Wiz Khalifa, Amber Rose in Studio

Looks like Wiz Khalifa and girlfriend Amber Rose are taking a break from getting tattoos and playing kissy face in public to hit the studio. In an interview with Billboard.com, Amber Rose said: “We’re working on some music for me, yeah. It's going to be very mysterious. You may not even know it’s me. We might just throw it out there, might give it out and see what's up.”

Khalifa cosigned that it will be mysterious, and revealed that he’s also working on his follow-up to this year’sRolling Papers. “I’m also working on another album and stuff like that. Just chilling out, having fun, I just got done with touring.”

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DMX Hits Dallas Stage for First Post-Prison Show

A month after being released from an Arizona jail on a probation violation charge, DMX took to the stage at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas. He played to a 500-person audience, performing past hits like no time has passed. Fans were treated to an 80-minute set, which included “We Right Here,” “Who We Be,” “Ruff Ryders Anthem” and “What These Bi--hes Want.”

While on stage, he promised that his new album would be released on November 22. 

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Maino Is Happy That T.I.’s Home

(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

With no time to spare fretting over the uncertainty of a sophomore jinx, Brooklyn rapper Maino is back in full promo mode in preparation for his 2nd album, The Day After Tomorrow.

After releasing a string of hits such as “Hi Hater,” “Million Bucks” featuring Swizz Beatz, and “All the Above” featuring T-Pain off his 2009 debut If Tomorrow Never Comes, the Brooklyn rhyme slinger has his sights set on exceeding his previous highs with his latest bangers “We Keep It Rockin” and  “Let It Fly” featuringRoscoe Dash. Already making his presence felt on radio, and climbing to #57 on the R&B/hip-hop charts with “Let it Fly,” the sophomore spitter tells BET.com he’s feeling good about ...Tomorrow.

Still, before he delivers the main course, Maino wants fans to eat up a hearty appetizer. Gearing up to release a feature-laden mixtape, I Am Who I Am: The Album Before the Album, in conjunction with DJ Green Lantern and DJ Infamous, the Brooklyn MC’s using a different method to build fan’s anticipation for his next album.

“I got a lot of features on there. I got Prodigy on there, I got Jim Jones on there, I got Yo Gotti , Ace Hood,Trina," Maino says of the guest spots. “This is more album-song format, that’s why it’s the album before the album.”

As Maino puts the finishing touches on the mixtape, there still might be some time to add a new name to the guest list. Maino was pleased to hear that his good friend and “Hi Hater” remix collaborator T.I. was released from Forrest City Correctional Facility yesterday (August 31) after serving 10 months for a 2010 parole violation.

“That’s my dude, that’s my friend more than anything,” says Maino. “I’m just happy he’s gonna be in a position to be around his family and be free...that comes first. Grand Hustle [T.I.’s record label] treated me like family from the door. There’s not too many people you’re gonna meet in this game that’s gon’ open up their whole house to you and be willing to help you and do whatever they can for you.”

While fans can expect a Grand Hustle/Hustle Hard collabo someday in the future, the BK rapper still remains tight lipped about his television plans, but does hint at an upcoming project with TV exec James Dubosethat won’t be a reality show.

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Boyz II Men Drops New Single

The music world received an infusion of classic R&B sound yesterday, with the release of Boyz II Men’s“More Than You’ll Ever Know," their first single since 2009. The first cut off their first coming album, Twenty, the love song features Charlie Wilson (Wilson also wrote and co-produced it). Fans will notice that the song only includes the voices of Wanya Morris, Nate Morris and Shawn Stockman; bass Michael McCary left the group in 2003 when a back problem made it difficult for him to perform. There were hopes that he'd rejoin the group for this album, but it didn't happen. “We can’t replace him and we never will,” Stockman said in an interview with TheBoombox.

The group is excited about its latest project, which is due to hit shelves on October 25 and marks 20 years since the release of their first album, 'Cooleyhighharmony. “We always stay true to ourselves. We’re happy to have people still accept us and what we do, that people still appreciate good love songs,” says Stockman. “More Than You’ll Ever Know" is available now on iTunes.

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Justin Timberlake Gives Free Show In NYC

Justin Timberlake may be an SNL sweetheart and a budding Hollywood actor but it seems he’s not forgotten his roots.

Last night, music fans in New York City got a surprise impromptu performance from the soon-to-be-releasedIn Time star.

People reports, the singer hit up the Southern Hospitality barbecue restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood with a new rock/hip-hop band called FreeSol. The band is signed to his Tennman Records label.

In addition to doing classic JT tracks like, "What Goes Around ... Comes Around," the site says he also treated fans to new joints. Celebrity guests include Kim and Kourtney Kardashian and Kris Humphries.

For those who missed last night’s performance, the singer's doing it again tonight at New York City's Irving Plaza. To be sure no one who wanted to be there missed the show, Timberlake tweeted, “Only 500 get in so come early...see you there.”

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T.I. to Release New Book

It's safe to say after spending nearly a year in prison T.I. has quite a few stories to tell. Along with a VH1 reality show in the works, the rapper is reportedly set to release a new book, Power & Beauty, in October.

According to the Associated Press, a representative from HarperCollins revealed that the King of the South has co-authored a fictional book with David Ritz, that is based on the lives of "two  childhood friends torn apart by dangerous dealings on the streets of Atlanta."

T.I., who was released from an Arkansas prison yesterday (August 31), made his return to those same Atlanta streets. 

The Rubberband Man made the 374-mile-long journey in a pimped-out tour bus with tinted windows, accompanied by a massive entourage in a four-car motorcade. He stepped off the luxurious bus decked out in a crisp striped polo shirt, shorts and a flossy timepiece.

T.I. will serve the final month of his 11-month sentence for probation violation at the halfway house. The ATL rapper was imprisoned in 2009 for trying to buy firearms from undercover federal officers. He was sentenced to probation after his release, but last year he was caught with four ecstasy pills in L.A., resulting in his latest jail stay.

"The storm is over & da sun back out. IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!!" T.I. wrote on Twitter shortly after his release. "Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!"

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Drake Talks Possible Rick Ross Collabo Album

Much has been made of a long-rumored collaboration album between Drake and Lil Wayne, but it looks like Drizzy may have another hip hop luminary he'd like to join forces with — Rick Ross.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Drake says he and the Teflon Don have been talking about their own Watch the Throne-esque project.

"One of the people I enjoy rapping with most in this business is Rozay [Rick Ross]. Me and him have talked about potentially doing something after our albums come out," the Young Money emcee revealed.

Drake feels that he and the Maybach Music boss have the right chemistry and track record for a collaborative effort.

"I just love making songs with him. Every time we make a song it just seems to be something I love listening to after the fact when I’m in my car," he said.

Like the Drake/Wayne album, though, a Drake/Ross LP is still just a twinkle in the rapper's eye. Right now, the 24-year-old is fully focused on his forthcoming sophomore effort, Take Care, which is due to the label in less than a month, and in stores October 24. In the interview, Drake also reveals that Stevie Wonder plays a piano solo on an album track called "Doing it Wrong.

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Rihanna Sues Over Mansion

Apparently Rihanna's California King Bed is going to have to find a new home. The singer is suing the former owner of her L.A. mansion, claiming that it has major defects.

According to TMZ, Rihanna filed her lawsuit in L.A. County Superior Court yesterday. The suit says she bought a two-story home in Beverly Hills two years ago for $6.9 million and that the seller claimed there weren't any major problems with the property. But Rihanna charges that the woman was lying, and that there are waterproofing problems, evidence of water intrusion and other construction issues. Rihanna's suit says that after a "moderate rainstorm" last year, water leaked into several rooms and caused major damage. 

The suit goes on to claim that "the actual value of the property at the time of purchase, taking into consideration the extensive construction defects ... was millions of dollars less" than what Rihanna paid for it. 

Rihanna is now suing the former owner, the inspector, the real estate agents who closed the deal and engineers who worked on the house. 
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T.I. Released From Prison

After serving 10 months out of an 11 month sentence, rapper T.I. was released from prison this morning.
According to TMZ, Chris Burke, a spokesmen for the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Tip was released this morning [August 31] at 7:20 AM eastern standard time.

T.I. also confirmed his release by getting on Twitter. "The storm is over & da sun back out. IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!! Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!"

"Feels great to be back where I belong," he continued. "Back in the arms of those who need me the most."
As previously reported, the rumor of an early T.I. released started earlier this week but weren't confirmed until today.

T.I. has been serving time in Arkansas's Forrest City Correctional Facility for a parole violation stemming form a Los Angeles drug arrest in 2010. 

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T.I. Filming New Reality Show

Just hours after he was released from Forrest City Correctional Facility in Arkansas, VH1 announced thatT.I. will star in a new reality show. The still untitled show will document the emcee’s reacclimation to life on the outside. T.I. will start the show in the halfway house where he is scheduled to serve the remaining month of his sentence, and cameras will follow him into the studio as he begins work on his next album.

“Viewers have always connected with T.I. and we are definitely thrilled to show the next chapter of this incredible artist’s riveting life with this new series,” said Jeff Olde, EVP, Original Programming and Production VH1. “T.I. is such a multitalented artist and actor, and though he has had some setbacks, there is no doubt he will use his considerable talents to get back on top of both the music and film business.”
The first 30-minute episode of the 10-show series will air on December 5 at 10:00 p.m.

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Beyoncé Still Plans to Do Michael Jackson Tribute

Now we know one of the main factors that played into Beyoncé's decision not to fly to Cardiff, Walles, to be present at the October 8 Michael Jackson Tribute Concert — her pregnancy.

As previously reported, Bey is the most recent addition to the tribute concert for Jackson, organized by the late pop icon's mother Katherine Jackson. However, the soon-to-be mom is expected to perform one of her favorite Jackson 5 songs via satellite, after originally citing scheduling issues.
According to TMZ, rumor has it that Bey is somewhere around four months pregnant, which means that, by the time of the concert, she'll be around five months. Still, the show will go on, as reps for the concert promoters have confirmed, saying that the singer's "pregnancy will not affect her performance. 

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Game's R.E.D. Album Debuts at #1

Game officially has the music community seeing R.E.D. The brash emcee has claimed the top spot onBillboard 200 with his blockbuster fourth LP, The R.E.D. Album. In its first week of release, the West Coast heavyweight's latest effort sold 98,000 copies, according to Nielson Soundscan.

The road to The R.E.D. Album was paved by the singles "Pot of Gold," featuring Chris Brown and "Red Nation," featuring Lil Wayne. The Aftermath/Interscope release also featured appearances from Drake, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Tyler the Creator, Dr. Dre and more.

Game's number-one debut usurps the position from previous top dogs Jay-Z and Kanye West, who's new album, Watch the Throne, had reigned unchallenged over the last two weeks. It was a narrow victory, though, as WTT still managed a close second with 94,000 copies sold in its third week on the charts.

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Tupac’s Family Responds to Outlawz 'Smoking Ashes' Tale

Tupac Shakur's old running buddies The Outlawz have made some far-out claims about how they paid homage to their fallen friend in the immediate aftermath of his death, and members of the Shakur family are none too pleased.

In a recent interview with VladTV, The Outlawz confirm rumors that members of the group rolled the legendary rapper's ashes with marijuana at his memorial and "smoked him out" as a final farewell.

"It's definitely true," Young Noble says. "We hit the beach and had a little memorial for him with his Moms and family and s**t. We was just givin' him our own farewell ... We twisted up some of that great-granddaddy California kush and mixed the big homie with it, ya know what I mean?"

Fellow Outlaw E.D.I. Mean says the illicit idea came from none other than Pac himself — via a rhyme.

"Pac came up with that s**t," he says. "If you listen to 'Black Jesus,' he says 'Last wishes, n***as smoke my ashes.' So that was a request he had. Now how serious was he about it? [shrugs] We took that s**t serious."

In addition to smoking his remains, The Outlawz also say they threw a few of Tupac's favorite things into the ocean, including weed, chicken wings and orange soda.

"Pac loved that s**t," says E.D.I. Mean.

Though the group claims Pac's mother and family were present at the memorial, a representative for the Shakur family tells TMZ that they were unaware of any plans to smoke the artist's remains and would never have agreed to such a thing.

"[Afeni Shakur] would never participate in smoking her son," the family spokesperson said. "[The Outlawz] would have had to sneak the remains past the family member in charge of keeping an eye on the ashes at the memorial."

Despite being less than stoked on The Outlawz claims, the Shakurs are reportedly not seeking legal action at this time.

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Afrobeats Festival 2011 – Wizkid, P-Square & Ice Prince (Press Conference)

Last night, Nigerian superstars Wizkid, P-Square and Ice Prince tore up the stage at the Afrobeats Festival in London. Here’s a press conference before the show. They give us their own candid opinion on international collaborations and so much more. You really should watch this.

Factory78 was recently at the press conference of the first ever Afrobeats festival featuring African acts such as P-square,Wizkid and Iceprince. P-square the headliners acts used the opportunity to clear a few misconceptions about international collaborations on their album as well popular beliefs about their manager and video director Jude okoye. Watch the entire press conference here on Factory78tv.

Don’t forget to purchase Wizkid and P-Square’s latest albums right here on notjustOk.com if you haven’t done so already.

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Kanye West Surprise Performance With D’Banj @ The Koko Koncert In London (HQ)

Here’s a clearer video of Kanye West’s surprise appearance/performance at the Koko Koncert on the 29th of August, 2011 in London. We get to see the official G.O.O.D Music chain presentation by Kanye West to D’Banj from a much clearer and better angle, as well as catching a glimpse of the hysterical sell-out crowd. Kanye had less than 12 HOURS to be at the Koko Koncert in London from the MTV Video Music Awards/After-Party in the United States… but he still made it (you can tell he wore the same outfit).