Hello, 1991: MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice Plan Concert

Yahoo lists the worst rappers to ever pick up a mic

(NEWSER) - Before Chingy or Master P came Shaq's failed try at rap. And before him were many other shameful attempts at the lyrical flow. Yahoo lists the worst rappers ever:

1. Vanilla Ice: The "Ice Ice Baby" king also failed as an actor in Cool as Ice.
2. MC Hammer started a fashion craze—thankfully brief—with "U Can't Touch This."

Pair to perform at ballpark in September

(NEWSER) - Native New Yorker Jay-Z gets the honor of playing the first concert at the new Yankee Stadium, but he'll be sharing the stage with fellow rapper Eminem, the AP reports. The show is scheduled for Sept. 13, but that won't be their first concert together—on Sept. 2, the two will appear at Comerica Park in Detroit, Eminem's hometown. More»

Rapper excited to play show he'll remember later

(NEWSER) - Some 2000 lucky Eminem fans got to see a rarity last night: a mini-concert in which the rapper was sober, MTV reports. “This might actually be one of the best shows I’ve ever done, ‘cause when I get offstage, I’m actually going to remember it,” Eminem told the audience at the 35-minute set in his hometown of Detroit. More»

'90s rapper to A&E viewers: It's Hammertime

(NEWSER) - MC Hammer will follow his upcoming concert with Vanilla Ice with another project sure to inspire nostalgia: a half-hour reality show. Hammertime, which will air later this year, follows the once-bankrupt rapper as he "lives a more economically balanced life," the A&E show's reps said. Hammer's wife and five kids will also appear, according to the Hollywood Reporter. More»

Live Nation deal sign of industry upheaval

(NEWSER) - Rapper Jay-Z is about to decamp from record label Def Jam and sign a $150 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation, reports the New York Times. The deal, Live Nation's biggest to date, will give the superstar financial backing for tours, his own record label and other related ventures such as talent consulting. It reflects the ongoing scramble in the music business as CD sales plunge and fans download more and more of their music. More»