Hip-Hop artists were responsible for the top three highest selling mastertones in 2008, accounting for nearly thirteen percent of the top 100 mastertones sold last year, the Nielsen Company’s RingScan report says.   The honor of the most purchased mastertone goes to Lil’ Wayne, whose hit single “Lollilop” was downloaded 2.36 million times, surpassing the […]

New music will not be the only thing fans can look forward to from 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes in the coming months.   Under a new agreement between the rappers’ management company, Violator Management, and Wilton, Connecticut.-based Drinks Americas, Busta Rhymes and 50 Cent will be used to market the Leyrat Cognac and Sparkling […]

In addition to his legal woes, embattled rapper DMX has fallen victim to the harshness of the current real estate market His luxurious Arizona home is in shambles and is now facing foreclosure.   The five bedroom house, which lies on a sprawl in the Cave Creek valley outside of Phoenix, is currently on the […]

West Coast rapper Kurupt is gearing up for what he hopes to be an exceptional New Year.   In addition to three new projects slated for release in 2009, the Dogg Pound co-founder has created a new imprint to be distributed through Fontana/Universal, he told AllHipHop.com exclusively.   The newly founded Penagon Entertainment will be […]

The Los Angeles coroner’s office has determined that the August death of Andre Young, Jr. was due to an overdose of heroin and morphine.   The 20-year-old, born Andre Young, Jr. was found unconscious and not breathing on August 23 by his mother at the family’s Woodland Hills home.   He had spent the night partying […]

Vincent Ford, the man credited with writing Bob Marley’s classic “No Woman, No Cry,” passed away in Jamaica on December 28.   According to Intrepid reporter Brittany Somerset, the songwriter’s death comes after a long struggle with diabetes.   Both of Ford’s legs had been amputated due to complications from the disease.   Ford became […]

The international Hip-Hop community has banded together to help French authorities in their search for Hip-Hop photographer Hermann Deza.   The 33-year-old was last seen leaving his house on December 26 and has not been heard from since.   Deza, known among his peers as Hermosdef, has neither his wallet nor his cell phone with […]

A representative for teen sensation Soulja Boy has confirmed the young entertainer was assaulted last week.   Unconfirmed reports began circulating on New Year’s Eve that Soulja Boy and several of his close friends were ambushed and robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday night (December 30) after six men invaded the rapper’s home.   Allegedly, Soulja […]

Oscar nominated rapper/singer Queen Latifah became the victim of thieves when more than $10,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from her luxury villa in Tobago on Monday (December 29).   Police investigating the incident believe the theft was an inside job that may have been committed by a member of the house and grounds staff […]

Now that a tumultuous 2008 has come to an end, a number of rappers and producers took time this week to plan the new year and reveal their resolutions for 2009.   The year which has now passed seems to have brought these artists closer to their fans, as their resolutions reflect that of the […]

Ronelle “Big Gates” Levatte, manager/brother of rapper Plies, has responded to rumors that his younger brother was incarcerated after a show in Atlanta last week.   According to reports, Plies born Algernod Washington, was allegedly arrested by federal agents after a performance at the Hot 107.9’s Jingle Bash.   The show, which took place on […]

A member of the Louisiana-based Jena Six is being treated at a local hospital after shooting himself in the chest.   The Associated Press reports that Mychal Bell injured himself Monday night (December 29) at his grandmother’s house in Monroe.   According to a police report, the shooting was reported at 7:40 p.m. At the […]

Throughout 2008 T.I. found himself alternating between personal and professional challenges in the form of promoting a new album, legal woes, and a persistent Bankhead rival.           On March 27, T.I., real name Clifford Harris, was sentenced to 1 year in prison for two counts of illegally possessing machine guns and silencers, and one count […]

Multi-platinum rapper DMX entered a guilty plea today (December 30) before a Phoenix judge on four counts of theft, drug, and animal cruelty charges.   Per the plea agreement, DMX (Earl Simmons) will be sentenced on Friday January 30. The agreement will cover one count of possession of narcotic drugs, a misdemeanor county of animal […]

Even a full year after its release, Flo Rida’s smash single “Low” continues to be a cash cow in overseas ringtones for the Miami rapper.   Telstra, Australia’s largest provider of long-distance and local telephone services, officially recognized “Low” as the top-selling ringtone of 2008.   The country’s ringtone purchases peaked in 2007 at $50 […]

Super-producer Timbaland will ring in the New Year with a newly processed $11,450 lien against his mansion, courtesy of an ongoing florist bill dispute.   The White Tulip Florist, a company based in Miami Beach, filed legal papers against Timbaland claiming the star purchased $25,850.00 in trees, flowers, and lights from their organization.   According […]

West Coast rap star E-40 is speaking out regarding his role in a recent shooting, following a sold-out performance at a Denver, Colorado nightclub.   According to his manager, Chaz Hayes, “E-40 and his camp were uninvolved in the unfortunate incident at Club Vinyl in Denver on Dec. 27, 2008.”   “Neither E40 nor anyone […]

President-elect Barack Obama’s landmark 2008 presidential run not only galvanized the nation, but ignited a renewed sense of political awareness and music from Hip-Hop artists.                 The noticeable trend began slowly at the end of 2007 through artists such as Common and Talib Kweli, both of whom publicly supported Barack Obama’s then perceived long shot […]

Jay-Z’s plans to add the title of hotelier to his ever-expanding empire has been halted, the New York Times reports.   The rapper/mogul’s planned J Hotels, which was scheduled to break ground this year, has been postponed indefinitely, as New York’s real estate development market takes a heavy hit.   The luxury hotel was proposed […]

Talib Kweli’s Blacksmith Music imprint has dissolved its distribution arrangement with Warner Brothers Records.   The Brooklyn MC confirmed the split to AllHipHop.com today after rumors surfaced online that he had been released from his contract with the label.   “My label Blacksmith is no longer distributed by Warner Brothers, which means they will not […]