NME — Giant inflatable rats are set up outside '40/40 Club' to highlight 'substandard wage' conditions more info

Guardian Music — From humble beginnings in student digs, the record label Def Jam is credited with bringing New York's street culture and music to the masses – and even helping to elect a president'Without hip-hop we wouldn't have Obama," says Russell Simmons, co-f... more info

Perez Hilton — Congratulations are in order for Lil' Wayne! Jay-Z and Kanye recently broke the iTunes store's single-week album sales record with their collaborative album, Watch the Throne, but now, the aforementioned rapper's latest, Tha Carter IV, has topped tha... more info

The Hip Hop Chronicle — Krept & Konan have filmed their own version to Jay-Z and Kanye West’s brand new single “Otis”. You can tell these two had fun filming this video.   more info

Guardian Music — Oliver Laughland on the people and stories in the media spotlight in the last seven daysThe storyDestiny's real childThe stroke of a belly and the flash of some camera bulbs sent the world abuzz with excitement at the news that former Destiny's Child... more info

VH1 Blog — Late yesterday afternoon, popular gossip mill MediaTakeOut dropped one of their patented “MTO WORLD EXCLUSIVES” claiming that Rihanna has, and we quote, “decided to DROP Jay Z . . . and his RocNation team as her managers.” They cited a “ROC... more info

ContactMusic — Beyonce Knowles has been inundated with gifts since announcing her pregnancy. The 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)' hitmaker announced at last weekend's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) that she and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child togethe... more info

Gigwise — She's apparently on the way out from Roc Nation... more info

Pop Justice — » Britney Spears would quite like to sing in front of Prince William and Kate Middleton. (Metro) (http://www.metro.co.uk/music/874213-britney-spears-wants-to-sing-for-prince-williams-and-kate-middleton) » Global Songstress Leona Lewis will sing h... more info

Impose Magazine — While hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on the eastern seaboard, it is almost a relief to be able to pin our misgivings on a natural disaster. Perhaps we can blame Irene for the Jack White I.C.P. collaboration, or Lil Wayne's uninspired Tha Carter IV... more info