RapStation

It's no secret Hip Hop has been littered with gun violence in recent years. From Nipsey Hussle and Pop Smoke to PnB Rock and, most recently, Migos member Takeoff, the rate at which rappers are dying is astonishing. On Tuesday (November 15), The Atlantic published a powerful op-ed from Too Short and E-40 bemoaning the string of deaths within the rap community. 

Beginning with the '90s murders of 2Pac and Biggie, the Mount Westmore OGs outlined the increasing number of killings over the last four years. 

"Back then, you could expect a fistfight or a backstage brawl, but those incidents seem mild-mannered compared with the surge of violence in Hip Hop now," it reads.

Grandmaster Flash, Roxanne Shanté, Eric B, "Video Music Box" founder Ralph McDaniels, Slick Rick and Chuck Chillout were among the Hip Hop figures who showed up at City Hall to meet with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. During the meeting, the Universal Hip Hop Museum and the City of New York announced their new partnership and discussed how they were going to commemorate Hip Hop's 50th birthday next year. 

As Eric B explained to RAPstation, "So what we’re doing is the city has come aboard to celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop starting in New York City and the city is going to put together 50 concerts. They’re doing all kinds of parties—small parties, big parties—and at the end of the year, in August, we're going to do a huge one in Central Park." 

When asked if the

Iconic West Coast Hip Hop collective Freestyle Fellowship was nominated for their first Grammy Award on Tuesday (November 15) in the Best Historical Album category for "To Whom It Might Concern." Released in 1991, the project served as the group's debut, introducing Myka 9, Self Jupiter, Aceyalone, P.E.A.C.E. and the rest of Freestyle Fellowship to the world. 

"God is greatest," Myka 9 tells RAPstation. "I feel maximum gratitude for our crew receiving this honor and humble appreciation for all our supporters and a sacred reverence for the women and men who have come before us as we move forward for those who have yet to come.

"Underground Hip Hop lives! From some Hillcrest school kids rhyming in the back seat during mandatory bussing to battling at Radiotron Kaos netwo

Travis Scott has signed on to executive produce a forthcoming biopic about late Houston rap legend DJ Screw, who passed away in November 2000 from a drug overdose. Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures is producing the feature length scripted film under the leadership of Vice President Maia Eyre, while Isaac Yowman will co-executive produce alongside Scott. 

DJ Screw’s sister Michelle Wheeler told Deadline, "Continuing the legacy of my brother is most important. The process honestly has been exciting. I’m like, 'Wow, we’re really about to make a movie.' Nearly a dozen film directors and producers had approached us over the years, but this was the first time

Snoop Dogg is among the nominees for the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame, yet another impressive accolade for the accomplished rapper/entrepreneur. Next year's class was announced on Monday (November 14) and includes Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Blondie, Gloria Estefan, Patti Smith, R.E.M., Sade and Teddy Riley. 

Snoop is one of few Hip Hop artists to be considered for the annual honor. In June 2019, Missy Elliott became the first female Hip Hop artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Queen Latifah was tasked with inducting Elliott and spoke about their decades-long friendship. Former First Lady Michelle Obama also sent in a taped video that aired during the ceremony, thanking Elliott for her "trailblazing ways." 

Eligible voting members will have until 12 p.m.

PBS and BBC Studios has enlisted a roster of iconic Hip Hop artists for an upcoming four-part series called "Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World." As the title suggests, the documentary was birthed by Public Enemy legend Chuck D and producing partner Lorrie Boula and tells the story of the relationship between politics and the Hip Hop movement through first-hand accounts and archival footage. It also aims to illustrate how Hip Hop became a cultural phenomenon in the face of socio-political upheaval. 

Among the many participants are B-Real from Cypress Hill, DMC, Grandmaster Caz, Eminem, Ice-T, Fat Joe, KRS-One, LL COOL J, MC Lyte, Monie Love, Abiodun Oyewole, Roxanne Shanté, and will.i.am as well as culture figures such as Rev. Al Sharpton, Sway Calloway, Nelson Geo