NEWS: HipHopDX Readers Rank Albums Of The Week: Dilated Peoples, Twista, Tank, FKA Twigs

By Nemmy Kim.

                        

Dilated Peoples' "Directors Of Photography" wins the top spot this week as HipHopDX readers rank the best albums.

HipHopDX users were recently asked to rate the week's top charting Hip Hop albums.
The Ranker list, which HipHopDX uses to assess reader responses below, calculates the votes based on a "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" system and it creates a list with the data users input. Ranker lists the albums from top to bottom, based on the total number of votes and regardless of how many thumbs up a particular album gets. The order of the albums featured on the lists fluctuates as votes are cast.
Dilated Peoples earned this week’s top spot with its new album, Directors Of Photography. The effort, which earned a 4.5 out of 5 in its HipHopDX review, earned 81 thumbs up and 31 thumbs down to earn the #1 slot in the reader poll.
Twista’s Dark Horse followed Dilated. The album earned 58 thumbs up and 28 thumbs down.

NEWS: Ciara, Kelly Rowland Visit MTV’s ‘House of Style’

By Nemmy Kim.

Ciara took a break from changing diapers and returned to work. The new mom, who gave birth to her son Future in May, visited MTV’s “House of Style” to discuss her trendsetting fashion.
She introduced the team that helps her achieve her “CiCi swag” including her trainer Gunnar Peterson and her stylist Jason Rembert, who put her in some of her most famous red carpet looks including the gold Emilio Pucci gown she wore to this year’s Grammys.
“Black and white are probably my two favorite colors in fashion,” said Ciara, who was open-minded about incorporating other colors into her wardrobe.
While Iggy Azalea was interviewing Jennifer Lopez, Rita Ora chatted it up with fellow fashionista Kelly Rowland, who shared the secret behind her show-stopping looks.

NEWS: Tracklisting: Chris Brown – ‘X’

By Nemmy Kim.

After much anticipation and several delays, Chris Brown has revealed the tracklisting for his sixth album X via iTunes.
The follow-up to 2012′s Fortune includes the platinum hit “Loyal” featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga, “New Flame” with Usher and Rick Ross, and the Nicki Minaj-assisted “Love More.”
The 21-track deluxe edition also features appearances from Trey Songz, R. Kelly, Akon, Kendrick Lamar, and Aaliyah, with production from Diplo, Timbaland, Polow Da Don, Danja, and Drumma Boy.
“I tried to stay away from the Euro beats, and not go totally pop,” Breezy told Rolling Stone last year. “Instead, I wanted to take the Quincy Jones approach. The record pays homage to the Stevie Wonders, the Michael Jacksons, the Sam Cookes. I wanted to put that classic essence of R&B and soul with the new age of music now.”
X arrives September 16

NEWS: Eminem Readies New Album ‘Shady XV’ for Black Friday

By Nemmy Kim.

Shady’s back. Fifteen years after his breakout debut, Eminem will release his ninth album Shady XV this fall,
The follow-up to 2013′s The Marshall Mathers LP 2 will arrive on November 28 aka Black Friday.
The official announcement was made in a trailer for the Denzel Washington crime thriller The Equalizer, which will air during Sunday’s VMAs.
The first release off the project, “Guts Over Fear” featuring Sia, will premiere on iTunes tonight, and can also be heard in the movie trailer

NEWS: Chief Keef Misses Pretrial Hearing, Arrest Warrant Issued

By Nemmy Kim

                  

Highland Park police in Illinois have issued an arrest warrant for the rapper after he failed to present himself at a pretrial hearing for a DUI charge from March.

Less than two weeks after his 19th birthday, an arrest warrant was issued for Chief Keef in Highland Park, Illinois on Friday (August 22). The $50,000 warrant was issued following the rapper’s failure to appear at a pretrial hearing in a DUI case stemming from an arrest in March.

In March, Chief Keef was pulled over for expired tags on the 2010 Jeep Cherokee he was driving and then subsequently arrested after he failed a field sobriety test. Prior to the sobriety test, Keef apparently admitted to smoking marijuana. After the arrest, the rapper was released on $300 bail less than two weeks after leaving a rehabilitation center in Orange County, California

NEWS: 50 Cent Discusses Suge Knight Shooting

By Nemmy Kim.

              

50 Cent comments on Suge Knight's shooting on Instagram.

50 Cent has addressed Suge Knight's shooting.
The rapper posted a photograph of himself on Instagram. In the picture, he is sporting a suit.
50 Cent posted the following caption for the image.
"Suge should have had this on last night. It hurts when a nigga half way kill ya # man down."
Suge Knight was shot at least six times in a West Hollywood nightclub today (August 24). Police are investigating gang rivalry as a possible motive for the shooting, according to TMZ.

NEWS: Drake Reportedly Interested In Battling Murda Mook

By Nemmy Kim

           

Murda Mook says the battle is on as long as a sponsor pays.

Drake is interested in battling, according to Murda Mook.
Mook posted an image of Drake on Instagram with the following caption:
“So this is @champagnepapi telling me he wants to battle me. And he is actually serious! Who got the check?

NEWS: Drake's "Views From The 6" Leaks, Rapper Reportedly Discusses Rihanna Relationship.

By Nemmy Kim.

               

An unofficial version of the title track to Drake's next album leaked this weekend.

The title track from Drake’s upcoming album suffered an unofficial leak earlier this weekend. While the leaked track, “Views From The 6,” has not been confirmed by Young Money or the rapper himself, the song also features an added and likely unauthorized verse from Arizona rapper E Batt.

Leaking on Reddit and several other platforms, the song features a Drake verse that Perez Hilton and other websites speculate is about a stint in Paris with Rihanna. “You must remember wakin’ up in Paris with the blunt / You must remember fuckin’ me like anytime you want,” Drake raps on the song. “What made us wanna act like we were married for two weeks? / Now we back in California, we don’t even speak / That’s a no-no.” The verse coincides with the rapper and singer having spent time together in the French capital in February of this year.

NEW MUSIC: Drake f. Rihanna "Views From The 6 "

By Nemmy Kim.

The rumor is that an artist E Batt got the leak and added his verse. Best promo ever? Maybe. Check out Drake's verse reportedly about RiRi with her voice on it.

NEWS: Man Fatally Shot Backstage At Wiz Khalifa Concert; Rapper Releases Statement, Cancels Show

By Nemmy Kim.

                   

An "Under The Influence Of Music Tour" stop was cancelled last night (August 23) as a result of a shooting in the San Francisco Bay Area.

A 38-year old man was shot and killed backstage at a Wiz Khalifa concert on Friday night (August 22) according to the LA Times. The shooting took place at the Mountain View, California stop of the rapper’s Under The Influence Tour and was the cause for the cancellation of a planned Chula Vista show last night (August 23).

According to the Times, members of the Mountain View Police Department arrived at the scene of the concert around 11:00 pm after several calls tipped them off to gunshots at the show. The suspect, an unnamed African American male between five-foot-six and five-foot-eight, is reportedly at large. The Mountain View Police have asked audience members to pass on any information or photographs that may help them find him.

The identity of the victim, who was shot multiple times, has not been released. According to TMZ, the suspect and victim were arguing backstage before the shooting. The site also reports that Wiz Khalifa was onstage during the shooting and that police don’t believe either party to be directly affiliated with the rapper.

NEWS: Jay Z, Nas, Kanye West, Lil Wayne Criticized For Not Addressing Ferguson

By Nemmy Kim.

            

Reggie Ugwu pens an article criticizing emcees for not discussing Ferguson.

Jay Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne are among the artists who've been criticized for not addressing the police killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black man in Ferguson, Missouri.
The rappers were named in an editorial piece written by Reggie Ugwu for BuzzFeed titled “Hip Hop’s Top Tier Goes Silent On Ferguson.” The article celebrates efforts made by other rappers, including Killer Mike and Talib Kweli.
"There has been no word to date from Jay Z, or Kanye West, or Nas, or Lil Wayne — each of who has reaped noteworthy art from righteous indignation in the past," Ugwu writes.

NEWS: Mystikal Wants Out of Cash Money Contract

By Nemmy Kim.

                                 

Danger: There’s trouble brewing between Mystikal and Cash Money Records. Before sharing the stage with Ludacris at the 2014 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards on Friday, the New Orleans rapper revealed that he is clashing with his label and wants a release.
Mystikal signed to Cash Money in November 2011, but hasn’t put out an album since 2001′s Tarantula. He blamed it on “politics,” telling Rap-Up TV, “I don’t really fit the mold of the situation I’m in.”
They haven’t seen eye-to-eye creatively. “I’m different, man. I have to be able to be the artist that I am. If I can’t do that, then it’s not gonna work for me,” said Mystikal.

Busta Rhymes recently split with Cash Money, and Mystikal hopes to join him. “Me and Busta been talking too, so don’t be shocked if you see me and Busta doing some things, real talk.”

NEWS: Iggy Azalea Falls Off Stage at L.A. Show

By Nemmy Kim.

Iggy Azalea is not so “Fancy.” The Australian rapper took a tumble onstage during a Lifebeat pre-VMA concert at Avalon in Hollywood on Friday. While performing her No. 1 hit with Charli XCX, she lost sight of the stage, took a step back, and hit the floor. Security ran out to pull her up and seconds later she was back on her feet and went on with the show like nothing happened.
Iggy laughed off the embarrassing moment and even posted a video of it on Instagram with a reenactment from Rita Ora’s sister Elena.
“Sorry but it would be a crime not to share this with you all, I know I laughed. #StillFinishedtheSongTho #KeptOnRapping #TheShowMustGoOn,” said Iggy.
She was also joined on stage by Rita Ora for “Black Widow,” while her “Booty” collaborator J.Lo was in the balcony cheering her on.

NEWS: Ludacris, Chris Brown Honored at 2014 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

By Nemmy Kim.

The stars came out to salute Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges at the 2014 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Friday. The rapper-actor-mogul was honored with the BMI President’s Award for his achievement in songwriting and his global influence on culture and the entertainment industry.
Following video tributes from Usher, Lil Jon, and Tom Cruise, Luda thanked his mother, girlfriend Eudoxie, and his team.
“Nobody could do it by themselves,” said a humbled Luda. “It’s really the people that’s behind you and the strong foundation that you have is extremely important.”
He then loosened his bow tie and hit the stage for a medley of his greatest hits including “What’s Your Fantasy,” “Yeah,” “How Low,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Area Codes,” and “Move Bitch” with special guest Mystikal.
The star-studded event also celebrated the songwriters, producers, and publishers of the most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs of the previous year, with performances from TeeFlii (“24 Hours”) and Tamar Braxton (“Love and War”).
Zendaya won the BMI Social Star Award and Detail, J-Roc, and DJ Mustard were honored as Producers of the Year. The West Coast hitmaker brought out YG to perform “My Hitta” and “Who Do You Love.”

Video: DJ Khaled f/ Remy Ma & French Montana – ‘They Don’t Love You No More (Remix)’

By Nemmy Kim.

She the best. Remy Ma is back with a vengeance alongside DJ Khaled and French Montana on the remix to “They Don’t Love You No More.” In her first video since being released from prison earlier this month, the Bronx rapper visits her old stomping ground of Castle Hill Projects and hits the streets in a Rolls-Royce.
Khaled has been trying to sign Remy to his label We the Best Music, but she is still weighing her options.
However, she is working on a mixtape called I’m Around, which could be released as early as next week.

NEWS: Eminem and Rihanna Take ALS Ice Bucket Challenge On Stage

By Nemmy Kim.

Eminem and Rihanna’s tour capped off on an icy note.
After being challenged by Dr. Dre, the Detroit rapper finally took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge during the last stop of “The Monster Tour” at Detroit’s Comerica Park on Saturday. At the end of the show, Em took a seat on stage while Mr. Porter brought out a garbage can full of ice. But he decided to let Rihanna do the honors instead, dumping the cold water over her tourmate’s head.
“If this was not for charity, I would be so fucking mad right now,” said a soaked Em.
He then challenged Mr. Porter, Rick Rubin, and Rihanna herself.