[vodpod id=Video.3471299&w=425&h=350&fv=file%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fvideo.ak.facebook.com%2Fcfs-ak-sf2p%2F27667%2F16%2F115753911782246_23771.mp4%26amp%3Bskin%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanmusicdirect.com%2Fdangdang.swf%26amp%3Bimage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fi.imagehost.org%2F0744%2Falicia.jpg%26amp%3Blink%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2FpooOi-5v9%26amp%3Bcontrolbar%3Dover%26amp%3Bplugins%3Dsharing-1] Yesterday evening, American Idol gave back and Alicia Keys did her part with another stunning performance of “Empire State Of Mind Pt. 2” and “Unthinkable”. Then with Travis Barker on the drums, MJB takes to the sky performing “Stairway To Heaven”. Amen to that. [vodpod id=Video.3471340&w=425&h=350&fv=file%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fvideo.l3.facebook.com%252Fcfs-l3-ash1%252F27645%252F97%252F115426061812348_32415.mp4%26amp%3Bskin%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.urbanmusicdirect.com%2Fdangdang.swf%26amp%3Bimage%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fi.imagehost.org%2F0576%2Fmaryjblige.jpg%26amp%3Blink%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwp.me%2FpooOi-5vb%26amp%3Bcontrolbar%3Dover%26amp%3Bplugins%3Dsharing-1%26amp%3Bsharing.code%3D%253Cembed%2520src%253D%2522http%253A%252F%252Fwww.urbanmusicdirect.com%252Fplayer.swf%2522%2520height%253D%2522300%2522%2520width%253D%2522470%2522%2520bgcolor%253D%2522undefined%2522%2520allowscriptaccess%253D%2522always%2522%2520allowfullscreen%253D%2522true%2522%2520allownetworking%253D%2522all%2522%2520flashvars%253D%2522file%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fvideo.l3.facebook.com%25252Fcfs-l3-ash1%25252F27645%25252F97%25252F115426061812348_32415.mp4%2526skin%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.urbanmusicdirect.com%252Fdangdang.swf%2526image%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fi.imagehost.org%252F0576%252Fmaryjblige.jpg%2526link%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwp.me%252FpooOi-5vb%2526controlbar%253Dover%2526plugins%253Dsharing-1%2522%2520%252F%253E] UMD

[vodpod id=Video.3473183&w=425&h=350&fv=configParams%3Dvid%3D507727%26amp%3Buri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A507727] The most hated man in rap sat down with Sway yesterday and gave his side of the story regarding Guru’s final days. He denies that he and the Gifted One were romantically involved and stands by the authenticity of the rapper’s letter. Previously: DJ Premier Addresses Guru’s Passing

At the end of Cube’s behind the scenes video for “I Rep That West“, we got a sneak peek of this cover. But now, here it is in high-definition. Album drops July 13th. HHNM Sidebar: Cube was on Jimmy Kimmel last night too. Watch after the jump.

Nas ain’t the only one that made a song dedicated to Rakim. TTS let loose a portion of a song Rae made for the 18th Letter. No joke, this sounds serious. NR

Joey Crack gives us a few set of bars on Drizzy’s track. If you thought that it was over, The Darkside is on the way. YK2 Sidebar: Fat Joe Says Young Jeezy Knocked Out “Slow Down” Hook

Nas and Damain get it the ski mask way in their video for “As We Enter”. The video was shot over the weekend in L.A. and is directed by Nabil. More flicks below. Honey

Well, that’s unfortunate. TM 103‘s still on the way…we hope.

The other half of Gang Starr issued this statement regarding his former partner’s death. Very well put,  Preem. LFH

B.Dot and I weren’t the only ones in the house for Tha Doggfather’s NY invasion last night. Photographer Ernest Estime shot the following flicks of Donnis, Peter Rosenberg and Frank Lucas. Now that’s gangsta.

What does it take to be #1 ? Plenty of things. And patience is one of ’em. I first heard of B.o.B. in the fall of 2007 when we were working on XXL‘s Leaders Of The New School issue. “He could sing. He can rap. He’s got this song, “Cloud 9″. He’s dope!,” the staff told me. So even though he was less established than most of his counterparts on the 10 runners-up list, his profile was featured first. Seems […]