Young Money diva Nicki Minaj has taken both the rap and fashion world by storm over the past year. With her still hot selling debut album Pink Friday satisfying the masses and her dizzying array of wigs and lavish outfits, the curvy starlet has become one of the music industry’s most coveted stars. In the realm of pop and dance music, Lady Gaga has reigned supreme and would seem to be the most sensible counterpart to the quirky Hip Hop styling of Minaj. Naturally, Nicki has expressed a desire to collaborate with the immensely popular and sometimes controversial singer. Read More...

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Givenchy Creative Director and fashion designer Riccardo Tisci has found himself aligned with two of hip-hop’s brightest stars after designing the elaborate cover for the joint album from megastars Kanye West and Jay-Z, Watch The Throne. The jet setting Italian has catapulted himself into rap infamy with the album design and has been having quite a banner year as well in his own industry. Jay-Z’s lifestyle blog Life + Times caught up with Tisci as he discussed vacations, his love of hip-hop and working with Hov and Yeezy. Read More...

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At one time, G-Unit general 50 Cent was one of the mixtape game’s most respected rhyme slingers and built much of his fame from his relentless grind. As his name and fortunes rose, Fif took on more of a business route putting the music aside but it appears the South Jamaica, Queens native is coming back to reclaim the streets with a blistering new track from his Street King Energy series, the sixth track “Love, Hate, Love” – and a former comrade along with arguably rap’s biggest star get a couple of swift jabs from Ferrari 50.

The track starts off slow with a stirring soul vocal sample serving as the backdrop. When the track gets going, 50 sounds sinister after he lyrically launches a salvo in the direction of Young Money captain Lil Wayne. “Acting like a white boy bored, now you wanna jump a flight of stairs on a skateboard/Ni---, why the f--- ya pants so tight?/You trying to show ni---- your ass, your alternative life” – Ouch, 50!

But Wayne wasn’t the only rapper to catch a stray from Mr. Jackson as former ally Game catches some pretty tough shots too. “I touched more p---- than maxipads/Now Detox can be your little rap rehab/Bi---, just a second visit from the repo man/And you can’t afford your monthlys, I mean God D---.” Read More...

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As Grand Hustle captain T.I. makes his slow climb back atop the rap ranks, the self-proclaimed “King Of The South” has been behind the scenes working on a proper comeback befitting of his title. While fans are most certainly awaiting to hear his collaboration with Big K.R.I.T. “I’m Flexin’” in its entirety, Tip pops up on the remix for buzzing southern act Future and the club-ready single “Magic.”

Atlanta mixtape fixture DJ MLK dropped the remix yesterday (September 27) to the masses, with the song popping up in droves across the Web. T.I. sounds rejuvenated, exhibiting no signs of ring rust after his time away. “Off the top, I’m bossed up/If you ain’t talking money, don’t talk to us/I’m steady stacking that guap up/Ball harder than you when I’m locked up/You the type of ni--- just pop up/When ni---- rolling that kush, huh?/Got mine growing like grape vines/in the backyard, come look bruh!/” – okay Tip, we hear you loud and clear. Read More...

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Seminal rap duo Eric B. & Rakim have long been considered by many to be one of Hip Hop’s living treasures with a legacy and catalog that has influenced dozen of acts over the past two and a half decades. Although the lauded and still celebrated pair split in the mid-90s, they are continually linked as a result of their past success. Yesterday, the group achieved yet another milestone after an announcement that they have been nominated for the first time to enter the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. Read More...

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Young Money starlet Nicki Minaj has left an indelible mark upon the landscape of the rap game, enjoying success as a peerless force of nature amongst her fellow female rap acts. Standing atop that heap, the Queens, New York native has enjoyed untold fame which helped to catapult her late 2010 debut album Pink Friday into the stratosphere.

In the last ten months since her smash debut, Nicki has gone on to support Young Money captain Lil Wayne and his “I Am Still Music" tour and wrapping up her obligations to pop star Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale tour this past August. Yesterday, the rap diva shared that she will be hitting the road in 2012 on her own this time. Read More...

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Troubled North Carolina rapper Petey Pablo suffered a legal blow this morning (September 27) after battling a year-long gun charge in his home state. Last year, the former Timbaland protégé was caught at Raleigh-Durham International Airport allegedly attempting to smuggle a stolen 9mm pistol aboard a Los Angeles bound airplane – and was reported to be facing a heavy ten year prison stint.

The “Raise Up” rapper’s fate was handed down today inside the U.S. District Court in the city of New Bern after a guilty plea from Pablo, resulting in a 35 month sentence for the Wake Forest native. Born Moses Barrett, the 38-year-old artist was apprehended while the firearm was detected by an X-ray machine while attempting to board. Read More...

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With a staggering amount of mixtape material, collaborations with some of rap’s biggest names while also known for packing a lyrical punch, Brooklyn veteran rapper Papoose has now boldly claimed that he reigns as the top rapper in his native New York. Taking to Twitter in the wee hours of the night, Papoose has furiously tweeted his claim and challenging people on his timeline to present the self-proclaimed “King Of New York City” with a worthy challenger to his personal throne.

News of Papoose’s claim took fire on the social media network in the form of a top trending topic that read “#PapooseSaid” with fans railing on the claim. Yesterday, Papoose tweeted, “I’m the king of new York city” – with some fans responding to the new claim with support and defiance. As the night raged on Papoose hit his timeline with a barrage of tweets regarding his bold statement, urging his supporters to retweet him in agreement. Papoose began to rattle off his accomplishments all while amassing both support and heavy criticism for his statement. The Kay Slay protégé proudly shared tweets from both his fans and critics, seemingly delighting in all of the attention as a result of his new title. Papoose managed to fire off one last salvo to his detractors, asking, “I’m the king of new york why u mad?” Read More...

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Today is the 29th birthday of Young Money boss and superstar performer Lil Wayne – capping one of the most successful years of his long and still growing rap music career. In nearly 11 months since his release from prison, the hardworking New Orleans MC has been recording and rocking tours at a breakneck speed all while his Young Money label continued to flourish with the success of breakout star Nicki Minaj and the release of his own Tha Carter IV album.

The proud father of four will no doubt have a bash befitting of a star of his caliber and already on Twitter, members of Weezy’s YMCMB crew showered their captain with loving accolades in honor of his day of birth. Wayne, notorious for continually honing his craft in the booth, even tweeted that he intends to keep working on his birthday.

To celebrate Weezy's born day, we take a look back at a special clip from last year when the superstar MC spent his 28th birthday locked down in jail at Rikers Island. But In the words of the late great Frank White, 'things done changed." Weezy's home! Read More...

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Singer and reality show veteran Ray J has found himself under an unflattering spotlight of late after a scuffle with rapper Fabolous inspired an angry radio tirade. During the interview Ray J threatened Fab with acts of violence after the pair squared off after the Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz bout in Las Vegas. Although the dustup between Fab and Ray J was dialed down by rapper 50 Cent, Fab ahs continued his war of words with Ray J and the singer eventually apologized for his rant to his fans.

Curiously, a new track has surfaced by way of gossip site TMZ featuring Ray J alongside vanquished Mayweather foe Victor Ortiz produced by DJ and producer Ian Carey and the Maryland native provided the pair with an upbeat number complete with Auto Tune laced vocals. Read More...

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