News Archive



Rihanna Resurfaces In Mexico

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 28, 2009 - 3:17pm.
Rihanna has resurfaced. After being shuttled to various locations over the past two weeks to protect her privacy, the 21-year-old star was photographed this weekend on the beach in Punta Mita, Mexico. She previously logged short stints in Los Angeles and her native Barbados. Photos of her south-of-the-border sojourn first ran in today's print edition of the New York Daily News and were later obtained by E! News. She does not appear to show any of the bruising that was so clearly visible in her leaked police photo. The images were reportedly snapped at a private villa on Saturday, a day after she celebrated her milestone birthday in L.A. Aside from a few backseat shots, it's the first time Rihanna's been photographed in public since the Feb. 8 altercation with Chris Brown that left her hospitalized.

DMX Could Face 8 Years In Prison For Assulting A Correctional Officer

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 25, 2009 - 5:41pm.
According to FOX 10 News In Phoenix, Rapper DMX is serving time in the valley and we're now learning that he may spend a lot more time behind bars! DMX, also known as Earl Simmons, may be charged with felony aggravated assault. He's serving a 90 day sentence for several charges and was placed in lock down earlier this month. FOX 10 has learned that while in lock down, Simmons apparently assaulted a Sheriff's detention officer. If convicted of these new charges, his probation could be revoked and he could be sentenced to 8 years in prison

Lil Wayne To Face Gun Charges In NY After World Tour

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 25, 2009 - 5:02am.
Rapper Lil Wayne, fresh from winning best rap album at the 2009 Grammy Awards, will face criminal gun possession charges at a trial scheduled to begin April 20, a New York judge said on Tuesday. Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, faces one count of criminal weapons possession and one charge of criminal possession of a loaded weapon. Prosecutors allege a gun was found in his tour bus in July 2007. Rapper Ja Rule was arrested separately on similar charges following a hip hop concert in New York where both men performed. Ja Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, pleaded innocent and a trial date has not yet been set.

Diddy Ventures Back Into Music Again With An Upcoming Album

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 24, 2009 - 5:24am.
It's official: Diddy has boarded the music train. The king of hype has taken the art to a new level, announcing plans to release the high-concept album Last Train to Paris this fall, a would-be "electro-hip-hop soul funk" masterpiece that culminates in a love-seeking Eurail journey from London to Paris. "I'm ushering in a new movement called 'train music,' " the rapper turned wannabe-serious actor said. "Last Train to Paris is deeper than any of the stuff I have made. It's a profound love story. It's me with my shades off. It's the truth." It's also coming part and parcel with a movie version of the album, starring—who else?—Diddy himself.

Flo-Rida & T.I Lead U.S. Singles Charts!

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 20, 2009 - 2:21am.
Rapper Flo Rida logged his second No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart Thursday after his new tune "Right Round" surged 57 places. "Right Round" samples Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," which hit No. 11 in August 1985. Flo Rida was previously at No. 1 with "Low," the longest-running chart-topper of 2008 with 10 weeks at the summit. Fellow Southern hip-hop star T.I. grabbed the No. 2 spot with "Dead and Gone" featuring Justin Timberlake, which rose seven places. T.I. hit No. 1 last year with his previous single, "Live Your Life," featuring Rihanna. Last week's chart-topper, Eminem's "Crack a Bottle" featuring 50 Cent and Dr. Dre, fell to No. 3. Also down two places were Kanye West's "Heartless" at No. 4 and Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" at No. 5. All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell" and Taylor Swift's "Love Story" held at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively.

Chris Brown's Father Releases Statement On Behalf Of His Son

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 15, 2009 - 2:03pm.
Chris Brown's father says the R & B star is remorseful following his arrest on suspicion of attacking a woman widely believed to be pop star Rihanna, People magazine reported on its Web site on Friday. Clinton Brown, who lives in Toppahannock, Virginia, told the magazine his son is "home" but would not give a location. "He's reflecting on this situation," Clinton Brown told People. "He's very remorseful. He's very concerned about the situation and he wants to make sure that (Rihanna's) okay." Police and prosecutors have not officially disclosed that Rihanna was the victim of Brown's attack early Sunday morning in Los Angeles ahead of the Grammy Awards. But unnamed police sources told the Los Angeles Times she was the victim, and numerous media outlets have reported the same information.

Eminem, 50 Cent & Dr. Dre's Crack A Bottle Breaks Digital Record & Lands @ #1 On Billboard

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 11, 2009 - 9:06pm.
The rap triumvirate of Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent will soar 78-1 on The Billboard Hot 100 to be posted tomorrow morning (Feb. 12) with "Crack a Bottle,” which sets a Nielsen SoundScan record for opening week download sales (418,000). The first-week sum outpaces the prior mark of 335,000 downloads shifted by T.I. featuring Rihanna in the Oct. 18, 2008, issue. Among all weekly totals, "Bottle" ranks third behind Flo Rida's "Low" (467,000 on Jan, 12, 2008) and Lady GaGa's "Just Dance" (419,000 on Jan, 10, 2009). "Bottle" is the second Hot 100 No. 1 for both Eminem and Dr. Dre. Slim Shady's only leader was 2002's "Lose Yourself," which spent 12 weeks at the summit, while Dre last led in 1996 as a featured artist on Blackstreet's "No Diggity." 50 Cent ups his No. 1 take to four, having last topped the list with "Candy Shop" (9 weeks in 2005).

Rihanna Postpones Show As Police Investigate Grammy's Drama With Chris Brown

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 11, 2009 - 12:14pm.
Singer Rihanna postponed a scheduled concert in Malaysia on Tuesday as Los Angeles police continued their probe of an attack by R&B star Chris Brown on a woman widely believed to be the pop songstress. Malaysia-based Pineapple Concerts said in a statement on its website that "in light of recent events involving Rihanna" a new date for the concert will be set within two weeks. In Los Angeles, police presented the case against Brown to prosecutors, but were asked to conduct further investigation, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the L.A. District Attorney's Office. Mark Geragos, the celebrity attorney representing Brown, declined to comment.

Music Industry Not Looking Too Good Going Into Grammy Night...

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on February 6, 2009 - 5:50am.
Rockers, rappers and record executives gather in Los Angeles on Sunday for the annual Grammy Awards, but there is little to celebrate at the music industry's biggest night. Album sales have tumbled for the past decade, last year's viewership was among the lowest ever, and now a recession is generating more layoffs at the major labels. The top contenders are rapper Lil Wayne with eight nominations and British rock band Coldplay with seven. But the Grammys are starting to look a little dated in their 51st year. The top award is album of the year, but the industry these days is ruled by digital singles, ringtones and ringbacks.

Virginia Rapper Makes Music Video Addressing Brutality & Murder By Police

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on January 28, 2009 - 7:20pm.
In the wake of the recent murder of 22-year old Oscar Grant by an Oakland police officer on New Year’s Day, which was captured on video by various people who witnessed it, up and coming Hip Hop artist Nickelus F has made a music video for a song addressing the issue of police brutality called “The Beast.”

It’s a well known fact that most cases of police brutality are never reported or swept under the rug by the police themselves or the courts.

Given the turbulent times and various dangers on the streets today, it’s becoming harder for police to make clear judgment calls when it comes to tactics they use in restraining a perpetrator. But with this most recent case in Oakland it’s very clear that an officer has crossed the line again and something needs to be done.