Today Brooklyn's annual Northside Festival was officially announced in a press conference at Borough Hall presided over by Marty Markowitz and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA. Yes, GZA and Marty, passing the mic. Never one to miss an opportunity to make his borough cringe, Marty put his rapping skills on display, dropping the first lyric to GZA's "Liquid Swords": "Through cyclones or typhoons, I represent Brooklyn from midnight to high noon...I don't waste ink, I think, I drop 'fuggedaboutits' faster than you blink." Bear witness: more ›

Hot off the heels of news that Staten Island men are amongst the most sensitive in the nation, some FBI documents have been unsealed showing that the borough's own Wu-Tang Clan is linked to guns, drugs, and murders. The report was obtained by blogger Rich Jones, who filed a FOIA request. According to the Daily News, the 93-page file is part of the late Russell Jones's file, aka Ol’ Dirty Bastard. more ›

Rapper, actor and sometime Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man pleaded guilty today to a tax evasion charge stemming from years prior, and was sentenced to a conditional discharge at Staten Island Criminal Court. Method Man, real name Clifford Smith, turned himself in last October after he realized he had failed to pay state and personal income taxes from 2004 through 2007. He owed approximately $106,000 in back taxes coupled with interest and penalties, but has now paid that amount back in full. more ›

Method Man, a member of Staten Island's hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, was arrested yesterday for tax evasion. He turned himself to the 120th Precinct and when he was taken to his arraignment, he used a copy of "Ultimate X-Men" to cover his face. Really—video below. more ›

Rap artist RZA, who is a member of the Wu-Tang Clan, has an interesting sideline occupation: recreational chess champion. RZA (pronounced RIZ-a) sat down with New York Times chess man Dylan McClain to talk about his love of the game. At the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the duo played a game and discussed how RZA became involved with chess and what it means to him. more ›

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a pedestrian struck on 160th St. and Archer Ave. in Queens, a shooting on East 119th St. in Manhattan, and a construction accident on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn, Before anyone accuses A-Rod of greediness for spurning an offer of $30 million a year, let it be known that would make the top-performing athlete a pathetic piker among NYC earners. Maggie Gyllenhaal acclimates to Brooklyn: She isn't comfortable with her... more ›

When rapper Method Man rolled down his SUV's window at the Battery Tunnel to pay the toll, a cloud of marijuana smoke wafted outside - and landed him in jail, authorities said yesterday. more ›

NY Mag's Best of New York is out. Want to know what's good in your hood? Here's a handy little chart that will direct you to just that. Here's a glance at some of the more fun categories: more ›

As you may or may not know, we love the show How I Met Your Mother (one character even has a blog - not an entirely new idea, but we like it). Last week two of the characters on the show went to a lazer tag park and declared that the game was totally making a comeback within 2 months. So we wanted to get prepared, because we actually think lazer tag could be fun! more ›

Gothamist is feeling a bit under the weather today, literally and figuratively, so we'll just get straight to it, if you don't mind: more ›

Official Wu-Tang Clan website. Gothamist reader comments about ODB's passing. more ›

"My son, Russell Jones, passed away. To the public, he was known as Ol' Dirty Bastard, but to me, he was known as Rusty, the kindest, most generous soul on earth. I appreciate all the support and prayers that I have received. Russell was more than a rapper, he was a loving father, brother, uncle, and most of all, son."

According to the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, "Rap group Wu-Tang Clan to tour Israel in May; one member says they `want to show solidarity` with people of Israel." more ›