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Masta Ace has written what's being described as a "Hip Hop Musical" called The Falling Season. The play is scheduled to run from June 1-2 at Theatre Row in New York City. The title of the play is taken from the Juice Crew alum's 2016 album of the same name. 

Billed as a concept album based on his high school years, The Falling Season features appearances by Chuck D, Cormega, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Your Old Droog, among others. The lead single and album’s fourth track, “Me & AG" with D.I.T.C. veteran A.G., finds the two MCs swapping bars over a somber beat, with the chorus: “Once you hear the capital A/rap it’ll stay with you for awhile, it won’t go away,” one of Ace's lines from the 1988 Juice Crew classic, “The Symphony.”

The 24-

Riot Fest has announced its 2023 line-up featuring headliners Foo Fighters, The Cure, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie and Queens of the Stone Age. Additional acts include Turnstile, The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle, Tegan and Sara, 100 Gecs, The Gaslight Anthem, Death Grips AFI and dozens of others. 

While past iterations of the festival have included Run-DMC and Snoop Dogg have been among the sole Hip Hop acts to hit the Riot Act stage, the genre is noticeably absent this year. But, Parliament-Funkadelic and George Clinton will make an appearance at the Chicago fest the weekend of September 15-17. Their musical compositions, of course, are building blocks for countless Hip Hop hits, including Dr. Dre's The Chronic. 

Founded in 2005, Riot Fest has presented ne

KRS-One ignited the Stop The Violence Movement in 1989 with the song "Self-Destruction" in response to the violence littering his community. Produced by D-Nice and The Bomb Squad’s Hank Shocklee, the track featured KRS-One, Stetsasonic’s Daddy-O, Public Enemy, Doug E. Fresh, Heavy D, Just-Ice, MC Lyte and Kool Moe Dee and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, remaining for 10 consecutive weeks.

Now, with the help of Special Ed, Kid Capri and a slew of other Hip Hop legends, the movement is being revitalized. Speaking to Rolling Stone

Earl Stevens—better known by his rap moniker E-40—received an honorary doctorate degree in music from his alma mater, Grambling State University, officially making him “Dr. E-40.”

The Bay Area rap legend was on-hand at Grambling’s commencement ceremony to formally receive the degree as well as offer words of wisdom, encouragement and appreciation to the graduating students.

 E-40 donated $100,000 to Grambling State University earlier this year in an effort to bolster the university’s marching band and help with the installation of a recording studio, so students can follow their music industry dreams. The University returned the favor by surprising the mogul by naming the studio in his honor as the “Earl ‘E-40’ Stevens Sound Recording Studio.”

Long Island is virtually a breeding ground for Hip Hop legends—from Chuck D and Stetsasonic to De La Soul. On June 11, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall Of Fame (LIMEHOF) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with a concert and panel discussion event at the venue’s home base in Stony Brook Village beginning at 2pm ET. The event will feature Son of Bazerk, Kool Rock-Ski (of The Fat Boys), A.J. Rock (of J.V.C. F.O.R.C.E.), DJ Jazzy Jay, DJ Johnny Juice (of Public Enemy), Dinco D and Milo in de Dance (both of Leaders of the New School) along with special guest Ralph McDaniels of Video Music Box. 

DJ Jazzy Jay, DJ Johnny Juice, Kool Rock-Ski, and Son of Bazerk will perform live, while a panel discussion moderated by Tom Needham, LIMEHOF vice chairman

The 2023 class of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced on Wednesday (May 3). Subsequently, Missy Elliott made history as the first female rapper to receive the honor. Shortly after the news broke, Elliott took to Twitter to react and admitted it was an emotional moment.

"I can’t stop crying," she wrote. I am from  Portsmouth Virginia aka P-Town.. #757 to 804 I send my love. You day dream of these moments but today it’s Real. VA 2 up 2 down the 7 Cities all my folk I am GRATEFUL. I want to say  CONGRATULATIONS to all the other LEGENDARY artist who will now be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They have committed DECADES of hard work and IMPACT on music I thank you for the TIMELESS music you have shared with the World." 

She added, "It