''I Think I Took A Good Break''
9:00PM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Rayna Dean
A Rocky Williform Company

In the early 2000s, R&B singer Tweet was one of the more promising artists in urban music. Her debut album, Southern Hummingbird, was critically-acclaimed and a commercial success, but following 2005's disappointing follow-up (It's Me Again), she all but disappeared. Tweet is currently prepping her return to music, and spoke to Necole Bitchie about why she stayed away for so long and how good she feels about her new material.

"The songs are already done," she revealed. "Now we’re just putting on the final touches and it’ll be here in September. It’s called Simply Tweet and it’s just me. I’m branching out of my own. I’m not under the wings of anybody else. It’s a new space in my life. It’s just different…different love, different situation…very different than the place I was in when I recorded Southern Hummingbird. The single is called ‘Enough’, and it’s for my ladies…and that’s all I can tell you about that."

"The last album was It’s Me Again, in 2005 and I think I took a good break," she says. "I didn’t get the support that I thought I deserved on that last album. I was feeling overwhelmed and decided to get my life together, get my relationship with God back on track, start spending more time with daughter."

"I’m happier now. I know who I am as a woman and an artist," she continued. "Now I want to let women know that they can do it too. They can find that happiness, they don’t have to stay in unhappy situations."

"I was definitely unhappy with the record company," says Tweet. "When I first turned in the last album it was all me. But being that Elektra turned into Atlantic, it was all new people and they didn’t know who I was. They made me take off ½ of my songs to make room for more Hip Hop. I can’t blame anybody because I didn’t stand up for myself. So even when I look back on that period, I blame me."

T.I. Calls Aussie Rapper ''A Free Agent''
9:00PM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

Iggy Azalea's announcement earlier in the year that she had signed with Interscope Records may have been a little premature. Grand Hustle head T.I. revealed in a recent interview that Iggy is still unsigned.

"Iggy is a free agent," Tip told Bu Thiam, VP of A&R at Def Jam, during an appearance on "MTV's Hip Hop POV."

The news came as a bit of a surprise, since the blonde Australian tweeted back in January that she and Jimmy Iovine had agreed on a deal. It is being reported now that the deal was never finalized. She is still affiliated with Tip's Grand Hustle imprint and is reportedly talking with several labels--including Def Jam.

Rapper Appears On Track With Cancer-Stricken Teen
4:30PM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

Rapper Mac Miller has recorded with a local Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania fan who is suffering from T-cell lymphoma.18-year old Bobby Stewart met mac in December after the rapper donated $50,000 to the Make A Wish Foundation. The two collaborated on a new track at ID Labs.

"To be with Mac is a blessing. He’s lyrically amazing,” said Stewart. “Hip hop is my passion. So to be able to be with Mac Miller, who’s a Pittsburgh legend... Wiz Khalifa shoutout."

"Feeling like your music really does something for the world makes it all worth it, no matter what," added Mac. "From now on, no matter what happens for the rest of my life, no one can take that away from me."

''I Just Gotta Do Me''
4:30PM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

DMX has endured several false starts over the last few years as he's attempted to restart his once white-hot rap career, but the emcee says that he's more focused on music than he's ever been. Professionalism, says X, is the name of the game right now.

"It's a good thing. I wish it was always like that but you can't really worry about what people think, what they say. I just gotta do me," said X. "The focus is on taking the music seriously, as a job, and less trouble."

"Everywhere I go people are like, 'When's the album droppin? When's the album droppin'?'" X says. "So I was just like, lemme hit 'em with something, let them know, give them a little appetizer of what it's gonna be like. Not the same songs, because I'm sitting on like three albums right now, but ya know, just what it's gonna be like."

''They Only Sell Sh*t That Make You Look Stupid''
1:30PM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

Waka Flocka Flame isn't interested in participating in any reality shows. The Atlanta rapper criticized reality TV and entertainment blogs for putting forth what he feels is 'embarrassing' material.

"I don't be reading no blogs, Mediatakeout.com, none of that. I saw some lame sh*t on there and I ain't never went back. But I can't lie some of that sh*t be convincing--the way they put it together. I even hate reality TV. To me reality TV is like embarrassing," Flocka said in an interview. "They only sell sh*t that make you look stupid. They tried to give me and Gucci [Mane] a reality show. I just couldn't do it. Get the f*ck out of here."[Laughs] I just be making my records. And really, I don't really do a lot of guest verses for people like that. I turn down mad sh*t. Sometimes it ain't even about the bread. If I do a feature now, it's probably somebody you haven't even heard of."

Shakur Family Says Rapper Was Not A Homophobe
1:30PM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Rayna Dean
A Rocky Williform Company

Former Death Row Records head Suge Knight claimed in a recent interview that the late Tupac Shakur blasted his former labelmate Dr. Dre after Shakur 'discovered' that Dre was gay. The Shakur family, however, is now denying Knight's story--which paints 2Pac as a homophobe.

Knight claims this episode is what led to 2Pac and Dr. Dre's professional relationship souring, but Shakur's family says the rapper had no issue with gay people.

According to TMZ, 2Pac's family believe Knight's claims are 'totally false' and point out that 2Pac had a close friendship with Gianni Versace, who was openly gay. 2Pac also participated in a Versace fashion show in Italy in 1996.

''We're Working On It''
6:00AM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Chris G.
A Rocky Williform Company

Rapper Shyne has spent the better part of two years living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel, but the former Bad Boy rapper is expected to make his return to the United States soon. He's been in Israel finishing his parole, and now that that time is done, he's ready to come home.

"We're working on it. It's been three years, so I finished my parole," he explained. "The ban from America starts from three to 10 [years], so now it's time to start making those applications."

"And also, I do a lot of work for my country," he continued. "So I feel that's important for the administration, homeland security and state department to respect that. I'm a young kid that made a mistake and I turned my life around, I shouldn't suffer for the rest of my life. America is an important part of my life."

"It's an important way for me to help my country, and more importantly Shyne Po still ring bells on every block," Shyne says. "The kids are listening to me, man. So if anyone is going to tell them to put the guns down, or to go to Harvard and try to educate themselves and try to stay from out of prison, they're going to listen to me. So I feel once we put our presentation together and present it to the powers that be, I don't see it being a problem."

Group Taking the Stage Together At Festival
6:00AM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

With the lineup for the 2012 Rock the Bells Festival being announced, it was revealed that beloved hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will be reuniting at the popular hip hop festival. The group supposedly called it quits last year, but will take the stage despite the conflicts that led to the quintet ending its 20-year run in 2011.

The group is expected to perform their classic 1995 album E. 1999 Eternal in its entirety.

The Hit Squad (EPMD, Redman, Keith Murray K-Solo and Das EFX) will also be reuniting at the festival.

Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, Nas, J.Cole, Ice Cube, Mac Miller, The Diplomats, Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, Tyga, 2 Chainz, Missy Elliott and Timbaland are all expected to appear at Rock the Bells.

Emblem Inspired By Subway Signs
6:00AM ET May 16th, 2012
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

Hip hop mogul and Brooklyn Nets minority owner Jay-Z revealed the logo to the NBA franchise earlier this year. While the stark, black-and-white color scheme and unique design drew mixed reviews, Jay recently explained what inspired the team's new look.

The Nets wanted something that was evocative of old subway signs.

"It was really a take off the old subway signs," Jay revealed. "If you look at the old subway signs they were in black and white. It was that strong, beautiful, iconic black and white."

"I wanted to pick something that would stand the test of time and be here forever," he added.

''We're About To Do Something Real Big''
8:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

Rapper Lil B is dropping hints that he and Young Money superstar have 'something real big' planned for the future. The West Coast rhymer says that he and Drizzy could be collaborating on a project, but B wouldn't elaborate too much on what the duo have been working on.

"Yeah, we're about to do something real big," B told Fuse. "I can't speak on it too much right now, but Drake is the only artist [Lil B] wants to work with. We've talked about doing some production."

Lil B says that Drake is just as excited about their working together.

"[Drake] wants to do something and we're gonna make it happen," he added. "Something real big, so just look out for it."

''Right Now, It's Solo Time''
8:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

Outkast's Big Boi has joined his estranged rhyme partner Andre 3000 in downplaying any notion of an Outkast reunion. While the beloved hip hop duo have never 'officially' broken up, Big Boi says that fans shouldn't expect any new Outkast music in the near future.

"We're just really focused on solo projects. I'm working on mine, he's working on his, and we'll just go from there," Big Boi said. "I just like to make music. I can go either way, solo or Outkast. My whole thing is just to keep the recording process going. When it's time to do the Outkast record we'll do it, but right now it's solo time."

"I said we were working on music, not the Outkast album," Big clarified. "Sometimes he comes to the studio and be in my sessions just checking out music. People get excited when they see us in the studio together, but it was never for one specific project. Sometimes Dre's in the studio listening to my new music."

''It's Exactly What It Should Be''
4:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Chris G.
A Rocky Williform Company

Jay-Z updated fans on the progress of Roc Nation rapper Jay Electronica's debut album. The labelhead said that he supports Jay's creativity and allows the artist to operate on his own time--but he also acknowledged that Electronica is prepping some great music.

"I love that, I want to support that sort of energy. I want people to be creative and not traditional, not just a single [at] this time, this time [and] this time," Jay-Z told MTV News. "You know, he operates at his own time, but the album is really close."

"It's exactly what it should be — it's amazing. Him as a lyricist is almost scary. He's scary good," Jay-Z added. "I'm doing something to it that's really untraditional, so we'll see how it works."

''You Just Have To Be A Skilled Emcee''
4:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

BET's "106 & Park" will be launching a new freestyle segment, adding to the already-popular show's cache. Dubbed "The BackRoom," the segment will feature rappers rhyming over exclusively-produced beats.

“The BackRoom is the place where freestyle will reign,” said Stephen Hill, president of music programming and specials, BET Networks. “Truth is, we’ve missed having a place like ‘Rap City’s’ ‘The Booth’ and now we’ve got it. In The Backroom, it doesn’t matter if you’re famous or not. You just have to be a skilled emcee.”

It is being reported that rapper 2 Chainz will be the first to participate in the new segment.

Rapper Touring For the Rest of May
1:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

Rapper Rakim has announced that he will be hitting the road for a May Canadian tour, that kicks off on the 17th in Montreal, QC. The tour continues through May 27th when it wraps up it in Vancouver, BC.

There will also be stops in Ottawa, Saskatoon and Nelson.

Rakim is also slated to appear at New York's Joe's Pub on June 13th, where he will take the stage for the Reebok Classics series.

''He Is Not That Kingpin...''
1:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond's trial began this week, with his attorney, Gerald L. Shargel, giving his opening statement and defending his client's reputation and lambasting the prosecution. Shargel referred to Rosemond as "a perfect scapegoat for accusation."

"James Rosemond never touched a kilo of cocaine," Mr. Shargel said. "He is not that kingpin that the government says he was."

Carlos Giraldo, a special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, testified that he used UPS shipping labels in August 2009 to track down several kilograms of cocaine believed to be connected to Rosemond's alleged involvement in a cocaine-distribution organization.

A prosecutor, Soumya Dayananda, showed the jury the cocaine that was seized.

''It's Discrimination, Plain and Simple''
6:00AM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

Rapper Jay-Z revealed his support of same-sex marriage in an interview with CNN. Coming on the heels of President Barack Obama becoming the first sitting U.S. President to voice his support for marriage equality, Jay said that he believes its 'the right thing' for America.

[Watch Jay-Z Discuss Gay Marriage HERE]

“I’ve always thought it as something that was still, um, holding the country back,” Jay-Z told CNN's Poppy Harlow. “What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business.” [It] is no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination, plain and simple.”

“No different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple,” he added. “It’s really not about votes, it’s about people.”

''Ma Dukes'' Yancey Announces Ruff Draft Records
6:00AM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, the mother of the late J Dilla, is launching a new label to promote Dilla and other artists' music. Ruff Draft Records will focus on releasing unreleased Dilla recordings and various other projects.

The news comes as Dilla's second posthumous album, Rebirth of Detroit, is due to be released on June 12th.

“We want to make it more feasible to interact with these children, we don’t know how many J Dilla’s we have out there,” Ma Dukes said. “Somebody has to find them...I’m not down for the count. I’m a Hip Hop head and I love it.”

Starlet Signs WIth Kanye's Label
6:00AM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

Teyana Taylor has officially joined Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music roster. The singer/rapper inked a deal with the imprint, joining acts like Big Sean, Q-Tip and Pusha T on the eclectic hip hop imprint.

The 21-year old had previously been signed to Pharrell Williams' Star Trek imprint.

There are no official details on her upcoming debut album as of yet. Taylor's most recent release was the "Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor" mixtape.

''I Can't Be All Public Enemy''
7:00PM ET May 14th, 2012
Contributor : Martin James
A Rocky Williform Company

In a recent interview, Atlanta hip hop star Killer Mike discussed his image as a political rapper. While acknowledging that he is politically-minded, Mike also made it clear that it's wrong to push artists into a box.

"If I go all the way politicized, I become a zealot who's not allowed to have fun with the people and the community that raised me," he says. "But if I go the other way, I become an ignoramus who isn't properly qualified to speak on my community's behalf."

"Me and my girl go to the kids' school on Friday, then we go to the strip club Saturday night, and then we wake up and go to church Sunday morning, and we're back to business on Monday," he explained. "That's my real life. At the end of the day, I'm a big black country motherf**ker! All of that's gonna come with me."

"I can't be all Public Enemy and not embrace my 2 Live Crew," he said. "You'll always see me at a political rally and the black strip club; I'm gonna represent smoking weed and I'm gonna represent supporting Trayvon Martin on my record, because I'm a whole man."

''They Wouldn't F**k With Him''
7:00PM ET May 14th, 2012
Contributor : Chris G.
A Rocky Williform Company

Scarface took some heat earlier this year after discussing fellow hip hop star T.I. and his past dealings with Def Jam, but that doesn't mean the Houston rap godfather is done with the subject. In a recent interview, 'Face again addressed Def Jam's hesitance in dealing with Tip.

"In all honesty I just believe that we could've made the impact back then. We could've made the impact back then. Def Jam [Records] wouldn't f**k with T.I. no more because Polygram had him first. I tried my f**king damndest to get him at Def Jam. They wouldn't f**k with him because he was signed to Polygram before. All the sh*t that's poppin' now could've been poppin' back then. We could've been moved on to something different," Face said in an interview. "They could've been established and big. They're established and big now, but that could've happened 10 years ago. They didn't have to f**king wait ten years. They could've had it back then. I know what it's supposed to sound like."