Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown recording artist Lil Wayne is gearing up to release his highly anticipated album Tha Carter III, the final in the trilogy, on May 13th.

Reba McEntire has scored her first number one album in America - with a little help from her friends. The country star's Reba Duets release has toppled Kanye West's "Graduation" thanks to an opening sales week of 301,000.

The manager of Chicago rapper Twista has hit out at U.S. police - blaming a recent raid on the star's tour bus on "racial and rapper profiling." Manager Rawle Stewart believes the rapper was unfairly targeted by Michigan State Police after his tour bus was seized by ten officers en route to Detroit on Wednesday.

NEW YORK (AP) - Rap's critics have been complaining for years, only to watch the music become even more profane - and more popular. But now it seems as if Don Imus may be accomplishing what a generation of detractors could not.

Chicago rapper Twista has been axed from a tour sponsored by fast food giant McDonalds because his lyrics were deemed too offensive. The 10-city concerts will feature performances in McDonalds' parking lots across the U.S. by stars including Ne-Yo, Kenna, Kat De Luna, the Dey, Single File and Kevin Michael.

Rapper Twista has hit out at church leaders who have branded hip-hop music "trash" and degrading to women. Chicago-based church The Faith Community of Saint Sabina has attacked ten of the most popular rap artists in the U.S. - including 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg in a new advertising campaign.

The Almost Famous (The Sexy Lady EP), in stores July 24th, is a special treat for all you who can't wait until August for Yung Berg's debut LP, Look What You Made Me. The 6 song EP includes special features from Twista, Rich Boy and Jim Jones.

Hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari escaped a serious car crash yesterday with minor injuries. The musician, who has worked with rappers including Kanye West and Twista, suffered minor head injuries when her Mercedes C Class 550 was struck by a courier truck from behind.

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.

For the first time ever, MTV2, together with Asylum records, will release a My Block: Chicago – The Soundtrack on October 10 and feature 15 tracks by some of the hottest and most respected artists from the Windy City including Common, Lupe Fiasco, Twista, Kanye West, and much, much more. MTV2's "My Block: Chicago – The Soundtrack" showcases essential tracks from Chicago's celebrated hip-hop history as well as exciting, fresh new sounds from the streets of Chi-town.