Leave it to Kanye West to help out a new artist  even if that newbie is reality TV regular Kim Kardashian. Kanye,  joined Kardashian, on the set of her first music video shoot for the breakout single on her debut album this past week, and it’s off to a great start.

“She’s having so much fun. The music is upbeat and fun dance music,” a source tells People Magazine. “She’s loved being in the studio.” Kardashian herself couldn’t contain her excitement – or anxiety – about her video, which is being directed by Hype Williams.  ”It’s going down in here!!!” she Tweeted Tuesday, the same day she was spotted at the studio with West. “I’m turning it ooooonnnn!!!!”

As we previously reported, Kim is working on an entire studio album with super-producer The Dream.

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2010 saw the return of Lauryn Hill from the abyss. Granted, it was to mixed reviews, but at least we found out L-Boogie still had a musical bone in her body. For those who may not be in the known, Ms. Hill will be embarking on a nationwide (somewhat) tour beginning January 1.

To test the waters, she had a pre-tour show in Brooklyn at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. I’m willing to bet anything that is possible will go down at her shows, which is why the news of her being three hours late didn’t surprise me. However, if I was one of those who paid $75 for a ticket, I might feel otherwise. Once the ball got rolling though everything appeared fine and all in attendance likely walked away with a smile.

Head over to PleaseDontStare for more videos. After the jump, expect to see the full list of dates to see if Lauryn will miseducate you in a nearby city. (Keep reading…)

Yes, Jay-Z will be recording another album. No, there is no word yet if it will the fourth installment of his Blueprint series. And no, whether this will come before or after his collaborative album with Kanye West, Watch The Throne, is still unknown. Still, Hov is obviously looking to set the bar high with who he invites in the studio with him. Perched atop his wish list is Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

Seeing as how he’s already worked with him on “Beach Chair” (which appeared on 2006′s Kingdom Come) and Coldplay’s “Lost,” it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle to make it work again. Even with their past, Jay continues to harbor the utmost respect for Martin, even referring to as an extended family member.

”He’s [Martin's] a brother from another mother,” Jay-Z told BBC.co.uk. “I see him more than my own brother. Actually, I do.”

He added: “[He's] one of the geniuses of our generation. Any time you can collaborate with that sort of genius, you jump at the chance, I don’t care who you are.”

Tonight at the Cosmopolitan Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Jay and Coldplay will be performing in an invite-only show to help ring in the new year.

The saga that is Foxy Brown and new music continues to march forward. After initially planning to drop a battle record directed at Lil Kim on Christmas Eve, that plan eventually never came to life. However, yesterday it was reported Fox would be releasing a new single entitled “U Ain’t Ruff Enough” according to Bernadette Brennan - who proclaimed to be the rapper’s manager when she was arrested last July. All systems seemed go until earlier today when the woman herself (Brown) revealed on Twitter that info couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, Foxy’s real managers are Galvin and Anton Marchand – her actual brothers. Taking it a step further, any possible material leaked in the future could expect to be met with legal consequences.

“Everybody quoted in that fraudulent article will be hit wit a lawsuit immediately,” Foxy Brown tweeted. “What ‘label’ are they talking about?…If ANY of my lyrics are on ANY song they were STOLEN without my consent.”

“Lastly, I dont appreciate my fans being lied to. Nothing in that story was truth. Stealing a multi-plat artists lyrics w/o my consent…is not only an incredible lawsuit but a disrespect to my craft, my legacy and my fans,” Foxy Brown continued. “If MARY J or LAURYN HILL recorded a session in a studio while creating their album and decided to go with a hotter joint, who the f**k gives anyone in that studio the audacity to experiment wit a seasoned artists music?? And throw ur unknown artist on MY song without my consent, on some secret society s**t then w/o FOX hearing or approving anything, these bastards “Biggz I trusted u” had the f**kin’ nerve to put a fake press release out lying!”

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March 13 marks the four year anniversary since Rich Boy released his self titled debut album – which wasn’t bad at all. Hopefully, at some point, the Alabama native can find a release date that sticks for his sophomore follow up, Resurrected In Diamonds.

No one seems to know if “Wide Open” will eventually surfaced on the aforementioned album. It’s a smooth, laid back record, and one I’d throw on from time to time.  However, since we’re on that type of vibe, I still think “To The Floor” with Lloyd and Drake should have gotten some sort of push. Hell, it still can. It’s not like Rich doesn’t have product to work with.

Credit: Splash

Whether it be an effort to finish the year out strong, or start the new one on a working note, Bow Wow let go of a new video directed by Rico Da Crook.

In related news, T-Pain became the most recent member of the ever expanding Young Money umbrella. I assume that’s who Weezy was talking about during the radio interview he had with DJ Drama and Karen a few weeks back .

If you’re unfamiliar with who Blackowned C-Bone is, go dust off your old copy of Stankonia and listen to the song “Gangsta Shit.” Better yet, “Kryptonite” from Got Purp? Vol. 2. For myself, I’ve been following Dungeon Family/Purple Ribbon for as long as I can remember, so it’s dope to see C-Bone promoting his own work. The other night at Stankonia Studios he had a listening party for his most recent project The Strong Pack (which actually dropped earlier this summer).

Wingo (from Jagged Edge), Khujo Goodie, Mike Bigga (Killer Mike), Big Boi, Slim Calhoun, Big Duke, P. Dukes and more all stopped through to enjoy the evening’s festivities while DJ Aaries was there to document to entire event.

Credit: DGB

As 2010 draws to a close, one of the stories which dominated the Hip-Hop headlines was to death of the legendary Guru of Gang Starr after a bout with cancer. Unfortunately, a melancholy situation was made even worse once a letter surfaced – which Guru allegedly wrote, according to his partner Solar – detailing a strained relationship with  he (Guru) and DJ Premier as well as his own family.

It caused a firestorm of the debate and controversy, most of which fell on Solar’s lap as many saw this as his attempt to create unnecessary friction between all sides involved with him being the actual author of the letter. Primo sat down with MTV to speak candidly on how he handled the situation and his role in Guru’s funeral.

“The letter didn’t exist, which I didn’t… I wasn’t worried about that anyway, “said Primo. “Even if he did write that letter, I know how he writes. I’ve been around this guy for 23 years. I know everything about him and I know his family real well and they’re down with me, they ride with me.”

Primo went on to share intimate details of Guru’s funeral in which he and originating Gang Starr member Big Shug eulogized the fallen rap legend.

“We had a private funeral with his remains there and [I] spoke at the funeral,” shared the prolific producer. “It was a lovely ceremony. I did everything from the heart off my head, which is how you’re supposed to do it.”

Credit: MTV RapFix

Kat Stacks Raz B is lashing back at Chris Brown … insisting yesterday’s explosive Twitter incident was “not about receiving attention” — as Brown insisted — but was about standing up for what he felt was “right.” In the wake of Brown’s apology, Raz has issued an apology of his own to TMZ

I want to publicly apologize for my direct attacks done out of anger. This is now about taking the right approach, so not only my story can be heard, but so someone learns something valuable.Standing up for yourself does not mean yelling or victimizing others and I sincerely apologize for that.  I was told that ‘you can’t hear my message if I’m screaming.

As for the death threats Raz B’s brother made towards Brown, Raz’s rep tells TMZ Ricky Romance’s opinions and statement do not reflect how Raz feels — adding,”Raz B cannot control his brother being protective over him.“

As fellow Cash Money affiliates Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile, Mack Maine and Baby made their way into the Fifth African Baptist Church in New Orleans this morning, hundreds of fans gathered outside the church to pay tribute to fallen hometown rapper Magnolia Shorty.

In addition to Weezy and his crew, a number of other local bounce artists made their presence felt at the funeral, including Partners-N-Crime, Kilo G, DJ Jubilee, Big Freeda and Ms. Tee, who was the first female artist to sign with Cash Money, followed by Shorty in 1995, who was the label’s second, and last, female member.

The closed funeral began at 11 a.m., and while more than 1,000 friends and relatives packed into the brick house of worship, the street outside was overflowing with nearly 1,500 fans paying tribute to the bounce legend. Many were wearing shirts in praise of Shorty (born Renetta Lowe), 28, with messages such as “R.I.P. Magnolia Shorty” and “We Love You Renetta,” as well as buttons that read “Forever ‘Shorty.’ ”

Her murder came seven years after the November 2003 killing of another New Orleans rapper, James “Soulja Slim” Tapp, whose original stage name was Magnolia Slim and who grew up with Shorty in the Magnolia housing projects and gave her the Magnolia Shorty stage name.

The funeral was to be followed by a traditional New Orleans second line celebration in which her casket was be paraded down the street accompanied by musicians, friends, family and supporters.

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