During the hubbub leading up to Kanye West's fifth LP 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' one thing that has been mostly overlooked is the actual tracklist. Well, iTunes has posted the official list and it might surprise fans for being heavy on leaked cuts and free G.O.O.D. Friday material. The album, available in stores and online on November 22, features 11 songs and the Beyonce-featuring summer jam 'See Me Now' as a bonus track, although Ye revealed that additional extra cuts would most likely be revealed before the release date.

As Jay-Z celebrates the release of his new book, 'Decoded,' the Brooklyn MC is also shedding some emotional weight hanging over him by disclosing details about the childhood shooting of his brother. Jay, born Shaun Carter, opened fire on his drug-addicted brother at the age of 12, reports The Guardian.


In The Guardian's 'Weekend' magazine, the Roc Nation head honcho admits he pulled the gun's trigger after his older sibling stole a ring from him. "I thought my life was over," Jay-Z reveals. "I thought I'd go to jail forever."

Eminem cleaned up at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, beating out newcomers B.o.B and Drake, and vets the Roots and Jay-Z for Best Rap Album with his chart-topping release, 'Recovery.' Eminem's 'Relapse' album took home the Grammy for Best Rap Album last year, marking Em's second gramophone for Best Rap Album in two years. The rapper's sophomore album 'The Slim Shady LP' and third album 'The Marshall Mathers LP' grabbed back-to-back Best Rap Album awards. This will also mark the fifth time the Detroit-bred rapper has won the award for Best Rap Album.

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.

According to multiple overseas sources, Lil Wayne must cancel upcoming shows in Europe and the United Kingdom after he was denied a visa due to a recent firearms conviction.


While currently touring the U.S. on his I Am Still Music trek, Weezy was set to embark overseas for a smattering of dates and summer festivals to coincide with the release of his ninth studio album, 'Tha Carter IV,' in May.

While rumors about the official street date of the oft-delayed, highly-anticipated Watch the Throne album have been circulating on the internet the past couple of months, a source close to Jay-Z and Kanye West says the album has a release month: July.

The source tells XXLMag.com exclusively that Hov and Yeezy, the latter who resides in Paris these days, are both in New York for the next couple of weeks putting the final touches on the set in hopes of releasing it next month.

Lil Wayne’s Carter IV track ‘It’s Good‘ sparked some interest amongst the fans yesterday due to an alleged Jay-Z diss line which goes as follows:

“I got your baby money/Kidnap your bitch, get that how much you love your lady money.”

This was a response to Jay-Z’s jab aimed at Birdman on ‘H.A.M’:

The recently appointed EVP of A&R at Def Jam says that Hov is already working on new material.


Though he just released his collaborative album Watch the Throne with Kanye West, Jay-Z is already recording new music. According to producer No I.D., Hov has "started again" on laying down fresh material, but that he's unclear if it's for a new album.

Earlier today, Jay-Z held a press conference in New York City, New York with his Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and United Way to announce that he will be playing two solo shows on February 6th and 7th at NYC’s Carnegie Hall.

Most music lovers were more than happy to hear about Jay-Z and Beyonce's first born child. The news of Ivy Blue Carter (or it Blue Ivy Carter?) taking her first breaths this past Sunday was a historical occasion. However, another Brooklyn father was a bit taken back by how his family was treated at the same hospital, where Beyonce gave birth.

The rumours about Beyonce & Jay-Z's visit to the Lenox Hill Hospital have been circulating the internet since the birth of Blue Ivy Carter, however a rep for the hospital, Frank Danza, is clarifying some of them.

First, that the couple payed 1.3 million for the entire floor of the maternity ward: 

Serving two years for gun possession, Ja Rule found a new posse behind bars — a couple of cons he calls “Hevey D” and “Koz.”


The Queens-raised rap star says disgraced pol Alan Hevesi and corporate greed poster-boy Dennis Kozlowski took him under their wings.

From Kozlowski, he got stock tips. From Hevesi, he heard about the perennial impasse in Albany. They watched Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert together.

Last night, February 6th, Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z performed for a sold-out show at the famed Carnegie Hall. The performance has elicited praise all around. The concert was put on to raise money for the United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, so tickets were pricey, some being re-sold for $1000.

Jay-Z started the night looking the part in a white tux, but by the end of the night he changed back in to his usual attire-- black t-shirt and gold chain.