UPDATE: The late rapper's partner-in-rhyme Chris Smith delivers a tear-filled eulogy in the video of the Atlanta service. Kris Kross rapper Chris Kelly was honored at an Atlanta service today (May 9) that was attended by Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, partner-in-rhyme Chris Smith and members of R&B group Xscape. Smith gave a tear-filled eulogy to his late partner, who died May 1 at Atlanta Medical Center. Early reports said that Kelly, 34, had taken a combination of heroin and cocaine earlier that day. The results of a toxicology test are pending. Dupri and Da Brat reportedly wore their pants backwards to the church service, according to MTV.com. The gesture was a nod to the fashion craze Kris Kross started in 1992 with the release of their hit single "Jump" and the duo's Totally Krossed Out album. Both Kelly and Smith wore their shirts and pants backwards in public and in their videos, including "Warm It Up." Smith said that Kelly a/k/a "Mac Daddy" was a "true friend." "I would say Kris Kross forever, but without Chris, it ain't never gonna be the same," Smith a/k/a "Daddy Mac" reportedly said at the service. "But I hope our legacy for Hip Hop is never forgotten." In addition to launching the backward clothing style, Kris Kross were among the first wave of prepubescent rappers. A public viewing for Kelly was held in Atlanta yesterday (May 8). UPDATE: Kris Kross performed in front of millions of fans after becoming stars in 1992. Yesterday (May 10), Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith remembered the last show he performed with late partner Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly, who died May 1. Smith said that Kelly told him to "stay focused" during the show, a comment that drew laughter from those in attendance. t wasn't all smiles for Smith, though. "It's been like a struggle for me everyday," he said in his initial comments as he fought back tears. "This morning when I woke up, this peace came over me 'cause I know Chris is in Heaven with our Heavenly Father."

Kanye West launches into an expletive-filled tirade after being followed by paparazzi in Beverly Hills. Over the past few weeks, rapper Kanye West and girlfriend Kim Kardashian have found themselves constantly followed by paparazzi, and earlier today Kanye appeared to reach a boiling point as he verbally assaulted members of the paparazzi outside of a Beverly Hills restaurant. While walking head down alongside his girlfriend, the G.O.O.D. Music rapper appeared to have walked directly into a street sign. Although actual footage of Kanye’s minor accident was not caught on videotape, a small thud can be heard. A separate video shows Kanye verbally assaulting one paparazzo as he yells, “Don’t take a fucking ‘nother photo man! Don’t take another fucking photo man! Don’t take no photos! Stop it! All of you mothafuckers stop it, man.” This week’s incident serves as the latest addition to a handful of altercations the Chi-Town emcee has had with the paparazzi. Back in 2008, Kanye and his manager were hit with misdemeanor charges following an incident that resulted in a cameraman’s equipment being smashed at L.A.X. airport. Kanye joins a growing list of artists who have had their differences with the paparazzi in the past. Among them are Jay-Z and Chris Brown, the latter of which crashed his car at the top of the year while trying to evade the media. Video of Kanye’s run-in with the paparazzi can be found below

AUSTIN!! Start summer 2013 off with JAMBALAYA FEST on May 24 featuring EARL WOLF (Tyler the Creator x Earl Sweatshirt), ZEDS DEAD, Big Boi, araabMUZIK, RL Grime, and G-Eazy. Buy Tickets here: http://ow.ly/kLkGu
 

Despite paying $900,000 just hours ago, Lauryn Hill will serve time after all.

Despite paying close to a million dollars in federal back-taxes, Lauryn Hill is headed to prison. The Associated Press reports that the emcee/vocalist was sentenced to three months in prison today in a federal court based in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey.

Hill was facing up to three years in prison, but received a reduced sentence. Following a guilty plea, Ms. Hill and her attorney were seeking probation. She paid her $900,000 tax bill this weekend.

This will be Hill's first stay in prison. She could be released in as soon as a month.

Shereda Williams has filed a creditor's claim against Nate Dogg's estate.

Nate Dogg's financial woes continue to follow the Hip Hop hook man, even in death.

TMZ reports that Shereda Williams, the mother of one of Nate Dogg's children, is seeking $339,924 in unpaid child-rearing money through a creditor's claim.

The claims assers that Nate was to pay Williams $4,358 per month, but Williams said she never received any payments.

Now, Williams claims the late singer's estate owes her the outstanding balance, which includes payments that have accumulated since Nate died in 2011.

Issues surrounding Nate Dogg's estate came to light last year, when Nate's wife, children, and mother engaged in a dispute over how to handle the finances and assets.

UPDATE: Wiz Khalifa & A$AP Rocky reveal the stop dates for their "Under The Influence" tour.

With 4/20 looming it was only appropriate that A$AP Rocky and Wiz Khalifa announce their "Under The Influence" tour for 2013.

No dates or locations have yet been announced but the duo is expected to put on quite a show. Last year Wiz hit the road with Mac Miller for the first edition of the "Under The Influence Tour." With his love for the bud, Wiz may be a shoe-in for this tour every time for the coming years.

Wiz Khalifa and fellow smoker, Curren$y released their Live in Concert collaborative EP today and is available via iTunes.

The Harlem and Pittsburgh natives revealed that they would be doing the tour though a video, which can be seen below (via HNHH):

(April 20)

UPDATE: Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Rocky announce their "Under The Influence" tour dates

Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Rocky will undergo a 20-stop tour this summer.

Beginning July 7 in San Francisco, CA, the duo will travel across the country until August 11 when they end the tour in Cincinnati.

They will make three stops in California, three in Texas and two in Canada. B.O.B., Trinidad James, Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era will join Wiz and Rocky on the tour. Berner, Chevy Woods and Smoke DZA are also expected to make special appearances.

See the full tour schedule below:

Kendrick Lamar will hit the road and the air this summer as he will travel across the world.

Kendrick Lamar is going around the world in 80 days, literally. Well, not literally but the Compton native will do 60 shows in 15 different countries for his good kid mAAd city album.

This summer, K.Dot will hit cities all across the world. Everything from Belle Vernon, PA to Paris, France will be on the docket for the Black Hippy member. All of his TDE counterparts will join him as ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock will accompany Kendrick for the U.S. leg of the tour.

The tour starts May 5 in West Palm Beach, FL and will end at the Hip Hop Kemp Festival in Hradec Kralove, CZ. Notable festivals that the tour will see include Bonnaroo, Wireless Festival, Lollapalooza, The Govenors Ball and inaugural BET Experience.

See the full tour schedule below:

Kendrick Lamar's “good kid, m.A.A.d city” World Tour Dates:

May 5th – West Palm Beach, FL – SUNFEST
May 11 – Columbia, MD – Sweetlife Festival
May 17 – La Jolla, CA – Sungod Festival
May 18 – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Festival
May 22 – Las Vegas, – NV Cosmopolitan
May 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Great Saltair
May 29 – Portland, ME – The Waterfront At Ocean Gateway
May 30 – Albany, NY – Armory
June 1 – Junction, VT – Champion Valley Exposition
June 3 – Belle Vernon, PA – Ice Garden
June 4 – Cleveland, OH – Jacob Pavilion at Nautica
June 5 – Detroit, MI – Chene Park
June 6 – Indianapolis, IN – Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn
June 8 – Randall's Island, NY – Govenors Ball
June 10 – Baton Rouge, LA – Baton Rouge River Center
June 11 – Houston, TX – Reliant Arena
June 12 – Grand Prairie, TX – Verizon Theatre
June 13 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheatre
June 16 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
June 19 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
June 20 – Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle
June 21 – Simpsonville, SC – Charter Amphitheatre
June 22 – Dover, DE – Firefly Music Festival
June 23 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheatre
June 26 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheatre
June 28 – San Diego, CA – Del Mar Fair Festival
June 29 – Kansas City, KS – Kanrocksas Festival
June 29 – Los Angeles, CA – BET Experience
July 3 – Gdynia, PL – Heineken Open'er Festival
July 4 – Roskilde, DK – Roskilde Festival
July 5 – Zurich, SE – Touch the Lake Festival
July 6 – Haachtsesteenweg, BE – Rock Werchter Festival
July 7 – Arras, FR – Main Square Festival
July 8 – Birmingham, UK – Academy
July 9 – Manchester, UK – Apollo
July 10 – Leeds, UK – Academy
July 11 – Grafenhainichen, DE – Splash Festival
July 12 – Kinross-shire, UK – T in the Park Festival
July 13 – London, UK – Wireless Festival
July 14 – Rotterdam, NL – North Sea Jazz Festival
July 17 – Montreaux, CH – Montreaux Jazz Festival
July 18 – Molde, NO – Molde Jazz Festival
July 19 – Tonsberg, NO – Slottsfjell
July 20 – Pori, FI – Pori Jazz Festival
July 27 – Naeba, Japan – Fuji Rock Festival
Aug 2 – Toronto, Canada- Sound Academy
Aug 3 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
Aug 4 – Montreal, Canada – Osheaga Music Festival
Aug 8 – Oslo, NO – Oya Festival
Aug 9 – Helsinki, FI – Flow Festival
Aug 10 – Gothenburg, SE – Way Out West Festival
Aug 15 – Hasselt, BE – Pukkelpop Festival
Aug 16 – Biddinghuizen, NL – Lowlands Festival
Aug 17 – Chelmsford, UK – V Festival
Aug 18 – South Staffordshire, UK – V Festival
Aug 20 – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park
Aug 22 – Paris, FR – Stade de France
Aug 23 – Paris, FR – Rock En Seine Festival
Aug 24 – Hradec Kralove, CZ – Hip Hop Kemp Festival

Miami rapper who was affiliated with Atlanta rapper Future is believed to be the man who was shot to death while driving a Maybach on I-20 during rush hour Thursday.

The drive-by shooting occurred around 5:15 p.m. as the victim was driving westbound on I-20 near Glenwood Avenue in southeast Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constition reports.

 

After the shooting, the car, with its mortally wounded driver behind the wheel, drifted onto the shoulder of I-20 and came to a stop. An off-duty Atlanta police officer noticed the bullet-riddled luxury vehicle partially obstructing the far right lane, DeKalb police spokeswoman Mekka Parish told the AJC.

The officer stopped to investigate and noticed all 4 doors of the vehicle were locked. He broke a back window to assist the victim, Parrish said. The victim was later pronounced dead at Grady Memorial hospital.

The man’s name is not being released, pending notification of next of kin. But the victim was identified on social networking websites as Miami rapper OG Double D.

The Maybach is “quite an expensive vehicle,” Parish noted. The Maybach is a high end luxury vehicle favored by rappers and drug dealers that can cost more than $400,000.

Rush hour traffic slowed to a crawl on I-20 westbound as police blocked off 3 lanes of the highway to conduct their investigation. Police recovered multiple shell casings from the shoulder and roadway.

OG Double D was affiliated with singer Ciara’s boyfriend, Future. He was reportedly a member of Future’s Freebandz record label. Freebandz is distributed by Epic Records.

In photos and YouTube videos posted on OG Double’s Twitter and Instagram pages, the rapper flashed wads of cash, showed off his expensive watches and boasted about owning a mansion and a jet ski. Among the photos on OG Double’s social media accounts is one photo of a Maybach similar to the one in photographs taken at the crime scene by an AJC staff photographer.

Police urge anyone with information on the shooting to come forward.

Nicki Minaj is popping pink pills. The rap diva has teamed up with Beats Electronics to launch a special pink edition of the company’s Pill portable wireless Bluetooth speaker.

Inspired by Nicki’s signature color, the pink Pill is available to purchase for $199 at AT&T retail stores nationwide and online at att.com.

“I am so excited about this product. It’s something I actually use,” said Nicki. “It’s a little tiny speaker that I can travel with yet the sound is incredibly loud and rich. I knew the Barbz would not only love it, but that they’d want it in pink! So, here ya go Barbz!!!! My PINK PILL!”

The Beats by Dr. Dre pink Pill commercial will premiere during “American Idol” on Wednesday, April 10. In the behind-the scenes clip, Nicki can be seen acting alongside comedian DeRay Davis.

In addition to the Pill, Nicki is gearing up for the launch of her apparel collection with Kmart and Myx moscato, which can be seen in the video for “High School.”