Kanye West, Rap Record Labels Sued Over Samples

Oh snap! Look at how many rappers sampled the same Joe Farrell track without clearing it? Kanye, Common, Redman, and Meth -- and that's just for starters. Hip-hop artists love to recycle...but they seem to forget...

The Roots Struggle With 'Rising Down' at Def Jam

The Roots are veterans of the hip-hop game, having long been immersed in the struggle to achieve commercial success with music that defies tired rap clichés, sugary pop conventions, and lyrical dilution.Widely...

'Body Spray' Makes Stinky Start to New Record Label

As there's no money in record labels anymore, labels have to go where the money is...er...Procter & Gamble?If this kind of 'branded entertainment' is the future of the music business, I don't think I like it. Do...

Jay-Z, Russell Simmons Endorse Obama, Mos Def Responds

Another day, another will.i.am "o-bam-a" celebrity chant video and a few more high-profile names added to the list of Obamaniacs. This is rock star power rocked on both sides."Hip-Hop moguls Jay-Z and Russell Simmons...

Jay-Z Steps Down As Def Jam President

Jay-Z Steps Down As Def Jam President After months of speculation surrounding the future of his position, rapper/executive Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter announced today (December 24) that he will be stepping down from...