According to reports, Canadian R&B singer has signed on to play Aaliyah in an upcoming movie based on the late singer’s life. The movie will begin shooting in August and will likely come out next year.

This is a great choice because I always thought Keshia Chante looked a little like Aaliyah, hopefully she can be able to channel some of the same sexy hood swag Aaliyah had. [Full disclosure: YoRapper had a serious crush on Aaliyah bitd.]

More details to follow.

Rick Ross, Rick Ross, Rick Ross, and Rick Ross appear on the July issue of XXL mag. Oh and those other people were photoshop’d in.

Psss. What are they looking at?

The album cover for the new N.E.R.D lp was leaked to the net today and everyone agrees it looks wack.

Rapper Remy Ma, who was featured on Fat Joe’s smash hit Lean Back, and who is currently engaged to Brooklyn rapper Papoose, has been hit with an 8 year sentence for shooting a woman outside a Manhattan club. Remy Ma, whose real name is Remy Smith, has been officially convicted with assault, weapon possession and attempted coercion. Her lawyers have advised that they will appeal the decision, but things are not looking too good for home girl. Prosecutors were looking to put Miss Remy Ma away for thirteen years.

This all steams from an incident outside a New York club in which Remy Ma was arguing with “her friend” who she pulled a gun on and allegedly started tussling with her when the gun discharged. Proof that no rapper should own guns.

On a side note, her jail house wedding ceremony with lover Papoose seems like it’s going to happen.

As some of you probably already know, Noel from the group Oasis, had some harsh things to say about Jay-Z headlining this big show in the U.K., which is usually headlined by a rock act. The angry English dude basically blamed Jigga for the lack of ticket sales this year. It’s taken a while for Jay-Z to respond (probably to busy dissing ball players) but here’s what he had to say about the situation.

We don’t play guitars, Noel, but hip-hop has put in its work like any other form of music. This headline show is just a natural progression. We just have to respect each other’s genre of music and move forward.

I’ve never ever had a show that’s caused this much of a stir so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve never been involved in anything this controversial. What’s the big deal about doing a show? I guess it’s heritage and people hold that dear to their heart and see it one way but that’s how the world is. The world has to change. It just can’t be one thing - and that’s the beautiful thing. That’s why people feel so passionate about an event.

And the winner is…

Tracklisting for Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter 3 may have leaked onto the net, but not 100% sure. I also noticed that Tha Carter 3 is on pre-sale for only $9.97. Is it just me or is that cheap?

Lil Wayne -Tha Carter 3 Tracklisting
1. 3 Peat
2. Mr. Carter (featuring Jay-Z)
3. A Milli
4. Got Money (featuring T-Pain)
5. Comfortable (featuring Babyface)
6. Phone Home
7. Dr. Carter
8. Tie My Hands (featuring Robin Thicke)
9. Shoot Me Down (featuring D.Smih)
10. Playin’ With Fire (featuring Betty Wright)
11. Lollipop (featuring Static Major)
12. L.A. (featuring Brisco and Busta Rhymes)
13. Good Girl Gone Bad
14. You Ain’t Got Nuthin’ On Me (featuring Fabolous and Juelz Santana)
15. Let the Beat Build
16. Whip It
17. Misunderstood

Okay, okay this isn’t exactly breaking news, but a few days back Kanye wrote up on his blog his response to Entertainment Weekly’s review of the Glow in the Dark tour giving it a B+. Read more »

Lupe Fiasco’s second critically acclaimed album, The Cool, has reached Gold status this week as per the RIAA. Read more »

Lil Wayne’s lead single to Tha Carter 3, “Lollipop” has already sold over 138,000 singles this week alone which makes it the #1 song on Billboard this week. Read more »