NEWS: 22-12-06 :: Doug E. Fresh reveals cartoon :: Beat Street closes :: Bias B on Obese

Doug E. Fresh can be confident that his place in rap history is secured. Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped the veteran from educating current rap fans on the true culture through his new cartoon series Ultra Five. Doug E. revealed his plans during a trip to London, where he and fellow rap legend Big Daddy Kane were on hand to perform at an exclusive party thrown by footwear giant Puma.

Trick Daddy has held his annual Christmas toy drive. For the fourth year, Trick Daddy celebrated the holiday season by giving back and distributing food and gifts to Miami youth via his Trick Luvs Da Kids Foundation. Pitbull and Mobile Mike assisted Trick in hosting duties, as well as providing entertainment to those in attendance. In addition to the Christmas Toy Drive, Trick Daddy has challenged the Boys and Girls Clubs in New York, Florida and Atlanta to identify teen members who have gone beyond the call of duty to organize some type of community efforts for Christmas. The winner of the contest will receive a variety of gifts and prizes, including a $1000 contribution to their local Boys and Girls Club for a youth scholarship.

Popular Brooklyn record store Beat Street has officially closed its doors, citing a downturn in record sales. The legendary store, which was opened in 1995, could not compete with the Internet. The trend has also forced the shutdown of numerous mom and pop stores and majors like Tower Records, which will close all stores by the end of 2006.

Five years after the release of their last album, Iron Flag, Wu-Tang Clan has reunited for their long awaited follow-up by signing a new deal. Steve Rifkind, CEO of SRC Records, announced the acquisition of the Staten Island collective this week in a video on his blog. Rifkind predicted that work will begin on the new album at the beginning of 2007 with a release date for later in the year.

DJ Green Lantern, Sin & Art Of War have just released Cop It In Ya Grill Vol. 2. The release features international superstars Cam'ron, Young Jeezy, JR Writer and more of the US, Canada and Serbia's finest. It will also include a special bonus track by Bias B taken from Vol 1. A National Launch Tour will follow in December so stay tuned for details.

Bias B is a name synonymous with Oz Hip Hop and we are pleased to announce that he has officially signed to Obese Records to release a brand new album. When it comes to quality Oz Hip Hop he is one of the most influential and respected names that come to mind. With a career spanning over a decade, Bias B has been at the forefront of the development of the local scene since the early 90's and continues to develop his skills and stay at the top of the game. Bias B will be releasing his third solo album in early 2007.

Muph & Plutonic have been working hard in the past year and have recently released their second album Silence The Sirens which debuted at No.11 on the ARIA Urban Charts. Track 2 - Walking Tightropes - has been transformed into an innovative film clip and is currently enjoying widespread exposure on triple j and national community stations. Their National Launch Tour is coming to an end but has been going really well. Following on from this, they're looking forward to doing Falls Fest on NYE and giving back to the home crowds in VIC and then on to TAS, they're also excited about doing The Streets support in Sydney and Melbourne for the BDO side show. Silence The Sirens is also now available on limited edition vinyl which are being snapped up very quickly so get in fast.

Spike Lee has signed on to shoot a movie about the late James Brown, titled Godfather Of Soul, according to Daily Variety. The film is being developed for Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures by Brian Grazer. It is scheduled to being production in 2008.

C-Murder is preparing to release his first novel, titled Death Around the Corner. The novel fictional piece is centered around a man named Daquan, who grows up in a troubled New Orleans hood. C-Murder wrote the book during his recent incarceration for his alleged role in the murder of a 16-year-old in a Jefferson Parish nightclub. C-Murder is also putting the finishing touches on Screamin 4 Vengeance, his first studio album in four years.