DMX's penchant for getting in trouble with the law continues, as the once-superstar rapper was once again arrested.

According to TMZ.com, the Yonkers rapper was arrested yesterday (March 9) in Arizona for violating the terms of his probation by using illegal drugs over the past nine months.

"He's been battling addiction for some time and he's in need of treatment," says X's lawyer, Gary Jenkins.

"We're hoping that maybe Dr. Drew might be able to help him," added Jenkins, referring to Dr. Drew Pinsky, a radio and television personality who specializes in addiciton medicine. In addition to hosting the syndicated radio talk show Loveline, Pinsky produces and stars in the Vh1 show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.

The Ruff Ryder has been arrested for countless charges in recent years, including having a warrant for having no vaild driver's license, as well as drug and animal cruelty charges.

UPDATE: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio revealed to MTV News today that the Yonkers emcee admitted to using cocaine, as drugs were found. As a result, the once-platinum superstar rapper remains in Maricopa County Jail. The sheriff was quoted as saying, "I think it's about time to give him hard time."

The sheriff did also suggest a behind-bars drug program that could allow DMX more leniency to expected parole violation sentencing.

Pop/Country act Lady Antebellum finally bumped Sade's Soldier Of Love, taking the #1 spot after six weeks on the charts. Sade does have a chance however of being the first 2010 urban release to go platinum. At best, the charts will see that next week. If not, with certainty, the week after.

The Black Eyed Peas enjoyed their 39th week on the charts. The group kept the #8 seat warm for The E.N.D. Already at double platinum, a new video "Imma Be Rocking That Body," has will.i.am, Fergie, Taboo and Apl.De.Ap staying as close to the top of the charts as they've been in months. will.i.am will soon be working on Usher's Raymond v. Raymond.

There were two new additions to the Top 15. Raheem DeVaughn's Love & War Masterpeace concept album received an impressive Top 10 debut. The DMV Soul singer's third album features Ludacris and Wale ("The Greatness" ) and a slew of guest R&B singers on the posse cut "Nobody Wins A War."

With all the chart movement, Lil Wayne's Rebirth fell six spots. This was the last week of Wayne out of prison to promote the album, which may hurt its platinum potential. Wayne's homie DJ Khaled's Victory album debuted at #14. This was seven points and 30,000 units less than Khaled's last album, We Global. Victory is getting stronger critical response, as the album boasts three Rick Ross appearances, as well as features from Drake, Young Jeezy and Snoop Dogg.



* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.

Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)

Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total 2
Sade
Soldier Of Love
79,000
899,000
8 Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
46,000
2,228,000
9
Raheem DeVaugn
The Love & War Masterpeace
45,000
45,000
12
Lil Wayne
Rebirth
32,000
393,000
14
DJ Khaled
Victory
28,000
28,000




Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 closes in on 1,660,000 units sold, while Eminem's Relapse crossed the 1,875,000 unit mark. Last week, Gucci Mane's The State Vs. Radric Davis out-sold both platinum rappers, coming in at #51. The Warner Brothers/Asylum release crossed the 300,000 unit mark, as its creator remains in prison, limiting marketing.

Drake did indeed surpass 400,000 units with So Far Gone last week. Although Universal and Cash Money treat this EP as unofficial album, the release may likely go gold, making a strong case for retail versions of free download music. 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct fell 40 spots last week, outside of the Top 100. This movement may have a lot to do with the close sales race, decided by 3,000 weekly units or less.

Freeway & Jake One's The Stimulus Package hung in on the charts for a third week. Free's first "official" independent album, this on the Minneapolis-based Rhymesayers label was supported with a whole album's worth of production from Seattle's most prolific producer, Jake One.

Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total 51
Gucci Mane The State Vs. Radric Davis
11,000
301,000
52
Eminem Relapse
11,000
1,875,000
77
Drake
So Far Gone
7,300
401,100
103
50 Cent
Before I Self Destruct
5,800
416,000
195
Freeway & Jake One
The Stimulus Package
2,700
15,000

Will Ludacris bring his boys vs. girls fight to the top of the charts? Can the Kidz In The Hall get the mainstream love they seem to be seeking? Stay tuned to next week at HipHopDX.

Murs has a lot of music in the vault. Although fans have been anticipating his latest project Fornever, a release with producer 9th Wonder, he says he has much more in store. Recently, the Mid City Los Angeles emcee announced that he would be releasing ten albums in ten months in 2010.

The theme may also lead to a box set that will be released in October.

"10 albums 10 songs each in 10 months in the year 2010. 10/10/10 box set will be available," he announced on his Twitter page. "Or you can wait till 12/28 for the last piece."

Believing that fans may take it as a joke, he has repeated himself more than once on the subject.

This can be as a result of his time spent after releasing his Warner Brothers debut, Murs for President. Since that album, Murs has been working on a variety of projects with various artists. In August of last year, Murs spoke to HipHopDX about all the music he is ready to release and promised the ten records to us back then.

“A lot of people keep asking about Murs and 9th Wonder. It never went away. We never stopped doing shit. We’re going to do shit forever. So, Murs and 9th Wonder coming [in 2010]... I got a punk rock group called The Invincibles with this gang called Whole Wheat Bread coming out this year. I’ve also been working on some stuff with DJ Quik and Terrace Martin. We’re doing a whole ghetto, hood, electro, dance, sex, party record. We’ve been working on that. We’ve got a few songs knocked out. I’ve also got Varsity Blues 2, man. So, I got like 4 records coming out. I’m going to have like 10 records in the next year, man. Stay tuned because as soon as I get free from Warner Brothers, it’s going to be a party.”

Now free, it seems he's ready to get that party started.

John “Mook” Gibbons, founder of Wu-Tang Management, has started a new campaign to find up-and-coming rappers with “The Next 9 Generals” competition.

Centered around the premise of a “new school” Wu-Tang squad, the competition looks for rappers between the ages of 18-33 who exemplify the Wu-Tang spirit through lyrics. Online applicants are asked to rhyme over two Wu-Tang instrumentals (“Protect Ya Neck” and “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta Fuck Wit”) to show their lyrical abilities.

Along with the online applicants, Gibbons will also be holding several auditions across the country, including New York, Philadelphia, Miami, and Los Angeles. Judges for the auditions are Gibbons, SRC’s Steve Rifkind, Power 105 radio personality Steph Lova and Wu-Tang member U-God.

The nine winners of the competition will reportedly secure “major recording deal(s), music videos, world wide exposure, international tours, and most importantly the right to bear the Wu-Tang ‘W’.”

Registration is available online here. The early registration deadline is March 31.

Author Paul Edwards' book How To Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC has reached book stores. Not just any other scholarly book on one of the pillars of Hip Hop, Edwards' book features a Foreward by none other than legendary emcee Kool G Rap.

This book breaks down the emcee artform into five sections: Content, Flow, Writing and Delivery with various sub-sections. In addition, Edwards' work features 104 interviews with emcees ranging from E-40 to Hell Rell, 2Mex to Royce Da 5'9".

Published in December of 2009, this is Edwards' first book.

Purchase How to Rap: The Art and Science of the Hip-Hop MC by Paul Edwards

San Diego veteran emcee Mitchy Slick has had an active 2010. In addition to his group, Strong Arm Steady releasing an acclaimed album with Stones Throw Records, In Search Of Stoney Jackson, the SMC/Fontana artist opened the year releasing his own compilation album with Wrongkind, Yellow Tape. Speaking recently with HipHopDX, Mitch broke down his latest venture. "Wrongkind represents a whole bunch of niggas - people that ain't just rappers. We got homies that do a lot of things for Tha Wrongkind; we got homies that just slap people for Tha Wrongkind. It ain't just San Diego homies either. It's just some fly cats from my community that don't fit the usual type of get-money, have-bitches [mentality]." Slick said that the group has affiliates in Oklahoma, San Francisco and New York. "We're like the outcasts of the industry, 'cause all my niggas is real and 100." He added, "It's just a movement of real niggas that want to make some real shit happen in the Rap game." Within his Lincoln Park neighborhood, Slick said the group's extensive roster particularly resonates, "In San Diego, it just so happens that a lot of the [members] happen to be real figures of the community before they even grab the mic."

Although Mitchy Slick was present on every Yellow Tape record, he only appeared on two cuts ("Pressure" and "Two Pistols" from his group's sophomore album, produced entirely by Madlib. Asked why that was the case, Mitchy responded with candor. "Nothing pulled me from that project. Usually, with the Strong Arm Steady projects, I let Phil [Da Agony] and [Krondon] coordinate them. If they felt like [I] was only needed to be featured on [In Search Of Stoney Jackson], then I give them the freedom to do that. The two songs I'm on is great songs."

The San Diego rapper understands that his content differs from that of the group's other two members at times. "A lot of that may have to do with some of the content of the songs that I recorded for the Stoney Jackson album. It was already enough for the fan-base of [Madlib] to do records with a guy who was gonna be on gang-bangin' and shit, crack-rappin' on his beats. Some of the songs I did for the Stoney Jackson [album] was pimp records and shit. I just felt like that was something that hadn't really been heard on Madlib slaps. A lot of my fans ain't even really familiar with Madlib. They need to get their bars up though, for those that don't know a Madlib or a J Dilla or something like that. Open your horizons."

With their Blacksmith debut Arms & Hammers still in the works, Mitchy Slick expressed pleasure from the fan and critical response to the January album. "Some of the best response we've ever gotten from a Strong Arm Steady project have come from [In Search Of Stoney Jackson]."

Further asked if the rapper who has worked with Messy Marv and Cashis feels marginalized with his peers, he confessed, "I know that I get a much better response when it's a Mitchy Slick show than I get when it's a S.A.S. show, out of state. That's maybe because of how we promote it." Like Kool G Rap, Kurupt or Xzibit, Mitchy Slick prides himself on existing in two worlds. "I like being able to do both things, and I don't try to mix 'em. So if you hear Mitchy Slick on Strong Arm Steady shit, sometimes it's a little more conscious and a little more lyrical. Not lyrical, but a lot of times there's a lot of ignorance on a Mitchy Slick record. We refer to ignorance as that ghetto shit: $5,000 paintjob on a $2,000 car shit."

One of the stronger cuts on Yellow Tape is the commentary courtesy of "What Happened To The Turf." Mitchy Slick explained the vision for the album-record. "When I heard the track, all I could think about was the transitions in my neighborhood from the time from when we first began to now. From the '80s era this text-messaging, Internet era. I just asked questions about a lot of issues that's going on in my neighborhood." Mitch said that many of the young street disciples might not even realize that they're surrounded by forgotten street scholars from yesteryear. Offering insight, he says, "I try to bridge that gap between the old homies and the new homies."

As the predominant voice for San Diego in the last decade, Mitchy Slick was asked about his relationship to '90s San Diego pioneer Jayo Felony, who comes from a rival gang. "No comment," began Slick, who then added, "This Rap shit is so real, and this gang shit is so real...shit. That's some other shit. Me and Jayo Felony, that's street shit, not Rap shit. That's why I don't make songs and rap about niggas and say shit. That's buster shit to me."

With the streets recognizing the barriers between 16 bars and bandanas, Mitchy Slick explained why the two maintain separation. "Two niggas that's from two neighborhoods, that's supposed to be from those neighborhoods, ain't got no business rappin' about each other because that shit can go to shooting fast...I'm cool on talking about that shit."

Still, the emcee in Mitchy Slick recognized the significance both men offered their city. "We did a lot for the town. A lot of people look up to Jayo Felony for what he did." Going back to the mid-'90s, Slick admits, "I had never seen Jayo Felony and I could never identify with him, really, 'cause it's so segregated in our town. It kinda showed us that we could do it."

Although their streets might be separate, Mitchy Slick said he knows that he's yet to reach the level of success that Jayo Felony say through hits like "Whatcha Gonna Do." He revealed, "I don't look at the shit that I've accomplished on the level of what he's accomplished, because I know the real game. I'm not sayin' about what he has now or where he is now, but I'm sayin' to be on that level, that playing-field to a west coast gangsta nigga doing songs with Redman and being on Def Jam and all that shit, that ain't no regular shit. I respect that."

With 15 years on the Hip Hop map, both Mitchy Slick and Jayo Felony have been hugely instrumental to the city's recognition. "It showed San Diego we could do it. But we ain't show it on the level to where they can trust and depend on this Rap shit. Not yet. 'Cause we ain't really brought the bacon home."

With two group releases already this 2010, Mitch Slick is certainly trying to further the Southern California city's impact.



Purchase Yellow Tape by Mitchy Slick Presents Tha Wrongkind

Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka Flame recently released his hit single "O Let's Do It" which managed to climb to No. 15 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart thus far. Since it hit airwaves, the track has been remixed by rappers such as Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Wale and others. Waka Flocka spoke to Billboard.com about his surprise that other artists would reach out to him.

"Rick Ross is the only guy I reached out to," said the 23 year-old rapper. "Then Diddy reached out to me and Gucci [Mane] was like, 'I'm getting on that. That's hard!' Now it seems everybody's jumping on it."

However, the young rapper, who was recently shot during a robbery, is not letting the success get to his head.

"One single doesn't declare a person valid for an album. If I had one or two more songs buzzing crazy then I'd say, 'I'm ready.' But even with 'O Let's Do It,' doing good…when you put it up against Trey Songz' 'Say Ahh' or a Jay-Z track, it will be at the bottom of the barrel."

Although he has no plans to release an album just yet, Waka Flocka will drop several mixtapes which will include collaborations with Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman, as well as G-Unit members Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks.

With many Hip Hop fans bemoaning the force-fed nature of music in all genres, San Francisco’s own Davinci believes he's is ready to stimulate the famished Rap world. Today, the Fillmore resident releases his debut album The Day the Turf Stood Still and has set different goals than the typical emcee. That may start in the fact that he's giving this retail-released album to HipHopDX readers for free.

“Our goal wasn’t really to break the single into the major market. We really are just trying to feed the music to the people who have an acquired taste for it now," Davinci told HipHopDX of the work and his plans. "I mean, I listen to the radio and nothing on my album is like that shit, that’s the TV 106 & Park type of music, and that ain't me. We’re not really expecting for the people of that realm to just jump on board and understand my music. My material is kind of like a full-course meal that is going to take a while to work through, but once you do eat it, you’re going to be full and not want anything else for the rest of the day." The emcee compares that to the "fast food culture" of Hip Hop in 2010. "I want to deliver something that’s going to stick to people’s ribs. It’s a lot of content and I don’t think people will grasp it right away because it’s not what they’re used to being fed, but for the others, we want to feed them and let them know who I am and what I’m trying to do."

Coming from the same streets as San Quinn and Messy Marv, Davinci says he grew up with Rap aspirations. "I always rapped. Rapping was something that I had just picked up easily back when I was real young like nine, 10, 11 years old. I would take my thoughts and put it on paper and just record it on the little karaoke machines with my brother, cousins, and people from the neighborhood in our spare time." After years of the hobby, Davinci says his charted growth led him to look at making recreation into vocation. "I knew I could make a career out of it, not only for me 'cause I loved it, but also because the messages that I was portraying in my music I felt were missing for Hip Hop. There’s a lot of artists out that actually have a message in their music, but it still can be more. I remember when I was a kid I needed game from the OGs because I needed to learn and a lot of people in my life were locked up or had passed away, so I felt like I wasn’t getting a lot of the street knowledge that I needed to get. I would try and learn through the music so that’s why I wanted to be able to teach a message through my music as well." By carrying a different message than the traditional Gangsta Rap from the Fillmore District, Davinci stands apart even before The Day The Turf Stood Still.

As an active emcee within the new class of Bay Area emcees, Davinci assures listeners that there is way more to San Fran than Hyphy, trolleys and Full House. “What you see on TV is only like one corner of San Francisco. When they shot the commercials, that’s only a part of the city. As far as the communities in San Francisco or the Bay Area period, it was a lot of minorities that stuck together. There’s a side of these communities that have never had an opportunity to show themselves to the world. I try and paint the picture in my music and videos the best way that I can. When you look on post cards you will get the impression that San Francisco is all rainbows and sunshine with sailboats under the Gold Gate Bridge, which is fine because that’s a good tourist attraction that brings money to the city, but there is a whole other side to the contrary. There’s a large amount of public housing, a horrible homeless problem, and slim job opportunities. What the media portrays in only half true and that’s what I’m trying to get everybody to see.”

With retail versions of his CD available, Davinci is offering new listeners a free download of his debut. With that gift, he tells listeners, "I’m not trying to just jump into the music industry and get into all of the politics and beefs or dumb shit. I just want to do me and have people respect me as an artist. My content is a little more specific. I really want every album that I do to cater to a specific theme. It’s a lot of good artist out here in the Bay." The young emcee continues, "What’s going to set me apart is my ability to be specific and the images that try to get across. I would hope that people understand what I’m trying to do. As far as Davinci, as an artist, I just want to make the type of music that people can listen too by themselves. My music isn’t necessarily something you would listen to when you’re on your way to the club, but maybe when you’re on your way home. I want a person’s 'alone time' because that’s when they will really be able to pay attention.”

Check "Guys Wanna" by Davinci.

DOOM has been causing quite a stir with his live act. For some time now, it has been speculated that he sends impostors to concerts, something that allegedly took place in Chicago earlier this year. That show was part of a three-city mini tour with Mos Def that also featured stops in Toronto and New York, handled by different promoters. Recently, the promoter for the Toronto show took some time to explain how the concert was organized and how DOOM's alleged impostors are a part of an "intentional" plan.

The first of these shows took place in Chicago as DOOM received an unfavorable reaction from fans before leaving in the middle of the set. Once again, people assumed it was a fake DOOM and speculation and confusion started to grow.

According to the promoter, who spoke with Toronto's Mixtape Massacre radio show, DOOM later apologized to Mos for that evening in Chicago, saying he was sick, among other things. Mos Def, questioning the possibility of a failed show in Toronto and New York, backed out of both dates.

“I got the call two days before the show and [Mos Def] was like, ‘I’m sorry to do this to you [but] I can’t do this. I feel for Toronto, I’ll make it up to you.’ We’re actually talking about a make-up show just one his own. He’s like, ‘I can’t be a part of this...because if it happens again, I’m in on it and I don’t do that.’”

New York’s show was cancelled as a result of Mos Def pulling out but DOOM’s people ensured Toronto’s promoter that DOOM would appear, adding that “he was pretty well paid for the show, almost upfront,” so the show in Toronto was still on.

While speaking with DOOM's road manager, he said he found out that this is all a plan. “This is DOOM’s loophole,” he said, adding that DOOM’s road manager replied by saying DOOM always goes to the shows, insinuating that Daniel Dumile, the man behind the mask, doesn’t always necessarily have to show up, as long as someone in a DOOM mask does.  

“They’ve been doing this. It’s all intentional. I’m like, ‘I’m all for art but there’s a better way to do this. What you’re doing is bordering on fraud.’ [DOOM's road manager said], ‘We always say DOOM’s coming.’ But, the perception! That’s what I’m talking about.”

“What people saw, what happens with him is not a mistake. It’s engineered. What goes on…This whole thing, he likes that. This is the whole plan. He likes attention and he likes that confusion he causes with people.”

That confusion led to a start that had fans booing at the Toronto show. A fake DOOM first entered the stage to perform to a confused crowd but the real DOOM soon followed.

Still, the Toronto show went on later than expected and resulted in mixed reaction from the crowd according to some fans at the show. The promoter says that he personally made sure Dumile was present. Nevertheless, he adds that the show wasn't as successful as he had hoped it would be.

“To add insult to injury, his show was, let’s put it this way, sub-par,” he added.

In his interview with HipHopDX last year, DOOM explained how he viewed "impostors" and this whole situation.

"Here's how I look at it, because the wording in there is kinda funny. 'Impostor.' Impostor would imply that the character. I liken it to this: I'm a director as well as a writer. I choose different characters, I choose their direction and where I want to put them. So who I choose to put as the character is up to me. The character that I hired, he got paid for it. There's no impostor. ...When I go to a show, I'm going to hear the music. I'm not going to see no particular person....Any cats that are coming to see me as a physical person, I can switch the [actor] any time. I'm not gonna play the part of that character every time. Like how [actors] changed through the Batman series, where it was George Clooney [and] it switched like five [other actors]."

"...So when you come to a DOOM show, I'm letting all the cats know now, come to hear the show and come to hear the music. To see me? Y'all don't even know who I am! ...Technology makes it possible for me to still do music and not have to be any particular place. I'm using all that. I'm using every aspect at my disposal to project my creative thoughts. Either people gonna get it or they not. But I'll tell you one thing, if you're coming to a DOOM show, don't expect to see me, expect to hear me or hear the music that I present. And it's gonna be a unique experience every time. So that's all I have to say about that."

A video of the fake DOOM and the real DOOM is below.

Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys is feeling "better" as he recovers from treatment for cancer. Last year, the group announced that they would postpone the release of their forthcoming album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, due to Yauch's health concerns.

Recently, Yauch spoke to Entertainment Weekly about his current status, adding that he feels "better."

"I feel better. It was touch and go there for a while, but I am finally getting my energy back.”

Hot Sauce was meant to be released in September of '09, but fans might be able to get their copies this September instead.

“It was really disappointing to have to hold the record and postpone the tour, but doctor’s orders. We may or may not [release the album] depending on how my health is come September. We want to but we have to play it by ear.”

“I was just talking to Adam [Horovitz] and Mike [D] today on the phone and we were talking about working on it a bit. We finished the record over a year ago, so we want to take a look at it and re-evaluate and make sure it is what we want to put out there and that we are still happy with it. I don’t think we will change it up too much.”

Crooked I and Royce Da 5'9" made an acclaimed album together (with Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz) in Slaughterhouse last year. The Long Beach and Detroit emcees are presently in the east coast, doing spot dates together.

Tonight the duo will rock the sacred stage at SOB's. While fans may count on guest appearances, Crooked I did tell DX the following,"I’m excited to come out to New York on March 9th in the memory of the Notorious B.I.G and tearing SOB's down to the ground."

Royce Da 5'9" added, "New York is like my second home so to be able to play SOB's on such a historic night is crazy for me. I look forward to killing it."

As Crooked I said, the performance comes on the 13th anniversary of Notorious B.I.G.'s tragic passing.

New England Rap fans can expect the duo on March 13th at Tommy's Lounge in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Now that Atlanta rapper T.I. is only weeks away from the end of his prison sentence he’s got a lot up his sleeves. He’s already released “I’m Back,” the first single off of his upcoming album, and now it looks like T.I. has even more plans for the future.

Aside from working on his highly-anticipated seventh album T.I. also plans on making several appearances following the end of his sentence.

"Middle of April, beginning of May. Y'all gonna start seeing me. Y'all already know, once again it's on. Like we always do this time,” said T.I. in a conference call, reports MTV.

During the conference call T.I. also gave much thanks to his fans for all their support during his sentence.

"As long as there is air in my esophagus, champ, I'mma keep going," said T.I. towards the end of his conference call. "Nothing is gonna stop that. Nothing short of a 12 gauge is gonna stop me from doing what I do, champ. I just wanna say thank y'all and we gonna keep movin' on."

Next week, Devin The Dude will release Do Not DistHerb (Suite #420 EP), an eight track prequel to his April 20 album. Also herbally inspired, Cypress Hill has rescheduled RISE UP for April 20. A week later, So Icey Entertainment artist Waka Flocka Flame will unveil his debut album, tentatively titled Murda-Man Flocka. The following is the upcoming release schedule:



March 9
Ayatollah Jaxx (of Good Company) Hello, Hip Hop
Blacastan The Master Of Reality
Broken Bells (Danger Mouse & James Mercer) Broken Bells
Crookers Tons Of Friends
DaVinci The Day The Turf Stood Still
Gorillaz Plastic Beach
Kidz In The Hall Land Of Make Believe
Ludacris Battle Of The Sexes
Soulcrate Music The Heartland Panic
Spear Of The Nation (of Lunar Heights) Spear.
U-N-I & Ro Blvd. A Love Supreme 2.0

March 16
D-Lo Rude Boy
Danny Brown The Hybrid
Devin The Dude Do Not DistHerb (Suite #420 EP)
Flobots Survival Story
Guce & Matt Blaque A Gangsta & A Gentleman
LMNO fOnk garden
Main Flow (of Mood) Return Of The Castle
Pastor Troy (of D.S.G.B.) G.I. Troy: Strictly 4 My Soldiers
Swollen Members Greatest Hits: Ten Years Of Turmoil
X-Raided Block Bizniz
X-Raided The Unforgiven 2.5: Assisted Suicide (Collector’s Edition)

March 23
Brotha Lynch Hung Dinner And A Movie
Dashah Rap Burglar 3: The Final Apprentice
Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) Don Cusack In High Fidelity
Fashawn Boy Meets World (Deluxe Edition)
Haji Springer Slumdog Thizzionaire
Inspectah Deck (of Wu-Tang Clan) Manifesto
J-Kwon J-Kwon
Madlib Madlib Medicine Show No. 3: Beat Konducta In Africa
Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx The eXXecution
Mary J. Blige Stronger With Each Tear (U.K. Edition)
Moka Only (as Ron Contour) & Factor Saffron
Monica Still Standing
Sadat X (of Brand Nubian) Wild Cowboys II
Snoop Dogg More Malice
TQ Kind Of Blue

March 30
Amp Live (of Zion I) Murder At The Discotech
Army Of The Pharaohs The Unholy Terror
Curren$y Pilot Talk
E-40 Revenue Retrievin’: Day Shift
E-40 Revenue Retrievin’: Night Shift
Masta Killa (of Wu-Tang Clan) Live
Messy Marv Project Suppastarr
Meth-Ghost-Rae (of Wu-Tang Clan) Wu-Massacre
Moka Only (as Ron Contour) Rontario
Mulatu Astatke Mulatu Steps Ahead
Murs & 9th Wonder Fornever
Tech N9ne (of Strange Music Records) The Lost Scripts Of K.O.D.
Usher Raymond V. Raymond
Wordsmith Vintage Experience

April 6
8Ball & MJG Ten Toes Down
BLESTeNATION Welcome To MBugout City
Chief Kamachi The Clock Of Destiny
Chosen Few New World Symphony
Declaime (a.k.a. Dudley Perkins) Fame
Diabolic Liar & A Thief
Insane Clown Posse Bang! Pow! Boom! (Nuclear Version)
Madlib (as Young Jazz Rebels) Slave Riot
Solomon Burke Nothing’s Impossible
Vivian Green Beautiful



April 13
Flying Lotus DJ Kicks
LMNO Next In Line
MGMT Congratulations
Spectac & Amiri (of HiPNOTT Records) Almost Famous
yU (of Diamond District) Before Taxes

April 20
Andre Nickatina Khan! The Me Generation
Brisco Street Medicine
Cognito Automatic
Cypress Hill RISE UP
Danny Boy It’s About Time
Dark Time Sunshine Vessel
Devin The Dude Suite #420
Dirt Nasty (of Dyslexic Speedreaders) Nasty As I Wanna Be
Game The R.E.D. Album
Georgia Anne Muldrow Turiya’s Smile
Goldtoes N Berner R All N Ur Pockets: The Soundtrack
Kottonmouth Kings Long Live The Kings
Kurupt (of Tha Dogg Pound) Streetlights
Little Brother LeftBack
Messy Marv The Shooting Range
Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) Revolutions Per Minute
Roc Marciano Marcberg
Roc Marciano Marcberg 12” EP
Sleepy D (of Town Thizzness Records) Sleep Deprivation
Soul Mafia MK Ultra
TRUTHLiVE Patience

April 27
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Uni5: The World’s Enemy
D. Woods (of Dannity Kane) My Favorite Color
J-Hood $orry I Made You Wait
One Be Lo (of Binary Star) B.A.B.Y. (Being A Black Youth)
Waka Flocka Flame Murda-Man Flocka
Yo Gotti Live From The Kitchen

The following are additional release dates announced during the past week:

B.o.B. (a.k.a. Bobby Ray) The Adventures Of Bobby Ray [May 4]
Paul Wall Heart Of A Champion [May 4]
Doc Ish The First Treatment [May 11]
Guilty Simpson & Madlib OJ Simpson [May 18]
The Black Keys Brothers [May 18]
Lyfe Jennings Sooner Or Later [May 25]
Plies Goon Affiliated [May 25]
Krayzie Bone (of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) The Fixtape Vol. 3: Lyrical Paraphernalia [June 1]
Redman Reggie [June 1]
The Roots How I Got Over [June 8]
Travis McCoy (of Gym Class Heroes) Lazarus Project [June 8]
Bizzy Bone (of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) Crossroads 2010 [June 15]
Nappy Roots The Pursuit To Nappyness [June 15]
Diddy Last Train To Paris [June 22]
Maino The Day After Tomorrow [June 29]
Young Jeezy Thug Motivation 103 [June 29]
Messy Marv Da Cookin’ Channel [July 6]
T.I. TBD [August 24]
Duke Da God More Than Music 3 [September 7]

Guru's nephew Justin Elam Ruff took to Youtube again on Monday to describe his first meeting with Solar since Guru's hospitalization. After reading statements made by Solar claiming that he was in constant contact with Guru's family, Ruff said that he made the decision to fly to New York where he planned to visit his uncle in the hospital. However, according to his account, upon reaching the hospital he discovered he was not on the list.

"I was crushed," Ruff said in the video. "I wasn't even close to having access to my uncle. I called as many people as I could to get there opinions on what I should do at this moment and if my only option was to call it a day and head back home unfulfilled."

After managing to reach Guru's musical partner, Solar via phone, Ruff said the producer and his wife arrived shortly. Ruff explained, "[Solar] stated that out of respect for Guru, I should never bring the people that I brought with me to the hospital since they are affiliated with Gang Starr."

Ruff said that Solar later led him to Guru's hospital room before preambling that Guru was "heavily sedated" and it would look like he was in a coma. Said Ruff, "I felt my heart racing because I was getting so amped up over the feeling that Solar was trying to cover up something." Ruff was eventually able to see his uncle, but said that the tension between himself and Solar is still strong.

"I feel like [my uncle] needs to hear voices other than what he is hearing from Solar and his wife on a daily basis. Who knows what they're talking to him about? I honestly think my uncle is trying to get away from their ways and that their ways are weakening him. He needs to hear my family's voice on a consistent basis."

Yesterday (March 8) was a busy day for Cash Money Records. The New Orleans, Louisiana-based label watched its biggest star, Lil Wayne, leave a New York courtroom in handcuffs for an eight-month stay on Riker's Island. As that was happening, Wayne used his Twitter account to confirm that his Hot Boy brother, B.G., was back on the label that began his career.

"B.G. is signed to Cash Money Records," read the simple tweet. The rapper also known as Bee Gizzle had been seen at Wayne's Super Bowl going-away party, and had also been the subject of public discussion from co-founder of Cash Money, Birdman, who sympathized with both B.G.'s legal woes as well as his disappointing sales figures, despite releasing last year's Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood through Atlantic Records, with T.I. executive producing.

B.G.'s last album with Cash Money was 2000's Checkmate. Prior to that, he had spent five years with the label, releasing 1995's True Story, which featured an adolescent Lil Wayne. The once platinum rapper has never equated the success since that he found at Cash Money, where he made "Bling, Bling."

HipHopDX will keep you updated.

On Tuesday March 9, 2010, J.Period and Video Music Box creator “Uncle” Ralph McDaniels bring Biggie back to life with the March 9: Video Remix Collection—a collection of exclusive Notorious B.I.G. remixes set to classic videos, in honor of the 13th Anniversary of B.I.G.’s untimely passing. “Flava in Ya Ear (March 9 Video Remix)” marks the first release, a club-shattering blend of old and new that begs the question: “What would Hip Hop be like if B.I.G. were still alive?”  More information is available at www.jperiod.com/march9.

As Atlanta rapper Big Boi preps his solo debut Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, the Outkast member recently explained the new album will definitely not be lacking visual supplements.

Releasing a music video for “Shine Blockas” last December, Big Boi told XXLmag.com, “Right now I’m just shooting videos. I’ma shoot a video for just about every song on the album. I shot like five videos so far, for the past three weeks. I’ve been editing those videos… it’s coming man it’s coming.”

Acknowledging the fact that his album has been delayed a handful of times since early 2008, he added, “I know everybody’s been waiting and I’m anxious to give it to them. But it will be here soon. Trust me.”

Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty will be released on Jive Records.

In other news, rapper Styles P will be releasing his first novel, Invincible, on June 1 through Random House.

Speaking with HipHopWired.com, Styles P explained initial work on the novel was done by chance. “I never really took the time out to give it a shot, it's just something I always wanted to do…Actually, what happened, I was getting on the plane and I forgot my book but I wanted to read so I decided to give it a shot, did a few pages [and] ended up messing with Random House.”

Describing the novel as filled with action and drama, Styles P added, “Sometimes you got to chase your dreams or they chase you.”

Using the novel as a new outlet for artistry, Styles P wants to transition into movies sometime in the near future. “I'm trying to work around the clock and just call it a day. We trying to get into film too. We got some ideas and trying to do it all.”

Finally, to commemorate the legacy of Mexican-American singer Selena, a four disc boxed set is being released today called La Leyenda.

Spanish for “The Legend,” La Leyenda includes 82 tracks recorded by the Tejano-pop singer, as well as a booklet of messages and memories from her closest friends and family members. 

Before her tragic death in 1995, Selena was poised for stardom stateside as her first English-speaking album Dreaming Of You debuted at #1 and went on to sell over four million albums. Over time, her style and music has been an influence for many R&B artists, such as Jennifer Lopez (who also played her in the biographical film Selena) and Paula DeAnda.

La Leyenda will be released through Capitol Latin/EMI.

Grammy award winning R&B singer D'Angelo was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly soliciting a police officer for sex. D'Angelo, whose real name is Michael Archer, had been driving through the city alone that evening with $12,000 in cash when he propositioned the woman.

According to the New York Post, the 36 year-old artist offered the female police officer $40 for oral copulation. He was immediately apprehended and charged with solicitation, the sources told New York Post.

This is not the first time that D'Angelo has been in trouble with the law. Over the last five years the singer has been arrested and charged with a slew of offenses as well as admitted to drug addiction including marijuana and cocaine.

D'Angelo is currently working on a follow up studio album to Voodoo, which was released in 2000. James River, the tentative name of the forthcoming album does not have a release date and has experienced countless delays because of his prior legal woes. No comments have been made to the public at this time by his management.

UPDATE: D'Angelo's management, Lindsay Guion released a statement to the public regarding this weekend's arrest. Guion alleges that reports are merely speculation as to what happened. "We would like his fans and the public at large to know that D’Angelo has pled not guilty—and is contesting the allegations made against him. Also know that, he is in good health and extremely excited about his forthcoming new album," Guion wrote.

From that album, DX had premiered "1000 Deaths" last month.

Snoop Dogg has chosen to team up with mobile entertainment company Myxer for a promotional partnership for the upcoming release of his CD/DVD combo, More Malice - follow-up to his album, Malice N Wonderland.

Snoop will use Myxer's MobileStage to deliver exclusive and behind-the-scenes mobile entertainment video directly to fans, including a mini movie, "Malice N Wonderland."

More Malice, set for a March 23, 2010 release date on Capitol/EMI, will feature five songs that appeared on Malice N Wonderland, in addition to five new songs and two remixes. Featured on the More Malice are Jay Z, Kid Cudi, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, Bun B and more. The mini movie will feature cameos from Jamie Foxx, Xzibit and Nipsey Hussle.

Fans can visit a More Malice MobileStage content channel on m.myxer.com/malice, which features the making of the "Malice N Wonderland" mini movie, ringtowns and wallpapers. Snoop Dogg fans will also have a chance to fly to Los Angeles and meet Snoop based on hidden word clues after videos are downloaded.

“It is becoming clearer by the day, that artists’ fans want to use their mobile phone as the connection vehicle to their favorite artists. We recently launched MobileStage as a free, customizable mobile web site for artists and the response has been great.  We are very pleased that such a leading music icon as Snoop Dogg has selected Myxer as the centerpiece for the launch of More Malice,” said Myk Willis, CEO of Myxer.

“These days its all about the artist interacting with the fans directly,” said Snoop Dogg, speaking on the deal. “I know what my fans want and now with Myxer I can give them what they want and need by delivering  the best content straight into their hands, giving them exclusive content, and what they can expect to see on my upcoming More Malice album.”

In an interview with Complex.com, Cyhi Da Prince spoke on several topics, including how he met Akon.

"I knew Akon through the streets. People don’t know Akon is a real street dude," explained Cyhi, who was once signed to Sho Nuff/Def Jam as a member of the group Hoodlum through Noonie and Jazze Pha. "People just think he just sings. He was really a convict. He was really rolling with some street dudes. I knew him through a few street dudes, myself. I just met him. Then I was cool with his little brother, Bu. Me and Lil Zane stayed in the same neighborhood. Bu used to be the hype man for Lil Zane. My partner named Botchey formally introduced us again and I said, I got some music you might want to check out."

Cyhi was subsequently signed to Konvict Muzik, Akon's label, but things didn't take off immediately from there. "I was signed to Konvict for about a year. It was cool. But then they seen I wasn’t making the average music that an Atlanta rapper would make. That was kind of a pause, a stand still. He’s not what we thought he was. When they seen I was way more soulful and way more intelligent than they thought I was—it kind of threw them off. They didn’t really know how to market me. That’s when I met Greg Street. Greg was like, 'When I first met Jay-Z, no one got Jay-Z. When I first met Kanye, no one understood Kanye. Even with T.I., when I was trying to get people to understand T.I., no one ever understood us. You’re getting the same response, so keep it up.' [Laughs.] That was the first time I had someone explain it to me like that."

Cyhi also spoke about his fortune in having Kanye post his mixtape up on his blog. "I still ain’t even talked to the dude," said the Atlanta rapper of 'Ye, laughing. "That was such a blessing. I just want to give him a hug, say thank you or something. I’m still speechless about that one."

"Somebody on Twitter hit me. 'Yo, Kanye just posted your joint.' I didn’t even know he had a blog."

Lil Wayne was sentenced today (March 8th) after two delayed events. The Cash Money/Young Money platinum super-star had avoided sentencing last month for a dental emergency, followed by a Manhattan courthouse fire last week. AllHipHop.com has reported that Wayne is arriving at New York's Riker's Island this afternoon.

Wayne is expected to serve eight months from a .40 caliber gun and marijuana possession conviction stemming from a tour base search in 2007 while the rapper was on tour in Manhattan. The rapper was taken in handcuffs from court room to the prison where Styles P, Foxy Brown and Shyne have all served time

Many speculate that Wayne will remain in protective custody while in the prison, though officials have yet to confirm. While he is incarcerated, Mack Maine is expected to have a controlling hand at Young Money Records. The label will release Drake's Thank Me Later during that period.

This past weekend, a video to Wayne's Eminem-assisted Rebirth track "Drop The World" released.