Ludacris Receives A Humanitarian Award

In order to raise awareness about children suffering from diabetes, Ludacris teamed up with other celebrities for a three-day event in Los Angeles this weekend. Working with the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department, a non-profit Developing Options, Wells Fargo, Powerade and Jim Brown, Luda will end everything with a performance at the Nokia Center. Other celebrities, including Ving Rhames, will helped raise awareness.
NFL players DeSean Jackson and Dwight Freeney led things off on Friday, the 16th with a free sports clinic for kids and Luda's show was another highlight of the weekend's events.
Developing Options worked in association with UneekVision, Inc. to present The Developing Options Diabetes Awareness & Healthy Living Celebrity Benefit Concert. Luda wasn't be alone. Ray J, Rich Boy, New Boyz and others joined the bill for the evening.
'Cris was also presented with the Developing Options Humanitarian Award for his work in the community.

The Fat Boys To Perform Concert At Twitter Headquarters

This weekend, The Fat Boys' manager Uncle Louie told HipHopDX that the Rap icons have been invited, along with Special Ed to perform at Twitter headquarters, for what he called an "old school takeover." Details are still finalizing, but the event will take place this September, and both living Fat Boys Kool Rock-ski and Prince Markie Dee are confirmed.
The event will take place in Twitter's home city, San Francisco, with sponsorship confirmed by Domino's Pizza, New Hall Coffee, Kimpton Hotels, SCE Stations and Louie's own Uncle Louie Music Group. Other old school Hip Hop acts are said to be confirming.
In honor of the event's host, fans are encouraged to follow @TheFatBoys, @PrinceMarkieDee, @KoolRockSki and @UncleLouie.
Last year, Kool Rock-ski told DX about the group's impact on Hip Hop. "I think the fact that every parent saw in us just pure fun. Like, those guys are clean. They’re not rapping about sexual [stuff]. They’re not rapping about raising hell. [Laughs] They’re just being who they are. They just being funny. And they’re young. A lot of kids gravitated to us ‘cause they just seen these young faces. [And so] the legacy for us is just that a lot of people gravitated towards us because we brought that fun element into Hip Hop."

Lil' Kim & DMX Perform Together On Stage In Arizona

Two superstars of the 1990s, Lil' Kim and DMX, made a rare performance together this past weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. Kim is presently touring, while X, who now lives in Arizona, appeared to do "Money, Power, Respect." The two worked together in one of the hits from the 1998 platinum album from The L.O.X. of the same name.
Both artists are presently plotting a comeback, as DMX is reportedly recording, and rumors have circulated that Kim may end up on Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint. The former Junior M.A.F.I.A. emcee and model has yet to confirm that signing, though she's addressed that rumor. "There are a lot of offers on the table right now. It's not a done deal," she told The Chicago Tribune last month.
Fans can watch fan-submitted concert footage from the event at Rap-Up.com.

Royce Da 5'9" Says He's Free Of All Beefs

Over his decade-plus career, Detroit emcee Royce Da 5'9" is no stranger to lyrical confrontation. The lyricist has had notable words via records and interviews with former Bad Meets Evil partner Eminem, and would-be Slaughterhouse bandmate Joe Budden. While both of those relationships appear to now be in optimal states - Slaughterhouse is just a formal announcement away from signing with Shady Records, other disputes have gone deeper than rap.
Nickel Nine's early '00s dispute with Proof, Bizarre and other members of D12 landed its way onto QD3's Beef documentary series, with threats of physical violence. That issue was brought to a halt in the months before Proof's untimely death, after which Royce and D12 would record and tour together. Even earlier this year, Royce was involved in a brief back-and-forth exchange with former Made Men front-man Benzino that seemingly went as fast as it came.
Fans also recently fueled fires, believing that 5'9" was subliminally speaking to neighboring Drake on his March "Over (Freestyle)" with the lines such as, "I don't really have to go against actors," and closing declaration, "I think I owe Drake a apology," and after a pause, stating, "Tweet about that, you fuckin' fruit," Those lines have yet to be addressed, however, fans can now know that the former Columbia, Tommy Boy and Koch Records rapper is presently in an usual state of his career, given his history.
To confirm that Royce has no bad blood or current beefs, the rapper tweeted(@RoyceDaFive9) late last evening, "I LOVE the feeling of not having beef with nobody... It's pleasant.."
Slaughterhouse is believed to be working on an EP due later this year.

Missy Elliott Lands In ISrael, Plans Trips To Western Wall, Dead Sea

Missy Elliott arrived in Jerusalem today (July 14th) for a controversial performance in Israel, despite an international boycott and a new standoff with a Libyan ship trying to deliver aid to Gaza.

According to publicists for the platinum selling rapper and critically acclaimed producer, Missy Elliott is in town for two days.

During her trip to Israel, Missy will visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, followed by a trip to the Dead Sea.

Missy Elliott is slated to hit the stage tomorrow night in Tel Aviv, alongside popular funk/Hip-Hop group Hadag Nahash at Gane HaTaarucha.

Elliott’s performance in Tel Aviv has condemned by a variety of human rights groups, because of Israel’s ongoing dispute with the Palestinian government over land.

Additionally, a variety of artists have cancelled their performances in Israel, which was intensified in six-weeks ago, when commandos raided a foreign aid ship headed for Gaza and killed nine Turkish activists.

Missy Elliott’s trip comes amidst more tension in the Middle East, as Israeli warships are following the Amalthea, a Libyan aid ship heading to Gaza, vowing to defy any Israeli Navy orders change course.

Artists who have canceled performances in Israel over the past four months include Elvis Costello, Gorrillaz, Carlos Santana, the Klaxons and others.

A variety of artists have ignored the boycott as well, including Elton John, Madonna and Paul McCartney.

Rock From Heltah Skeltah Beats Attempted Murder Charge

Rock from the acclaimed group Heltah Skeltah has been found not guilty in an attempted murder case stemming from a shooting incident that left a pimp paralyzed.

Dru Ha, the CEO of Duck Down Records, made the announcement.

"Exhale for Rock & congratulations to his attorney Kenneth Montgomery for the NOT GUILTY VERDICT! Incredible job," Dru Ha said via Twitter.

Rock was accused of being a moonlighting as a pimp at night and shooting a rival in January of 2008. He was eventually released on $125,000 bail and proclaimed his innocent in the alleged shooting, assault and the assertion that he is a pimp.

Despite the legal matters, Rock refused to sensationalize the case and released D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team) with Heltah Skeltah rap partner Sean "Ruck" Price.

Rock was party to a recent celebration of Duck Down's 15th Anniversary on Tuesday at BB King's Club in New York.

DMX's Wife Finds Author For Tell-All Book

Tashera Simmons, wife of rapper DMX, has found a co-author to help write her book about living as the wife of the multiplatinum rapper.
According to AllHipHop.com, Tashera has enlisted Aliya S. King, writer of books for Frank Lucas and Faith Evans, who also released a recent book titled "Platinum," about rappers and their wives.
“When I first met Aliya, I was in a state where I was trapped and she was the first person that kind of opened me up. She started asking me questions about what it was like to be in the light of a super star, rap star," said Simmons of King, who was writing a story for VIBE magazine regarding rappers' wives. That story would later lay the foundation of "Platinum."
“I told her I am working on my book, 'Strength of a Woman' and she told me to 'Read ("Platinum") and tell me what you think.' It touched me," explained Tashera. "She’s writing my book now."
"Strength of a Woman" currently does not have a release date.