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Spike Lee's father, Bill Lee, passed away in Brooklyn on Wednesday (May 24) at the age of 94. Spike confirmed his death with an Instagram post, writing, "My father Bill Lee Played Bass On Bob Dylan's Classic Song 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue' on his album, Bringing It All Home. This morning May 24, my father made his transition.

"Today Is also the birthdate Of Bob Dylan. Today is also the birthdate of Jackson Lewis Lee, who is the son of Tonya Lewis Lee and me, brother of Satchel Lee and the grandson of Daddy. Also must give love to our sista Tina Turner, who left us today on this May 24, 2023. Whew lawd. What a day. Da Lee family appreciations all da love. Your heartfelt condolences." 

Bill Lee composed music for several of his son's films, including Do The R

Tina Turner—affectionately known as the Queen of Rock & Roll—died at her home in Switzerland on Wednesday (May 24). She was 83. According to a statement from her family obtained by Rolling Stone, "Tina Turner, the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’ has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”

The Roots’ Questlove was among first Hip Hop artists who paid tribute to Tina Turner on social media, writing, “Survivor. The King & Queen. She was everything. Man…. This is one of the figures I just knew would live in her 3 digits. I was not prepared to say goodbye to Tina Turner. But it’s 2023……and here we are. What an AMAZING life. L

Masta Ace has written what's being described as a "Hip Hop Musical" called The Falling Season. The play is scheduled to run from June 1-2 at Theatre Row in New York City. The title of the play is taken from the Juice Crew alum's 2016 album of the same name. 

Billed as a concept album based on his high school years, The Falling Season features appearances by Chuck D, Cormega, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Your Old Droog, among others. The lead single and album’s fourth track, “Me & AG" with D.I.T.C. veteran A.G., finds the two MCs swapping bars over a somber beat, with the chorus: “Once you hear the capital A/rap it’ll stay with you for awhile, it won’t go away,” one of Ace's lines from the 1988 Juice Crew classic, “The Symphony.”

The 24-

Riot Fest has announced its 2023 line-up featuring headliners Foo Fighters, The Cure, The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie and Queens of the Stone Age. Additional acts include Turnstile, The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle, Tegan and Sara, 100 Gecs, The Gaslight Anthem, Death Grips AFI and dozens of others. 

While past iterations of the festival have included Run-DMC and Snoop Dogg have been among the sole Hip Hop acts to hit the Riot Act stage, the genre is noticeably absent this year. But, Parliament-Funkadelic and George Clinton will make an appearance at the Chicago fest the weekend of September 15-17. Their musical compositions, of course, are building blocks for countless Hip Hop hits, including Dr. Dre's The Chronic. 

Founded in 2005, Riot Fest has presented ne

KRS-One ignited the Stop The Violence Movement in 1989 with the song "Self-Destruction" in response to the violence littering his community. Produced by D-Nice and The Bomb Squad’s Hank Shocklee, the track featured KRS-One, Stetsasonic’s Daddy-O, Public Enemy, Doug E. Fresh, Heavy D, Just-Ice, MC Lyte and Kool Moe Dee and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, remaining for 10 consecutive weeks.

Now, with the help of Special Ed, Kid Capri and a slew of other Hip Hop legends, the movement is being revitalized. Speaking to Rolling Stone

Earl Stevens—better known by his rap moniker E-40—received an honorary doctorate degree in music from his alma mater, Grambling State University, officially making him “Dr. E-40.”

The Bay Area rap legend was on-hand at Grambling’s commencement ceremony to formally receive the degree as well as offer words of wisdom, encouragement and appreciation to the graduating students.

 E-40 donated $100,000 to Grambling State University earlier this year in an effort to bolster the university’s marching band and help with the installation of a recording studio, so students can follow their music industry dreams. The University returned the favor by surprising the mogul by naming the studio in his honor as the “Earl ‘E-40’ Stevens Sound Recording Studio.”