NME — The rap star leaves label where he once served as president more info

Associated Press — NEW YORK (AP) -- There will be no encore for Jay-Z and Def Jam.... more info

VH1 News — Jay-Z has left Def Jam. The MC is happy to be "a completely independent artist" after buying out his contract. more info

MSN Music — Jay-Z tells RapRadar.com he's free from Def Jam, thanks label for support. more info

PopSugar — Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z grabbed lunch at a restaurant in Barcelona yesterday prior to her show there last night. Her European tour has brought her from France to Germany and now Spain, and it looks like Jay-Z left his partying behind in the US to j... more info

MTV.com News — Jay is happy to be 'a completely independent artist' after buying out his contract.By Shaheem Reid Jay-Z Photo: Roc-A-Fella Now maybe we can get that Blueprint 3 album. Jay-Z has officially parted ways with his home for more than a decad... more info

Persona Sauna — In response to the picture above, Kanye posted the following remarks on his blog:"FRESH ASS PICTURE!!! YO WHY CAN'T ALL PAPARAZZI PHOTOS BE THIS GOOD? WELL OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE MOST CELEBS JUST AREN'T RIHANNA LOL! ... BUT ON THE REAL, THIS PIC IS HARDC... more info

MTV.com News — 'I don't buy into all that WWF nonsense,' rapper says of Pratt's attempt to start a feud.By Jocelyn Vena, additional reporting by Matt Elias Last week, Spencer Pratt released a rap song, compared himself to likes of Jay-Z and Biggie and really up... more info

TMZ — Filed under: Hot Vegas Diddy wasn't lying when he Tweeted he was "at the pool party at MGM grand in Vegas!!!! Ass everywhere!!!!" -- may we present Exhibit A. See Also Jay-Z & Diddy -- Someone's Trying Too Hard Diddy Got No Hair Down There ...... more info

Guardian Music — Jimmy McNulty has a cameo on Eminem's new album, and Stringer Bell has his own band. What might the rest of the cops and robbers on The Wire have by way of musical careers?Seeing as how half the cast of The Wire have been reduced to taking roles such... more info