DJ Premier revealed on his Live From HeadQCourterz Radio show this weekend that the godfather of hip-hop, Kool Herc, is in the hospital with a “bad health condition.” Details were scarce, but he needs an operation and is without health insurance. Donations can be made via: KOOL HERC PRODUCTIONS P.O. BOX 20472 HUNTINGTON STATION , [cont.]

Everybody’s working for the weekend. 9th Wonder just completed a track with J. Cole, Drake, and Phonte. 9th and Tay working together again? Guess that means a Little Brother reunion shouldn’t be completely ruled out…. Mayer Hawthorne was seen in Seattle tonight recording with Jake One and Mac Miller….We’re hearing that Lil Wayne will be [cont.]

In a recent interview with XXL, Raekwon explained why RZA is not attached to his new LP, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang. “Rza is not on the album. Being that he’s so die hard Wu-Tang, anything that sounds like it’s going at Wu-Tang wasn’t really up his alley,” Raekwon told XXL. “I aint mad at him. He’s [cont.]

XXL reports that Fabolous will follow-up last year’s fan-favorite There Is No Competition 2 with a new mixtape release, possibly titled Soul Survivor or S.O.U.L Tape. “I’m almost done with it,” he told XXL. “I did the poll [on Twitter] to get people interactive with it and see what names they would come up with. [cont.]

Kid Cudi returned to Twitter today as user “WizardCud”, and spoke on a variety of new projects. This summer he expects to release a rock project with Dot Da Genius called Wizard, which will feature “no raps, just singing”, produced entirely by Cudi and Dot, with both artists getting down on guitars. The track “Dose [cont.]

Suburban Noize is now taking pre-orders for Saigon’s long-awaited The Greatest Story Never Told and is offering an exclusive deluxe version of the album with 5 bonus tracks. The album is offered in a la carte or in larger package deals with a Yardfather t-shirt and hoodie. Bonus disc tracklist: 1) It’s Cold 2) Down [cont.]

The group East Coast Avengers was created in 2008 by MCs Esoteric, trademarc and DJ/producer DC The MIDI Alien. Having dealt with almost 8 politically corrupt years of the Bush regime, the three banded together and the result was the controversial yet socially aware ‘Prison Planet’ album full of gritty production and razor sharp lyricism. [cont.]

Rhymesayers’ Fifth Element has begun taking pre-orders for Blueprint’s “Adventures In Counter Culture”, which is due for a March 5th release. Pre-orders for the album will include the exclusive Weightless Radio CD, a 27 track instrumental album of previously unreleased beats produced by Blueprint. Go here to pre-order now.

GZA says he’s about to go into the studio to record his new album, but it is “Not Liquid Swords 2, not yet,” he tweeted late last week. “This project will have a visual and audio element. In a league of it’s own. Taking it up a notch before we get Liquid Swords 2 in [cont.]

Zion I and The Grouch will join forces for a second time with the March 22 release of Heroes In The Healing Of The Nation. A follow-up to Heroes In The City of Dope, the album will focus on issues facing the entire country, rather than just their own backyard, produced entirely by Amp Live [cont.]

Will.I.Am announced via Twitter yesterday that the world’s largest computer chip manufacturer, Intel, has named him creative director in a multi-year agreement. “Its official. I just became the director of creative innovation for Intel. Every beat I make is made with intel. And now were partners,” will Tweeted. He will help the company develop smart [cont.]

Feb. 24 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen Feb. 25 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theatre Feb. 26 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater Mar. 1 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues Mar. 2 – Houston, TX – House of Blues Mar. 3 – Baton Rouge, LA – Varsity Theatre Mar. 5 – [cont.]

Our favorite rapper’s financial woes continue, as the Detroit News reports that Nas owes over $6.46 million in taxes, according to public records. Nas was just hit with a new tax lien by the IRS, also owing $3860 in common charges on his Queens condo, and is also reported to not have paid the $420 [cont.]

“Rolling Papers, March 29th,” he tweeted tonight…..

Before the Grey Hairs, REKS was just a teenager who fell in love with the Hip-Hop movement. Little did he know, one day he would experience working with and alongside some of those legendary hip-hop icons. Born Corey Isiah Christie in Lawrence, Massachusetts, August 24th, 1977, REKS practically grew up with Hip-Hop. He first embraced [cont.]

Banksy’s graffiti mockumentary, Exit Through The Gift Shop, has been nominated by an Academy Award in the Best Documentary Feature category, up against Gasland, Inside Job, Restrepo, and Wasteland. The story is that of aspiring art-star Thierry Guetta, who fools the art scene into thinking he’s brilliant, much to the dismay of Banksy and Shepard [cont.]

If reports that his Carter IV album is to be released in April, then Wayne’s just announced I Am Music II tour will be perfectly timed. Joining Weezy on tour will be Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, and Travis Barker w/ Mix Master Mike. Mar. 18: Buffalo, N.Y. (HSBC Arena) Mar. 19: Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena) [cont.]

The above shot is from the “Black & Yellow (G-Mix)” video, as seen on BET, MTV, etc. We guess that’s what Wiz meant by “no keys, push to start”. Heh…. Five Deez/3582 producer Fat Jon checks in, letting us know that new music is on the way. Via his website, he tells us “beautiful killing [cont.]

Heh, they took the ball and ran with this one. Now it’s time for the protesters to pay the piper…. Full press release below. In the fall of 2010, Lupe Fiasco fans worldwide made music history when they petitioned and protested Atlantic Records, demanding the release of Lupe Fiasco’s LASERS album. After successfully receiving a [cont.]

Chip Fu of the Fu-Schnickins will return to the game this year wit a new LP entitled War Paint via Blaq Ink / The Orchard. The LP is produced by Ali Shaheed Muhammed, Vitamin D, illmind, The Are, Needlz, Black Milk, Khrysis, Scram Jones and others, and will feature guest shots from Prince Po, Apathy, [cont.]