Blackalicious So Craft-y

06-10-2005

Get ready for more Blackalicious: the Oakland group is coming out with their fifth full-length this fall, titled The Craft. If you're hungry for some Blackalcious this summer, though, don't worry; they're coming out with the single "Rhythm Sticks" as a 12'' before it starts getting cold out. George Clinton, Lyrics Born, and Floetry appear as guests on The Craft. "The Craft is our passion to bring discipline to this music, the passion to keep growing, keep stretching, keep doing things we haven't before," says Blackalicious' own Chief Xcel. "The craft is what we live for." Look for The Craft to drop on September 27.

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Bad Boy's Newest Acts

06-09-2005

P. Diddy will be all over the place this summer. First off he's debuting his new show tomorrow at 11 p.m. on HBO, P. Diddy Presents…Bad Boys of Comedy. Then Diddy's Bad Boy record label is coming out with a bunch of fresh new releases from the Dirty South. First there's Boyz N Da Hood, who've been called the NWA of the ATL. Boyz' rapper Duke says, "It was like I watched how Eazy E put together NWA and I wanted to do some sh*t that n****s from the hood could hear and understand." Then there's B5, a band of brothers who are like the reincarnation of the Jackson 5. The group is made up of Dustin, Kelly, Patrick, Carnell, and Bryan Breeding, who range in age from 11 to 17 years old. Like the Boyz, B5 is straight outta the crunk capital of the US, Atlanta. You can hear their song, "U Got Me," right here. 

Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle Back on Tour

06-09-2005

For those of you who've never seen Beyonce shake that booty in person, now's your chance. According to Billboard.com, Destiny's Child kicks off their "The Destiny Fulfilled... And Lovin' It," Tour today in Dublin, Ireland. DC will be all over North America, beginning with the Essence Musical Festival in New Orleans on July 2 and hitting 33 cities thereafter. It's the group's first full tour in four years, and the girls from Houston will have help from opening acts Amerie, Mario and Tyra. The openers will appear on a rotating basis. 

VIBE MusicFest Gets Hotter with Help of P. Diddy, Lyfe, Bob Marley's Kids

06-08-2005

Remember when VIBE.com gave you a sneak peek at the newest additions to VIBE MusicFest, including the addition of none other than P. Diddy as Master of Ceremonies? Well now we can give you confirmed details of the festival’s hottest newcomers. First up is Diddy who will open the weekend’s events at the Georgia Dome on Friday night [June 10]. The sons of Reggae legend Bob Marley will perform a tribute to dear old dad in honor of the 60th anniversary of his birth. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley will also play songs from their own catalogue including their hit single, “Welcome to Jamrock.” R&B newcomer Lyfe, who is currently opening for John Legend on tour, also joins the lineup, along with previously announced acts like Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, Legend, Big Boi, Ludacris, Faith Evans, Amerie, 112, T.I., Tommy Davidson, Doug E. Fresh, and Keyshia Cole. Getting excited? To check out a hot clip featuring some of the most anticipated acts of the festival, Click here. 

Kanye, DMX, Foxy and Other Def Jam Artists Set Summer Release Dates

06-08-2005

This summer is poised to be hotter than ever thanks to the scorching sun and blazing new albums from a slew of Def Jam’s finest artists. Some of the biggest names on the label releasing new material this summer are DMX, who releases Here We Go Again on July 19 (Audio: DMX – “Pump Ya Fist”); Teairra Mari releases her as-yet-untitled album on July 19; Young Jeezy (Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, July 26); Ol' Dirty Bastard (A Son Unique, August 9); Kanye West's Late Registration hits the streets on August 16 (Audio: Kanye West – “Diamonds”); Foxy Brown unleashes Black Roses on August 23 (Audio: Foxy Brown – “Art of War”) and there's Joe Budden's The Growth in stores August 23. N.O.R.E.'s album title and release date are still undecided. 

Mariah Carey Back on Top

06-08-2005

Mariah Carey can proudly wear her Top Diva crown again this week. The singer leapt up the Billboard Top 200 chart this week, moving from the No. 3 spot back to the No. 1 position with her The Emancipation of Mimi. Common’s Be felt a dip in sales and fell from No. 2 to No. 6. Meanwhile, Kottonmouth Kings’ self-titled album bowed at No. 50, eight notches below the debut position of their last album, Fire It Up. Layzie Bone’s It’s Not a Game made its chart debut at No. 96.

Marques Houston to Get Naked For Play Girl?

06-07-2005

Marques Houston may soon take the title of his latest single, “Naked,” literally. The artist was offered $1 million to pose on the cover of Play Girl magazine. Doing the cover could be a great slap in the face to media outlets that refuse to play, or censor, his new video “Naked,” which features a very, um, naked Houston. (VIBE.com won’t keep you from what you want: to see the video, click here). No word yet on whether Houston will accept the offer. 

Young Buck to Stand Trial For Involvement in VIBE Awards Melee

06-07-2005

Young Buck will be forced to stand trial on a single assault charge for his alleged involvement in the 2004 VIBE Awards melee. A California judge ruled Monday that there is sufficient evidence to try the rapper who is accused of stabbing Jimmy James Johnson, the man who allegedly attacked Dr. Dre during the November ceremony, according to MTV News. Since his initial arrest, Buck has been free on $500,000 bail, and in January, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Buck is due back in court for an arraignment today, and if he is convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison.