Lupe Fiasco "Food & Liquor 2: Great American Rap Album Pt. 1" Release Date

by STEVEN J. HOROWITZ

UPDATE: Lupe Fiasco eyes a fall release for his upcoming album.

Lupe Fiasco has revealed that he has completed recording his new album Food & Liquor 2: Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 and is previewing the project for his label Atlantic Records in New York City, New York.

Announcing the news on Twitter, Lu revealed that the LP is "in NYC" and that he's having the "1st Label Listening Session" for the follow up to Lasers.

For the release of Lasers, the Chicago, Illinois rapper's LP was delayed on account of the imprint. With Food & Liquor 2, Lu said that the only thing that could keep it from releasing would be whether or not it's a double-disc project.

"Food & Liquor 2 is done. Release date? I dunno. Let's just say...July," he said during a recent performance. "The only thing that's holding Food & Liquor 2 up...is whether or not it's gonna be a double CD or not."

@LupeFiasco
Lupe FiascoFood&Liquor2:GreatAmericanRapAlbumPt.1 is in NYC...1st Label Listening Session....
Apr 09 via web Favorite Retweet Reply

[April 9]

Drake Gets Punk'd By Ashton Kutcher

by STEVEN J. HOROWITZ

Drake is the latest to get tricked on MTV's "Punk'd."

Drake is the latest to get pranked on MTV's "Punk'd."

For the episode, creator Ashton Kutcher revived his career as master of ceremonies. He set up an elaborate situation where the Young Money rapper was escorted to a meeting by Secret Service men who drove him into a parking garage. While in the garage, the car got caught in an earthquake and aftershocks, leaving Drizzy shook.

But the conflict reached new heights when a pregnant woman and her husband approached the car. The man grabbed a taser and accidentally zapped his wife in the stomach. Shortly after, Kutcher appeared to reveal the prank.

Watch the full episode below.

Lauryn Hill Weighs In On Nicki Minaj Dropping Out Of Hot 97's Summer Jam

by STEVEN J. HOROWITZ

Lauryn Hill speaks on Nicki Minaj pulling out of Summer Jam at the last minute.

The day after Hot 97's Summer Jam 2012, Lauryn Hill has weighed in on Nicki Minaj's decision to drop out of the lineup at the last minute.

Dismissing rumors that she was scheduled to perform with Nicki as a surprise guest, Ms. Hill, who hit the stage with Nas during the festival, said that the rapstress was entitled to make that decision and commended her for sticking to her artistic integrity.

She did say that she hopes that artists can learn to prosper without having to "commercially exploit music." Read the full message below that she posted to Twitter.

No disrespect to Nicki, but I need to clear up an inaccuracy. I was not scheduled to be a special guest on her set at Summer Jam, I was invited by Nas to perform with him. I don't have details on exactly what transpired between the station and the artists, but I do support artists standing by their beliefs, and walking with integrity. We have to find a better way to commercially exploit music, while giving artists their proper respect. This cannot be done while taking their contributions for granted, or trying to control the scope of their growth and power through threats and fear tactics. We can do better than this, there is a better way, or else 'we' (the proverbial we) find ourselves in danger of being hypocrites!!!

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Drake Brings Out Chief Keef In Chicago, Illinois

by STEVEN J. HOROWITZ

Drake and Waka Flocka Flame brought out Chief Keef to perform his hit "I Don't Like."

During his performance in Chicago, Illinois, Drake brought out hometown artist Chief Keef as a surprise guest.

Drizzy, who is currently on his "Club Paradise" tour, was on stage with Waka Flocka Flame when he called on Keef to join them on stage. The young rapper performed his hit "I Don't Like" for a crowd of 22,000 people at the  First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre.

Keef is currently fielding offers from several labels, including Cash Money Records, CTE and Atlantic Records. He is yet to ink a deal with any of the interested parties.

Check out footage from last night's performance below (via FSD).

Nicki Minaj Pulls Out Of Hot 97's Summer Jam 2012

by STEVEN J. HOROWITZ

Though reasons aren't entirely clear, Nicki Minaj pulled out of Hot 97's Summer Jam 2012 at the last minute.

Though she was in the building and set to perform, Nicki Minaj pulled out of Hot 97's Summer Jam at the last minute.

Reasons aren't entirely clear for why she decided not to hit the stage, but radio personality Peter Rosenberg reportedly slandered her song "Starships" earlier in the day, causing Lil Wayne to make an executive decision to pull her from the lineup.

"Young Money ain’t doing summer jam," he tweeted.

The Harajuku Barbie shortly followed with her own tweets confirming that she would not be gracing the stage. "Wow. U niggaz just fucked up history. But the President has spoken,” she wrote. “I go above and beyond for my fans. But won’t ever go against wayne’s word. What he says, goes.”

Young Money ain't doing summer jam.

— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) June 3, 2012

Wow. U niggaz just fucked up history. But the President has spoken. #YMCMB

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) June 3, 2012

I go above and beyond for my fans. But won't ever go against wayne's word. What he says, goes.

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) June 3, 2012

RT @KaitlynMorris: Lawd it's not about WHAT he said, u don't invite some1 to perform, use their name to sell then publicly disrespect.

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) June 3, 2012

I'd like to thank the staff @ philly & boston summer jams for treating their guests w/respect! Had a blast.

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) June 3, 2012

Reason Why Lil Wayne Pulls Young Money Out Of #HOT97SummerJam!

Earlier fans found out that Nicki Minaj would not be performing at Summer Jam today!  She then took it to twitter to let her fans know that Tunechi made the decision to keep her off the stage and she had to listen to the leaders orders.  Hit the jump to find out why Lil Wayne kept his crew of the #HOT97SummerJam stage!

Steph Bassanini

Word is that while introducing Kendrick Lamar during the pre-show, Hot 97 DJ Peter Rosenberg commented something along the lines of (not an exact quote): “We about that real hip-hop, not ‘Starships.’”

Supposedly because of this comment Lil Wayne heard, he decided to pull everyone out of the line up.