We reported on it earlier. Here is a lil video footage of the two NY heavyweights in action out on Jones, thanks to Miss Info

It looks like anyone who went to a show this weekend was mos def getting their monies worth. Kanye killed it at the closing of the infamous Lollapalooza festival in Chicago. Playing to a home crowd never did anyone any harm and after delivering track after track from his three offerings, Kanye had the crowd paying homage to the ‘lady who drove him to Chicago when he was only three’…his late Momma. While on the NY leg of the Rock the Bells event out at Jones Beach, crowds were whipped into a frenzy as artist after artist hit the stage delivering classic after classic. Slick Rick, MOP, ATCQ, DJ Premier, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Busta Rhymes were all in attendance plus a whole lot more. But what really got the crowd going was when Jay Z appeared on stage to accompany Nas for Black Republicans. Good times to be had by all, what Summer is all about really.

Sean Combs and Gabrielle Union were amongst party goers who had to run for cover at an after party thrown by Atlanta’s music mogul Jermain Dupri. Allegedly shots were fired and the party at Club Dream and the place was evacuated in the early hours of Saturday morning after a gunman opened fire. As of now only one injury has been reported . The trouble broke out after party goers discovered they had to pay another entry fee if they wanted to go into the VIP area  after paying on the door.

The legendary parties held at the home of Hugh Hefner and his ‘bunnies’ have always been the event many hope to get an invite too, but seldom to. It has always been literally a VIP list dripping with a who’s who in Hollywood. Well with us battling a recession it looks like Hugh and his gals are like the rest of us feeling the pinch when it comes to the pennies. For the first time in over 27 years the Playboy Mansion is allowing your everyday man or woman the opportunity to partake in the Annual Midsummer’s Ball taking place on August 9th…the cost…$5,000. There has been a lil outrage at this change in direction by the Playboy boss with people stating ‘the party is about status and not about money.’ Well things are obviously changing. There has been no comment from inside the Bunny House on this change in events.

Sporting a new look here. Not too hard to figure out but hey it is the weekend and none of us want to be thinking too hard on a Friday.

Right now Dizzee Rascal is the UKs top Hip-Hop act. With a great response to his Maths and English project both in the US and Europe, Dizzee who has been hitting stages all over the world this Summer just rocked a stage in Ibizia last night to the full approval of every last person in the sweltering heat watching him. Performing various songs from his discography including his current UK chart topper Dance Wiv Me, Dizzee had the whole place rocking. Said one party goer “Never really been a Hip-Hop fan until I saw this bloke up on stage, would def spend money to see him again.” His track featuring dance artist Calvin Harris has been on top of the UK chart for three weeks now and here for you to check out is the video.

Here are the nominees for the best female and best male video wards in the up and coming VMA’s which will take place in LA on September 9th 2008. I am going for Rihana and Lil Wayne. BEST FEMALE VIDEO: CM8ShowAd("Middle"); Britney Spears, “Piece of Me”BlackoutJive/Zomba Label GroupDirector: Wayne IshamJordin Sparks, “No Air”(Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown)Jordin Sparks19/Jive/Zomba Label GroupDirector: Chris RobinsonKaty Perry, “I Kissed A Girl”One Of The BoysCapitolDirector: Kinga BurzaMariah Carey, “Touch My Body”E=MC2Island Def Jam Music GroupDirector: Brett RatnerRihanna, “Take a Bow”A Good Girl Gone BadSRP/Def JamDirector: Anthony MandlerBEST MALE VIDEO:Lil Wayne, “Lollipop”Tha Carter IIICash Money Records/Universal MotownDirector: Gil Green/D. CarterChris Brown, “With You”ExclusiveJive Records/ZombaDirector: Erik White/Chris BrownUsher, “Love In This Club”(Usher featuring Young Jeezy)Here I StandLaFace Records/Zomba Label GroupDirector: The Brothers StrauseT.I., “No Matter What”Paper TrailGrand Hustle/Atlantic RecordsDirector: Self/James LopezFlo Rida, “Low”(Flo Rida featuring T-Pain)Step Up 2 The Streets Original Soundtrack/ Mail On SundayPoe Boy Ent./Atlantic RecordsDirector: Bernard Gourley

Here is the official video for Games joint with Travis Barker – Dope Boys. At a video shoot for his joint with Weezy, Game had the support of Young Buck who came through to the set. Nice to see these boys getting along

Well not that the so called crown that Weezy holds is really that credible…greatest rapper alive just doesn’t fit right for the Cash Money die hard. But Weezy needs to be on guard becasue in the UK on Friday night, Kanye West gave possibly one of the best performances of his life at the Global Gathering Festival, where he headlined the UKs annual dance festival. Taking a somewhat humble role in front of the 25,000 crowd, as he performed, Touch the Sky, Diamonds from Sierra Leone, Gold Digger and All Falls Down, Kanye thanked the crowd with “Thank you for joining me tonight on my quest to become the number one artist in the world.” Yeah Kanye is not just looking to be the greatest rapper alive, he is looking a bit further a field than that. And with performances like that and his ego in check (for once) it looks like he could be a serious contender for that role.

The 5th-Annual Fashion Rocks concert seems to be trying to outshine last year’s already-extravagant show. With announced performers like Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, Fergie, Justin Timberlake, Lil’ Wayne, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Kid Rock, the concert truly and “uniquely celebrates the intersection of two of the most sexy cultural paradigms: fashion and music,” according to Richard Beckman, president of Conde Nast Media Group, which produces the event. The Fashion Rocks concert will be held at Radio City Music Hall on September 5th, and all proceeds will go to the Stand Up to Cancer Campaign. With more performers to be announced and an already high standard set after last year, there’s quite a bit of buzz surrounding the event. 

Well maybe he is when the money comes rolling in. Sean Combs is gearing up to add another ‘reality tv show’ to his resume after VH1 gave him a whole wedge of money to work on a show called “I WANT TO WORK FOR DIDDY”. The show which is set to hit TVs in August shows various contestants walking to Brooklyn to get cheese cake, learning how to avoid chairs being thrown in dance studios …noooo only joking. The show will have the various wanna be errand boys/gals judged by the likes of Kevin Liles, Phil Robinson in the hopes that one of them might just be the new Assistant to Mr Sean Combs. Obviously his little myspace solicitation didn’t work then. Shame http://www.ihiphop.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/puffdaddy.jpg diddy

JAY-Z LIVE IN PARIS PART 1 from DUTTY LAB on Vimeo.

Missy , born on July 1st, celebrated her 37th birthday Tuesday night in NYC. (more…)

Looks like Pharrell and the Neptunes who are out on tour in Europe to promote their third album Seeing Sounds got a little overheated in a German club. Stripping down to display his abs pleased the females and a few of the men in the crowd at a bar in Berlin this past weekend. But will someone get him a towel please.

The former South African president was greeted by 520 special guests in London’s Hyde Park. This dinner will raise funds for Madiba’s global charity projects, The Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664.