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Legendary DJ Mister Cee Has Passed Away

Legendary DJ, radio personality, and Hip-Hop producer Mister Cee has reportedly died. The Brooklyn, New Yorker born Calvin LeBrun was instrumental to the careers of The Notorious B.I.G. and Big Daddy Kane during a career that lasted over 35 years. He was believed to be 57 years old at the... Read more

Heavy D’s Impact On Hip-Hop Cannot Be Overstated

There have been a number of valiant attempts to highlight some of the most significant Hip-Hop moments, milestones and people of the last half century. The 2023 Grammy Awards dedicated nearly 15 minutes to an epic tribute featuring performances by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J,... Read more

Little Shawn Describes The 1994 Tupac Shooting & Insists He Was Not Involved (Video)

Rapper Little Shawn has an incredible Hip-Hop story. A native of East Flatbush, Brooklyn, the veteran MC-turned-dietician sat with Drink Champs for more than three hours. Over the course of the discussion, the guest (who now goes by Shawn Pen) details the mutual respect he shares with JAY-Z. Shawn recalls... Read more

Mary J Blige & Method Man Show Their Duet Still Has Mad Love To Give (Video)

Last night (June 23), the 19th BET Awards took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. For many Heads, the highlight of the evening surrounded Mary J. Blige, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Yonkers, New York representative also performed a medley of her hits, spanning nearly... Read more

Mary J. Blige To Be Presented Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star By Puff Daddy

Thirty years ago, Mary J. Blige recorded an Anita Baker cover at a kiosk in a Westchester, New York mall. From that teenager's rendition of "Caught Up In The Rapture" (which would get her signed by Uptown Records), the Bronx native has taken her talents to the Walk Of Fame... Read more

Teddy Riley Says A Fatal Fight With New Edition Led To His Leaving Guy (Audio)

In 1990, Guy was one of the biggest R&B acts in the world. Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall, Damian Hall (following the exit of Timmy Gatling) would release two platinum albums for Uptown/MCA Records. Pioneers of the New Jack Swing, the group released an onslaught of hits like "Groove Me," "Let's... Read more

Teddy Riley Reveals Some Of Heavy D’s Biggest Hits Were Meant For Wreckx-N-Effect

UPDATE: Teddy Riley's full Red Bull Music Academy Festival lecture video with Jeff "Chairman" Mao: ORIGINAL MAY 15 POST: Earlier this month, artist/producer Teddy Riley appeared before a live New York City audience as part of the Red Bull Music Academy speaker series. There, the Harlem, New Yorker spoke about... Read more

For Those Feenin’ For More R&B Biopics… The Story Of Jodeci Is Coming (Video)

In the last month, New Edition's biopic set ratings records during its three-night television mini-series. The New Edition Story aired on BET, and told the story of Bobby Brown, Michael Bivens, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant, and later member Johnny Gill with the group functioning as producers. The event... Read more

Andre Harrell Explains How Heavy D Became The Foundation For Uptown Records (Video)

While record labels like Def Jam and Bad Boy are often celebrated for their contributions to music, and rightly so, the company that bridged the two is often overlooked. Uptown Records was founded in 1986 by Andre Harrell, one half of the Rap group Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, and... Read more

Why “When Doves Cry” Almost Didn’t Happen & Many Other Wonderful Prince Secrets

While some are fixating on how Prince died, here's a fantastic look at how he LIVED. 20 years ago, when Prince released his first ever greatest hits compilation, some mysterious liner notes for the triple album, but different than those included with the final product, surfaced online and were quickly... Read more

Mister Cee Explains Why Biggie’s “Ready To Die” Sounds Like 2 Different Albums

This morning (March 9), Brooklyn, New York DJ/producer/radio personality Mister Cee appeared on Sway In The Morning. On the 19th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s tragic (and unsolved) murder, Cee recalled his hand in turning a street-corner MC into arguably Rap's greatest ever. Beginning the interview, Mister Cee recalls friend... Read more

Which Cheryl Lynn Disco Hit Fueled These 2 90s Hip-Hop Party Starters?

In the fall of 1978, Disco was going on strong. While a lot of the 1970s genre's biggest hits have not translated to Hip-Hop, some have. Cheryl Lynn was one such singer. In the middle of the decade, the Los Angeles, California songstress was instrumental to The Wiz. Later a... Read more

Mary J. Blige & Grand Puba Shut Down YO! MTV Raps. That’s The 411. (Video)

Mary J. Blige's Hip-Hop collaborations may as well be a genre of their own. The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul has worked on heralded albums such as Ghostface Killah's Ironman, Jay Z's Reasonable Doubt, Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation..., and Nas' Life Is Good, among many, many others. However, when it comes... Read more

Andre Harrell Recounts the “Ghetto Fabulous” History of Uptown Records (Video)

The name Andre Harrell might not be as well-known as Russell Simmons, Master P, Birdman or Puff Daddy, but he is responsible for one of the most important record labels in Hip-Hop and Soul history. Uptown Records was the home to Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Heavy D, Al B. Sure,... Read more

Jodeci Reunites at The Soul Train Awards. Watch the Performance (Video)

Jodeci reunited for an extended medley at the 2014 Soul Train Awards. K-Ci, JoJo, DeVante and Mr. Dalvin took the stage in Las Vegas and ran through several of their classics, hitting seemingly all of the slow jams that made them one of the most revered groups of the New... Read more

Mary J. Blige’s My Life Shows That Soul Reigns Supreme, 20 Years Later (Food For Thought)

Twenty years ago today (November 29, 1994), Mary J. Blige released her sophomore album, My Life. More than two years removed from MJB's breakthrough Pop success surrounding What's The 411?, the Yonkers, New Yorker made maintained her undeniable vocal skills, but changed directions in making her sophomore LP. With hits... Read more

Finding The GOAT: Heavy D vs. Trugoy…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more