On Saturday, April 26th, Lyricist Lounge will return to the legendary Apollo stage with authentic hip-hop. They will present none other than Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna, Inspectah Deck and others live in concert. The historic Apollo Theater is located at 253 West 125th Street in New York.

The staging of this event is a confirmation of Lyricist Lounge’s growth. Lyricist Lounge began as a regular gathering of some of New York’s best underground MCs at various locations in and around New York City, but it has now grown into one of the culture’s most recognized platforms, showcasing newcomers and veterans alike. Click here to buy tickets.

On February 21, 2025, Brooklyn’s hip-hop duo Smif-N-Wessun, aka Cocoa Brovaz, dropped a new 14-track LP called “Infinity.” Produced by 9th Wonder and The Soul Council, the album is being called refreshing by lovers of authentic hip-hop. It has collaborations with Sweata, Pharoahe Monche, Jalisa, Ralph Tresvant, Conway the Machine, Buckshot, Yountie Strickland, Sean Price, and Maverick Sabre.

So far, two official videos have been shared from the project: “Elephant In The Room” (track #13) was uploaded to Duck Down Music’s YouTube channel in early February, while “Medina,” which features Pharoahe Monch (track #4), just went live on Smif-N-Wessun‘s Vevo.

Click here or on the image above to stream/download “Infinity” from your preferred music platform.

Rock the Bells, the hip-hop platform that was conceptualized by LL Cool J, has announced that their 2025 cruise is officially sold out. It will set sail on October 27th from Miami and will head to Bimini, Bahamas, before returning to Miami on October 31st.

Some of the confirmed performers are The Lox, Lupe Fiasco, MC Lyte, Xzibit, Dead Prez, Nappy Roots, Smif-N-Wessun, Fabolous, Juvenile, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mannie Fresh, DJ Kool, and that is just to name a few.

The organizers have set up a First Available Program and are encouraging potential attendees to sign up so that if anyone with tickets cancels, they will be able to get a cabin. Get additional information here: rockthebellscruise.com.

Arrested Development has ended Black History Month 2025 with a powerful new song and video called “All I See is Melanin.” It debuted on the Black-owned social media platform Fanbase, which was founded by Isaac Hayes III.

This song is a celebration of Black identity, resilience, and unity. If you have not yet seen the visual, click here or on the image above to check it out, and remember to like, comment, and share.

This March, American hip-hop trio formed in the 1980s, Digable Planets, will do a short stint in Australia to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their second studio album, “Blowout Comb.”

They will perform at Sydney’s Metro Theatre on Thursday, March 6; Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre on Saturday, March 8; and at the WomaDelaide Festival in South Australia on Monday, March 10.

“Blowout Comb” was released in October 1994 on Pendulum/EMI Records.

Arrested Development, one of hip-hop’s most socially conscious ensembles, has kicked off 2025 with the release of a new single called “All I See Is Melanin.” With four different mixes, the track was shared to streaming platforms as an EP on February 7th via Vagabond Productions.

In keeping with their musical brand, “All I See Is Melanin” is another record that celebrates and highlights the beauty (physical, mental, and spiritual) of the Black community. Click here or on the image above to download “All I See Is Melanin” from your preferred music store.