KANYE'S NEW KICKS!

As we previously reported, Kanye recently confirmed to he was designing new Louis Vuitton shoes when a paparazzi member caught him coming out of a Louis Vuitton store. Now Kanye is giving everyone a sneak peak at "one of six designs" he did for "Louie."







LUDACRIS GOES HD!

Ludacris has teamed up with Monster Cable to re-release his new album, Theater Of The Mind, this time in high-definition stereo surround sound. Mixed by Monster's head honcho Noel Lee, the album reportedly will make listeners feel as if they are in the studio with Luda.

Don't get too hyped, in order to truely listen in HD, you will need at least a surround sound system. Monster also plans to make the CD compatible with Dolby so fans can experience the new HD in their headphones.

Luda's standard-D version of "Theater Of The Mind" is close to reaching gold-status. To date the 7th album from cris' has sold over 470,000 copies in only six weeks. The High-D version of Luda's new album should hit stores next month.



JERMAINE DUPRI GETS DROPPED FROM ISLAND RECORDS!

Jermaine Dupri has been booted out of his President spot over at Island Records Ubran Music, according to AHH. JD held the position for less than two years where he oversaw the label's entire urban music operations, reporting directly to the label chairman Antonio "L.A." reid and Steve Bartells (President of Island Music and COO of the Island Def Jam Music Group).

Jermaine has had other problems lately. Back in August, it was reported that he closed his Atlanta restaurant [more here]. Jermaine Dupri says he closed "Cafe Dupri" because “The economy has changed dramatically and people just aren’t eating out as much anymore."

In related news, Jermaine Dupri recently appeared on Bow Wow's new single "Roc The Mic". The new video for the single features JD and Bow Wow hitting the road in a classic car, so make sure you watch it now!





NOTORIOUS K.I.M.

Biggie's mom is upset over the relationship Notorious had with Lil Kim. In a recent interview, Mrs Wallace is upset at how BIG treated Kim saying “I would love to speak to Lil’ Kim, because I need to ask more about this love relationship because I really didn’t like the way he treated her and I’m praying that that’s not it,” she continued. “Only she can answer those questions. She’s a sweet girl and I didn’t think she deserved to be treated the way he treated her, if that’s the case.”

Lil Kim recently announced she didn't approve of the way she was portrayed in the new "Notorious" film. Talking about Big's mom and Faith Evans, Kim said “I’m very disappointed in Faith,” she added. “There’s nothing Faith or Ms. Wallace could do to stop me from reppin’ B.I.G. all day. I’m gonna always do that … It’s time for Ms. Wallace to be exposed.”



WEEZY FLIPS FROM RAP TO ROCK & ROLL!

Lil Wayne is reportedly working on a complete Rock album and Canadian rapper Drake says he's on it. "Wayne's coming out with a new album, it's a rock album," Drake told MuchMusic, continuing "a complete rock album. I have a song on there." Wayne will join Kanye West as artists who put out albums in a complete different genre. "It’s something different in just that whole 808's and Hearbreaks, just throwing individuals off," Drake says.

Drake recently signed a management deal with Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua (who manages Kanye) and Cortez Bryant (who manages Lil Wayne). Drake will be joining Lil Wayne (along with T-Pain, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole and other) on the 'I Am Music' tour when it hits Canada.



VIDEO VIXENS GET TV SHOW ON E!

E! has given the green light to a new series called "," that will focus on the women in rap music videos, better known as video vixens. The 30-minute show (being pushed as a "docu-soap") centers around aspiring and established female actresses who work for an agency that casts them into videos.

"Candy Girls" will air on Sunday nights at 10:30 following the premeire of the third season of 'Keeping Up WIth The Kardashians." E! ordered 8 episodes of the series that E! says "In order to reach the career pinnacle of appearing in 'A-list' music videos and gain access to the world of superstars, private jets and exclusive parties, you need to be able to play the game as well as you look."



WEEZY & CLEF HELP ESPN ROCK THE SUPERBOWL!

Lil Wayne and Wyclef Jean will help ESPN kick off their "Big Weekend" event during Super Bowl weekend. Wyclef will perform for the ESPN "The Magazine's NEXT" party on January 30th at 9 PM next to DJ Samantha Ronson (better known as the girl f*cking Lindsay Lohan) on the 1s & 2s. Sean Kingston will rock a free concert the next day, titled the "NEXT Day Tailgate" from around noon to 5pm joined by the University of South Florida Marching Band.

Lil Wayne, who already blogs for ESPN, will be reporting from the event's red carpet. Weezy recently appeared on ESPN's "Sportaphile" [watch here] show where he took on Skip Bayless in a debate over sports. Check out Lil Wayne's three-part appearance on ESPN.





JIM JONES THE NEW VP OF URBAN A&R OF KOCH RECORDS!

Friday, Koch Records announced the addition of Jim Jones to its executive team. Earning the position of Vice President of Urban A&R, Jones will oversee the signing and development of new talent on the label’s urban roster. Boasting the title of largest independent record label in the United States, Koch Records hopes to gain even more clout with the appointment of the Dipset rapper.

Jones said, “It feels good to know that the hard work has been recognized by the same people that have helped me get to this point in my career. They recognize that I'm not only an artist but a person that can smell talent and be able to mold a superstar.”
Previously, in 2005 through 2007, Jim Jones held an executive job at Atlantic Records, before both parties agreed to cease the relationship over a year ago.
In addition to his selection as VP of A&R, Jones is also prepping for the release of his album Pray IV Reign, dropping next month.



KANYE WEST POSES NUDE!

After pushing the boundaries of what is considered “Hip Hop” with his latest album, "808s & Heartbreak", Kanye West wants to push the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable. The rapper/producer now wants to bare it all in a nude photo shoot.
Before Kanye takes it off for the camera, however, he wants to make sure he’s pleasing to the eye.
"I definitely feel, like, in the next however many years, if I work out for two months, that I'll pose naked,” West told Vibe.
West adds that he’s not necessarily looking for attention, but wants to challenge American and black culture norms.
“I break every rule and mentality of hip-hop, of black culture, of American culture.”
Though a potential nude spread from West would challenge norms, the star also knows it would dominate the headlines—more so than other celebrities who have done the same thing.
"If [Bjork] wanted to pose naked, you'd (public and media) be like, 'Oh, that's Bjork.' But if I wanted to pose naked, people would draw all type of things into it.”
If Kanye goes through with the photos, the Chicago representer will be following in the footsteps of several rappers. Big Daddy Kane jumped off the trend, posing with Madonna and Naomi Campbell.
Ice-T followed suit several years



DR.DRE PISSED WITH SONG LEAK!

To add to the pressure on Dr. Dre with his highly anticipated album Detox expected to be released this year, earlier this week a track titled, “Could Have Been You” was leaked.
The song was recorded during the Detox sessions and it was believed the song was meant to be on the album. Although Dre’s camp has not commented on the issues but sources state the legendary producer was not pleased with the un-mixed and un-mastered version hitting the net.
“Could Have Been You” featured R. Kelly, 50 Cent and Slim the Mobster discussing a troubled unsuccessful relationship with a girl.
On the hook Kelly sings, "The reason why you didn't get picked, 'cause you got your nose up your ass smelling your shit/ But tonight you met your match, 'cause I be smelling my shit too/ Now how you like that?"
50 opens the song chanting “It’s the D, R, E” and goes on to explain his own problems with woman.
Although the song was leaked, due to the quality and the respect for Dre most websites have pulled it or did not post the track altogether. A song called “Crack A Bottle” by 50, Eminem and Dre was also released this week yet it is still unclear if this is a track for Detox or Eminem’s new project Relapse.
No release date has been set for either album but Relapse is expected to be released this spring with Dre’s long awaited album following.



DEATH ROW RECORDS FINALLY DEAD!

After years of turbulence, Death Row Records is again being put on the auction block due to a Chapter 11 proceeding.
Founded by Suge Knight and Dr. Dre in 1991, Death Row Records filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2006, and only months later a bankruptcy trustee was ordered to take over the label. After being taken over by the bankruptcy trustee, Death Row Records received several bids but all of them fell through.
With the upcoming auction set for January 15, co-founder of Death Row Records, Lydia Harris spoke with Billboard regarding the label's recent misfortunes and why bidders have shied away from purchasing the label.

"Everybody wants to hide behind the fear of Suge Knight--the fear is something they are latching on to--but all them still do business with him," Harris told Billboard. "At the end of the day, he's still living, he made people a lot of money and opened doors for a lot of them. It isn't about them being scared. That's what people need to realize. These people still deal with Suge everyday. It's the money. It's the greed."
In 2005, Harris received a $105 million settlement after battling Knight for a share of the label she says she and her now incarcerated husband Michael "Harry-O" Harris helped launch.
Bidders have also expressed concern over the monetary value of the label as well; Koch Records backed out of a bid for Death Row two years ago, because it did not believe that the company was worth the $25 million bid they placed.
The auction on January 15 will include a large number of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg recordings that were not included in the previous auction.