Funkmaster Flex

PALO ALTO, CA and NEW YORK, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/31/12 -- For the first time ever, hip hop fans everywhere can hear unforgettable performances from Nicki Minaj, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, J. Cole, Trey Songz and many more, live, as they take the stage for HOT 97 Summer Jam, the world's premier hip hop concert. Read More

TuneIn, a free service that lets people listen to music, sports and news from all over the world, has partnered with the #1 station for hip hop and R&B in the tri-state area, WQHT-FM, "HOT 97," to create a first-of-its-kind station, showcasing the world's premier hip hop festival, HOT 97 Summer Jam. For the first time, fans can experience nearly two decades of HOT 97's Summer Jam from anywhere in the world, on any of the 150 devices and apps which carry the TuneIn service. Read More

During an interview with Funkmaster Flex a few months ago, the ever quotable 50 Cent noted that he perceived something of a hippie streak running through urban music (pointing to the mainstream success of artists like Wiz Khalifa and songs such as Frank Ocean's "Novacane"). Read More

Diddy was a guest on Funkmaster Flex's radio show on HOT 97 in NYC and spoke candidly about the recent murder conviction of former Bad Bay artist G-Dep. "I was like, 'Wow'. None of that was in G. Dep's nature. When there were certain things that he was going through with the substance abuse situation, he'd be a different person, but on an everyday [basis], he was probably one of the nicest, most quietest, shyest, most humble cats that were out there. It was just so out of his character that it was mind-blowing."Read More

If you aren't a New Yorker of a certain age, as I am, it might be difficult to understand our dumbfounded reaction to the announcement last week that two legendary archrival Black radio stations — WBLS and 98.7 Kiss FM — would be "merging" into one; or, more accurately, 98.7 Kiss FM would be "celebrated" and then folded into WBLS. Read More

Behind-the-scenes players don't always earn shine from a backlight. Read More

If you aren't a New Yorker of a certain age, as I am, it might be difficult to understand our dumbfounded reaction to the announcement last week that two legendary archrival Black radio stations — WBLS and 98.7 Kiss FM — would be "merging" into one; or, more accurately, 98.7 Kiss FM would be "celebrated" and then folded into WBLS. Read More

I used to think that Wiz Khalifa was a soft doggy. Read More

Def Jam Recordings and Nas have officially announced a July 17 release for the rapper's tenth studio album, Life Is Good. The first single from Life Is Good, "Nasty," hit airwaves last August and sparked the much-talked about notion that Nas would be releasing his new album before the end of the calendar year, which came and went. Read More

After reappearing on the official remix to Wale's "Slight Work" track, rumors have been swirling around the blogosphere that Mase, who reportedly is in a heap of trouble with the IRS (supposedly owing $125k in back-taxes) has signed with Rick Ross' ever-growing Maybach Music Group roster along with R&B singer Omarion. Read More