Lil Jon & TVT Settle Differences, Rapper Working On ‘Crunk Rock’
Lil Jon and TVT Records have put their differences aside and have announced the label will finally release the rapper’s fourth full-length album, Crunk Rock. The Atlanta producer/rapper is in the studio finishing up the album, which is slated to be released later this year. Crunk Rock was delayed because of a contractual dispute between […]

Kimora Lee Simmons Drops ‘Fabulosity’
Kimora Lee Simmons’ self-help book for women, Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It, hits shelves today. The 272-page book contains 16 laws of success, as well as personal tips and empowering stories to help women from all walks of life succeed. Simmons, president and creative director of Baby Phat, said she aims […]

Howard University Hosts First Hip-Hop Symposium
Howard University Graduate School, in conjunction with the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center and several grad student organizations, will host the Inaugural Hip-Hop and Higher Education Symposium on March 30. The event aims to fuse Hip-Hop into the curriculum of Howard undergraduate and graduate programs. Panelists for the symposium include Lil’ Mo, BET Style host Melyssa Ford […]
Smithsonian To Host Museum’s First Ever On Going Exhibit On Hip-Hop Culture
The Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History is in the process of launching and hosting "Hip-Hop Won’t Stop," the museum’s first-ever on going and evolving exhibit on Hip-Hop culture in the The Smithsonian. Ice T., Russell Simmons, Crazy Legs and others will hold a press conference on Feb. 28 at the New York Hilton, […]
9th Wonder Reconvenes The Crooklyn Dodgers
Producer 9th Wonder intends to remake "Crooklyn Dodgers," a decade-old Hip-Hop classic, as the official lead-single for his solo LP, The Dream Merchant. The contemporary song, simply deemed "Crooklyn Dodgers 3," features Mos Def, Jean Grae and Memphis Bleek with DJ Premier on the turntables. The original Crooklyn Dodgers comprised rappers Buckshot, Masta Ace, Special […]

Pharoahe Monch Album On The Way Via New Deal With Steve Rifkind’s New Label
Pharoahe Monch has joined forces with Loud Records/SRC founder Steve Rifkind to release Monch’s first album since his 1999 debut Internal Affairs, on Rawkus Records. Pharaohe Monch will release his highly anticipated album, Desire, on a new unnamed label Rifkind has founded and runs, after a bidding war which is also distributed by Universal. A […]

Rocawear Inks Deal For New Watches
Rocawear has inked a deal with watch designer Vestal Group Inc. to create a timepiece collection that will launch at the 2006 Las Vegas MAGIC show this week. Under the deal, the Vestal Group will create and design Rocawear timepiece collections for men and women. The merchandise will have a price range of $95-$395. Founded […]

Rap Producer Claims He’s Unfairly Linked To Officer’s Murder
Rap producer Christopher Hicks was arrested Friday (Feb. 17) in connection to the murder of a California highway patrol officer. Sacramento’s Modesto Bee reported that Hicks unwittingly became linked to the murder suspect, 30-year-old Columbus Junior Allen II. Hicks, a veteran producer who has worked on movie soundtracks, is best known for his collaborations with […]

Terrence Howard Inks Deal With 310 Motoring
Actor Terrence Howard has struck a deal with 310 Motoring to become a spokesman for the high end automotive company’s 310 footwear line. The company is planning to launch The Terrence Howard campaign in men’s urban, fashion and lifestyle magazines around the world in markets where the footwear is sold. "I’m thrilled to take on […]

Wendy Williams Invests In High-End Champagne Company
Radio host Wendy Williams has finalized a deal to become part owner of The House of Georges Vesselle champagne as well as the company’s stateside spokesperson. The nationally syndicated radio personality invested in the company after years of tedious negotiations. "Well, first of all, I know it sounds crazy because I’m a simple Black girl […]

LL Still Loves The Ladies, Teams With Oxygen For Special Concert
Rapper/actor LL Cool J has teamed with Oxygen Media and will perform songs from his forthcoming 12th studio album, Todd Smith in the "LL Cool J Custom Concert Featuring Ne-Yo and Special Guest." Oxygen viewers starting voting on Feb. 17 to determine what hit songs LL Cool J will perform from his sizable catalog. The […]

Slim Thug Goes Titanium For Energizer Music Contest
Rapper Slim Thug has hooked up with Energizer for the battery company’s Engergizer Titanium Technology Freestylin’ music contest. The contest, which runs through March 24, will give participants the chance to freestyle over a beat provided by Energizer. "I started out by freestylin’ over different beats," Slim Thug said. "Energizer’s providing an opportunity for other […]

Snoop Dogg To Tour New Zealand
Snoop Dogg will tour New Zealand with a live band in April, ending an eight year absence from the country. The rapper, backed by his 12-piece band The Snoopadelics, will make stops in Wellington at the Events Centre on Apr. 13 and at the Supertop Ericsson Stadium in Auckland on Apr. 15th. The last time […]

Rappers Help Dub Magazine Launch 2006 Auto Show
Various rappers will help Dub Magazine kick off their 2006 Custom Auto Show & Concert today (Feb. 19) in Los Angeles, California. Auto enthusiasts and Hip-Hop lovers will see performances by Mike Jones, Paul Wall Slim Thug, Strong Arm Steady, Xzibit and a special surprise guest. Hundreds of the best customized vehicles in the United […]

Suge Knight Files Lawsuit Against Michael ‘Harry-O’ Harris
Marion "Suge" Knight and Death Row Records have filed a $106 million dollar lawsuit against Michael "Harry-O" Harris and others in Los Angeles Federal Court. Harris and Wasserman Comden Cassleman and Pearson LLP are named in the lawsuit, which claims Harris, who is serving a 28-year-sentence in a California State prison for attempted murder and […]

Universal Zulu Nation Calls Emergency Meeting to Recapture Hip-Hop
The Supreme World Council of the Universal Zulu Nation will hold an emergency meeting Feb. 22 to address what the group feels is an imbalance of Hip-Hop played on radio and TV stations. Expected to appear at the meeting to support the Universal Zulu Nation and founder Afrika Bambataa include Hip-Hop activists Kevin Powell, Davey […]

Police Seek Man Suspected Of Soulja Slim Retaliation Slaying
Houston, TX police are questioning Hurricane Katrina evacuees that sought refuge in the state, in an attempt to locate five men accused of various crimes, including a man suspected in a revenge murder related to the death of rapper James “Soulja Slim” Tapp. Police are seeking Jerome Hampton, 23, for the Dec. 28 murder of […]

Queen Latifah Receives First ‘Rosa Parks Lifetime Achievement Award’ From Newark, NJ
Rapper/actress Queen Latifah will receive the first Rosa Parks Lifetime Achievement award issued by her hometown of Newark, NJ. Latifah, born Dana Owens, will receive the award at Newark’s annual Black History Month Monday tribute on Monday (Feb. 20). The Rev. Keith Marshall of Macedonia Baptist Church will give the keynote address at the ceremony, […]

Jay-Z Chats With Roc Fans; Reveals Foxy Brown Had Surgery
Rapper Foxy Brown has undergone ear surgery and is in the process of recovering her hearing, Def Jam president Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has revealed. Of the Def Jam-signed artist, Jay-Z said, "She just had an operation out in L.A. and hopefully within the next couple of weeks her hearing will slowly start to come back." […]

Dem Franchize Boyz Debut High On The Charts, Rack Up Ring Tune Sales
So So Def/Virgin Records’ group Dem Franchize Boyz recently reached the one million mark in ring tune sales, just as their debut album, On Top Of Our Game entered near the top of Billboard’s Top 200 chart. The Atlanta-based group racked up 1,056,924 in sales of ring tune versions of their #1 hit “I Think […]