Music On Play – We Global Now – VICTORY

Chicago rapper Common will hit the stage at Cal State Northridge next week during the 11th Annual African-American Music Festival.

The festival takes place from March 22nd -27th and is free and open to the public.

The annual event is geared towards middle and high school students and allows the children to learn about the important contributions African-Americans have played in the development of popular music throughout the world. Read more…

Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s highly anticipated album Distant Relatives will land in stores on Tuesday, May 18th, label representatives confirmed today (March 16th ).

The concept album traces Hip-Hop’s roots in Africa and how it was transported to the American colonies and the Caribbean during slavery, until it was finally exported to the parks and recreational centers in New York city. Read more…

Fans may have seen Drake in videos in the past but Drake says “Over” will be his first real video as Drake The Artist. The Canadian emcee also spoke on what the video means to the album and what it means to his career as an artist. Read more…

Popular 80’s singer Eddy Grant has accused the Gorillaz of swiping his music and using it in their new single, “Stylo.”

Grant claims the single, which also features Mos Def and R&B legend Bobby Womack, is a direct rip off his song “Time Warp.”

Grant, known for his massive hit “Electric Avenue,” was “outraged” at the use of his composition and felt totally “disrespected” by the Gorillaz.
Read more…

Vakseen LLC has inked a production and publishing deal with T.I.’s Grand Hustle for 21-year-old production duo TrackSlayerz.

Consisting of Dexter “INF” Randall and Demetri “Price” Duncan, the young producers were behind the boards for T.I.’s comeback single, “I’m Back.” Read more…

Lil Wayne’s rock efforts have paid off: His Rebirth album has been certified gold, moving more than 500,000 copies, according to the Recording Industry of America.

The announcement, courtesy of his label, comes one week and one day after the rapper turned himself to begin a one-year jail sentence for a 2007 gun charge in New York. Read more…

Rapper The Game is seeking to disassociate himself with the term “gangster” in a civil lawsuit he is fighting in court.

The Game is being sued by Shannon Rodrick for allegedly striking him and pulling a gun on him during a pickup game of Basketball at the Rita Walters Complex in South Los Angeles in 2007. Read more…

Fan in Europe will get a glimpse of world famous rapper Jay-Z this summer, as the chart-topping artist has expanded his UK tour.

As previously announced, Jay-Z will play a series of high profile festivals in the UK in June. He has added more dates to the tour and will now make stops in Germany, France, Scotland, Switzerland and Ireland.
Read more…

A bodyguard for rapper 50 Cent has been charged with assault after allegedly attacking two photographers in Copenhagen, Denmark.

According to the New York Daily News, the incident took place while photographers were waiting for 50 Cent to leave Copenhagen’s Skt. Petri Hotel. Read more…

Nas was on hand at the Boys and Girls Club’s 43rd annual National Keystone Conference in Pittsburgh to drive home the importance of education and leadership.

The elite lyricist spoke candidly about his personal life, admitting that he never finished high school and regrets the decision despite his years of a success as a musician.

He now plans to obtain the diploma, and urged those present not to make the same mistake. Read more…

Chris Brown is begging fans for support. In a message sent to fans through SayNow, the young singer explained that radio stations are not “being that supportive” of his new work, including singles off his latest album, Graffiti. In turn, Brown is asking fans for help, adding that he cannot “be an underground mixtape artist.” Read more…

Months before the release of his latest film, The Karate Kid, Jaden Smith is receiving kudos for his work on the feature from the ShoWest film festival.

The young star, who is the son of rapper/actor Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, has been named ShoWest’s Breakthrough Male Star of the Year.

The award will be presented Wednesday (March 17 ) at the event, which will be held in Las Vegas’ Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas hotels. Read more…