Babygrande Signs With Koch
Indie hip-hop label Babygrande Records has inked a multi-year distribution with Koch Entertainment. The label was founded by Chuck Wilson, the former A&R executive at Priority Records. Babygrande is preparing to release albums by Jedi Mind Tricks, The Mountain Brothers and Canibus. "While most major labels are downsizing and consolidating, Koch is enjoying astonishing growth," […]
Kwame: Behind The Scenes
Rap pioneer Kwame has returned to the front lines of the urban music industry by working behind the scenes as Producer for platinum-selling artists such as Mary J. Blige and LL Cool J. Having sold over three million albums worldwide, Kwame is familiar with what it takes to create a strong street buzz. Currently, tracks […]
CNN Wants To Utilize Hip-Hop Lingo
CNN is turning to hip-hop to try and capture the coveted 18-49 year old demographic group, who command the highest advertising rates. The AOL Time Warner Company took the number one spot from MSNBC two months in a row and it appears they want to stay in the lead. Headline News boss Rolando Santos told […]
Rapper Kidnaps People For Sport
Im a hustler, not a rapper, its just rap is my hustle, Camron spit on his sophomore set Sports, Drugs and Entertainment. Well, now-a-days rappers are pushing more weight than just CDs. Whether its Cams Oh Boy cologne, Diddys restaurant and clothing line or Talib Kwelis bookstore, hip hop has bred its fair share of […]
The First Hip-Hop Mayor
On Friday, September 27, 2002, Hip Hop artist and one time school teacher Ras Baraka was sworn in as one of four Deputy Mayors for the city of Newark, New Jersey. Baraka is the son of poet Amiri Baraka, and will head up Youth and Social Service Programs in Newark. Baraka will continue his position […]
Redman And Method Man Starring In New Films
Def Jam, Paramount and MTV Films are banding together to create an untitled military comedy for Method Man and Redman. The story follows the misadventures of the two, after they join the military and become involved in a covert operation overseas. The duo have several films in the works. After starring in the modestly successful […]
Talib Kweli Comments On Solo Album, Mos Def, Hi-Tek
Brooklyn bred emcee, Talib Kweli recently appeared on the "World Famous Wake Up Show," and put to bed any doubts that may have surfaced about his pending solo album and as well as albums by Black Star and Reflection Eternal, in which Kweli is a member of both units, respectively. In the interview with King […]
Another Victory For Bill O’Reilly
After blasting Snoop Dogg, Jim Henson Productions and NBC on his "O’Reilly Factor" television show, Bill O’Reilly has dealt another blow to a rapper in less than two months. Jim Henson Productions recently announced that "A Very Merry Muppet Christmas" will cut approximately a half an hour of footage from the made-for TV special, including […]
Record Labels Settle Antitrust Lawsuit With U.S.
The five top United States distributors of compact discs and three large music stores have agreed to pay $143 million in cash and CD’s to settle charges of price fixing authorities announced yesterday (September 30.) Bertelsmann Music Group, EMI Music Distribution, Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Corporation, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Trans World Entertainment, Tower Records, and […]
Scarface Dropping Greatest Hits Collection
Ask any serious students of contemporary hip-hop to name ten of the greatest lyricists to touch the microphone and you are libel to spark a serious debate about who deserves to be in that elite group. But when it comes to Scarface’s place in hip-hop’s upper echelon there is no debate. Any rap fan worth […]
Dame Dash Gets Custody Of Son
Overcoming three previous court rulings against him, rap mogul Dame Dash has won full custody of his 10-year-old son in his recent child custody dispute with Linda Williams. A New Jersey superior court judge delivered the ruling in favor of Dash, whose Roc-A-Fella empire is worth an estimated $300 million, despite his sons plea that […]
Snoop Dogg: Targeted By O’Reilly, Developing New TV Show
Snoop Dogg is the latest rapper to come under fire from Fox’s Bill O’Reilly. On Friday’s (September 27) "O’Reilly Factor," the host blasted Snoop Dogg, NBC and Jim Henson Productions, the producers of "A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie," for including the rapper because of his checkered past. "What the heck is rapper Snoop Dog […]
P.Diddy Hosts MTV Europe Music Awards
P. Diddy said he was going to throw "a big ol’ party" in Barcelona, Spain where he is hosting the November 14 MTV Europe Music Awards. Diddy said at a news conference in London that he promised to make the awards special and that he would perform himself if "someone doesn’t show up." "I love […]
ASCAP To Showcase Emerging Talent
As part of the ASCAP Presents… Heineken R&B Ampt Music Series of regional showcases, four up-and-coming artists will be performing at The Cotton Club (152 Luckie Street, Atlanta, GA) in Atlanta on Monday, September 30, 2002. Doors open at 7:00 PM. The show starts at 8:00 PM. The artist line-up includes LaMajic, Transcendental Funk, Heston […]
Shaolin Monks Fight To Protect Name
The monks of the Shaolin Temple in China have set up a firm, Henan Shaolin Temple Industrial Development, to prevent "abusive use" of the Shaolin name. Made popular by Kung-Fu flicks and the Wu-Tang Clan, the monks are registering "Shaolin" and "Shaolin Temple" as trademarks with the Chinese government. "It’s unshirkable historical responsibility to protect […]
Suge Knight Vs. Clear Channel
According to Launch.com, Suge Knight has been hit with a lawsuit by Clear Channel subsidiary for not permitting company representatives to remove a billboard on the roof of Tha Row’s offices on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Knight and Clear Channel were unable to agree to the terms of a new lease on the billboard. […]
De La Soul Take Home High Times Doobie Award
High Times magazine awarded De la Soul with a Doobie Award last night (September 26) for their album Bionix. Sean Paul, Gov’t Mule, Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, Beenie Man and Shannon McNally were also winners at last night’s Doobie awards show at BB King’s in New York. Maseo of De La Soul, Sean Paul, Warren […]
Designer Puts Tupac Shakur And Biggie Smalls On Models
Last week, designer David Dalrymple his latest designs for House of Field during New York’s Spring Fashion Week. Field raised more than a few eye brows when a model strutted down the catwalk wearing a new metallic rap artist bustier that features the faces of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. "You have to have attitude," […]
LL Endorses Controversial Governor
LL Cool J announced that he was endorsing two-time New York Governor George Pataki against Democratic candidate H. Carl McCall. "The world that I come from, a lot of people aren’t interested in politics, quite frankly," LL said. "After seeing how the governor handled the 9/11 situation, seeing what happened in this city … I […]
Flavor Flav Gets Jail, MTV To Play PE Vid
Yesterday, a judge sentenced Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav to nine weeks in New York’s Rikers Island prison. Because of the sentence, Flavor Flav will miss tour support for Public Enemy’s latest album, Revolverlution. Flavor has been held in Rikers Island over a week for allegedly driving with a suspended licensee, having numerous parking tickets, and […]
