''He Is Not That Kingpin...''
1:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis

James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond's trial began this week, with his attorney, Gerald L. Shargel, giving his opening statement and defending his client's reputation and lambasting the prosecution. Shargel referred to Rosemond as "a perfect scapegoat for accusation."

"James Rosemond never touched a kilo of cocaine," Mr. Shargel said. "He is not that kingpin that the government says he was."

Carlos Giraldo, a special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, testified that he used UPS shipping labels in August 2009 to track down several kilograms of cocaine believed to be connected to Rosemond's alleged involvement in a cocaine-distribution organization.

A prosecutor, Soumya Dayananda, showed the jury the cocaine that was seized.

Rapper Touring For the Rest of May
1:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis

Rapper Rakim has announced that he will be hitting the road for a May Canadian tour, that kicks off on the 17th in Montreal, QC. The tour continues through May 27th when it wraps up it in Vancouver, BC.

There will also be stops in Ottawa, Saskatoon and Nelson.

Rakim is also slated to appear at New York's Joe's Pub on June 13th, where he will take the stage for the Reebok Classics series.

''You Just Have To Be A Skilled Emcee''
4:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis

BET's "106 & Park" will be launching a new freestyle segment, adding to the already-popular show's cache. Dubbed "The BackRoom," the segment will feature rappers rhyming over exclusively-produced beats.

“The BackRoom is the place where freestyle will reign,” said Stephen Hill, president of music programming and specials, BET Networks. “Truth is, we’ve missed having a place like ‘Rap City’s’ ‘The Booth’ and now we’ve got it. In The Backroom, it doesn’t matter if you’re famous or not. You just have to be a skilled emcee.”

It is being reported that rapper 2 Chainz will be the first to participate in the new segment.

''It's Exactly What It Should Be''
4:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Chris G.

Jay-Z updated fans on the progress of Roc Nation rapper Jay Electronica's debut album. The labelhead said that he supports Jay's creativity and allows the artist to operate on his own time--but he also acknowledged that Electronica is prepping some great music.

"I love that, I want to support that sort of energy. I want people to be creative and not traditional, not just a single [at] this time, this time [and] this time," Jay-Z told MTV News. "You know, he operates at his own time, but the album is really close."

''Right Now, It's Solo Time''
8:30PM ET May 15th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis

Outkast's Big Boi has joined his estranged rhyme partner Andre 3000 in downplaying any notion of an Outkast reunion. While the beloved Hip Hop duo have never 'officially' broken up, Big Boi says that fans shouldn't expect any new Outkast music in the near future.

"We're just really focused on solo projects. I'm working on mine, he's working on his, and we'll just go from there," Big Boi said. "I just like to make music. I can go either way, solo or Outkast. My whole thing is just to keep the recording process going. When it's time to do the Outkast record we'll do it, but right now it's solo time."

"I said we were working on music, not the Outkast album," Big clarified. "Sometimes he comes to the studio and be in my sessions just checking out music. People get excited when they see us in the studio together, but it was never for one specific project. Sometimes Dre's in the studio listening to my new music."