AHH Stray News: Swizz, Tribe Called Quest, Hurricane Chris, Yung Berg
Rapper Swizz Beat will perform a free show tonight (August 21) at the Apple store in Manhattan. The producer-turned-rapper will perform singles like “It’s Me Snitches: and “Money in the Bank,” tracks from his latest release The One Man Band, which hit stores today. The performance takes place at the Apple store on Prince Street, […]

Jackson, TN Police Say Hip-Hop Is Camouflage For Gangs
Hip-Hop culture in Jackson, Tennessee has been associated with the city’s rising crime rates, according to Jackson County Police Lt. Pat Willis. Willis made the shocking comments during a meeting of Jackson’s crime task force yesterday (August 20) during a meeting at City Hall, where Jackson and Madison County Police officials detailed their departments […]

Foxy Brown Facing Seven New Charges After Traffic Stop
Rapper Foxy Brown is facing more charges stemming from a traffic stop last Wednesday (August 15), when she allegedly gave police false information after she was pulled over for talking on her mobile phone. According to police, Brown, born Inga Marchand, was chatting on the phone and driving her 2007 Land Rover in Mahwah, […]

Florida’s DJ Smallz Talks ‘Gunshine State’; Unites 30 Upcoming Artists
Tampa, Florida DJ and radio host DJ Smallz has launched his production career by assembling an all-star cast of upcoming artists from the state of Florida on a track titled “Welcome to the Gunshine State.” Rappers like Acafool, Brisco, C-Ride, Dirtbag, Flo-Rida, Jacki-O, Joe Hound, Haitian Fresh, Grandy Souf, Plies, Smilez & Southstar, Tampa […]

Diddy’s Version of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ Hits TV This February
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ movie adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun” will air as an “ABC Premiere Event” following the network’s broadcast of The 80th Annual Academy Awards. The three-hour television movie version of A Raisin in the Sun is executive produced by Combs and features the rapper/actor/mogul as the character […]

Foxy Brown’s Mom Speaks Out Against Assault Charges
Foxy Brown’s mother has proclaimed her daughter is innocent of assaulting her Brooklyn neighbor, in a dispute that allegedly started over the volume of the 27-year-old rap star’s car stereo. Brown, born Inga Marchand, was arrested and charged with assault last Tuesday (August 14) for smacking her neighbor 25-year-old neighbor in the face with […]

Racist Cartoon Bashing Rap Causes Outrage In FL; NAACP Responds
A cartoon that ran in Friday’s (August 17) edition of The Florida Times-Union criticizing rap music and rappers caused controversy in the local community, prompting the newspaper’s editor to issue an apology. The cartoon, which was drawn by longtime Times-Union cartoonist Ed Gamble, ran in the Metro section of the paper. The graphic […]

Singer Kenny Chesney Challenges 50 & Kanye; 50 Speaks
Country music superstar Kenny Chesney recently reminded 50 Cent and Kanye West that he too is a contender for the #1 spot on the charts on September 11, the day the two world famous rappers’ albums hits stores. Chesney’s 11th album Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates, is due in stores the same […]

Hi-Tek Announces ‘Hi-Teknology 3: Underground’
Cincinnati producer Hi-Tek has announced the release date of the third installment of his Hi-Teknology series of albums. Hi-Teknology 3: Underground, is slated to hit stores on November 20. While the guests on the album have not been revealed, like the two previous Hi-Teknology albums, fans of Hi-Tek’s production can look forward to […]

City Council Candidate In MD Attempts To Cancel Lil’ Wayne Concert
Seeing Lil’ Wayne and Juelz Santana live may be cause for excitement among rap fans, but a local City Council candidate is voicing his concern over a concert featuring the rappers at the Du Burns Arena on Saturday (Aug. 18). The Baltimore Sun reports that a letter was sent Monday (Aug. 13) to Mayor […]

Legendary Drummer & Hip-Hop Supporter Max Roach Dies
World renowned legendary Jazz drummer/visionary Max Roach died yesterday in an undisclosed hospital in New York, (August 16) after a long illness a spokesman for Blue Note Records revealed. Roach, who championed Hip-Hop music in the 1980’s and 90’s, influenced rappers like Gangstarr, Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest and others. Roach, born […]

Rick Ross Announces Release Date For ‘Trilla’; Slip-N-Slide Expanding Into Rock
Slip-N-Slide Records recording artist Rick Ross has announced the released date of his sophomore album, titled Trilla. Trilla, which is the follow up to Ross’ debut Port of Miami, will hit stores on November. 11. Port of Miami, which hit stores in August of 2006, moved 187,000 copies its first week in stores […]

Method Man Gets Community Service For Pot Charges; Must Create Raps For Children
Wu-Tang Clan rapper Method Man has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in New York after he was arrested in May and charged with possession of marijuana. Method Man, born Clifford Smith, was arrested on May 17, when officers stopped his 2005 Lincoln Navigator for having an expired inspection sticker. When the arresting […]

Credit Card Charges Against Lil’ Flip Dropped
Houston, Texas rapper Lil’ Flip was exhonerated of credit card abuse charges, stemming from the purchase of an airline ticket for the rapper that was bought using someone else’s credit card. Police accused the 26-year-old rapper of buying a $671 Southwest Airlines ticket to Baltimore from Houston on June 8, using a stolen American […]

Lawsuit Against Ja Rule Dropped; Contractor Fears For His Safety
The North Jersey contractor that won a default civil judgment against rapper Ja Rule has dropped his criminal complaint against the rapper, telling a judge that he feared for his safety. Contractor Joel Tobia claimed the rapper only paid $5,000 of a $13,000 bill to fix a lead at his Saddle River, New Jersey […]

AHH Stray News: Lupe, Hank Shocklee, Myspace Seeks Hip-Hop
Although he has gained fans from his mixtape appearances and debut album Food and Liquor, Lupe Fiasco is ready to give up the mixtape game as he considers heading toward greener pastures beyond Hip-Hop. According to Billboard, the rapper is having second thoughts as he reevaluates his passion for rap music in terms of making […]

Celebrity Blogger Perez Hilton Learns How To Rap On TV Show
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton will be one of several contestants taking place in MTV’s new Hip-Hop themed show, “Celebrity Rap Superstar.” Hilton will take part in the new, live competition series that features the celebrities being mentored by some of Hip-Hop’s biggest stars, as they are “transformed into skillful lyricists.” The weekly series […]

Jay-Z, 50 Cent Top Forbes Hip-Hop Cash Kings List
Rappers are doing more than showing off their rhyme skills in order to make Forbes magazines first ever Hip-Hop Cash Kings list.With an estimated $34 million earned in 2006, rap mogul Jay-Z topped the list.The Def Jam Recordings presidents income was generated mostly through various business ventures such as his 40/40 sports bar franchise and […]

Snoop Sells Home; Police Comment On ‘Loud Parties’
Rapper Snoop Dogg sold his Claremont, California home last week and according to local police, his neighbors are happy. The rapper, who has not lived in the house since 2000, shortly after MTV’s Crib’s feature the property on the hit show. The newly remodeled house sits on an acre of land, contains 6500 […]

Foxy Brown Surrenders In Assault Case; Leaves Def Jam
Rapper Foxy Brown surrendered to authorities yesterday (Aug. 14) on assault charges stemming from a July 30 incident, in which she hit her neighbor in the face with her BlackBerry, injuring the woman. Brown, who is currently on probation for a 2004 assault involving two manicurists, has had a long-standing dispute with her neighbor […]