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Hip-Hop In the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Who’s In, And What’s Its Future?

Natalia Privalova Oct 16, 2019

When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame formed in 1983, plenty of industry gate-keepers insisted hip-hop was merely a flash-in-the-pan trend. Even when the Hall began inducting rock n' roll icons in 1986, rap was still seen as a curiosity – there was only one album, Run-D.M.C.'s Raising Hell, that had gone platinum. Fast forward to 2007. Despite some myopic protests, the Rock Hall inducted Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, whose inventive DJ techniques and socio-political messaging elevated the genre to new creative heights in the '80s. Since…

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Five Rappers Removed From Rolling Loud at Request of Police

Natalia Privalova Oct 13, 2019

Organizers of Rolling Loud, a hip-hop festival taking place in New York this weekend, say they have dropped five rappers from the lineup at the request of police. The New York Times reports that the performers were removed from the Rolling Loud festival after a New York Police Department official sent the organizers a letter citing safety concerns if the rappers took the stage. The traveling Rolling Loud festival is taking place at Citi Field in Queens on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 12 and 13) and includes major acts like…

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A hip-hop museum is opening in NYC

Natalia Privalova Oct 3, 2019

The New York City Universal Hip-hop Museum (UHHM) is slated to open in 2022 in the Bronx. Founded by Rocky Bucano, Kurtis Blow, Shawn LG Thomas, Grandwizzard Theodore, Mickey Bentson, and , Joe Conzo Jr. the museum “celebrates and preserves the history of local and global hip-hop music and culture to inspire, empower, and promote understanding,” according to the UHHM website. The museum backed by Kurtis Blow ( UHHM Chairman), Ice-T (member of the founding board of directors), and LL Cool J (cultural ambassador), will feature a recording studio, virtual…

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50 Snagging 6ix9ine Movie Rights …

Natalia Privalova Oct 3, 2019

50 Cent is allegedly trying to make a movie about Tekashi 6ix9ine and the Nine Trey Bloods -- to which Skinnyfromthe9 says ... stop playin'. We ran into the NYC rapper Tuesday in his hometown, and when we told him about Fiddy teasing his efforts to put together a Tekashi flick -- centered on all the snitching -- he seemed a little uneasy. But then, he got real ... and kinda craps on the idea of the movie.Skinny says there are people's lives that are literally being ruined by the…

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Casanova’s #SoBrooklynChallenge Has Rappers and Fans Dropping Their Best BK Bars

Natalia Privalova Sep 17, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=WtaetrEFww0 Casanova has social media going nuts with his #SoBrooklyn challenge that has already sparked over 5,000 posts. The new social media challenge was created as a result of his “So Brooklyn” single featuring Fabolous. To participate all you have to do is drop off your best bars over the instrumental and let the rest of the world know why Brooklyn is the best. Fans aren’t the only ones taking part in the challenge, Papoose, Memphis Bleek, Rob Markman and more have put on for BK. Check out the original…

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KXNG Crooked & Xzibit Discuss Hip Hop Standards & Eminem’s “8 Mile” On “Crook’s Corner”

Natalia Privalova Sep 1, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFcfGZGWtsA Los Angeles, CA – Two West Coast MCs connected on the latest edition of HipHopDX’s Crook’s Corner series. KXNG Crooked sat down with Xzibit for an in-depth discussion about X to the Z’s career and much more. During the conversation, the Hip Hop veterans addressed how shifting dynamics in the music industry have affected the rap standards. Xzibit also shared some behind-the-scenes information about his role in Eminem’s film 8 Mile, opened up about his memorable run hosting MTV’s Pimp My Ride and looked back at his time on…

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Drake Sued Over “In My Feelings” and “Nice for What”

Natalia Privalova Aug 22, 2019

A man has sued Drake and Big Freedia, claiming the artists improperly sampled his work on the songs “In My Feelings” and “Nice for What,” TMZ reports. According to documents obtained by TMZ and Pitchfork, Samuel Nicholas III—who performs under the name Sam Skully—claims that Drake sampled his song “Roll Call” on “In My Feelings” without permission or payment. Nicholas also accuses Drake of stealing another beat for “Nice for What,” his collaboration with Big Freedia. He claims to have released the music in question in New Orleans in 2000.…

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50 Cent, Snoop Dogg & Trey Songz ‘Power’ Up New York City for Massive Season 6 Premiere

Natalia Privalova Aug 22, 2019

“Power” is entering its final season, but you would never know if you walked by Madison Square Garden in Manhattan on Tuesday night. Starz pulled out all the stops for its ratings powerhouse “Power,” throwing a massive premiere event, complete with a full-length concert at Madison Square Garden from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and a plethora of his famous friends. The event marked the first-ever TV premiere to be held at MSG, giving Starz the bragging rights of hosting the biggest television premiere of all time. 50 Cent, executive producer…

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Everything to Know About A$AP Rocky’s Arrest and Detainment in Sweden

Natalia Privalova Aug 22, 2019

Following a month in Swedish jail, A$AP Rocky has been officially found guilty of assault stemming from an incident on June 30. The rapper’s arrest and subsequent prolonged detainment sparked international outrage and became the subject of foreign policy debate, with Donald Trump attempting to intervene. Ultimately, Rocky was released from jail prior to the verdict, and will not be required to serve any further time. The following is how the controversial case played out. On July 3, a Swedish court ruled that A$AP Rocky be held at a Stockholm…