This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip-hop for the year 2008.
Events January The Game states that after his third album, L.A.X., he will retire."Black Wall Street Confirms The Game's Retirement Rumor" . HipHop DX. Freekey Zeekey states that all is well with Dipset, and they are working on new projects."Freekey Zeekey Says The Dips Are Back Together". HipHop DX. Rick Ross says that Trilla will be one of the best albums of 2008, and that he and Birdman are recording an album together, as well as making a movie together."DXclusive: Rick Ross and Birdman Recording Album". HipHop DX. 50 Cent, Timbaland, Mary J. Blige, and Wyclef Jean are listed in the Albany, New York Times Union list of steroid trafficking."50 Cent, Timbaland And Wyclef Listed In Steroids Probe". HipHop DX. Eminem was rushed to the hospital due to complications of pneumonia, and reports said his weight had exceeded 200 pounds."Eminem Rushed To Hospital During Holidays". MTV. Twista launches a new label called the Get Money Gang."Twista Launches Label, Readies First Release". HipHop DX. Flo Rida breaks a digital sales record, by selling over 470,000 digital units in one week."Flo-Rida Comments On Breaking Digital Sales Record". HipHop DX. Nate Dogg suffers a stroke."Nate Dogg Suffers Stroke". HipHop DX. L.A. Reid is named Def Jam President, after Jay-Z stepped down to pursue other options."Harve Pierre Named President Of Bad Boy Records". HipHop DX. Joell Ortiz leaves Aftermath Entertainment after not being able to produce music at the rate he wanted to."Joell Ortiz No Longer With Aftermath". HipHop DX.
February Devin the Dude leaves Rap-a-Lot Records."Devin The Dude Leaves Rap-A-Lot Records". HipHop DX. A tabloid is circulated, that says Benzino was with Fat Joe's wife in the past, but the magazine was later found out to be fake."HHDX News Bits (Bun B, Benzino vs. Fat Joe)". HipHop DX. MTV president Christina Norman leaves her position."MTV's President Steps Down". HipHop DX. The Game was given 2 months in jail because of his several incidents of violence."The Game Sentenced To Two Months In Jail". HipHop DX. DJ Khaled initializes a label under Def Jam, called We The Best Music. He signs his first artist, Ace Hood."DJ Khaled Signs We The Best Music Imprint To Def Jam". HipHop DX. Ruthless Records returns, with help from Sony. Eazy-E's wife Tomica Woods-Wright is the CEO of the re-formed company."Ruthless Records Returns With Some Help From Sony". HipHop DX. Nas says his album, Nigger, will be released in April."Nas Targets April For New Album". HipHop DX. TVT Records (home of Lil Jon, Ying Yang Twins, and Pitbull) closes down after 22 years in the business."TVT Records Files For Bankruptcy; Lays Off Staff". HipHop DX. Lil Wayne says his album, Tha Carter III, will be released in April."Lil' Wayne Visits His School, Says "Carter III" Due in April" . HipHop DX. Producer and songwriter Static Major dies.Producer/Songwriter "Static Passes Away". HipHop DX. KRS-One and DJ Revolution sign to Duck Down Records."KRS-One & DJ Revolution Sign To Duck Down". HipHop DX. Fat Joe and 50 Cent's feud continues, with Fat Joe saying that in a fair fight, 50 would probably beat him, but he would love to send him to the dentist.
March Disturbing tha Peace signs with Def Jam."Disturbing Tha Peace Enters Into Deal With Def Jam". HipHop DX. Fat Joe and 50 Cent continue to beef, especially through the internet and through videos. G-Unit releases a mixtape called "The Elephant In The Sand"."50 Cent, Fat Joe & Papoose Trade Words And Videos". HipHop DX. G Unit's DJ, Whoo Kid, says he is going to retire."G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kid Set To Retire". HipHop DX. Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" cease the beef."BREAKING: Eminem And Royce Da 5'9" Squash Beef". HipHop DX. Chuck Philips of the Los Angeles Times says that Diddy and Jimmy Rosemond were in on the assault of Tupac Shakur, but Diddy denies the rumor."L.A. Times Reporter Implicates Diddy, Rosemond in Tupac Attack". HipHop DX.Diddy Denies Involvement In Tupac Assault. HipHop DX. Jadakiss speaks on his highly anticipated debut album with Def Jam. Tha Carter III is set to be released on May 13, while L.A.X. is set to be released on June 24."DX News Bits (Game, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Diddy)". HipHop DX. Los Angeles Times reports that said Diddy knew about the Tupac Shakur shooting before it happened were based on fraudulent documents, but the Los Angeles Times later apologized for the rumors."Tupac Murder Report Based On Fraudulent Documents?". HipHop DX."LA Times Apologizes for Tupac Story". HipHop DX. T.I. is found guilty for gun charges."Update: T.I. Enters Guilty Plea". HipHop DX. Nate Dogg pleads guilty on a domestic violence charge."Nate Dogg Pleads Guilty In Domestic Violence Charge" . HipHop DX. Remy Ma was found guilty of charges that were put against her last year, and could face up to 25 years in prison."Remy Ma Found Guilty, Faces Up To 25 Years". HipHop DX. Former Dipset member Max B is shot, and is said to be in critical condition."Former Diplomat Affiliate Max B Shot". HipHop DX. Nelly says that his first album in four years, Brass Knuckles, is set to be released later in 2008."Nelly Preps New Album" . HipHop DX. 50 Cent talks about the fake Benzino/Fat Joe Hip Hop Weekly album cover(he says he did not create it), and fires "warning shots" at Rick Ross."50 Cent Fires Warning Shots At Rick Ross". HipHop DX.
April KL of Screwball dies of a heart attack."KL of Screwball Passes Away". HipHop DX. Jay-Z signs a $150,000,000 deal with Live Nation."Jay-Z Lands $150 Million Deal With Live Nation". HipHop DX. Despite the big signs Diddy made to get Notorious B.I.G., Mase, and Mary J. Blige, Diddy says that his biggest sign is Janelle Monáe."Diddy Unveils "Biggest Signing Ever". HipHop DX. Trina's album, Still da Baddest, is the number 1 on the Rap albums on Billboard. New Orleans rapper VL Mike is murdered on April 20 at age 32. Tha Carter III is pushed back again, to June."'Tha Carter III' Pushed Back Again?". HipHop DX. Jermaine Dupri and TAG Body Spray launch a hip hop record label."Jermaine Dupri & TAG Brand Launch Hip Hop Record Label". HipHop DX. DJ Whoo Kid says he doesn't want to retire, but he's not going to stick around until he's 40.DJ Whoo Kid Explains Retirement Comments". HipHop DX. The Trackmasters return."The Trackmasters Return After Three Year Hiatus". HipHop DX. Ja Rule says that soon he will release his new album, The Mirror."Ja Rule Finally Set To Release The Mirror". HipHop DX. Bobby Valentino leaves Disturbing Tha Peace."Bobby V Leaves Disturbing Tha Peace". HipHop DX. The UK ban of Snoop Dogg is lifted. The Game moves the release date on L.A.X. from June 24 to July 8."The Game Moves Release Date To July 8th". HipHop DX.
May DMX is arrested in Arizona because of drug and animal cruelty charges."DMX Arrested In Arizona on Drug, Animal Cruelty Charges". HipHop DX. MTV gets hip-hop hate because of the mediocre rappers that were on the list of the best."MTV Puts Best Emcee List Up To Viewer Vote". HipHop DX. Suge Knight is assaulted and hospitalized."UPDATE: Suge Knight Assaulted And Hospitalized". HipHop DX. Remy Ma's case gets re-evaluated, and only has to serve 8 years in prison."Remy Ma Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison". HipHop DX. Mass Appeal Magazine calls it quits after 12 years running."Mass Appeal Magazine To No Longer Publish". HipHop DX. Rick Ross's Trilla becomes the first hip hop album to be certified gold in 2008, due to the heavy airplay of his second single, "The Boss". Dunk Ryders sign to Cash Money Records."Trick Daddy's Dunk Ryders Sign To Cash Money Records". HipHop DX. A G-Unit representative denies the reports of the $300,000,000 deal."G-Unit Rep Denies 50 Cent's $300 Million Deal". HipHop DX. Nas co-signs Jay Electronica."Nas Co-signs Jay Electronica". HipHop DX. Nas changes the name of his formerly titled Nigger album to Nas."Nas Changes Album Title!!!". HipHop DX. Polow da Don is named the Songwriter of the Year by BMI."Polow Da Don Named Songwriter of the Year". HipHop DX. Saigon is released from Atlantic Records.Saigon Released From Atlantic Records". HipHop DX. New York governor David Paterson pardons Slick Rick, ending his immigration woes."Slick Rick Gets Pardoned, 17 Years Later". HipHop DX. A judge orders Suge Knight to sell Death Row Records."Judge Orders Suge Knight To Sell Death Row Recordings". HipHop DX. Yung Joc starts his own label under Jive Records called Swagg Team Entertainment, signing Chicago rap trio Hotstylz as its first act.
June Trick Daddy leaves Slip-N-Slide Records, and has talks with Def Jam."DX-clusive: Trick Daddy Plans New Album And New Label". HipHop DX. Shakir Stewart gets promoted to Executive VP of Def Jam."Shakir Stewart Promoted To Executive VP of Def Jam". HipHop DX. Charli Baltimore re-signs with Murder Inc Records"Charli Baltimore Returns To Murder Inc.". HipHop DX. Nas's album name changes again, to Untitled."Nas Names Album Nothing & Sets Release Date" . HipHop DX. The Game changes his release date of the album L.A.X. again, to July 22, and also says that he has made the decision to not make LAX his last album."Game's Album Pushed Back Again". HipHop DX.Game Says "L.A.X." Won't Be Last Album". HipHop DX. Lil Wayne's album, Tha Carter III, sells over a million copies for its first week. This feat was last done by 50 Cent's The Massacre. His debut single from the album, "Lollipop" was #1 on Billboard 100 for 5 non-consecutive weeks. T.I. signs 8Ball & MJG, while he continues to have beef with Shawty Lo and 50 Cent."T.I. Signs 8Ball & MJG While Beef Continues" . HipHop DX. The Orchard wins the bid for TVT Records to buy out the bankrupt label."The Orchard Wins Bid For TVT Records". HipHop DX. Nate Dogg is arrested for terrorist threats to his girlfriend."Nate Dogg Arrested For Terrorist Threats". HipHop DX. DMX is arrested for not having a valid driver's license."DMX Arrested In Miami". HipHop DX. The Game's album, L.A.X., is once again pushed back, this time to August 26.L.A.X. "Pushed Back To August 26, Game Previews Album" . HipHop DX. 2 Pistols falls after one punch at a BET Awards pre-party from Dolla after back-and-forth disses."Konvict Muzik Artist Dolla Punches 2 Pistols At BET Awards". HipHop DX. D-Block is set to release a new album; their first group album since 2000."D-Block Preps New Album". HipHop DX. Death Row is sold in an auction after Suge Knight was ordered to sell the label; it was sold for 24 million dollars to Susan Berg."Death Row Auctioned Off For $24 Million". HipHop DX. DJ Khaled is set to release the album, We Global, later in 2008."DJ Khaled Prepares New Album" . HipHop DX. BET loses the sponsorship over violence, profanity, and obscenity in hip-hop videos. (Industry Ears and CNN, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi and General Motors pulled their ads from Rap City and 106 & Park.)"BET Loses Sponsorship Over Content". HipHop DX. The Clipse will release their album, Clipse Presents: Re-Up Gang, later in 2008 on Koch Records."The Clipse Hook Up With Koch Records". HipHop DX. Snoop Dogg states that he is impressed by Detox, Dr. Dre's new album. He also says that Dre will produce his new album.Juize Kanye West was reportedly booed at 2008's Bonnaroo festival. A couple of days later, he responded with an all-caps rant post on his blog, KanyeUniverseCity.
July 50 Cent sues Taco Bell for $4 million because the food chain had used his name without permission. Gucci Mane is arrested on gun and drug charges. Nas teams up with MoveOn.org and Color of Change to obtain signatures to end the accusations of Barack Obama. Lil Wayne's album, Tha Carter III, is certified double platinum. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony reunite after many years with the release of Flesh-n-Bone from jail and the return of turmoiled group member Bizzy Bone. They are recording a reunion album. LL Cool J denies signing with G-Unit Records.