News

Lil Wayne plans on ending his new album, the fourth installment of his highly successful Tha Carter series, with a bang. XXL has learned that the stream-of -conscious lyricist drafted other wordsmiths, Nas, Shyne and Jadakiss for an all-star posse cut that will close out the LP.

Young Money princess Nicki Minaj will be the subject of a one-hour expose, E! Entertainment Special: Nicki Minaj, this week.

The show will feature interviews with Minaj herself along with Young Money boss Lil Wayne, rapper/producer Swizz Beatz, family, childhood friends and an elementary school teacher.

Topics covered include Minaj’s multiple rap personalities and outrageous looks as well as her Caribbean roots, life before hip-hop and transition from being a waitress to one of rap’s most recognizable stars.

Hov hosted a listening session last night in New York City, New York where he previewed a handful of cuts from the record.


Last night, Jay-Z hosted a private listening session for his and Kanye West's highly anticipated Watch the Throne, supposedly releasing August 2nd. The event took place in the Mercer Hotel, where journalists crammed into a suite converted into a recording studio where Hov debuted cuts from the LP from his MacBook Pro and held an impromptu Q&A.

The Roc Nation rapper also runs down his wish list for collaborations.


J. Cole has a treat in store for fans before dropping his debut Cole World: The Sideline Story. Speaking with Rap-Up.com, the Roc Nation rapper explained that he plans to release a new mixtape this summer, a collection of leftover tracks that he wants fans to have.

Bow Wow has revealed news he is now a father. The 24-year-old rapper-turned-film star opened up about his child in a letter to fans, which he posted on his official website.

Legendary Houston rapper Scarface is still in police custody for failure to pay child support.

As XXLMag.com previously reported, 'Face was originally locked up in Montgomery County Jail in Texas back in October 2010 for four separate cases of not paying child support.

The former Geto Boys leader has since been moved to Harris County Jail as of last week where he is being held for two active child support warrants totaling $123,372. He also faces two other child support charges as well as charges from the federal government.

The G.O.O.D. Music signee says Hov and Ye's long-awaited project is good to go.

DXNext alum CyHi Da Prynce has revealed that Jay-Z and Kanye's Watch the Throne is finally ready to see the light of day.

The MTV journalist is heading back to the airwaves with his show "Sway in the Morning."


Eminem is expanding his radio station Shade 45’s roster with the addition of MTV News’ Sway Calloway. The revered journalist, who made his mark as the host of the “Wake Up Show” with King Tech, will host “Sway in the Morning,” which will air on the SIRIUS XM Radio channel beginning in July.

Fat Belly Bella will serve as the producer of her first mixtape under the moniker DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown.


Erykah Badu is gearing up for the release of her first mixtape, set for release this July. According to Pinboard Blog, the soulstress will mix the offering under the name DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown, the alias that she has used for DJ gigs in Miami, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia and Dallas, Texas.

Khaled took to Twitter to debut his new album cover on which he chooses to sit like a boss. The project is set for a June 28th release date, so expect Khaled to start pushing it heavy soon. We also expect a lot of big names on the track list.

Kanye inks a deal to turn G.O.O.D. Music into an official label, with Big Sean serving as its flagship artist.


Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music has inked an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with Island Def Jam Music Group. The first release under the terms of the new agreement is Big Sean’s Finally Famous, cementing the Detroit, Michigan up-and-comer as G.O.O.D. Music’s flagship artist.

Goodbye G.O.O.D. Music, hello Warner Bros.! Common signs a deal with Warner to release his next album.

It looks like Consequence may not be the only artist to jump ship from Kanye West's label. Now, one of G.O.O.D. Music's earliest and biggest successes Common may have left the label, recently signing to Warner Bros. Records.