Nas Teams With Youssou N’Dour For Remix

Hip-Hop star Nas is among a group of high profile artists donating remixes of Youssou N’Dour’s track “Wake Up” in support of creating awareness surrounding critical health issues in Africa.

Nas is part of IntraHealth’s Open initiative, which engages technology, health leaders and students to innovate new technologies to make health care more affordable to people on the continent.

Starting today (February 11), remixes by Nas, Peter Buck, Toubab Krewe, DJ Equal, Duncan Sheik, Umar Bin Hassan, Afrissippi, Beef Wellington, Q-Burns Abstract Message and Youssou N'Dour himself, who is producing a charity album titled Open Remix.

The “Wake Up” remixes are available for free through a number of online distribution partners, including Rhapsody, iLike and Amazon MP3 and fans are encouraged to donate towards the project.

"Open source technologies let us address health challenges collaboratively with African developers in the lead," N'Dour told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "If we invest in open source development training in Africa we will be supporting self-sufficient health professionals able to use technology and customize programs to address their critical health challenges."

N’Dour is one of the most famous singers in the world. He is also an ambassador to the United Nations and champion of civil rights.

IntraHealth International in a leading non-profit that has been focused on improving health service in developing countries for over 30 years.

No release date was available for the Open Remix album as of press time.

In related news, Nas and his wife, R&B singer Kelis, are expecting their first child together. The rapper is also working on a new album with Damian Marley.

J Dilla Remembered 3 Years Later

Three years ago today (February 10), Hip-Hop culture lost one of its most innovative and influential producers in Detroit's James Dewitt Yancey, AKA J Dilla.

Blessed with strong musical genes from an opera singer mother and jazz bassist father, Dilla started collecting vinyl at the tender age of 2.

The aspiring producer made a strong name for himself in Detroit early 90s Hip-Hop scene.

He formed fledgling groups with Phat Kat (1st Down) and the late Proof (5 Elementz) before settling with classmates T3 and Baatin in Slum Village.

With SV, Dilla would make his biggest musical impact courtesy of the critically acclaimed albums Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) and Fantastic, Vol. 2.

Dilla's work attracted the attention of A Tribe Called Quest, who recruited the talented broadsmith to be a member of their Ummah (Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Dilla) production team.

With the legendary group, Dilla crafted several gems off Tribe's platinum fourth album Beats, Rhymes, and Life: "Get a Hold," "1nce Again," "Keep It Movin'," "Word Play," and "Stressed Out."

In addition, Dilla created numerous classic singles for other artists, such as De La Soul ("Stakes Is High"), The Pharcyde ("Drop," "Runnin'"), Q-Tip ("Vivrant Thing," "Breathe and Stop"), Janet Jackson ("Got 'Til It's Gone"), Common ("The Light"), and Erykah Badu ("Didn't Cha Know," "Cleva").

Towards the end of his career, Dilla began to focus more on developing his emcee skills along with forming partnerships with up and coming artists and producers.

In 2003, he collaborated with Madlib for the well received Champion Sound project.

Starting in 2004, Dilla was officially diagnosed with lupus and TTP, a rare and incurable blood disorder.

The disease greatly restricted Dilla's ability to tour and also resulted in a marked weight loss.

Sensing the end was near; Dilla immersed himself in his work, and successfully completed his celebrated final project, Donuts in 2006.

The album was released on February 7, just 3 days before Dilla's death at the age of 32 from cardiac arrest.

Due to the outpouring of anguish from respected members of the Hip-Hop community, many curious fans sought out Dilla's discography for the first time.

In the 3 years since his passing, Dilla's legacy has grown exponentially, with many artists still referencing him in lyrics or outright using his prodigious back catalogue of beats for their work.

Dilla's memory also stays alive with the J Dilla Foundation, which aims to find a cure for lupus.

J Dilla leaves behind two daughters, and younger brother Illa J, who just released his debut album Yancey Boys last November.

Judge Throws Out $50 Million Lawsuit Against 50 Cent

A New York judge has dismissed a $50 million lawsuit filed by 50 Cent's ex-girlfriend, who was seeking half the rapper's assets, according to his attorney.

State Supreme Court Justice Judge Carol Edmead granted 50 Cent summary judgment Wednesday on the lawsuit, in which Shaniqua Tompkins, 33, also claimed the singer was trying to evict her and their 12-year-old son, Marquise, from their Long Island, N.Y., home.

"I'm very thankful for this decision," the hip-hop star (real name: Curtis Jackson), 33, said in a statement. "I knew that once the facts were heard that justice would prevail. I hope now that we can put this behind us and move forward with our lives."

His lawyer, Brett Kimmel, called Tompkins's claims of a $50 million verbal contract with her ex "entirely frivolous" and the judge's decision "a complete and total victory for 50."

In court documents Tompkins, who split with 50 Cent in 2001, accused the singer of breach of contract, alleging that he promised to buy a $2.4 million house for her and their son but put the house under his name.

The rapper then filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Tompkins in June for allegedly making false and offensive statements after a suspicious fire burned down the Long Island home.

According to the court papers, 50 Cent claimed Tompkins accused him of starting the fire and "trying to kill" her and their son.

Jackson's attorney told PEOPLE at the time that her claims were "simply not true" since 50 Cent was in Louisiana working on a movie.

Only Oprah Makes More than Fiddy

50 Cent, who raked in an astounding in $150 million between 2007 and 2008, is second only to TV maven Oprah Winfrey in the bucks harvested over the period, according to Forbes magazine, which has released its list of the top-earning African American entertainers. Winfrey earned $275 million within the period. Fiddy’s portfolio includes his G-Unit record label, clothing brand and shoe company. He also brings in income from Vitamin Water, Right Guard, General Motors, Thisis50.com and his now-defunct show on the MTV network.

Foxy Brown Gives 50 Cent 24 Hours To Retract Rap Line

50 Cent may have a new adversary within a day's time.
The G-Unit leader has upset rapper Foxy Brown, who was briefly mentioned in the ballooning war of words with Miami heavy weight Rick Ross.

Foxy Brown says she is granting 50 Cent 24 hours to retract the line where she is briefly mentioned on "Try Me."
On 50 Cent's diss track, he says, "The cop f**ked a fox." The line, although scant, refers to a brief, personal relationship Rick Ross and Brown had. It also refers to Ross' past as a correctional officer.

Foxy Brown's camp issued a statement that proclaims that she has no involvement in the conflict between the two rap titans.

In a statement to AllHipHop.com, Brown's representative stated, "Foxy is giving that n***a 24 hour [period] to retract that statement orshe's going handle [him] Brooklyn Style."

Ironically, after 50 Cent wrote the initial song, Rick Ross gave 50 Cent 48 hours to offer a more substantial response. 50 Cent returned with a number of insulting videos, including cartoons and a taped shopping spree with the mother of Ross' child.

Currently, Brown is working on her new album Black Roses, which is expected to be in stores this summer.

Rumors swirled that Foxy Brown and Rick Ross were to be married, but those proved to be false.

50 Cent vs. Rick Ross: Finally A Beef We Can Care About? Not Really

There are plenty of folks who believe 50 Cent is the last stand for commercial Hip Hop right now. These folks think Before I Self Destruct will be the barometer by which the rest of the decades blockbuster albums will be measured. With Kanye giving his long dormant sensitive side some attention, T.I. headed off to the pokey and Wayne doing more guitar strumming than lyric writing these days, I'd say those folks might be right. I would assume all that pressure on Mr. Jackson is the catalyst for his "reach for the neck of any artist who goes gold" approach to beef. But when was the last time we saw someone else throw the first punch? Have we ever seen that? Did 50 actually miss someone? Yup. The Boss.

In steps Ross. When he first showed up on the scene, I expected nothing from him. Given, Hip Hop fans tend to like fat guys. Maybe that's some Notorious B.I.G. residual sentiment, but I don't know. I just felt like his flow came across too raspy and breathy, like he needed a respirator break every once in a while. However, he made it happen with Port Of Miami and I respect that.

The biggest boss just crept up on us, kinda like an undercover cop. I was shocked that he managed it, but now we know he had that po-po slow creep training. And that still didn't deter his fans. He might actually be one of those survivors the Hip Hop world needs. And I'm sure that was on the General's mind when Ross reached out to him in that "fuck you dog cuz you ain't shit" kinda way.

I like Mafia Music, but are you really dissing someone if you say you want to trick off with their baby momma? Especially if he can't stand his baby momma? What the hell kinda diss is that? I'm a trick and I want to pay your ex's rent? I'm sure Fifty was like, "Hell yeah! Do that shit!" Not to mention, Ross claims to be too legit to quit. C'mon Ross. Stop that shit before you end up opening for Hammer on the Blue Grass festival circuit. I don't even think they make Hammer pants that big, but I digress.

Anyhow and such, the half dollar wasted no time in getting back. His response is called Try Me, but in a trick twist, Ross already did, didn't he? I do appreciate the fact that 50 actually raps in this song as opposed to that angry, non-rhyming, spoken word he has become partial to. He threw some of that "I'm just gonna yell at your ass" in at the end, but that was just because Wayne hasn't earned an actual rhyme from Fifty recently.

So what now? Elephant In The Maybach mixtape? Maybe Rick Ross can arrest Fifty for sneaking 'roids into his Vitamin Water. Hell, if I know. And I really don't care all that much. Both Rick Ross and 50 Cent have albums dropping in the first quarter. It's time these dudes cut the shit and really get on the grind so instead of downloading these silly singles which are probably no more that shifts on stuff that was sitting on the cutting room floor we can all find an album we can believe in. Lord knows I'm not looking forward to hearing Wayne's Rebirth, but if these rappers continue to use their energy to fuel bullshit beef, that might be all we have to look forward to.

Rick Ross versus 50 Cent: What's Beef?

Forgive us Miami. For the past few days, a Rick Ross/50 Cent war of the words has been all over the internets and we're just getting around to reporting on it. Blame it on the fact that a headline containing "Curtis Jackson" and "beef" made us think that it was 2001, Dubya was back in office, and well, it kind of sent us into a "8 more years of this?!" tailspin. We're chill now though, because this 50-brand beef is with Rick Ross, and it's fresh.

Apparently, Fitty is a little hot that the Bawss mentioned his recent baby mama fire-ama situation in "Mafia Music," an over 4-minute hookless diatribe on which Rick comes with lyrical guns blazing. No chorus and no mercy. At the 3:05 mark, Ross says: "I love to pay ya bills, can't wait to pay ya rent/ Curtis Jackson baby mama, I ain't looking for a cent/ Burn the house down/ You gotta buy another/ Don't forget the gas can, jealous, stupid muthafucker."

Curtis no likey that shit.

And the man who has basically made a career out of rap beef - with Ja Rule in '03, The Game in '05, and Kanye in '07 - took to the internets to air out his frustration with his '09 victim. Not only did 50 create the requisite response, titled "Officer Ricky" and a cute lil' cartoon titled "Locked Up" which stars a bearded character with the same name, he also hit Youtube with a video in which he called DJ Khaled "a faggot" and told Ross "I'm deciding to fuck your life up. Rick Ross I'm gonna fuck your life up - for fun."

How sweet.

We love a good battle, and we can admit that the Boss' Corrections Officer past did bruise our hip-hop sensibility a bit. BUT Fitty's lyrical revenge was lacking and "Mafia Music" is crack. Therefore, we must agree with Ross' Friday night declaration: "We gonna give him 48 hours. Time to come up with another [song]!"

Until then it looks like another one of your publicity stunts and we're rockin' with Rick, Fif.

Update: 50 is hitting Ross hard. He's released a video where he's "interviewing" the mother of Ross' son Tia Kemp. Tia tells her story, Fitty gloats, and then he takes her fur shopping while Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" plays in the background. Check it out here and pick sides. 50 or Ross?