Jim Jones Charged with Assault For Scuffle w/ Jay-Z Associate

On Monday January 5, 2009 Dipset Capo Jim Jones appeared at the 18th Precinct in New York City to speak to the police about an alleged physical altercation that took place on Christmas Eve. As a result of the meeting, Jones has been slapped with a misdemeanor assault charge and a court appearance has been scheduled for February 4th.

As SOHH.com's Gyant Scoop blog previously reported early rumors said Jim Jones got into an altercation with the brother of Ty-Ty Smitha long-time Jay-Z associate. Jones has had a very public beef with Jay-Z.


FULL STORY at HIPHOPDX

Dr. Dre's Son Died of a Drug Overdose

A California coroner has confirmed Dr. Dre's son, Andre Young, Jr. passed away last summer over a drug overdose.

According to People, the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner said the 20 year-old died after using heroin and morphine.

"This case has been closed," coroner spokesman Larry Dietz told People. "It's been ruled an accident due to morphine and heroin intoxication."

While early reports suggested an overdose, an official confirmation had been pending for nearly four months.

As previously reported by SOHH, Young Jr. was discovered motionless by his mother, Jenita Porter, August 23 in their Woodland Hills, California residence.

In related news, Interscope head Jimmy Iovine recently promised the release of Dre's long-delayed Detox album this year.

"Dre's going back [to the studio] in January," Iovine told Billboard. "He'll be finished with Eminem by then, and he'll finish his album."

As of now, no release date information for Detox has been released by Interscope/Aftermath.

Oprah Donates To Kids For T.I. Voting Song

Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy students, who famously remixed T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" with lyrics about the 2008 presidential election, received an unexpected Christmas gift from Oprah Winfrey.

Clark's middle school received a letter and a $365,000 check from Winfrey to help more children attend the institution which assists low income students receive a top notch education. The school runs almost completely on donations and now with the generous donation would be to pay the $14,000 tuition for 26 children to attend the academy.

"We teach school all day and fund raise at night," said Clark. "To have an unsolicited gift come like that is incredible."

Full Story at Hip Hop DX

The Hip Hop Wars

I'm excited to have gotten a copy of The Hip Hop Wars, subtitled What We Talk About When We Talk About Hip Hop -- and Why It Matters, by Tricia Rose, who is currently a Professor of Africana Studies at Brown University:

"Rose explores the most crucial issues underlying the polarized claims on each side of the debate: Does hip-hop cause violence, or merely reflect a violent ghetto culture? Is hip-hop sexist, or are its detractors simply anti-sex? Does the portrayal of black culture in hip-hop undermine black advancement?"

Check Out Full Article @ Pro Hip-Hop

Tanya Morgan, Souls Of Mischief Close Knitting Factory

Hip Hop groups Souls Of Mischief and Tanya Morgan are just a few of the acts lined up for the December 16 show at New York's legendary Knitting Factory.

The show will serve as one of the last Hip Hop shows to be performed at the Knitting Factory before they close their doors at the end of the year.

The Knitting Factory will officially close its doors at the end of the year and will re-open next year at a new, smaller location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Since it's opening in 1987, The Knitting Factory has served as an outlet for both independent artists and well known acts.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Violator All-Star DJ's Drop K-Swift Dedication Album

Violator All-Star DJs and M.I.A. are partnering with Koch Entertainment to celebrate and support the release of the late K-Swift’s Greatest Hits album.

K-Swift, real name Khia Edgerton, died in a tragic pool accident on July 21.

A growing star, Swift at the time of her death had the one of the top rated radio shows in the Baltimore market, and a wildly popular mixtape series entitled The Jump Off.


Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Topps and Funkmaster Flex Create First DJ Card

Influential New York DJ Funkmaster Flex has announced a brand new partnership with The Topps

Company to unveil the Funk Master Flex autographed card, the first ever awarded to a DJ.


Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Actor De'Angelo Wilson In Eminem's '8 Mile' Found Dead

An aspiring Dayton, Ohio actor who starred in Eminem’s hit movie 8 Mile has been found dead of an apparent suicide, AllHipHop.com has confirmed.

Actor De'Angelo Wilson, who starred as “DJ Iz” in 8 Mile, apparently hung himself on November 26, just one day before Thanksgiving.

According to police, Wilson, who also had a role in the hit movie Antwone Fisher, was found dead in the back room of a Los Angeles business, although it took police a week to locate his next of kin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attack Cancels Mumbai Live Earth Concert

Live Earth India, a benefit concert for solar energy projects scheduled for December 7, has been cancelled due to the terrorist killings in Mumbai, India.

The scheduled concert featured an eclectic mix of artists including rapper will.I.am, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, Anoushka, and Indian emcee Hard Kaur.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Fat Boys Return from Near 20 Year Hiatus

Emerging from years of dormancy, the Fat Boys have reunited to champion what they’ve dubbed the “Hip-Hop Old School Movement.”

The group originally began as a trio in 1982 featuring Prince Markie Dee, Kool Rock-Ski, and pioneering beatboxer the late Buffy AKA Buff Love.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop