After successfully completing 10 months in a Philadelphia women’s prison and 30 days of house arrest, which ended Aug. 3, Lil’ Kim is back in business and looking for a new record deal.   The rapper’s attorney, L. Londell McMillan, said Thursday (Aug. 10) that Kim and her label Atlantic Records are currently “having discussions” about […]

Rapper Ja Rule has sued Fred "Nickels" Moore and Nickleplated Inc., claiming Moore and company illegally signed a performance contract of before of Ja Rule. The lawsuit, which was filed in New York County Court, claims that Moore misrepresented himself and signed a performance contract on behalf of Ja Rule for a performance in Korea. […]

Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, frontwoman for the Black Eyed Peas, is releasing her first solo project, The Dutchess, on Sept. 19. Produced under fellow group member Will.i.am’s music label, Fergie’s album will feature her chart-topping single “London Bridge,” as well as collaborations from Ludacris, Rita Marley, and others. “London Bridge” rose from No. 84 to No. […]

Def Jam president Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has partnered with MTV to create a documentary titled Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life, about the global water crisis. The new venture was announced Wednesday (Aug. 9) at a press conference at the United Nations in New York. The legendary rapper, alongside MTV president Christina Norman, announced that […]

Rapper Young City has been arrested for an armed robbery charge he picked up as a juvenile.The New Orleans native, who was arrested July 31 in an Atlanta, Ga. suburb, was cited for speeding by Gwinnett County authorities. Police continued to hold the rapper (born Kevin Barnes) after discovering he was wanted for armed robbery […]

Former Ultramagnetic MCs member Kool Keith, more widely known today as "Dr. Octagon," announced his national tour Wednesday (Aug. 9). The outing will kick off tomorrow (Aug.10) at the famous Abbey Pub in Chicago. The tour is in support of the rapper’s current album The Return of Dr. Octagon. Kool Keith first made a name […]

Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams, along with his brother and co-CEO Ronald "Slim" Williams, opened his wallet Monday (Aug. 7) and donated $3,000 to the Morningside Park Soccer Program in New York City. The donation, made on behalf of the label’s foundation, "Cash Money For Kids," was sent directly to the program to […]

Rappers Guru and Chuck D. are featured on The Dirty Dozen’s upcoming album What’s Going On, a reinterpretation of Marvin Gaye’s classic 1971 album. For almost 30 years, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has taken the traditional brass band music of New Orleans and combined it with funk, jazz, gospel, soul and now rap. The […]

Rap pioneer Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell is preparing for the first season of his first annual National Youth Football League (NYFL).The program, developed in conjunction with the Orange Bowl Football Youth League (OBFYL), will run simultaneously with the rapper’s Liberty City Optimist Program. The Optimist Program, founded 17 years ago in Liberty City, Fla., is […]

The 9th Annual Black August concert is scheduled to kick off on Sunday (Aug. 13) in New York’s Times Square. Brand Nubian’s Sadat X and Lord Jamar, CL Smooth, The Beatnutz, M1 of dead prez DJ Evil Dee and others will perform during the concert, which takes place at B.B. Kings Blues Club from 8pm-12am. […]

Mixtape master J. Period has teamed up with Hip-Hop group The Roots to present The Best of the Roots (hosted by Black Thought). The promotional mixtape features over 50 tracks of remixes, freestyles, unreleased material and exclusive J.Period remixes. The mixtape also boasts appearances from Jay-Z, Rakim, Nas, Stevie Wonder and Def Poet Mayda Del […]

Rapper Rakim has announced a 22-date national tour starting later this month. The tour kicks off on August 19, when Rakim makes an appearance in Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing.The tour will make stops in Texas, Arizona, California, Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Georgia, before winding down in Washington, DC. […]

Rapper MC Lyte will attend the second annual Hip-Hop Leadership Camp in Los Angeles this year, being held in Los Angeles. A variety of entertainment industry professionals will attend the four-day camp for at-risk youth, which takes place Aug. 10-13 on the campus of UCLA. "This camp is more than just a series of classes," […]

Def Jam Records president and CEO Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter will take part in an effort to educate the public on the world’s water crisis.The mogul will be joined by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and MTV president Christina Norman on Wednesday (Aug. 9) to announce the details of the venture at the United Nations, 1st […]

Kanye West will open for the Rolling Stones on the legendary rock group’s A Bigger Bang North American tour. West will team with the Stones on their stop at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. on Sept 20. The rapper will then head to Halifax, Nova Scotia for a date at Halifax Commons on Sept. 23. […]

Hip-Hop veteran Rakim is headlining a concert sponsored by the City of Boston being held at City Hall Plaza tomorrow (Aug. 5).Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino has endorsed the Peace Boston 2006, which is a free outdoor music festival that focuses on the positive aspects that Hip-Hop music has to offer. The day-long event is […]

Hannah Hightower, mother of controversial radio personality DJ Star, has filed an $11 million lawsuit against Emmis Radio for disparaging comments Hot 97 disc jockey Miss Jones made about her. The federal lawsuit contends that Miss Jones defamed Hightower during an on-air rant in which Jones described her as a "a prostitute." The complaint, filed […]

Slain rap icon Tupac Shakur will be the subject of a 13-day educational study geared toward his work in film.The study, titled Tupac Shakur Reinterpreted, will be presented by the British Film Institute and National Film Theater. The event will feature screenings and discussions which will examine Shakur’s impact on rap music and mainstream media […]