he and fiancé Coleen McLoughlin could party with industry mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs in New York. Diddy boasted to the VIPs at the Beckhams’ Full Length and Fabulous bash, which raised 2 million pounds […]

Former 2 Live Crew rapper Luther "Luke" Campbell was the victim of a hate crime Monday (June 5) at his Miami Lakes home. Miami-Dade Police are investigating the incident, which involved someone throwing a concrete landscaping block at the windshield of Campbell’s rental car. The person, who got as far as Campbell’s driveway before throwing […]

Hip-Hop legend Rakim and Chicago rappers Common and Rhymefest are among the artists taking the stage Thursday (June 8) as part of Marc Ecko’s Save the Rhinos second annual benefit concert. The event, which takes place in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield, will be hosted by DJ Kid Capri and includes performances by Lupe Fiasco, DJ […]

A St. Louis man is suing Chingy and Trak Starz LLC, alleging the platinum-selling rapper broke his recording contract in order to sign with The Trak Starz, who in turn landed him a deal with Ludacris’ Disturbing Tha Peace label. In a lawsuit filed in St. Louis County Court, Ronald Gavin claims that Chingy breached […]

Florida artist Khia is set to drop her long awaited sophomore release Gangstress, her first album in four years. The Thug Misses Entertainment/Warlock Records disc set will arrive in stores on July 11 and features self-production from Khia, who hit big with the single “My Neck, My Back” in 2002. The first single, “Snatch The […]