new york

New York's Central Park will host a 60,000 capacity concert to mark the return of events to the city. 

Big Apple mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement, suggesting a potential date of 21st August was realistic and giving the gig a catchy working title, 'The Official NYC Homecoming Concert in Central Park'.

New York's Elbee Bad, aka veteran producer Lamont Booker, has passed away.

The "Prince of Dance Music" was reportedly found dead in his bed on Wednesday, June 2nd by rapper and flatmate INFIDELIX. The news comes two months after it was widely, and wrongly, announced that the Berlin-based Booker had passed away, following confusion regarding the apparent retirement of his artist moniker.

New York venues will be permitted to reopen at full-capacity, provided they are hosting a fully vaccinated audience, according to an announcement by New York City governor Andrew Cuomo. 

Large venues including Madison Square Garden have confirmed reopening plans will offer tickets only to those who have received full vaccinations. This currently accounts for 44.6% of all those living in the city. Radio City Music Hall, with a capacity of more than 6,000, intends on doing the same when it reopens on 19th June. 

Hip-hop royalty turned out to the Bronx, the home of hip-hop, last week to attend a ground-breaking ceremony that marked the official launch of building for the new Universal Hip Hop Museum.

The likes of LL Cool J, Nas, Lil Kim, Chuck D and Fat Joe were all in attendance, as well as a number of New York politicians, including mayor Bill De Blasio. 

Eric Prydz has announced four massive New York shows across two consecutive weekends in winter 2021.

The events will be held at on 26th and 27th November, and 3rd and 4th December at an undisclosed warehouse space. The latter dates will also see Adam Beyer joining for a Cirez D set.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that most New York venues can begin lifting some capacity restrictions from May 19th.

The new rules will allow large-scale event venues to operate at 30 percent capacity, an increase on the previous limit of 10 percent. Large-scale outdoor event venues, meanwhile, will be able to increase their capacity to 33 percent.

A fundraiser has been launched for the funeral of influential New York disco DJ Tony Smith. 

Lil’ Kim has announced a memoir.

Brooklyn-born rapper Lil' Kim, real name Kimberly Denise Jones, has revealed details of her forthcoming memoir, The Queen Bee.

Incoming via Hachette Books on the 2nd November, the memoir will document Lil' Kim's meteoric rise from living on the streets to becoming an early member of Notorious B.I.G.'s Junior M.A.F.I.A. collective, and her legacy as a Double Platinum-certified solo artist.

DMX is in a serious condition in hospital following a heart attack.

New York-born rapper DMX, real name Earl Simmons, was admitted to intensive care on Friday (2nd) and initially placed on life support following a heart attack, according to various U.S. media outlets. Simmons' lawyer. Murray Richman, said that he couldn't confirm reports that drugs were responsible for the heart attack.