As the world reaches out to assist Haiti with relief in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake, the music world is quickly mobilizing to find ways it can help. Linkin Park's non-profit foundation, Music for Relief, has teamed up with the United Nations Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the Dave Matthews Band's BAMA Works organization's Haitian relief effort for a project called Download to Donate for Haiti.

 During a recent interview with Allure Magazine, Beyonce announced plans to dead her alter persona, whom fans have come to know as Sasha Fierce.



The R&B diva stated that it doesn't mean that fans won't see her perform in the energetic fashion that Fierce trademarked, but rather is a sign of her growth as an artist. Beyonce doesn't have to flip a switch anymore because the two personalities have become one.

Sumbitted by Shiva Suntoo -



Anytime Game decides to let off shots in his series of bars, he always seems to leave damage after.



Apparently the Internet has been buzzing and there has been mention of the rapper coming at Jay Rock over the 20 minute track, “400 Bars”.



With that said, the young rapper was quick to address the claims that were being thrown his way.



jayrock: I GET ON TWITTER N EVERYBODY HITTIN ME SAYIN @ihategame GETTING @ ME IN HIS FREESTYLE. SAME AS CUBE, N***AS NEED TO HAVE BALLS TO SAY NAMES.

Also in this month's issue of XXL, Former Bad Boy Records artist, Shyne finally breaks his silence about his ex-boss Diddy and also discusses his 10 years in prison and deportation to Belize. 

XXL reports:

Former Roc-A-Fella artist Beanie Sigel has continued to taunt Jay-Z by blasting his former rap boss with a freestyle diss at a Maryland concert.

Reciting the same diss he performed at a Philadelphia concert last February, Beans and his entourage once again taunted Hov at Baltimore's Sonar nightclub this past weekend.

GRAND RAPIDS -- It was the day to interview B.o.B.



In the middle of the afternoon Aug. 3, my first question for this summer's hip-hop/pop king was simply "How does it feel?"



"Um, it feels ...," began Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., pausing for three seconds, "it feels so good."



A lengthy bout of elated laughter followed over the phone as the Atlanta-raised and -based artist was getting ready to sound check for a performance at Six Flags St. Louis.

Yet another con man has been arrested for impersonating Drake's manager, and attempting to rip off unsuspecting promoters looking to book the rap star.



According to a complaint filed by Milwaukee, Wisconsin promotions company, Eagles Entertainment, Joey Turner Jr. (aka Jo Flowroshus) posed as Drake's manager, Cortez Bryant recently, and bilked the promotions company out of a $9,000 deposit for a show scheduled to take place Sept. 1 in Milwaukee.

Cash Money Records' co-founder Baby has compared his artist Lil Wayne to the late pop icon Michael Jackson and reveals the high hopes he has for the rapper when he returns from jail. Watch Lil Wayne's latest Interview from jail here.



The Birdman credits Wayne's hard work ethic as reason enough for the comparison.

MTV has announced that teenage crooner Justin Bieber and genre-bending rapper B.o.B will be joining Kanye West and Drake as performers at the 2010 Video Music Awards.



Both B.o.B and Bieber have enjoyed fairytale years. In addition to releasing a No.1 album and starring in his own Adidas sneaker commercial, Bobby Ray is up for five VMA nominations including Video of the Year and Best Male Video, while Bieber scored a platinum-selling No.1 album and is nominated for Best New Artist.

Hip-hop star SHAWTY LO has changed the name of his record label D4L to distance himself from snap rap music - because he wants to be taken more seriously.



The Atlanta, Georgia-based MC founded D4L Records with rappers Fabo, Stuntman and Mook B. in 2003, and formed hip-hop group D4L.



The Laffy Taffy hitmakers became part of the snap music trend in 2006 - a dance-centric subgenre of hip-hop - but Lo refuses to embrace the movement and is fighting off the stigma by rebranding the label to be taken more seriously as an artist and executive.

Rap artists in the US are toning down the colour of their rides, opting to go with a matte black paint job rather than the usual flashy colours.



According to Forbes Magazine, the head of Los Angeles luxury car "pimper" Platinum Motorsports, George Keshishyan, said matte black paint jobs are the order of the day, as rappers now prefer to travel incognito.

 Ever since 50 Cent dropped 'Before I Self Destruct' last year and experienced his first true bomb, he's been relatively silent on the rap front. Of course, he's still been acting, pulling publicity stunts and ruthlessly taunting some of the biggest artists in the game, but there haven't been any new verses from the vicious Queens native lately. That all changed over the weekend when 50 heard the new Cee-Lo jam entitled 'F--- You.' 

This past Sunday (August 22), New York City's B.B. King Blues Club &  Grill played home to the 2010 Underground Music Awards, which highlights the best unsigned and independent artists within the urban music scene. The event honored rappers including J. Cole, Tiye Phoenix, Travis Porter, Fred the Godson and Statik Selektah, among others.

 ATLANTA (CBS/AP) The probation officer of multi-platinum selling hip-hop artist T.I. has asked the rapper to return to his hometown of Atlanta, according to Don Samuel, one of T.I.'s attorneys.

Petey Pablo ran into some legal trouble this past weekend after he was arrested  at North Carolina's Raleigh Durham Airport for carrying a Smith & Wesson pistol in his carry-on luggage. Pablo was arrested with the handgun on Saturday, Sept. 11, nine years after the terrorist attacks on America. But after posting $50,000 bond, Pablo, born Moses Barrett III, claims that the gun wasn't actually his, nor that it was a publicity stunt to promote his new music. Pablo says he was simply protecting a friend from doing something stupid.

The stars descended on Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre this past Sunday for the MTV Video Music Awards, but there's one artist who wasn't so pleased that her invite never came in the mail. Keyshia Cole, who recently gave birth to her first son, took to her Twitter account during the ceremony on Sunday night to address fans as to why she suspects MTV decided to exclude her from the event.

When T.I. and wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle were arrested in Los Angeles earlier this month, police originally charged them with possession of a controlled substance — a substance which would later be revealed to be Ecstasy. But according to new documents, that might not have been the only drug in their possession. The charges could send T.I. back to prison.

More details have emerged about what led to singer/songwriter Bruno Mars' arrest early Sunday morning in Las Vegas on drug-possession charges. According to a copy of the arrest document provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the "Just the Way You Are" singer was arrested around 1:50 a.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino — where he had performed earlier in the night — for felony possession of 2.6 grams of a "white powdery substance" that tested positive as cocaine.

Signing to any label doesn't make you the hottest artist or prove that you're working hard. It just means you can catch the eyes of executives. The question is how do you capitalize off your signing to make sure you'll eventually drop an album? Bei Maejor had the right answer. Aside from his production, Bei is signed to Jive and recently dropped his Upside Down free album. Twelve records spanning features from big names (T-Pain, Keri Hilson, Trey Songz, etc.) as well as matching production, mostly by himself, Maejor succeeded in doing what he set out to do.

 Rihanna's found a rather comfortable spot heating up the Billboard charts  this week. The Bajan beatuy's latest single 'Only Girl in the World,' tops the Digital Songs charts with 249,000 first week downloads marking her eight single to debut on Digital Songs, and her sixth to debut at No. 1, the most reached in each category by an artists since 2005, the year the chart launched. The song jumped 72 spots on the Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and currently sits at No. 3 on the singles chart after premiering three weeks ago.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office will not be pursuing their drug case against T.I. The Atlanta rapper was arrested on Sept. 1 in L.A. with his wife, after cops pulled him over for an illegal U-turn on Sunset Strip, and subsequently searched the vehicle after smelling marijuana.

T.I. has officially begun his 11-month stint in an Arkansas prison -- law enforcement sources tell TMZ the rapper checked in "sometime this afternoon."



If you recall, T.I. was sentenced to 11 months behind bars after his drug possession arrest on the Sunset Strip back in September -- an arrest that caused law enforcement officials to revoke his probation stemming from a federal gun conviction back in 2009.

It’s quite common for an artist to cross over into the movie industry. However, not everyday can an artist make a transition into the business side of this industry. Jay-Z made an attempt and didn’t do the best job. You can’t blame him because wanting to be an artist and business man doesn’t go hand in hand and can often spell disaster.

Gucci Mane just can't seem to stay out of trouble. The rapper was arrested in Atlanta today for a slew of infractions including driving on the wrong side of the road, driving without a license, damage to government property, obstruction, and running a red light or stop sign. According to Atlanta Police Department spokesperson, Curtis Davenport, Gucci, born Radric Davis, had to be pepper sprayed in order for police to arrest him. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, and will later be transported to Fulton County Jail.

Wiz Khalifa, the Pittsburgh MC who has been climbing the Hot 100 with his single "Black & Yellow," was arrested last night (Nov. 8) on marijuana charges in Greenville, NC, the Associated Press reports.

Rapper DMX has been arrested yet again.



The troubled rapper, 39, was taken into custody Thursday in Maricopa County in Arizona for probation violation, according to RadarOnline.com.



DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was reportedly cited for use of Oxycontin without a prescription, failing to submit to drug testing, failing to participate in counseling programs, failure to make payments and driving on a suspended license. He was also allegedly in possession of cocaine at the time of his arrest.

The 2011 Grammy nominees were announced at a Los Angeles concert Wednesday night that was broadcast live on CBS. Two-time Grammy winner LL Cool J hosted the hour-long program that included performances from Bruno Mars, B.O.B., Justin Bieber and Train.



This year, artists must have released a project between Sept. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010, to be eligible for an award. While that leaves out albums from Kanye West, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, many others are in the running. The main event takes place on Feb. 13, 2011 in Los Angeles and will air live on CBS at 8PM ET/PT.

Cortez Bryant knows the exact time.



The Lil Wayne brand may be large, he knows, but it’s time to kick another sales/touring goal to keep the juggernaut soaring.



The colorful New Orleans rapper was released Nov. 4, 2010 from New York’s infamous Rikers Island jail complex after serving 8 months in a gun case. He is the first artist in 15 years to release a #1 album—"I Am Not a Human Being"—on the Billboard 200 chart while serving a sentence.

The mixtape game took a shot to the heart a few years ago when DJ Drama's office was raided by the feds. Artists increasingly opted to make mixtapes that were essentially albums, projects produced without help from DJs and comprised mostly of original material.

It was a rough morning for hip-hop as two people were arrested and Gucci Mane was briefly detained during a raid on Waka Flocka Flame’s Georgia home, and DMX was sentenced to yet another year in prison.

G. Dep, who was arrested Wednesday (Dec. 15) after walking into Manhattan's 25th Precinct and confessing to the murder of John Henkel 17 years ago, admits that he came forth with the startling news because he wanted to make amends with a higher being.



"I'm just trying to get right with God," the former Bad Boy Records signee said while being interviewed by the 'New York Post' in jail.

Troubled MC Charles Hamilton has continued his pattern of erratic behavior by allegedly assaulting a police officer in Ohio last week.



According to his case information, which hit the 'net yesterday, Hamilton was arrested on Friday, December 10, in Cleveland, Ohio, for assault, after he reportedly caused a disturbance at a number of bars. When police attempted to subdue him, the rapper apparently struck an officer in the face.

Two men were arrested for breaking into the Connecticut home of 50 Cent, Tuesday (Dec. 21), to have a sip of wine. TMZ is reporting that the two suspects were apprehended inside the 52-room mansion, with one of the men, Alexander Hernandez, hiding in the closet drinking wine belonging to the Queens rapper. The second man, Santos Padilla, was found in another area of the house.

T.I., who is still imprisoned for violating probation terms from a drug arrest last year, is apparently in need of more than a release from behind bars. TMZ is reporting that the ATL rapper was busted for receiving a handjob from his wife Tiny. Apparently, during a routine visit at Arkansas State Prison, Tiny was found in violation of prison rules for her show of affection and separated from T.I. Poor guy.

Video vixen Amber Rose and rapper Wiz Khalifa are the latest urban duo rumored to be more than friends after being spotted together last week in Los Angeles.



Although neither artist has confirmed the speculation, both have invested ample time with one another over the past few weeks.

Months after Kanye West’s critically acclaimed album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hit shelves, its cover art is still causing controversy. In an interview with The New Yorker, artist George Condo, who designed all of the covers—including the notorious artwork featuring an armless, white, naked phoenix sitting on the lap of a naked black man holding a bottle—said Mr. West specifically asked for an illustration that would get him in trouble.

 For the second year in row a major hip-hop artist will headline the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Fesitval, set for April 15-17 in Indio, Calif. Kanye West joins Arcade Fire and Kings of Leon at the top of the Coachella 2011 bill.

Juelz Santana was arrested in New Jersey Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 2), just two weeks after his studio was raided by authorities. Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli announced late Wednesday that Santana, born Laron James, was busted on four counts of narcotic and weapon offenses. The arrest comes as a result of a 10-month investigation of Santana and his cohorts, conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutorís Office Gang Unit.

Fresh off his drug and weapons arrest yesterday afternoon, Juelz Santana is out on bail and already talking about the incident. The Dipset rapper called into Hot 97’s Angie Martinez to clarify his legal situation and proclaim his innocence.

Funkmaster Flex, the legendary New York City DJ, car fanatic and Hot 97 personality, might be atop the ratings when it comes to radio, but that doesn't mean he's above the law. According to TMZ, the hefty DJ was reportedly arrested earlier today in New York after a 40-year-old woman from Westchester called police and said that Flex pushed her, attempted to shatter her cell phone and then sent over some threatening messages.

Days after New York radio host Funkmaster Flex was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife, Monica Joseph-Taylor has now discussed the incident.



Remaining mum on the situation's details, Mrs. Joseph-Taylor asked for the public to respect their privacy.

Nude photos of rumored hip-hop couple Diddy and Cassie have leaked online and show the two artists being overly intimate with one another.



Romantic pictures of Puff and Cass hit the Internet Wednesday (February 9) evening.

Rappers Game and Kanye West voiced their opinions about Drake and Justin Bieber being snubbed in the "Best New Artist" category during last night's Grammy Awards.



Via Twitter, Game vouched support for Drake.



    "Drake aint win BEST NEW ARTIST ? Exactly why I'm kool on awards. (finishes rolling weed up as I turn the tv off).," Game tweeted Sunday (February 13) night.

Former Roc-A-Fella artist Tru Life who is probably best known for his beefs with Mobb Deep & Dipset has just accepted a plea deal and was slapped with a 10 year sentence earlier this morning. Peep the press release below..

Half a dozen men were arrested this weekend in connection to a mid-week North Carolina tour bus shooting involving rap newcomer Waka Flocka Flame over an alleged $1.2 million necklace.



According to reports, all possible suspects are in their 20's.

A South El Monte, Calif. man posing as a backup dancer was arrested Friday (Feb. 18), after stealing a laptop, a Louis Vuitton purse and various other valuables from the set of a Lil Wayne music video shoot.



According to police, Marco Negrete, 20, took a laptop, purse, a wallet and tickets to the NBA All-Star game, sometime between 9PM and midnight Thursday night (Feb. 17), from a trailer at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif. The trailer was located on the set of the music shoot for Lil Wayne and Cape Town, South Africa singer Porcelain Black.

Eminem might have been snubbed at the Grammys, but when it comes to social networking, he's part of an elite group of artists to reach the top in viewership.



The 'Recovery' hitmaker is expected to join Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber as the only artists to achieve one billion views on YouTube.

No stranger to run-ins with the law, rapper Juvenile was arrested Saturday (Feb. 26) in Louisiana for marijuana possession as well as driving with a suspended license.



The 'Beast Mode' creator, born Terius Gray, was pulled over at about 10:55PM late Saturday after Sterlington Police Sgt. Jacob Greer clocked him driving 75 mph in a 65 mph zone. According to Sgt. Greer, Juvenile passed in the right lane as well, which is illegal in the state of Louisiana.

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter has had quite a career thus far. Since debuting in 1996 with hip-hop classic Reasonable Doubt, he has sold over 50 million records worldwide. He’s parlayed his musical success into lucrative businesses in the realms of fashion, cuisine and advertising (for more, check out my new Jay-Z book, which hits stores next week). Last year he earned $63 million, tops among hip-hop artists for the third time in four years.

During a hometown performance in Atlanta last night (March 16), rapper Killer Mike made a bold accusation, claiming that 50 Cent stole a beat from him. Before tearing into a version of his track 'Pressure,' Mike stopped the show to set the record straight and remind friends that he doesn't bite beats or steal from other artists.