According to reports, SonyBMG is planning to dismantle it’s Sony Urban Music division, with layoffs at the label coming just before the holiday season. Layoffs at the label are scheduled to start some time this week. According to the New York Post some of Sony Urban’s 70 employees will be reassigned to other labels within […]

Rapper Pharrell Williams is in negotiations to take part in a massive concert to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana. The charity concert is being planned by Princes William and Harry, and will take place at the new Wembley Stadium on July 1, Princess Diana’s 46th birthday, various London newspapers reported […]

Jay-Z’s latest release Kingdom Come is on pace to move an estimated 850,000 copies the first week in stores, giving the rapper the year’s best selling CD in one week and another #1 album on the Billboard charts. Kingdom Come is expected to debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart next week, giving the […]

Houston, Texas-based lyricist Slim Thug is the latest artist scheduled to take part in a Stop the Violence Hip-Hop caucus in New Orleans.The event, hosted by the Hip-Hop Caucus Institute (HHCi), will take place Friday (Nov. 24) and include a dialogue and strategy session to find a solution for the growing violence in neighborhoods populated […]

Cleveland DJ Mick Boogie, Shady Records DJ and creator of the Jay-Z/Superman Returns mixtape, has crafted a new Pre-Up mixtape to get Shady fans excited for the upcoming album release of The Re-Up. "Mick Boogie is one of the most consistent and creative mixtape DJ’s in the game, so when he came to us with […]

Compton, California rapper The Game has proven his selling power despite label turmoil and the loss of production from Dr. Dre, as his sophomore album Doctor’s Advocate moved almost 360,000 copies the first week in stores. The Game, born Jayceon Taylor, suffered numerous setbacks while recording the album, which is expected to top the Billboard […]

Hip-Hop quartet Black Eyed Peas and singer Mary J. Blige were among the victors Tuesday (Nov. 21) at this year’s American Music Awards (AMAs). The Peas, who made an appearance via satellite from Costa Rica, picked up three awards, including favorite R&B/Hip-Hop group, Soul/R&B group and Rap/Hip-Hop album for Monkey Business. In addition to performing, […]

A new line of New Era Fitted hats honoring the memory of Hip-Hop fixture Jay Dee (aka J. Dilla) will debut on Okayplayer.com. The web site will exclusively unveil and sell the fitted head pieces beginning at 12:00 pm ET Friday (Nov. 24). The revered producer, a founding member of the rap group Slum Village, […]

Reprise Records launched G’s Up TV today (Nov. 21), a new online show starring Atlanta-based rapper Lil Scrappy.The documentary-style Internet television show features Lil Scrappy recounting his life and how he broke into the music industry. The rapper will also appear in a variety of humorous skits, which include a cognac tasting contest with Lil […]

Trina has launched the Diamond Doll Foundation, a new nonprofit, dedicated toward the upliftment of young women in communities across the country. To celebrate the new organization’s founding, Trina will host the 1st Annual Diamond Doll Celebrity Birthday weekend in Miami. On December 2, Trina will play host to women of various backgrounds from South […]

Diplomatic Records’ president Ezekiel "Freekey Zekey" Jiles was released from prison in Durham N.C. yesterday (Nov. 20) after serving three years in prison for running an ecstasy ring. Freekey Zekey, 31, was convicted in 2004 on the drug charges and served almost three years in prison. The rapper was greeted in front of the Durham […]

It’s been a good year for Tyrese Gibson. With a hit movie ( Waist Deep ) and one on the way ( Transformers ), as well as a successful collaboration with rapper Chingy (“Pullin’ Me Back), the crooner/thespian is riding a wave of good fortune. Couple this with the unveiling of his rhyme persona Black-Ty […]

Kanye West is entering the fast lane as one of two celebrity race car sponsors for this year’s Formula BMW World Finals. The second annual event, which takes place Friday (Nov. 24) through Sunday (Nov. 26) in Valencia, Spain, is a competition involving 38 of the best drivers from 18 countries in the world’s regional […]

Universal Music Group, the parent company of Island Def Jam, filed a lawsuit against MySpace.com’s corporate parent News Corp. on Friday (Nov. 17), claiming the popular Internet site is guilty of copyright infringement. UMG, the world’s largest label, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for California’s Central District, after Jay-Z’s highly anticipated come back […]

DJ Whoo Kid and Bay-area powerhouse DJ E-Rock have collaborated for the third installment of their 0Bay Bidness mixtape series. After the success of Bay Bidness 1 and Bay Bidness 2, the notorious deejays are releasing Bay Bidness 3, featuring E-40, Keak Da Sneak, Mistah F.A.B., The Federation, San Quinn, and new Bay-area stars J. […]

Rap Mogul Percy “Master P ” Miller is putting his business skills to use outside the music arena with his new book Guaranteed Success. The educational book, which is also available on CD and DVD, represents Miller’s goal of educating those interested in benefiting from the power of Hip-Hop from a financial stand point. “It’s […]

More trouble could be brewing for Compton, CA rapper The Game, as his business partner in the Atlantic City-based Black Wall Street East recording studio was arrested and charged with money laundering on Friday (Nov 17.) John "Johnny Hooks" Abbey, 38, was charged with laundering over $100,000 for the 9 Tre Gangsters, a dangerous faction […]

Jay-Z’s groundbreaking 24-hour "Hangar Tour," successfully launched Saturday morning (November 18) in Atlanta and wrapped early Sunday morning (Nov. 19) in Las Vegas. The rapper hit the road in support of his new album Kingdom Come, along with Memphis Bleek, DJ Green Lantern and MTV’s Sway. Jay-Z and his entourage visited Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., […]

The allegiance between Bad Boy South and Block Enterprises will continue, according to Bad Boy CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs and Russell "Block" Spencer.The pair announced the renewal of their venture Friday (Nov. 17). The new deal caps off a successful year headlined by the success of Boyz N Da Hood and Young Joc. Both artists’ […]

Rap star Jayceon “The Game” Taylor was arrested in New York on Thursday (Nov. 16) and charged with impersonating an undercover police officer. In what is shaping up to be a bizarre incident, police claim the rapper ordered a cab driver to run several traffic lights, because he was an undercover police officer. “This is […]