411 Mania — Who used to put out mixtapes featuring new music from Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy? What musical is Sheryl Crow writing music for? When did Celine Dion win Eurovision? All this and more covered this week in Ask 411 Music! more info

Guardian Music — Hip-hop impresarios wanted artists' rights scheme modelled on Major League Baseball Players AssociationTwo of hip-hop's most notorious impresarios almost became union bosses. Death Row's Suge Knight and Murder Inc's Irv Gotti reportedly worked toget... more info

Guardian Music — Brian Shimkovitz launched his blog in 2006, to share the great music on cassettes he'd uncovered on his travels. Now he's launching his own record labelListen to an Awesome Tapes from Africa mix belowIt's been six years since Brian Shimkovitz last vi... more info

White Folks Get Crunk — White Panda continues on their mashup/remix hybrid trek, this time borrowing from Tom Petty to back up Biggie Smalls. Mo Free Mo Fallin’ by whitepandamusic more info

Guardian Music — For an alternative view of New York head to Long Island City's 5Pointz, where visitors can grab an aerosol and get tagging as part of a new street art projectGangster rap has given hip-hop culture a bad name. The macho glorification of sex, guns and ... more info

VH1 Blog — Fifteen years ago today, Tupac Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas, NV following a boxing match at the MGM Grand. His murder, and that of the Notorious B.I.G. six months later, sent dual shockwaves through the hip-hop community. Yet while Diddy i... more info

L.A. Times - Entertainment — If there was any doubt about the stickup bona fides of the borough that produced the Notorious B.I.G., the Boot Camp Clique and M.O.P., Mr. MFN eXquire educated the Echo crowd on Thursday.If there was any doubt about the stickup bona fides of the bor... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — “Brooklyn rappers don’t go 'whoop whoop,' they rob.” If there was any doubt about the stickup bona fides of the borough that produced the Notorious B.I.G., the Boot Camp Clique and M.O.P., Mr. MFN eXquire educated the Echo crowd shortly... more info

Guardian Music — After posting one song online, this 24-year-old American singer sold out a London gig in half an hourWe crave a popstar who is authentic, who thrives because of their talent, not PR. So when you stumble across someone like Lana Del Rey – her popula... more info

Guardian Music — (Roc-a-Fella/Roc Nation/Def Jam)Rappers are obsessed with power. The 48 Laws of Power, an infamous manual by Robert Greene, has long been required reading for hip-hoppers of a certain stature, from 50 Cent on down. One day Jay-Z might get around to r... more info