By Nolan Strong
Date: 9/2/2006 5:00 pm

xml


Ludacris and Disturbing Tha Peace will face 50 Cent and G-Unit on the basketball court during Ludacris' Labor Day weekend celebration titled Luda Day Weekend.

Ludacris will coach his DTP team against 50 Cent's G-Unit squad during the celebrity basketball game, which also features NBA ball players Ron Artest and Kevin Garnett.

"This weekend is a celebration and a release (Release Therapy) - pun intended - for me, my friends and my fans," Ludacris told AllHipHop.com. "I am getting ready to start promo tour for my album Release Therapy on September 26 and I am gonna let my hair down. So for all who can make it come ready to let go. If u can't make it you will hear about it or read about it."

Luda Day Weekend features various friends the rapper/actor celebrating the Labor Day weekend holiday in the Atlanta.

Luda Day Weekend kicked off last night (Sept. 1) with a "Black Hollywood" event hosted by actor Terrence Howard, who starred along side Ludacris in Hustle & Flow as well as Crash

Today (Sept. 2) the events continue with The Aphilliates Block Party featuring Ludacris, DJ Drama, Cannon, DJ Sence and Sticks Malone.

The Block Party is hosted by the Clark Atlanta University Student Government Association at the CAU Promenade.

Later in the evening, an invitation-only event titled "We are the Champions" is being hosted by Jerome Bettis and Ludacris at Hotel 12.

Tomorrow (Sept. 3) actress Gabrielle Union will host an "All White Party" at Club 1150.

On Monday (Sept. 4), Luda Day Weekend culminates with the celebrity basketball game at Clark Atlanta's Epps Gymnasium.

"We are finally gonna have the long awaited battle between DTP and G-Unit," Ludacris told AllHipHop.com. "They have been talking so much s**t about playing us in ball, that we had to bring it to the test. We sent the challenge and they accepted it, so its on and yall will see what DTP can do. Yall don't wanna miss this Luda Day Weekend."'

G-Unit member Tony Yayo shrugged off Ludacris' challenge with a friendly taunt. "I heard Ludacris is going to be the coach. Why don't he play some ball?" said.

On Monday, Luda Day Weekend ends on Sept. 5 with Martinis Monday's at Justin's with DJ Red Alert and Ludacris.

"Luda Day Weekend is a celebration with Luda and his friends from music, TV, and film. He brings that star power and everything that he received back to the ATL, so that his hometown can enjoy," said DTP CEO Chaka Zulu.

Ludacris' latest album Release Therapy is slated to hit stores Sept. 26.

Tickets to the basketball game can be purchased at the CAU Student Center.

Below is a full schedule of events:

Sat. Sept. 2nd- Aphilliates Block Party @ Clark Atlanta University w/DTP, DJ Drama, Cannon, DJ Sence, Sticks Malone. 2pm-7pm

Sat. Sept. 2nd- Champions Party @ Hotel 12 w/ Jerome Bettis and Ludacris. 8pm-1am.

Sun. Sept. 3rd- All White Party @ Club 1150 w/ Ludacris and Gabrielle Union . 10pm-3pm

Mon. Sept. 4th- DTP vs. G-Unit Basketball Game @ Clark Atlanta University w/ DTP and G-Unit 4pm-7pm

Mon. Sept. 4th- Martini Mondays @ Justin's w/ DJ Red Alert and Ludacris.

Comment! (0) | Recommend! | Categories: HIP HOP NEWS [t]

By Jamile Karout
Date: 9/1/2006 5:30 pm

xml


The 2006 MTV Video Music Awards took place last night (Aug. 31) in New York.

Radio City Music Hall became center stage for unpredictable wins and performances during last nights awards.

Jay-Z got the show started from the top of Rockefeller Center's historic observation deck, to usher in Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" performance.

Host Jack Black was nothing short of unpredictable himself, as he came on stage dressed in his own Moonman rendition.

Lil' Kim shocked the audience as she suited up in her orange jumpsuit and cuffs one last time, for her first major appearance since her July 3rd prison release.

"Your girl is back," she told her fans as she traded in her one piece suit, for a much sexier alternative.

Wyclef kept the crowd busy as Shakira did a sexy hip-shaking version of "Hips Don't Lie."

Ludacris and Pharrell got on the stage for "Money Maker," as the Pussy Cat Dolls strolled in to join their act.

The night continued with Beyonce's fiery performance, which began with a sixty-five-foot decent on to the stage, as sirens blazed for her new single "Ring the Alarm."

The self proclaimed King of the South T.I, got together with Young Dro to do an energy packed performance of their hits "Shoulders Lean" and "What You Know."

T.I., who was nominated for two awards, was joined on stage by a chorus of children.

Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes came out to do a tribute to Hype Williams, with renditions of "Supa Dupa Fly" and "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See," which Williams directed.

Hype was the recipient of the Video Vanguard Award for his innovative contributions to the music video world.

Kanye West presented the award, calling Williams "one of the greatest filmmakers of all time," citing "they're not just videos they're movies, the music that we make is a soundtrack to our lives and these are the visuals."

Amongst the other big winners of the night was a surprised Chamillionaire, who took home an award for Best Rap Video "Ridin Dirty."

"I'm tryna' do my thing. I'm up here nominated for best rap video. I really don't expect to win, but it's all good. I'm glad to be here and I'm glad to be nominated," he told AllHipHop.com prior to winning his award.

Beyonce and Slim Thug had a big win for H-Town, bringing home Moonmen for Best R&B Video with "Check on It."

The Best Hip-Hop Video award went to the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps."

They took the category over Common for "Testify," Daddy Yankee's "Rompe," Kanye West and Jamie Foxx's "Gold Digger," and Three Six Mafia featuring Eightball and MJG's "Stay Fly."

This was the first year that viewers were able to vote on all of the award categories. For more about the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards visit www.MTV.com.

Comment! (0) | Recommend! | Categories: HIP HOP NEWS [t]

Friday - September 1, 2006 by Jolene "foxxylady" Petipas
Mos Def

Mos Def was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct Thursday night (August 31) after giving an unauthorized performance in front of New York City's Radio City Music Hall during the MTV Video Music Awards.

According to reports, Mos (born Dante Smith) pulled up outside the aforementioned venue in a flat-bed truck around 10 pm and gave an impromptu show to the audience gathered there.

The Brooklyn bred rapper reportedly performed his song "Katrina Clap," which attacks President George W. Bush's administration's slow response to Hurricane Katrina, before NYPD officers told him and his entourage to pull the plug and began making arrests.

Mos was released from police custody in the early hours of Friday morning (September1).

Carleen Donovan, Mos's publicist, called the arrest of her client "unjust".

"Mos Def was not out to break any laws. His only goal was to heighten the awareness of a serious situation that still exists in our country," Donovan explained via a statement. "He does not want people to forget that although its one year later, the people and cities hit by the hurricane still need the help of the American people."

As SOHH previously reported, Mos is currently gearing up for the release his third solo album titled True Magic. The album, which is a follow up to The New Danger, is slated for release via Geffen Records on September 26th.

Comment! (0) | Recommend! | Categories: HIP HOP NEWS [t]

By Nolan Strong
Date: 9/3/2006 1:15 pm

xml


Isley Brothers frontman Ronald "Mr. Biggs" Isley has been sentenced to three years and a month in prison for tax evasion.

Isley, who was facing up to 26-years in prison, was convicted last year on five counts of tax evasion in Nov. of 2005.

The 65-year-old singer was paid millions of dollars in performance fees between 1997 and 2002 without paying taxes.

The R&B legend, labeled a "serial tax avoider," also cashed royalty checks belonging to his brother O'Kelly Isley, and put a yacht and homes in his wife's name to avoid paying taxes.

In addition to the prison time, Isley, who has been paying down his debt to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), was also ordered to pay $3.1 million dollars to the government.

Defense attorney's for Isley unsuccessfully argued that the death of two of the singer's accountants prevented him from paying taxes during the five-year period in question.

Isley is expected to serve his time in a prison hospital, due to complications from a 2004 stroke he suffered in London and his battle with kidney cancer.

Ron Isley, along with the Isley Brothers launched their careers in the mid-50's and have been releasing albums almost every year since.

As Mr. Biggs, Isley collaborated with various rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Lil' Kim.

In May 2006, The Isley Brothers released their latest album, Baby Makin' Music.

Comment! (0) | Recommend! | Categories: HIP HOP NEWS [t]

By Alexis Jeffries and Nolan Strong
Date: 9/1/2006 2:30 pm

xml


Rapper Peedi Peedi, formerly known as Peedi Crakk, is preparing to release his new single "Take Me Home," featuring labelmate Megan Rochell.

The song is the first from his upcoming as-yet-untitled album, due in 2007.

"[It's] a hot little single for the clubs," Peedi Crakk told AllHipHop.com. "My album is finished. I just talked to [Jay-Z], and we're about to send the single out."

Peedi, 27, (born Pedro Zayas) will release his album under Def Jam after previously being signed as an artist on Roc-A-Fella.

The new disc will feature collaborations with Jay-Z, Bun B, Twista and Ne-Yo, among others.

"This isn't going to be [anything] that gets looked over," said the North Philadelphian. "This album is going to make a real impact."

In the meantime, Peedi is currently featured on the Roots' "Long Time," a track on their recently released album Game Theory.

The rapper will also support the group on an international tour starting in December.

Though Peedi said he was not aware of rumors that he could become the latest member of the Roots, he said he would welcome the opportunity.

"If they were willing to pull me in, I'd be more than happy to rock with the Roots," he said. "I'm always going to be a solo artist but who would turn that opportunity down? I wouldn't. It's unbelievable to even be on the Roots album."

Peedi, a former member of Beanie Sigel's rap collective State Property, signed with Def Jam after a rough split with Roc-A-Fella's former co-owner Damon Dash.

The Def Jam deal took place after a chance meeting between Peedi's Philadelphia-based attorney Bernie Resnick, ESQ, who negotiated the contract.

"Me and Jay see eye-to-eye so I trust his judgment on a lot of things," said Peedi. "With Dame Dash, there was a lot of friction going on. Every time we talked, there was an argument about s**t. But, when me and Jay talk, we come eye-to-eye on a lot of s**t, and that's a positive thing when you and the boss agree upon certain s**t in your career."

Peedi is also launching his own record label, Intense Prince, which will release the Philadelphia based-group Men of Respect and produces "more street, and more unsensored" Hip-Hop, he said.

"That's just all my radical music that I want to make," he added. "With Def Jam, you got to stick to the script because they need records that they can market and promote. As opposed to that mainstream music that they're looking for, I've got a whole different level of music that I'm making."

Comment! (0) | Recommend! | Categories: HIP HOP NEWS [t]

By Chris Richburg
Date: 9/1/2006 1:00 pm

xml


Rap pioneer Kurtis Blow is taking his Hip-Hop Church America on the road for a concert in Southern California.

The Harlem-based initiative will hold a concert from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California.

Blow will headline the event, which takes place at the Cathedral's grass lawn and includes performances from 2Five, Eastwood, Takim and TraCee.

DJ Battlecat will be featured in the 2Five and Eastwood sets.

The event's host, Bobby Schuller, believes the concert will offer a chance to reach out to area youth who "have gotten on the wrong path in life, living in a nihilistic, post-modern survival mode as perpetuated by some of their Hip-Hop heroes."

"By bringing Hip-Hop Church America here, we're showing that Hip-Hop can be both cool and fun, but also have a positive message," Schuller said.

Schuller isn't the only one who believes in Hip-Hop Church America.

Michael Nason, president and co-founder of Newport Beach-based The Machine Productions, is developing Hip-Hop Church America into a national TV show.

The Machine Productions is a multimedia entertainment company that provides audio and visual entertainment to a diverse, international consumer group.

Nason, a Hip-Hop Church America executive producer, has produced, promoted and bought airtime for Schuller's "Hour of Power" show for close to 30 years.

The show is broadcast weekly to more than 15 million people worldwide.

With the growth of the Southern California Hip-Hop scene, Schuller feels hip-hop can help with his role in the church of "integrating emerging world views and cultures into our ministry."

Comment! (0) | Recommend! | Categories: HIP HOP NEWS [t]