VH1 has announced the list of honorees for the 2008 Hip-Hop Honors, choosing five pioneering acts to be celebrated during awards ceremony’s fifth annual installment.

Hosted once again by comedian Tracy Morgan, the televised show will feature current Hip-Hop acts at they pay homage to artist representing various stages and flavors of Hip-Hop culture.

This year’s honorees are Cypress Hill and Too $hort, representing for the West Coast; De La Soul, who played an intricate role in the development of the Native Tongue movement; East Coast pioneer Slick Rick; and New Jersey’s own Naughty By Nature, who achieved fame in the late 90s, powered by their anthem “Hip-Hop Horray.”

The list of performers for this year’s event has not yet been released. “VH1 Hip Hop Honors has come to represent the pinnacle of innovation and achievement in Hip-Hop music,” said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager of VH1. “This year’s five honorees are no different and are being recognized for their significant contributions to Hip-Hop culture and for helping to elevate hip hop into a truly global phenomenon.”

This year’s VH1 Hip-Hop Honors will premier at 10pm on October 7 on VH1 and VH1 Soul.

The show’s executive producers are veteran Hip-Hop journalist and author Nelson George, and pioneering vee-jay Fab 5 Freddy.

SOURCE(ALLHIPHOP.COM)

WEST COAST STAND UP!!! GOOD TO SEE A TRUE LEGEND IN THE GAME A MAN THAT HELPED PUT THE BAY ON THE MAP WITH HIS DIRTY RAP GET SUCH A HONOR. CONGRATS!!!

For the second straight year Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Diddy top Forbes’ second annual “Hip-Hop Cash Kings” list, but there is a new reigning king for 2008.

50 Cent usurped Jay-Z as the top earner with $150 million grossed in the last year.

The cornerstone of 50’s portfolio is his stake in VitaminWater’s
parent company Glaceau, which was bought for $4.1 billion by Coca-Cola.

The Queens native’s investments also include video games, G-Unit
clothing/records, and a pending partnership in South Africa with
billionaire mining baron Patrice Motsepe.

Jay-Z bows in at number 2 generating $82 million in earnings.

Off the strength of last year’s platinum album American Gangster, Jay
brokered a 10-year, $150 million dollar deal with concert promoter Live Nation.

The partnership will have the organization assisting Jay in promotion of
all his business endeavors, which begins after his pending last Def Jam album Blueprint 3.

Bad Boy CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs generated $35 million in revenue
behind the success of premium vodka Ciroc, the Sean John clothing line, and Bad Boy releases from Danity Kane and Day26.

The boundless entrepreneur has taken over TV, with Combs’ highly
successful reality shows in Run’s House, I Want to Work for Diddy, and Making the Band.

Rounding out the top five are producers Kanye West and Timbaland,
who’ve earned $30 and $22 million respectively.

Along with the success of their 2007 albums Graduation and Shock Value, the highly sought-after boardsmiths increased their net worth with production credits for Madonna, Bjork, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, and Diddy.

Completing the top 10 on Forbes’ “Hip Hop Cash Kings 2008” are Pharrell Williams ($20 million), Swizz Beatz ($17 million), Snoop Dogg ($16 million), Dr. Dre ($15 million), and Ludacris ($14 million).

SOURCE(ALLHIPHOP.COM)

DAMMMMMMN, ENUFF SAID!!!

Rapper/actor Ice Cube is preparing to release his new album, Raw Footage, this week. The Compton, California representative said in a recent interview that this album is geared more towards the mature hip-hop heads.

“My record is catering towards the mature hip-hop fan…The kids might be able to get with it, but it ain’t just playing, it ain’t just partying — it’s reality. To me, this album, Raw Footage, is a real spiritual record. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned God on as many records as I do on Raw Footage. But it’s a lot that needs to be said. It’s an instructional record too. Hopefully some of these people can sidestep some of these pitfalls out there once they hear Raw Footage.”

The rapper said he is open to putting together a tour with the likes of Young Jeezy, Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne. He also say that going the independent route has helped rejuvenate his musical desire.

“Going independent in 2006 really re-energized me. It rejuvenated me [and] my feelings for the game…Being on [major] record labels is for the birds. It sucks all your energy out. Because the good ideas you come up with, a lot of times they don’t wanna do it. Especially on the promotional tip. They follow these same ancient formulas to sell a record. You gotta be creative in 2008 to sell a record. That’s the first thing. When I started doing it independent, it gave me my swagger back and made me feel like I was doing hip-hop and not just doing records for somebody. I just went back to the essence and stopped worrying about the hip-hop fans and started worrying about Ice Cube fans.”

ALL I CAN SAY IS DUDE DONT GET ENOUGH CREDIT 4 WHAT HE DID 4 HIPHOP NOT THE WESTCOAST, HIPHOP… WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST SPITTERS IN THE EARLY 90S CUBE NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED. HE GAVE BIRTH TO ALOT OF THESE NIGGAZ STYLE!!!

Rap star Yung Joc is being sued for back child support by the mother of his seven-year-old son, according to reports.

Local Atlanta television channel WSB-TV reports that Yung Joc, born Jasiel Robinson, owes about $2,000 dollars in back child support.

According to Fatimah Jester, the rapper has made it difficult to collect payments for Yung Joc’s son Amoni.

“I never thought he would be putting me through some of the stuff I’m going through now. I can’t even get in contact with him for things for my baby…it’s just hard,” Jester told WSB-TV. “Mr. Robinson has all kinds of cars, Bentleys, Mercedes Benz, Ranger Rovers, Two Range rovers.”

Jester says that while Yung Joc is earning millions through his career as a chart topping rapper, she and their son struggle financially on a day-to-day basis.

Lawyers for Jester are attempting to serve Yung Joc with court papers, but they have had difficulty locating the rapper.

The case will go before a judge on September 11.

SOURCE(ALLHIPHOP.COM)

INSTEAD OF PAYIN 4 CARS,HOES,CLOTHES ,”NIGGA GET YOUR KID STRAIGHT” THESE CATS WHO ARE SUPPOSE 2  BE BIG BALLERS  KILL ME WHEN SHIT LIKE THIS COMES UP! REMEMBER FAMILY FIRST?

Legal drama for rapper DMX continues to unfold as the entertainer sits in a Florida jail under a no bail hold status.

TMZ.com reports that DMX, born Earl Simmons, appeared in court on Friday (August 15) after a bench warrant was issued against him in Arizona for drug charges.

The rapper was arrested Thursday (August 14) while attempting to leave a Wal-Mart in Miami, Fla.

The arrest came as result of Simmons skipping a court date on Tuesday (August 12) for a pretrial conference on allegations of marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession.

The rapper had reportedly tried to surrender to police, but was taken in before negations with his lawyer were completed.

Simmons’ lawyer, Brad Cohen, waived extradition for his client and contested a no bond hold, after a $25,000 bond had previously set for Simmons.

Despite Cohen’s attempt to get a fugitive bond in the state of Florida for Simmons to return to Arizona to bond out, Judge Lawrence Schwartz upheld the no bond status, which was issued by the State of Arizona. 

“I am not questioning the veracity of anything you just said to me. I would absolutely have no reason to do that,” Judge Schwartz said. “But until state of Arizona lifts its no bond status, it’s a no bond status at this point.”

As a result of the ruling, Simmons will have to stay in jail in Florida until his October 2 court hearing for a possession charge he obtained in Miami.

Cohen later told TMZ he would have the rapper released before the hearing if everything is straightened out.

SOURCE(ALLHIPHOP.COM)

HOPE THIS HELPS HIM DETOX?