Mobb Deep rapper Havoc is launching a solo career with the release of his debut album "The Kush" next month. The 33-year-old admits he's wanted to release a solo disc for years, but always ended up releasing his songs as Mobb Deep material instead.

Born and raised in the notorious Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Papoose took his first jabs at being a rapper at the young age of 11. Given the name by his grandmother meaning "Indian baby", whom he resembled as a child, Papoose is the true definition of a real MC.

Rapper 50 Cent has blasted Lloyd Banks and Young Buck - insisting they have taken advantage of his generosity. The hip-hop mogul's music label G-Unit Records also boasts rap duo Mobb Deep and M.O.P. - but he believes they have become spoilt by his laid back approach to money. And it took a meeting with his artists to make him realize things had to change.

This summer's biggest tour, Family Values, has teamed up with RedOctane's Guitar Hero to sponsor a second stage on the tour with an additional five bands making a total of 13 acts performing.

...In April, Billy Corgan announced that Smashing Pumpkins will reunite and begin recording a new album... Rihanna released her sophomore disc, Unfaithful, featuring the single S.O.S., which includes a sample of Soft Cell's Tainted Love... and Cee-Lo and DangerMouse's collaboration, Gnarls Barkley took the U.S. by storm, as their hit single Crazy stormed the charts and took off as one of 2006's most popular tunes.

On December 26, hard rock fans can get another taste of one of the music world's most successful tours when The Family Values Tour 2006 CD and separate DVD are released on Firm Music. The CD and DVD will feature live tracks from Korn and the Deftones, as well as select cuts from all the bands on the bill: Stone Sour, Flyleaf, Dir en grey, 10 Years, Deadsy, Bury Your Dead, Bullets and Octane and Walls of Jericho.

G-Unit cohorts Mobb Deep were nearly killed in a plane incident when one of the engines of the aircraft on which they were travelling failed, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida, early Saturday morning.

Highly respected West Coast lyricist, Ras Kass, is back with his first release since his departure from his two year stint in prison. He's on a vengeance to prove he's still got it and will verbally assault any emcee (any coast) and he's here to show that the west is definitely back on the map!! This highly anticipated new album, "Eat or Die," features some of today's hottest rappers appearing side by side with LA's finest.

Generous rap mogul 50 Cent made his new G-Unit recruits Mobb Deep gifts of Porsches as a signing bonus. The rapper picked up the New York duo, Havoc and Prodigy, a week after they were dropped by Jive Records.

More than 80 eclectic songs from NYC raised or transplanted bands that span such diverse genres as punk, hip hop, hardcore and rock bring true East Coast flavor to Activision, Inc.’s highly anticipated True Crime: New York City video game. The in-game soundtrack features licensed tracks from some of the biggest names in music from Bob Dylan, The Ramones and Blondie to Run DMC, Public Enemy and DMX, as well as new music from Redman, including “Rush The Security” from his upcoming album Red Gone Wild and two original tracks written for the game. True Crime: New York City, set to hit store shelves on November 16, also features an in-game customizable play list option that allows gamers to order the music based on their personal taste.