Ryan Leslie’s sophomore album, Transition, hits stores November 3.

Ludacris and T.I. have each donated $10,000 to help flood victims in their hometown of Atlanta, AccessAtlanta.com reported Wednesday. Recent storms triggered widespread flooding across Georgia, causing $250 million in damage and placing more than a dozen counties on the list to receive federal aid.

Bad things happen when Weezy turns down punani.

Wyclef Jean is going back to school.

The former Fugees star announced his plans to study songwriting and music at Boston’s Berklee College during an appearance the Congressional Black Caucus Convention in Washington last weekend.

“I am enrolling in Berklee College in Boston to get my bachelor’s degree in music! That’s how important education is to me. I plan to work with Rev Al Sharpton because that’s how important stressing the importance of education to children is to me.”

Grammy-nominated rapper Nas has penned an open letter to America’s youth in light of the brutal beating death of a 16 year-old high school student in Illinois last Thursday. Chicago Police say Derrion Albert, an innocent bystander, was savagely slain as he tried to help a fellow student trapped in the middle of a fight between two gangs.

A heartbreaking three minute video shot by a fellow student on her cell phone was released to police and ultimately provided the evidence which led to the arrests and charges of four teenagers — Silvonus Shannon, 19, Eric Carson, 16, Eugene Bailey, 18, and Eugene Riley, 18.
Read the rest of this entry »

Lloyd has severed ties with songbird Ciara insisting fame has changed the good-natured “Goodies” singer he once knew. The crooner befriended CiCi when the two were attending the same Atlanta high school, but Lloyd admits he’s lost touch with Ciara in recent years because her ego has gotten the best of her.

“I don’t fuck with Hollywood bitches and she’s like one of the chicks that’s just changed along the way with the fame and the money and all of that. I don’t really get down with her anymore on some real shit. The truth hurts, but it will set you free. But I wish her all the best,” Lloyd reveals in the new issue of Hip Hop Weekly.

Despite recently ending their 7-year relationship, Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri are still spending together. The platinum-selling singer and her former boyfriend were spotted at Donatella Versace’s Versace post-show party during Milan Fashion Week in Italy on Monday.

Check out the newest song from Dirty Money, the new group formed by Diddy, Dawn Richards (formerly of Danity Kane), and Kalenna. “Love Come Down” is the second single off of Diddy’s upcoming solo album, Last Train To Paris.

On Monday, the Bad Boy mogul announced that he is leaving Warner Music Group to partner with Jimmy Iovine at Interscope Records.

50 Cent pulled off a publicity stunt this afternoon by planting reports that he had been rushed to the hospital after listening to the new Fat Joe album, J.O.S.E. 2 — available Oct. 6.

According to ThisIs50Cent.com: This afternoon while in his Manhattan offices, employees say that 50 Cent was listening to Fat Joe’s new album, J.O.S.E. 2 when all the sudden, he collapsed! An ambulance was called, and by the time they arrived, 50 Cent regained consciousness and was complaining of blurred vision and a severe migraine. 50 Cent was rushed to Mt. Sinai hospital at 4:26 pm. Doctors say after performing a Cat Scan and EKG there seems to be some damage to his auditory cortex, which is the region of the brain that is responsible for processing sound.

50’s G-Unit brother Tony Yayo also participated in the stunt via Twitter.

‘On my way to the hospital,” he wrote Monday. “Keep 50 in ya’ll prayers. Let’s see him thru this. 50 rushed to the hospital here are the details.”

The rapper’s also has a link to an alleged version of Joe’s new album for free download.