Kanye West Good To Go For Grammy Performance

Grammy officials have announced that rapper/producer Kanye West is among the artists set to perform at this year's ceremony.

West received the most nominations for the award show with a total of eight nods. Close behind, with six nominations is troubled R&B songstress, Amy Winehouse. As SOHH previoulsy reported, Winehouse, who is currently in rehab, is also scheduled to perform but after being denied access into the U.S. will be performing via satellite from the UK.

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Berry Gordy, Jimmy Jam Honored In LA

Motown Records founder and chairman Berry Gordy, Jr. and multi-Grammy award winning producer James "Jimmy Jam" Harris are set to be honored by Universal/Motown Records, EMI and CONTENT at the Chairmen’s Luncheon in Los Angeles today (Feb 8).

Gordy and Jimmy Jam, the newly appointed chairman of the board of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) which produces The Grammy Awards, will be joined by a who’s who of industry heavyweights, as they are recognized for their contributions to the music industry and entertainment business.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Posthumous Big Moe Album On The Way

Wreckshop Records will release a new album from late Houston rapper Big Moe titled Unfinished Business. The album is the first posthumous release from Screwed Up Click member Big Moe, who was 33 when he died of a heart attack in October of 2007. The first single from the album is titled “Pint To the Head,” featuring Lil Flip, A-3 and Click Clack. Unfinished Business also features guest appearances by Screwed Up Click members Big Pokey and C-Note. Unfinished Business hits stores March 18 on Wreckshop Records/Koch.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Timbaland Dropping Mobile Album

Multi-Platinum Producer Timbaland will release a completely mobile album
to Verizon's V Cast customers it was announced today (February 8).

Timbaland will record the album over the course of the year on
Verizon’s new Mobile Recording Studio Bus.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Jay-Z Named Chairman Of Steve Stoute’s Translation Advertising

Jay-Z has been named chairman of Translation Advertising, a new advertising agency that is part of Steve Stoute's Translation Consultation and Brand Imaging.

According to The New York Times, Jay-Z will help direct the agency's efforts to connect advertisers to a newer, younger, demographic.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Beastie Boy to try Hand at Indie Film Industry

Beastie Boy member Adam Yauch is working right now to launch an indie film distribution and international sales company Oscilloscope Pictures. The new company will be a new arm of his Oscilloscope Laboratories, a music an film production outfit.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Kanye Preps Book And Internet Search Engine

Before Kanye West launches his Glow In the Dark tour, which many estimate will be the year's highest-grossing tour, the rapper, producer and author will release a book and his own Google powered search engine. While the book deal for Thank You and You're Welcome was confirmed as early as mid 2007, excerpts from the book of "Kanye-isms" have now been released on Kanye's official blog at KanyeUniversecity.com.

On the digital front, West has also launched the Internet search engine searchwithkanyewest.com. The move is a partnership with Protege LLC, who also has similar search engine partnerships with Beyonce, Akon and Randy Moss. Searches on the site will be powered by Google and Ask.com, but they will also give fans an opportunity to earn an online currency called "Swag Bucks." After accumulating a certain amount of Swag Bucks, users can redeem them for autographed CDs, MP3 downloads, clothing and other exclusive Kanye West Merchandise.


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The Game Cops Plea Deal In Assault Case, Headed To Jail For 4 Months

Rather than fight the felony gun charges that he was hit with last year, platinum rapper The Game has opted to face the music in a Los Angeles jail.

As SOHH previously reported, the West Coast rapper (born Jayceon Taylor) is being accused of making criminal threats, possessing a firearm in a school zone, and exhibiting a firearm in the presence of an officer after allegedly getting into a fight during a pick-up game of basketball.

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Kanye West & Lupe Fiasco Join Bonnaroo Music Fest

Hip-Hop stars Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco will be among a diverse lineup of performers at this June's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, the top-grossing festival in America.

According to Billboard, the Louis Vuitton Don and Lupe will be joined by more than 100 bands and 20 comedians performing on 13 stages at the four-day event. Among those set to perform are Talib Kweli, M.I.A., Metallica, Pearl Jam, Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers Band and B.B. King.

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Jay-Z's 40/40 Club's Got 99 Problems, Ex-Employees Complain Of Club Practices

After experiencing a wide array of mishaps at his New York locale, Jay-Z's newly opened Las Vegas 40/40 Club has seen several setbacks and massive lay-offs, and the former employees are speaking out.

According to Las Vegas Weekly, since its December 30th opening in 2007, an estimated 100 or more staff members of the club have been reportedly escorted off of the property or have voluntarily resigned from their posts.

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Producer Teddy Riley In Financial Trouble, Puts Studio On The Market

In light of recent troubles with several creditors, legendary hit maker Teddy Riley -the "King of New Jack Swing" - is putting his Virginia Beach recording studio up for sale.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, the producer who has crafted hits for such stars as like Michael and Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige and Keith Sweat as well as his own group, BLACKstreet, has amassed a $1 million tab to several creditors and is selling the studio to pay for the large debt.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

N.O.R.E., Monie Love Debut Shows On XM

XM Satellite radio listeners will have more options to choose from in terms of rap music with two new shows featuring Queens, New York rapper N.O.R.E. and former Philadelphia on-air radio personality Monie Love.

Militainment Radio with N.O.R.E. will feature N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, along with co-host and fellow CNN member Capone, in a weekly radio format every Wednesday.

Monie Love’s new show, Ladies First Radio with Monie Love, will feature celebrity guests, as well as the rap pioneer’s reflections on life and love, to a soundtrack of ‘90s Hip-Hop music.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Flavor Flav Starring In New Sitcom

Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav will star in a new half-hour comedy titled Under One Roof, which will debut on the MyNetworkTV network.

MyNetworkTV ordered 13 episodes of Under One Roof, which stars Flavor Flav as Calvester Hill, an ex-convict that moves in with his wealthy, conservative brother.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Polo Grounds Inks Marketing Deal With Fila

Bryan Leach’s Polo Grounds Music has inked an exclusive marketing and public relations partnership with Fila, which will simultaneously promote Polo Grounds’ roster of artists and Fila's new lifestyle apparel and footwear lines, the label announced today (February 6).

Secured via the label’s new Brand Marketing Division, the deal combines print, broadcast, and online advertising for Fila with traditional album promotions strategies that will coincide with each of the featured artists’ new projects.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Mona Scott-Young Launches Monami Entertainment

Entertainment mogul Mona Scott-Young is embarking on a new path with the launch of her new multimedia company, Monami Entertainment.

The New York-based company will offer a variety services which include brand and product development, talent management, television and film production, and marketing.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Apple unveils iPod, iPhone with more memory

Apple updated its iPhone and iPod touch lineup Tuesday, doubling the flash memory and setting a new premium price for its high-end models.

The latest iPhone features 16 gigabytes of flash memory storage and retails for $499. The previously released 8 GB version of the hybrid cellphone, multimedia player and wireless Internet device costs $399.


Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

50 Cent: De Niro Makes Me Feel 'Normal'

It's not every day that you see Robert De Niro on the cover of Vibe — with 50 Cent.

They posed for the magazine's March issue to promote their new crime drama, "Righteous Kill," co-starring Al Pacino and Brian Dennehy. The movie is expected to be released this fall.

50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, says he'd "hang out with Robert on Thursdays and Fridays" if he could.

Check Out Full Article @ MSN

Kanye West Offers Samples Of Zen-Like Wisdom From His Upcoming Book

'When you're so focused on what you don't have, you won't have,' rapper writes in 'Thank You and You're Welcome,' previewed on his blog.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Q-Tip Endorses Barack Obama

Q-Tip (Kamaal Ibn John Fareed) of A Tribe Called Quest fame officially endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama in his bid for the presidency with an impassioned statement. Q-Tip officially joins the ranks of many people in the hip-hop community who have endorsed Senator Obama’s campaign for President of the United States. The statement truly embraces Sen. Obama’s campaign slogan of being “Fired Up” for a change in the Oval Office. Q-Tip’s announcement came right before “Super Tuesday”, the date when the United States is swept up in virtually a national primary. Twenty-two states have their primaries (along with American Samoa) and historically “Super Tuesday” is the deciding factor in which candidates receive each party’s nomination. With Senator Obama and Senator Hilary Clinton in basically a dead heat, this day holds even more significance.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

will.i.am Releases Obama Video

"Super Tuesday" has arrived and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas has added his name to the list of Barack Obama supporters. The rapper/producer has released his "Yes We Can" video, which was inspired by an Obama speech given after a somewhat surprising loss in the New Hampshire Primary. The video was directed by Jessie Dylan, the firstborn son of folk singer Bob Dylan. Common and John Legend appear along with Herbie Hancock, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and actresses Scarlett Johansson and Kate Walsh and other Hollywood notables.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Rappers State Their Affiliations On "Super Tuesday's" Presidential Battle

As voters in 24 states cast their ballots for the Republican and Democratic candidates today (Feb. 5), the world is watching to see if a black man or a woman will become the Democratic nominee.

Today's contest, known as "Super Tuesday" for the many states deciding, often decides the competition. While Republican hopeful Senator John McCain is expected to leap ahead of fellow frontrunner Mitt Romney, the Democratic candidates, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are engaged in a closer battle that may not show a clear winner after today's showdown.



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9th Wonder & Buckshot Regroup For New Collabo Album

Brooklyn MC Buckshot and North Carolina producer 9th Wonder are set to release their second collaborative album entitled, The Formula, this April via Buckshot's Duck Down Records

Boot Camp Clik member Buckshot and former Little Brother beatmaker 9th first found chemistry in the studio back in 2005. At the time 9th was doing production for Duck Down acts Sean Price and Smif-N-Wessun

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Timbaland Squashes Beef W/Scott Storch, "I Reached Out To Him & He Was Almost In Tears"

After a public war of words, super-producer Timbaland has reportedly squashed his beef with rival hip-hop composer Scott Storch.

As SOHH previously reported, Timbo threw the the first punch after making a subliminal reference to Storch on "Give It To Me," the lead single off his last album, Shock Value. On the track he spit, "I'm a real producer and you just a piano man," prompting Storch to respond with "Built Like That," where he accused Tim of taking credit for beats made by other producers.

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WMG Offers $25 Million For Death Row

Warner Music Group is offering up to $25 million dollars for Death Row Records’ back catalog, according to The New York Post. In a recent filing related to Death Row’s bankruptcy case, WMG was named the leading "stalking-horse bidder" in Death Row’s Los Angeles-based bankruptcy proceedings. Over 10,000 titles are up for sale, including recordings by Tupac Shakur, as well as Snoop Dogg’s classic debut Doggystyle and Dr. Dre’s landmark album The Chronic. Other potential bidders, including Koch and Evergreen Copyrights, have until April to top WMG’s $25 million dollar offer.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Devin The Dude Leaves Rap-A-Lot

With a desire to purse other career options, rapper Devin the Dude is parting ways with his longtime recording home Rap-A-Lot Records.

The departure marks the end of a 15 year-plus relationship between Rap-A-Lot and the Texas rapper, who decided not to renew his contract.

According to Devin the Dude, there was no ill will behind the split.

"Rap-A-Lot has been my family for a long time and there's no bad blood at all," said the rapper, who carved a niche for himself after signing a deal with the Odd Squad on Rap-A-Lot in 1992.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Pimp C's Death Caused By Cough Syrup

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has revealed that UGK member Chad “Pimp C.” Butler’s death was caused by prescription cough syrup and a preexisting sleeping condition.

Assistant chief coroner Ed Winter said that the rapper did not overdose, but died from ingesting Promethazine and Codeine, which is frequently mixed with flavored candy and mixed to make a drink known as “sizzurp.”

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

50 Cent and Robert De Niro On New VIBE Cover

Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson grace the cover the March '08 issue of VIBE Magazine for its Hollywood issue. The two mega-stars, who openly voice their admiration for each other, discuss topics such as family, their thoughts on one another, and why playing a gangster in a film shouldn't be looked down upon with criticism.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Kanye Gears For Grammys, Gets Props From Dupri

Kanye West is the embodiment of the phrase “nothing fails but a try.” The Chicago MC is hoping to strike gold at this year’s Grammy awards with his latest effort, Graduation.

West leads the pack with 8 nominations, including "Album of the Year."

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Pitbull Tells Fans To Not Buy His Album

This morning, Pitbull spoke with Big Boy's Neighborhood, a Los Angeles based morning radio show on KPWR 105.9. The rapper spoke on a variety of topics including his latest album, tour and the Superbowl. But, he also spent some time venting about his label issue.

During the broadcast, Pitbull told fans not to buy his album anymore. "Download it. Burn it," he told the Neighborhood. This statement came due to label drama that he spoke about. In a small tirade, he bashed TVT Records for lack of promotion.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Killer Mike Calls Hillary Clinton "Slime"

Killer Mike always has a lot to say, but he never wastes words. And so when HipHopDX recently spoke with the south’s most complete emcee [click here] we didn’t let Mike’s words that didn’t make the feature cut go to waste.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Rapper Big Pooh And Young RJ Recording Full Length

With the positive results that their groupmates have found by working on full-length projects with outside collaborators, it seems like Young RJ and Rapper Big Pooh are making a wise decision by joining forces for an entire album.

A press release circulating online says that the Detroit producer and North Carolina emcee—who have found previous success through their respective groups, BR Gunna and Little Brother—connected through Scrap Dirty, who is RJ’s manager and a Violator DJ.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

More Fallout From Banned "Boondocks" Episodes?

After two episodes of the award-winning show The Boondocks were preemptively pulled from the air, Cartoon Network denies being pressured by either its parenting company, Turner Broadcasting or BET to remove them.

In a statement released to Advertising Age, Cartoon Network Spokesman James Anderson said, "The two episodes you were talking about are not scheduled to air on Adult Swim. We really have no further comment, but you should know that neither Turner nor Adult Swim were contacted by BET, Ms. Lee or Mr. Hudlin."

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Jadakiss Assists in "Mayweather Experience"

Jadakiss, Styles P., Swizz Beatz and Souljah Boy are just a few of the artists set to be a part of boxer Floyd Mayweather's "Mayweather Experience" charity event.

The three-day event, which takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will benefit the Floyd Mayweather Foundation and the American Cancer Society, according to Eurweb.com. It will take place from Feb. 8-10 at various locations in downtown Grand Rapids.


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Hip-Hop Comic Aries Spears Arrested For Groping

Hip-Hop impersonator Aries Spears was arrested in New York City over the weekend and charged with "forcible touching."

According to New York's Daily News, the comic was arrested early Saturday (Feb. 2) morning after allegedly fondling a woman following his set at Comix Comedy Club in Manhattan.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Benzino ''Puts The B.S. To The Side,'' Extends Olive Branch To Eminem, 50 Cent & Elliott Wilson

With the popularity of Hip Hop Weekly, and the launch of a new magazine on the horizon, former Source owner Raymond "Benzino" Scott is plottng a comeback. In this SOHH exclusive, he talks about his past beefs with Eminem, 50 Cent, and former XXL EIC Elliott Wilson. He also reveals his plans for his new rap magazine, Monsta.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Rappers Get Ready For Super Tuesday Elections

Voters in twenty-four states across America will head to the polls tomorrow (February 5) in what is labeled "Super Tuesday," the biggest day in the process to choose candidates for the November presidential election.

"I have been struggling," Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons admitted to AllHipHop.com when quizzed about his choice for president. "I’ve had Bill and Hillary Clinton’s personal phone number for 10 years, mobile numbers…my brain has been with Hillary Clinton a long time and I’m trying to get my heart…I met with Barack once."


Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Midway Games Tap Just Blaze; Chuck D For 'Ballers'

Producer Just Blaze and Hip-Hop icon Chuck D have been tapped to play a major role in the latest installment of Midway Games’ NBA Ballers franchise, it was announced today (Feb 4).

Midway Games hired Just Blaze to produce the entire score for the new NBA Ballers: Chosen One instead of using licensed tracks from various artists.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Will Smith Starring In 'Seven Pounds'

Hollywood star Will Smith will star in and executive produce a new drama titled Seven Pounds. The movie centers around a suicidal IRS agent man who falls in love after he has assumed the identity of his younger brother, who is being played by actor Michael Ealy. Seven Pounds will be directed by Gabriele Muccino, who also directed Smith in the hit movie The Pursuit of Happyness. Seven Pounds is being executive produced by Smith’s Overbrook Films. Seven Pounds also stars Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson. Filming is slated to start this month.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Master P Unveils New Black History Video

Providing necessary resources to educate youth about African-American heritage is the motivation behind a new effort and music video from rap mogul Master P and his son Romeo.

The duo has teamed up to release books, videos, and animations that chronicle the African-American experience.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop