Akon’s ‘Smack That’ Breaks Billboard Record
By Chris Richburg He may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but Akon is making huge, record-breaking strides on the charts these days. The singer/producer’s latest single “Smack That” rose from No. 95 to No. 7 on last week’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart–the largest surge in Billboard’s 48-year history. […]
Nick Cannon To Launch Flagship PNB Store In L.A.
Nick Cannon has announced details of his involvement with clothing line PNB Nation after several months of vague association with the brand. The budding entrepreneur is an equal partner in the company, which was sold by the original owners in 2002. He also serves as the spokesperson and creative director, while the Gurman Twins (Jon […]

Bacardi Mojito/G-Unit Launch ‘Music Cafe” Series
Bacardi Mojito has launched a "Music Cafe" artist series with G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks, which will travel to seven major cities in the United States this fall. The invite-only event takes place tonight (Oct. 9) at an undisclosed location in New York, where Banks will preview his upcoming release, Rotten Apple. Banks, 24, will also […]

Diddy Links With YouTube/Burger King For Branded “Diddy TV”
Sean “Diddy” Combs has teamed up with Burger King for a new advertising campaign and a co-branded channel on YouTube called “Diddy TV.” “Diddy TV” launched yesterday (Oct. 7). Viewers received a personal message from the mogul, as well as exclusive access to music tracks and video clips from his upcoming album Press Play. “I’m […]

Jadakiss Arrested, Hit With Gun Charge
Jadakiss was arrested in Yonkers, New York and charged for weapon possession this morning (Oct. 7). According to police, Jadakiss was one of four people in a car stopped around 4:30 am. Authorities searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun inside of the vehicle. Jadakiss, 31 and three other passengers were charged with criminal […]

Def Jam Takes Jay-Z “Show Me” Leak Seriously, Song Explodes On Radio
While millions of fans are not complaining about today’s (Oct. 6) leak of Jay-Z’s single "Show Me What You Got" his label, Def Jam is taking the breach seriously and may pursue legal action against the individual responsible for the leak.While no one knows who the culprit behind the leak is, sources told AllHipHop.com that […]

Former Employee Names R. Kelly in New Lawsuit
R&B crooner R. Kelly has found himself the target of a new lawsuit filed by a former employee. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Henry Love Vaughn is suing the singer for “breach of verbal contract,” alleging that Kelly reneged on a promise to pay for his collaboration in the creation of Kelly’s#### “Step in the […]

Back2School Concert Promoters Issue Apology For Concert Fiasco
The fallout from the Back2School Jam concert continues, as promoters have issued an apology to fans and placed the blame for the evening’s violent climate on Nassau Coliseum management. The Sept. 30 concert, presented by Hot 97 and Big League Entertainment, was to feature rappers Yung Joc, T.I., Foxy Brown, Lloyd Banks, DMX, and Jim […]

Nas Considers Diddy/Nas Branded Champagne, Diddy Disses Cristal
Nas is in full support of a continued, formal boycott of Cristal–but only if Hip-Hop steps up to replace the champagne, which typically sells for $450-$600 per bottle."I support a boycott if we could come up–like if we put up something, our own champagne. There’s tons of vineyards we could get into and buy," Nas […]

Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation Gets $100,000 Donation
In an effort to support local urban youth programs, Carnegie Corporation of New York has donated $100,000 to Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. The one-time sizable donation will assist the foundation in its mission to provide disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts. “This gift couldn’t have come at a […]

Rapper Cassidy Critically Injured In Car Accident
Philadelphia rapper Cassidy is in critical condition, after an accident last night (Oct. 4) in New Jersey. The rapper was leaving New Jersey enroute for a Yonkers, New York recording studio, when a U-Haul truck swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed into Cassidy’s side of the SUV he was riding in. "He was the only […]

Dr. Dre Biography Set To Hit Stores In Early ’07
A new Dr. Dre opus is coming sooner than you think, but it’s not the long-awaited Detox album–and it’s not by Dr. Dre.The acclaimed producer has lived a largely reclusive life outside of the media, but author Ronin Ro’s upcoming book Dr. Dre: The Biography aims to reveal the artist’s celebrated life through extensive reporting, […]

AHH Stray News: Bloomberg & Ice-T, Ludacris, New Wyclef LP, Florida Entertainment Summit
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg teamed with rapper Ice-T yesterday (Oct. 4) in New York to shoot a promotional spot for VH1’s upcoming Hip Hop Honors award show, which pays tribute to pioneers in the genre of Hip-Hop. Mayor Bloomberg will appear in the opening of the show, which is set to air […]

Lloyd Banks Gets Tatted On TLC
While G-Unit rapper Lloyd Banks is revving up to release his sophomore album Rotten Apple on October 10, the rapper will also make an appearance on TLC’s#### show Miami Ink., where he’ll receive a full-back tattoo.The tattoo, intricately placed on Banks by renowned tattoo artist Chris Garver, depicts a New York City landscape, showcasing the […]

Kanye Signs With William Morris Agency, Launches West Brands LLC
Kanye West has been announced as the newest addition to the William Morris Agency, the firm that also represents Sean “Diddy Combs.” William Morris will oversee and negotiate all aspects of the Chicago rapper’s recordings, production, publishing, touring, and endorsements. “We’ve always believed that Kanye West is one of the most talented, driven, important artists […]

EPMD Plotting World Tour, Group Reunites With DJ Scratch
The reunion of rap duo EPMD during VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors Week won’t be the only stop for the group, according to their DJ, Scratch. The pair is also in the early stages of planning a world tour. But in the meantime, EPMD will perform their first concert in eight years on Oct. 14 when they […]

Ludacris Scores That ‘Number One Spot,’ Hosting and Performing on SNL
Disturbing Tha Peace chief Ludacris has two reasons to celebrate this week with a new album and single atop the charts. Release Therapy, the rapper’s latest disc, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 309,000 copies while the album’s lead single “Money Maker” featuring Pharrell also scored high, […]

Tupac-Related Lawsuit Dismissed
A Washington Supreme Court declined to reinstate a libel lawsuit that was initially filed by C. Delores Tucker, the deceased Civil Rights Activist and foe of the late Tupac Shakur.The lawsuit was directed to a pair of Philadelphia papers–The Philadelphia Daily News and The Legal Intelligencer–for reporting that Tucker’s sex life had suffered due to […]

KRS One Takes Temple of Hiphop OnThe Road
KRS-One and The Temple of Hiphop will embark on a tour of Florida during the I Am HipHop Preservation Tour, which will feature KRS-One offering what he dubs "edutainment," where he will educate and entertain crowds. The pioneering South Bronx rapper will teach crowds the art of emceeing and will focus on the strength and […]

Spike TV Cancels ‘Blade’ TV Series
Despite a successful launch, Spike TV has canceled the Blade television series which starred rapper Sticky Fingaz. Blade was Spike TV’s first original scripted action-adventure series, which featured Sticky Fingaz as Blade, an immortal half-man made famous by actor Wesley Snipes in the movie of the same name. The series drew record ratings for the […]