Pew Research Results Regarding Two Separate Forms of Music: Hip Hop & Rap?

A report from the Pew Research Center titled Blacks See Growing Values Gap Between Poor and Middle Class has a lot to consider. Here's what the full report [pdf, p. 6] says about black and white responses to questions about hip hop and rap:

On the Cultural Front: Rap Takes the Rap

On the popular culture front, the survey finds that while a plurality of blacks think the portrayal of blacks in movies and on television has improved in the past decade, a plurality also believes that these onscreen images remain, on balance, more hurtful than helpful to society’s image of African Americans.

Check Out Full Article @ Pro Hip-Hop

G. Malone And Joe Clair Give Away Turkeys

On the site of Snoop Dogg's acclaimed What's My Name? video, Los Angeles' V.I.P. Records, DXnext rapper G. Malone and former Rap City host Joe Clair will be giving away turkeys to needy families next week. The five hour event will be November 20, and features dancing, giveaways and entertainment.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Foxy Brown's Manager On BET's American Gangster

On November 21 at 10:00 PM EST, BET will air a new episode of their hit series American Gangster that focuses on Hip Hop manager Chaz Williams. The Queens, New York-based Williams runs Black Hand Entertainment, a label and marketing company responsible for several works, including 1999's Black Gangster Soundtrack.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Eminem Strikes Worldwide Publishing Deal With Kobalt

Hip-Hop superstar Eminem has entered into an exclusive publishing and marketing deal with online music-publisher Kobalt Music Group and Los Angeles-based licensing and administration company Music Resources.

Under the terms of the deal, Kobalt and Music Resources will administer the rapper’s Eight Mile Style Music catalog across the world outside of the United States and Canada.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Former Miss England Wins Damages Over 50 Cent Sex Claims

Former Miss England Danielle Lloyd won a substantial, undisclosed amount of damages against the UK’s Daily Mirror, after the paper claimed she had sex with rapper 50 Cent.

The Daily Mirror published a story last July titled "Fiddy’s No Diddy, Danielle Looking Wobbly After A Big Night In With 50 Cent."

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Don P. talks New Record Deal and Trillville Album

With production credits on Young Joc’s hit single Bottle Poppin’, Don P. is set to end 2007 on a strong note, as he settles in at his new recording home at Universal Records.

According to the beatmaker, who did the deal through his label Swag Up Entertainment, the Universal signing was the result of a series of meetings with representatives in New York and Los Angeles, as well as a determination get his music heard.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib Join 3rd Annual Bounce Tour

Rappers Peanut Butter Wolf, Madlib, Karriem Riggins, J Rocc and Percee P have embarked upon the Holiday Edition of the Third Annual Bounce Tour.

The month-long, 14-date holiday edition of the tour kicks off November 16 at the Independent in San Francisco and winds down December 8 at The Loft in Atlanta, Georgia.


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Lowered crack terms could free 20,000 early

The U.S. Sentencing Commission is considering retroactive changes that could mean shortened sentences for nearly 20,000 federal prisoners convicted of crack cocaine related offenses.

The commission heard Tuesday from a federal judge and advocacy groups who favor making the change retroactive, and from the Justice Department and others who oppose it.

Guidelines that went into effect November 1 already have reduced the disparity between sentences for crack possession convictions and convictions for possessing cocaine in powder form.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Kanye West's mother a model of support

To understand how close Kanye West and his mother, Donda, were, one only needs to listen to his music.

He regularly made reference to her in his lyrics, discussing everything from her insistence that he receive a college degree to her unshakeable support of him when he ultimately decided to pursue a rap career.

Donda West, who died at 58 over the weekend, appeared to be as tough as she was loving.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Jam Master Jay's Business Partner Says MC's Family Could Help Find Killer

'If it takes forever ... I'm here in NYC to straighten it out,' Randy Allen says, responding to family's allegations that he has been silent.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Gym Class Heroes Mixing It Up

The Gym Class Heroes were always heavy into Hip Hop. The Rock/Rap group is now showing just why they get love from both communities. Now, they are working on a new album with a variety of acts from different genres. For instance, who puts the Arctic Monkeys on the same album as Busta Rhymes? Answer: The Heroes.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Jadakiss Officially Signs To Roc-A-Fella Records

After endless talks, SOHH.com has learned that Jadakiss is now indeed, officially signed to Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records.

Though details of the deal have not been revealed yet, a rep for Def Jam - the parent label of the Roc - said that the Yonkers-born MC is "definitely signed" to the Roc-A-Fella fold. Even though there had been some talks that since leaving Interscope Kiss was mulling over the possibility of heading down South to link up with Cash Money Records, the signing is not a surprise.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Jay-Z, Foxy Brown, Celebrity Spades

Rapper/actor Ludacris has signed on to star in the movie tentatively titled Game.

Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z's concept album American Gangster will debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, moving over 433,000 copies its first week in stores.

Foxy Brown’s delayed album Brooklyn’s Don Diva has been given a new release date.

Rap superstar Doug E. Fresh will host an all-star group of players who will compete in Power Moves Inc.'s 3rd Annual Celebrity Spades Tournament in New York tomorrow (November 15).



Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Rapper Nelly Opening Massive Athletic Complex In St. Louis

Rap star Nelly has partnered with NBA star Larry Hughes and the pair have purchased over 60 acres of farmland in northwest St. Louis County, to open a multi-million dollar athletic facility.

Nelly’s company Nelly Inc. is in talks with the city of St. Louis to open the massive complex in the Maryland Heights area, which is currently being redeveloped.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Dr. Donda West's Plastic Surgeon Under Investigation For DUI's

The Beverly Hills plastic surgeon that performed surgery on the mother of superstar rapper Kanye West, is under investigation by the State Medical Board of California and may lose his license due to DUI convictions.

Dr. Jan Adams performed a tummy tuck and breast reduction on Dr. Donda West, who died a short time later at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center in Marina Del Ray, where attempts to resuscitate her failed.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Woman Allegedly Assaulted By Da Brat Hires Attorney Willie Gary

Shayla Stevens, the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader who was allegedly assaulted by Da Brat earlier this month, has hired prominent attorneys Willie Gary and CK Hoffler and their firm, Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson and Sperando P.L., AllHipHop.com has learned.

Gary and Hoffler’s high powered, Florida-based law firm will represent Stevens against not only Da Brat, but Jermaine Dupri’s new nightclub, Studio 72.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Coffee shop gender bias?

Do coffee shops discriminate against women?

Check Out Full Article @ Yahoo

How Happy Is Your City?

Check Out Full Article @ MSN

U.S. incomes reveal racial divide

Decades after the civil rights movement, the income gap between black and white families in the United States has grown, says a new study that tracked the incomes of some 2,300 families for more than 30 years.

Incomes have increased among both black and white families in the past three decades -- mainly because more women are in the work force. But the increase was greater among whites, according to the study being released Tuesday.

One reason for the growing disparity: Incomes among black men have actually declined in the past three decades, when adjusted for inflation. They were offset only by gains among black women.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Blacks half of AIDS cases, 1% of AIDS quilt

As the room echoes with R&B music, students from Clark Atlanta, Morehouse and Spelman colleges laugh, talk and work on brightly colored pieces of cloth on long tables.

1 of 3 more photos » The group of "Call My Name" volunteers is at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia to create panels for the national AIDS quilt. Their goal is to make 100 new panels memorializing African-Americans who have died from AIDS by World AIDS Day on December 1.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Wyclef Begins Ambassadorial Mission

Wyclef Jean was welcomed in Haiti with cheers yesterday (Nov 12), and was even carried on the shoulders of his countrymen, according to the Associated Press.

This is Clef's first trip to Haiti since he was named roving ambassador by President Rene Preval in January. The visit began with Wyclef meeting with legislators, and was followed by a luncheon with businessmen, the United Nations envoy and nearly every major foreign ambassador for aid.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

HHDX News Bits (Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri)

For those that missed Jay-Z perform at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom a few days ago (Nov. 10), there are a few highlights to pass on. Lil' Wayne and Jay formally squashed any beef between the two stars. During their performance of "Hello Brooklyn 2.0" Wayne pointed at Jay-Z and said, "Best rapper alive," before pointing back at himself and stating, "Next rapper alive." The show also marked what may have been the industry's worst kept secret, Lox member Jadakiss' addition to the Roc-A-Fella crew. The official introduction didn't quite go a smoothly as planned, and those interested in the sordid details can get a full report HERE. On a much more serious note, Jay-Z did pause his set so he could get the crowd to send their condolences for the passing of Kanye West's mother, Dr. Donda West, which HipHopDX continues to do also.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

T.I. Addresses Fans, "The King Ain't Dead!"

Rapper T.I. released a video statement to his fans from his home in Atlanta where he's currently confined to house arrest.

The self-proclaimed King of the South appeared as the king of the castle, speaking to the camera from his sofa, smoking a cigar in his robe and du-rag. The video is available on his website Streetcred.com.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Saigon's Album Pushed Back Again, "We Keep Finding Things To Make It Better"

It looks like Saigon won't be able to tell his story until some time in 2008, as his album is once again pushed back.

The rapper's debut album, The Greatest Story Never Told was set to hit shelves on December 4, but label reps have confirmed it will not be released until early next year. An exact date has not been announced.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

T.I. Sets Up "Paper Trail," Records New Album While Awaiting Trial

The grind doesn't stop for T.I., the Atlanta rapper recently announced plans to work on a new album while awaiting his trial on federal gun charges.

Just four months after the release of his last chart-topping album, T.I. vs. T.I.P, Clifford "T.I." Harris is already at it again. According to Entertainment Weekly, Tip is working on a new album inside his South Fulton County home while under house arrest awaiting his trial on federal gun charges.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Jay-Z's "American Gangster" Projected To Sell Over 400,000 Units

Jay-Z tenth studio album, American Gangster, is projected to sell between 425-450,000 in first week sales.

According to Hitsdailydouble.com, American Gangster is on track to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 this week, selling between 425,000 to 450,000 units and officially tying with Elvis Presley for second place among artists with the most No. 1 albums. Last year Hov's highly publicized comeback album, Kingdom Come, which also came out in November, sold 680,000 copies.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Widow Of Harlem OG Bumpy Johnson Calls Frank Lucas A "Flunky"

Frank Lucas may be Hollywood’s man of the moment via Denzel Washington’s portrayal of him in the film American Gangster, but the former Harlem drug lord is anything but that, according to the widow of Johnson’s mentor Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson.

In her new book Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, Mayme Johnson takes aim at Lucas’ larger than life image as she reveals the true extent of his relationship with the Black mafia boss.


Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Dr. Donda West's Funeral Info; Statement From West Family

The family of superstar rapper Kanye West are making funeral arrangements for Dr. Donda Williams-West in Oklahoma City, who passed away on Saturday.



A spokesperson for Howard-Harris Funeral home told KOCO Channel 5 in Oklahoma City that the family had contacted them in preparation for Dr. West’s funeral.

Kanye West released the following statement:

"Kanye West, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and kind words that have come in from across the country since the death of his mother, Dr. Donda West."

"After working in higher education for 31 years, Dr. Donda West and Kanye West co-founded the Kanye West Foundation with the mission of helping to combat the severe dropout problem in high schools across the country. The first and signature initiative of the Kanye West Foundation is Loop Dreams. Designed to capitalize on students' existing interest in hip-hop, Loop Dreams challenges students to learn more about what's behind hip-hop culture in order to help them develop skills, express themselves creatively and be empowered."



Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

C-Murder Talks New DVD and Album

Rapper C-Murder is hitting the ground running after an overturned prison conviction with a forthcoming DVD and album.

The DVD, titled The Movement, finds the artist (born Corey Miller) offering fans a peek into his current mind state as he gears up for the release of his first album in five years, Screamin' 4 Vengeance

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Big Tigger Signs On as DJ For Washington Wizards

Syndicated radio personality Big Tigger has signed on to be the official DJ of the NBA’s Washington Wizards.

Tigger, born Darius Morgan, will provide the music for each one of the home games, as well as entertain the crowd.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Koch Records Inks Distribution Deal With Fat Beats

Koch Records has signed Brooklyn-based Hip-Hop label Fat Beats to a physical and digital distribution deal.

Fat Beats, which was established in 1994, originally launched as a record store, but soon turned into a critically acclaimed record label, releasing projects from artists like Atmosphere, Edo G. & Pete Rock, Afu Ru, Krs-One and others.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Mixtape Monday

Jay-Z Borrows The-Dream's 'Hook'; Young Buck Says His Album 'Is Better Than Kanye's And 50's'

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Hip Hop Album Releases for Nov. 13: Bone Thugs -n- Harmony, DJ Screw, GZA, Kruse, Offwhyte, Tone-Tone

To receive this report separately each week, please visit Weekly Hip Hop Albums and sign up for our free weekly newsletter delivered every Monday with Tuesday's releases.

The following new releases are available from Amazon.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - T.H.U.G.S.
DJ Screw - 11-16-00, Volume 2 [Ltd. Remastered Orig.]
GZA - Collection of Classics [Import]
Joey Montana - Sin Cadenas
Kruse - True Stories
Lil Minor - Hypothermia
Maharaji & Shys-t - Time Ta Shine [EP]
Offwhyte - Mainstay
Pistol - Fed Material
South Kakalak: Buried Treasure South Carolina
Tone-Tone - D-Boy Fresh

Check Out Full Article @ Pro Hip-Hop

Chris Rock Criticizes Contemporary Rap

In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, comedian Chris Rock makes waves with some pretty strong feelings about the current state of Hip Hop:

"Music kind of sucks. Nobody's into being a musician. Everybody's getting their mogul on. You've been so infiltrated by this corporate mentality that all the time you'd spend getting great songs together, you're busy doing nine other things that have nothing to do with art. You know how shitty Stevie Wonder's songs would have been if he had to run a fuckin' clothing company and a cologne line? … Rap sucks, for the most part. Not all rap, but as an art form it's just not at its best moment. Sammy The Bull would have made a shitty album. And I don't really have a desire to hear [billionaire] Warren Buffett's album - or the new CD by Paul Allen. That's what everybody's aspiring to be."

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Nelly Tired Of Bum Rap, "You Can't Tell Me 'Tip Drill' Was Worse Than Halle Berry's Sex Scene"

St. Louis rapper Nelly said his racy "Tip Drill" video is no worse than Halle Berry's on screen sex scene in Monster's Ball.

In an exclusive interview with SOHH, the platinum-selling rapper said that there is a double standard in place when actors can simulate sex onscreen but rappers are criticized for having half-naked women in their videos.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Ghostface Heads To "Rehab" On New CD

Wu Tang Clan may be undergoing a collective meltdown, but veteran member Ghostface Killah is pushing ahead with a solo album featuring spots from several Wu Members.

Ghost will drop The Big Doe Rehab via Def Jam on December 4, a week before the Clan is set to drop their group effort, 8 Diagrams, which was originally slated to come out on the same day.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Common Teams With Lincoln To Promote Navigator Brand

Chicago rapper Common has partnered with Lincoln to promote the 2008 Navigator.

Common will be featured in a number of advertisements and promotional activities with Common's community outreach programs.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Xzibit Starring In New Oliver Stone Flick 'Pinkville'

West Coast rapper/actor Xzibit has landed a high profile role in Oliver Stone’s upcoming war drama titled Pinkville.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Xzibit will join an all-star cast that includes Woody Harrelson, Bruce Willis and Channing Tatum.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Kanye West’s Mother Dies Suddenly

Dr. Donda West, Kanye West’s mother, suddenly died last night, individuals close to the rapper confirmed.

The cause of death was not released immediately, but she was reportedly in the Los Angeles area when she died. Early reports suggest Dr. West's death may have been the result of some form of surgical procedure. Those reports have not been confirmed.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Missy, Eve, Fabolous To Appear at Angie Martinez Hair & Beauty Expo

Hot 97 on-air radio personality Angie Martinez is moving beyond the airwaves to give listeners a chance to learn about and utilize hair and beauty tips.

The New York-based DJ, along with Covergirl® Queen Collection, Akademiks and Hot 97, will present the first annual Angie Martinez Hair Show & Beauty Expo on Nov. 24 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Chuck D, Kanye West Nominated for 2007 J.A.M. Award

Public Enemy leader Chuck D and rapper/producer Kanye West are among the nominees for the inaugural J.A.M. Awards.

The event, which will take place Nov. 29 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, is the latest endeavor from the Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music, an organization created in honor of the late Run DMC member by his wife Terri Corley-Mizell, DMC and close friends to support music and arts education in rural and urban schools.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop