MTV.com News — 'I like to do things in a very natural process,' Somali-born MC says of recording his first U.S. release.By Kathleen Newman-Bremang K'Naan Photo: MTV News In the post-Rick Ross era, a rapper's biography carries as much weight with his peer... more info

JamBase — ROCK THE BELLS 2009 FESTIVAL SERIES ANNOUNCES DATES AND VENUES OF NORTH AMERICA'S ONLY MAJOR TOURING HIP-HOP FESTIVAL BUSTA RHYMES, THE GZA AND THE KNUX ADDED TO THE ALL-STAR LINEUP Busta Rhymes Guerilla Union, the promoter for the ROCK THE BE... more info

AllHipHop — Organizers for The Rock The Bells 2009 Festival Series announced today that Busta Rhymes, The GZA and The Knux have been added to the roster of major Hip-Hop artists taking part in this year’s touring concert.   In addition to Busta, GZA and... more info

MTV.com News — Plus: Mixtape Monday is changing to Mixtape Daily. By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes Skull Gang Photo: Skull Gang "I ain't the captain of the yacht, but I'm on the boat." Well, actually, I ain't the captain on the ... more info

MTV.com News — 'The wait is finally over,' the Wu-Tang Clan rapper says of long-awaited LP, which is set for the summer.By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Matt Elias Raekwon Photo: MTV News The years-long delay on Raekwon the Chef's Only Buil... more info

MVSW — Here’s some old school fo’ ya: Stop the Violence Movement ~ “Self Destruction” KRS-One started Stop the Violence Movement after a string of deaths (one at a KRS_ONE/Public Enemy show, and another after a friend was shot).  The son’g “... more info

JamBase — Words by: Nick Boeka | Images by: PhatCatPhoto.com/myspace.com/blvdsource BLVD & Adam Deitch :: 03.13.09 :: Great American Music Hall :: San Francisco, CA BLVD :: 03.13 :: San Francisco Fresh off a smoking beginning in 2009 and a popular l... more info

JamBase — ROCK THE BELLS 2009 RETURNS THIS SUMMER WITH OVER 25 OF HIP-HOP'S BEST ACTS CONFIRMED INCLUDING NAS & DAMIAN "JR GONG" MARLEY, THE ROOTS, BIG BOI AND COMMON The Roots Guerilla Union has announced initial details for the 2009 installment of th... more info

Rolling Stone — Nas, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, OutKast’s Big Boi, Common and the Roots will headline select dates on this year’s Rock the Bells Festival. House of Pain, KRS-One, Wu-Tang’s Raekwon and RZA and more top hip-hop acts and special guests will ta... more info

MTV.com News — Duo will release Distant Relatives in June.By Shaheem Reid Nas Photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage Nas and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley will be spending plenty of time together this summer. The duo are releasing a joint album called Distant Relativ... more info