Bernie Mac's widow talks about her grief

When Bernie Mac was admitted last month into a Chicago hospital with a fever and trouble breathing, his wife, Rhonda, thought he'd get treatment and would be home in a week. But after no signs of improvement, she faced her biggest fear.

"He didn't look good to me and I knew this could be it," Rhonda, his wife of 30 years, tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Game Slams Jesse Jackson -- Twice -- On New Tracks With Lil Wayne, Nas

MC also challenges Jay-Z, G-Unit (again) on tracks from forthcoming LP.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Church Group To Protest Bernie Mac's Funeral

The Westboro Baptist Church, infamous for protesting at the funerals of Iraq war veterans is planning another protest in Chicago at the funeral of comedian Bernie Mac.

In a press statement released to the media, the group claims that "God hates Bernie Mac and the entire potty-mouth, Hell-bound, fag enabling entertainment industry."
The Kansas based group also says "America's filthy comedians have enraged God."

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Jin To Release Album In Hong Kong

Chinese-American rapper Jin, well known for his 106 & Park rise to fame and moderately successful independent career is finally making his debut in Hong Kong with his album ABC, an acronym for American-born Chinese.

The 26-year-old was able to garner the interest of Universal Music Group Hong Kong with his enthusiasm and from there Jin went on to release ABC in Hong Kong on August 7.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Charles Imagines A Jay-Z Collaboration

Since he signed with Interscope Records earlier this year, the buzz on Charles Hamilton has been skyrocketing with mixtapes and features sprouting up everywhere. Sitting down with Ed Lover on his Power 105 show, Hamilton discussed his first true inspiration on rapping, why he didn’t take a stage name as an artist, and how a Jay-Z collaboration would play out.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

P. Miller Launches Better Black Television

Entrepreneur P. Miller today confirmed the launch of Better Black Television, a family-oriented cable network set to debut in 2009.

Dubbed BBTV, the network promises to cover the diverse experience of African-American culture by offering a myriad of genres: politics, movies, teen and children’s educational programming, animation, sports, and news.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Pharoahe Monch Tours Europe

Rapper Pharoahe Monch is launching a seven-city tour of Europe starting today (August 15) in Belgium. Monch will make high profile appearances at a number of festivals taking place across Europe, including the Hip-Hop Kemp Festival in Prague and the Royal Arena Festival in Switzerland, where tens of thousands of Hip-Hop fans will gather to celebrate rap music. “Europe has always felt like a home away from home for me,” Pharoahe Monch told AllHipHop.com in a statement.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

DMX Arrested Yet Again

DMX was arrested for the sixth time this year as he attempted to go shopping on Thursday afternoon in Miami.

The arrest was the result of a skipped court date Tuesday, the result of drug charges in Arizona.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Too Short, Oakland Mayor Call For End To Violence

Hip-Hop pioneer Too Short joined the Oakland Police Department and Mayor Ron Dellums in a special community event Wednesday (Aug 13) aiming to end a recent rise in violent crimes across the city.

The “Silence The Violence” event brought together community activists and city officials who addressed resident’s concerns, heightened by two West Oakland shootouts on Wednesday.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Lil Wayne's Reps Say Tax Bill Resolved

Rapper Lil’ Wayne has resolved two major obligations in a growing list of financial woes that have come to light in recent months.

Following report by the Miami Herald yesterday (Aug 13) that the IRS a $977,840.91 tax lien against Hip-Hop superstar, his manager assures AllHipHop.com that the debt has been taken care of.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Census data projects more diversity at work

The U.S. workforce will become increasingly diverse over the next three decades, a shift that could bring changes in education, training and public policy, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Census data released Thursday.

Racial and ethnic minorities in the USA will become a majority in 2042, but the working-age population — those 18 to 64 — will cross that threshold three years earlier, the projections say. By 2050, minorities will make up 55% of the working-age population. The share of the population that is working-age will drop steadily, from 63% to 57% in 2050.

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

Judge lets embattled Detroit mayor travel to Dem convention

Hours after a judge said that Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick could remove his electronic tether, the judge who originally ordered tether said the mayor needed to put the device back on.

In a case that continues to change by the hour, District Court Judge Ronald Giles said in a written order that Kilpatrick must remain on tether, despite a ruling earlier Thursday from Wayne County Circuit Judge Leonard Townsend.

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

USA's Blake ousts Federer; Williams sisters lose also

Roger Federer directed an angry scream toward his feet. He swatted a stray ball in frustration. He slapped his thigh, hung his head and stomped behind the baseline.

And as a last resort, he questioned calls, something he hates to do. That merely made him madder: He went 0-4 on replay challenges.

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

Jesse Jackson Speaks On Obama, Race, and the N-word

Civil rights activist addresses his controversial off-air remarks about the senator and explains why he’s still relevant.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Rihanna Topples Katy Perry On Hot 100

Rihanna's "Disturbia" puts an end to the seven-week run at No. 1 by Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" on the Billboard Hot 100, rising 3-1 after selling 148,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's Rihanna's fourth chart-topper here, tying her with Beyonce and Mariah Carey for the most by a female artist this decade.

Check Out Full Article @ Billboard

Ludacris Talks About Joint Track With Former Rival T.I.

'There's No Bigger Event In Hip-Hop At This Moment''There's no reason we shouldn't be able to get together and make music,' Tip says in radio interview.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Kid Rock To Perform 'All Summer Long' At MTV Video Music Awards

After last year's scuffle with Pam's other ex, Rock returns with his certified hit.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Alchemist Visits Prodigy In Jail, Blogs About It

After a recent visit to Midstate Correctional Facility in upstate New York to visit collaborator and friend Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Hip Hop producer The Alchemist recapped his visit for readers on his blog www.alchemistbeats.blogspot.com.

Accompanied by Prodigy's wife, KiKi Johnson and aided by a couple of strong doses of Starbucks, Alchemist set off at 6 a.m. on his four hour journey to Midstate.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Police Officer Charged In Death Of Tasered Man

A Louisiana grand jury indicted a former police officer on a manslaughter charge and criminal malfeasenceon Wednesday (August 13).

Scott Nugent was implicated in the death of a man who was Tasered nine times - while handcuffed, according to CNN.com.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Diamond Inks Multilayer Deal With Warner Bros

Former Crime Mob member Diamond has inked a new deal with Warner Bros Records that will place the Atlanta rapper in a number of endorsement, TV and film opportunities, to set up her debut solo album in 2009.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Bill Passes In Response To Death Of Dr. Donda West

The death of rap superstar Kanye West’s mother has prompted the approval of a new bill requiring hospital patients to take a physical exam, before having elective cosmetic surgery.

The LA Times reports the California Senate passed the requirement on Wednesday (August 13) with a vote of 37 to 1.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Mike Jones Apologizes For Fight At Ozone Awards

Houston rapper Mike Jones has officially apologized for his role in a fist fight with Trae the Truth during the third annual Ozone Awards, although the chart topping rapper denied responsibility for the incident.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Rapper Jody Breeze Held On Parole Violation

Jody Breeze, one fourth of Atlanta-based Block Entertainment/Bad Boy Records group Boyz N Da Hood, is currently being held in a Georgia jail cell, awaiting a hearing on charges of probation violation, the rapper's lawyer has confirmed to AllHipHop.com

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Lil Wayne Is The Music Of Champions, Ask Michael Phelps

The world watched in awe as Michael Phelps set a new Olympic gold standard Wednesday, winning the 10th and 11th titles of his career. Competing in his third Olympics, Phelps surpassed Olympic legends Carl Lewis, Paavo Nurmi, Larysa Latynina, and Mark Spitz, who all won nine golds in their careers respectively.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Isaac Hayes Cause Of Death Determined - Stroke

As DX announced earlier this week, music legend Isaac Hayes was found dead in his Memphis, TN home. Authorities now say the cause was a massive stroke.

Paperwork filed by Hayes' family physician, Dr. David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke although no autopsy has been performed. Because there has been no confirmation by autopsy, no official determination has been released by the medical examiner's office.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Kanye West To Open Fatburger Chain

He raps, produces, designs clothes, blogs and has corporate partnerships which range from Absolut Vodka to Travelocity.com. So, what's next for Kanye West? Apparently Fatburgers. MTV reports West will join the likes of E-40 and Earvin "Magic" Johnson by purchasing a chain of the famed burger joints.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Large Professor Explains Using Old Style On New Album

Large Professor will be releasing his first solo album in five years next month in Main Source. Coming on Gold Dust Media, the same label as 40 Cal [click to read] and The Outlawz, the project, as its name alludes to, is a return to the Queens emcee and producer's classic sound. "The difference between this album and 1st Class, is on this album, Main Source, I was just chopping up a bunch of ill loops. On 1st Class, I went more primitive," said Extra P on a promotional video released yesterday.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

South Central Cartel's Havikk Returns, Talks New Album

In a year that's seeing west coast rap veterans to the likes of Big Hutch, Arabian Prince and Ice Cube return with new albums, South Central Cartel's Havikk adds another to the list.

As one of Def Jam's first west coast signings, the Los Angeles duo of Havikk and Prodeje shared the names of Mobb Deep members, but began as early as 1991, releasing material to the masses. Singles included "Gang Stories" and "Pops Was A Rolla," and the group joined The group would also be a starting point for L.V., who would go onto win a Grammy with Coolio for the hit "Gangsta's Paradise" in the middle of the decade.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Master P Changes Name

After close to fifteen years in the game, rapper Master P has decided to officially abandon the name under which he attained success.

With over 75 million records sold worldwide, the five-time Grammy Award winner will now go by P. Miller in an effort to expand on his equally impressive achievements as a businessman.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Isaac Hayes Funeral Set; Family Speaks

The life of award-winning composer/musician Isaac Hayes will be memorialized next week during a funeral service in Cordova, Tennessee.

The service, which will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday (August 18) at Hope Presbyterian Church, comes as the music world and fans mourn Hayes, who died Sunday (August 10), after family members found him lying unconscious on the floor near a treadmill at his home in Memphis.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Judge Issues Bench Warrant For Rapper DMX

A Phoenix, Arizona judge has issued an arrest warrant for rapper DMX for missing a scheduled court date today (August 12), AllHipHop.com has learned.

DMX, born Earl Simmons, is accused of visiting the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona to receive treatment for an illness and using someone else’s identity, in order to avoid paying the bill.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Jay-Z Gives A Shout-Out To Barack Obama On New Kanye West-Produced Song, 'Jockin' Jay-Z'

'I rock with Obama but I ain't no politician,' Jigga raps.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

B.G. Talks New Album, Hot Boys Reunion

After more than a decade and ten years in the rap game, former Cash Money Millionaire B.G. is prepping his eleventh studio album, Too Hood to be Hollywood for a November 25 release on Atlantic Records.

Too Hood will mark the first major label release for the New Orleans rapper since 2000’s Checkmate.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

No I.D. Added To List Of Possible "Blueprint 3" Contributors

When Jay-Z starts recording an album rumors usually follow, and it appears the upcoming Blueprint 3 will be no different. News that Timbaland would be the project's sole producer [click to read] was proved false after Kanye West and Jay debuted "Jockin' Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh)" during a Glow in the Dark tour stop in New York City.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Noel Gallagher Sings A Different Tune To Jay-Z

When Oasis' Noel Gallagher made his infamous comment several months ago he probably didn’t expect Jay-Z’s success to pan out the way it did.

Not only did Hova mimic Noel onstage with a “Wonderwall” impression, but the Glastonbury Festival performance sold out, something Gallagher believed wasn’t possible with a headlining Hip Hop act. Immediately afterward, “99 Problems” jumped back on the UK singles chart. And to put a nail in the coffin, Jay-Z’s newest single from The Blueprint 3 addresses Noel’s foot-in-the-mouth comment ("That bloke from Oasis said I couldn’t play guitar / Somebody should have told him I’m a fucking rock star").


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Rapper V.I.C. Rides Success Of 'Get Silly' With New LP

After making a name for himself with the debut single “Get Silly,” rookie rapper V.I.C. is set to release his debut album Beast on August 26.

Born to a New York mother and an immigrant Ghana father, V.I.C. began making music when he was ten years old.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Mike Jones, Trae The Truth Fight

Houston, Texas rappers Mike Jones and Trae the Truth were involved in an altercation backstage today (August 11) at the Ozone Awards in Houston.

According to witnesses, the two rappers were having a conversation when Trae the Truth allegedly struck Jones for unknown reasons.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Lil Wayne Issues Statement On Daughter

Contrary to several internet reports, Lil’ Wayne’s daughter was not killed on Sunday night (August 10), the rapper confirmed with AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement.

Several websites reported early Monday afternoon (August 11) that eight-year-old Reginae Carter had been killed in a traffic accident.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Review: 'Madden NFL 09' is a must-buy

When Electronic Arts announced the retired Brett Favre as its 20th anniversary cover boy, it looked like the notorious "Madden" curse -- which had mangled the careers of Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and Shaun Alexander -- was finally broken.

But when Favre decided to play again and was traded from the Packers to the New York Jets, it looked like the Curse simply reversed onto EA itself.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

It's better than sex, they say

Some people say other activities give them more pleasure than sex

Shoe designer describes footwear as thrilling

Climbing mountains is "better than sex," says another woman

Man says each course of great meal is like foreplay

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Pole dancing helps strip off pounds

The lights were turned down low and the music was pulsing as Kimberly Wright made her way toward a 16-foot tall dance pole to do some tricks.

Wright is not an exotic dancer in a strip club. She's a 38-year-old mother of two from Atlanta, Georgia, looking to get in a decent workout.

"It works the abs, oh my goodness, muscles I didn't even know I had," Wright chuckled.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Gym Class Heroes Announce Dates For Tour With The Roots

Estelle will be the opening act on the tour, which kicks off October 3.

10/03 - Baltimore, MD @ Ram's Head Live!
» 10/04 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
» 10/05 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ The House of Blues
» 10/06 - Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
» 10/07 - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ The House of Blues
» 10/08 - Miami, Fl @ The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre
» 10/10 - Houston, TX @ Meridian (Estelle only)
» 10/11 - Dallas, TX @ The Palladium
» 10/12 - Austin, TX @ The Backyard
» 10/14 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Marquee
» 10/19 - Las Vegas, NV @ The House of Blues
» 10/21 - Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
» 10/23 - Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
» 10/24 - Chicago, IL @ The Congress Theatre
» 10/25 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
» 10/26 - Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
» 10/28 - New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
» 10/30 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
» 10/31 - Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Park Convention Hall
» 11/1 - Albany, NY @ Washington Avenue Armory



Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Mixtape Monday

T-Pain Might Drop LP And Mixtape With Lil Wayne; Clipse Aim For 'A Wider Audience. Kardinal Offishall breaks down his new tape; Termanology gets a boost from Bun B, DJ Premier.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

San Bernardino Rock The Bells Recap

Rock the Bells is still going strong. While the Guerrilla Union crew seem to be improving their Rock the Bells show every year, fans keep buying tickets in large numbers. With that, a packed audience attended this weekend's San Bernardino stop to watch Nas, Murs, Immortal Technique and legendary groups De La Soul, Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Hussein Fatal Signs New Deal, Working With Jim Jones

One-time Outlawz member Hussein Fatal [click to read] announced today that he has signed a new recording contract with Global Music Group for his third studio album. There, he will release Born Legendary, an album with a first single featuring Jim Jones. Yukmouth and Nutt-so will also be featured guests.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Rick Ross' Entourage Attacks DJ Vlad During Interview

Reports from Houston's Ozone Awards weekend have already spilled in rumors of a confrontation between Rick Ross and video director DJ Vlad.

Although neither Ross' camp nor DJ Vlad have confirmed this, bystanders watched yesterday as Vlad interviewed the Miami rap star yesterday. As the Bay area native who's acclaimed for his mixtapes on Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur inquired about pictures surfacing about Ross' correctional officer past, a member of the rapper's entourage struck Vlad, sending him to the ground. According to reports, the camps fled the scene after the altercation, with one witness claiming that the camera may have been damaged.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Def Jam Considers Movie Previews, Other Options

With music channels such as BET and MTV showing more reality shows and less music videos, Def Jam is thinking about taking its artists to the movies. The label experimented with the concept in July by placing Rihanna's single "Disturbia" in theaters as a preview to promote her album Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded. Now Jeff Straughn, Def Jam's VP of strategic marketing, has ideas of getting artists like Rick Ross and Young Jeezy on the big screen too.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Sister-In-Law, Celebrities Speak On Bernie Mac

Bernie Mac's sister-in-law spoke to People magazine recently about the late comedian's final days. As previously reported, Mac passed away due to complications from pneumonia.

Mary Ann Grosset, the younger sister of the comedian's wife, Rhonda, said that his final hours were spent with his wife and daughter. "He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her," said Grossett. "She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me … 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired."

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

New Heltah Skeltah Album Confirmed for Sept. 30th

After a near ten year hiatus, Brooklyn duo Heltak Skeltah have reunited and confirmed the completion of their third LP, entitled D.I.R.T.

Dubbed the “Twin Towers” of the talented Boot Camp Clik, Heltah Skeltah first gained national exposure with their debut Nocturnal in 1996.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Jay-Z On Blueprint 3: 'I Gotta Make The Best Product'

During a memorable guest appearance last Wednesday (August 6) on Kanye West’s Glow in the Dark Tour, Jay-Z confirmed he’s working on Blueprint 3, his final album on Def Jam before launching a new recording deal with Live Nation.

Interviews from Timbaland had many believing the Virginia boardsmith would serve as the album’s executive producer, a rumor Jay-Z put to rest after recently appearing on the Shade 45 Morning Show.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop