In an MTV poll of over 200,000 voters, Pittsburgh emcee Wiz Khalifa was named MTV News’ Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010. In winning the poll, Wiz beat other finalists including Nicki Minaj,J.Cole,Travis Porter and Diggy Simmons.According to MTV, the voting was strictly limited to up-and-coming talent: artists could not have released a major-label album by [cont.]

The-Indie-R.-Kelly The-New-John-Legend, Aloe Blacc, sat in with Giles Peterson’s Worldwide show this week, previewing new music from his September 28th Good Things release, speaking on his career thus far, his early origins with Exile as 1/2 of Emanon, and what to expect from the new LP. Aloe Blacc on Gilles Peterson Worldwide 7/2010 by stonesthrow

In depth 15 minute interview with Tim Westwood, as the two discuss their long friendship together, his divorce with Kelis, and his next LP. Production from DJ Premier, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Alchemist, RZA? That’s the plan. He says he has also been inspired by Drake and Rick Ross’ albums. Listen to the interview below. [cont.]

Dilated’s Rakaa made his solo debut this week on Decon Records with Crown Of Thorns. The label is still offering the deluxe pre-order packages including an autographed CD, t-shirt, sticker, poster, and an immediate MP3 download of “Aces High”. Check out DeconRecords.Com for more info.

The results of DJ Shadow’s remix contest are over, compiled on to the limited edition The Remix Project CD, which is available now via DJShadow.Com. The site is offering the CD free with any regular priced purchase, so ordering any CD, vinyl, DVD, or clothing item from Shadow will get you the CD and bonus [cont.]

Preorders are up now for the August 17th release of King Uncaged via Grand Hu$tle / Atlantic. Details are as follows: Premium Edition – $69.99 + shipping & tax – Deluxe CD includes 2 bonus tracks not featured on the standard CD – Lithograph featuring King Uncaged album artwork (FIRST 200 SIGNED BY T.I.) - [cont.]

Drake made two interesting reveals in the last 24 hours, first that he has a shrine dedicated to Andre 3000 in his home. He told Paper Magazine, “I have a shrine in my apartment dedicated to Andre. I took a door off a barn and had an artist take the lyrics from his verses [and [cont.]

In a recent interview with Vibe, Raekwon spilled details on his highly anticipated follow-up to Only Built For Cuban Links 2, entitled Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang, due this September (!). “Right now, being that everyone respected what I did on the last album, I don’t want to have people feeling that I’m going to be away [cont.]

Merch Direct is hosting official pre-orders for DJ Muggs and Ill Bill’s Kill Devil Hills LP, dropping August 24th. The album is available in standard and deluxe T-shirt + mix CD package editions, with a chance to win autographed album prints. Check it out here.

On September 28th, Aloe Blacc will release his second LP, Good Things, the follow up to his Stones Throw debut, Shine Through (which you should go back and listen to right now.) Lots of “good” music in September, eh? Track List: 01. I Need A Dollar 02. Green Lights 03. Hey Brother 04. Miss Fortune [cont.]

Just discovered this special order offer for Capone-N-Noreaga’s The War Report 2, happening over at Boston’s Newbury Comics. Get an autographed CD booklet when you order the new album from the Beantown merchant. Review coming this weekend……

Duck Down released the following statement today, in regards to Rock’s recent attempted murder rap: Rock from the acclaimed group Heltah Skeltah has been found not guilty in an attempted murder case stemming from a shooting incident that left a pimp paralyzed. “Exhale for Rock & congratulations to his attorney Kenneth Montgomery (ken@kjmontgomerylaw.com) for the [cont.]

The Roots and John Legend team for this album of cover songs, capturing the conscious attitudes of the 60′s and 70′s and applying them to today’s “yes we can” generation. You might not recognize some of the titles, but you’ll definitely hear some familiar samples in there, replayed by the team. Needless to say, we’re [cont.]

E1 Music is proud to announce the upcoming release Gunz N’ Butta, the highly anticipated new duet album from hip hop legend Cam’ron and his new protégé Vado. The album will be released on August 31st and includes 16 tracks featuring and written by both Cam’ron and Vado. The first single, “Speaking in Tungs” is [cont.]

As is usually the case with the internets,rumors have been flying for years about Jay-Z’s spirituality and possible connection with the Free Masons.Though he’s long denied it, Jigga didn’t really help his case with the dark and some would say satanic imagery in his “On To The Next One” video. In a Jan 13th interview [cont.]

As their new LP The War Report 2 drops today, CNN recently sat down with MTV to discuss the LP that the duo describes as “for the streets”.In further detailing the new LP N.O.R.E said “We ain’t make something for the radio and we didn’t make something for the clubs.”The duo also wants fans to [cont.]

Ever since he burst onto the scene in 2007 with the widely acclaimed Exile collaboration Below The Heavens, L.A. rapper Blu has been hailed as the most promising up-and-comer hip-hop has seen in years. With his cool L.A. demeanor and intricate lyrical musings, Blu blew a breath of fresh air into a stale SoCal hip-hop [cont.]

Here are some recent Nielson Soundscan numbers from last week’s sales figures. We don’t have to remind you that we’re glad we got out of retail when we did. What a sad state of affairs. Album Sales Week of 6/29/10 Eminem – “Recovery” – 313,000 (2nd Week) Drake – “Thank Me Later” – 105,000 (3rd [cont.]

NPR was lucky enough to nab an exclusive interview with Lauryn Hill. Sounds like she’s ready to come back out again…. Some excerpts below: I ask her the question her fans have been asking each other for years: Why did you stop putting out music? “There were a number of different reasons,” she says. “But [cont.]

We all know Big Boi’s sticky-icky label drama has kept certain tracks from making the final cut of Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty. But Big Boi has leaked several of these deleted tracks himself, and last night he actually tweeted where to put them in your playlist. He tweets: If you have [cont.]