Rappers from Snoop Dogg to 50 Cent and Nelly have used the word "pimp" in both its negative and positive subtexts in their rhymes, but controversy over "pimp" recently spilled into the courts, leading to a decision supporting the term’s usage. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday (Jan. 4) in favor of […]

The Universal Zulu Nation’s Seattle Chapter is hosting their first ever anniversary celebration of Hip-Hop culture which will be held in Seattle, Washington , from February 17-20, 2005. Besides celebrating the chapter’s anniversary, they will honor Black history month and attempt to unite the elements of Hip-Hop culture (emceeing, deejaying, break dancing, visual art, and […]

St. Louis, Missouri native Nelly presented a $50,000 check as a donation to the Martin Luther King Memorial Project Foundation. The donation will help build a memorial on the mall in Washington, D.C., in honor of the civil rights legend, who was assassinated in 1968. Founders of the project hope that the monument will educate […]

Late last year, Cam’ron announced through the radio that he was leaving Def Jam after the presidential appointment of Jay-Z and the sale of Roc-A-Fella Recordings. But, now sources inside the label have revealed that the Diplomat chief is still with the label. While details are scarce, Cam was still contractually bound to the label […]

Neptunes producer Pharrell Williams and his clothing company BBC are reportedly suing Reebok for $4 million in damages, alleging that the sports apparel giant violated a contract between the two parties. Pharrell’s clothing and footwear brand BBC (Billionaire Boys Club) filed a complaint in New York court Dec. 17, 2004, claiming that Reebok did not […]

Adding yet another rapper to his catalog of co-stars, actor/former rapper Mark Wahlberg will star alongside OutKast’s Andre 3000 in a new action-drama film. The John Singleton-directed movie centers around four adopted brothers who seek to avenge their mother’s murder. "This cast is gonna kick ass," Singleton told AllHipHop.com. "It’s a real man’s movie full […]

The year 2003 was supposed to mark the end of Skillz’s popular yearly “Rap Up” songs, but the Virginia native has exclusively released the 2004 to the glee of fans, DJs and other MC’s. After opting out last year, he said the public convinced him to forge ahead with the series, which explains why the […]

Andre 3000’s upcoming biopic on rock legend Jimi Hendrix is at risk of being scrapped altogether, because the guitarist’s estate has forbid the directors from using music from his archives. A probable hit, the movie was to chronicle the turbulent life of Hendrix up until his tragic death at 27 years old. The movie showed […]

M.O.P will perform at a special benefit in New York hosted by Terror Squad member Remy Martin, designed at raising funds to aid the relief effort for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami, which killed hundreds of thousands of people. "M.O.P is proud to be a part of this very special event," said Laze Elliot, […]

Ice T’s political lobbying has apparently paid off. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a tax break law Monday (Jan. 3) in favor of film and television production companies that work in Manhattan. Ice T testified before the New York City Council last month to support the tax credit on TV and movie production […]

The owner of Studio 8, where Eminem recorded his debut album The Slim Shady LP, was found shot to death Tuesday (Jan. 4) inside the Detroit venue, police said. A business associate of Amjed Abdallah found the 36-year-old on the floor of the studio, according to Detective Lt. Norman Raymond. Police retrieved three bullet casings […]

Viewers of Missy Elliott’s new UPN reality series The Road to Stardom, premiering Wednesday (Jan. 5), will catch a strong dose of real tour life as music hopefuls compete for money and recognition on the quest for the next big sensation, said the show’s road manager Steve Lobel. "Everybody just watches TV and sees these […]

Is Jae Millz the next superstar to represent Harlem, New York? MTV thinks he will be. The network will shine the spotlight on the rapper, presenting him as the first MTV News "You Hear It First" artist of 2005. "You Hear It First" gives fans a look at emerging artists. Others who have been featured […]

In response to rumors of alleged hostility toward R&B sensation Usher, Lil Jon has fervidly denied that he harbors ill feelings for his fellow Atlantian. “Usher and I are good friends. It’s just haters trying to stir some negative bullsh*t up because we’ve had such a big year,” Lil Jon said. “We’ve made history together […]

Creative Commons and Wired Magazine have launched “The Fine Art of Sampling” contest, encouraging fans to sample works from such well known acts as The Beastie Boys, David Byrne, Chuck D., Danger Mouse, Le Tigre, My Morning Jacket and others. Creative Commons was founded by Stanford Law School professor Lawrence Lessig, one of the nation’s […]

50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and super producer, Swizz Beats teamed up with celebrity sports agent Glenn Toby and NY Jets #91 Josh Evans, to open the "2004 Book Bank Foundation Holiday Superstore for the Homeless," over the Christmas holiday. New York’s Bowery Mission housed the superstore which provided over 300 New York City homeless children […]

Geto Boys member Bushwick Bill will be featured as a celebrity guest model at the First Annual Makaveli Branded Fashion Show, the clothing line launched by Tupac Shakur’s mother, Afeni Shakur. “It is significant that this event is being held in Los Angeles on New Years,” Bushwick Bill said. “This day represents the birth of […]

Rock/rap group Linkin Park has formed Music for Relief and has partnered with the American Red Cross with hopes of raising funds for the victims of a massive tsunami which so far has claimed over 175,000 in Southern Asia. The group has donated $100,000 for victims of the incident, which was triggered by a 9.0 […]

Former New York State Sen. Guy Velella, convicted of bribery charges, is reportedly sharing the same prison unit at Rikers Island as former Bad Boy rapper Shyne, who is incarcerated for his role in a club shooting. Upon returning to jail Monday (Dec. 27) to finish a one-year sentence for conspiring to funnel public contracts […]

Russell Simmons and Kenard Gibbs, President of Vibe Magazine, will be honored at Jesse Jackson’s Eighth Annual Wall Street Project Conference, which will take place January 11-13 at the Hilton New York Hotel, in New York City. The theme of the conference this year is “Beyond Diversity, Equity and Parity: A New Covenant.” Doug E. […]