Jay-Z, Will & Jada Pinkett-Smith Receive Tony Award Nominations For “Fela!”

Jay-Z, Will & Jada Pinkett-Smith have been nominated for Tony Awards for their part in producing Broadway hit musical Fela!

 The new musical Fela!, which began life Off-Broadway, is about Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian musician and activiast, who used his soulful and stirring Afrobeat rhythms to spark a generation to fight for change, defy opression & government corruption.

Both Fela! and the revival of La Cage aux Folles, earned 11 nominations a piece, the most of any production of the season.

Music: The-Dream feat. T.I. – “Make Up Bag”

New music from The-Dream featuring T.I. calle”Make Up Bag” set to appear on the-Dream’s Love King Uncaged album dropping soon.

The-Dream feat. T.I. – “Make Up Bag”

Gucci Mane Forms New Label; Fires Managers While Still In Jail

According AHH, Gucci Mane is looking to make moves in 2010 and he’s not waiting to be released from jail to start making them. First step is to dissolve all ties with “shady” business partners and taking control of his own career. Step 2…bye-bye to his own old label, So Icey Entertainment; Hello to his own new label, 1017 Brick Squad Records, Inc.

Details after the jump

Video: Beyoncé – “Why Don’t You Love Me”

Check out the official world premiere of Beyoncé’s new video, “Why Don’t You Love Me” — she got the 60′s homemaker vibe going on in this one…nice — she has got to be the hardest working woman in the game right now.

Mixtape: Young Jeezy & Don Cannon – “Trap Or Die 2: By Any Means Necessary”

Young Jeezy  joined by Don Cannon finally drops his long awaited follow up mixtape Trap Or Die 2: By Any Means Necessary. Download it below.

Mixtape: Young Jeezy & Don Cannon – Trap Or Die 2: By Any Means Necessary

Back cover & tracklist after the jump

J. Cole Interviews With Funkmaster Flex & Spits A Freestyle

J. Cole had a quick chit chat with Funkmaster Flex and even spit a freestyle over Raekwon’s “Ice Cream” & Too Short’s “Blow The Whistle”– check out both below.

J. Cole – “Funk Flex Freestyle”

Interview

Freestyle

Sidebar:  Check out J. Cole:  Lights Please: From SxSW to S.O.B.’s which chronicles J. Cole’s performances from SxSW leading up to his star-making performance at NYC’s famed S.O.B.’s (after the jump)

Hot 97′s Summer Jam 2010 Lineup Announced; Drake, Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane & More Set To Appear

One of, if not, the biggest mega concert of year is NYC radio station Hot 97′s Summer Jam 2010 which will be held at the newly built New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday, June 6 at 6:30pm.

Well the official lineup has been announced and features artists who are hot right now: Drake, Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane (you’re thinking “Ain’t he locked up?” — well he’s set to be released next week on May 12 — who knew?), Trey Songz, Usher, Ludacris, Juelz Santana, Fabolous, Reflection Eternal & DJ Khaled and friends.

Now everyone knows Smmer Jam is known for surprise guests; so with this lineup you can guess Juelz will bring Lloyd Banks for the collab banger “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” or even an official Dipset reunion on stage (that’ll be big), Khaled stays with a crew of rappers so this could be Fat Joe, Rick Ross and more, Reflection Eternal can bring out Mos Def, J. Cole and Jay Electronica to perform their collab “Just Begun” — who knows maybe Jay Elect performs “Exhibit C” — possiblities are endless. So are you going? Need tix? Cop them here.

Video: Sade – “Babyfather”

New video from the sultry, soulful and timeless Sade for “Babyfather” off her platinum-selling LP Soldier Of Love.

Dame Dash Brings Roc-A-Fella Records Back To Life

Looks like Dame Dash got the ROC back…Dame has secured a deal with Def Jam (who owns the label) to  run and sign artists to the label and revive Roc-A-Fella. Dame first signee? His new homie from New Orleans, Curren$y. Dash plans to make Curren$y’s Pilot Talk the label’s first new release on June 15 & the first step in resurrecting Roc-A-Fella Records. So do you think Dame can bring back the ROC? Or competitively contend with Jay-Z’s new Roc (Nation)?

“Def Jam or Universal bought the brand. I think the ‘beef’ [with us and Jay-Z] was that Jay made it clear he didn’t want me or Biggs to be a part of it. That’s really where it was at. Now that he doesn’t work for Def Jam anymore, he doesn’t have the right to use the name. So there’s no reason for us not to use it. It’s there, and it’s a brand that’s not being used. So I was like, ‘I’ll take it.’ It always meant something to me.”

Props: MTV

Video: Kanye West On “The Cleveland Show”

Kanye West made his appearance on The Cleveland Show last night starring as Kenny West and taking on Cleveland Jr. in rap battle. Hilarious…check it out.