The federal government is officially seeking the death penalty against Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff in his upcoming murder and racketeering case. Prosecutor Roslynn R. Mauskopf filed a death penalty request notice yesterday (March 22) in the case, which charges McGriff with the murder of Queens, New York, rapper Eric "E Money Bags" Smith and Smith’s associate, […]

DJ Swing, a member of London’s Boogie Bunch DJ crew, passed away last night (March 22) after losing his battle with bone marrow cancer. Prior to his passing, DJ Swing’s (born Brian Daley) friends and family, along with DJs around the UK, including Mista Jam from BBC 1Xtra, started a campaign to search for suitable […]

Sean “Diddy” Combs has temporarily discontinued Sean John’s upscale women’s clothing line. According to the New York Post, Combs recently inked a licensing agreement with G-III Apparel Group to manufacture a less expensive line of women’s clothes under the Sean John name. The new line is named Sean Jean Women’s and will be less expensive […]

The Roots and their new label, Def Jam Recordings, will host a two-night party at New York City’s historic Radio City Music Hall. The party is being held to reveal material from the The Roots’ upcoming Def Jam debut, Game Theory, which is set for a late-summer, early fall release. “Our fans should pretty much […]

Snoop Dogg has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with JAKKS Pacific Inc. to market a line of pet products based on the rapper’s image. The deal covers leashes, apparel, treats, toys, beds and more for dogs. “Snoop Dogg’s love goes beyond people — it is for living creatures throughout the universe,” the rapper said. […]

Rapper Ice Cube has been tapped to host and perform at Spike TV’s second annual AutoRox, a nationally televised awards show for the automotive industry. The rapper will deliver his first live performance of his latest singles “Chrome and Paint” and “Why We Thugs,” from his upcoming seventh solo album Laugh Now, Cry Later, which […]

North Carolina rap group Little Brother recently spoke out against animal abuse and discussed their new vegetarian lifestyle. In an exclusive interview for PETAWorld.com, the official website of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, rappers Phonte and Big Pooh revealed how they felt better after cutting meat out of their diets. The two rappers […]

Pras, a member of the recently reunited group, the Fugees, has signed on to appear in First Night, a documentary about homelessness. According to reports, the rapper will attempt to live on the streets for nine days with $9. Pras has starred in various films, including Careful What You Wish For, Fastlane and Higher Ed. […]

Rapper Jamaal “Shyne” Barrow’s lawsuit has been put on hiatus after the judge presiding over his case stepped down due to a conflict of interest. Judge Howard Ruditzky decided to remove himself from the case Monday (March 20) because his brother-in-law has dealings with an attorney on Shyne’s defense team from the law firm of […]

Michael Mauldin, father of music mogul Jermaine Dupri, is stepping into the world of fashion with a new line called Mauldin Apparel. Described as a high performance collection that is “driven by design” and “powered by the fit,” Mauldin Apparel will consist of vintage tees, denims, cashmere knits, hats, caps and outerwear for men and […]

Sean “Diddy” Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment have announced plans to appeal a judge’s decision to cease sales of the Notorious B.I.G.’s classic Ready to Die album. As previously reported on AllHipHop.com, on Friday (March 17), a judge ordered an end to sales of the record due to failure to clear certain samples. “The verdict […]

A wake for deceased X-Clan member Professor X will take place Thursday (March 23) at the House of Our Lord Church in Brooklyn, New York, from 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Professor X, born Lumumba Carson, founder of the Blackwatch Movement, died in Brooklyn March 17 from spinal meningitis. According to X-Clan frontman Grand Verbalizer Funkinlesson, aka […]

Public Enemy frontman Chuck D. will be among the artists protesting the war at the "Bring ‘Em Home Now!" benefit, which takes place tonight (Mar. 20) at the Hammstein Ballroom in New York. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Veterans for Peace’s offshoot, Iraq Veterans Against the War. Performers such as Michael Stipe, […]

Bone Crusher is mostly known for his fearlessness and Crunk classics like "Never Scared," but the Atlanta rapper has a fan in Roy Jones, Jr., who recently signed the rapper to a one-album deal. The album, titled Release the Beast, will hit stores July 18 via Jones’ Body Head Entertainment. "It surprised me, because I […]

DJ Whoo Kid and multimedia company Hustle. have partnered with Koch Entertainment to release Rewind DVD, a video magazine that covers Hip-Hop and pop culture. The project features Kanye West, Mase and Oscar-winning rap group Three-6 Mafia, as well as real estate mogul Donald Trump. "The first [version] went triple platinum and was a cult […]

NFL All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens recently tried a hand at rapping by recording a diss track aimed at his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. In a lengthy rap posted on his Web site (www.terrellowens.com), the newly acquired Dallas Cowboy openly taunts the Eagles about earning a guaranteed $10 million this season from Dallas. "When it […]

Sales of the Notorious B.I.G.’s debut album Ready to Die were halted on Friday (Mar. 17) after it was ruled that a portion of an Ohio Players song was used without permission. The lawsuit is one of 477 filed by Bridgeport Music and Westbound Records against various companies and individuals for sampling records by Parliament-Funkadelic, […]

Break the Cycle, a charity aimed at stopping domestic violence, filed a $10 million lawsuit Thursday (March 16) accusing German sporting goods maker Adidas-Salomon AG of improperly using its name and logo on a line of clothes by rapper Missy Elliott. According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan, the charity alleges that […]

Professor X of X-Clan has died in a New York-area hospital after a bout with meningitis, sources close to the situation told AllHipHop.com. As a member of X-Clan, Professor X gained notoriety for his catch phrases "Vainglorious" and dissed fools by calling them "sissies." Additionally, Professor X, whose real name was Lumumba Carson, was the […]