Black Eyed Peas Tap Into New 'Energy'

The Black Eyed Peas are planning more of a "music diary" than a conventional album when the group releases "The END" in March.

Group leader will.i.am tells Billboard.com that "The END" stands for "The Energy Never Dies," which describes his model for a project that will be living and frequently updated throughout its designated cycle.

Check Out Full Article @ Billboard

Lil Wayne Producers Shocked By Grammy Nod

Sibling duo Play-N-Skillz scored their first Grammy last year for best rap performance by duo or group for their production on Chamillionaire's "Ridin'." But for Play, this week's album of the year nomination for Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" is by far the "biggest accolade you can receive." The pair produced the album's third single, "Got Money."



Check Out Full Article @ Billboard

Morello: Don't Hold Breath For Rage Album

With two albums out, more than 50 songs that have not yet been recorded and a world gone awry, Tom Morello plans to stay busy as the Nightwatchman for the foreseeable future.

But one project he won't be working on is a new album from Rage Against The Machine, which reformed in 2007 after a seven-year break.

"There are no plans for that," Morello tells Billboard. "We've had a wonderful year and a half of playing shows, and I don't see any reason to not play more shows. The thing is there's only so many hours in the musical day, and mine are very occupied right now."

Check Out Full Article @ Billboard

DJ Drama Says He Wants To 'Make History Again' With Young Jeezy, Not Beef

If there are things me and Jeezy need to speak about, that's for us to do,' Dram tells MTV News.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

New Eminem Song 'Number One' -- Apparently Produced By Dr. Dre -- Drops On Mixtape

No official word yet on whether song will appear on either Em's Relapse or Dre's Detox.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Juelz Santana Explains Album Delays

Due to label issues and what appears to be at least one internal rift within the Diplomats, Juelz Santana hasn't released a full-length studio album since 2005. His sophomore effort, What the Game's Been Missing!, peaked at number one on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart during the height of Diplomat popularity. Now, with his own Skull Gang crew in tow, and a renegotiated deal with Def Jam, Juelz speaks to HipHopDX about his future plans.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

T.I.: There's 'No Place In My Life' For Shawty Lo Beef

T.I. spoke to MTV News recently on the set of "Saturday Night Live," during which the rapper will be serving as the musical guest.

During this time, T.I. spoke about his oft-talked-about beef with fellow rapper Shawty Lo. Members of both rappers' entourages got into several fights during last week's Dirty Awards in Atlanta. At some point, T.I. and Shawty Lo had a private conversation about the squashing their beef.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Kanye West Plans To Intern In The Fashion World

Recently, HipHopDX reported that Kanye West was looking to explore his artistic options after touring and promoting the release of his fourth studio album 808's & Heartbreak. At the time, Kanye stated, “I'm going to go and take an internship with something and just do something that's like completely normal, and just rap on the weekends.”

Looks like Kanye is following through on these plans.

According to the New York Times, Mr. West has his sights on joining the likes of Louis Vuitton or Raf Simons, with an internship as his starting point. As odd as it would be to see a multi-platinum artist begin another career from the bottom, it was equally astounding when West contacted Simons himself.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

DJ Vlad Talks Website, American Gangster Finale

Already a power player in the mixtape world, multi-faceted DJ Vlad has now set his sights on conquering the website and film markets.

In October DJ Vlad launched www.vladtv.com, an already fast growing Hip-Hop based video site birthed from the success of Vlad’s YouTube channel and website, Vladtv.com.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Charges Against Suge Knight Tossed

Two felony drug charges and one misdemeanor assault charge against Marion “Suge” Knight were dismissed by a Las Vegas judge.

Prosecutors accused Knight, 43, of assaulting a female acquaintance named Melissa Isaac, on August 27, during a heated argument.

Knight was accused of striking Isaac, who was allegedly found by LVPD officers naked on the side of the road, as Knight stood over her with a knife.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

DMX In Rehab; Judge Issues Arrest Warrant For Rapper

An arrest warrant has been issued for troubled rapper DMX, who missed a scheduled court appearance in Arizona today (December 5).

DMX was due in court today to face charges related to drug, identity theft and animal cruelty charges but missed the date, because he is currently in rehab at an undisclosed location.

A judge in Maricopa County has ruled that the rapper must post $120,000 cash bond or he will be arrested and held in jail. DMX, born Earl Simmons, faces a litany of charges, stemming from several different incidents.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Producer Polow To Pay 'Rent For A Year' To ATL Resident

Polow Da Don and Zone 4, Inc. have extended the submission deadline for this year’s Free Rent For A Year contest due to the popularity and level of interest in the charitable endeavor, the label announced this week.

The essay competition, now in it’s second year, is open until January 1, 2009 at midnight to applicants 18 and over residing in the Atlanta Metropolitan area.

The Free Rent For A Year contest kicked off last Tuesday (November 25) during Zone 4’s second annual Give Thanks Carnival.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Will Smith's Red Pearl To Distribute Films In Middle East

Will Smith is taking his knack for success overseas, with a new venture involving his production company Overbrook Entertainment.

According to Variety, Overbrook has joined forces with D Media to launch Red Pearl Pictures, a new company that will distribute Western films throughout the Middle East.

Red Pearl joins a number of key Middle Eastern distributors that have existing deals with the U.S. studios and independents.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

8 Best Gifts Under $15

Need a grab-bag toy or stocking stuffers? Check out these inexpensive standouts.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

As genocide raged, general's pleas for help ignored

In 1993, Romeo Dallaire was full of hope for the future of Rwanda.

Romeo Dallaire, now a Canadian senator, says that in Rwanda, he "shook hands with the devil."

A year later he left Rwanda a broken man, having watched helplessly as more than 800,000 people perished in Rwanda's genocide despite his pleas for more troops to stop the massacre.

"We could have actually saved hundreds of thousands," Dallaire told CNN's Christiane Amanpour for "Scream Bloody Murder."


Check Out Full Article @ CNN

'Notorious' Soundtrack Details Revealed

Features Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Faith Evans, Biggie's SonGreatest hits, rare tracks fill out soundtrack to biopic, due in January.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Kanye West Denouces Wet Seal Carries Clothing Line

It seems Kanye West has a lot on his mind. Yesterday, we reported his latest comments regarding his mother's passing and the break up he endured. Kanye's blogging didn't end there, however. Instead, 'Ye hit the blogs once more to speak on which rapper actually gets some rotation in his apartment and on why his work ethic is something to be proud of.

In his latest entry, West also denounces rumors that his clothing line will be available at Wet Seal, a store that carries women's clothing. The store does carry some West gear online, including a t-shirt for his last album. With all of this talk, message boards and blogs went crazy with the news, but 'Ye announced that he would not be designing clothes for Wet Seal.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 11/30/08

Black Friday fueled the domestic record sales market last week, with millions of Americans flocking to the electronic stores that carry CDs. An exciting week to begin with, Kanye West assumed his pole position with his departure from rapping 808's & Heartbreak. The release significantly under-sold last year's Graduation and sold less first week numbers than Beyonce saw last week with her I Am...Sasha Fierce, despite an extra day of sales (amidst a holiday week).

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Houston Radio KPFT Pays Star Studded Tribute To Pimp C

At midnight, it will be one year since Chad "Pimp C" Butler tragically died last year. The rapper and producer, one half of UGK, has been honored throughout the year since, notably Bun B's "Angel In The Sky", and through memorial shirts and lyrics.

Houston's KPFT 90.1 FM radio will honor the Texas rap pioneer with a three hour radio show at midnight tonight, to bring in the one year anniversary with music, commentary and heartfelt praise of Pimp C. The show will also broadcast on 89.5 FM in Galveston.

Invited call-ins and guests include David Banner, DJ Paul [click to read], Greg Nice, Pimp's mother "Mama Wes" and others. Bun B will be in the studio to help orchestrate the event.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Suge Knight's Mansion Sold In Bankruptcy Court

On the heels of yesterday's official announcement that the economy is in a recession, Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight may be Hip Hop's first casualty. The Los Angeles Times reports Knight's $6.2 million Malibu mansion was recently sold in bankruptcy court for $4.56 million.

The sale is likely the last in a financial freefall that began when Knight and Death Row filed for bankruptcy protection in April of 2006. Since then, both Warner and Global Music Group have either claimed ties to or tried to acquire the former home of artists such as Dr. Dre, 2Pac and Snoop Dogg.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Photographer Sues Chris Brown, Rihanna For $1 Million

A photographer is seeking $1 million in a lawsuit against singers Rihanna and Chris Brown.

Luis Santana, 26, alleges that the two stars' bodyguards beat him and stole their camera in May. Santana is seeking the money to replace a $3,000 camera that was broken and stolen, the photos he lost, and to compensate him for his injuries and emotional distress.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, the lawsuit is based on a May 6 incident during Brown's 19th birthday celebration at Vintage Ultra Lounge in St. Petersburg. The club, as well as three bodyguards, are also named in the suit.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

DJ Suspended Over Busta's 'Arab Money'; Busta Replies To Critics

Busta Rhymes continues to face adversity in the United Kingdom, as the airing of the rapper’s latest single “Arab Money” has resulted in a popular DJ’s suspension.

Global Radio owns and operates Galaxy Radio, which broadcasts Steve “Smooth” Sutherland’s show in Manchester, Yorkshire, Birmingham, York Shire, the South Coast, the North East and Scotland.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Giants suspend, fine Burress; WR's season over

Just 10 months since he became a Super Bowl hero, Plaxico Burress's season is over -- and his future is very much in doubt.

The New York Giants fined and suspended Burress on Tuesday for four games — the rest of the regular season — after he accidentally shot himself in the right thigh over the weekend at a Manhattan nightclub. The team also placed him on the reserve non-football injury list, which means the wide receiver couldn't come back for playoffs, either.

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

Penny pinchers can find nifty gifts for under $100

Like many people concerned about the economy, Juan Castro, 27, says he's going to pass on the tech gifts he was planning to buy his wife this holiday season, which included a 26-inch HDTV and high-end speakers for her iPod. "I'm anticipating a rough 2009, and these items are upgrades to things we already own," says Castro, a publicist who lives in Fremont, Calif. "Although it would be great to have them, we can get along just fine without them."

Indeed, tech analysts including Roger Kay at Endpoint Technologies say the tough economy is going to spur people to buy less-expensive items and forgo some fancy upgrades. The good news: You can buy great gadget gifts for under a $100. Here are a few suggestions.


Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

Slaves helped build White House, U.S. Capitol

In January, President-elect Barack Obama and his family will make history, becoming the first African-American first family to move into the White House -- a house with a history of slavery. In fact, the legacy of American presidents owning slaves goes all the way back to George Washington.

Twelve American presidents owned slaves and eight of them, starting with Washington, owned slaves while they lived in the White House. Almost from the very start, slaves were a common sight in the executive mansion. A list of construction workers building the White House in 1795 includes five slaves - named Tom, Peter, Ben, Harry and Daniel -- all put to work as carpenters. Other slaves worked as masons in the government quarries, cutting the stone for early government buildings, including the White House and U.S. Capitol. According to records kept by the White House Historical Association, slaves often worked seven days a week -- even in the hot and humid Washington summers.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Kanye West-Produced Jay-Z Song Confirmed For Bad Boy's 'Notorious' Soundtrack

There is also talk that the Notorious B.I.G.'s son will appear on a 'One More Chance' remake for the disc.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Young Jeezy And Nas Pay Tribute To Barack Obama, MLK, Public Enemy In 'My President' Video

Jeezy hints at a possible tour with fellow Georgians T.I. and Ludacris.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

VidRap: The Three/21 Films Collection

VidRap's back and I'm going to be posting large batches of videos around specific themes. Today's focus is Three/21 Media.

Check Out Full Article @ Pro Hip-Hop

Biographer Provides Excerpts From Controversial ODB Biography

It's been a little over four years since Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard died from heart failure, due to what was believed to be an accidental drug overdose. Today, Jamie Lowe releases a biographical critique, entitled Digging for Dirt: The Life and Death of ODB.
Since news of the books release was made public, Ol' Dirty's mother, Cherry Jones, called for a ban and boycott of the book. HipHopDX has excerpts from the book via the Village Voice. As the courtroom battles continue, Wu fans can view exactly what hit bookshelves earlier today.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Young Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris Unite To Support Jim Martin

Last night at the State Capitol in Georgia, Young Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris, and Kevin Liles teamed up to help bring out voters for Democrat Jim Martin.

Martin and Republican Saxby Chambliss have had their senate election sent into overtime due to the close number of votes. Today was the last day in Georgia for voters to cast their ballots to determine a winner in this long running battle.
The group of multi-platinum rappers and exec called on voters to help elect Jim Martin and add another Democrat to their Congress majority.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Kanye West Speaks Candidly About Mother, Religion, Rap

When Kanye West speaks, it almost always causes some news buzz. Recently, 'Ye spoke at a press conference in New Zealand and lived up to the hype bestowed upon him. Journalists in attendance were told Kanye would accept all questions, except any dealing with his mother or gossip. However, 'Ye actually broke silence on the subject of his mother's tragic passing and went on to add more on whether he listens to Hip Hop or not and why he doesn't want to be like Jesus Christ.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Imeem Launches Keys To The City: L.A. With U-N-I

Just as Hip Hop itself is inseparable from its birthplace in The Bronx, every aspiring emcee is eternally connected to the neighborhood they grew up in.

Imeem's "Keys 2 the City" series explores the bond between community and emcees by following them to the barbershops, BBQ joints, basketball courts, swap meets and schoolyards that shaped them into the artists we admire today. The Los Angeles series features collaborative work with HipHopDX, 2DopeBoyz.com and Urb magazine.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Beanie, Gillie, Philly Rappers Unite For 'Brotherly Love' Concert

Former Philadelphia Hip-Hop rivals Beanie Sigel and Gillie Da Kid have put their differences aside and will appear on stage during a free concert next week.

The free “Brotherly Love Concert,” which is being presented by Nike’s ACG brand, will also feature performances by Freeway, Reed Dollas, Joey Jahad and E-Ness.

The concert was the idea of Sigel himself, who is attempting to unify rappers in Philadelphia, some of whom are currently at odds with each other.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

New EPMD Album Set for Dec. 9th

The nine-year album drought of legendary group EPMD comes to a close in two weeks, as the duo will release their long-awaited 7th album We Mean Business.

The LP comes nearly 10 years after Out of Business (1999), then billed as the duo’s final studio album.

Despite that tagline, the album failed to connect with critics and fans, and to date is the only EPMD album not to go gold.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Soulja Boy Donates Toys for the Holidays

Soulja Boy has delayed work on his forthcoming album to participate in the 6th annual Toyz N Da Hood charity event, which donates holiday toys throughout Atlanta during the month of December.

Toyz N Da Hood was founded by Hittmenn DJ president Robert “Kaspa” Smith, and is partnered with the non-profit Kids with Strong Opinions, Inc.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Bone Thugs Reunite On Stage; Announce "Uni 5"

Last night (December 1) Los Angeles played host to the reuniting of the original five man roster of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

The reunion is 10-plus years in making.

Over the last decade the group became fragmented due to infighting and the incarceration of Flesh-N-Bone.

Flesh-N-Bone was sentenced to 11 years in 2000 on assault charges and released in July and the group reconciliated, paving the way for a reunion.

Hundreds of fans had to be turned away at the Club Nokia venue, and lucky attendees were treated to such classic Bone tracks as “1st of Tha Month,” “I Tried,” “Notorious Thugs,” and the Grammy-winning “That Crossroads.”


Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Bush: 'I was unprepared for war'

President Bush made some interesting comments about his readiness to command the country in wartime and his regrets about the intelligence that his administration relied on before the invasion of Iraq.

He also said the 2008 election, which delivered the White House to Democrat Barack Obama, "was a repudiation of Republicans."

Here's an excerpt from the interview with Charles Gibson of World News

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

Kanye Posts Slow Debut-Week Sales

While mainstream media is touting that the Black Friday weekend started the holiday selling season with a bang, music merchandisers certainly didn't have that experience.

Music sales were down anywhere from 10% to 30% and hit albums released for Black Friday didn't perform up to expectations, according to merchants contacted by Billboard. Sources say Kanye West's "808s & Heartbreak" will sell in the range of 425,000-450,000 units, significantly down from 700,000-975,000 units previously projected.

Check Out Full Article @ Billboard

Mixtape Monday

Kanye West Inspires Lil Wayne; Notorious B.I.G. Performs With Big L. Plus: Chamillionaire drops a new mixtape just two months after his last one.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Hip Hop Album Releases for Dec. 2: Akon, Cadillac Records Soundtrack, Scarface

It's super quiet post-Thanksgiving in the land of new releases.

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.

Akon - Freedom
Bloods & Crips: Bangin' On Wax [3 Disc Box Set]
Scarface - Emeritus
Soundtrack - Cadillac Records
Soundtrack - Cadillac Records [2 Disc Deluxe Ed.]
Soundtrack - Cadillac Records [LP]

Check Out Full Article @ Pro Hip-Hop

50 Cent Admits to Losing Money Because of Failing Economy

As stock markets and real estate values take a terrifying nose-dive, the average American citizen is not the only person feeling the effects of what many have deemed an official economic recession. Rapper and Hip Hop mogul 50 Cent is also feeling the backlash of the failing economy.

“I lost a couple million dollars already,” 50 admitted to the Canadian Press. “I sit with my investors and business managers and accountants looking at the numbers and I'm like, ‘Yo, the values of stocks in different areas that I invested in are decreasing!’ So I take the loss like everybody else.”


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Yung Berg Plans Equal Opportunity Love Reality TV Series

Amid all the recent controversy surrounding Yung Berg, the Chicago rapper will be the centerpiece for a Flavor of Love-style reality show.

According to numerous sources, Yung Berg will be inviting a number of ladies onto the show so that he can find his one true love.

Management for Yung Berg released the statement, “We are looking to find exceptional stand out beautiful dark skin/brown skin women to showcase all races of beauty on the show.”


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Puma Hosts 60th Birthday Concert With The Knux

Shoemaker and athletic company Puma is celebrating their 60th birthday. The creator of famed shoes like the Clyde, Suede and others is thanking supporters with a series of free events today (December 1) through December 11th.

Tonight in Brooklyn, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, a free concert with The Knux, Chester French, Charles Hamilton [click to read] and others will be held.

Doors open at 8 pm. Tickets can be gathered at any of the three New York City Puma store locations. No purchase is required.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Gorilla Zoe Begins Weight Loss Challenge

In honor of the release of his sophomore album Don't Feed Da Animals, Atlanta rapper Gorilla Zoe is embarking on a 12-week weight loss challenge also entitled "Don't Feed Da Animal."

Zoe's goal is to lose 40 pounds with the help of fitness expert Ed Bowen; the 40-pound weight loss would bring Zoe's weight down to around 190 pounds.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Alchemist And Oh No Plan Gang Green Album

The current economic downturn has artists rethinking their budgets, while others are seeing their projects delayed until 2009. But, to hear Alchemist tell it, this could be exactly what the game needs.

"With this era in rap, where SoundScan is all horrible, it’s like, 'What’s going on?'" Al tells HipHopDX. "Being able to just do this with Oh No out of thin air makes me feel like we’re past that hump. We didn’t make records with radio in mind; it was just fun and creative. I’m seeing the power, because we don’t have to wait to get commissioned every time."

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Webbie Concerts Marred By Violence

A Florida man was stabbed outside of a nightclub in Boca Raton on Friday (Nov. 28), where rapper Webbie was performing.

Authorities were called to Club Pulse after shots were fired outside. According to local news station WPTV, one man with a stab wound was found, but no one had been shot.

The man was rushed to a nearby hospital, his condition currently unknown.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Jacob The Jeweler Headlines Youth Charity Event; Readies For Jail Term

With only a few weeks to go until the start of his lengthy federal jail term, Jacob The Jeweler is partnering with community organizers in Dallas, TX to introduce a new youth support network. Jacob, born Jacob Arabo, is scheduled to co-headline a press conference next Thursday (Dec 11) to introduce Positive Xchange, an initiative that aims to curb violence by creating alternatives to mainstream entertainment for at risk youth.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Travis Barker and DJ AM Reunite for New Year’s Eve Party

Travis Barker and DJ AM are set to reunite this month to headline the New Year Nation (NYN) New Year’s Eve Party at The Lot (Los Angeles).

New Year Nation is a high-end promotions company that targets young professionals for technology-based social networking.

This year, their New Year’s Eve party is expected to simultaneously air in 10 major market cities and four time zones.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Jermaine Dupri Honored By ACLU

Music producer Jermaine Dupri will be honored by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California next week.

The ACLU will honor Dupri, along with fellow honoree Earvin “Magic” Johnson, with the Bill of Right Award.

Dupri, who is on the board of directors for The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, has also worked to help repeal Rockefeller Drug Laws and has also participated in a variety of voter registration programs.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Freeway Declares December Month of Madness

Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam artist Freeway has begun a December “Month of Madness,” where the Philly emcee will release a song per day for the entire month.

The new project comes one year after the release of his critically acclaimed sophomore album Free At Last, which was executive produced by Jay-Z and 50 Cent.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop