Word on the curb is that Datwon Thomas has stepped down from his position as Editor-In-Chief of XXL and Executive Editor, Vanessa Satten will resume duties at the top of the masthead. No reason as to why Datwon allegedly left his post, but we’ll have more as this story develops.

Update: “Day quit,” says an unidentified Harris Publications employee. “Vanessa’s EIC.

Nip Hussle flips Sade’s classic groove, on the second leak off Bullets Aint Got No Name Vol.3  Coming this June.

{mp3}01 good for me{/mp3}

She’s on a roll: Karen Civil 

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In honor of their performance last night, here’s some vintage footage of the Thorntons, Pharrell, and Kelis circa 2002. Peep the jersey dress and trucker hat? Ha! After the jump, track 6 off, Lord Willin’

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IOZirtzYzs]

So, The Chef really is a chef. Hmm, I’ll take “Irony” for a thousand, Alex.

“If you thought rappers can’t cook, you should think again! Premiering

Built for Cuban Linx II drops August 11th! Video courtsey of Cashmere

Agency”

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Here are the final full visuals of the Clipse’s performance last night in hell at Webster Hall. After the jump, the Throntons perform “Kinda Like A Big Deal” in NYC for the first time.

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Whoa, break out the DeLorean! MTV unearthed decade old clips of Marshall’s first encounters with the network. In the sit down above, he talks about who influenced his sound. After, the jump he speaks more on his transition from the underground, visits TRL, and shares the same stage with Marky Mark Mark Wahlberg. White power!

Jay and B? No Jay and Ci-Ci have agreed to hit the road for a brief 10 city tour. The full itinerary isn’t official yet, but Rap-Up has the scoop on possible stops in Vegas, Connecticut and Atlanta. I suggest you grab them tickets up. Jigga got catalogue and Ciara is nice to look at. Y’all know you like the way she moves. Just get the earplugs ready for when she sings songs from her new CD coaster. Ha!

Update: Apparently, Ciara has been hypin’ this up a lil’ too much. The official announcement came in and it’s only five dates not 10. Ole girl who got beat by Chrisette Michele on SoundScan is strictly opening act status. No Mega Powers. Ha!

Still check ’em out tho. Here are the dates:

July 3               Las Vegas, NV            The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort
July 4               Las Vegas, NV            The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort
July 7               Chicago, IL                  Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island
July 10             Uncasville, CT              Mohegan Sun Arena
July 12             Atlanta, GA                  Chastain Park Amphitheatre

Looks like the actual CDs have been printed but don’t look at the Double R—we ain’t got shit. What’d you think we got connections? Ha!

Yesterday in the NYC, Kiss shot the visual for “Who’s Real.” No signs of OJ Tha Juice. Thank heavens.

Ohio’s finest and Cipha Sounds’ young MC combine on this mixtape inspired by Ghostface Killah’s usage of the Bob James breakbeat classic “Nautilus”. That’s right all the tracks here utilize the same main sample source. Pretty clever.

Check it out at Press Play. 

Act like you know: 

{mp3}03 nautilus inna citi life{/mp3}