Hip-Hop Wired

V.A. rhyme spitters Clipse and DTLR have announced their first retail partnership and the "DTLR Presents Clipse By Popular Demand" tour. This partnership represents the first retail merchandise collaboration with a music artist in the independent urban clothing chain's 26-year history.

At the core of the partnership is the "I'm Good" tee, which highlights Clipse's hit single, "I'm Good," featuring Pharrell Williams, from their upcoming

Roderick Anthony Burton II better known as “Dolla” was not just a model for Diddy's Sean John clothing line but one of the promising young rappers of tomorrow.  His mixtape Another Day Another Dolla, was given great hype as well as airplay all over the U.S.  After signing with Akon's label “Konvict Muizk,” Dolla released his first big single with “Who the F*ck Is That,” which received great praises, as well as reaching the Billboard top 100.

Following with another hit single “Make A Toast,” it seemed like Dolla was on the right path to be one of Hip-Hop new promising artist.  While working on his debut A Dolla And A Dream, however, the violence and ignorance that surrounds Hip-Hop had different plans for the Atlanta rapper.

On May 18^th, 2009, the young rapper was shot in the back in

It must be impossible to hold a group of people together and have the expectation that everyone will be on their best behavior.

Monday saw yet another concert for the West Coast duo, the New Boyz, end in violence, but this time it took place in downtown Roanoke, Virginia.

Reported earlier, the duo had to deal with a hostile crowd at the beginning of the month during a free concert in Flint, Michigan at the Genesee Valley Center Mall.

This time around, the event was a benefit concert that took place at the Red Clay Restaurant and was sponsored by Jammin' WJJS.

Capacity must have been reached as people were forced

“If I made a mistake with marijuana, why am I not eligible for rehab?  I've been on marijuana since a teenager. I need some rehab. Jail is not rehab.”

For those who haven't been updated on the Lil Boosie drama, here is a quick summary.  Lil Boosie, A/K/A Torrence Hatch was convicted on a third offense for marijuana possession.

However, like the trend of rappers who seem to be doing it, Boosie then violated his house arrest and was ordered to serve 2 years in prison.  At first Boosie said that jail time would be good for him and beneficial to himself in the long run.  However, the closer the jail date approaches, the less Boosie is feeling the beneficiary part of

December 4, 2007 will be remembered as the last day that the world would be touched by Chad Lamont Butler, best known as rapper Pimp C, in his physical form.

Suffering from respiratory depression that was caused by an accidental overdose of prmothazine and codeine cough syrup

As the second anniversary of the rapper's death is approaching, his widow, Chinara Butler, has created an outlet to continue his legacy by launching

Marlow “Bow Wow” Jones, (Not the little one) was sentenced to 12 years in the pen on November 24^th for his part in the robbery of Bone Thugs-N- Harmony member Bizzy Bone.  Marlow as well as 3 other men all pleaded guilty to beating and robbing the member of the well known rap group.

The beating took place in Universal City, California in a hotel early this year in January.  The group of burglars came into Bizzy's hotel room where they admitted to beating and chocking him while stealing his jewelry.

Contradicting to his actions, when Jones was arrested he was actually employed in a city sponsored anti-gang program known as “Unity One.”  According to the L.A. Times,

“Jones, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of burglary, in addition to admitting that his actions were

The new generation of Hip Hop hasn't been too kind to the older generation that established the foundation of music.

Artist's from the 90's era that were once dominant are now struggling to even stay afloat in today's music industry as fans have made the transition from craving substance to just wanting to have fun and jump around.

Young minds have essentially dumbed down to what's hot now, instead of what artists have the ability to handle the test of time.

Back in 2004, rapper Jadakiss dropped Kiss of Death, so it was uncertain what his reception would be in 2009 with

“Juelz has just as much right to Dipset as Cameron Giles.  So it ain't no one person that can say Dipset over.  People just been doing a lot of YouTubin' and trying to get theyselves hot.  When you can't get on the radio, I guess YouTube is the next best thing to get on.”

Everything has a way of getting worse before it can ever become better.  For the former group known as Dipset, war between Cam'Ron and Jim Jones continues to draw more lines in the sand which should not dare to be crossed.

It was reported earlier that Cam'Ron had officially dissolved the brand known as Dipset and claimed that the set was over indefinitely.

Jim Jones, however, may see things a completely different light than his former friend as he responded saying

“Me personally, I feel like if you banging outside of California, stay there cause if you come back to California where it originated at, we have different sets of rules and regulations that don't apply to you n*ggas and you will become victim of circumstances.”

Gang life used to be a means to bring together Black men and form a type of Brotherhood.  Although prejudged as something negative and only bringing trouble, the origination of the Bloods and the Crips wasn't based around violence, but more of an outlet to build family relations.

These days, gangs have been a catalyst to crime and increased violence within the community as the youth, whether due to ignorance or immaturity, have used their affiliations as a way to

Continuing his long tradition of supporting the country's men and women in uniform, R&B superstar R. Kelly will be hosting a special Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday evening (Nov. 25) for 200 soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other U.S. Army facilities in the Washington, D.C., area.

The feast will be held at Washington's Constitution Hall, where the multi-platinum-selling recording artist will be performing later in the evening as part of his multi-city "Ladies Make Some Noise!" tour. Following the dinner, the troops will attend the concert as Kelly's guests.

"There's nothing worse than being away from your

While some have forgiven Chris Brown for his actions towards Rihanna and decided to embrace him again, others haven't been so easy to let the past go.

Producer Timbaland, who was originally slated to have Brown featured on his upcoming release Shock Value II, has now removed the singer completely from his album.

Initially the singer was set to provide his vocals to a song called “The One I Love”.

Rapper D.O.E., who is also featured on the song, stated that the song had to undergo many title changes as they didn't seem to be

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Although many might not know his name now, it may change as Wu-Tang affiliate and Midwest native M-Eighty looks to break the Guinness Book of World Records by giving the longest freestyle.

The record clocks at freestyle lasting 8 hours and 45 minutes and was set by underground Canadian rapper known as D.O.  Holding the record for years, the only other challenger came from the likes of MC Supernatural. 

Although no date has been set as of yet, the challenge will take place in Indianapolis and all fans will be able to serve as spectators for this momentous occasion. 

“I don't think it was ever a question of whether I could

“I believe that Snoop Dogg's brand is well known around the whole Globe from the business aspect, as well as the music aspect.  It was a plan that I put together strategically, it was something that happened along the way.”

Since emerging onto the scene alongside Dr. Dre in 1992, West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg has continued to expand in his music, as well as, becoming business savvy.

With countless movie roles under his belt, endorsements from businesses such as Chrysler 300, Orbit Gum, Boost Mobile and many more, Snoop continues to reinvent himself for the better as he has become embraced by the masses whether it relates to music or in general.

Asking the question “What's My Name?” back in 1993, all can raise their hands now and answer

Zoo Life/G-Unit Rapper 40 Glocc is real political these days (“'Cause I care, he says). Not only is he gearing up for the release of his street album Concrete Jungle with the lead single, “Grindin'” being a reflection of how music is a refuge from the New World Order, he's also unabashedly speaking up about his trial this coming January for allegedly promoting gang culture in his music and videos.

Last year, he and fellow alleged Colon City Crips (a faction of the Crips gang operating out of San Bernardino County, California (Inland Empire)) members were served with an injunction that specifically details him – birth name, Lawrence White – as “particularly notorious... a senior member of the gang who has become a rap star.”

The injunction further claims that he uses his resources (network and net worth) to “perpetuate and foster” the image of the gang's dominance of the