NEWS: 16-8-06 :: Tribe go on tour :: EMPD reunite :: Perplex takes DMC title

A Tribe Called Quest will embark on their first tour in six years, as the group will headline dates on the 2nd Annual 2K Sports Bounce Tour. The legendary hip hop outfit, which features group members Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Phife Dog, will hit 15 cities during the tour, with stops in Los Angeles, Detroit and Milwaukee.

Grammy Award winning producer Swizz Beatz will lend his talents to the United Nations International Day of Peace by producing a multi-artist global peace tribute song. The track is the first of many phases in a full-scale global peace campaign. Established in 1981 by member governments of the United Nations with a UN General Assembly resolution, the International Day of Peace is devoted to "commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and people."

The second annual Hip-Hop Leadership Camp in Los Angeles was recently held. Several entertainment industry professionals attended the four-day camp for at-risk youth. MC Lyte, Sticky Fingaz, Chino XL, Sway and Davey D. and others participated. Students who maintain a 2.5 grade average and above and graduate from high school are guaranteed an internship in the entertainment field of their choice.

Legendary rap group EMPD will reunite for their first performance in New York City in eight years this fall. The group, comprised of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith, will hit the stage Oct. 14 at BB King Blues Club in Times Square. The event will coincide with activities surrounding VH1's annual Hip-Hop Honors awards show.

Mack 10 has been named an executive at the newly formed Melee Recordings. In his post at the new West coast-based label, Mack 10 will be responsible for signing artists to his own Hoo Bangin' Records. He will also take on the task of scouting new talent for the more mainstream division of Melee. Melee Recordings is headed up by fellow industry vet Bryan Turner, founder Priority Records. As the founder of Priority, Turner is credited with putting artists such as Eazy-E, N.W.A., Ice Cube, Master P and No Limit Records, and Mack 10 on the music industry’s radar.

With many of us still recovering after the Australian DMC finals which happened on Saturday night, we thought that you would like a run down of what took place on the night. DJ Perplex, our new Aussie champ is now hard at work, huddled over his decks perfecting his routine for the World finals, however he may be available for a limited amount of interviews over the next few weeks. If you are keen, get in touch and let’s see if we can lock in some time for you.

Bolstered by the hit single Hustlin', Miami rapper Rick Ross' debut album "Port of Miami" bows at the top of The Billboard 200. The Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam effort sold 187,000 copies in the United States last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Wu Tang’s RZA will score Spike TV’s upcoming animated series Afro Samurai with Samuel L. Jackson voicing the title character, a black samurai seeking vengeance on the killers of his father.

Legendary singer Etta James will be honoured with the R&B Founders Award at the seventh annual R&B/Hip Hop Conference and Awards to be held September 6 - 8 in Atlanta.

Rapper Foxy Brown has regained her hearing following corrective surgery performed earlier in the year. Foxy lost her hearing in May 2004 as a result of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a rare condition that can cause permanent hearing loss if not treated.

Beyonce Knowles' new album will be available sooner then expected after the R&B star found herself full of musical inspiration following completion of a new movie. Shortly after finishing filming for Dreamgirls earlier this year, she abandoned a holiday to enter the recording studio. Her duo with bub Jay-Z (Deja Vu) is already making big waves.

John Legend has announced a one-off concert at London’s swanky Royal Albert Hall. The soul star will hit the stage on October 2, three weeks before his new album Once Again is released in the UK (October 23).