B.G. Checks Into Hospital, Preparing New Album
Rapper B.G. checked into a Los Angeles, California hospital over the weekend due to chest pains. According to Carole Dorsey, CEO of B.G.’s Chopper City Records, the New Orleans rapper is fine. "He was having chest pains and checked into the hospital. He really has to slow his roll and get healthy," Dorsey told AllHipHop.com. […]

Nas’ Father Inducted Into Mississippi Hall Of Fame
Nas’ father Olu Dara was inducted into Mississippi’s Hall of Fame this weekend. The rappers father is a jazz trumpter who released his debut album after his son struck it big in the hip-hop business. Dara, who has been playing with his own band for over 20 years, has appeared on over 50 albums showing […]

Ras Kass Writes From Jail, Off Priority
Embattled west coast lyricist Ras Kass penned a letter to his fans on his Web site (RasKass-Central.com), addressing his frustration with his recording home, Priority Records, his jail time and his pending albums Since its no mystery where I am now, I do feel the need to clarify what it is I was fighting for, […]

LL Cool J’s “S.W.A.T.” Tops Box Office
S.W.A.T., the movie that stars rapper LL Cool J, was the hands down winner this weekend for box office sales, raking in $37 million over the weekend. The flick, which is adapted from the hit 1970’s television show, also stars Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell as special weapons and tactic leaders in Los Angeles, […]

Producers Of Ice-T’s Reality Show Sued By Ford
Ford Motors has filed a fraud lawsuit against the production company that created the TLC Channel’s "Beyond Tough" television show that was executive produced by Ice-T. Neither Ice-T or TLC are named in the lawsuit, which claims that Teleproductions and it’s owners, Andre and Erik Jetmir accepted a $300,000 check to feature Ford trucks in […]

Grandmaster Flash Honored At Billboards
Grandmaster Flash and legendary soul singer Betty Wright were honored with a Founders Award at the Billboard-American Urban Radio Networks 2003 R&B Awards show this year. Wright accepted her award first, introduced by Miami’s own Trick Daddy, who was by far the best presenter of the evening. Trick bypassed the teleprompters script and introduced Wright […]

Rappers To Be Featured In New Showtime Reality Show
Showtime will premiere a six part reality series this fall titled "Interscope Presents: "The Next," which producers say is a reality version of the rap contests in the movie "8 Mile." The show will follow the trials and tribulations of upcoming rappers across America as they pursue their dreams of hip-hop stardom. "The show paints […]

Ice Cube Says N.W.A. Faced Real Gangsters
While Ice Cube was once heralded as a gang banging, gun-toting gangsta lyricist, the rapper/actor disclosed that he and his original group N.W.A. often faced real street thug because of their gritty image. “We used to get that all the time man all the time that group (N.W.A.) was a magnet for every tough guy […]

Ice-T Officially Launches Energy Drink And Clothing Line
Ice-T has officially launched several of his latest corporate properties. The rapper, his finance Coco, Keith Murray, a number of industry folks and a bevy of scantily clad models were on hand at Privelege Gentleman’s Cabaret in New York to celebrate. At the party Wednesday, Ice displayed his fashion line, Ice Wear, his energy drink, […]

Nas, Rakim and Alicia Keyes On A Song?
Hip-hop fans who have been savoring for a collaboration between Nas and Rakim since the QB adherent debuted in 94 with Illmatic, may soon have their collective appetites satisfied. A recent report suggested the two might appear together on a track from Alicia Keys forthcoming sophomore album. The Grammy-award winning soul singer told MTV News […]

Dirt McGirt Shoots For Playboy
Dirt McGirt, formerly known as the Ol’ Dirty Bastard, will be the next celebrity guest photographer for Playboy Magazine. Dirt snapped the pictures as photographer for a day for the magazine’s website, Playboy.com. He took flicks of Philadelphia native and Play Boy Special Editions model, Stacy Hetrick. According to those present at the shoot, the […]

Lil Kim Holds Off On Hollyhood, Will Be An “American Dream”
Lil Kim is taking her time releasing her Hollyhood clothing line, despite having three separate offers on the table. "That’s not something I want to rush into," Kim told AllHipHop.com. "I take serious pride in my clothing. I want to make sure I have the right deal. I kinda held back, because I want it […]

Missy Elliot Denies Madonna Snub
Missy Elliot has dispelled rumors that she snubbed Madonna while filming their new Gap advertisement. Printed reports said that Elliot kept Madonna waiting for almost 45 minutes while she gabbed on her mobile phone. When approached by an impatient Madonna, who tapped on the window of the car Elliot was sitting in, Elliot reportedly blew […]

Charli Baltimore Prepares “The Diary” And New Mixtape
Charli Baltimore’s The Diary will finally be released this fall, after being pushed back several times. In the meantime, Baltimore said that she will be giving away a free mixtape, titled The Darkhalf Volume 1. "I just completed it, it should drop in the next month or so," Baltimore told AllHipHop.com. "I am giving it […]

Irv Gotti, The Neptunes Win At BMI’s, Isaac Hayes Honored
Irv Gotti, Nelly, Ja-Rule and The Neptunes were big winners at last night’s BMI Awards, which took place at the Fontainebleau Hilton in Miami. The awards honored the top R&B, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers. Irv Gotti took home his second Urban Songwriter of the Year award, Nelly’s "Hot in Herre" snagged Song […]

NY Commission Halts Probe of HHSAN
The New York Lobbying Commission has suspended an investigation into possible inappropriate activities from Russell Simmons, Benjamin Chavis, and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network stemming from their opposition to the Rockefeller Drug Laws. The protest of the laws culminated in a June 4 rally, which was designed to call for the repeal of the laws […]

Def Jam Clothing On The Way
In an attempt to broaden the demographic of urban clothing buyers, Russell Simmons announced yesterday plans to launch a new men and womens line of clothing, Def Jam University, which will feature more affordable prices and be marketed in more mainstream publications. “Phat Farm is growing in volume and more polished every year, however Def […]

Q-Tip Launches Label
The reclusive Q-tip is set to reappear into public consciousness soon with not only a possible A Tribe Called Quest reunion, but with the formation of his own record imprint: Abstract Artworks. The imprint is a deal with Dreamworks Records who Tipauthor of Industry Rule 4080seems to be enthusiastic to work with, at least in […]

Mase Hits Brooklyn For Ministry
Rapper-turned-minister Mason Mase Betha brought his verbal skills back to New York to celebrate a Brooklyn churchs lengthy tour of duty as a ministry yesterday (August 4). The former rap star brought a message of spirituality and change to the Christian Cultural Center & Church, an African America church in Canarsie, Brooklyn, as the congregation […]

Styles Is Home From Jail
Styles P of The Lox/D-Block was released from a New York upstate prison about 10 a.m. today (August 4), greeted by Dee & Wahh of Ruff Ryders, fans, journalists and his wife. For the last 8 months, the rapper has made the Valhalla Correctional Facility his home. A pair of correctional officers, who monitored the […]