WOW! Beyoncé and Jay-Z are sharing their world in a way we’ve never seen before. The happy parents debuted photos of their newborn daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, and don’t even front…the baby is adorable : )

I also think it’s a nice change that the Carters eschewed the whole tabloid bidding war tackiness, instead choosing to post the photos on the Blue Ivy’s own tumblr page, lol. (Do you think tumblr had to come up off something though?)

Check out more super cute photos of hip hop’s first family: Jay-Z holding his daughter, close-ups of Blue Ivy’s face and more…
After the jump

Previously:
Beyoncé’s Post-Baby Body Is Bananas…At Hubby Jay-Z’s After-Party
Phew! Jay-Z Will Still Curse and Beyonce Won’t Share With Tabloids
EgoTripLand x MissInfo Present: 10 Other Ways Jay-Z Could Celebrate Daughter Blue Ivy’s B-Day
Blue Ivy Carter: 10 Things We Know (or Think We Know) About Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Baby
Jay-Z Samples His New Baby’s Cries on “Glory” Feat. Blue Ivy Carter! (Updated with Lyrics)
Congratulations to Beyoncé and Jay-Z on the Birth of their Baby Girl! (UPDATE: Blue Ivy Carter)
Rihanna, Gwyneth, Diddy and Snooki?! Wish Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Blue Ivy Carter a Happy Born Day

T.I. and Tiny maybe expecting a new member to their big family soon. In episode nine titled “Baby Fever,” Tiny is flirting with the thought of having a baby. When she reveals what’s on her mind the family doesn’t seem to sit well with the idea.

Previously:
T.I. & Tiny: ‘The Family Hustle’ (Episode 8 )
T.I. & Tiny: ‘The Family Hustle’ (Episode 7)

The time is almost here. MTV’s set to unveil its annual “Hottest MCs List” soon, until then they’ve announced the 25 candidates that will be cut into a final list of ten. Starting next week we’ll find out #10-#6, with the top five coming on a special roundtable show on Sunday, February 19th at 10:30 p.m. EST on MTV2.

View the 25 candidates and Pharrelll gives MTV his pic for 2011’s ‘Hottest MC’ after the jump….

MTV ‘2011 Hottest MC List’ Nominees:

2 Chainz
50 Cent
Big Sean
Common
Drake
Eminem
Fabolous
French Montana
Jadakiss
JAY-Z
Jim Jones
Kanye West
Lil Wayne
Lloyd Banks
Maino
Meek Mill
Nas
Nicki Minaj
Red Café
Rick Ross
T.I.
Wale
Wiz Khalifa
Yelawolf
Young Jeezy

Pharrell picks Rick Ross as 2011’s ‘Hottest MC’. If you recall in an interview with VIBE, Pharrell showed praise for the head of MMG, also appearing on his Rich Forever mixtape.

“Rick Ross is on his way, he’s working his way. He’s been doing it for a minute, and he’s been really consistent.”

Thanks to Rahman Dukes/MTV

Previously:
MTV’s Hottest MC List (Top 5): Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake & Rick Ross
Nicki Minaj is #6 on MTV’s Hottest MC’s List
Lil Wayne places #7 on MTV’s Hottest MC’s List
Waka Flocka is #8 on MTV’s Hottest MC’s List
B.o.B. takes the #9 spot on MTV’s Hottest MC’s List
Ludacris ranked #10 on MTV’s Hottest MC’s List
MTV on Fabolous, Lloyd Banks, Gucci Mane & Wiz Khalifa not making ‘10 Hottest MC’s List

It’s the holiday season in the Harris household. In their new episode, “Tip Clause” and family get taught a valuable lesson in charity while performing a Christmas play for the less fortunate.

Thanks to Yardie/MWP

Previously: T.I. & Tiny: ‘The Family Hustle’ (Episode 7)

Where hip-hop and hockey meets. Ottawa’s Scotiabank Place served as host for the 59th annual NHL All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon, and they didn’t have to look far for entertainment. Drake made it to center ice to perform “Headlines” and “The Motto” during the exhibition game’s second intermission. Watch the performance from the nation’s capital above.

Spotted at Complex

Drake meets the NHL All-Stars, and watch Outasight open the NHL All-Star Game performing “Tonight is the Night” after the jump….

via CJZero

Previously: The Roots Perform At The NHL’s 2012 Winter Classic (Video)

A$AP Rocky had one of his dreams come true for the new cover of Complex Magazine. Throughout the young Harlem rapper’s lyrics, there’s numerous references to fashion designers like Raf Simmons, Rick Owens, and one of his favorites Jeremy Scott. The hard working Complex crew plucked both Rocky and Scott to cover the Feb/March issue of their magazine. They discussed everything from the connection between hip-hop and fashion, childhood influences, their breakthrough moments, and more.

Complex: Why do you think hip-hop is so fascinated with fashion and vice versa?
A: As black people it was our thing to show that we’re not living in poverty and that we can afford extravagant things—that kind of stuck with us. So when our great-grandparents were putting on their favorite outfits, it was to put on a front for the hard times. And hip-hop is a bunch of people that never had nothing. Fashion is just an expression. It’s an art. It expresses your taste. Good taste is important in hip-hop. I wake up saying I’m going to look the best I can and do what the fuck I want to do. And that’s what it’s all about. I don’t know if I articulated it good because I’m pretty high right now—and I have a lisp and I’m going to Mars right now.

J: [Laughs.] The thing is hip-hop is one of the only communities that really started its own trends.

A: Wow.

J: That’s why I’ve always been inspired by hip-hop artists, because they transform things—even just the jean, turning it around, inside out, sagging it—all these different things. Yes, of course we get little things from other music movements, but hip-hop has been like, Pow! It’s really inspiring and it’s the only new music that has come along in eons. Rock and roll has been around—it’s changing forms. But hip-hop is major.

A: That is so crazy.

Vice also dropped A$AP’s “Wassup” Video

Check out more from the cover story, photos, behind the scenes video and the inspiration for the cover after the jump…

The beautiful thing between hip-hop and fashion is what’s going on here at this shoot. Some people may ask, “Why are these two together?” But this guy loves your clothes. You love the music.
J: Absolutely.

A: Yes. It can happen anywhere. It can happen in rock. It can happen in punk. It can happen in funk. But hip-hop would cherish it more because it never happened before. It’s the unexpected—like having a black president. We cherish that.

J: We almost had a black Republican nominee—that’s even more mind-boggling!

A: In hip-hop culture, things are changing every day. For Jeremy to do this with me is different. I wear braids and I’ve got gold teeth and I look up to a fuckin’ designer and his name is Jeremy Scott. I’m from Harlem. People know me. I’m certified. I love these designers. I love Rick Owens. I’m just keeping it real. This is what I do. I’m keeping it on a whole ’nother level with you. When this comes out it’s gonna be a talked-about fuckin’ cover. This is going to be talked about for fuckin’ eons and centuries and ’til infinity.

A$AP, you’ve talked about this before, but why do you still think there’s homophobia and ignorance in rap?
A: I’m not homosexual. That’s not where I’m at with my life. But I can still be greatly inspired by a homosexual. It has nothing to do with their sexuality. If I start discriminating against people, that will stop me as a person. That’s ignorant. What the fuck does that have to do with anything? It’s not like I want to date this motherfucker—I’m inspired by this dude. This isn’t about fashion, it’s what he personally did for me. I’m not saying I’m going to be an activist. I want to enlighten those brothers. I used to be like them, but I’m a grown-ass man. I don’t care what another man does with his time.

J: Why does it exist in the world? I don’t know. It’s just one of those things. I don’t know why people care about what other people do. When this becomes an issue in politics, that’s the thing that boggles my min

(Read the full story at Complex.com)

Plex’s EIC tweeted a photo of the cover’s inspiration

Check out more photos and a behind the scenes video below

Related: ASAP Rocky Says The Diplomats Are “Legends”
Dipset Brings ASAP Rocky Onstage at Red Bull Show #HarlemConnect
New Music: A$AP Rocky “Trilla” and “Back To The Future” (Unreleased)
ASAP Rocky Hits The Studio With Dipset Producer AraabMuzik (Video)
Things I Love: ASAP Rocky’s “Peso” Video…The Glorious Excess of Harlem Accessorizing

I know I’m not the only one that’s ever wondered about one of the greatest one-hit wonders in hip-hop: Skee-Lo. His 1995 single and music video “I Wish” was one of the first rap music videos I can remember jumping around my house to. It was comedic, yet very relatable for people from all walks of life. This video, along with “Fantastic Voyage” and “Ain’t Nothing But A G Thang” will forever be engraved in my brain as some of my favorite rap videos of all time. However, unlike Coolio and Snoop, Skee-Lo was never able to follow up the success of his breakthrough single. He did find some gigs in acting and actually starred in a TV version of Dangerous Minds and served as a MTV VJ on The Grind, but his music career was brought to a halt by the dealings of a shady label.

“I retired five months after it was released,” Skee-Lo says, drinking coffee at the Denny’s on Crenshaw and 37th, a few blocks from the home he shares with his wife and two children. “Not only did my label [Sunshine] take credit for producing ‘I Wish,’ they took all the profits. So I refused to shoot any more videos, promote or record music. I’m not their slave. I wasn’t working for free.”

The LA Times tracked Skee-Lo down for an update and some clarity on what really happened to his career. According to the interview, the rapper became so depressed after his label situation that he gave up on life and even contemplated suicide. It wasn’t until he got reacquainted with his faith in Islam that he was able to snap out of his funk and get his life back on track. Skee-Lo eventually went on to win back his publishing for “I Wish.” Currently, Skee-Lo receives royalties whenever the song is played or purchased.

Watch the original “I Wish” video and catch up Skee-Lo’s new projects after the jump…

“It got to the point where I told my wife and children that I didn’t want to live anymore,” Skee-Lo says of his low ebb five years ago. “Then a voice spoke to me clearly and said, ‘At what point in your life were you truly happy?’”

The religious vision caused Skee-Lo to rededicate himself to the Nation of Islam, which he had joined at 16. His raised spirits and reaffirmed spirituality inspired him to form his own indie label, Skee-Lo Musik, whose flagship release will be April’s Fresh Ideas, Skee-Lo’s first real record since “I Wish.”

But no matter the outcome, he’s achieved the crucial goals of his lone smash: People still remember his name, and he’ll be played on classic rap radio until the day everyone is 6 foot 9.

“I’ve had people from prison tell me how much that record helped them through the years they were locked down,” he says. “People treat me well wherever I go. How can you hate on Skee-Lo?”

(Read the full interview at The LA Times)

Skee-lo – I wish

Donut | Myspace Video

After not-giving-a-cheesy-tabloid-her-first-interview since the birth of Blue Ivy Carter, rumors were buzzing that Beyonce would step out for her first public appearance since the birth….to support her hubby Jay-Z’s 40/40 club re-opening. So many red-carpet watchers were disappointed when Bey did not attend. It seems like a lot of us were caught up in in the hysteria. Mr. North pointed out that health-wise, it was probably too early for Beyonce to go anywhere. The club was still packed, though. Celebs like Warren Buffet, Spike Lee, Questlove  and more all came out to show their support.

UPDATE 1/21/12:
One day after this grand opening party, the NYC Dept of Health reportedly swept in and shut down the newly renovated 40/40 Club for varying degrees of eww. Under the NYC restaurant rating system, if you score higher than 28, you get a C-Grade….
The 40/40 Club scored a 69.
Some of the violations sound mild, like “thermometer not used during cooking…”
But others like a refrigerator being kept at 60 degrees, bare-hand salsa mixing, and “inadequate personal cleanliness”!?!?
*dry heave*

More details….
And more photos from the opening…
after the jump…

UPDATE 1/21/12 continued:
So according to the New York Post and TMZ, the Dept of Health shut down the 40/40 one day after the opening bash….but they came during business hours so all the customers that were already there, got to stay. Omg. What the hell is that?
More importantly, the kitchen must have cleaned up that night because the club was back open for business by Friday.
Grand opening, Renovation closing….Grand re-opening, Next-day icky re-closing, Quiet Re-re-opening.

Back to the pretty pictures:

(via Rap-Up)

Get More: Jay-Z, Music News

Related: EgoTripLand x MissInfo Present: 10 Other Ways Jay-Z Could Celebrate Daughter Blue Ivy’s B-Day
Blue Ivy Carter: 10 Things We Know (or Think We Know) About Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Baby
Jay-Z Samples His New Baby’s Cries on “Glory” Feat. Blue Ivy Carter! (Updated with Lyrics)
Beyoncé and Jay-Z Welcome a Baby Girl Into the World: Blue Ivy Carter

It’s kind of a comeback….for the Grammy’s that is. After 7 years of rudderless, aimless, unmanned ceremony, the 2012 Grammy Awards will be hosted by LL Cool J. While most of us didn’t really notice, the awards have just used a stream of presenters and pre-presenters since 2005, when Queen Latifah was the last official host.
Does that mean that this year will be any less of a snore? Probably not. But LL is likeable, respected and mainstream enough to bridge all Grammy audiences.
Even though LL Cool J was part of the Grammy nomination show’s Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five tribute, his hosting gig probably has less to do with his status as a hip hop legend, and more to do with the fact that his TV show NCIS: Los Angeles helps to keep the old people network CBS on top of the ratings. The CBS is also the home of the Grammy telecast…which is also why the goth chick from NCIS always ends up awkwardly presenting an award.
But even if NARAS prefers Todd James, LL Cool J will always be hip hop, so it’s a win.

LL Cool J’s statement…and more Grammy details…
After the jump

LL Cool J (via People):

“I’m thrilled to be part of Music’s Biggest Night. I will always have fond memories of my first Grammy Awards and to now be hosting the Grammy show, in the company of so many other incredible artists, is a dream come true.“

The 54th Grammy Awards airs on Feb. 12 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Nicki Minaj will be performing, along with Bruno “Everybody Nose” Mars, Taylor Swift, and a woman who sings way better than Taylor a/k/a Kelly Clarkson.
As for the awards themselves (which seem to be 3rd most important, behind red carpet and performances): Adele and Kanye West are heavily nominated…

Related:
Kanye West & Adele Lead 54th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations
Kanye West Blames Himself For ‘Album of the Year’ Grammy Snub
Steve Stoute’s Open Letter To The Grammy Board
Common, LL Cool J & More Tribute Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (Video)

Over a looped Shirley Bassey sample, watch as ASAP and Theophilus London work on their upcoming collaboration, “Big Spender.” There is no release date for the track yet, but judging by this preview, it’s going to be hot when it drops.

Catch Mr. London on his Tour de Roses (dates here) or alongside Drake and Wiz Khalifa at Sundance.

As for “Big Spender”…get at TL on Twitter if you want it to drop soon!

Previously:
Theophilus London – “Last Night (LVRS ANTHEM)”
Theophilus London’s “I Stand Alone” Video: Fashion Cowboy Hits the Road
Theophilus London Visits Jimmy Kimmel (Video)