Up Old Friends Linkin Park For New Single, 'We Made It'

'It speaks to the man in the struggle from the 'hood to the upper echelon,' Bus says of track from Blessed, due July 1.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Former Cash Money Artists Tell All

Two former Cash Money Records artists, Stone and Lac (now collectively known as The D-Boyz), spoke to HipHopDX recently, sharing their reasonings for leaving the label, their history as uncredited contributors to some of the label's biggest hits, and their upcoming debut as a duo.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

ie Favorite Atmosphere Hit High On The Charts, And They Couldn't Care Less

Underground hip-hop group Atmosphere recently earned the No. 5 spot on the Billboard 200 for their latest release, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That sh*t Gold. This is the highest spot the duo has ever obtained in their decade-plus career. SOHH caught up with the Atmosphere front man, Slug, to talk about their newfound success.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Ludacris Goes "Theatrical" On New Album

The busy actor/rapper is set to drop his sixth disc Theater of the Mind in September and he's currently shooting Max Payne, the movie adaptation of the Rockstar video game.

Luda promised Billboard the album he calls "theatrical" will be worthy of being flipped into a film, as it musically captures his journey up to this point.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Ice-T Talks Iceberg Slim Documentary: "He Was Like Malcolm X"

West Coast rap icon Ice-T is taking steps to expand his reach and influence in the entertainment world, by producing an upcoming documentary on the life of former pimp turned writer Iceberg Slim.

The Iceberg Slim documentary, which is projected to run about 80 minutes, comes as Ice-T branches out into film making.

It was during the recent writer’s strike that the rapper, along with his manager Jorge Hinojosa, decided to seriously pursue life behind the camera.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

U.S. has Mandela on terrorist list

Nobel Peace Prize winner and international symbol of freedom Nelson Mandela is flagged on U.S. terrorist watch lists and needs special permission to visit the USA. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice calls the situation "embarrassing," and some members of Congress vow to fix it.

The requirement applies to former South African leader Mandela and other members of South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC), the once-banned anti-Apartheid organization. In the 1970s and '80s, the ANC was officially designated a terrorist group by the country's ruling white minority. Other countries, including the United States, followed suit.

Because of this, Rice told a Senate committee recently, her department has to issue waivers for ANC members to travel to the USA.


Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

Pay TV? Says who? Sezmi aims to rival cable, satellite

A start-up is betting that people are tired enough of their cable and satellite bills to take a look at an alternative pay TV system that combines a number of different technologies to deliver programming.
Silicon Valley-based Sezmi is revealing a system Thursday that amounts to a way for phone companies and local TV broadcasters to team up for an end run around satellite and cable. Technical trials are starting shortly, with full-blown commercial trials in some markets, yet unnamed, later this year.

The carrot for consumers: monthly fees that are about half those of cable or satellite, according to Sezmi founder Buno Pati.

Sezmi's system takes some explaining. At its heart is a TV set-top box that receives video content in three different ways. Two are available through other means: digital over-the-air local broadcasts, the kind that are available to anyone with a digital TV and a rabbit-ear antenna; and Internet downloads through the home's broadband connection.

Shipwreck off Namibia is 500-year-old treasure trove

The ship was laden with tons of copper ingots, elephant tusks, gold coins — and cannons to fend off pirates lurking off Africa some five centuries ago.
It had nothing to protect it from the fierce weather off a particularly bleak stretch of inhospitable coast. It sank, only to be found last month by men seeking other treasure.

"If you're mining on the coast, sooner or later you'll find a wreck," archaeologist Dieter Noli, who is researching the ship's origins, said in an interview Thursday, describing De Beers geologists stumbling on the wreck April 1 as they prospected for diamonds off Namibia's southwest coast.

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

Best And Worst Cities For Commuters

The perfect commute is easy, inexpensive and reliable.

In cities boasting such factors, like Buffalo, N.Y., Salt Lake City and Milwaukee, the trip to work is a breeze. But for commuters in Atlanta, Detroit and Miami, the daily grind is just that, thanks to bad traffic, insufficient infrastructure and drivers who resist carpools and public transportation.

Other spots that came out on top include Oklahoma City, Okla., Pittsburgh, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Eugene, Ore. At the bottom: Orlando, Fla., Dallas, Birmingham, Ala., and Raleigh, N.C.

Check Out Full Article @ Yahoo

101 Fantastic Freebies

Whether you're partial to online services or to downloadable software, we have the Web's best free stuff and it'll keep you productive, secure and entertained.

Free. It's the magic word for an ever-expanding wealth of downloadable software and online services. Free doesn't necessarily mean good, however, and hunting for freebies can mean sifting through a lot of junk.

That's where we come in. We surfed, clicked and installed to find sparkling free gems capable of planning your time, keeping you in touch and tuning and securing your PC, not to mention glitzing up your desktop, helping you stay productive and entertaining you with music, videos, photos and games. We paid special attention to programs and services you may not have heard of before.
We also singled out two free offerings -- one download and one online service -- as the best of the bunch. We want to hear your picks for the best freebies, too, whether they appear in this article or not. Please let us know by joining our forum discussion.

Check Out Full Article @ MSN

The new fame: Internet celebrity

The Internet is setting a new standard for celebrity. Fame is no longer about getting "15 minutes"; it's about becoming famous to 15 people.

1 of 2 The Internet allows the masses to wrest control of fame from traditional media, creating micro-celebrities with the click of a mouse, says David Weinberger of the Harvard Berkman Center for Internet and Society.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

50 Cent Meets Mandela

This isn’t JUST a tour. 50 is here to see and learn about the region and continent in a way that perhaps he didn’t appreciate the last time he was here, in 2004. This morning, for example, we rushed to Hector Pieterson Memorial museum in Soweto to meet up with 50 and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, who was giving 50 a lesson on Apartheid and its effect on South Africa. Mandela’s grandson is the spitting image of a young Nelson, and has a lot of his grandfather’s austere diplomacy — except he’s young enough to know who 50 and Jay-Z are. After the tour, guided by Mandela’s grandson, 50 gave out 20 dollar bills to the local kids before his car got mobbed and his manager made him speed away.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Pete Rock Hints That Kanye West Is "Lazy"?

In a newly-published interview at purist Hip Hop blog UnKut.com, legendary producer, emcee and deejay Pete Rock seems to be criticizing Kanye West, an artist who many critics have aligned as a disciple of the Chocolate Boy Wonder. The interview originally appeared in Hip-Hop Connections magazine.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

John Legend To Collaborate With Andre 3000

G.O.O.D. Music’s second hardest worker (behind Kanye West) has been a very busy man this past half-year.

John Legend created the “Show Me” campaign, where he and a team of activists organized to help fight economic and spiritual poverty in Africa. They have sponsored several villages in Africa and are making a big difference in the lives of others.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Rhymefest, Justus League, Others Honor The Roots

In the wake of recent comments from The Roots' drummer, producer and band-leader ?uestlove that Def Jam has not given them the proper marketing and promotion considerations [click to read], fans and artists have taken it upon themselves to honor the Philadelphia Hip Hop band upon releasing their Rising Down album.



Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Ludacris Talks New Album, Max Payne Movie

While not much has been heard or seen from multi-talented artist Ludacris within 2008, the Atlanta rapper is preparing to hit the commercial spotlight as he prepares his upcoming sixth album and a police chief role in a new film.

On set to being another impactful album to add to his collection, the DTP-front-man rapper looks to release Theater of the Mind this September. Not speaking vividly about the project, Ludacris did tell Billboard.com that it would be "theatrical" as it will focus on being a collection of his experiences up to this point.



Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Madonna To Make First Appearence On 106 & Park

Madonna will be making her first appearance on BET's 106 & Park on Friday (May 2) to introduce the premiere of her new video "4 Minutes," which features Justin Timberlake and is produced by Timbaland.

"4 Minutes" is the lead single off of the pop star's new album Hard Candy, which is her last album for Warner Bros. Records. Her next album will be for Live Nation, as she signed a multi-million dollar deal with them similar to Jay-Z's.



Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Common Ditches Kanye West For New Sound On Upcoming CD

Chicago emcee Common is opting for a new electro sound for his eighth studio album, Invincible Summer, and will do so without the help of Kanye West.

West, who was at the forefront of Com's Gold selling albums Be and Finding Forever, did not contribute any of the beats for Invincible Summer. According to Billboard, this time around Com enlisted the help of The Neptunes and OutKast producer Mr. DJ.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Grand Theft Auto 4 Enlists Hip-Hop Heavyweights For Soundtrack

With the highly anticipated video game "Grand Theft Auto 4" hot on streets, the game's soundtrack taps some big names in hip-hop and R&B in hopes of making the music as successful as the game itself.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Rapper Lil Wayne Stars In 'The Patriots' With Forest Whitaker

Cash Money rapper Lil Wayne has signed on to co-star in a new major motion picture starring Forest Whitaker, titled The Patriots.

Lil Wayne, whose single “Lollipop” is currently #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart and on MTV’s TRL video countdown show, began filming for the movie in his hometown of New Orleans earlier this week.

The Patriots is about a basketball team that was assembled of players, who attended five different high schools before Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Lil Kim Rep Explains Attempted Repossession

Lil’ Kim’s finances aren’t in question after a repo man went on her property in an attempt to repossess an extravagant silver Bentley from the rapper, sources for the rapper say.

Although she has been fairly low-key, Lil’ Kim’s (real name Kimberly Jones) financial status is not an issue as suggested by the attempted seizure that has made the rounds through viral videos in the internet.

“The car was a gift, given four years ago. This matter is currently being resolved and is completely out of Kim's hands,” a publicity representative for Lil Kim told AllHipHop.com.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

DJ Khaled Wins Personality Of The Year At Mixtape Awards

A number of rappers and executives turned out to support Justo's 11th Annual Mixtape Awards last night (April 29) in New York.

Comedian and actor Donnell Rawlings hosted the event, which drew hundreds of supporters to Symphony Space, where various DJ's were honored for their contributions to the music business.

Rappers and celebrities like DMC, Grandmaster Caz, Dru Ha, Buck Shot, Easy Mo Bee, Teyana Taylor, Maino, Mister Cee, Big Kap, Mysonne and numerous others attended the show.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Witness-protection funds increase sought

Maurice Pulley agreed last fall to testify against the thug accused of shooting him in the face in an argument over a parking spot. But before Pulley ever took the stand, two gunmen ran up to him and killed him in his mother's driveway.
Pulley's family is blaming the dismantling of Milwaukee's witness-protection program 4 1/2 years ago.

"My son is laying there like an animal. Like a deer," said the young man's father, Maurice Pulley Sr. "He stuck up for right and justice. When things start to happen, you need to act to get people safe. It's unconscionable. There should be no price too great to pay for somebody's protection."

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

How do you know your love is real? Check Facebook

Ashley Shinn didn't know she was in a relationship until asked to confirm it in a message from Facebook.


On Facebook users can share everything from photos to intimate relationship details with 67 million users.

The 22-year-old University of North Texas senior received a Facebook request from her new beau after a kiss.

"We didn't talk about it, then we kissed and then that night he sent me that request," on Facebook, she said. "Without discussing it. I was like, 'Oh, OK, I guess.'"

Shinn is one of more than 67 million Facebook users. The social networking Web site has redefined privacy online by allowing users to create profiles with photos, quotes, personal information and relationship statuses.


Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Sony's car audio player good, not their best

The faceplate layout of the CDX-GT410U is standard Sony fare: a large control dial gives drivers a means of adjusting volume and navigating menus and is surrounded by a cluster of hard buttons that provide one-touch access to most of the system's features.

The most notable of these controls--a magnifying-glass button and Back button--are associated with the system's "Quick BrowZer" system, which Sony designed to help drivers navigate digital audio files easily.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

50 Cent Plays Drill Sergeant In G-Unit's 'Big As Possible' Terminate On Sight Videos

'The video is sort of 'Full Metal Jacket,' ' director Jesse Terrero says of 'Rider Pt. 2' clip's military feel.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 4/27/08

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

FREE DOWNLOAD: Crooked I & Jay-Z

This past December on the World Famous Wake Up Show in Los Angeles, King Tech stated that Crooked I "is just as good (if not better) than Jay-Z." He continued to say that he didn't care how many albums Jay-Z has sold, "lyric for lyric as an emcee. Jay-Z is known as one of the best...it's about time we try to figure out who is the best. If we had one West Coast representer I would say Crooked I."

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Gwyneth Paltrow And Chris Martin Defend Jay-Z

After drawing the ire of some individuals, including Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher over participation in the upcoming Glatonbury Festival, Jay-Z is getting support from some famous friends.

Collaborator and Coldplay front-man Chris Martin defended Jay’s involvement, telling BBC Radio1 that his band didn’t need to play the event because Jay-Z was “the best musician on the planet.”

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Stones Throw Re-Releases 100 Singles

Los Angeles-based independent Hip Hop label Stones Throw has been releasing an array of critically acclaimed and cult-appreciated material for over a decade. As one of the few labels still releasing music exclusive to vinyl, whether in the LP, 12" single, EP or 7" 45 RPM format, fans without turntables have long been withheld from releases from Madlib, MF Doom and even label general manager Egon's own release.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Jeremiah Wright Replaced By "Hip Hop Pastor"

The rift between Sen. Barack Obama and his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright has dominated the media landscape all week [updates from HHDX are available here and here]. Lost in all the commotion of Wright's televised address and Obama's response to it, is the fact that Wright has retired from his post as the head of Trinity United Church of Christ. Trinity United, which has a membership of over 8,000, will now be under the leadership of Rev. Otis Moss III.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

2 Pistols Says He's No One Hit Wonder

Riding the success of his T-Pain assisted single "She Got It," 2 Pistols is out to prove that he's got more hits under his belt. SOHH caught up with the Florida rapper to talk about his new album, why the ladies will love his freshman effort and the ups and downs of a hustler's life.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Damon Dash Facing More Baby Mama Drama

The battle between rap mogul and former Jay-Z business partner Damon Dash and his baby's mother rages on.

According to TMZ, Linda Williams has filed a petition against Dash, claiming that their 16-year-old son Damon Dash II, aka "Boogie," lived with no hot water or electricity for two months in his bedroom. She also says that Dash took their teen to the morgue to identify the body of an uncle who'd committed suicide with a bullet to the head and failed to pay $3,600 for basketball camp. In addition, Williams fears the Roc-A-Fella founder will renege on a promise to put $10 million away in a trust fund for Junior.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Wild Pitch Reissues Catalog

Legendary Hip-Hop label Wild Pitch Records is reissuing its entire catalog on CD and via the Internet through a new deal with Universal/Fontana Distribution. Wild Pitch was home to some of greatest artists in Hip-Hop history. Groups like Ultramagnetic MC’s, Chill Rob G., Gangstarr, O.C. and Main Source once recorded for the storied label. Main Source’s classic track “Live At The Bar B Que” is also gaining a new fan base with its inclusion in the new Grand Theft Auto 4 video game.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

The Hip-Hop Violinist Miri Ben-Ari Recruits Hip-Hop Artists For Holocaust Campaign

Hip-Hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari is leading the charge to educate the public on the Jewish Holocaust, through a new campaign launched by her nonprofit organization Gedenk ("Remember").

Ari will officially kick off the effort Friday (May 2) with three public service announcements on Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Perez Hilton Joins Hip-Hop Station Hot 97

Internet blogger/TV personality Perez Hilton will join Miss Jones’ Morning Show next week on New York Hip-Hop station Hot 97, AllHipHop.com has learned.

Hilton, who was labeled the #1 web celebrity by Forbes Magazine in 2007, will join Miss Jones starting May 5th.

The gossip blogger will provide Miss Jones with the “Hot 97 Perez Hilton Update,” which is a minute long synopsis of the latest celebrity gossip that will air everyday at 8:00 am.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

RZA Show Erupts In Chaos

A show featuring Wu-Tang Clan front man The RZA erupted in chaos over the weekend after the rapper invited female fans to strip on stage during a performance.

The rapper performed as part of the Triptych Music and Film Festival, which takes place in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

According to reports, police were called to the wild show after the rapper lit a cigarette on stage and invited female fans to take off their tops, both illegal acts.

Additionally, a drunken man spit on a security guard and was restrained by security, while an other man was arrested for assault and breach of the peace.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Diddy Welcomes Tourists To New York City

Sean “Diddy” Combs is one of several celebrities tapped to welcome tourists to New York City as part of the new “Just Ask the Locals” tourism campaign.

Combs will join residents like Matt Lauer, Lindsay Price and Kevin Bacon in the print ads, which features the mogul and other celebrities sharing their favorite shopping spots, restaurants and places of entertainment throughout New York.

This Friday (May 2), Combs will receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his contributions to the music and film industries.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Lloyd Banks Helps Mom After Heartattack; Rapper Focused On G-Unit LP

G-Unit’s new album Terminate On Sight is a return to the rap game of sorts for group member Lloyd Banks, as the album marks the rapper's first official release since 2006's album Rotten Apple.

According to Banks, who dropped out of the spotlight shortly after Rotten Apple was released, family issues prevented him from being 100 percent focused on promoting the album.

"Prior to that my mother, she was in and out the hospital [due to a heart attack]," Banks revealed to AllHipHop.com. "I was doin’ promos and interviews and some s**t like that and she had the first heart attack and I was there you know what I’m sayin."

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Travel Like A Star

Visit these hot spots if you want to travel like a rock or movie star

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Graphic Text Messages Released; They Sealed Whistle-Blower Deal

A judge on Tuesday allowed the release of raunchy text messages that a lawyer allegedly used to get Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to shell out $8 million in city money to make a police whistle-blower lawsuit go away.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Man cleared by DNA free after 27 years

A Dallas man who spent more than 27 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit was freed Tuesday, after being incarcerated longer than any other wrongfully convicted U.S. inmate cleared by DNA testing.

James Lee Woodard had been in prison for more than 27 years before DNA cleared him.

James Lee Woodard stepped out of the courtroom and raised his arms to a throng of photographers.

Supporters and other people gathered outside the court erupted in applause.

"No words can express what a tragic story yours is," state District Judge Mark Stoltz told Woodard at a brief hearing before his release.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Soulja Boy Tell'em Goes Back To School, Hopes To Collaborate With Chris Brown

In addition to a new album, the 17-year-old is dropping signature shoes, sunglasses and a clothing line.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Lil Wayne -- Whose 'Lollipop' Is #1 -- Gives His Baby Picture A Tattooed Makeover

Plus: Weezy gives new artists like Tyga, Lil Mama and Hurricane Chris some shine on new versions of 'A Millie.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

No Matter What: T.I. Releases Single via Streetcred.com

T.I. has released the first single off the upcoming Paper Trail, No Matter What, via StreetCred.com, the social network with which he is associated.

Check Out Full Article @ Pro Hip-Hop

Swisha House Preps "Classic Flows" And Reunion Concert

Those in and around the Houston area are familiar with Swisha House mixtape staples such as "The Day Hell Broke Loose" and "Fuck Action." Now the crew which introduced artists such as Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Mike Jones and Chamillionaire will make its series of classic freestyles available to the nation. Swisha House will release DJ Michael "5000" Watts Presents: Swisha House Classic Flows Vol. 1 on May 27 through iTunes and BCD Music Group.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

DJ Green Lantern Creates Obama Mixtape, Links With Rockstar

DJ Green Lantern, former deejay for multi-platinum artist Eminem and current Def Jam signee, was picked by Rockstar Games to create a custom radio station for the video game Grand Theft Auto.

He recently told Reuters, “It's such a big platform, first of all, (and) the chance to do something that's a first. It's based in a New York-type of setting, so I can use my artist relationships and go make songs for this particular mood that I'm trying to achieve.” The official soundtrack for GTA, featuring music from the game along with eight new songs will be drop May 19th.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Ghostface Killah Cut Out Of ''Iron Man'' Flick, Rep Responds

Marvel's new Iron Man film hits theaters this week and despite early reports that Wu-Tang rapper, Ghostface Killah, would make a cameo appearance in the flick, SOHH has learned that he's nowhere to be found in the final version.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

"Jimi Hendrix" Sex Tape Hits The Net

A man of many purported talents, a new video has surfaced allegedly showing guitar legend Jimi Hendrix rocking more than a stage.

"The Jimi Hendrix Sex Tape," will be released today (April 29) at hendrixsextape.com and in stores nationwide next week.

The flick was obtained by porn purveyors Vivid Entertainment by a rock 'n' roll memorabilia collector, filmed 40 years ago in a hotel room, according to a press release.



Check Out Full Article @ SOHH

Kardinal Offishall On Akon's Criminal Past, ''He Spends A Lot Of $ To Have His Record Expunged''

Following reports of Akon's fraudulent criminal past, SOHH caught up with new Konvict Music signee, Kardinal Offishall, to set the record straight on the allegations and to shed light onto the Canadian MC's upcoming release.

As SOHH previously reported, Akon's streed cred was recently put into question when The Smoking Gun released the Grammy award winning artist's rap sheet. The report discounted the singer's claims to having spent years in prison for heading an infamous car-theft ring.

Check Out Full Article @ SOHH