Nas Album Release + 18 Years Since Illmatic * Jay-Z 16years Since Illmatic

Nas’ 10 th studio album Life Is Good is in stores today after his release party last night at Bagatelle in New York City. Fellow Hip-Hop artists in attendance celebrating Nas’ new album were Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz, Busta Rhymes, Jermaine Dupri, and music was provided by Q-Tip. Here a shot of Jay-Z and Nas celebrating during the release party. The above picture is great not only considering Nas and Jay’s past combustible history, but also for the fact they’ve entered uncharted territory for Hip-Hop as two emcees two decades deep that have maintained relevance and high skill levels. As they continue releasing albums, especially of the quality Nas just dropped, it’s becoming highly difficult to rank any of their peers or predecessors above them. Just consider for a second that Illmatic came out 18 years ago and Reasonable Doubt 16 years ago. Then reflect on how many trends and rappers have come and gone since then. The majority of our greatest emcees and groups are pretty much done as far as being at a high level by their third or fourth project. It’s been an amazing run for both and hopefully a signal that future older emcees will let their music mature with their age and life experiences.

By Devere Moore

Mariah Carey Checks Jermaine Dupri?

Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri have a long-standing working relationship. The two have collaborated as far back as the mid-90s and their careers together reached their peak back in 2005, when JD spearheaded Carey's comeback with the stellar album The Emancipation of Mimi.

But that doesn't mean Carey can't playfully poke fun at her hitmaking friend.

MC took some playful jabs at Dupri after he 'kept her waiting' in the sudio.

"Where is JD? Because I know he had to go to Vegas and blah-blah-blah...must be nice," Carey 'complained' jokingly, before chastising Dupri.

"First of all, time out...here's my issue--don't talk over me." she 'snapped.' "Why do you feel the need to be on Global 14 constantly? Technology in the room when we're writing is not always 100% beneficial for productivity. Because it distracts people."

Bow Wow Facing Tax Issues

Rapper Bow Wow owes a significant amount of money in back taxes. TMZ has reported that a tax lien has been filed in Florida against the rapper, stating that he owes the government $91,105.61 in taxes from 2006.

The Young Money rapper joins an ever-growing list of hip hop stars facing tax troubles.

Nas, Lil Wayne, Jermaine Dupri and several others have run afoul of the IRS in recent years. No statement has been issued from Bow Wow's camp regarding the story.

Monica Hiding Pregnancy?

Is R&B singer Monica pregnant?

The rumor mill is buzzing with suggestions that the former Miss Thang-turned-current-Mrs.-Shannon-Brown may have a bun in the oven. She kept her stomach covered as she celebrated her 31st birthday this weekend in Atlanta with family and friends.

She was also spotted out enjoying the Scream Tour with her sons; alongside Jermaine Dupri and his daughter, and T.I.'s wife Tiny.

Jeezy Dating Chris Brown's Ex?

Young Jeezy celebrated his birthday with a party and dinner in Atlanta and DJ Frank Ski's restaurant. While there were numerous A-listers at the event--Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Ne-Yo and others all made an appearance--there was one slightly-less well-known person in attendance that got people's attention.

Jeezy reportedly showed up with a new girl, model Jasmine Sanders.

Sanders dated Chris Brown for most of last year. The relationship came to an end due to rumors of Sanders getting cozy with Rob Kardashian. Now, apparently, she's been scooped by the Snowman.

There's a word for that...but I can't quite remember what it is...

First Wiz Khalifa scooped up Kanye’s ex-girl…now Young Jeezy is running around with one of Breezy’s exes.

Jermaine Dupri's New Show Premieres

Jermaine Dupri joins singers Taio Cruz, Leona Lewis, Donna Summer, Natasha Bedingfield and others as judges on the reality competition "Platinum Hit." The show features a rotating panel of judges and appears on the Bravo network. The competition focuses on songwriting.

The show premiered last night, (May 30), and it also features 12 unknown songwriters competing for a deal with Sony’s Jive/RCA imprint. The contestants take on songwriting assignments each week and complete the song in groups.

“Collaborations are essential to the show," said Jewel, also one of the judges/hosts. "It's a battle of ideas to a complete song. The awkward moments that [arise during the collaborative process] are essential to making it watchable."

Bin Laden Dead: Hip Hop Reacts

The world was stunned by the news late Sunday (May 1) night that al-Qaeda figurehead Osama Bin Laden had been killed. President Barack Obama addressed the announcement. "Tonight I can report to the American people and the world the United States has conducted an operation that has killed Osama Bin Laden," President Obama said. "Today, at my direction, the U.S. launched a targeted operation against that compound. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed."

Various hip hop artists reacted via Twitter, with responses that ranged from skepticism to fear to ambivalence.

"Osama dead!?!" Lupe Fiasco tweeted. "Afghan operation done now!?? Now kill wack schools and US imperialism."

"I'm in Korea right now watching CNN and I just heard Osama Bin Laden is dead," will.I.am tweeted. "USA is at it again, number one in the rankings of killing championships. Stealing the gold in the murder Olympics and the crowd goes wild!" added Chuck D.

"They are saying Bin Laden is dead, I need to see the body," Jermaine Dupri tweeted.

"Don't nobody care about no Bin Laden death," tweeted Royce da 5'9.

"So I just landed and heard this Bin Laden news," Just Blaze tweeted. "That's cool and all but I feel like this is only gonna rile them al-Qaeda boys up crazy…Like 'Oh you just killed the boss? OK check this out. We's blown up evvvvverything! Hide ya kids hide ya wife!"

Prodigy Almost Fought Jay-Z?

Mobb Deep's Prodigy recently revealed that he and hip hop superstar Jay-Z were almost involved in a physical altercation back when the two were beefing in the early 2000s. P says that he ran into Jay outside Diddy's Justin's restaurant in New York City and things could have very easily gotten ugly.

“We surrounded the front door so he couldn’t get out without seeing us. So I’m standing there waiting to see him and finally he comes from back somewhere,” said Prodigy. “Him and Jermaine Dupri come walking. Jermaine sees us and he was out. Jay’s standing there with two bodyguards approaching us…He puts his hand out, like this, and comes walking up to me like this to shake my hand. So I’m looking at him like I could just really treat him like a rag dog right now like for real. So I shook his hand, ‘What’s up man?’ He was like ‘Yo listen, it ain’t no beef. It’s just music. Let’s keep it just music. There’s no problems son. I just wish you would have came and told me how you felt to my face instead of putting it in a magazine.’ And I’m like ‘Alright cool, there ain’t no beef. We can keep it just music.’"

"And I had thought about it real quick," P continued. "Cause I’m thinking about how I could just really overpower him right now with the security and all that.”