NEW DELHI: Hip-Hop is picking up fast with the Indian Gen-x. But while many vent their frustrations vicariously by listening to mostly African-American performers, a new group of Indian artists is taking the microphone and letting the world hear their version.

NEW YORK: That Akshay Kumar will shoot the title track of Singh Is Kinng with Snoop Dogg (who pioneered the ascendance of West Coast 'g-funk' rap) is common knowledge.

NEW YORK: Saffronart closed yet another record sale June 19 evening, featuring rare and significant works of Indian modern and contemporary artists as its Summer Auction registered a total sale value of approximately $9.7 m.

NEW JERSEY: Pan Desi, the first English-language television network that is targeted at South Asians living in America and available to over 50 million people every day, had its official web launch on YouTube, recently.

CHICAGO: The global fascination with films will bring teen screenwriters from around the world to MediaBridge, Facets international screenwriting program for youth being held Fullerton Avenue and S King Drive from July 7-August 10.

LOS ANGELES: Miss Korea, Diane Yoo, was named as this year's Miss Asia USA 2008 winner at the 20th annual Miss Asia USA Pageant held on June 21 at the Alexander Theater located on Brand Avenue in downtown Glendale.

NEW JERSEY: It was a weekend of fashion, style and shopping as Bibi Magazine and Sahara One TV presented the first ever South Asian fashion and jewelry shopping showcase at a mainstream mall. The Woodbridge Center Mall in NJ was the venue for StylEast, a two-city fashion tour held first in Houston, TX and then in New Jersey.

WASHINGTON: Devoid of Bollywood's song and dance routine, India's filmdom is getting a hold of America's Hollywood. Steven Spielberg's, the maker of greatest Hollywood's blockbusters, new company Dreamworks will garner an investment of $600 million by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG).

NEW YORK: Maverick Hollywood actor Harrison Ford will next be starring next in a true-life drama based on the book authored by Pulitzer Prize winning Indian American journalist/author Geeta Anand, according to Variety magazine.