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Digable Planets Announce "Reachin' 30th Anniversary Tour"
Digable Planets—the legendary Hip Hop trio comprised of Butterfly, Ladybug Mecca and Doodlebug—have announced an upcoming tour in honor of the 30th anniversary of their debut album, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space). The run kicks off on September 8 in Raleigh, North Carolina and wraps up on September 24 in Austin, Texas.
Reachin' arrived in February 1993 via Pendulum/Elektra Records and was ultimately certified gold by the RIAA. Produced by Butterfly, the sound leans heavily on jazz samples As he explained at the time, "It was all about resources, really...I just went and got the records that I had around me. And a lot of those were my dad's shit, which was lots of jazz. The whole concept of 'We're a jazz group' didn't go down like that. Except
Read moreTupac Shakur To Received Posthumous Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Tupac Shakur was killed in September 1996, but his legacy lives on nearly 30 years later. On June 7, the late Hip Hop legend will receive a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California.
According to a press release from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Shakur is set to receive the 2,758th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Recording. iHeart Media Radio Personality Big Boy will emcee the event, while director John Hughes (Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni & Tupac Shakur) and Jamal Jospeh will serve as guest speakers. Shakur's sister, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, will accept the honor on his behalf.
"Tupac Shakur was a rapper, actor, activist, poet, and revolutionary," Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer Ana Martinez. "
Read moreMC Lyte Taps Bahamadia, Rapsody & More For "I Am Woman" Event At Kennedy Center
MC Lyte is bringing back her I Am Woman: A Celebration of Women in Hip Hop event to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on June 4 at 8 p.m. local time. Similar to last year's inaugural event, the trailblazing MC has booked several special guests, including Bahamadia, Rapsody, Kash Doll and Mama Sol.
The Kennedy Center expounded in an Instagram post: "After a highly successful inaugural year, hip hop icon and founding Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Council Member MC Lyte presents I Am Woman: A Celebration of Women in Hip Hop for a second year featuring special guests Rapsody, Kash Doll, Bahamadia, Mama Sol and MC Lyte herself. Uplifting the creative contributions of women across generations, I Am Woman honors the genius, diversity and power of female emce
Read moreSpike Lee Says Goodbye To His Father, Composer Bill Lee
Spike Lee's father, Bill Lee, passed away in Brooklyn on Wednesday (May 24) at the age of 94. Spike confirmed his death with an Instagram post, writing, "My father Bill Lee Played Bass On Bob Dylan's Classic Song 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue' on his album, Bringing It All Home. This morning May 24, my father made his transition.
"Today Is also the birthdate Of Bob Dylan. Today is also the birthdate of Jackson Lewis Lee, who is the son of Tonya Lewis Lee and me, brother of Satchel Lee and the grandson of Daddy. Also must give love to our sista Tina Turner, who left us today on this May 24, 2023. Whew lawd. What a day. Da Lee family appreciations all da love. Your heartfelt condolences."
Bill Lee composed music for several of his son's films, including Do The R
Read moreQuestlove, Chuck D, Grandmaster Flash & JJ Fad Among The Many Mourning Tina Turner's Death
Tina Turner—affectionately known as the Queen of Rock & Roll—died at her home in Switzerland on Wednesday (May 24). She was 83. According to a statement from her family obtained by Rolling Stone, "Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”
The Roots’ Questlove was among first Hip Hop artists who paid tribute to Tina Turner on social media, writing, “Survivor. The King & Queen. She was everything. Man…. This is one of the figures I just knew would live in her 3 digits. I was not prepared to say goodbye to Tina Turner. But it’s 2023……and here we are. What an AMAZING life. L
Read moreMasta Ace Announces A Hip Hop Musical Called "The Falling Season"
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-
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