Big Sean, Curren$y Join Rock the Bells

Several performers have been added to this year’s Rock the Bells lineup, as was announced at the Press Conference and Fan Appreciation Party in New York City. Big Sean, M.O.P., Curren$y, Action Bronson and Sean Price have all been added to the already-packed festival lineup.

Nas, DMX, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, Jadakiss, J. Cole and several other hip hop superstars--more than thirty artists overall--will take the stage at what has become the most anticipated hip hop festival of the year.

Rock the Bells will take place in San Bernardino and Mountain View in California August 18th and 19th, and Holmdel, NJ during Labor Day weekend.

DMX, Eve Join "Rock the Bells" Roster

Veteran hip hop stars and former Ruff Ryders DMX, Jadakiss and Eve have been announced as joining the lineup for the 2012 Rock the Bells festival. Rappers Pusha T and Future have also been added to the lineup.

2 Chainz, J. Cole, Common, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and Styles P are all among the artists featured.

The shows will be at San Bernardino, California's NOS Events Center (August 18-19), Mountain View, California's Shoreline Amphitheatre (August 25-26) and Holmdel, New Jersey's PNC Arts Center (September 1-2).

DMX Album To Feature Biggie Verse

DMX's comeback will be official on June 26th, which has been announced as the anticipated release date for the rapper'sUndisputed album. The project marks DMX's return to studio recording after an almost decade-long hiatus due to prison and drug abuse issues.

Nonetheless, X's publicist says the album will not disappoint.

“X is very excited to release this project,” DMX’s publicist, Domenick Nati told AllHipHop. “This album has a lot of hits on it, and his fans will see that it’s been worth the wait. Undisputed will prove to the world that DMX is back!”

The album's next single will also reportedly include an appearance from deceased rap legend, Notorious B.I.G.

DMX's Team Clarifies Reports

DMX has been forced to cancel his planned tour of Germany due to passport issues. Despite reports that the cancellation had resulted in bad blood between X's camp and the German tour promoters, the rapper’s spokespoeple made it clear that both parties are working to resolve the issue.

X is still, however, facing a lawsuit from another, unrelated botched tour.

“The promoters for the”DMX Undisputed Comeback Tour 2012″ are in good standing with DMX’s management, and they are helping us in the process of clearing DMX’s passport,” Domenick Nati, publicist for DMX told AllHipHop.

“I would like to make clear that DMX’s management team is facing legal issues only with Heavy Rotation Booking. HR Booking is a previous promoter who DMX and his management have terminated their agreement with,” Nati continued. “The ‘DMX Undisputed Comeback Tour 2012′ is a completely separate tour than the one with HR Booking.”

DMX's Wife On His 'Rape' Claim:

DMX's estranged wife, Tashera Simmons, spoke at-length about her troubled relationship with the hip hop superstar during an interview with Power 105's Cherry Martinez. Tashera talked about X's infidelities and the incident where he actually claimed a woman who was pregnant with his child raped him.

"We’ve been separated for six years, very separated," Tashera says. "When I first found out [about his infidelities], which was very public, was the woman from Baltimore. She came to his court date. She acted like she was just a fan trying to get something going. Come to find out she was trying to see if he recognized her because she had a one night stand with him and she had a baby by him. So when he didn’t notice her, and he gave her my number to get in touch with him, she went to the press. He told me, ‘I don’t know how you’re going to take this but..’ and he told me this girl says she has a baby by him. I was just devastated and couldn’t believe it. I was in shock but I said, ‘Is it true?' He said, 'Tashera there’s no way, no way possible.’ I said, 'I would really like to hear from you is this possible.' He told me 'no.'

"When the test came back it was positive and he still said there’s no way and she must have raped him. It was all in the papers and it was a big thing. He said he got raped," she added.

"I think that’s what it was and I could definitely say I saw his hurt and you could tell he really, really hurt me and he messed up," she continued. "He didn’t know if it would ever be the same. To be honest with you after that I didn’t feel the same."

"When he said he got raped I was like, 'There’s no way somebody raped you.' So I knew there were no limits to what he would tell me after he said he got raped."

DMX Announces German Tour

Rapperr DMX has announced that he will be hitting the road for a series of dates in Germany and Switzerland. X is kicking off the “DMX Undisputed Comeback Tour 2012” from March 29th thru April 8th, performing eight dates throughout Germany.

DMX will also make a stop in Switzerland.

DMX Undisputed Comeback Tour 2012 dates:
Mar 29 Essigfabrik Cologne, Germany
Mar 31 Universal D.O.G Lahr, Germany
Apr 03 Uebel & Gefährlich Hamburg, Germany
Apr 04 Union Halle Frankfurt Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
Apr 05 Eventstage Zizers, Switzerland
Apr 06 Index Schuttorf, Germany
Apr 07 Proton Stuttgart, Germany
Apr 08 C-Halle Berlin, Germany

DMX Is A J. Cole Fan?

Despite his distaste for current hip hop superstars like Drake and Rick Ross, rap veteran DMX revealed in a recent interview that there's at least one member of rap's new generation that he listens to and appreciates. Dark Man X is a J. Cole fan.

"I tell you when it was [when I was ready to co-sign him.] I don't listen to the radio, I listened to the radio one time in the car, I'm driving, and I heard a [J. Cole] song and I was like, 'Wow -- d*mn, he's saying something,'" DMX said.

"I appreciate his lyrical content and then I found out who it was. So that's why [I co-sign him.]"

DMX's Dream Collaborators Are...?

Rapper DMX is no stranger to collaboration. As the Dark Man X continues his musical comeback, he spoke up in a recent interview about which female vocalists he would like to record with in the future. X told XXL that there are two British singers from two different generations that he wouldn't mind getting next to in the studio.

"Sade and Adele," X said. And he gave a very honest response when asked about Adele, in particular.

"I love chubby girls," he said. "I love her."

Doesn't everybody love her right now?

DMX Unhappy With Label

Rapper DMX's first studio album in six years may not hit stores on March 27th, as was previously expected. X revealed that he is currently in a tug-of-war with his current label, United Music & Media, and needless to say--he is not happy about his current situation.

"I don't see it being March 27," he says. "The fact that [the label] chose to tell me that makes me reconsider whether or not I made the right decision to f*ck with them. It's only one album, though. It'll be what it is. But I think [it will come out] second quarter, definitely."

"It's like, what the f*ck, man?" says DMX. "Do what you say you're gonna do -- do me like you would do any other artist. Like, d*mn, stick to the f*ckin' script, you know? Mean what you say. You don't gotta lie to me."

DMX Dismisses Fake Show Date

DMX dismissed the claims of several fake promoters and let his fans know that he will not be performing at a scheduled show in Sacramento, California. Last night DMX let fans know that he is not scheduled to perform in Sacramento, California despite several fake promoters’ claims. “SOME S**T IN THIS INDUSTRY NEVER CHANGES ….. I WAS NOT BOOKED FOR A SHOW IN SACRAMENTO ON FEB 18TH !!!” the rapper tweeted. “THEY JUST PUT UP A FACEBOOK PAGE OR WHATEVA YOU CALL IT FOR ME ILL MAKE SURE THEY PUT THE REAL DATES UP !”

X says he will not be pressing charges, however.

Although DMX could sue in court over the matter, the recently freed veteran rapper let fans know he isn’t planning on pressing charges. “SON THE LAST PLACE I WANT TO BE IS A COURTROOM,” X tweeted.

DMX Plays Wheelchair Basketball

Rapper DMX shared some holiday spirit with some troops in San Antonio, Texas. X has been going out of his way to connect with fans since returning to his career earlier this year, and he visited the troops after a local fan in San Antonio asked him if he would.

DMX appeared at Fort Sam Houston unexpectedly and played wheelchair basketball with some handicapped soldiers.[video here]

Last month, the rapper mopped the floor for a fan in South Carolina, after the star stopped at a Waffle House and one of the workers expressed his appreciation for X's music.

Machine Gun Kelly On Meeting DMX

Young rapper Machine Gun Kelly shared his experience working in the studio with veteran rapper DMX. X made a strong impression on MGK, who discussed their time together in a recent interview.

"Yeah, DMX is the realest person I've ever met in my life. He's exactly what he says he is," MGK said about meeting DMX. "Yeah, he actually came in when I was on top of a table rapping one of his songs, so it was like an awkwardly good moment. [What does Drake mean to hip-hop?] It's f*king cool. It's tight. You know, I learned from that. I learn from him when he speaks how he does, when he acts how he does towards other artists. It definitely makes me mature as a young artist, it makes me be like, 'Okay, maybe shunning people is not the route.' Not that I do that, per se, but I definitely do have a lot of competitiveness in my blood, where I'll be like, 'Sh*t, muthaf*cker, I want that number one spot.' But when you see Drake who has the number one spot so willingly give it all, it's cool."

DMX is committed to turning his life around the troubled rapper says that he wants to be an example for others. The rapper discussed his current outlook in a recent interview.

“There were times where it appeared I had nothing to hold onto. Nothing to help me get through that. I’m a man of faith, and it’s good to know there are others out there like me,” he said. “Be grateful for the fact that you can see clearly. I appreciate the continued support, and I’m sure you have noticed, but I will never let you down in terms of the message and the delivery of the message. It’ll always be honest, it’ll always be to the point and it’ll always be uncompromised.”

He also discussed his taking part in Dr. Drew’s “Lifechangers."

“I was on there because hopefully, I was able to change somebody’s life and be a positive influence," he shared. "Because there are so many negative things said. People don’t know the real me. Those are types of things that I not only enjoy doing, but I do them on the regular. I don’t do it for the fame, I don’t do it for the publicity. I do it because it needs to be done. So it’s great to have that side of me shown.” .

DMX Reuniting With His Wife?

DMX and his estranged wife, Tashera Simmons, could be rekindling their relationship. The troubled rapper has been slowly-but-steadily working to repair his life after several years of substance abuse and run-ins with the law, and the couple will be appearing on the show "Relationship Rehab" in December.

Tashera left X in July 2010 due to his drug use and excessive cheating, though a formal divorce was never finalized.

The two were together for 20 years and have four children, and reportedly have remained cordial despite their estrangement. X fathered six children outside of his marriage to Tashera.

Good luck, you guys

DMX Mopped the Floor For A Fan?

Rapper DMX stopped at a Waffle House in Greenville, S.C. while on the road attending a Halloween party at a nearby strip club. The rapper reportedly was so moved by one of the worker's love of his music that he actually volunteered to mop the floor for the man.

X said he just wanted to show the man he appreciated him.

"I was in a good mood and felt that I would do that for him since it was 4am and [the employee] had been working all night," the rapper told TMZ. "The minute you get too big to mop a floor or wipe a counter, that's the exact minute you have life f**ked up."

DMX Is Cleaning House

It looks like DMX is taking his comeback dead serious. The rapper fired his management for what he called 'saboage' of his career. The rapper was released from prison this summer and seems to be genuinely focused on staying out of trouble this time and get his once thriving music career back on track.

"I fired my old management team the day I got out of prison," X said in a statement. "My money and career have been sabotaged for long enough. Makin' music and performing for my fans, that's what I'm doin' now. The Dog is back and I've cut these thieves out of my life."

Good luck, X.

DMX Doesn't Have Regrets?

Rapper/actor DMX has been arrested for animal cruelty, drug possession, impersonating a federal agent and probation violations. He's gone through a divorce. He's seen his career as a chart-topping rapper and blockbuster Hollywood film star deteriorate into almost nothing.

But if you think Dark Man X has regrets--you're sadly mistaken.

In a recent appearance on "106 & Park," X says he's happy with how he turned out.

"I wouldn't change one thing," he told hosts Rocsi and Terrence. "That made me the man I am today and I love the way I am."

Well, that's...good?

DMX Plans To Sue Arizona Police

Rapper DMX is disputing the details of his arrest yesterday (August 26.) X admits that he was over the speed limit, but says that he was not going 102 mph as he was charged. DMX also says that he will be suing the police over the incident.

"I'm used to driving fast, I'm a New Yorker," DMX told TMZ. "…but I constantly look at the speedometer when I'm driving ... I need to make sure I don't drive too fast."

DMX is accusing the Arizona police of harassment.

"I plan on suing and I plan on suing for harassment," DMX said. "I'm in discussions with multiple lawyers who are not afraid to go against the system in helping me clear my name because I have been harassed."

Kendrick Lamar Praises DMX

Young rapper Kendrick Lamar has been vocal about his admiration for 2Pac's life and music. It turns out Lamar is also a huge fan of troubled rapper DMX. Lamar revealed that X's early work provided a template for him as a youngster.

“Well, I started rhyming off of DMX's first album,” Lamar explained. “I’ll never forget I was in 7th grade [and] my homie Antonio just threw the CD in my hand said ‘Listen to this.’ I put that in man and I was blasting it and I started penning my own music.”

Like the classic debuts of many 80s and 90s rapper, Lamar also said that his first album will be low on features. “I really want to go dolo on it because I really want to get the full story out and make it make sense. If I do do a feature it has to make a hundred percent, the best sense,” the rapper revealed. “I don’t really wanna force nothing. Well, all of my music. Even the features I do within my camp, them features have to make sense with me. I can’t just do it just because.”

DMX On Joining Maybach Music

Despite the fact that Rick Ross allegedly made an offer to recently-released rapper DMX to join Ross' Maybach Music Group, X gave a short, sweet and decisive answer when he was asked about joining the Miami rapper's label.

"Nah, probably not," X said.

He didn't offer any further explanations, but it remains to be seen if, when and how X can restore the luster to his hip hop career. He's had a ridiculous string of legal mishaps and has been in and out of jail for several years.