Back in March, Ryan Leslie headlined a solo show at Los Angeles’ Supper Club. The singer/songwriter used the time to debut “Ups and Downs,” a new song off his Les Is More album due later this summer. In classic R-Les fashion, he documents the moment via newest vlog. Let’s hope we get some album details, mainly release date soon.

Watch the performance below….

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Guerilla Union have announced the star-studded lineup for Rock The Bells 2012 which commences later this summer. Headlining this year’s festival are Missy Elliott & Timbaland, The Hit Squad (EPMD, Redman, Das EFX, K-Solo, Keith Murray), and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, who’ll be performing their E. 1999 Eternal album in it’s entirety along with an Eazy-E tribute. The fun doesn’t stop there as Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Kid Cudi, J.Cole, Ice Cube, Salt-N-Pepa, Slick Rick, Mac Miller, Dipset, Kendrick Lamar, Method Man & Redman (performing Blackout in it’s entirety), A$AP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Naugthy By Nature, Big Daddy Kane and more will hit the stage.

This year’s trek will expand to two days each stop, kicking off at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA on August 18 & 19. The tour makes it’s second stop at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA on August 25 and 26, ending on the east coast at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on September 1 and 2. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Friday, May 18 with the general public following on Saturday, May 19 at 10 a.m. EST.

NOTE: The east coast stop not only falls on the same weekend as Jay-Z’s “Made In America” festival, but in the neighboring city.

View the full lineup below….

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After premiering his new single on Hot 97, T.I. and DJ Drama had the chance to catch up with Angie Martinez and DJ Enuff on Tuesday evening. The group discusses Meek Mill originally being signed to Grand Hustle, The Family Hustle season two arriving September 3, and T.I. announces his Trouble Man album will release a day after on Tuesday, September 4.

Audio: T.I. and DJ Drama on The Angie Martinez Show (Part 1) (5-15-12)

Audio: T.I. and DJ Drama on The Angie Martinez Show (Part 2) (5-15-12)

Thanks to HHNM via Angie Martinez

Video of TIP blasting his new record on radio below….

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The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul takes a break from rhythm and blues, letting loose to the sounds of rock in “Any Way You Want It.” The cover to Journey’s 80s hit can be found on the upcoming soundtrack to Rock of Ages. The musical, which hits theatres on June 15, features a star-studded cast that includes Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Julianne Hough. Mary J. Blige appears in the flick taking on the role of a gentlemen’s club owner named Justice.

Watch the VEVO premire to MJB’s cover below….

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Back in April, T.I. released his braggadocious single for the ladies, “Love This Life.” From the looks of it, the catchy tune failed to make any major leaps on the charts. Fast forward to today where the King of the South made a visit to Hot 97 and The Angie Martinez Show to debut his new record for the streets, “Like That.” TIP’s seventh studio album, Trouble Man is due later this year.

Listen to “Like That” below and tells us your thoughts….

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Big shouts to Andrew at FSD for coming through withe CDQ of Keef and Jeezy’s first collabo record. This definitely has that trapboy bounce to it. Ya understand me?

New Music: Chief Keef feat. Young Jeezy “Understand Me”

Related: Kanye West Remixes Chief Keef’s “I Dont Like” With Pusha T, Jadakiss and Big Sean

(Presented By RockSmith)

2 Chainz and one of hip-hop’s most hated/loved female rappers just dropped new visuals for their T.R.U. REALigion collabo. You would be surprised at what super-producer told me how good Kreay’s records were. For real, dude said people literally locked him in the stu to listen but that he was blown away at the end. He’s produced for EVERYONE. Directed By Alex Nazari.

watch 2 Chainz interview with DJ Skee after the jump…

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Last night, we skated over to Alife for Curren$y’s Stoned Immaculate listening party. While he didn’t spit as many hoped he would, Spitta brought the good vibes and smoke for everyone to have a good time. It was a bit hard to hear the music but the joint I could get close enough to the speakers for was with Wiz and sounded like a possible single.

Stoned Immaculate drops on June 5th

Related: New Video: Currensy feat. Daz “Fast Cars Faster Women”

Pharrell quietly changed the name of his label from Star Traks to I Am Other last year…and assembled a whole new crew of artists and creatives. This around the same time that he also took on a slew of new projects, from “creative directing” at Karmaloop, to teaming with Diageo and Cornerstone for a new liquor “Qream“, to musical directing the Oscars with Hans Zimmer, to compiling a photo book, to enlisting designer Mark McNairy for BBC’s “Bee Line.”

All amazing endeavors….but back to I Am Other, here’s a high-production-value introduction video to the label, starring Pharrell and some of the new acts, Buddy, Leah Labelle, Maxine Ashley, etc. Very Close Encounters of the Third Kind, right? In keeping with Star Traks’ DNA.

The video was done by Justin Francis. Big up to creative director Mimi Valdes, exec producer Robin Frank, Pharrell’s right hand Mick Moreno, and the BBC crew (Loic and Phillip).

Speaking of P, I love this very simple but information piece that Hypebeast did on Pharrell’s favorite accessories.
Check it out
After the jump
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Azealia Banks flashes back outfitted in all black for the cover to her upcoming 1991 EP. The three-song collection that’ll feature the songs “212,” “Liquorice,” and “Van Vogue” will release May 29 digitally and June 12 physically. The Harlem upstart will also release her Fantastic mixtape featuring the lead single “Jumanji,” which she debuted last week. Fer debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste arrives this fall via Interscope Records.

Previously: Azealia Banks Debuts the Single “Jumanji” Off Her ‘Fantastic’ Mixtape