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THE CLIPSE HAS A NEW RECORDING HOME

After years of label drama with Arista/Jive Records, Malice and Pusha T
have severed ties with Jive and the Neptune’s Star Trak
Entertainment and inked a deal with Columbia.
With their sophomore album, Hell Hath No Fury, getting constantly
pushed back through Jive (only to be released this past November and sell
194k to date); the Clipse opted to sign a five-year, 50/50 profit-sharing
arrangement with Columbia for Re-Up Gang Records.
According to Billboard, the Clipse will own the masters for all of
their Re-Up Gang artists (Ab Liva and Sandman); and will be releasing a
Re-Up Gang album along with a new Clipse album.
Next time around, the I can honestly say that we were all friends
before the music and will be friends to the end. Everything is business. If
we had our way, we would always be on Star Trak. But it’s what’s
working for you and what’s not. We just want good energy, and Columbia
has both the urgency and the muscle,” the Clipse’ Malice says of
their departure with the Neptunes’ label.

JIM JONES TO RELEASE AMERICAN GANGSTA ALONG WITH JAY-Z

Hot 97's Miss Info reports that Jim Jones will release a free album
entitled Harlem's American Gangsta on Nov. 6. The mixtape-style album will
be hosted by former Roc-A-Fella co-founder Damon Dash. According to
Miss Info, Jones is looking to create some competition between Dash's
Nicky Barnes film, Mr. Untouchable and American Gangster, which is
centered on his rival Frank Lucas. For his part, Jones says he doesn't care
for either of the former drug kingpins.
"Nicky Barnes and Frank Lucas was both snitches so neither one of them
were real American Gangsters to me," says Jones. This could make for an
interesting first week of November, as Jay-Z plans to release his
American Gangster concept album on the sixth also. Additionally, Diplomats
A&R Duke Da God is releasing The Eye of the Eagle DVD/CD combo on Nov.
6, while Cam'ron is releasing his free mixtape "Public Enemy # 1" on
Nov. 7.
According to Koch Records, who now split his artistic and revenue
duties with Columbia Records, Jim Jones' last album Hustler's P.O.M.E. is
certified gold. The Recording Industry Association of America confirms
that P.O.M.E.'s lead single "We Fly High" is certified platinum both as a
physical single and a digital

DIDDY TEAMS UP WITH CIROC

Sean "Diddy" Combs has entered into an alliance with the Diageo liquor
company and will take over brand management of the liquor brand Ciroc
it was announced today (October 24).

Combs and Sean Combs Enterprises will play the leading role in the
brand management of Diageo's premium vodka Ciroc, as part of a multi-year
U.S. collaboration.

The mogul will be responsible for the marketing, advertising, public
relations, product placement and events promoting the Ciroc brand.

All profits will be split 50/50 in the deal, which could be worth over
$100 million for Sean Combs Enterprises.

Combs revealed to AllHipHop.com that his focus will be on growing the
established Ciroc brand first and then he may consider developing his
own signature brand.

"The first part is to focus on Ciroc and create a fine spirits empire,"
Combs told AllHipHop.com. "Once that happens, we will see [about his
own line]. What really makes this historical is that I am an
African-American and I have teamed up with the world's largest spirits company,
Diageo, to reshape how a luxury brand is marketed."

The Hip-Hop impresario noted that the vodka trade is worth $3 billion
dollars and that the "ultra premium" category featuring spirits like
Ciroc is growing faster than any other in the spirits industry.

"Sean Combs has a proven track record of developing high-end brands and
we expect his alliance with Ciroc to follow suit," noted Debra
Kelly-Ennis, Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo North America. "We are confident
that Sean and his team are the right partners to further enhance the
luxury profile of Ciroc."

Combs praised the distinct manufacturing process of Ciroc, which is
made from French grapes as opposed to the normal process of using
potatoes.

"Now I don't know about you, but if I had the choice to drink potato
grains or French grapes, I would go with the grapes," Combs quipped.

Helming the Ciroc brand's entire marketing strategy around the "art of
celebration," Combs is planning a promotional coup to advertise Ciroc
as the official drink of the 2007-2008 New Year's celebrations.

Combs also aims to serve as a spokesperson for responsible drinking.

TERROR SQUAD INKS A NEW DEAL

Bronx-based rap collective Terror Squad is setting the stage for bigger
things, as it signs a new deal with Koch Records.

Under the new deal, Terror Squad will release two albums on Koch.

"We've had major success with Koch and the Terror Squad imprint in the
past, especially with DJ Khaled's two albums," said Fat Joe in a
statement. "We will continue this success with this new Terror Squad deal at
Koch Records. It's a perfect place to unveil our new members."

The new deal marks a new chapter for Terror Squad.

The group has released two albums, 1999's self-titled Terror Squad and
2004's True Story.

The latter album spawned the hit "Lean Back" which featured former
group member Remy Ma.

Together, the albums have sold close to 750,000 copies.

Through an existing deal with Koch, group member DJ Khaled has released
two albums for Terror Squad/Koch Records.

His latest album, We the Best, is approaching 300,000 units sold on the
strength of hits such as "We Takin' Over," and "I'm So Hood."

"The Terror Squad albums at Koch are going to be huge," added DJ
Khaled, who believes the new alliance "is going to make history."

"Koch is a label that works their artists to victory," he stated. "I'm
happy to be a part of two big families!"

Attorneys for No Limit Records rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller will have another chance to prove their client’s innocence, as the rapper's retrial for murder is scheduled to start today (Feb. 26) in New Orleans.

Miller is accused of shooting and killing Steve Thomas, 16, at a nightclub in 2002 during an argument.

After a controversial trial, Miller was convicted of murder in 2003 and was sentenced to life in prison.

His conviction was later overturned and he was released on appeal, when it was discovered that prosecutors withheld information pertaining to the criminal background of some of their witnesses.

Miller was freed in 2006 on $500,000 bail and has been on house arrest since July. He is also facing trial for two counts of attempted murder in Baton Rouge .

Miller recently released a new single titled "Posted On Tha Block," taken from his upcoming album Screamin' 4 Vengeance.

The album is a collection of songs that address the circumstances surrounding his incarceration for the murder of Thomas.

"A lot of people want to know what's going on with me and what my personal feelings are as far as what I've been through the last five years," Miller said. "I expressed it on 'Posted On Tha Block.' The public's getting a basic picture of what I've been through, how I feel and what's going on in my mind from that song."

The video for "Posted On Tha Block" was directed by Estevan Oriol, who shot the clip in New Orleans .

Wayne Bridges, the father of Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, died from unknown causes early this morning (Feb. 25) in Atlanta , GA.

Bridges died just two weeks after Ludacris won two Grammy Awards on Feb. 11, for Best Rap Album (Release Therapy) and Best Rap Song (“Money Maker.”)

That night, he dedicated both wins to his father, who watched the 49th Annual Grammy Awards show from his hospital bed.

"He introduced me to all of my major musical influences and he will live on through me," Ludacris told AllHipHop.com. "He bought me my first Hip-Hop record when I was five years old and I fell in love with it from that day on."

Ludacris moved in with his dad at the age of 14 and has had his father by his side since.

Bridges made numerous appearances at numerous events for his son's non-profit organization The Ludacris Foundation and was also featured in the video for “Grew Up A Screw Up."

Bridges condition was first brought to the attention of the public during Ludacris' Grammy acceptance speech, as an emotional Ludacris proclaimed his love for his ailing father.

"I'm celebrating his life knowing that he has moved on to a better place and I will continue to make him proud," Ludacris told AllHipHop.com.

Rapper Busta Rhymes was charged with driving with a suspended license in Manhattan yesterday (Feb. 22) morning.

Police stopped the rapper for allegedly running a red light around 5:30 am this morning and took him into custody.

The infraction is the latest legal issue for Rhymes, who is also facing two assault charges.

On Feb. 20, Rhymes rejected a plea bargain from prosecutors, who offered Rhymes six months in jail for allegedly assaulting his former driver in Dec. of 2006 and a fan in Aug. of 2006.

The rapper is currently considering pleading to the lesser charges of third-degree misdemeanor assault,

If he accepts the offer, Rhymes would be required to serve five days of community service, two weeks of youth lectures and

Bronx bred rapper Remy Ma recently revealed that she will star in her own untitled reality show, which will hit screens before the end of 2007.

Remy remained tightlipped about the untitled television show, which will hit the small screen before the end of 2007.

"Right I'm just in the process of getting my build on," Remy Ma told AllHipHop.com. "I can't talk about yet but it's crazy and it's coming."

The untitled reality show and album are two of several projects that Remy is involved in.

She is also working on an album with her new all-female rap group that features Chicago MC Shawnna and one of Miami's well known female rappers, Jacki-O.

Additionally, Remy is recording the follow up to her debut album There's Something About Remy, which spawned the hit singles "Whuteva" and "Conceited."

The album, titled PunishHer, is a tribute to her fellow Terror Squad member and deceased friend, Christopher "Big Pun" Rios.

The album's title reflects a number of meanings according to Remy Ma's management.

"The album and the title will reflect all of the struggles and hardships she's had to endure such as Big Pun dying, Loud folding, leaving Terror Squad, issues with Joe and Universal, and lack of label support on Something About Remy LP," Remy's management told AllHipHop.com.

Fueled by his hit single "Ridin'," Houston , TX rapper Chamillionaire was recently recognized for being one of the biggest selling Ringtone artist to date, with over 4 million ringtone sales.

The rapper was also certified by the RIAA as the first multi-platinum Mastertone artist in history.

With his career in full swing, Chamillionaire will return this spring with his sophomore album, Ultimate Victory.

Arriving in stores via Chamillitary Entertainment/Universal Motown, the new album features production from Three Six Mafia, Rick Rock, Play N Skillz, The Runners, JR Rotem, Kane Beatz, and Disco D, who recently committed suicide.

“People treat you like you committed a crime when you speak the truth about what’s really on your mind,” said Chamillionaire, as he explained the song's title. “People act like its wrong to have an opinion about things especially when your views are different than theirs. Even though one may have money through hard work, you still get judged and have to deal with prejudices and problems,” continued Chamillionaire. “I plan on doing what I feel is right for me and not worrying about anyone that feels otherwise.”

Ultimate Victory also boasts appearances by Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Pimp C, Bone Thugs & Harmony, Slick Rick, Devin The Dude and Famous.

The rapper is retiring his trademark diamond encrusted "grillz," in an effort to make sure people focus on his lyrics and music and not the jewels in his mouth.

“I need people to pay attention to what I have to say, instead of just staring at my mouth," Chamillionaire said. "I speak with a purpose and definitely want people to know that I’m not just some rapper with diamonds in his mouth. As soon as they get past the materialistic stuff and listen to the message on my album then I will feel like I have won.”

As he puts the final touches on his sophomore set, Chamillionaire is staying busy.

The rapper will be on hand in Los Angeles during the Grammy Awards on Feb. 11, to celebrate his two Grammy nominations for the hit single “Ridin.”

I'm hearing a crazy rumor. As you all know, I really think Busta Rhymes' last album was really good, but overlooked for things outside of the music. Anyway, I rumor has it Busta is working on something so big, you sleep walkers will have to pay attention. I heard that 50 Cent and The Game will be recording a song together along with Busta Rhymes for the L.I. rapper's new album "Before Hell Freezes Over." The album is slated to drop this summer on Aftermath. This is gonna be great, if it happens!

The New York Daily News reported that Ciara and 50 Cent were hanging out together last week. According to the report the pair was "looking like a couple trying not to look like a couple." Now, 50 did work with Ciara on a song called "Can't Leave 'Em" and Ciara was in the backseat avoiding the press. I though he had guns the size of Lil' Bow Wow, not girls the size of Lil' Bow Wow's girls. Ciara's totally grown up and moved on now, if this is true.

Game can thank Common for his new single, "Wouldn't Get Far." Com had nothing to do with the production, but after he turned down the Kanye West-produced track, 'Ye slid it to his West Coast partna.

"Game had texted me like, 'Yo, what's up? I'm finishing the album,' " West recalled Tuesday on the Los Angeles set of a video for the single. "And you know how [producers usually] send, like, 12 beats? I sent the one beat and said, 'I got this one for you. This is it, right here.' If he had passed on it, I would've used it myself, but I'm happy that Game went ahead and did it."

(It's also not the first Kanye track Common has passed on: Several tracks from Kanye's Late Registration were offered to Com, and he's since passed on a track they were collaborating on called "The Glory" .

It took several months, but their collaboration is now ready to hit the small screen in the form of a music video. Game said it's tough, though, keeping up his patented Compton snarl when hanging around the lovable Louis Vuitton Don.

"He chips away at my gangsta," Game said during a lunch break. "He's got so much style and class. He jumps around in the videos. He's saying how all the chicks dig him; they dig me too, [but] he gets a smile on a gangsta's face. Kanye is one of my homies — we both young, black, rich and famous. And we having fun in California ."

Lil Jon and Pitbull also made their way onto the set of the video — which spoofs the video-vixen concept — to show Game love, and Game was in fact expecting some cameos from some of the vixens he addresses in the song, like Melyssa Ford, Hoopz from VH1's "Flavor of Love" and Vida Guerra, but only Gloria Velez showed up.

"It wasn't really a dis, I shouted them out," Game said about some of his unflattering lyrics in the record, which portray the women as having hidden agendas in their interactions with celebrity male performers. "It's all in the fun, good nature of hip-hop. We're just having fun. It was never nothing personal.

"Some people, I had to pick up the phone and had to reach out to," he added about how he contacted the vixens. "My management had some relationships. ... Some people showed up, some people didn't, but at the end of the day it's my video. All we really need is me — I'm pretty too!"

Besides "Wouldn't Get Far," Game might be going in front of the camera for a couple of videos with Nas. There's talk about the two shooting "Hustlers" from Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead and "Why You Hate the Game" from Game's latest LP, Doctor's Advocate.

"We talk about everything — life, kids. It's bigger than hip-hop with us," Game said of his relationship with God's Son. "He's one of my homies. He's my mentor, he's been like a big brother to me. You can look for me and Nas to be doing a lot of stuff: hangin', chillin', doing movies, albums."

Unlike his friend from New York , who says sometimes he feels he can rap forever, Game said his time in rap could very well be reaching an end. He said he wants to spend more time with his family and is thinking about bringing his album career to an abrupt halt.

"I got my third album all in my head," he said sitting in the director's chair on the set, with Kanye and G.O.O.D. Music artists Really Doe and Don C. joking in the back. "I know the title. I know how many songs it's gonna be. I know the concepts. My third album might be my last album — so look out."

Nas has kept albums pretty spaced out for most of his career, but he's in such a zone right now that he doesn't want to waste any time. Not even a month after releasing Hip Hop Is Dead, the MC is planning to jump right back in the studio and release an LP sometime this year.

"New album is in the making right now," Nas said Sunday night, sitting in his trailer outside the set of his new video for "Can't Forget About You." (Click here to see photos of Nas on the video's NYC set.) " '07, new Nas album, I can't wait. I'm not finished. I feel like something is starting right now. This is a momentum and a movement that's happening out here. I gotta make sure I stay the captain of this ship and push it forward. I'm here at Def Jam, I'm renaming it the Black Oasis. You bring Nas into any situation like the situation that's at Def Jam and you gonna get nothing but the top of the line.

"Look," he continued after a long pause, grinning. "I'm sounding like I'm really feeling myself right now. But real talk, I'm really feeling myself again. '07, I'm gonna drop again and see what's really good with y'all out there. ... When it comes to this, man, sometimes when you're feeling it, you gotta just let it go."

Even with a potential classic in his sights, Nas said he's far from done with his #1-debuting LP Hip Hop Is Dead.

"Ah, man, going into the year the way I went into the year was real good," he said. "The irony of a title like Hip Hop Is Dead being #1, what is that? That's what it's all about. At the end of the day, it's real big. It feels like a good time. I'm excited, I'm loving the rap game, the potential that it has to grow. A lot of people thought that because I was hating the state of the rap game, I was hating rappers. I don't hate. It's just that there were a lot of rappers that were corny. There's always going to be corny rappers. They didn't understand the message. People were not getting it. It's a slow process, but it's all good. We're going to keep grinding, keep giving them more, showing them more. This is a record that's going to take time. We gonna push it on them for the whole year.

"With an album like this and a title like Hip Hop Is Dead, this is going to be a long burial," he continued. "You plant it, then maybe we could get some rain to fall, then you see stuff start sprouting and maybe get something reborn out here. But right now I'm at the funeral service, man. We got more material that's going to be showed to the world. I don't wanna stop this record. I usually fade out and not be a part of the scene ... but this one right here don't matter. I'm not even thinking about too much attention. I'm not thinking that. I'm thinking this one gotta play all the way out."

Nas and Def Jam are talking about making videos for "Hustlers," which features the Game, or even his duet with Jay-Z, "Black Republicans." But for now, the track is "Can't Forget About You." He shot the video Saturday and Sunday with director Chris Robinson. On Sunday, God's Son wore a tuxedo and bowtie, recalling the days he was suited up on the regular with the Firm in his Nas Escobar phase. On Saturday, Nas had taken his look back even further to the It Was Written days. He was shot on top of a triple-decker bus that cruised through Manhattan , similar to how he glided through those same streets in the clip for "If I Ruled the World."

"The concept of the video is [that] I put a lot of things on the map," he explained in his trailer, with friends like Swizz Beatz looking on. "Whether it's the pink-suit thing or the real dress-up look for the rappers. I been doing it for so long, and right now is a good moment in the '07. It's a good time to get that energy going."

If you've heard the single, you know the Will.I.Am-produced track uses a sample of Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable." Nas felt it was only right that he pay the legend's family tribute by inviting the legendary singer's daughter, Natalie Cole, to participate in filming on Sunday.

"I'm friends with [Def Jam A&R rep] J. Brown, and he said, 'Nas wants you to be in the video.' I said 'OK,' " said Natalie Cole, wearing a black suit, Chuck Taylor sneakers and a pendant of a crown (to pay homage to her famous father). "I hadn't heard [the song yet]. But I've heard of Nas, and I thought it was cool. I knew we had already given the license for the use of 'Unforgettable.' I think it's great every time I see the hip-hop world reaching back and getting great vintage stuff. I think the title ['Can't Forget About You'], it's appropriate. Then Nas got on the phone, we talked, and here I am."

"It was just an idea I wanted," Nas elaborated about reaching out to Cole. "It's a given, though, if we use the track. Nobody could forget what she did with the record, her and her father," he added, referring to the 1991 album on which Natalie sang a posthumous duet with her father using a track of his original vocal. That was one of the most major moments in music. With the family and what the song meant to a generation before her and our generation when she did it with her father. I'm not blood-related, but I'm musically related, and I guess I'm the child of their generation and I'm bridging the gap from Nat King Cole to Natalie Cole to Nas King Cole, and we're going to make it one family all over again."

Natalie Cole isn't the only female co-star Nas has in the video. R&B newcomer Chrisette Michele (Jay-Z's "Lost Ones") makes her video debut. The Long Island native, who appears four times on Hip-Hop Is Dead ("Not Going Back," "Still Dreaming," "Hope" and, of course, "Can't Forget Abut You"), said she was able to get on the album after Nas heard her freestyling over one of his incomplete tracks.

"I was introduced to Chrisette just from her being in the Def Jam family," Nas said. "When I heard her, I wanted to work with her more. She's an incredible writer and an incredible singer. It's something about her voice that's just the truth."

50 Cent is starting to get angry again. And as history has shown, that should mean good material for the bulletproof rapper's forthcoming album, Before I Self Destruct, tentatively due this spring.

Responding to detractors who claim G-Unit are over due to a slippage in album sales and rumors about the direction of his project, Fif says he's been feeling the pressure to deliver with Before I Self Destruct. As he explained, he is used to pressure — he already places a lot on himself as it is — and knows what everyone's been saying lately about his camp.

"I heard them talking on the radio about G-Unit is over, because they seeing some of the artists having difficulties," 50 said last week inside his offices during a break from promoting his recently launched G-Unit Books. "What you're seeing is the music business. Nothing just works in the music business. There's no company that has had a higher success rate than G-Unit since I showed up. I've accomplished what took people 10 years to do in business, in three.

"One project doesn't work and G-Unit is over?" he continued. "What about 50? Put that pressure on me. Cause I'mma smash their head as soon as I come back."

Aside from super-producers J.R. Rotem and Rich Harrison, 50 revealed that Timbaland will be another beatsmith helping him smash on his new project. The two have been collaborating recently, and 50 compared the experience to working with Dr. Dre and Eminem. One difference working with Timbaland, however, is the obligation 50 said he feels to use Timbaland's tracks after traveling down to Miami to get in the studio with the producer.

"To be honest with you, I feel [another kind of] pressure when I go in a studio with a producer," Fif explained. " 'Cause I don't wanna waste time. I don't live in Florida , so I have to go to Florida to work with Timbaland. I feel like I'm paying airfare for my entourage, I'm paying hotel fare for my entourage, I'm paying studio time. I'm in there with Timbaland like, 'I need to make a f---ing hit.' I feel obligated under those circumstances. My intentions are to go there and make the record. But if they mail the music to my house, I might listen and go, 'I don't know if that's the record.' But after I came there, I want to make something."

Fif also clarified that his next album won't be as soulful as some have suggested. He's been listening to older R&B lately, but not for direction — it's because there has been a lack of quality releases lately. He's heard Jay-Z's album (good, he said) and Game's album (not so much, he said), but 50's more interested in getting his G-Unit projects out on shelves in 2007.

First will come Young Buck's sophomore album, then Young Hot Rod's debut and then his own LP. But Fif was hush on the rest of his crew, only saying he won't rush the projects and that they'll see the light of day when the music is totally ready.

For now, 50 is fully focused on moving forward with his plans for this year, rather than dwelling on his or his roster's 2006.

"I feel like this year is my year," 50 said. "And there's absolutely no competition. I'm gonna dominate again. It might seem unfair, but I'm gonna do what I came to do."

Dipset member Charly "Max B" Wingate was ordered held on $2 million bail yesterday (Jan. 9), after the rapper was charged with robbing and murdering a man in his hotel room in Fort Lee, New Jersey last September.

Police believe Max B. conspired to rob David Taylor and Allan "Jay" Plowden after his girlfriend, erotic dancer Gina Marie Conway, revealed that the men had flashed wads of cash and drove expensive cars.

Max B., 28, allegedly phoned Kelvin Leerdam of New York to help rob the men, who were staying in separate hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn in Fort Lee .

Police said Max B.'s girlfriend Conway knocked on Plowden's door around 4 am, while Leerdam waited in unseen area with a handgun.

Leerdam burst into Plowden's room and ordered him to call Taylor, who was shot in the head and murdered as he entered the room.

The pair then bound Plowden arms and legs with duct tied, before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police said the robbers missed $30,000 in cash, which they confiscated from Plowden, as he attempted to leave the scene of the crime.

Max B.'s attorney told the New Jersey Star Ledger that evidence against her client was mostly hearsay and that Max B. was not in New Jersey at the time of the shooting.

Police claim that calls from all of the suspects cell phones before and after the crime link Max B. to the murder.

Conway and Leerdam are also being held on murder, robbery and conspiracy charges.

Max B. has recorded on various records with fellow Dipset members Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana.

In October, the group released a mixtape titled The Diplomats & Max B Million Dollar Baby Radio, which was recorded prior to Max B.'s arrest.

An attorney for the girlfriend of Tyrese Gibson has come forward to debunk reports that actor/singer/rapper assaulted his pregnant girlfriend last week.

Gibson and his girlfriend, who is 11 weeks pregnant, argued at their home in Los Angeles last Thursday (Jan. 4), which resulted in the woman placing an emergency call to 911.

Initial reports stated that Gibson was being investigated for striking the woman in the arms and thigh before fleeing the scene.

"Reports Tyrese punched my client -- his girlfriend -- in the arm, thigh or anywhere else are false," said Paul Berra ESQ., the unidentified woman's attorney. "It is

true, Mr. Gibson and his girlfriend had been arguing. She became very emotional and distressed during the argument and called 911 in an attempt to get a mediator. Mr. Gibson, frustrated, left the home. My client, Mr. Gibson's girlfriend, who is 11 weeks pregnant, then became more upset and began throwing up. When the paramedics arrived, concerned about the baby, they took her to the hospital. Fortunately, she was fine. Once at the hospital, she was asked by a nurse whether she had been assaulted. She said no. She was then asked what her pain level was on a scale of zero to ten. She said zero. She then discharged herself."

Berra said that Gibson's girlfriend was "saddened" that the incident was being so distorted.

"Mr. Gibson and his girlfriend are very much still in love, together and excited about their expectant child," Berra said.

Over the holiday break, rumors spread that the St. Louis rapper had been engaged to girlfriend Ashanti , but the rapper has dispelled the notion.

Nelly and Ashanti are not headed to the wedding altar, a publicist at Universal Records told AllHipHop.com on behalf of the artist.

The pair were supposedly engaged over the Christmas holiday according to a number of blogs and rumor sites.

While there are no upcoming nuptials, Nelly is working on his next album that will have him working with "some surprising people."

In addition to his own career, Nelly is also guiding the path of a young soul singer named Avery Storm.

Yonkers, New York rapper Styles P sustained a broken leg as the result of a road rage incident in Greenburgh , New York last Saturday (Dec. 23).

According to police, the rapper was driving his 2003 Mercedes-Benz on Saw Mill River Road , when he was cut off by a truck.

Police allege Styles P., born David Styles, then cut off the truck, got out of his vehicle and threw napkins at the window of the other driver, 50-year-old John Henson.

As the rapper got back in his vehicle, Henson rammed the rapper, breaking his left leg.

Henson was charged with second-degree assault. He told police that he feared for his safety after Styles P threw the napkins and reentered his Mercedes-Benz.

Check out Killer Mike’s promise to himself in 2007. “My New Year's resolution is always to do my own s**t in music, and push my own company. I left Purple Ribbon and I'm doing just that.

Compton, California rapper The Game has proven his selling power despite label turmoil and the loss of production from Dr. Dre, as his sophomore album Doctor's Advocate moved almost 360,000 copies the first week in stores.

The Game, born Jayceon Taylor, suffered numerous setbacks while recording the album, which is expected to top the Billboard charts next week.

He feuded with powerful rap collective 50 Cent and G-Unit and was eventually shuffled off of the powerhouse Aftermath/Interscope labels due to the negative publicity surrounding the beef and his "G-Unot" campaign.

The rapper remained confident in numerous interviews that his album would be a best-seller, despite the downward spiral of compact disc sales, due to fans purchasing and downloading music off of the Internet.

The Game even leaked the entire album himself on the Internet to give fans a preview of the album.

"Those n***as, they want to get the album," The Game told AllHipHop.com a week before the release. "Then I got my five times platinum fans that are going to get the album, so I think I'm going to be alright. I'ma move some units. I'm do my numbers and n***as gotta respect it. I know n***as is saying the climate [to sell records] is f**ked up. F**ked up for who? Not me, I'm good."

Game's debut The Documentary almost 600,000 units its first week in stores and has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

Game's Doctor's Advocate was released on Black Wall Street /A&M/Geffen, a unit of Universal Music Group.

UMG scored another success with R&B singer/rapper Akon, as his SRC/Universal Motown album Konvicted snagged the #2 spot, moving over 285,000 copies during its first week on the shelves.

Akon's sophomore album's sales were powered by the success of his singles “Smack That" with Eminem and "I Wanna Love You” featuring Snoop Dogg.

“Akon is one of the most versatile and talented personalities in all of Hip-Hop, with his skills on full display in these two records with Eminem and Snoop Dogg," said SRC boss Steve Rifkind. "Some of the biggest stars in rap and pop are lining up to work with him. His development since I signed him to the label has been nothing short of remarkable. I’ve seen a great deal in my Hip-Hop career, but the breakout of this album is unprecedented.”

More trouble could be brewing for Compton , CA rapper The Game, as his business partner in the Atlantic City-based Black Wall Street East recording studio was arrested and charged with money laundering on Friday (Nov 17.)

John "Johnny Hooks" Abbey, 38, was charged with laundering over $100,000 for the 9 Tre Gangsters, a dangerous faction of the Bloods street gang that is engaged in criminal activities throughout New Jersey .

Police raided a house in Little Egg Harbor New Jersey and a construction company Abbey was invested in. Police also searched the offices of the Black Wall Street East , but declined to reveal if The Game, was a suspect in the investigation.

"The investigation has led us to various financial tools used by the gang to finance their operations and to move proceeds of their crime," state Division of Criminal Justice Director, Gregory Paw told the Star Ledger. "It was a significant issue for us to learn how they have infiltrated legitimate businesses and used sophisticated techniques to finance their endeavors."

Abbey was charged with first-degree racketeering conspiracy and held in lieu of $750,000 bail. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

The Black Wall Street East was launched in October of 2005 with Game, a former member a Los Angeles faction of the Bloods.

According to the Game born Jayceon Taylor, other Black Wall Street facilities were scheduled to eventually open in New York , Atlanta , Miami , Detroit , Chicago .

In related news, The Game must appear in court on Dec. 12, to answer charges of impersonating a police officer in New York .

Diplomatic Records' president Ezekiel "Freekey Zekey" Jiles was released from prison in Durham N.C. yesterday (Nov. 20) after serving three years in prison for running an ecstasy ring.

Freekey Zekey, 31, was convicted in 2004 on the drug charges and served almost three years in prison.

The rapper was greeted in front of the Durham Correctional Center by a limousine, which whisked him away to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for a flight back to New York .

"It's a headache already, but it's all good," Freekey Zekey told AllHipHop.com. "That's my atmosphere, that's how I live. If it's not loud music, if it's not police siren, fire siren, gunshots, people yelling, if it's not a loud atmosphere, I am not going to feel comfortable, no way no how."

Zekey has appeared on numerous Diplomat mixtapes and albums by Cam'ron. In April 2003, Zekey was robbed in New York after a minor car collision outside a Manhattan nightclub.

The robbery and subsequent shooting took the life of his childhood friend Eric Mangrum. In December of 2005, Chauncey Dillon, 30, was sentenced to 30 years to life for the robbery and murder.

Shortly after the shooting, however, Freekey Zekey was sentenced to 35 to 42 for his involvement in an ecstasy ring in New Hanover County , North Carolina .

With his past behind him, Freekey Zekey is focusing on his upcoming debut, The Book of Ezekiel.

"I'm touching on all sides," Freekey Zekey told AllHipHop.com. "I am not just focusing on one way of rap. There's people that just do gangsta rap. My mind fluctuates so much that I just change course in my music. It might be a happy song, it might be a song where you shed a tear, it might be a song where you wanna pop a n***a head off, it might be a song where you just want to party. I'm real diversified because my mind is like that. That's how I feel. I might be happy, sad, ready to killa a n***a or ready to party."

Freekey Zekey and his Dipset group members have established a cult following in Hip-Hop through their mixtapes and independent albums.

Zekey's freedom comes during another high point for his group. Dipset group member Jim Jones' single "We Fly High" has become a national anthem of sorts, for its catch phrase "Ballllin."

The single is taken from Jones' recently released Hustler's P.O.M.E., which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Rap Albums chart and the Independent Album chart.

Cam'ron's 2002 effort Come Home with Me has been certified platinum, while his 2004 album Purple Haze has been certified gold.

Juelz Santana's 2003 album From Me to You is certified gold and his 2005 release What the Game's Been Missing is certified platinum.

"Going gold and platinum? That’s all we go!," Freekey Zekey said. "Listen, we on an independent label, man. Independency means… listen, if you go 50,000 [sales] that’s they recoup. Once you go anything over 50,000 on Koch, Asylum and all that, Jim [Jones] goes 200-300,000, Killa [Cam'ron] goes the same thing 200-300,000, Duke [Da God] goes 110-189,000. I don’t know the stats on J.R. [Writer], I ain’t get ‘em, I’m locked up . But when you do over 20-30,000 maybe 50,000, we get eight dollars off of that. Times that by 100-200-300,000. All that 10 cent, all that 15 cent n***as do on them major labels, we not with that. We getting real cake, man. $8.45 a record, man. I be home I’ll get it and you check my stats, check my flow, check my guap.

The mystery surrounding the cause of recent leaks of the Game's new album, Doctor's Advocate, has been solved, thanks to the rapper himself. The Game, real name Jayceon Taylor, admitted to releasing a clean version of his upcoming release in an overt strategic move. "I already leaked my album," Game revealed to AllHipHop.com. "I already leaked my s**t so n***as know what it is now. All they got to wait for is the dirty version."

While leaked albums are an unexpected occurrence for most artists, Game said his actions fall in line with a successful routine from past experience.

"People just don't remember last time," said the Compton rhymesayer. " The Documentary, me and Jimmy [Rosemond] did it at the same time. He leaked it out his way [the East Coast] and I leaked it out mine and it found its way out in the middle. But, The Documentary was leaked on Jan. 2 and my album came out on the 18th."

The Game likened the practice to an illegal practice that creates trust between the supplier and the demander. "You gotta do that. You gotta give people a sample," said the rapper, who compared the process to an interesting trade. "It's like selling crack in the 'hood, man. Anybody that ever sold drugs in the hood knows you gotta give a n***a a taste before they buy. "I leaked The Documentary the same time last year that I did this album," Game continued. "I got a formula. I know what to do. They know what it is, people hear the joints is classic and you ain't gonna hear s**t that you don't like." Album leaks are not a new phenomenon for artists, who have seen and adverse affect on sales.

This year has seen albums from Lupe Fiasco, the Roots and Pharrell pushed back due to unauthorized leaks. Most recently, Def Jam Records entertained the idea of investigating how tracks were leaked from Jay-Z's forthcoming album, Kingdom Come. Whether the leak will ultimately hurt or boost Game's sales remains to be seen, but if the past is an indication, it could be fruitful.

The Documentary sold over 600,000 units in its first week and went on to sell over 5 million copies. Game is confident he will come out on top and he dished out some cautionary advice for his peers. "I leaked the clean version. That's what it is," he said. "Maybe n***as should copy off me, man, but then I'mma notice they copying and then I'm going to smash them. So, they might not want to do that." Doctor's Advocate hits stores on November 14.

Rapper Beanie Sigel was admitted to a Philadelphia area hospital Wednesday (Nov. 1) to be treated for a double hernia. The rapper woke up in pain and went to see a doctor, who discovered the hernias after a medical examination, sources told AllHipHop.com. Sigel is not exactly sure how he sustained the injuries, sources added, but the hernias may have come from a rigid exercise routine.

Most hernias occur when a portion of the intestine pokes through the abdominal wall, creating a bulge. Hernias frequently develop in the groin or naval and can develop suddenly or over a period of months or years. Sigel is expected to be released on Monday (Nov. 6).

In related news, the rapper is halfway through recording his next album, The Bad Guy, which is slated to hit stores in March 2007. Sigel, who recently restructured his deal with Def Jam, will release the album under his newly formed label, State Property. The album features production by Dre and Vidal and guest appearances by Cee Lo, Scarface and Philly's Murder Mil, among others.

Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon the Chef has officially signed with Aftermath Entertainment and will serve up his highly anticipated album Only Built for Cuban Linx II under the label founded by West Coast rapper/producer Dr. Dre.

The announcement ends months of speculation as to whether or not the album would be released on the powerhouse label, which is also home to Eminem, Eve, Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent, and G-Unit.

According to a statement on Wu-Tang Clan's official site Wu-Tang Corp., Raekwon is currently in the studio recording new material for the new disc, which is rumored to feature production by Dr. Dre and the RZA and appearances from the Wu-Tang Clan.

"Rae isn't taking this album lightly and it will be released on Aftermath Records, not on the Wu Group as originally scheduled," said a statement on the site. "It will be an instant classic!"

Raekwon's solo debut Only Built For Cuban Linx was released in 1995 on Loud Records and set the world a buzz with songs like "Ice Cream," "Criminology," "Incarcerated Scarfaces," and "Can It Be All So Simple."

His next efforts, however, failed to match the commercial success as its predecessor--the gold-selling Immobilarity was released in 1999 via Epic while 2003's The Lex Diamonds Story was issued by Motown/Universal.

In a recent interview with AllHipHop.com, Raekwon talked about the pressure associated with recording the follow-up to Only Built for Cuban Linx.

"It feels good to know that I achieved a mark that I always felt I could," Raekwon told AllHipHop.com. "For the most part, I tend to stay humble and respect that and not be overwhelmed with the love. It just makes me stronger as an artist because I know that people watch what I put out. So it's kind of a double-edged sword where it's a good thing and a bad thing only because--the bad thing about it is that you have to stay on that level as being one of the best, because if you don't, then why'd you make that? It keeps me on my toes."

Perhaps taking a cue from Jay-Z and Nas, rappers DMX and Ja Rule have ended their long-running feud.

The two men engaged in a years-long beef after DMX accused Ja Rule Rle of stealing his rap style, which he said emulated his coarse, husky voice.

According to WENN, the beef ended after DMX talked to Murder Inc's chief, Irv Gotti.

Gotti reportedly reached out to DMX while he was incarcerated and arranged a low-key meeting that included Ja Rule.

"Gotti came to me in jail and said I want to make peace with you and him," the rapper said. "I was like, 'Alright Gotti, let's do it. But I need five minutes in a room with your man. I got to put my hands on him.'"

"Gotti sat down and we squashed it. I said he [Ja Rule] got to stop sounding like me."

In 2002, Ja Rule said that DMX was simply upset that his star status had risen considerably since the 90's.

"He can't f**k with me and its hurting him right now that I am bigger than him. I'm bigger than him and he's mad," Ja Rule said at the time. "The reason [for his jealous] is he is a b***h and that's what b****es do."

The Game, a rapper from Compton , Calif. , admitted on New York 's Power 105 that he recently ended his own feud with Ja Rule and was open to collaboration possibilities.

The G-Unot campaign may very well be over. That is, if 50 Cent accepts the Game's request that the two once-affiliated rappers end their ongoing beef.

During an interview in New York yesterday (Sept. 29) with Hot 97 radiodio personality Angie Martinez, the Game extended an olive branch to his bitter rival, repeatedly urging 50 Cent to call into the station.

The Compton-bred rapper also insisted he was sincere and said he hoped to find a resolution with 50 Cent, who played an active role on his debut album The Documentary.

"[I want] just to talk and just to see where our heads are and see if maybe we can come to an even playing field -- respectfully to each other," said the Game. "[I want to] see if we can figure it out [as] grown-ups."

In February 2005, a man affiliated with the Game was shot in front of Hot 97's Manhattan office building minutes after 50 Cent publicly kicked his West Coast counterpart out of G-Unit during an on-air interview.

The pair would later reconcile at a highly-publicized press conference, but the Game claimed the two weren't mentally prepared for it.

"We weren't ready to do that. You can't force us to do anything," he told Martinez . "I don't think that either of us was ready to get on that stage."

Game further likened the failed resolution to removing a steak out of an oven before it is done cooking.

"You bit into [the steak] and it wasn't ready because it wasn't done," he philosophized. "We were just coerced into that situation. At the end of the day, we are all getting money and it should be good. Its Hip-Hop,Hip-it's a competition."

While Game sought to end his most salacious beef, he noted that his other rap rivals won't be so fortunate.

"Y'all ain't off the hook. I don't want everybody to think that it's all good," he said, alluding to his recent altercation with rapper Ras Kass. "Tomorrow, nothing is promised and that statement is bigger than Hip-Hop."

Additionally, Game re-confirmed that neither Dr. Dre, nor his beats, will appear on his sophomore opus, The Doctor's Advocate, due in stores on Nov. 14.

"Dre is not on the album. No Dre involvement on this album," he said. "If you looking to buy my album just because Dre did a beat or two, leave it on the shelf. This album is executive-produced by the Game. Dre took me from the 'hood and gave me an opportunity so I'm always going to pay him that respect."

The Game and Ras Kass Get In Fight At NightClub

West coast rappers Ras Kass and The Game squared off in a physical confrontation last night (Sept. 14) at a Los Angeles club. Ras Kass is on a nationwide tour with Rakim and Kid Capri.

Both of the internationally respected West coast rappers were in club Element, when Game confronted Ras Kass over the lyrics to the song "Caution," a song Ras Kass recorded over a year ago.

"The ni**a tried to jump me 30 to 2, yet I'm alive and chillin' my sweater is still white and all my jewelry intact," Ras Kass told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "Game is a 'Change of Heart,' stripping, fake-ass blood who sold some records riding Dr Dre's shirt tails. I guess he thought this would help him sell some more records. I was so unfazed by it all that I went up to his car afterwards and challenged him right there. Game is no match for me physically or lyrically."

He also disputed Ras Kass' account of the confrontation. "Aint nobody hit that dude but me, he's crazy talking about 30 people," Game told AllHipHop.com. "I never had beef and never met Ras Kass, unless it was a quick exhange saying hello. He talked about my son by name. You can say what you want about me, but what does my son got to do with it? I seen the n***a in the club. I walked up to him in the club and it was my mans birthday, so I didn't want to mess up his party. When the lights came on, at the end I asked him about the freestyle. He said it wasn't nothing, but he started in on that 'it's whatever I'm Ras Kass and punched him in the face before he could finish."

"I don't benefit me to mess with these kinds of small cats," Game said, adding that he would not be responding to Ras Kass lyrically either.

The Doctors Advocate was scheduled to hit stores Nov. 7, but the album release date has been pushed back one week, until Nov. 14

Jim Jones Album out on November 7, 2006

KOCH Records, in conjunction with Diplomat Records, is proud to announce the release of Jim Jones' third studio album: Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment).

Jones' first single, "We Fly High" is already over 700 spins Urban Radio (with over 8 million in audience) and is quickly becoming an anthem on New York 's HOT 97.

The video for "We Fly High" has already been added to BET, and Jones will premiere the video on the network's "106th & Park" on Friday, September 15th. Also this week, the video premiered on MTV2's "Unleashed" and was chosen as MTV Jamz' "Jam of The Week." Additionally, MTV2's "Makes The Video" for "We Fly High" will debut the week of September 25th.

Hustler's P.O.M.E. is the highly-anticipated follow-up to Jimmy's last album, Harlem : Diary of a Summer, which debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 Chart. His first two albums (including On My Way to Church") have sold a combined 600,000+ copies, making the Dipset Capo a true hip hop star-in-the-making.

Jimmy weighs in on the new album: "Biggie said a long time ago, 'More money, more problems,' and now I truly understand what he was talking about. I named the album Hustler's P.O.M.E. because it's just my definition of being a hustler. When you are coming up on the streets you got to hustle to survive or else you'll be left out in this cold world. That's all we got and that's what my music depicts. It depicts stories of everybody comin' up. Sometime it's hopeless, but you got to stay focused. I know we all got felonies and can't get no jobs, so we on the street corners doing the daily, and that's what we call hustlin'. Stay tuned for some powerful music. Your boy, Jones."

As any smart business would do, Jones has broadened appeal beyond the airwaves. Besides being an acclaimed artist, Jones is C.E.O. of Diplomat Records, home of stars Cam'ron, Juelz Santana and the whole Dipset crew. As an award-winning music video gangsta auteur, it was Jones who helmed such MTV and BET video favorites as his own "Certified Gangsta" and "Crunk Muzik," Cam'ron's "Oh Boy," "Hey Ma" and "Get Em Girl/Killa Cam," State Property's "When You Hear That" and several videos for Juelz Santana.

Jones also holds the position of Director of A&R for the Warner Music Group and has a label imprint, Byrdgang Records through Asylum Records. Additionally, his sizzling liquor, Sizzurp, has captured global attention in the liquor industry, and is juicing up VIP party scenes from coast to coast. Jones is unquestionably a mogul in the making, looking to capitalize on the glamorous gangsta lifestyle and beyond.

Details are beginning to surface about Jay-Z's long-rumored comeback album, which will be his first since announcing his retirement three years ago and becoming president of Def Jam.

The new disc is reportedly titled Kingdom Come and due in November via Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam. It is expected to feature production from Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Kanye West and Coldplay's Chris Martin.

In July, Pharrell Williams told Billboard.com the Neptunes are also producing tracks for the album. As previously reported, Hype Williams will direct the music video for the first single, which is said to be "Show Me What You Got."

Although Jay-Z's last studio effort was 2003's The Black Album, which has sold 3.2 million copies in the United States , according to Nielsen SoundScan, the rapper has since appeared on songs by Beyonce, Kanye West, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross, among others.

"You all are hearing things from me -- you just haven't heard an album," he told Billboard.com last September. "Who knows? I'm still going in the studio, getting on remixes and things like that. But it's the people. When people want something bad enough, it happens. And they want it bad (laughs). I'm trying to hold out, but I don't know how long I can."

The artist is in the midst of an international tour to raise awareness about the world's water crisis, which will be chronicled in an MTV special debuting Nov. 24. The trek hits Amsterdam on Friday (Sept. 15).

Flavor Flav Album Coming Out?

Flavor Flav, the current star of VH1's top rated reality series Flavor of Love 2, is preparing the release of a new self-titled album this Halloween.

Flavor Flav, born William Drayton Jr., announced the album will be released on his own independent label, Draytown Records, which is distributed by Redeye Distribution.

"I got some things off my chest, but not all," Flav said. "I doubt I will ever do another one, though. What I'm gonna do is make this one a collector's item. My first and only solo album, ever."

Flavor Flav, known as "the greatest hypeman in Hip-Hop," rose to fame with pioneering rap group Public Enemy, releasing poignant, controversial political statements.

The group became well known for such hits as "Don't Believe the Hype," "Rebel Without a Pause," "Fight the Power," "911 is a Joke" and others, which featured Flavor Flav's distinctive personality and vocals.

As a member of Public Enemy, he was featured on landmark Hip-Hop albums like Yo! Bum The Show! (1987), It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988) Fear Of A Black Planet (1990) and others.

The rapper has recorded several albums throughout his career, but none have ever been released. Flavor Flav enters uncharted territory on the album, by singing two R&B songs, "Let It Show" and "Two Wrongz (Don't Make a Right)."

"I'm saying some, real true positive stuff in there, too," Flavor Flav continued. "Once they get used to it, I think people can accept me singing."

The new season of VH1's reality series Flavor of Love is the latest in a string of television successes for the rapper. The rapper appeared in The Surreal Life (2003), Strange Love (2005) and most recently, 2006's Flavor of Love.

When the second series of Flavor of Love premiered in Aug. 2006, the show drew over 3 million viewers, making it the most watched series debut in VH1's history.

Rumors(Just What Industry Is Talking About)

The Game is one of my favorites. I don't get into all the lil' beefs and such; I'm just into the music like Nas. Now, with that said, I heard a rumor so sweet I have brush off the plaque after saying it! On Game's album, there is 8-minute collaboration with Nasir Jones. That's right, Nas isn't thinking about politics right now. So, the song in question is apparently produced by none other than my boy Just Blaze. I heard the beat is hard and the rhymes are "choice."

Fat Joe has signed with Virgin Records, less than a month after leaving his longtime home, Atlantic Records. The artist will crown the new deal tomorrow (Aug. 31) with a performance during a Virgin-hosted after-party for the MTV Video Music Awards in New York .

Fat Joe had previously announced that he would release his next album, Me, Myself & I, independently on Oct. 17 via his own Terror Squad imprint, but it is unclear at deadline if the street date will be affected. A video was recently shot for first single "No Drama."

"I just started writing on my own and made the album I truly wanted to make," the artist told Billboard earlier this month, adding that the project was his "most in-depth album in terms of vulnerability and doing the music I love."

Me, Myself & I features collaborations with the Game and Lil Wayne and production from Scott Storch, the Runners and DJ Khaled, among others.

"No hard feelings, but they weren't feeling what I was asking for," Joe said of splitting with Atlantic . "I've always been an artist to them, and they didn't understand me asking for my own imprint. But one man's trash is another man's treasure

It was Danity Kane's time to shine, as more than 234,000 fans rushed out to grab a copy of the group's self-titled debut. According to the latest SoundScan figures, the Kane outsold Outkast's latest by more than 38,000.

The "Idlewild" soundtrack earned the chart's #2 position with sales reported at just over 196,000 units. That means Big Boi and Andre 3000 failed to replicate the success of 2003's Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below — which sold 510,000 to debut at #1 — though they matched the ranking of 2000's Stankonia, 1998's Aquemini and 1996's ATLiens, which all opened at #2.

Rumors (just rumors information may not be true just what the industry is talking about)

It must be nice. There is a rumor circulating that, as Jay-Z jumps back into the recording fray with this new album/tour, he'll be quitting his position as the president of Def Jam. Three years and he's done, I heard. I'm not mad at that, because I'm anxious for a new Jigga LP. I heard he's working hard between L.A. and N.Y. with Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Dr. Dre and others for this monster project. The word is: November

I'm also getting word that Jay will remain president of Def Jam even though he is returning with a new CD, which is slated to drop late November or in the early part of December.

Word is, Just Blaze is also working on the new Jay-Z album, but his name hasn't been mentioned in previous reports. I also heard that The Roc will finally be dropping the anticipated album by Freeway and Kanye's next opus, Graduation. Expect this at the very end of 06 or the early part of 07.

Since we have this whole Jay-Z/Roc thing going on here, I thought I would expand on an earlier rumor. There were a lot of rumors about Beanie Sigel being dropped from The Roc. Well, I heard that's not true. He didn’t go from Dame to The Roc in the first place. His newest deal is straight through Def Jam. I have word that he is working on the follow up to his DDMG debut and it will drop sometime next year.

Killa Season Part 2

The Diplomats say "Killa Season" is not over. Cam'ron is already filming scenes for the movie "Killa Season 2," which is set to pick up right where the first movie left off. Cam is also in the studio working on a soundtrack to go with the film. A song from the LP — a track titled "Weekend Girl" — is already out, and the camp says a video will be filmed soon. Cam is trying to get the 'hood flick and its accompanying soundtrack out by December. ...

Swizz Beatz Producing Tracks for Eminem, Nas, and Kanye West

We don't hear Eminem rhyme over too many producers' beats, but there just may be a collaboration with hip-hop's track monster, Swizz Beatz, on the horizon."He reached out," Swizz said. "I'm just taking it slow. I'm not even going [into the studio with him. I'm just sending him the tracks. He's in a zone though."Swizz says the feel of the beats will inspire Em to bring back the old Slim Shady. He shared some other news as well: "I just did a song on [A 2Pac Tribute: Dare 2 Struggle, a various-artists collection commemorating the 10th anniversary of his death]. Oh my God. It's so ridiculous. It's hard. I gave Nas about four joints. I didn't even try to get no singles; I just went hard-body. I'm doing something on Kanye's new album. I'm just grinding right now."

Chili (TLC) Has a Recording Home

Chili of the group TLC has Signed deal with Akon’s Konvict Music Team. Chili currently working on her Album and has been in the studio with Akon and T-Pain.Chili album will also have appearance from Missy Elliot and T-Boz.

He may have had everyone saying "Slow Down" a year ago, but Bobby Valentino's career is showing no signs of braking, as the R&B crooner is already polishing up his second album.

Special Occasion, the follow-up to 2005's Disturbing

Tha Peace Presents Bobby Valentino, is due September 19 on Ludacris' DTP label.

"I'm always doing something new and different," the Atlanta R&B crooner said of his latest material, without giving too much away. "This is definitely a little change for me, but it's still in the same vein."

Valentino is giving fans a preview of his newest work with his street single, "Wreck," which is dropping this month. "It's about a young lady who has me [hooked]," he said. "Every man has been in this situation before, so we came up with a song about it."

"Wreck" was written and produced by Sean Garrett, whose credits include Beyoncé's "Check on It," Chris Brown's "Run It!" and Usher's "Yeah!"

Rodney Jerkins helmed the official first single, "Turn the Page," and Dre & Vidal, Brian Michael Cox and Tim & Bob also contributed production to Special Occasion (see "Attention Producers: Bobby Valentino Wants To Make You Hotter"). So far the album is without any major cameos, but Valentino plans to change that. "Whoever I put on there is just going to add the hot sauce on it," he said.

Along with recording his own material and contributing to various compilations — including last year's Ludacris Presents ... Disturbing Tha Peace and The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter — Valentino's been busy exploring other options. "I'm ready to get into acting," he said

Game Preps New Album to be Released November 7, 2006

When Game talks about "one blood," he's not talking about plasma. The Compton, California, MC is shouting out his affiliation and letting the world know his new album, The Doctor's Advocate, is coming soon. On Monday, he released his new song, "It's Okay (One Blood)."

The beat incorporates a sample and loop of Junior Reid's reggae classic "One Blood." According to Game's camp, newcomer Reefa produced the track.

"The 'Math gonna drop him, if 50 ain't rockin' with him no more," Game raps, referencing the rumors that he had been dropped from Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in the wake of his beef with 50 Cent.

"Everybody knows I'm the heir to the Aftermath dynasty," he continues, reaffirming his allegiance to the Doc.

Months ago, Game's manager, Jimmy Henchman, said his client would in fact work with Dr. Dre on The Doctor's Advocate, but there has since been no confirmation from Game or Dre about new collaborations .The controversial lyricist has definitely been in the studio with another Dre, though: one-half of Cool & Dre, the duo who produced The Documentary's Grammy-nominated single, "Hate It or Love It."

"We gave him some really hot records," Dre of Cool and Dre said recently in L.A. "We gave him this record with Mary J. Blige. [It's] another soulful record. Mary flipped it. We was in the studio — it was Mary, me and Cool, Game. The record is so beautiful. I believe the Mary song is called 'People.' Then we did a record with him that's so phenomenal that's up for first single status. This record is called 'Stop.'

" 'Stop' is something you never heard before," he continued. "Me and Cool got this really new style. The beat is hard, but melodically, it's new. It's on some 'Twilight Zone' sh--. It [goes,] 'Stop/ When the lights go out and the music go off.' It's crazy. The Game is spitting crazy on it. We actually did three records for his album. We did another one that Nas is on."

The Doctor's Advocate has a November 7 release date, and while "It's Okay (One Blood)" is still considered just a street single — not the proper first single — there are plans in motion to shoot a video for it. There's a Scott Storch-produced cut called "Strip Club" that is being talked about as the official first single, but no plans have been finalized.

Source: MTV

Nas (The Greatest) New Album Due In September

Queens Bridge Rapper Nas will release his First Def Jam release titled Hip-Hop is Dead…. The N. Nas said the name came about because rappers and fans been saying the words for while.

Crunchy Black No Longer with Three Six Mafia

Rapper Crunchy Black is no longer apart of Three Six Mafia the group made a statement saying they have not talk Crunchy is months and the decision was not made by the group it was a choice made by Crunchy himself.

Joe Budden Albums will hit stores October

Joe Budden album which is titled The Growth

The Detroit club were D12 member Proof was killed has been ordered to close it doors for one year after the city stated the club was operating after hours at the time Proof was killed. The CCC Club in Detroit will be ordered to pay fines before reopening after the one year ban. Many Detroit residents feel the club should be close the doors for good.

Rapper DMX was arrested in London on May.13, 2006 for refusing to button his seatbelt on airplane on a trip to

England

. London police arrested DMX because he was verbally abusing the cabin crew on the flight. DMX was released without charge but was warned of his actions.

Rapper T.I. has cancelled his Japan tour do to all the recent events taking place in his life, T.I. was arrested in Atlanta on May 10, 2006 for violating his probation from a prior arrest. The courts claim T.I did not fulfill his community service task as a part of Probation requirements T.I was released on 25,000.00 bail. With in the same week of his arrest T.I. laid to rest one his closes friends as well as personal assistant, Philant Johnson who was killed in Cincinnati following after party event.

Rapper Snoop Dogg has been permanently banned from the entire United Kingdom after a brawl that happen back in April at London Airport. Snoop Dogg and his entourage of 30 people. The brawl happen after Snoop Dogg and his entourage was denied in the first class lounge on an airplane. Seven officers suffered minor injuries during brawl, the UK stated reason behind the ban for Snoop is because of his previous criminal record in the United States. The Ban can cause Snoop the lose millions of dollars in performance and appearances. (Please Click To Read The Full Story About This Incident)

G-Unit member Lloyd Banks has a name for his new album which tentatively schedule to be released on July 18, 2006. The name of the album is called the Rotten Apple. Lloyd Banks first single from the Rotten Apple is called “My House.” which is produced by one of Hip Hop's best producers Timbaland. In other G-unit news the record company has just signed a MC that goes by the name Hot Rod he hails form Phoenix. More to follow so stay tuned!

Atlanta Rapper Young Jeezy has little off his mind these days, Florida Attorney’s Office have determined there is not enough evidence to prosecute Jeezy in the connection with a shooting in Miami. Young Jeezy was charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon. According to police Jeezy and his entourage was involved in a fight and that’s when the shooting took place. The Shooting took place on March 11, 2006

Young Jeezy to Drop Next Album in October

Atlanta Rapper Young Jeezy will be dropping his Second Album in October called The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102. Young Jeezy is being tight lipped about the album.

Blackwallstreet/Aftermath Recording Artist the Game Highly anticipated Masterpiece will hit stores late summer no release date has been given. The name of Game new album will be called The Doctor’s Advocate the album is follow-up to his 4x platinum album titled The Documentary. Game said the reason the album is being pushed is because of the upcoming release of the Game role in the movie called Waist Deep which also stars Tyrese Gibson, Larenz Tate, Meagan Good, the movie is schedule to open in theaters on June 23, 2006.

Bone Thug-N-Harmony Signs Deal with Interscope through Swizz Beatz label Full Surface. Bone Thugs is back and will be stronger than ever. More to come this story so check back OFTEN!