LL Cool J, Chuck D, Ice Cube, and Doug E. Fresh at SXSW (via)

Last week in Austin for SXSW, LL Cool J headlined the Doritos stage (back for a second year, but slightly less cheesy this time around), performing with Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Doug E. Fresh, and DJ Z-Trip. Switch out Doug E. Fresh from that lineup and replace him with De La Soul, and you've got the full bill for this year's "Kings of the Mic Tour," which kicks off in late May and runs through early July. That tour hits the NYC area for shows on June 18 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and on June 20 at Roseland Ballroom in NYC. Tickets for the Roseland show are on Citi Cardmember presale now. They go on Live Nation/LN Mobile App presale Wednesday (3/20) at 10 AM (anyone know the password?) and general on-sale starts Friday (3/22) at noon. Tickets for the NJ show go on presale Thursday (3/21).

You may remember that LL Cool J previously teamed up with Z-Trip and Chuck D of Public Enemy (along with Tom Morello and Travis Barker) to perform his new single, "Whaddup," at the Grammys. You can listen to that single, and check out all dates listed below...

Continue reading "LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Ice Cube, De La Soul & DJ Z-Trip announce the "Kings of the Mic Tour" (dates)"

Nas @ Rock the Bells (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

That didn't take long. We just announced the intitial lineup. Check out the almost-full thing below...

Continue reading "Rock the Bells 2012 full lineup (Nas, Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, Dipset, Schoolboy Q, Missy Elliot, Wiz Khalifa, much more)"

Gucci Mane at the last (?) Pool Party (more by Chris Doss)

Rapper Gucci Mane has been ordered to undergo psychiatric tests, following an Atlanta court appearance on a charge he violated terms of his probation. Radric Davis, the rapper's real name, appeared before Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger on Monday. Davis' attorney, Michael Holmes, filed a special plea of mental incompetency on behalf of Davis, who has battled drug problems in the past. The rapper was sent to Anchor Hospital, a 111-bed psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment facility in Atlanta. Records show Davis has been in the Fulton County Jail at least five times since 2005 on drug, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. His court appearance stemmed from a November altercation. [AP]

It also hasn't been the greatest of days for Gucci Mane's protege Wacka Flocka Flame, who surrendered to the police in connection with drugs and weapons charges. Wacka Flocka Flame's "No Hands" currently sits at #4 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Chart.

As previously mentioned, Questlove never rests, and in addition to all of his upcoming DJ gigs we just posted, you can also catch him this Friday, 1/7, at BB King's with special guest Rakim.

Also coming up at BB King's: Ice Cube.

SOB's hosts Joe Budden on on January 23rd.

Those on the West Coast can catch Joe, along with Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9" on Saturday, April 2, 2011, as Slaughterhouse have been added to the the sixth annual Paid Dues Festival along with Black Star, Immortal Technique and Murs. Slaughterhouse will drop a six song EP on E1 next month.

And last but not least, two humourous Kanye West-related videos are making the rounds, and you can watch both of them, below...

Continue reading "Rakim @ BB King's, Gucci Mane @ a treatment facility, Kanye vs muppets, Slaughterhouse @ Paid Dues & other hip hop news"

Gainsbourg, Je t'Aime... Moi Non Plus

The Tribeca Film Festival runs this year from April 21st to May 2nd, and the offerings include a number of music flicks, many with in-person Q&A's attached. The schedule includes two new biopics Gainsbourg, Je t'Aime... Moi Non Plus and the life of The Blockheads' Ian Dury Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. There's also Rush:Beyond the Lighted Stage with members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson in attendance, and Last Play at Shea, which focuses on the stadium's history as a music venue and includes footage of Shea's last concert, by Billy Joel, who will be at the screening.

Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez Lopez directed The Sentimental Engine Slayer which makes its North American premiere at the festival on April 22nd with Omar in attendance. Less than two weeks later Omar headlines a concert at Highline Ballroom. Omar was set to play a NYC show less than two weeks later, but it has been postponed.

Hip Hop related films include Ice Cube's Straight Outta L.A., and White Lines & The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug.

Free programs include Tribeca Drive-In movie series from April 22-24 at the World Financial Center, which will screen Big and other films.

Festival packages are on sale now. For individual films, tickets go on AmEx presale starts today at 11am. Then there's a presale for "downtown" residents only (in person, with proof of zip code below Canal St) on Sunday, April 18th. Finally, tickets go on sale to the public Monday, April 19th at 11am. "Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings. TFF will also offer a selection of screenings that include in-depth panel discussions with filmmakers and talent for $25.00."

Info on the above-mentioned films and more, below...

Continue reading "Tribeca Film Festival 2010 - full schedule, music films, tickets "

by Black Bubblegum

Even If Ice Cube "isn't" (wink wink nudge nudge say no more) playing Rehab Friday night, you can still see him play a show in NYC soon. Tickets are on sale 8/8 at noon for a September 21st show at Irving Plaza. The actor formerly known as Doughboy also has a free myspace show lined up for DC. Full tour schedule below.

Ice Cube has a new album coming Aug 19th called Raw Footage. It doesn't feature Hank Shocklee, Da Lynch Mob, Ren or Yella or Dre, Sir Jinx, or Chuck D, but does have The Game, WC (shocker!), Young Jeezy, and DJ Toomp.

Continue reading "Ice Cube - 2008 Tour Dates"

That's what it says on Rehab's calendar.