ContactMusic — Big Daddy Kane Kurtis Blow and Doug E Fresh are among the rappers who will pay tribute to Heavy D at the upcoming Soul Train Awards The veteran MC real name Dwight Arrington Myers died last week 08Nov11 after neighbours found him lying unconscious o.... more info

Guardian Music — From humble beginnings in student digs, the record label Def Jam is credited with bringing New York's street culture and music to the masses – and even helping to elect a president'Without hip-hop we wouldn't have Obama," says Russell Simmons, co-f... more info

MVSW — Kurtis Blow ~ “Basketball” This ’80s old school jam has been in my head since I walked into Dwayne Wade last night. Lyrics Chours: They’re playing Basketball We love that Basketball They’re playing Basketball We love that Basketball (Now ra... more info

Guardian Music — Pablo Dylan says his grandfather was 'the Jay-Z of his time'Bob Dylan's teenage grandson is entering the music business, not as a folk troubadour or even simply going electric – but as a rapper. "He feels strongly about my music," Pablo Dylan said,... more info

Guardian Music — October 1980: Number 6 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of R&B and hip-hop musicKurt Walker has a number of claims on the history of hip-hop. Under the moniker Kurtis Blow, he was the first rapper to sign to a major label, Mercury. H... more info

Guardian Music — 1984: Number 8 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of R&B and hip-hop musicThe Def Jam label holds an almost mythical status within hip-hop. How come? After all, it was far from the first to put out rap music and, though it released num... more info

Guardian Music — 1984: Number 9 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of R&B and hip-hop musicHip-hop had planted roots on the west coast by the early 80s but it was stylistically in hock to the east coast. When Ice T released Body Rock he was already 25.... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — Basketball and rap music have been intertwined since the days of Kurtis Blow. As the shibboleth goes: Rappers want to be ballers, ballers want to be rappers, and occasionally, Shaquille O' Neal accomplishes both. Then again, it helps when you... more info

AllHipHop — The Black Eyed Peas have been hired to perform at the Estate of Russian billionaire Ramon Abramovich on New Years Eve. The Peas will head to St. Barts, where the group will party and perform with Abramovich, on his 70-acre, $90 million dollar private... more info

Culture Bully — Prior to the released of Blow's classic track "The Breaks," "Christmas Rappin'" was released as the first rap single on a major label. It was only after the song's success that mercury went forward with the release of his now legendary single. more info