As predicted by many, T-Pain took the top urban spot with his debut week of Th33 Ringz . The Florida singer did not start at the top overall though. Entering at #4, the star followed debuts from stars in other genres: Taylor Swift, David Archuletta and the 29th volume of Now That’s What I Call Music respectively. T.I. stayed Top 10, with what remains the second best-selling rap album this year in Paper Trail.

Shortly behind T.I., G.O.O.D. Music sensation John Legend has spent all three weeks of Evolver in the Top 15 of the chart. continue

Murdercap Records CEO Jerome Almon has accused Canada and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of trying to stifle a pending $900 million dollar lawsuit aimed at exposing Canada’s alleged racial/border profiling of US rappers.

Almon filed the lawsuit in January 2007 with assistance from the Detroit American Civil Liberties Union. continue

T.I. is expected to testify today (Nov. 19) in a murder trial in Cincinnati, according to Local 12 WKRC-TV.

The case concerns the May 2006 death of Philant Johnson, the rapper’s personal assistant.

35-year-old Hosea Thomas is accused of killing Johnson. The incident allegedly began with a fight at the Roselawn club at which T.I. performed. After leaving the club and being followed, prosecutors say Thomas and his brother, Padron Thomas, opened fire at the van in which T.I. and his entourage were riding. continue

Two of the Clipse’ biggest pending projects are one step closer to coming to fruition, the brothers announced today.

First up will the be long-awaited release of their new clothing line, Play Cloths, which is set to hit stores on Friday (November 21).

The new clothing line, which was originally announced in December of last year and slated for a summer release, is said to be a blend of American style, with the French Riviera and Monte Carlo uses of rich, vibrant primary colors to create collectible garments. continue

When 50 Cent delayed his new album, Before I Self Destruct, until next year, many questions came up. Now, he’s speaking on his decision to push back the LP.

“I’m trying to leave the same way I came in,” 50 tells MTV. “February 4 [2003], Get Rich or Die Tryin’ , came out. I drop this album February 3. The time frame…it used to take six to eight weeks for us to position a hip-hop record. Now, it’s taking 12 to 14 weeks.”

50 says there’s one culprit to blame for the additional time needed to work his singles. continue

After a decade-plus of work in Houston’s underground scene, veteran Lil Keke is now prepared to introduce his first attempt at mainstream recognition.

Since signing with Universal Records in March 2007, Keke has been hard at work completing Loved by Few, Hated By Many.

After months of meticulous work, Keke is confident that he’s crafted an album that is wholly Texas, but not chock full of the stereotypical topics associated with the region. continue

In an interview with Rhapsody.com, singer T-Pain speaks on bringing back auto-tune and receiving credit for it from artists such as Lil Wayne and Kanye West.

“I brought it back. I didn’t start it,” T-Pain explained to Rhapsody. “I didn’t invent the damn thing. People think that I feel that way when I say that I should get respect or recognition for bringing it back.” continue

DJ J. Period, who has worked on everything from mixtapes to movie trailers, will now be stepping his game up to score a video game soundtrack. J. Period has been commissioned by gaming company Activsion to produce the entire soundtrack for the new game Tony Hawk’s Motion.

The skating mogul’s latest game will be accompanied by a sample free mash of Hip Hop, Rock and urban soundscapes. continue

A little over a month after his induction into the 2008 class of VH1’s Hip-Hop Honorees, Too Short is back home on the west coast and has revealed plans for his latest project: building a live band group.

“I went to Atlanta in like, ‘93, ’94,” Short told video program The Dame Fame Show. “I did a lot, man. The whole time we was in Atlanta, we represented the west coast the whole time. We mixed and mingled, but we came in as L.A. niggas, Bay niggas, and we was doin’ it like that for real.” continue

Certified gold-selling Southern rapper Plies is set to make his first New York City appearance later this month.

Presented by MySpace Music and Vibe magazine, the event will be hosted by BET’s Terrence J and Rosci.

The free showcase will help celebrate the Florida-bred emcee’s cover release on the new issue of Vibe along with his new upcoming album, Da Realist set to drop this winter. continue

Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 won’t hit shelves until early 2009, but his former business partner and mentor are keeping his name in the news by fanning the flames of separate feuds from a few years ago. The New York Daily News claims to have a transcript of former Roc-A-Fella co-CEO Damon Dash’s upcoming interview with Complex magazine. In the interview, which is scheduled to run online Wednesday, Dash allegedly takes a jab at his former business partner, by suggesting there’s a simmering feud between Jay-Z and Kanye West. The report says Dash cites a 2003 concert in Chicago, where West was to be presented with his own Roc-A-Fella chain and medallion. continue

With Thanksgiving a little over a week away, labels are hoping consumers back away from the holiday spread long enough to dish out some cash for the bevy of albums being released during the fourth quarter. The Alchemist hopes to have the best of both, as the versatile producer and emcee releases his digital EP The Cookbook today. continue

Those who know about organizations like Locks of Love know that many people around the world give their hair to children who have lost it due to long term hair loss as a result of many different reasons including cancer. One person who recently gave her hair up for this charitable cause is Dessa, a Minneapolis emcee and member of Doomtree.

She wrote about it through her blog and explained why she wanted to do this.

“The generous stylists at Head to Toe have agreed to help me make a donation to Locks of Love, the non-profit organization that makes hairpieces for children who have lost their hair,” she wrote. continue

Wu-Tang Clan have re-linked with mega sportswear company Fila to offer fans the “Wu-Tang Weathertech” boot for the winter.

The new kicks will feature an oiled suede upper section, molded rubberized vamp along with a unique d-ring lacing style and padded ankle collars. To give the boot a more “Wu” feel and presentation, there will be signature Wu-Tang yellow highlights throughout and it will be emblazoned with the group’s insignia on the side and heel tabs. continue

Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop and pop charts may represent familiar territory for Lil Wayne, but the rapper is breaking new ground on the music magazine’s rock chart with a cover of his hit single “Lollipop.”

The remake, performed by the Nashville, Tennessee based rock band Framing Hanley, currently sits at No. 37 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart.

With the ranking, Lil Wayne marked his first appearance on a Billboard rock tally. continue