Ahmet Ertegun, the famed pioneering co-founder of Atlantic Records, is in a coma after sustaining a serious injury to his brain after a fall. Ertegun, 83, lapsed into a deep coma after he fell on Oct. 29 while attending a Rolling Stones concert. Ertegun is currently on life support at Weill Cornell Medical Center in […]

A week after returning from a fact-finding mission for his Simmons Jewelry company, Russell Simmons is facing criticism from film director Edward Zwick. Zwick, who helmed the new Leonardo DiCaprio movie Blood Diamond, implied that Simmons is merely a public relations puppet for diamond companies. Simmons’ recently returned from a trip to South Africa and […]

Public Enemy performed twice last week in Arizona for the first time, since the group launched a boycott of the state. The socially conscious group imposed the ban on Arizona with the controversial release of “By the Time I Get to Arizona," taken from their classic 1991 album Apocalypse ’91: The Enemy Strikes Black. The […]

Tragedy has struck the family of Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Baby" Williams yesterday (Dec. 11) when their sister Tamara Williams, 26, was killed in a head-on collision in New Orleans. Williams, who majored in psychology and was studying for a nursing degree, died when her 2006 Toyota Camry was struck by a motorist who […]

Legendary daredevil motorcycle stuntman Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Kanye West, claiming the Chicago rapper tarnished his image in the video for the hit single "Touch The Sky."The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court, accuses Kanye West of trademark infringement and unauthorized use of the Evel Knievel […]

The legal wrestling match between wrestler Diamond Dallas Page and Jay-Z continues in court, as the wrestler has added Roc-A-Wear to a trademark and copyright infringement lawsuit.Diamond Dallas Page filed the original lawsuit in December of 2005 in Los Angeles Federal Court, claiming that Jay-Z’s popular Roc-A-Fella diamond hand gesture was illegally adopted from his […]

New Orleans native B.G. will introduce The Chopper City Boyz’ debut album We Got This on his Chopper City Records imprint this February. B.G. has helped The Chopper City Boyz (Sniper, Hakim aka Hakizzle, VL Mike and Gar) develop a following by featuring the group on four of his last studio albums that were released […]

Through the course of his career, Will Smith has carved a niche as a likable actor who brings a bit of himself to each role. But that persona, according to the Philadelphia rapper, is nowhere to be found in his latest feature, The Pursuit of Happyness. Instead, Smith brings a new dimension to his acting […]

Hip-Hop fans packed New York’s Club Avalon last Wednesday (Dec. 6), for the first annual DVD awards, where the Artist to Watch Movement was launched.The event was produced by The Best of the Block CEO, Littles, and NY Event promoter, Mook Diamond. The awards brought together a group of emerging East coast artists, known as […]

Atlanta-based Big Cat Records is ending 2006 on a high note, after signing a seven figure deal with Atlantic Records for Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane.Atlantic’s track record of developing the careers of artists proved to be the catalyst for Big Cat owner Marlon "Big Cat" Rowe to make the deal official. "We’re excited about the […]

Police are doubting reports that Power 105.1 DJ Carl Blaze was the victim of a robbery and are now exploring the theory that an old grudge may have been the reason the DJ was shot 13 times early Thursday morning (Dec.7) in New York. Officials said DJ Carl Blaze worked a party at the X-Bar […]

Apparently, Dr. Dre has settled on a time frame to release his highly anticipated album, Detox.In a video clip in circulation on the Internet that features Dre, the producer and his protégé Bishop Lamont reveal that the album will be released in September of 2007.The clip is a mere 31 seconds long, but Bishop Lamont […]

After setting the streets ablaze with controversial comments about Jay-Z, The Clipse, Young Buck and Pharrell in the December/January issue of Complex magazine, Lil’ Wayne recently called in to DJ Absolut’s Hot 97 show in an attempt to temper his words. During the 7-minute interview, Weezy addresses comments he made to Complex about Jay-Z.“I don’t […]

Hundreds of fans and industry executives braved the frigid New York cold for Justo’s 10th Annual Mixtape Awards, which were held at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem last night (Dec. 7).What was supposed to be a celebration honoring Orpheus "Justo" Faison’s legacy and the music industry’s top mixtape DJ’s turned into a chaotic scene, […]

The Game is spreading a little Christmas cheer early to underprivileged youth in Los Angeles his native city of Compton, California.The rapper’s Black Wall Street Foundation teamed with popular fashion designer and Ed Hardy clothing founder Christian Audigier to design original limited edition Black Wall Street / Ed Hardy inspired shirts.The stylish shirts will benefit […]

Rapper Andre "3000" Benjamin continues his foray into the world of film with a new basketball comedy titled Semi-Pro. Benjamin joins an all-star cast that includes Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson. Semi-Pro, which is being produced by New Line Cinema, centers around a fictional 1970’s American Basketball League Association (ABA) team, the Flint Michigan Tropics. […]

Steve Rifkind, who heads up SRC Records, was honored yesterday (Dec. 6) by the 10th Annual Mixtape Awards for his lifetime achievements in the music industry as an executive. The luncheon was held in Harlem, New York at Ginger’s restaurant and boasted attendance by such rap luminaries as Irv Gotti of The Inc., David Banner, […]

Will.i.am, Busta Rhymes, T.I., Gnarls Barkley, Missy Elliott, Eminem, Lupe Fiasco and others are up for awards during the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, which take place Feb. 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.The nominations for the Grammy Awards were announced today (Dec. 7) at The Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood, with celebrities […]