News

Few artists have been sampled by hip-hop producers more than Kool & the Gang. George “Funky” Brown’s drums have formed the backdrop to countless rap classics, while the group’s horn section has, for decades, been one of the most fiercely intimidating in music.

Public Enemy has a long sonic history with the group. Fear of a Black Planet‘s “Welcome to the Terrordome” sampled the group’s 1973 classic “Jungle Boogie,” while It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back‘s “Louder than a Bomb” used elements from...

The other day, one of our writers sat down with Mario Van Peebles to talk about his upcoming spiritual sequel to Posse, Outlaw Posse. In the pretty awesome conversation, we asked Mario about what we consider a pretty underrated movie of his, Gunmen. This 1994 action flick paired him with Christopher Lambert, with an all-star cast that included Denis Leary as the film’s villain, Patrick Stewart, and nineties dream girl Brenda Bakke, as well as 90s rappers like Big Daddy Kane, Eric B, Rakim, Doctor Dre and Ed Lover – who all played themselves. It’s a tough movie to find these days, but Peebles had fond memories of what they were trying to accomplish with it.

“Gunmen tips a hat to The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. My character, Christophe’s character, and the other character have a piece of the puzzle as to where the cachet of gold is.

When it comes to the Star Wars movies, it's hard to imagine anyone else in the iconic roles of heroes like Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia. Even the Star Wars prequels most aggressive critics will admit that Ewan McGregor shined as Obi-Wan Kenobi, the character fans of the galaxy far, far away first encountered as embodied by the late Sir Alec Guinness. But as with any film, the casting process is, well, a process. And there have been plenty of legendary actors who almost made their way into this galaxy from a long time ago and very far, far away.

Most fans know that Kurt Russell was among the actors considered for the role of everyone's favorite scruffy nerf herder, Han Solo. He even screen tested with aspiring Luke Skywalker William Katt, who would later star as television's Greatest American Hero. Karen Allen auditioned for Princess Leia, a...

Marvel Comics' Variant series is set to honor iconic rock album covers this fall and they look amazing. The idea is pretty cool considering that a lot of record aficionados also enjoy collecting comic books(not all, but some). Back in 2015, Marvel did hip hop Variant covers to great success. A few of the best covers were Doctor Strange getting a Dr. Dre's Chronic makeover, Guardians of the Galaxy getting Pharcyde's Bizarre Ride 2 treatment, and Black Panther's T'Challa receiving a Jay-z Black Album makeover. The covers were all done by different artists that reimagined the comic book characters in their own hip hop flavored world.

Now Ryan Penagos, Marvel's vice president and executive editor of digital media, has announced that the first Marvel Rock Cover Variants will be arriving this September. The announcement was made through Penagos' Twitter page and it shows artwork inspired by Nirvana, The Clash,...

It isn’t a Skylar Grey album without a feature from frequent collaborator Eminem. The duo has linked up on a number of tracks over the years, like “C’mon Let Me Ride” off Grey’s 2013 record, Don’t Look Down, when the rapper lent a verse to it. In terms of Eminem music, Grey co-wrote his huge hit with Rihanna, “Love The Way You Lie,” and featured on the Marshall Mathers LP 2 cut, “A–hole.” They even got together on Dr. Dre’s track, “I Need A Doctor” back in 2011. With this extensive history together, Grey and Eminem have mastered an unmatched musical chemistry, and their new song together is yet another highlight.

Grey releases her third full-length album, Natural Causes, today, and while the full collection of songs are great, “Kill For You” will easily be the most talked about. Inspired by Bonnie and Clyde, the song is...

Peter Dougherty, a TV executive credited with bringing hip-hop to MTV as the co-creator of Yo! MTV Raps, passed away October 12th following a heart attack at his home in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, The New York Times reports. Dougherty was 59.

Dougherty was working in the on-air promotions department of MTV in the mid-Eighties when he suggested that the still-growing music network create a program that focused on hip-hop culture. Dougherty was a staple of New York's downtown scene, befriending artists like Beastie Boys and Rick Rubin. "He knew everybody, everybody knew him,...

Songs On Screen: All week HitFix will be featuring tributes by writers to their favorite musical moments from TV and film. Check out all the entries in the series here. When we talk about underrated directors, it's hard not to mention Walter Hill. Hill is an underrated director, the way Michael Ritchie and Peter Yates were underrated directors, the way Roger Donaldson, Joe Dante, and Fred Schepisi are underrated directors. They’re all underrated because it’s only when you look at their filmographies that the numbers start to total up and you realize, boy, he directed a lot of really good movies. In Hill’s case, that list includes "The Warriors," "48 Hours," "The Long Riders," "Southern Comfort,: "Hard Times," "Trespass," and "Wild Bill." Some great. Some solid. (My personal favorite of those is Hard Times, a pulpy film about bare-knuckle boxers in the Great Depression.) There were clunkers...

The lineup for the two-weekend 2015 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival is out: earning top billing is AC/DC on Friday, Jack White on Saturday and Drake on Sunday. Tame Impala, Interpol, Steely Dan, Alesso, Alabama Shakes, Ride (reunion!), Nero; The Weeknd, Axwell ^ Ingrosso, alt-j, Belle & Sebastian, Ratatat, Hozier; Florence + The Machine, Kaskade, Ryan Adams, David Guetta and St. Vincent are also toplining the fest. Look at the entire 2015 Coachella lineup -- by day, even! -- here. The Indio, Calif.-hosted event runs April 10-12 and 17-19 in 2015. Wait, who were the headliners in years previous? Outkast (Fri), Muse (Sat) and Arcade Fire (Sun) in 2014. Stone Roses and Blur, Phoenix and Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2013. The Black Keys, Radiohead and Snoop Dogg/Dr. Dre in 2012. Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, and Kanye West and the Strokes in 2011. Jay Z, Muse and Gorillaz in 2010. So am I right in thinking...

• Rosa Salazar (Parenthood) has joined the cast of Insurgent as Lynn. Currently filming in Atlanta, the Divergent follow-up from director Robert Schwentke (R.I.P.D.) will again star Shailene Woodley (The Fault in Our Stars), Theo James (Underworld: Awakening), Miles Teller (The Spectacular Now), Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars), Kate Winslet (Labor Day), Jai Courtney (Jack Reacher), and Zoe Kravitz (After Earth), as well as newcomers to the series Naomi Watts (The Impossible), Daniel Dae Kim (Lost), and Octavia Spencer (The Help). In the book, Lynn is described as a bitter Dauntless-born initiate with a shaved head, eyebrow piercing, a tough attitude,...

During a recent interview for the Blu-ray release of Ride Along, Ice Cube gave Steve an update on the progress of the Straight Outta Compton movie. It looks like the N.W.A. biopic has been casting for the last six months and is currently scheduled to start filming this July. The scope that they're aiming for in this picture is ambitious, as it tells the story of the iconic hip hop group's inception in the mid 80s, and continues up until the death of founding member Eazy-e in 1995. Cube is producing the film along with fellow founder Dr. Dre; F. Gary Gray will direct. Hit the jump for more on Straight Outta Compton. Here's what Ice Cube had to say to Steve about the progress of the Straight Outta Compton movie: The movie Straight Outta Compton seems like a no-brainer but with the great stuff on TV right now, was there...

Grand Theft Auto V digital Playstation 3 pre-orders were made available for pre-load overnight throughout the UK. This has led fans to uncover mysterious info through searching of the game’s files. The most significant pieces of info to come out of this leak was the finding of information of a number of music stations and songs. The list below shows the traditional mix of Hip Hop, Rock and Country while including artists such as Snoop Dogg, Britney Spears and Muse.

Please take this information with a pinch of salt as the legitimacy of this information has yet to be clarified by Rockstar. Hopefully within the next few days more will be revealed. If true, what do you make of the soundtrack and which artists were you hoping would make an appearance?

The source of this leak came from GTAForums

An updated list can be viewed at on Reddit

West Coast...

Police comedies have officially become a thing again. Of course, comedies portraying officers of the peace as bumbling incompetents and goofballs have a long and storied tradition, but it seems every few decades the production of such projects reaches a fever pitch. Things haven’t been this crazy since the early ’90s, where canonical releases such as the second and third “Naked Gun” films, and less-canonical releases such as “Cop and a Half,” “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot,” and personal favorite “Who’s the Man?”—starring “Yo! MTV Raps” co-hosts Doctor Dre (not that one, the other one) and Ed Lover—filled the void in our collective souls left by the termination of the “Police Academy” series in 1989. And while the current trend may not ever equal the frenzied production of those years, here is where we stand: On the TV side, we have Fox’s straight-to-series order for...

Heading towards the weekend, Thursday night television is getting a break from a packed scheduled of new programming. Perhaps that’s not best when trying to find something to watch, but thankfully, cable television steps up once again.

Premiering the documentary Yo: The Story of Yo! MTV Raps, VH1 goes behind the scenes of the groundbreaking MTV series that forever changed the music world. With Ed Lover, Doctor Dre and a who’s-who list of iconic performers included in the special, Yo: The Story of Yo! MTV Raps should not be missed – especially for a fan of television and/or music.

Of course, if you’re looking for what might be on television, look no further than Fox’s new series The Choice. Taking the format of NBC’s The Voice and mixing it with a dating game, ...

Click to continue reading TV Picks: Thurs, June 7th – ‘The Story of Yo!

'He heard the record, he loved it and he also played the guitar on it,' K.R.I.T. tells 'RapFix Live' about 'Praying Man.'

By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Sway Calloway, Big K.R.I.T. and Ed Lover on "RapFix Live"

Photo: MTV News

Big K.R.I.T. may be a new artist, but the standout Mississippi Mc has an old musical soul. On Tuesday, K.R.I.T. released his debut album, Live From the Underground, and while he features quite a few artists on his LP, the one that stands out the most is blues legend B.B. King.

"I think doing a record with B.B. King allowed me the opportunity to blend two different generations across the board and make a song that I hope is extremely impactful," the King Remembered in Time told MTV News correspondent Sway, Ed Lover...

In the wake of Minaj's feud with Hot 97, MTV News examines what real hip-hop is and who gets to decide.

By Rob Markman

Nicki Minaj in the "Starships" video

Photo: Young Money/Cash Money/Universal

A funny thing happened on the way to Summer Jam. All hip-hop hell broke loose after an off-the-cuff comment by a radio DJ led rap's reigning queen to pull out of the year's biggest rap concert. Nicki Minaj versus Hot 97 has no doubt become the biggest rap gossip of the week, but once the drama subsides, an eternal discussion will still linger: What is real hip-hop? And who gets to decide?

In one corner there's rap purist and Hot 97 radio personality Peter Rosenberg, who trashed Nicki's RedOne-produced crossover machine "Starships" in front of concertgoers just hours before she was scheduled to take the stage. In the other corner there is Nicki Minaj, whose pop success...

But Doctor Dre tells 'RapFix Live' Nicki should have played Summer Jam: 'You go out there and you perform for your fans.'

By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Nicki Minaj

Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

When it comes to Nicki Minaj versus Hot 97, it's hard not to have an opinion. And, of course, Sunday's Summer Jam drama came up during Wednesday's (June 6) "RapFix Live."

During the special episode, MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway shared hosting duties with "Yo! MTV Raps" legends Ed Lover and Doctor Dre, who weighed in on the situation. "You can't look at anybody that crosses over and achieves pop appeal as a sellout, because that's what you're trying to do when you put a record out," Ed Lover said. "So if Nicki Minaj ain't real hip-hop, then Public Enemy wasn't real hip-hop, then Run-dmc wasn't real hip-hop, then Eminem ain't real hip-hop."

After Hot...

'Yo! MTV Raps' hosts Ed Lover and Doctor Dre will co-pilot the show, which also features Ab-Soul and Kid Ink, at 4 p.m. Et on MTV.com

Big K.R.I.T.

Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News

There is nothing that can prepare you for the next episode of "RapFix Live"; you're just going to have to tune in!

On Wednesday, Sway will co-pilot "RapFix" with iconic "Yo! MTV Raps" hosts Ed Lover and Doctor Dre. Together, the three hip-hop luminaries will interview Big K.R.I.T. and Queens, New York, rap veteran N.O.R.E. If that isn't enough, Tde's Ab-Soul and Xxl Freshman Kid Ink will also join the show.

It's been a heck of a week for Big K.R.I.T., who dropped his debut album, Live From the Underground, on Tuesday (June 5). The LP features 2 Chainz, Ludacris, Bun B and rhythm and blues legend B.B. King.

Next week Thursday, June 7 at 10 Pm Est, VH1 will premiere Yo: The Story of Yo! MTV Raps, which, as the title suggests, will take audiences on a trip down memory lane, looking at the popular series which ran from 1988 to 1995 with its original Yo! MTV Raps name, then later as simply Yo! until 1999. It was the first hip-hop music show on the network. Expected to be included in Yo: The Story of Yo! MTV Raps are interviews with the show's three hosts (Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover and Doctor Dre), as well as the myriad of guests who appeared on the series. And in anticipation of next week's broadcast, and I suppose to get excited for...

Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at the door.

It was the 1990s all over again at the closing act of Coachella 2012. The three-day desert festival ended with a funkified, smoky set from rap legends Snoop and Dre, and the set was punctuated with guest appearances by Eminem, 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar and an all-too-realistic hologram of the late Tupac Shakur.

Snoop Dogg, stoned and smiling, soaked up the most time in the limelight. In between puffs, he rapped solo on his hits "Drop It Like It's Hot," "Gin & Juice" and "Who Am I? (What's My Name?)." He also shared the stage with young rapper Wiz Khalifa to perform their joint hit "Young, Wild & Free." But it was Snoop's performances with Dr. Dre that electrified the stage. The two rapped together on songs like "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang," bringing thousands in the main stage crowd back to...

Monday's New York concert promotes 'Mac & Devin Go to High School' soundtrack, due December 13.

By Rob Markman

Wiz Khalifa

Photo: MTV News

Never mind that there's almost a 20-year age difference between Wiz Khalifa and his big homey Snoop Dogg: On Monday night, the smoked-out duo stood on equal ground for the first time, as co-headliners at New York City's Terminal 5.

The Cali rap vet and MTV News' Hottest Breakthrough Mc of 2010 were in the Big Apple to promote the soundtrack, set for release December 13, to their upcoming film, "Mac & Devin Go to High School."

After openers Chevy Woods and Yg warmed up the crowd, Snoop walked out to his 2009 single "I Wanna Rock." Dressed in all black, with black shades and two braids in his hair, Tha Doggfather shuffled across the stage flanked by three curvaceous female dancers, who started out in Adidas tracksuits but had stripped...

Following a 16-year hiatus, MTV's iconic show "Yo! MTV Raps" will make its return to the airwaves during a special dubbed, "Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts." The 30-minute retrospective will feature an array of MCs including Tribe Called Quest, Scarface, Ice Cube, Wiz Khalifa, Questlove, Busta Rhymes, Naughty By Nature and Young Jeezy, all reminiscing on three influential videos ["Scenario" by A Tribe Called Quest, "My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me" by Geto Boys and Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day"].

"The concept is actually every episode, hoping that it gets picked up as a series," said writer and consultant Shaheem Reid. "We're going to be looking back at some of the classic videos from the 'Yo! MTV Raps' era. We have brand new interviews with the artists about the making of the song and the making of the video, and then we're also going to incorporate the interviews with some of the artists of today talking about the impact of all of those songs and videos."

Over the course of six weeks,...

Happy 40th Birthday Snoop Dogg!

The legendary Doggfather hosted a private birthday party at the Rolling Stone Lounge last night in Los Angeles. I'm sure there was plenty of Gin & Juice to go around -- Snoop even tweeted, "#puffpuffpasstuesdays" before the event.

The guest list was the cream of the hip-hop crop. Dr. Dre, Warren G, DJ Quik and members of the Far East Movement were all in attendance. They partied with actor Tyrese (who tweeted, "Happy birthday Og!! Dre what up!!"), Mlb star Matt Kemp, and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder. It goes without saying that Snoop's wife Shante was there by his side -- he even tweeted a photo of them together titled, "Me n my boo".

Singer Chaka Khan sang "Happy Birthday" to the Top Dogg and the lucky party-goers indulged in two birthday cakes shaped into the numbers "4" and "0." The dessert design featured an...

Annual Respect the West SXSW party became a tribute to the late singer, who died earlier in the week.

By James Montgomery

Warren G and Snoop Dogg perform at SXSW in Austin, Texas on Saturday

Photo: Matt Harper/MTV News

Austin, Texas — Less than 15 minutes before he was set to hit the stage, Warren G sat in a dressing room deep within Austin's Venue 222, wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the picture of his late friend and cohort, Nate Dogg, who passed away on Tuesday, reportedly from complications from multiple strokes.

Obviously still dealing with the loss, Warren was silent, stoic and lost in his thoughts. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, he turned to MTV News' cameras and said, with the upmost sincerity, "I honestly don't know how this is going to turn out."

What he was talking about was his tribute to Nate Dogg, which capped off not...

Janelle Monae also wowed audience on Thursday at Atlantic Records' showcase in Austin, Texas.

By James Montgomery

B.o.B performs at SXSW on Thursday

Photo: Getty Images

Austin, Texas -- If you decide to call your South by Southwest showcase "Killers Lasers Papers," and then find out, much to your dismay, that neither the Killer (Cee Lo Green, whose 2010 album is called The Lady Killer) or the Laser (Lupe Fiasco, whose Lasers currently sits atop the Billboard albums chart) are actually going to show up, what do you do?

Well, if you're Atlantic Records, you simply plug in another of your chart-topping stars, add your critically acclaimed futurist-funk chanteuse and keep right on trucking. Things are that easy for the label these days.

So, on Thursday night at Austin's La Zona Rosa, instead of Green and Fiasco, SXSW-ers were treated to semi-surprise sets from B.o.B and Janelle...

After weathering the contagious cinematic disease known amongst hardcore film fanatics as “Highlander 3: The Sorcerer” (aka “Highlander: The Final Dimension”), it’s anyone’s guess why I decided to investigate the dodgy 1994 Christopher Lambert/Mario Van Peebles action extravaganza “Gunmen.” Am I a glutton for punishment, you ask, a miserable beast of a man who enjoys mindlessly tossing his precious free time to the proverbial winds? Perhaps. Or maybe, just maybe, I’m an unapologetic sucker for buddy flicks involving big guns, bad jokes, Sally Kirkland in the nude, Dr. Dre and Ed lover, Big Daddy Kane, Denis Leary, Kadeem Hardison, and a lots of people jumping from elevated surfaces. “Death Warrant” director Deran Sarafian understands the need for an abundance of goofy action and rapid fire humor when your script appears to have been written by someone who’s watched the “Lethal Weapon” series one too many times.

"Def Jam Rapstar" is a big release for hip-hop fans, a long-ignored group when it comes to video games. In an effort to make the release an even bigger deal, Def Jam has teamed up Cash Money Records to offer a special bonus to early adopters of the game. Anyone who purchases "Def Jam Rapstar" at a Best Buy between October 12 and October 19 will also receive a free copy of Lil Wayne's ninth album, entitled "I Am Not A Human Being."

Despite Lil Wayne's current incarceration, "I Am Not A Human Being" will be his second album released in less than a year, and fans of hip-hop will undoubtedly appreciate the two-for-one deal they're getting with the game and the album.

In addition to the album, followers of Lil Wayne can attempt his lyrical style in one of his songs, "A Milli," which is included in the game.

For those unfamiliar,...

4mm Games, Def Jam Interactive, Konami and Terminal Reality have revealed the Full line up of tracks and instrumental beats that will be available in Def Jam Rapstar, the first interactive hip hop music game coming to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii on November 5th.

Complete Track List:

2 Pac – I Get Around

50 Cent – I Get Money

A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario

Bashy – Black Boys *UK Exclusive

Beastie Boys – Brass Monkey

Biz Markie – Just A Friend

Busta Rhymes – Put Your Hand’s Where My Eyes Can See

Chipmunk – Chip Diddy Chip *UK Exclusive

Devlin – Giant *UK Exclusive

Diddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim & The Lox – It’s All About The Benjamins (Remix)

Dizzee Rascal -Fix Up, Look Sharp *UK Exclusive

Dmx – Ruff Ryder’s Anthem

Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg – Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang

Drake -Best I Ever Had

Fat Joe featuring Terror Squad – Lean Back

Ja Rule featuring...

I consider myself a fan of rap and especially old school gangster rap. At least, as much of a fan as a cracker-assed cracker honkie ghost from the whitest part of Canada can be. Admittedly my exposure to the genre might be a touch lacking since, in my youth, only the artists that America decided were popular were the ones that any of the music stores would bring in. It had hard beats, unapologetic swearing and a swagger that spoke to my white middle-class upbringing on the hard skreets of my 200,000 strong city in the middle of Podunkia. I was twelve when I was first exposed to the dulcet tones of 2 Live Crew and Me So Horny first tickled my ear drum. Quit honestly, the only reason I knew anything about them was thanks to the Afa (American Family Association) and all the publicity they generated by them trying to...

'Honestly, I don't know how much longer I have in this game,' Em tells Vibe.

By James Dinh

Eminem and Dr. Dre on the cover of <i>Vibe</i>

Photo: Vibe

After more than a decade in the business, Eminem remains a hip-hop heavyweight, one who can still sell records as if it were the pre-Internet era. So it's hard to imagine what the music scene would be like if he wasn't around. Aside from remembering his "8 Mile" co-star Brittany Murphy in Vibe's 15th-anniversary "Juice" issue, Em also opens up about his inevitable retirement from the rap game.

"Honestly, I don't know how much longer I have in this game," the 37-year-old Mc told Vibe. "I'm always going to love hip-hop. But how much longer am I going to still do it? I couldn't give you an answer. But the day that this is not better than the last will probably be the day I stop.

'I thought it would take, at worst case, a couple of years,' he tells Vibe for his cover story with Eminem.

By Hillary Crosley

Eminem and Dr. Dre on the cover of <i>Vibe</i>

Photo: Vibe

While Eminem talked about death and Brittany Murphy in his interview for the Vibe "Juice" issue, Dr. Dre delved into his Detox delay, the "Under Pressure" leak and rumors of an instrumental album.

The Eminem and Dr. Dre cover of Vibe's 15th-anniversary "Juice" issue is a nod to their original appearance in the mag eight years ago. The issue hits newsstands August 16, and Dre began by answering the question on many fans' minds: Did he know Detox would take this long?

"Absolutely not. I thought it would take, at worst case, a couple of years," the super-producer said. "For example, actual work time on The Chronic was nine months, and actual work time on my last album,...

'It's crazy, because at one point, we were very close,' Em reveals in cover story, which also features Dr. Dre.

By Jayson Rodriguez

Eminem and Dr. Dre on the cover of <i>Vibe</i>

Photo: Vibe

Eminem and Dr. Dre return to grace the cover of the 15th anniversary of Vibe's "Juice" issue, eight years after the pair first landed on the front of the magazine.

In the issue, on newsstands August 16, Em opens up about being haunted by death and talks about the death last year of his "8 Mile" co-star, Brittany Murphy.

"It was crazy," the rapper told Vibe about Murphy's death. "It's crazy, because at one point, we were very close, and she was a really good person. It's crazy when you see things not just with her but just all these things that are happening in Hollywood with people in music, with people in acting. ... Famous people. Famous...

The 'Nightline' reporter wouldn't have grilled another mogul about gifting his teen son a Maybach, the Bad Boy boss tells Vibe.

By Mawuse Ziegbe

Rick Ross, Janelle Monae and Diddy on the cover of <i>Vibe</i> magazine

Photo: <i>Vibe</i>

Diddy is one of the most money-earnin' moguls in entertainment and the star doesn't think anybody should question how he spends his green when it comes to his kids. In the August/September issue of Vibe magazine, the Bad Boy boss sounds off about a June "Nightline" interview with ABC News reporter Martin Bashir, during which the journalist grilled him about lavishing his son with an expensive ride for his 16th birthday.

"The whole thing about giving a Maybach to my son, that's really like a racist question," Diddy tells the mag. "You don't ask white people what they buy their kids. And they buy 'em Porsches and convertible Bentleys, and it ain't no question.

Throughout his long and storied career, Snoop Dogg has been responsible for classic hits ("Who Am I? (What's My Name?)," "Gin and Juice," "Drop It Like It's Hot," "Sexual Seduction"), incredible collaborations (with legends like Dr. Dre, Tupac, Mariah Carey and Eminem), amazing feats of cross-promotion (Snoop has endorsed clothes, malt liquor, hot dogs, skateboards and just about everything in between). But as far as we can tell, he has never once spent quality time with a blinged-out seal at an aquarium.

Until now, that is.

Snoop paid a visit to SeaWorld San Diego (following a recent concert in the area) to spend some time with Clyde the Sea Lion. Snoop also interacted with a number of other animals at SeaWorld and also made an appearance with Clyde at the park's Sea Lion and Otter Stadium venue.

"SeaWorld San Diego's Clyde the Sea Lion wanted the rapper to know that...

'He changed the face of music and he changed my life,' Eminem says.

By Kelly Marino

Dr. Dre

Photo: MTV News

It's been over a decade since his last solo album, but when Dr. Dre was honored with Ascap's Founders Award Friday night, it was a reminder to everyone that the doctor is still one of hip-hop's biggest pioneers in the game today.

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers held it's 23rd annual Rhythm and Soul Music Awards last night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, where some of music's biggest names were recognized for their contributions to music.

The biggest award of the night was handed to Dr. Dre for his achievements in the music industry and for inspiring and influencing his fellow music makers. The Ascap association put together a presentation package that played across the big screens, highlighting some of Dre's greatest quotes.

Travis Barker, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Birdman and more appear on tape dropping Monday.

By Shaheem Reid

The Game's <i>The Red Room </i>

Photo: Universal Music Group

The Game's anticipated The Red Room mixtape comes out on Monday (April 26). Though it was originally slated to be a special Gangsta Grillz edition mixtape with DJ Drama, Game made an 11th-hour switch and went back to his playa potna DJ Skee, who has been a part of several Game mixtapes over the years.

Skee contributed production to the mixtape as well, making a "Skeemix" of the Compton native's controversial "400 Bars." Travis Barker lends his drums to a remix of the Cool and Dre-produced "Shake."

Game has no shortage of fire power elsewhere in the mixtape. Diddy appears on "Heartbreak Hotel," and Nipsey Hussle raps on the freestyle "Ha Ha," which uses Fat Joe's "Slow Down" beat. Lil Wayne, Jadakiss, The Birdman, Jim Jones,...

Considering how ubiquitous and consistently excellent he has been for the length of his career, it's easy to take Snoop Dogg for granted. But you shouldn't, because not only has the man born Calvin Broadus released some of the most iconic hip-hop tracks of the past 20 years ("Gin and Juice," "Murder Was the Case," "Drop It Like It's Hot," "Beautiful" and "Sensual Seduction" among them), but he has also been a movie star ("Starsky and Hutch," "Bones"), a TV icon ("Doggy Fizzle Televizzle" and "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood") and a master of the endorsement (which run from St. Ides malt liquor to Snoop-themed action figures).

He wasn't always a media mogul. In the beginning, he was just a hungry kid with a unique flow who rapped all over Dr. Dre's The Chronic. He still has that same voice (it's a rare mix of hard and sweet that few others...

In 1992, we were in the tail end of the golden age of hip-hop. Dr. Dre had just released The Chronic, and G Funk was on the rise, but for fans of the east coast sound, there was still Eric B & Rakim. So as a nod to the good old days, today's Scenes (Songs) We Love is all about Eric B & Rakim's Know the Ledge from the 92 crime flick, Juice. The 90's timepiece was directed by cinematographer Ernest R. Dickerson (The Wire and long-time cinematographer for Spike Lee) and centered on four friends in Harlem: Bishop (Tupac Shakur), Q (Omar Epps), Raheem (Khalil Kain) and Steel (Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins) as they wrestled with the usual urban tropes about making it out of the 'ghetto'.

Music was a big part of the film, and if you are of a certain age, the songs in this movie will seem like the best...

Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, a reunited Goodie Mob and other hometown greats also perform at the show, held at the Atlanta Civic Center.

By Shaheem Reid

Ice Cube arrives at the 2009 Bet Hip Hop Awards

Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

Atlanta — At the Atlanta Civic Center, Young Jeezy — who often has high-profile guests to join him onstage — pulled off a huge move during the Bet Hip-Hop Awards, kicking off the show by bringing out surprise guest Jay-z. Hov and Young opened the show with "As Real As It Gets," with the two hip-hop heavyweights going back and forth on verses. With the audience on their feet by song's end, Jeezy said, "Welcome to Atlanta."

Jay later took home the Mvp of the Year award, beating out such popular peers as Lil Wayne and Drake. Hov dedicated his win to Mr. Magic, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. "Brooklyn, we did it again,...

The Chronic Re-Lit will be in stores September 1, with seven bonus tracks and a DVD.

By Gil Kaufman

Dr. Dre's <i>The Chronic</i>

Photo: Death Row

One of the most iconic rap albums of all time, Dr. Dre's 1992 solo debut, The Chronic, will be re-released on September 1. The digitally remastered version of the multiplatinum gangsta rap landmark, with such hits as "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" and "Let Me Ride," will feature all 16 original songs and seven new tracks uncovered in the Death Row Records vaults, according to the label's new CEO.

"There's a couple of crown jewels on Death Row, one is The Chronic, the other is the entire Tupac collection and Snoop's camp, but Dre was the first artist released on Death Row and, in my view, the greatest hip-hop producer ever," said Lara Lavi, CEO of the Canadian company WIDEawake Entertainment, which purchased the storied California...

Plus: hitmakers Sean C. and Lv, in Mixtape Daily.

By Shaheem Reid

Eminem and 50 Cent

Photo: Shady

Behind the Beats: Sean C. and Lv

Sometimes it's just easy for producers Sean C. and Lv, a.k.a. Grind Music Inc. — play the beat, let the artist rap over it, done. Classic.

"We had that Michael Jackson sample. L went up there to Yonkers and played them the beat," Sean C. said of Jadakiss' new street jam, "One More Step." "It's pretty simple, straightforward."

"Soon as he heard it," Lv added. "I played, like, 20 seconds and he was like, 'I already know what that is. Don't even worry about that.' "

"It was a blessing they got it on some 'We Gon Make It'-type vibe," C., a former A&R rep at Loud Records, added.

Sean C. and Lv have incredible credentials and have worked with the best of the best.

Plus: hitmakers Sean C. and Lv, in Mixtape Daily.

By Shaheem Reid

Eminem and 50 Cent

Photo: Shady

Behind the Beats: Sean C. and Lv

Sometimes it's just easy for producers Sean C. and Lv, a.k.a. Grind Music Inc. — play the beat, let the artist rap over it, done. Classic.

"We had that Michael Jackson sample. L went up there to Yonkers and played them the beat," Sean C. said of Jadakiss' new street jam, "One More Step." "It's pretty simple, straightforward."

"Soon as he heard it," Lv added. "I played, like, 20 seconds and he was like, 'I already know what that is. Don't even worry about that.' "

"It was a blessing they got it on some 'We Gon Make It'-type vibe," C., a former A&R rep at Loud Records, added.

Sean C. and Lv have incredible credentials and have worked with the best of the best.

'I think those sessions were like his training,' Sway says of Em's time on the radio show.

By Jayson Rodriguez

Eminem

Photo: Sam Snap/FilmMagic

Eminem's heart might lie in battle rapping, but one of his earliest breaks came courtesy of a Slim Shady-based freestyle he did on MTV News reporter Sway's radio show with King Tech.

The Detroit native flew to Los Angeles in 1997 to participate in the Rap Olympics. The event proved to be successful, but it didn't get as much attention as the promoter, Wendy Day, had hoped. According to Tech, Day asked if she could bring over the standout competitors to rap live on "The Wake Up Show." Sway and Tech obliged, and Eminem, who finished second in the competition, decided he would come out on top during the cypher.

"Em tried to do the battle-rap thing, and honestly, it wasn't too hot,...