Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has helped to raise $1.4 million for New York's underprivileged children, as part of the Art For Life Not So Mellow Yellow fundraising event.

Chamillionaire has refused to respond to disparaging remarks made about the rapper by 50 Cent, because he believes the G-Unit star is just using the war of words as a "gimmick". 50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - attacked the Ridin' Dirty hit maker in a recent issue of Spin magazine, in which he criticized his rival for bowing to public pressure to censor rap music.

R. Kelly's Double Up debuts this week as the #1 selling album on both Billboard's Top 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop album charts. The #1 debut of "Double Up" marks the highest first-week sales of the year for any R&B solo artist.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will release their long-awaited Interscope/Full Surface debut, "Strength and Loyalty," on April 17, 2007. "I Tried," a track that features Akon is the album's lead single. Mariah Carey rejoins Bone on the melodic "Little Love," the album's second single produced by Jermaine Dupri.

The Dixie Chicks were the big winners at the Grammy Awards, scooping five awards. The country band fought off stiff competition from the likes of Justin Timberlake, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mary J. Blige to win the prizes for album, song and record of the year as well as best country album and best group country performance. Full Winners List Below!

Once again, it’s time to look ahead to the upcoming year in entertainment. A long list of distinguished music acts will be releasing albums this year, with some great releases just weeks away. It looks to be quite an interesting selection, no matter your tastes in music. Here’s some of the music you need to look for in 2007:

Many have doubted the blossoming country music career of Carrie Underwood, but in 2006 everything was coming up roses for the American Idol winner. Upon releasing her debut album, "Some Hearts," in late 2005, the album skyrocketed to the #2 spot on the country music charts in its first week of sales, selling over 300,000 copies. By April, "Some Hearts" would be certified triple-platinum, making it the fastest country debut album to ever reach the mark.

...During July, co-founder and original Pink Floyd guitarist/singer Syd Barrett, who had spent the better part of the last 35 years as a hermit, died at age 60 from diabetic complications... Weezer singer Rivers Cuomo pretty much confirms rumors that the band is done, "unless," he says, "it becomes really obvious to me that we need to do one."

Gnarls Barkley's international smash hit "Crazy" has topped rock magazine Rolling Stone's Record of The Year poll. The catchy tune beat The Raconteurs' "Steady As She Goes" and Chamillionaire's hip-hop anthem "Ridin'" to claim the number one spot on the new hit list.