Not everyone in hip-hop is happy that Bill Cosby wants in.

In an open letter addressed to the famous entertainer and community activist, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons called out Cosby for what he perceived as efforts to consistently insult and downgrade young African-Americans.

As Cosby and his group, The Cosnarati Band prepare to release their album, “State of Emergency,” they respond to Simmons’ criticism.

From HipHopWired.com

Jumping to their leader’s defense, Supa Nova Slom and Jace The Great of the Cosnarati Band have both released statements on the issue.

Slom contends that while he respects Simmons, he should focus on the positive contributions that Cosby’s made to the community rather than critique his efforts.

“I respect Russell Simmons for all of his contributions to Hip Hop culture but I hope that people do not get distracted and lost in his critiques of Cosby’s past comments but instead they are able to acknowledge what Cosby is doing RIGHT NOW! Cosby is taking a whole other route by investing in politically-charged Hip Hop that does not condemn but instead inspires and uplifts during a time when there is next to none of that happening in the music industry.”

Jace The Great did not acknowledge the Hip-Hop veteran, instead he sang his praises to Bill saying,

“Point blank the problem right now is there is a state of emergency in our communities and we need to act fast. Cosby knowing the power and importance of Hip Hop culture is using it as a means to reach more youth not to condemn them.”

Bill has yet to release a response of his own.

Hip-Hop artist Lupe Fiasco said that emcess and radio stations must do more to curb violence in urban communities.

Speaking about the death of Derrion Albert during an interview on 107.5 WGCI in Chicago, Fiasco said that some of the lyrics in rap music is influencing youth to do negative things.

From HipHopWired.com

“Hip-Hop has to take some fault for that. Just in the fact that the amount of violence and the amount of negativity that’s in Hip-Hop and the music, it attributes to so much that goes on, negatively, in the hood,” said Fiasco who added that radio stations need to be more selective on what music plays on air.

Lupe added that another overlying issue is the fact that positivity is not endorsed as heavily in outlets such as the radio. Oddly enough, people must not want to be lifted and told that there is a better way.

“It lacks entertainment value. It lacks a certain kind of hype around it. A certain “coolness” about it. So it doesn’t fit on the radio.”

The radio personality who interviewed Beanie Sigel hours after he released his controversial “diss” record aimed at Jay-Z has been fired.

Charlamagne tha God, the morning show host of 100.3FM The Beat in Philadelphia has been relieved of his duties, according to an announcement Charlemagne made on his Twitter on Monday.

“Don’t believe the hype. This is not a publicity stunt. They fired me this(Monday) morning,” Charlamagne tweeted.

Many Hip-Hop insiders believe the firing was a direct result of Charlamagne giving Beanie Sigel an audience to discuss his Jay-Z diss record “Average Cats.”

Charlamagne said the firing is just “the nature of the business.“

One of Jay-Z’s former Roc-A-Fella artists lets loose on his feelings about the demise of a musical dynasty.

Beanie Sigel (Dwight Grant) released “Average Cats” early Friday morning (Oct 30) in which he accuses Jay-Z of calling the police on him during the premier concert of Blueprint 3.

He also accuses Jay-Z of keeping him tied to the label when Sigel had an opportunity to go elsewhere.

AllHipHop.com

According to Sigel, Jay offered him a financial incentive to remain on the struggling label’s roster. “I told you I ain’t want your money,” he said addressing Jay-Z directly.

“But you was in a position to let me get my own money, and you couldn’t do that,” Sigel claimed.

Whatever issues remain between the two artists, who have always appeared to be very close, Sigel has made it clear that they can be resolved.

The diss record was released hours after Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed at Yankee Stadium.

Jay-Z has yet to respond.

It looks like “America’s Pastime” will share the same stage with America’s favorite rapper.

Jay’z and Alicia Keys will perform their hit single “Empire State of Mind” at Yankee Stadium in New York this Wednesday to kick off the 2009 World Series.

The song has been adopted by the New York Yankees who will play defending World Series champions, the Philadelphia Phillies in the best four out of seven series.

“Thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee,” Jay-Z said in an interview Monday.

I wonder if Will Smith will perform when the series goes to Philadelphia??????

In an effort not to end up like former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress, rapper Lil’ Wayne has taken a plea deal in in a New York Courtroom on Thursday from charges stemming from a gun found on a tour bus by NY police in 2007.

From RollingStone.com

Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a weapon in the second degree this morning in a New York courtroom; the plea bargain carries a sentence of up to a year in prison. Wayne had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were filed after the NYPD found a .40 caliber handgun on Wayne’s tour bus in July 2007. But after the court ruled that DNA evidence found on the gun would be admissible — evidence obtained by techniques Wayne’s lawyer Stacey Richman has called problematic — Wayne opted to take the plea bargain, AllHipHop reports. If Wayne was found guilty following the trial, which was set for January 2010, the charges carried a three-and-a-half year sentence.

Lil Wayne is also facing felony drugs and weapon charges in Arizona for having marijuana, cocaine and loaded guns on a tour bus.

Percy Miller, known also as Master P will join OneMillionGifts.org to help needy children and families with presents and food during the holiday season.

In a statement, Master P said he remembers how the holidays can be a stressful time for poorer communities and he wants to do something about it.

HipHopWired.com

“Growing up in poverty made me realize that most crimes are committed during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not only will we feed and clothe one million but also we can help prevent a lot of those in need from committing crimes like robbing and stealing the food or gifts they can’t afford during the holidays.”

Kudos to Master P for stepping up and reaching out. Nice to start off the morning with some good news.

By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

Reggae fusion singer Sean Kingston wants you to flex your skills with him at his next performance…sort of. The “Beautiful Girls” crooner’s sophomore album, “Tomorrow”, is set to hit stores September 22nd and he wants his fans to get on the action. Packaged with the CD will be a special image that Kingston fans can hold up to their webcams to have a virtual karaoke session with the artist. Read the rest of this entry »

By Robin Caldwell, BlackWeb20.com

Everyone should know the words to Common’s I Use to Love Her and if you don’t you can view them everyday, if not wear them, with Microsoft’s Softwear clothing line. Common designed several of the shirts and is the spokesperson for the new line of gear inspired in part by an era when both hip hop and PC technology were renegade and new. Read the rest of this entry »

By Sherri L. Smith, BlackWeb20.com

Music apps are always fun. They combine two of our greatest loves — music and tech. But as our tech gets more sophisticated, it’s not enough just to listen to our favorite tracks, we want to make our own knockin’ beats. With increasing amounts of developers putting out sofware willing to oblige our fancy, those big name music producers may need to watch their back. IK Multimedia, maker of music programs Total Studio 2 and AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix has announced the release of a new application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Groovemaker is an application that lets fans of Hip-Hop, Electronic, and Dance music take the reins and create their own knocking beats. Read the rest of this entry »