On the track “Remember That,” from Rakim’s album The 18th Letter, the God MC laments over his days rocking crowds at the Union Square.Along with other landmark venues like the Latin Quarters, Ra and other hip-hop acts had plenty of places to rock the mic.But Lord Jamar from Brand Nubian thinks that era is long gone.”You could see a show every week, some hot sh*t,” he told AllHipHop.com. “Now if it ain’t at a f*cking Madison Square Garden or some big sh*t, it’s not too much popping off. It’s not too good here in New York.”And once rappers find a place to get some mic time, Grand Puba said they should take more time injecting knowledge into their rhymes.Though he does defend the notion that today’s rappers aren’t saying substantial anything in their songs.”Everybody has something to say, it’s whether you agree with what they saying, that’s your choice,” he said. “Because they [do] have something to say, it’s mainly dealing with what’s going on today. To say that they have nothing to say, I don’t really agree with that. They say it in a different way, but it’s always (about) struggle.”Puba, however, added, “They missing that element of education right now. [But] that’s what we do. That’s the level we on right now.”Group member Sadat X is a fine example of what Puba said hip-hop needs.Sadat X has been teaching sixth grade special education and coaching basketball.He said he deems his work a success although some would favor financial gain instead.But his success is measured by his contribution to the community’s future.”To do something worthwhile and for what we were set forth to do, that makes it even more fulfilling,” Sadat said. “The main duty for us is to teach. So what could be greater than that but teaching the youth because they come behind us?”Brand Nubian recently signed to Babygrande Records and will release their fifth album later this year.Previously, the group released All For One, In God We Trust, Everything Is Everything, and their previous project, Foundation, which was released in 1998 on Arista Records.

Violator mogul Chris Lighty is launching a new coalition aimed at unifying radio DJ’s across the country.The Violator All-Star DJ’s, named after Lighty’s company, aims to create a union of DJ’s that he and co-founder DJ Scrap Dirty say is currently fragmented. "I started carrying crates for Red Alert," Lighty told AllHipHop.com. "We wanted to build a situation for the DJ’s who might need more muscle. It’s an honor to give back to the DJ’s, create an outlet for everyone and show how important these guys are." DJ Scrap Dirty, who also founded the DJ coalition The Tech.Nitions, said that the mixshow DJ community was suffering from infighting, something Violator All-Star DJ’s hope to end. "This click and that click are bickering and me and Chris want to bring everyone back together," said Scrap, who was Kurupt’s road manager and currently DJ’s for Daz Dillinger. "It’s tough. You have 35-year-old men barely making money and have no health insurance. We want to change that. This is like a management company for DJ’s." Lighty said the DJ’s will benefit from the strength of Violator, the company he helms that represents such acts as 50 Cent, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes and Mobb Deep. "It don’t matter if you are down with someone,"Lighty said. "We aren’t saying you gotta drop them and be with us. We just want to bring the community back together." Interested commercial mixshow DJ’s can reach DJ Scrap Dirty at: Thevdj@aol.com

A welcome home concert for Slick Rick that was supposed to take place January 9 has been rescheduled.The original show was set to take place at Brooklyn, New York’s Southpaw Club but was postponed for unknown reasons.The rescheduled show will now happen at the Knitting Factory in Manhattan and will take place January 23.Slick Rick will also open for Chris Rock’s upcoming dates at Madison Square Garden, which kick off January 28.Today (January 14), Slick Rick turned 39.

Roc-A-Fella mogul Dame Dash is being accused of raping a woman over a year ago.Kirstie Thompson, a former model, filed a $15 million dollar lawsuit in New York Supreme Court yesterday.She alleges Dash attacked her over a year ago, on New Years Day of 2003.Thompson claims the attack happened while she was inebriated on an island near Brazil, at a party thrown by fellow New York millionaire Mario Ganero.”Damon came up to me and asked me – and literally these were his words – ‘Will you have sex with me?’ ” Thompson told the New York Post. “I’m not a virgin, but I’d never heard such a vulgar line in my life.”Thompson claims that after she had eight glasses of wine and a half a tablet of the designer drug Ecstasy, she fell passed out.According to Thompson, a friend brought Dash back to the room and told Dash she [Thompson] hadn’t had sex in awhile.”The next second, he’s on top of me. For 10-15 seconds at 8:30 in the morning, he was on top of me. I screamed out to my best friend, and nothing happened, and I certainly passed out.”Despite hiring a lawyer who’s an ex-NYPD officer with 37 commendations, Thompson has yet to file criminal charges and as of press time, Dash was not charged with a single crime.”These allegations are baseless and untrue,” Dash’s rep said.In the business section of the same paper, a separate article claims that Jay-Z is looking to form his own company in a move to distance himself from Dash.Jay-Z is allegedly in talks with Universal’s Island Def Jam unit about financing the new venture, which would house his business ventures outside of Roc-A-Fella with the ambition of growing a separate business.Rumors have circulated that Dash and Jay-Z would break up their company, which rakes in almost $500 million dollars annually.In 1997, Roc-A-Fella sold a 50% stake in the label to Island Def Jam for just $1.5 million.In 2005, Island Def Jam will have the option to purchase the remaining half.The Post alleges the source of tension between the two is Dash’s growing celebrity, which Jay-Z feels is overshadowing the label’s talent.Dash’s move into films is allegedly another move that Jay-Z is unhappy with.Dash, Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke have all denied that the company is being split.Each have said that they are diversifying the company and that it would not be split up.

Disturbing Tha Peace crew members Chingy, Ludacris and I-20 will embark on a 27-city tour, which kicks off February 16.The tour kicks off at Oregon’s PDX Ballroom and winds down in Las Vegas at the House of Blues.In related news, Chingy wrapped the video for “One Call Away,” the third single from his double platinum debut album, Jackpot.</I"Major video outlets begin rotating the video January 19.According to Billboard, Jackpot</I is still one of the Top 5 Rap Albums Albums in the United States, almost six months after its release.Tour dates are below:Date City, St. VenueMon-Feb 16 Portland, OR PDX BallroomTue-Feb 17 Seattle, WA Paramount TheaterWed-Feb 18 Spokane, WA Convention CenterThu-Feb 19 Missoula, MT Adams CenterFri-Feb 20 Billings, MT Shrine AuditoriumSat-Feb 21 Casper, WY Casper Events CenterMon-Feb 23 Rapid City, SD Rushmoore Civic CenterTue-Feb 24 Lincoln, NE Pershing AuditoriumWed-Feb 25 Kansas City, MO Memorial HallFri-Feb 27 Milwaukee, WI The RaveSat-Feb 28 Chicago, IL Congress TheaterSun-Feb 29 East Lansing, MI Michigan State U.Mon-Mar 01 Champaign, IL U. of IllinoisWed-Mar 03 Worcester, MA PalladiumThu-Mar 04 New York, NY Hammerstein BallroomSat-Mar 06 Philadelphia, PA Electric FactorySun-Mar 07 Detroit, MI State TheaterWed-Mar 10 Orlando, FL House of BluesThu-Mar 11 Atlanta, GA TabernacleFri-Mar 12 Memphis, TN Entertainment ComplexSun-Mar 14 Houston, TX Arena TheaterMon-Mar 15 Austin, TX StubbsWed-Mar 17 Denver, CO FillmoreThu-Mar 18 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine TheaterFri-Mar 19 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity TheaterSat-Mar 20 Los Angeles, CA Universal AmphitheatreSun-Mar 21 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues

Kool DJ Red Alert will host The Eighth Annual Mixtape Awards, which will take place tomorrow evening in New York City.The event, which honors the record breaking work of the mixtape DJ, is an invitation only event and is heavily supported by the hip-hop community.Fat Joe, Ghostface, Mobb Deep, Raekwon and Jadakiss are among the hip-hop elite that will attend the awards.Today (January 13) is the last day for fans to log on to www.themixtapeawards.com and vote for their favorite deejay.The Mixtape Awards are the brainchild of Justo Faison, who has held national rap promotions posts at Nervous, Atlantic and Epic Records and has broken records by Lil Kim; Timbaland; Hootie and the Blowfish; Bone, Thugs and Harmony, and more.This Year’s Mixtape Awards Nominees Are:Best West coast Mixtape DJDa Holla Boyz Rampage DJ Warrior Hideo Julio G Rob ReyesBest Midwest Mixtape DJG – Spot Mike Love Phantom Paul Bunyon Nick Boogie Bent RockBest Dirty South Mixtape DJDrama Paul Wall & Camillionaire DJ Smallz Michael 5000 Watts & DJ Ron C EFN DJ Juke BoxBest Artist on a MixtapeLloyd Banks XavierPee Di CrakkSacarioJaeMillzDiplomatsSaigonBest Skillz on a MixtapeDJ JuiceBlackoutCrazeAnt LiveDanny DDallas GreenTechnicDJ BreakDJ RondevuDJ Kid ScratchBest Club Mixtape DJMister CeeGoldfingerS&SDJ MarzCamilloJelleyDJ SelfBest Mixtape DuoDJ Marc & DJ SpairDJ Dub & D. O. A.Dirty Harry & VladP Cutta & DNAYooter & Diz-OneDJ A Beats & Double JAction Pac & Sickamore Kay Slay & Big MikeMike Jones & MagnificentBest Promotional MixtapeDon DivaCornerstoneDiplomatsSo So DefDiGi WaxxBest Female Mixtape DJShorty love CinnamixxLazy KJi Ji sweetKaye DunawayLady TecBest Underground Mixtape DJSpin BadJ – LoveD.O.A. P CuttaBlackoutBest Hip Hop Mixtape DJAction PacDJ WreckBig Mike DJ KuruptDJ LexSickamoreP CuttaBest Reggae Mixtape DJ KulchaBam BamSoul controllers PreciseDJ TecB SmoothBest Blends Mixtape DJDallas Green J- FairePaul BunyonShogunJunior TecArsonBest R&B Mixtape DJ DJ Butta BrownDJ four fiveAbsolut RCDJ FinesseDJ InfinitiRookie of the YearDanny DShorty LoveLt. DanSupadaveDJ LCinnamixxBaby YuBest New Mixtape DJBobby TrendsRoli FingazDJ Ant LiveP CuttaDJ VladBest Mixtape DJAction PacWhoo KidBig Mike DJ TechnicP CuttaAbsolutBest Mixtape ProducerClinton SparksVin the Chin & Scram JonesGreen Lantern CoCo ChanelBest Commercial Mixtape DJEnvyKay SlayBest Mixtape PersonalityThoroSickamoreWhoo kidFantasyTy BoogieBest Radio Mixtape DJClinton SparksMike love Cosmic KevCraig GDJ StanDJ Julio GDJ EnuffBest Graphics on a MixtapeDJ SynystrSmooth DenaliWally SparksDJ Four FiveNo JoeBest Mixtape TeamThe LiberatorsThe DreamteamGet Money Nation

Queen Latifah will join the ranks of rappers employed by UPN as she is set to executive produce an updated version of “WKRP in Cincinnati,” according to a reports.The new show will be called “WHOT” and will feature a hip-hop take on the popular ’80s sitcom.The series is based upon a young white woman who is hired as the station manager of a rap music station.Latifah will produce the show with Shakim Compere through Flavor Unit in conjunction with HBO Independent Productions.In addition to Latifah, UPN features a series starring Eve (Eve) and another one executive produced by Will Smith (All Of Us).Next up for Latifah will be a supporting role in “Barbershop 2,” followed by a starring role in the spin-off “Beauty Shop.”

G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks has inked a deal with production company “Digital Sin,” to direct an interactive p### CD titled “Groupie Luv.”Digital Sin and Banks’ Bank Shot Productions will produce the DVD, which allows viewers to choose which girls have sex and where it will take place.”It’s gonna be great, it will seem like you will be the one having sex,” Banks said.”This will not be a typical rapper-does-p### video,” added Jeff Mullen, Director of Marketing and Media for Digital Sin. “This will be a highly interactive, first person, XXX rated experience that puts the user behind the scenes of a G-Unit tour.”Neither Banks or 50 Cent have sex in the DVD, but may make general appearances.Digital Sin was chosen due to their experience in the interactive DVD p### products.”This will be an amazing product that will certainly give the fans all they might expect and more,” Mullen said.As of press time, a release date was not announced.

Roc-A-Fella CEO Damon Dash will be presented with the keys to the city of Richmond, Virginia.City Manager Calvin Jamison will hand over the keys to Dash on Friday January 16, as part of the 8th Annual Freedom Classic Weekend.Dash will be joined by Kanye West, M.O.P., Young Gunz, Nicole Wray, Allen Anthony, Memphis Bleek and Kenny Burns on a panel for the media on the morning of the 16th.This year, the annual Freedom Classic weekend is sponsored by Roc-A-Fella Records and Johnson Inc., a Richmond, Virginia based advertising, marketing and public relations firm.The weekend festival is held during the celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and aims to educate the thousands who attend about the importance of the civil rights movement and the value of voting.”The joint venture with Roc-A-Fella is indicative of the tremendous growth the Freedom Classic Festival has experienced over the years and will spotlight the city of Richmond,” said Ken Johnson, CEO of Johnson Inc.The weekend’s events include a workshop on workshop on “How to Get A Record Deal,” a celebrity basketball game, a Rocawear fashion show and a midnight screening of “Death of a Dynasty,” produced by Dash and Jay-Z.The events will tale place at the Richmond Coliseum, The Greater Richmond Convention Center and other locations.

Famed music director Hype Williams’ first foray into movies, “Belly,” will be re-released on DVD later this month as a special edition package.The set will include deleted scenes; the “Grand Finale” music video with DMX, Nas, Method Man and Ja Rule; and Multiple spoken-word featurettes.In addition, the original soundtrack to the movie will also be included.The soundtrack features collaborations by Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel (“Crew Love”), and DMX, Sean Paul and Mr. Vegas (“Top Shotter”).Though the hip-hop film, released in 1998, raised the ire of Magic Johnson, who refused to show the movie in his theatres, fans have embraced it as a cult classic.The movie features the acting debuts of rappers DMX and Nas, as well as T-Boz from TLC.The DVD will be available in stores Jan 20 2004.

Last Thursday (Jan. 9), Tony Yayo, one-third of the original G-Unit, was finally released from New York prison Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility after serving a year for gun possession. G-Unit DJ Whoo Kid called into Hot 97 on Friday and announced that the crew gave the rapper a party and the label granted him with a new car and house. The rapper was arrested New Year’s Eve of 2002 because of a previously existing warrant. Despite the outstanding charges, the rapper had been continuously promoting the G-Unit through mixtapes, DVDs and music videos. On the 50 Cent’s DVD “The New Breed,” an incarcerated Yayo said, “I was on the run. BET, MTV, I was doing all that on the run,” he said on the DVD while in Rikers Island. “I was in the ‘Wanksta’ video, ‘In Da Club’ video, I was on the run. Nobody knew. I figured it was gonna catch up. I was gonna turn myself in after 50’s album dropped.[In jail,] I done see kids get cut up and n—as get f—ed up for not minding their business.” Yayo, 50 Cent and the rest of G-Unit is slated to appear on Saturday Night Live, which is hosted by “The Newlyweds” Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey.

The head of the NCAA told leaders of the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) that he was unhappy with the series of commercials that featured Snoop Dogg.President Myles Brand chided the organization, which determines what teams play each other in the BCS, while speaking at the NCAA Convention today (January 11).”I thought it was inappropriate for a college game,” Brand told reporters.The advertisements were sponsored by Nokia and directed by Guy Ritchie, who married Madonna in 2000.The ad featured the rapper trying to figure out which celebrity guest stole the championship trophy.Fans had the chance to win $100,000 if they helped identify the would be thief.The BCS oversees the Sugar Bowl, The Rose Bowl, The Orange Bowl and The Fiesta Bowl.Brand also criticized the college schools for not having enough minority administrators and coaches.According to a report by the Associated Press, just four of the 117 head football coaches in Division I-A this season were black.”That is unacceptable, especially given that a large portion of the student-athletes who participate on these teams are African-American,” Brand said.

Rap legend Kurtis Blow is grooming his son, Kurtis Blow Jr., for a career in hip-hop.”He’s recording now, we’re working with his flow and his delivery,” Kurtis Blow told AllHipHop.com. “I’m showing him the ropes on the live tip, taking him to a lot of shows and doing the research.”Kurtis Blow Jr. is still working on his professional name. He’s kicking around several monikers, including KBJ and Young Kurt.Hip-hop historians will note that there was already a “Son of Kurtis Blow.” Run from Run-DMC, used the name when he was a DJ for the pioneering rapper.Blow said his 18-year-old son knows his father’s legendary status in hip-hop history and takes the art of rhyming serious.”He’s really a real emcee. He writes his own stuff, he studies, he’s incredible,” Blow continued. “He’s really, really deep into it and he wants to be this emcee, it’s not me trying to push him.”Blow said that because his son is so academically gifted in school, he would prefer him to be a scientist or doctor, but would support any career choice his son makes.”He has the passion and the love for it, so that’s a good thing,” Blow said.Blow explained that he introduced his son to numerous pioneers, all of whom the younger Blow has immense respect for.”When he meets people like Kool Herc, Hollywood, Flash and Bambaataa, he has somuch respect for them and he’s telling them, ‘look my dad told me all about you, I’ve done all the research, I’ve seen all the film footageand you deserve all the respect that you get,’” Blow said. “To see my son give respect to my peers, and elders, wow that’s a trip, that’s anunbelievable situation right there. I get so much joy out of that.”Blow, who is currently working on a documentary titled “The History of Rap,” said that his son’s album would be completed by April.

Booty buff Sir Mix-A-Lot, best known for his hit single “Baby Got Back,” released material today (January 8) exclusively through his website where fans can stream and download songs via a technology called Weed format.The technology, developed by Shared Media Licensing (SML), is being billed as a means to encourage file trading and help artists earn revenue through downloading.Songs encoded as Weed files are available to listen to on Windows-based PCs up to three times, free of charge. After that, browsers must purchase the song in order to listen to it again.Once a song is purchased, users can listen to the song on up to three different computers, burn it onto a CD, or transfer it to a portable music player. In addition, users can refer songs to peers and if it is purchased as a result of the reference, the user will earn a payment for distribution.John Beezer, president of SML, said having the Grammy award-winning rapper on board gives the technology more credibility.“Sir Mix-A-Lot’s decision to release material in the emerging Weed format is an enormous endorsement,” he said in a statement.The Sir Mix-A-Lot songs made available are from the rapper’s latest album Daddy’s Home, which was released last September. To hear songs from the album, visit: http://sirmixalot.info

Bad Boy CEO, Sean “P.Diddy” Combs will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his label this year and the mogul intends to drop a CD/DVD on March 9, the 7th anniversary of the Notorious B.I.G.’s murder. Details are sketchy, but Diddy reportedly wants to remix his song “Victory,” which featured Biggie and Busta Rhymes, and add 50 Cent, Eminem and Lloyd Banks.Bad Boy is allegedly close to securing vocals from the Shady/ G-Unit clique. This will reunite the crew with the beat since the crew rapped over it in a mixtape song called “Bank’s Victory.”The DVD in the 2-disc set is a documentary, chronicling the rise of Bad Boy. It features the introduction of artists like Biggie, Faith, Carl Thomas and even Da Band.In related news, Da Band is currently working on their second album, but no release date is set. They are currently filming the third season of their successful reality show, “Making The Band II.”In related news, fans of 8Ball and MJG will rejoice as the groups Bad Boy album will finally drop on April 27th, according to reports.