By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Pioneering emcee Kurtis Blow has been preaching the Word of God for sometime now and its beginning to catch on. In a recent interview with National Public Radio he shared his vision on his rapidly expanding hip-hop churches in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. “The hip-hop church is a format for any church designed to reel in or be fishers of men, young men and women,” Blow told NPR. “As far as I’m concerned, I always knew there was spirituality in hip-hop. Thank God that I can really, really, bring it home and deliver that message to the youth today.” Kurtis Blow holds church services in at Harlem’s Greater Hood Memorial AME Zion Church that’s on 146th between 7th & Lenox every Thursday from 6:30 till 9pm. There are also services at Metro Christ Foundation in Philly and at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Los Angeles every first Friday. For more info on Kurtis Blow’s Hip-Hop Church, check out hiphopchurchny.

By: Rizoh After losing almost 100 pounds, "American Idol" winner and R&B singer Ruben Studdard wants to help others lose weight. The Birmingham, Alabama native has asked the 25% of his state’s residents who are obese to shed 10 pounds in eight weeks. Studdard enrolled in a weight-loss program this summer and began eating healthy with successful results. "I’m not where I want to be, but I’m on the right track, and I’m excited about encouraging other Alabamians to begin their own weight-loss journeys," said the 28-year-old singer, whose third album, The Return, was released in October by J Records. Studdard said in a recent interview with The Associated Press that he wanted to get in shape "because I have a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure and things of that nature." Scale Back Alabama, an eight-week weight-loss campaign, kicks off Jan. 4 with an event featuring Ruben Studdard. The goal of the program is to help Alabamians lose a total of 10 million pounds by March 2007.The campaign is being jointly sponsored by Alabama‘s hospitals, the Alabama Department of Public Health and Barber Dairies. At the conclusion of the program, winners will be announced and awarded various prizes.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno You may be tired of all the “dance in the hood” type of movies that have been dropping the last few years but least the music is pretty good. That’s the case for the soundtrack for the latest “dance in the hood” flick, Stomp the Yard. The soundtrack will hits stores on January 9 and feature music from Ghostface Killa, The Roots, E-40, Public Enemy, and Ne-Yo, and Chris Brown who also star in the film. Stomp the Yard, which hits theatres on January 12, is about DJ, a college student who moves to Atlanta to attend fictional Truth University. During his time there, he discovers the Black fraternity/sorority tradition of stepping, but he must face his own issues and demons first before he can help his teammates win in the annual stepping championships. Here’s the track listing for the soundtrack: Go Hard or Go Home – E-40 feat. The Federation Vans – The Pack Poppin’ – Chris Brown Sign Me Up – Ne-Yo The Champ – Ghostface Killah Walk it Out – UNK Pop, Lock, & Drop It – Huey The Deepest Hood – Al Kapone aka Kapeezy Come On – Bonecrusher feat. Onslaught Supermixx’s Black in the Building – Public Enemy Storm – Cut Chemist feat. Edan and Mr. Lif In the Music – The Roots feat. Malik B Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That – Robert Randolph & the Family Band Bounce Wit Me – R.E.D. 44

By: Rizoh The Ludacris Foundation, Disturbing Tha Peace, and Harley-Davidson teamed up to bless approximately 100 children, ranging from 6 to 14 years old with a visit from Santa, games, entertainment, and food. Children were selected from communities throughout the metro Atlanta area. The event, dubbed the Merry Luda-Crismas party, was part of Luda‘s plan to give back to his community. "Helping kids help themselves. We got a lot of different sponsors, we’re giving out toys, we got toys for over 100 kids today and we’re here at the Adamsville Recreational Center just helping kids help themselves. This is what I do," said Ludacris. The recreation center presented Ludacris with a plaque to show their appreciation for his involvement with the community.

By: Rizoh Eminem (real name Marshall Mathers) and Kim Mathers finalized their divorce proceedings. Mathers and his high school sweetheart agreed to split custody of their daughter, Hailie Jade. They also agreed to share their property under terms of a private settlement. Judge Antonio P. Viviano described them as "a very fine couple to deal with," adding that "the couple conducted themselves with digity and respect." Eminem filed for divorce less than three months after the couple’s re-marriage earlier this year. The high school sweethearts first divorced in October 2001 after a two-year marriage. They engaged in a bitter custody fight over daughter Hailie, now 10. In January, Eminem, 33, announced on a Detroit radio station that he and Kim, 31, had reconciled. They remarried in a January 14 ceremony attended by fellow hip-hop artists, including 50 Cent and members of D-12.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Even though Fergie Ferg is doing her thing across her ‘London Bridge’ and will.i.am is earning his street cred by producing tracks for Busta Rhymes, The Game and Common, the Black Eyed Peas are close to finishing up their follow-up to their four times platinum album, Monkey Business. In an interview with Billboard Magazine, will.i.am said they have 12 songs finished, but since the group won’t be touring for the first half of 2007 they’ll be recording more songs for a holiday release date. And don’t expect the whole album to be party-focused either; expect some politically charged tunes as well. "We are not complaining," will told Billboard. "It’s not, ‘Oh, everything messed up! Oh my gosh, we’re doomed!’ It’s a thinking record. It brings up what’s happening in the world. Monkey Business didn’t do that." The album has yet to be named and collaborations haven’t been ironed out yet. In the meantime you can check out their DVD "Live From Sydney to Vegas," featuring footage from shows in Australia and the U.S. You can also check them out at the Grammys where Black Eyed Peas is nominated for Best Pop Performance by duo or group with vocal for “My Humps” and will is nominated for five Grammys including producer of the year.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Atlantic Records announced that they’ll be releasing the soundtrack to Tyler Perry’s anticipated film, Daddy’s Little Girls, on January 16. The soundtrack features news songs from Beyonce, R. Kelly, Brian McKnight and Anthony Hamilton. Also featured on the soundtrack is one of Whitney’s first songs since her split with Bobby Brown that features her mother Cissy Houston and her cousin Dionne Warwick. The film, which opens on February 14, stars Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Louis Gossett Jr., Tracee Ellis Ross and Malinda Williams. Elba plays a single father named Monty who lives in a poor neighborhood and struggles to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters on his own. When the courts award custody of his daughters to his corrupt, drug-dealing ex-wife, Monty desperately tries to win them back, enlisting the help of Julia (Union), an attorney he meets during his short stint as a chauffeur. Of course they fall in love, while trying to battle the trials and tribulations in keeping Monty’s family together. Here’s the tracklisting for the soundtrack: 1. STRUGGLE NO MORE (THE MAIN EVENT) – Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim & Musiq Soulchild 2. DON’T LET GO – R. Kelly 3. GREATEST GIFT – Tamika Scott of X-Scape 4. BROWN EYED BLUES – Adrian Hood 5. FAMILY FIRST – Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Dionne Warwick and Family 6. STEP ASIDE – Yolanda Adams 7. I BELIEVE – Brian McKnight 8. DADDY – Beyoncé 9. STRUGGLE NO MORE – Anthony Hamilton 10. BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS – Governor 11. A CHANGE IS GONNA COME – Charles Moore

Members of the local hip-hop community Outerspace, Q-Demented & 215hiphop.com want to show they care about Philadelphia’s youth. That is why they have organized a toy drive for needy children in North Philadelphia. “With the crime rate reaching an all time high in Philly, and little kids getting killed by stray bullets, Outerspace and 215hiphop.com wanted to show the local youth that we do care about them,” said rapper Planetary of hip-hop group Outerspace. Toys will be distributed on Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 2661 North 2nd Street (Democracia USA’s office off the corner of 2nd Street & Lehigh Avenue) from 12Noon-2PM. Toys and donations will be raised at an all-star hip-hop concert featuring OuterSpace, Last Emperor, Jedi Mind Tricks, King Syze and DJ Cru-Cut at The Khyper on Saturday night, December 23rd. Families in need will be identified and invited ahead of time. Please no walk-ups. Contact justin@215hiphop.com for a scheduled toy pick-up. Click Here to buy tickets Sunday, December 24, 2006 Event: “For The Kids” Toy DriveTime: Toy distribution from 12Noon-2PM Location: 2661 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133 Democracia USA Office Saturday, December 23rd Event Info: OuterSpace & 215hiphop.com Present: For The Kids A Toy & Cash Fund Raiser for Christmas Saturday, December 23rd @ The Khyber (2nd & Chestnut, Old>>Philly) City 215.238.5888 Live Performance’s by: OuterSpace Last Emperor Maylay Sparks Doap Nixon AND Special Guests: Block McCloud Jedi Mind Tricks Pumpkinhead King Syze & More DJ Cru-Cut on 4 Turntables w/Special Guest DJ’s: Tactics, Panek, ‘lil Dave, Skipmode, & Kinetic 10pm-2am 21+ $2 Miller Lite’s till 12am Cover: $5 w/an un-wrapped toy – $10 without (100% of door proceeds go towards buying more toys & food) For information to volunteer on the Christmas Eve Toy & Food give-a-way email: info@215hiphop.com or visit forum. Click Here to buy tickets Sponsors: 215hiphop.com m3Printing.com Miller Lite Freshoutmedia.com

By: Rizoh Cash Money Records founder Bryan "Baby" Williams and erstwhile Cash Money rapper B.G. publicly put an end to their long-running ‘beef’ on New Orleans radio Q-93 FM. Baby had called into Q-93 to express his gratitude to fans as he mourns his sister Tamara Williams. B.G. also called into the station to express condolences to his former CEO. The two were then connected live via phone. "I just wanted to say I’m sorry despite what you and me been through," said B.G. "I knew Tamara personally, we grew up together, we go back. I just wanted you to know that my heart go out to you and the whole Williams family." "I can respect that," Baby replied to B.G.’s words. "I’ll put everything on the side for that." As we reported earlier, Tamara Williams was struck by a motorist who was moving in the wrong direction on Causeway Boulevard.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Ever since MC Hammer started dancing for Kentucky Fried Chicken, hip-hop and R&B stars have been going the endorsement route to earn that extra cash. Now Kelis is getting down with Ford in their new marketing campaign for the 2007 Ford Edge. Kelis wrote an original song for the campaign called “Push it to the Edge” and will be appearing in commercials – both TV and radio – starting on December 20. "I am an informed buyer who likes to shop around for what I like," said Kelis. "I prefer bold designs and that’s what I see when I look at the Edge. I believe it was built to defy expectations and change people’s perceptions, two concepts that have helped me define who I am." To see the commercials and hear the new song for yourself, visit FORDURBANat the end of the week.

By: Rizoh Talk show mogul Oprah Oprah Winfrey has sold a pair of reality-TV projects to ABC, one of which she will appear on. Oprah Winfrey’s "The Big Give," seeks to find the most powerful and sensational ways to give to others. The money-themed show hands financial resources to a 10 contestants, who must in turn find dramatic ways to assist others. The "Big Give" will reward the best philanthropists by fulfilling their "wildest dream." The second series, "Your Money or Your Life," sends experts to help families facing financial crises. It’s not yet clear whether Oprah’s on-screen role will be in the series, but Winfrey has said she will appear in at least one of them. In September 2004, Oprah celebrated the premiere of her 19th season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" by surprising each of her 276 audience members with a new car.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno The Roots dropped their Def Jam debut, Game Theory, earlier this year and so far it’s only sold a disappointing 160,000 copies. So like every blue collar hip-hop outfit, The Roots will make their living on the road. The group is just finishing dates up in Europe and will be heading to Japan in January and taking care of the U.S. and Canada from February to April with some dates featuring Lupe Fiasco.. In the meantime, ?uestlove is remixing Pharrell’s entire debut album, In My Mind. The remixed version of the album will drop on Interscope sometime next year. ?uest will also be working on the next project from legendary soul singer Al Green. Here’s the tour itinerary for The Roots: JAPAN 1/12/06 Osaka Japan @ Blue Note 1/13/06 Osaka Japan @ Blue Note 1/15/06 Tokyo Japan @ On Air East 1/16/06 Tokyo, Japan @ On Air East 1/17/06 Tokyo, Japan @ On Air East 1/18/06 Nagoya, Japan @ Blue Note US 2/1/07 Vancouver, Canada Roots performance @ Commodore 2/2/07 Vancouver , Canada Roots performance @ Commodore 2/3/07 Seattle, WA Roots performance @ Showbox 2/5/07 Portland, OR Roots performance @ Crystal Ballroom 2/7/07 San Francisco, CA Roots performance @ Fillmore 2/8/07 San Francisco, CA Roots performance @ Fillmore 2/10/07 Los Angeles, CA Roots with Jill Scott and Lupe Fiasco @ Gibson Ampitheatre 2/12/07 San Diego, CA Roots performance @ HOB 2/14/07 Anaheim, CA Roots performance @ HOB 2/14/07 Anaheim, CA Roots performance @ HOB 2/16/07 Salt Lake, UT Roots performance @ Harry O’s w/ Lupe Fiasco 2/17/07 Denver, CO Roots performance @ Fillmore w/ Lupe Fiasco 2/19/07 Dallas, TX Roots performance @ Gypsea Tea Room w/ Lupe Fiasco 2/20/07 Austin, TX Roots performance @ Stubbs w/ Lupe Fiasco 2/22/07 NO, LA Roots performance @ HOB w/ Lupe Fiasco 2/24/07 Orlando, FL Roots performance @ HOB w/ Lupe Fiasco 2/25/07 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Roots performance @ Revolution 3/3/07 Myrtle Beach, SC Roots performance @ HOB 3/4/07 Atlanta, GA Roots performance @ Tabernacle w/ Lupe Fiasco 3/7/07 Norfolk, VA Roots performance @ NORVA w/ Lupe Fiasco 3/8/07 Baltimore, MD Roots performance @ Meyerhoff Hall w/ Lupe Fiasco & Marsha 3/9/07 Wash DC Roots performance @ Constitution Hall w/ Lupe Fiasco & Marsha 3/13/07 Boston, MA Roots performance @ Avalon w/ Lupe Fiasco 3/17/07 Chicago, IL Roots performance @ Chicago Theatre w/ Lupe Fiasco 3/18/07 Milwaukee , WI Roots performance @ The Rave 3/20/07 Minneapolis, IN Roots performance @Myth 3/22/07 St. Louis, MO Roots performance @ Pagent 3/23/07 Cincinatti, OH Roots performance @ Bogarts 3/24/07 Toronto, Canada Roots performance @ Kool Haus 3/27/07 Montreal, Canada Roots performance @ Metropolis 4/3/07 Philly, PA Roots performance @ Kimmel Center 4/4/07 Philly, PA Roots performance @ Kimmel Center

By: Rizoh 50 Cent’s insurance company says it is not liable for any damages in a lawsuit based on a brawl allegedly involving the U.S. rapper last year. According to The New York Post, National Fire has claimed that the rapper, who is being sued by radio personality "Zxulu" Dunkerson, violated his insurance coverage by waiting more than a year to report the suit to the insurance company. In the $10 million lawsuit, Dunkerson claimed that during a radio interview in Washington last year, a member of 50 Cent’s entourage attacked him and stole his phone. In addition to the alleged assault, supposedly brought about by an off color remark made by Dunkerson on, 50 Cent’s G-Unit then released a song that insulted the radio DJ and the city of Washington. The song in question is the remix to The Game’s "Hate It or Love It" which features 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo. On the song, Game quips, "Ni**az betta get up outta mine /Fo’ I creep and turn your projects into columbine/ And I’m rap’s MVP /Don’t make me remind y’all what happened to DC."

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Believe it or not, Common has been rocking mics professionally since 1992 and it’s taken quite awhile for him to get his props outside of underground hip-hop circles. But nowadays it’s been all about Common and his new Gap ads as well as parts in two upcoming films and a new album coming next year. Slated to drop in June, Common’s new album, Finding Forever was once again produced by Kanye West and is a mixture of hip-hop sprinkled with vintage soul, progressive jazz and what Common calls “futuristic boom bap.” "I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to sell millions and become a household name, but I won’t lose myself to do it," Common told Newsweek. "I see a lot of people in hip-hop who don’t love the music. It’s become the new dope game—they’re in it to make money. If they could obtain that same kind of money or fame by dancing on one leg like a fool, they’d be doing that." You can also Common in two upcoming films. One film, American Gangster, stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe and is a Ridley Scott flick about NYPD trying to take down a Harlem drug kingpin. The other film, Smokin’ Aces, stars Jeremy Piven (Entourage) and tells the story of a Vegas magician who snitches on the mob. Common plays bad guys in both films. Look for the films to drop in 2007.

By Quibian Salazar-Moreno Last week the bus carrying hip-hop group The Coup, Mr. Lif and their road crew crashed when leaving San Diego as part of their month-long tour. After the announcement of the cancellation of the tour, Boots of The Coup went on his blog to give his side of the story. He said he was watching “Anchorman” when everything started to go wrong. “Shortly after the acapella singing of "Afternoon Delight" by Ferrell et al., a big bump, then another, then plummeting down as we tipped over to the left,” Boots wrote on his blog. “I was sitting in the diner-like booth that many of these buses have in the front. I held on to the table with one hand and tried to guard my head with the other, all the while thinking that I was probably about to die. I don’t remember seeing everyone flying and flipping around me as it was happening, but Carter’s (the road manager) and Wiz’s face were covered in blood, and everybody seemed to be laying around hurt.” Boots said that once everybody got off of the bus it caught on fire and destroyed everything on board including clothes, laptops, all of the bands instruments, recording equipment and everything else needed to live while on tour for a month. Boots is now asking for donations to help out the band and its road crew. “Most ofthe band touring with The Coup has kids, rent that won’t quit, bills, and holiday expenses coming,” Boots writes. “We need money, because like I said the band doesn’t have the tools that they make a living with. Not only did we lose cash and material things on the bus, but we also were depending on this tour for money to make it through. It may take a year for us to see any money from the insurance company.” Boots has setup a PayPal account for the donations that you can access at paypal and send a donation to thecoupbuscrash@gmail.com. Mr. Lif will be setting up a separate account shortly.