Thailand To Introduce New Genre Of Hip-Hop To Youth
The Ministry of Culture in Bangkok, Thailand hopes to harness the power of Hip-Hop to encourage Thai youth to be more active in the Buddhist religion. According to The Vice Minister for Culture Weerasak Kowsurat, the government will organize a concert on February 23 that will introduce a new genre of rap called “Dhamma Rap.” […]
Columbia Developing Pic For Will Smith, Rapper To Host AIDS Concert With Mandela
Straight off the successful opening of his movie "Hitch," Columbia pictures is in negotiations to finance a new movie being developed for Will Smith titled "Tonight He Comes," a drama about a destitute superhero. The movie is about a superhero that crash-lands in Sheepshead Bay, New York. The main character drinks, smokes and has one-night […]

Cash Money CEO’s Comment On Lil Wayne Re-Signing With Label
Rapper Lil’ Wayne has renewed his deal with Cash Money Records and is working on a new album, The Carter II. An announcement from Cash Money co-CEO’s Ronald “Slim” Williams and Bryan “Baby” Williams ended months of silence about the fate of one of their marquee artist’s. "Lil Wayne is part of the heart and […]

XXL Spotlights West Coast Hip-Hop In March Issue
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 […]

Crooked I Speaks On ‘Gag’ Order Against Suge Knight
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 […]

Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am. Launches Label, Clothing Line
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 […]

AHH Stray News: Jay-Z, Dipset, Snoop, The Inc.
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 […]

Domination Speaks On Bang ‘Em Smurf, 50 Cent
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 […]

AHH Stray News: Nas, Race-O-Rama, Suge Knight’s Movie, Wyclef
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 Planning Return To Rap
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 Arrested
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, […]

Karinne “Superhead” Steffans Releasing Tell All Book
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 Suing P. Diddy Over Autobiography
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 […]

Lord Finesse Represents For Big L, Hosts Tribute Show
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 […]

Lil’ Wyte Talks Label, Wyte Wear Clothing
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 […]

Game Says No Beef With Jay-Z, Speaks On Amsterdam Comments
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 […]
Kanye West, Alicia, Usher Win Big At The Grammys
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 […]

Will Smith’s ‘Hitch’ Tops Box Office, Sets Record For Sony
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 […]

AHH Stray News: Rick Rubin, The Streets, Rap in Rhode Island, MXGM
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 […]

Russell Simmons Launches UniRush Financial Services, Talks Russell Simmons Music Group
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 […]