Fountain Entertainment announced plans to air “Hip-Hop
In Harlem” on pay-per-view television on July 25. The concert event features
top-selling acts such as Cam’ron and the Diplomats, as well as Beanie
Sigel and State Property—Doug E. Fresh served as the evening’s host
with DJ Clue providing the night’s musical selections. The concert was
filmed last November at the historic Apollo Theatre and will air on iN Demand
and iN Demands free HD Video-on-Demand service, INHD Concert Jukebox.
The first “Hip-Hop
in Morocco” festival took place over the weekend, as a combination of
Moroccan and American artists performed in different cities across the country.
Americans Sha
Stimuli and The Embroidery Club joined local groups in Meknes (May
27), Marrakech (May 29), and Casablanca (June 2). The event is at the behest
of the American embassy in Morocco and is being sponsored by Coca-Cola.
Hot 97’s DJ Absolut is prepping two upcoming releases
through his Addicted 4 Life productions. The New York DJ’s own Koch Records
compilation album and the debut from his new artist, rapper Nucci Rey. The duo
just finished filming a video for “Welcome to Nucc Jersey,” the
lead single from DJ-turned-producer’s album. “I’m more into
samples, really into that street vibe, but I’m into that hit record sound,
too,” Absolut told AllHipHop.com about the production on his debut. “But
my album will be that New York-based sound.” Nucci Rey is currently in
negations with several labels; both albums should be released shortly.
Veteran underground rapper Punchline, one half of the duo Punch-N-Words
alongside Wordsworth, has signed a new recording contract with Commercial Free
The Label and plans to release his solo debut shortly. Punchline formerly served
as a lead writer for the short lived sketch show “Lyricist Lounge,”
which appeared on MTV and featured artists such as Snoop Dogg and Mos Def. Punch
is currently at work developing a new cartoon series.