During Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's performance at Coachella Music Festival on Sunday (April 15), Tupac Shakur made a surprising appearance -- albeit via a hologram. The late rapper performed 'Hail Mary' and '2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted' with Snoop Dogg. While some thought it was tacky and creepy to resurrect the late 2Pac onstage, I thought it was surreal and fucking amazing at the same time.

In addition, the late R&B crooner Nate Dogg was given a thoughtful tribute by Snoop Dogg.

All and all, it was a gangsta party.

Pretty Flaco (aka A$AP Rocky) and his homies gave an enthralling performance at the Coachella festival Saturday in Indio, Calif. The Harlem, N.Y. rapper performed several of his Internet-fueled hits including "Purple Swag," "Wassup," "Peso" and "Pretty Flaco." He also performed a new song from his upcoming debut album. The show was definitely on some trill shit.

Props: RapDose

via: vimeo.com

After a successful run at the Sundance Film Festival, Ice-T's self-produced documentary Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap will hit theaters this summer.

The rap icon talks with over a dozen influential rhyme-spitters about the art of crafting a rhyme. Among the distinguished artists appearing in the documentary include Eminem, Kanye West, MC Lyte, Chuck D, Q-Tip, Snoop Dogg, Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube, Grandmaster Caz, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Afrika Bambaataa and many others.

The Art of Rap opens in theaters June 15.

It took 45 days, but George Zimmerman has been formally booked on 2nd degree murder charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The unarmed 17-year-old teen, who was only carrying a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea, was shot and killed on Feb. 26 by Zimmerman but he was never arrested.

While Zimmerman was being charged, the hip-hop community responded with videos in tribute to Martin. It's good to see rappers respond to this unfortunate tragedy that has polarized a nation.

Now lets hope that the family of Trayvon Martin will finally see justice in this case.

Geto Boys member Willie D and Scarface team up with rap young'uns Propain and D Boi for "Hoodiez," a tribute to Trayvon Martin.

Miami rapper Plies was one of the first artists to eulogize Trayvon Martin in a song. Here's his video for "We Are Trayvon." Proceeds from the sale of the single will go to The Justice For Trayvon Martin Foundation.

From 2CentTV, rhyme-spitters Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Dead Prez and Mike Flo come together to record "Made You Die," their tribute to Trayvon Martin.

Hoodies Up!

DMV rapper-producer Oddisee is a favorite here at Beats and Rants (check the archives). So it's good to hear that he's still on his production grind.

Oddisee just released his new song "Hustle Off" (via his Bandcamp website), which will appear on his upcoming album People Hear What They See (due June 12).

While I appreciate Oddisee's message, I don't know if everyone can turn their hustle off nowadays. We are in a recession, dammit! It's time to get our hustle on. Ha!

Props to Oddisee for this banging track. Keep on hustlin' young man.