West Coast rappers the Game and Snoop Dogg appear together on the “West Coast Resurrection” March issue of XXL magazine, in celebration of the history and revival of West Coast rap. The Long Beach-raised Snoop Dogg and Compton-bred Game are often credited with bringing the West Coast back to recognition in hip-hop recently. On the […]

Rapper Crooked I has filed a gag order against Marion "Suge" Knight, CEO of Tha Row, claiming that Knight is interfering with his recording career. Crooked I, who signed with the label in 1999 and made national television appearances with Knight, alleges that other record labels interested in signing him are being chased away by […]

Will.I.Am of the Grammy award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas is gearing to release a star-studded DVD documenting the group’s pre-Grammy concert the rapper/producer recently hosted. The DVD will serve as the initial release from his A&M distributed Will.I.Am Music Group and will feature performances from James Brown, Justin Timberlake, Earth Wind and Fire and […]

Jay-Z is planning to expand his 40/40 sports club to Atlantic City, according to reports. The Brooklyn MC is looking to open his second 40/40 bar and lounge in the New Jersey town famous for its gambling spots. While details of the new location are sparse, the club is scheduled to open on the Fourth […]

In recent weeks, gossip has suggested strongly that Gangsta Flip Records’ CEO Bang’em Smurf, the former G-Unit member, was assaulted and sodomized while serving out a sentence in a New York correctional facility. These rumors didn’t escape Domination, a fierce adversary of 50 Cent and partner of Bang ‘Em Smurf. While Smurf is in jail […]

Nas has joined the Guitar Center music store to present the "Get Down with Nas" sweepstakes, offering his fans a host of prizes. The winner receives an entire autographed catalogue of Nas’ albums on vinyl, tickets to one of his concerts, and a backstage pass to hang out with the Queensbridge rapper after the show. […]

Jay-Z is already plotting his return to rap. The Island Def Jam Music Group President racked up a plethora of accolades in 2004, but has opted to served double duty as CEO and artist. The rapper “retired” from Hip-Hop in 2003 following the release of The Black Album and publicly stated that it would take […]

Kid Rock was released from police custody, after posting $3000 bond on a charge of simple assault. The rapper/musician allegedly punched a DJ during an altercation after 3:00 am at Christie’s Cabaret, in downtown Nashville. Police said that the altercation occurred over the selection of music. Local television broadcast footage of the DJ, Jay Campos, […]

Perhaps Usher injected Superhead with some of his truth serum, because reports suggest that the reformed groupie has some confessions of her own she wants to get off her chest. Karinne "Superhead" Steffans has inked a deal with the HarperCollins imprint, Amistad Books, to release a book detailing her sexual excursions in the music industry, […]

Random House Inc. is reportedly suing rap mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs for not paying back a $300,000 advance on an autobiography the hip-hop star never completed. The publisher alleges that Combs and his Bad Boy company "kept the money they never rightfully earned," according to papers filed Monday (Feb. 14) in a New York […]

Although he may not have had the mainstream appeal of other fallen Hip-Hop icons, Big L was no less talented. And certainly no less loved. This Wednesday (Feb. 16) Lord Finesse and the estate of Big L will honor the boastful Harlem emcee with an all-star tribute show at SOBs in New York City featuring […]

While rapper Lil’ Wyte’s own success story is still being written, he’s already working on his own label, Wyte Records and a clothing line, Wyte Wear. The first group Lil’ Wyte’s label will bring out is Thug Therapy, who will make an appearance on his third release called Third Times the Charm. "The sound Thug […]

G-Unit member the Game recently spoke out about the newly developing beef between him and Jay-Z, which was spurred on by Jay-Z’s freestyle seemingly aimed at the Compton rapper. While Jay-Z has slyly denied taking shots at the Game, some believe the semi-retired Brooklyn MC subliminally targeted Game in his freestyle "Dear Summer" on Funk […]

Compared to last year, the Hip-Hop offerings at the Grammys were sparse at the 47th annual event. But Sunday evening (Feb. 13), the night saw rapper/producer Kanye West and Usher take away three awards, and Alicia Keys three. "Everybody wanted to know what I would do if I didn’t win," West shouted after claiming his […]

Continuing his successful run at the box office in the last few years, actor/rapper Will Smith’s latest movie "Hitch" brought in an estimated $45.3 million, debuting at No. 1 this weekend. In his first romantic comedy, Smith diverged from his typical action hero role, playing a New York City "date doctor" who helps men with […]

Pioneering producer Rick Rubin has signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records to distribute his American Recordings label, according to the New York Post. Rubin, who founded Def Jam Records in his NYU dorm room alongside rap impresario Russell Simmons, will bring several acts including the Jayhawks into the partnership. Rubin recently returned to his […]

Music and Fashion pioneer Russell Simmons recently etched another entity to his argosy of urban and political related ventures by launching the UniRush Financial Services. The company, which Simmons explained will assist Americans in climbing out of financial debt, will provide several banking and account managing opportunities assessable to minorities minus the stipulations and policies […]

Organizers have arranged a hip-hop benefit concert at BB King’s Blues Club in New York City February 22, to raise money for victims of the devastating tsunamis that hit South Asia last December. The concert is the first in a series of hip-hop benefit shows as part of "Rap for Relief," created by The Agency […]

Busta Rhymes’ lengthy hiatus from rap has seemingly caused the supply to exceed the demand and Hot 97 DJ Funk Master Flex has leaked a new song from the Aftermath rapper without permission. Flex premiered the Scott Storch-produced "I’ll Hurt You" on Wednesday and Busta has reluctantly started to promote his next album. "Somehow, some […]

Houston, Texas Rapper Kiotti has inked a deal with Unauthorized Entertainment and has secured major label backing from Asylum/WEA. Kiotti, who was featured in The Source’s “Unsigned Hype,” rejected offers from Def Jam, J Records and Sony, after his single “H##### H#####” dropped and was well received by rap fans. Shortly afterwards, Kiotti signed with […]