In a recent interview with The Associated Press, D Smoke talked about the pressure of finding success outside ``Rhythm + Flow,'' how being a teacher matured his lyrics and his thoughts on why Grammy voters nominated him and other 35-and-up rappers in the best rap album category. ... read more »

At the time, the $12.3-million contract with the city of Compton was the most expensive among the 41 cities patrolled by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Led by then-Mayor Omar Bradley, the five-member City council voted 4-to-1 in July 2000 to disband the Compton Police Department in hopes of getting a handle on the high homicide rate that had gripped the city and kept residents indoors in fear of their lives. ... read more »

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, is joining forces with the California African American Museum (CAAM) to offer community focused barbershops in the Greater Los Angeles area the opportunity to compete for a $10,000 grant. ... read more »

TDE's 6th Annual Concert Toy Drive ... read more / watch video »

Heavy hitting record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) celebrated Christmas early at the Nickerson Gardens 6th annual Toy Drive & Giveaway. The complimentary two-day event congregated at the Nickerson Gardens’ Boys & Girls club located in the Watts district of Los Angeles.   ... read more »

Beyoncé announced Tuesday that "The Lion King: The Gift,'' which will be released Friday, also includes songs with Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Pharrell, Tierra Whack and Jessie Reyez. ... read more »

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) will host its seventh annual Legacy Leaders Spring Gala on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 6 p.m. ... read more »

Multi-platinum and Grammy-Award winning Lil Wayne will join a special performance by Imagine Dragons during ESPN’s half time presentation of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by ATT on January 7. ... read more »

Here are the top local stories of 2018 ... read more »

Akuchu, who started break-dancing when he was a teenager, says "hip-hop's history is embedded in its movement.'' You can't separate that history from the moves themselves. ... read more »

Parkside EDC will present an evening of the music of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson on June 27 as part of its Jazz Cool Down series in Leimert Park. The series, held at LA Third Church, benefits college scholarships for students from Dorsey and Crenshaw High Schools and features LA jazz luminaries such as Barbara Morrison, Ernie Watts and Roy Gaines. ... read more »

The only two Black members of the Arizona Legislature were formally chastised for speaking out against a Republican lawmaker’s published column, which included a racial slur and they say derided Black activists while attempting to discredit leaders of a teacher group protesting for better pay. ... read more »

Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for music Monday, making history as the first non-classical or jazz artist to win the prestigious prize.  ... read more »

Songs by Jay-Z, Harry Styles among Obama's favorites of 2017 ... read more »

Both days wrapped up with night shows in the ComplexCon Arena. ... read more »