Ying Yang, Sir-Mix-A-lot, John Legend Tapped For ‘Copyright Awareness Week’
The Ying Yang Twins and Sir-Mix-A-Lot are among the entertainers taking part in Copyright Awareness Week, a new nationwide initiative that aims to educate young people about the importance of copyright laws. In addition to those rappers, Grammy Award-winning R&B singer John Legend and rock group 3 Doors Down will create public service announcements about […]

Kanye, Em, 50 Up For TRL’s ‘Man Of The Year’ Award
Fresh off winning three Grammy Awards last Wednesday (Feb. 8), Kanye West is raking in more nominations. The Chicago rapper/producer is up for Man of the Year at MTV’s fourth annual TRL Awards. The network announced nominees for the event on Monday (Feb. 13). West will compete with Eminem, 50 Cent and Gerard Way of […]

Funkmaster Flex Signs On As Spokesman For JL Audio
Hot 97 DJ and noted car enthusiast Funkmaster Flex has entered into an endorsement agreement with JL Audio, a Miramar, Fla.-based company that makes aftermarket auto sound components. Under the new alliance, Flex will be JL Audio’s top endorser throughout North America and will play an active role in promoting and marketing the company’s high-end […]

50 Cent In Final Negotiations To Star Opposite Samuel L. Jackson In ‘Home Of The Brave’
50 Cent is in final negotiations to make his second motion picture appearance in the upcoming film Home Of The Brave, opposite Samuel L. Jackson. The plot revolves around three soldiers returning from the war in Iraq and trying to readjust to civilian life. Jackson plays a doctor who unravels during the course of the […]

Rapper Mac Minister Profiled On America’s Most Wanted, Sought For Questioning In New Murder
Bay Area rapper Mac Minister was profiled on Fox’s long-running television series America’s Most Wanted on Saturday (Feb. 11). Police have been seeking Mac Minister, born Andre Dow, in connection with the May 2005 murders of Kansas City rapper Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins and his companion, Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins. Police suspect Mac Minister and an […]

Kurupt, Gail Gotti Announce Wedding Date and New Album
West Coast rap couple Kurupt and Gail Gotti announced plans to wed this summer and will release an album together on their respective labels.The future newlyweds will release an untitled full-length album together this summer through Kurupt’s Penagon Enterprises and Gail Gotti’s Night-In-Gail Entertainment.Two tracks from the upcoming album, “Ride It Out,” which was produced […]

Funeral Services For Producer J Dilla To Take Place In Los Angeles
Funeral services for Detroit rapper/producer J Dilla, who died Friday (Feb. 10) of complications from lupus, will take place this week in Los Angeles. He was 32. A viewing for J Dilla, born James Yancey, will be held Monday (Feb. 13), followed by a funeral on Tuesday (Feb. 14). A memorial concert is also being […]

Little Brother Attends Hip-Hop Summit at North Carolina Central
The North Carolina trio of Phonte, Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder, collectively known as Little Brother, recently participated in a Hip-Hop Summit at their Alma Mater, North Carolina Central University, on Wednesday (Feb. 8). The one-day summit was established to address social issues within the Hip-Hop community and allow aspiring Hip-Hop enthusiasts to display […]

Rap Producer J-Dilla Dies; Kidney Failure Suspected
Hip-Hop producer J-Dilla passed away today (Feb. 10) due to an unspecified ailment. Early reports suggest he succumbed to kidney failure, a medical problem which arose in 2004. J-Dilla, born James Yancey, was a member of Slum Village and worked with various Hip-Hop artists including Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and Common’s […]

LL Cool J Reveals Todd Smith Line During Fashion Week
LL Cool J is the latest rapper to enter the fashion realm. The Queens-bred MC premiered his new Todd Smith men’s and women’s clothing lines earlier this week at the Carlton Hotel during New York’s Fashion Week. For his men’s collection, LL Cool J (whose real name is James Todd Smith) enlisted Jeremy Brandrick of […]

Essence Magazine And Berklee College of MusicSeeking Hip-Hop Artists
Essence Magazine and the Berklee College of Music are looking for Hip-Hop’s next generation of stars through their first ever Hip-Hop Songwriting Contest. Students from ages 15-18 who are unsigned can submit their music until Feb. 28. Entries will be judged based on cleverness and innovativeness of lyrics, as well as melody and composition. "This […]
Busta Rhymes Issues Statement, Police Say Two Weapons Fired
Rapper Busta Rhymes has issued a statement about an early morning shooting last Sunday (Feb. 5) that took the life of his longtime bodyguard. Authorities believe an argument between Ruff Ryders President Swizz Beatz and Tony Yayo and G-Unit sparked a deadly shooting on the set of a video shoot for Busta Rhymes’ single “Touch […]

Ice Cube Movie Changes Plot, Sequel To ‘Are We There Yet?’ On The Way
Ice Cube’s forthcoming comedic film Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is being redone as the sequel to the rapper’s 2005 movie, Are We There Yet? According to Variety, the change occurred after Revolution Studios announced it had ceased development of new product. The big opening for Martin Lawrence’s new movie, Big Momma’s House 2, […]

People Under The Stairs Switch Labels, Prepare New Album
Los Angeles-based Hip-Hop duo People Under the Stairs (aka PUTS) is releasing their fifth album, Stepfather, this May under the independent Hip-Hop label, Basement Records. The full-length album features guest appearances by legendary Funkadelic and Parliament member George Clinton, Monty Stark of Stark Reality, and Kat of Crown City Rockers. The CD will be accompanied […]
Update: Busta Reps Say Rapper Attended Services, Pressure Mounts On Rappers
A wake for the slain bodyguard of rap superstar Busta Rhymes was held yesterday (Feb. 9) in New York. Mourners laid Israel Ramirez, 29, to rest at the Century Funeral Home, where hundreds of family and friends turned out. Police believe Ramirez was shot and killed as he shielded Busta Rhymes during an altercation between […]

Kanye, BEP, Jay-Z, De La Soul, Others Win At Grammy Awards
Multi-platinum selling rapper Kanye West scored three Grammys last night (Feb. 8), including the coveted Best Rap Album award at the 48th annual ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Fueled by the success of his sophomore album, Late Registration, the Chicago MC took home honors in three categories, including Best Rap Album, Best […]

Rapper Penelope Jones To Be Featured On ‘America’s Most Wanted’
Rap newcomer Penelope Jones will appear on the crime-solving television show America’s Most Wanted Feb. 18 to discuss the still-unsolved murder of her brother. Jones (born Juarita Jones) has been aggressively searching for the murderer of her brother Tony since he was fatally shot in his home three years ago in front of his two […]

Slip-N-Slide Inks Multi-Million Dollar Deal With Def Jam
Miami-based record label Slip-N-Slide Records has inked a multi-million dollar deal with Def Jam, headed by rapper/mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. While Trina, Trick Daddy and Ft. Meyers rapper Plies will remain signed as Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic artists, newcomers Rick Ross, of Miami, and Citty, of Atlanta, will record under the new Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam imprint, where a new […]

AHH Stray News: Twista, BET, Marc Ecko, Ludacris
Twista recently headlined an event at Chicago’s Roosevelt University, as part of National Black AIDS Awareness day yesterday (Feb. 7). The rapper encouraged young fans to engage in safe sex and use condoms. The event was sponsored by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS (BASUAH). According to the U.S. […]

Juelz Santana Announces New Clothing Line
Diplomat affiliate Juelz Santana is branching out beyond music and stepping into the world of fashion with his new clothing company, the Z-Line, due out this fall. The rapper will then launch Mazia, a clothing company licensed by Z-Line Clothing, Inc. The line signals the MC’s desire to become "a driving force in the urban […]