Features

All Categories

Hip-Hop's Top Protégés

15 Mentor-Student Teams We Love

Read Details Here
WireImage (2)

We Want to Hear From You

Alicia Keys' 'Songs in A Minor' Turns 10

Read Exclusive Details
Diana Levine for AOL

'I Stay Positive and Just Do Me'

Soulja Boy Dishes on Playing the Role of Tupac + Love With Diamond

Read Exclusive Interview
Amy Sussman, Getty Images

'This Has the Power'

T-Pain Taps Chris Brown for 'Best Love Song' Video

Watch Full Video
Jive

'To Squaria and Beyond!'

Cool Kid XV Reveals He's Down With the Geeks

Read Exclusive Interview
Gino DePinto, AOL

'I'm About to Make A Lot More'

Flavor Flav Discusses What's in His New Book, Public Enemy + Money

Read Exclusive Interview
WireImage

'I Wrote About 20 Albums There'

Mobb Deep's Prodigy Talks About Jail, C.O.s + His New Book

Read Exclusive Interview
Jason Kempin, WireImage

'We Finally Got Untangled'

Jadakiss Reveals a New LOX Album Is Coming + More

Read Exclusive Interview
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

'I'm Happier'

David Banner Opens Up About His Music + New Ad Company

Read Exclusive Interview
Zak Fleming for Slickforce

'It Was Pretty Natural'

Pete Rock and Camp Lo Form New Group, 80 Blocks From Tiffany's

Read Exclusive Interview
WireImage | FilmMagic

Whitney Houston's Rep Slams Emphysema Story as 'Untrue'

Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy

Earlier this week, the National Enquirer released a story claiming that singer Whitney Houston suffered from emphysema, and now the singer is setting the record straight.

The 'I Will Always Love You' performer's rep, Kristen Foster, reached out to E! News Friday (June 3), writing the story off as "completely untrue."

According to the tabloid, Houston, a longtime smoker, was warned by doctors that she must immediately give up cigarettes in light of the lung disease. "She's developed emphysema -- and her doctors are warning her she'll die a horrible death," said a friend to the paper.

Continue reading Whitney Houston's Rep Slams Emphysema Story as 'Untrue'

Diddy Hires Etiquette Coach for Bad Boy Staffers

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Diddy minds his Ps and Qs. He thanked fans after his Diddy-Dirty Money album 'Last Train to Paris' debuted at No. 7, and uses the word "please" whenever soliciting a favor. Now, the Bad Boy Entertainment CEO is making sure his fellow workers follow suit.

Page Six reported that Diddy hired etiquette coach Dawn Bryan to polish new staffers' manners, especially when it comes to their interactions at business dinners and conduct overseas. Bryan is the author of 'The Art and Etiquette of Gift Giving' and specializes in business protocol. Bad Boy staffers were instructed on the right way to hold chopsticks and how to present a business card in Japan, as well as how to select a wine, hold a wine glass and eat caviar. Also addressed was proper gift giving in the business environment.

Continue reading Diddy Hires Etiquette Coach for Bad Boy Staffers

Game's Twitter Page Hacked, Hacker Blasts Lil Wayne

Getty Images

Just on the heels of announcing two new features for his forthcoming 'R.E.D. Nation' album, rapper Game became the victim of an Internet hacker Friday (June 3).

The Compton native's Twitter page revealed a series of posts lashing out at some of his musical peers including Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, revealing his sexual preference and a few other colorfully worded tweets. "im [sic] gay as hell," read the fake post. "I like boys."

After proclaiming that Ja Rule was "saved" from being "butt f----ed" by 50 Cent, and calling Snoop and Dre a homophobic slur, the hacker also gloated about breaking into Game's account, "hack smack crack black click clack boom mother-----rs," read another post.

Continue reading Game's Twitter Page Hacked, Hacker Blasts Lil Wayne

Questlove, YouTube's Karmin Cover Nicki Minaj's 'Super Bass'

YouTube

By now, the hip-hop and R&B community is well-aware of Karmin, the Boston pop outfit made up of Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan. After tackling covers of Chris Brown's 'Look at Me Now' -- 18 million views -- and Lil Wayne's '6 Foot 7 Foot' -- 5.5 million views -- the duo have now caught the attention of the Roots drummer Questlove.

Joined by fellow Roots bassist Owen Biddle, Karmin and Questlove take a seat in front of the cameras to perform their version of Nicki Minaj's glossy hip-pop hit, 'Super Bass.' Before they get into the popular tune, Nick taps away at the piano, playing a classic Western saloon number. Amy interrupts, asking for her partner to "try something more modern."

Amy starts strumming away on her guitar, then belts out the opening lines of 'Super Bass. "This one is for the boys with the boomin' system/ Top down, AC with the coolin' system/ When he come up in the club he be blazin' up/ Got stacks on deck like he savin' up," she sings in her cheerfully animated tone. Nick supports his leading lady on piano and provides additional vocals, crooning on the chorus.

Continue reading Questlove, YouTube's Karmin Cover Nicki Minaj's 'Super Bass'

Sean Kingston 'Awake' and 'Communicating,' Says Source

Charley Gallay, WireImage

Sean Kingston is making moves towards recovery following his catastrophic jet-ski accident over the Memorial Day weekend.

Although doctors stated that it would take up to six months for a full recovery, sources close to Kingston have revealed that he is alert and awake. TMZ is reporting that despite having a breathing tube in his mouth, Kingston is improving daily by communicating with head nods and using sign language.

Kingston crashed his brand new jet ski into a bridge near Miami's Star Island last Saturday (May 28). After being thrown from the watercraft, he fell into the water where he was saved by a stranger, who noted that he was spitting up blood but was coherent. He was later airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Continue reading Sean Kingston 'Awake' and 'Communicating,' Says Source

Rihanna Fires Back at Critics, Defends 'Man Down' Video

Jill Johnson, jpistudios.com / Getty Images

Rihanna is firing back at critics who have a problem with her 'Man Down' video due to its violent nature. The 23-year-old first responded to advocacy groups publicly expressing discontent with the video, even calling for BET and its parent company, Viacom, to pull it from the programming schedule.

No stranger to pushing the envelope, the Bajan beauty called into BET's '106 & Park' Thursday (June 2) to explain that although she is not surprised by the outrage, she is in no way glamorizing violence. "Rape is, unfortunately, happening all over the world and in our own homes and we continue to cover it up and pretend it doesn't happen," she said, referring to the video's concept, which finds her killing her attacker after he forces himself upon her. "Boys and girls feel compelled to be embarrassed about it, and they hide it from everyone, including their teachers, their parents, and their friends. That only continues to empower the abusers."

The 'Loud' creator went on to explain why the graphic scenario played out the way it did in the clip. "Making that into a mini-movie or video, we needed to go back to why it happened," she explained. "Obviously she's not a cold-blooded killer. It had to be something so offensive. And we decided to hone in on a very serious matter that people are afraid to address, especially if you've been victimized in this scenario."

Continue reading Rihanna Fires Back at Critics, Defends 'Man Down' Video

Kanye West Raps at Gil Scott-Heron Funeral

Getty Images (2)

Kanye West paid his respects to the late Gil Scott-Heron yesterday (June 2.) The Louis Vuitton Don, sporting shades and a black suit, attended Heron's funeral at the Harlem Riverside Church and closed out the memorial service with a performance of 'Lost in the World,' a track off his latest album, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.'

The coda was an apropos example of Heron's significance in hip-hop culture. West samples Heron's poem, 'Comment No.1,' at the end of 'Lost in the World.' "Who will survive in America?" Heron charges at the end of both his poem and the West track. Besides paying tribute to Heron on his latest work, West also sampled him on the 'Late Registration' track, 'My Way Home.'

Heron released 15 studio albums in his lifetime, the last being 2010's 'I'm New Here,' which sampled West's 'Flashing Lights' on its intro and outro. The album was Heron's first release in 16 years and served as a rebirth of sorts. His cryptically-titled 'NY Is Killing Me' single propelled 'I'm New Here' into newfound recognition among younger audiences.

Continue reading Kanye West Raps at Gil Scott-Heron Funeral

ADVERTISEMENT

Follow US

Facebook
Twitter
RSS

HIP-HOP AND R&B; VIDEOS

Choose Rolling Stone's Cover

Meet Lelia Broussard and more contenders competing for the cover and a spot at Bonnaroo 2011!
Vote for your favorite here!

AOL Radio

Listen to AOL Radio Now
play arrow
Top Hip-Hop - Hip-hop's greatest
Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, 50 Cent
play arrow
Top Jams - Hip-hop and crossover hits
T-Pain, Mariah Carey, Akon, Lil Wayne
play arrow
WPGC 95.5 - DC's Hip-Hop and R&B;
Young Jeezy, Rihanna, T.I.
Online Radio Guide

From Our Partners

Blogroll

;