In light of Kanye West’s continued success at The Grammys (while he was busy taking in the sights in Brazil with Kim and Will Smith this weekend, he scooped three awards: Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration), CBS Chicago 2 decided to meet up with some of Ye’s old High School teachers to reflect on his climb to “the top of the totem pole.”

“[He used to tell me] he was going to be the best rapper in the whole world,” his old P.E. teacher beamed. “There were times during class where he would be doodling or drawing or he would be writing; back then I would have called it poetry, but it was really rap,” another remembered. Even Kanye’s unforgettable outburst during Taylor Swift’s VMA acceptance speech didn’t surprise some of his teachers; he would often speak out before he thought about the consequences, apparently. Sounds like his teachers always had a hunch about the kid.

Watch the video after the jump…

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Beyoncé is the undisputed media darling of the moment. As if a raunchy GQ cover shoot, singing the National Anthem at President Obama’s Inauguration and a show-stopping (literally) solo performance and Destiny’s Child reunion at the Super Bowl halftime show weren’t enough, she now graces the cover of Vogue‘s March issue. In the cover story, Bey opens up about the joys of motherhood and her experiences during pregnancy, the recording process behind her upcoming fifth solo album, being the focus of the HBO documentary, Life Is But a Dream (which airs Feb. 16) and much more.

Check out more quotes and pictures from the cover shoot after the jump…

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Like nearly every big single these days, Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” (whose music video debuted just last night) has been remixed plenty of times already (by Wiz Khalifa, for one). But according to Drizzy, we’ve got an an official remix to look forward to. The YMCMB MC drunkenly told Rap-Up at the Cash Money Pre-Grammy party on Saturday night that he doesn’t have a favorite remake of his single yet because “the official remix hasn’t dropped” — to which his homie and video co-star OB O’Brien responded pretty well. He didn’t indicate who will guest on the remix, but you can bank on some pretty big names, no doubt. Drake’s third album, Nothing Was the Same, is coming soon.

Watch the interview after the jump…

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Speaking to Fuse on the red carpet at The Grammys last night, Pusha T revealed that his debut solo album, My Name Is My Name, will release in May. He didn’t share a specific date, but he did announce that his recently released collaboration with Rick Ross, “Millions” (originally featured on Wrath of Caine), will appear on the album. Pusha Ton also spoke on his Grammy nominations (“Mercy” lost out to Jay and Kanye’s “Ni**as In Paris” in both Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song categories) and shooting his “guerilla-style” “Doesn’t Matter” video with French Montana in Brooklyn.

Watch the interview after the jump…

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After Jay-Z made fun of his appearance at The Grammys, The-Dream caught up with Billboard to speak on his oft-delayed forth solo album. While backstage the singer/songwriter revealed his new project will now be called Fourplay, arriving on May 7. Previously, the LP was titled The Love IV and included the singles “Roc,” “Kill the Lights,” and “Dope Chick” with Pusha T. When asked about the delay, The-Dream explains his work on Beyonce’s new album held up the process.

Expect the new single “Slow It Down” to arrive on Thursday. The-Dream lso revealed he’ll be heading to Paris soon to work with Kanye West on his upcoming solo album.

Previously: The-Dream Previews Forthcoming ‘The Love IV’ Album Tracklisting

Earlier tonight, Drake won his first-ever Grammy Award for “Best Rap Album.” After that, he caught up with Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet and announced the title of his third solo album, Nothing Was the Same. Due later this summer, the album will follow-up his multi-platinum 2011 effort Take Care. Along with his new award and album title, Drake released the video to the LP’s first single “Started From the Bottom.” Watch the Little X-directed clip here.

Check out Drake’s red carpet interviews with E! and FUSE after the jump…..

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A celebration, fitting for The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Mary J. Blige was honored at the VIBE’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and Inaugural Impact Awards on Friday night in Los Angeles. Held at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, MJB drew plenty of star power support as Diddy, Swizz Beatz, Queen Latifah, Jermaine Dupri, Anita Baker, SWV, Nick Cannon, Big Sean, Babyface, Andre Harrell, and more attended the event. The afterparty featured a performance from Anita Baker, as Nick Cannon DJ’d the celebration.

Mary used her time on the red carpet to address recent reports regarding a lawsuit filed by the Bank of America. When touching on the subject said she ignores any negativity that comes her way, “There’s really nothing you can say about the negative things that are in the media about you. All you can do is keep pushing, keep your head up and just let people be people. Let haters hate and just do what you do, use all of that to fuel you to do something better.”

When speaking on being honored, she touches on the impact she’s made in her storied career. “It feels great to be honored with the Impact Award tonight. Because I believe I’ve made an impact on so many people’s lives. It feels good.”

Catch some photos, plus interviews on the red carpet below…..

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All eyes this weekend are on Los Angeles as music’s biggest starts prepare for the Grammys on Sunday. On Saturday night, VIBE Magazine celebrated their 20th Anniversary Celebration and Inaugural Impact Awards at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood. The always stylish and dapper Big Sean caught up with Rap-Up to speak on his two Grammy nominations and upcoming Hall of Fame album due later this year.

The Detroit MC says his sophomore album is nearly done and to expect a new single this month. While he wouldn’t reveal the song’s title, he did name Miguel, Jhené Aiko, Kid Cudi, Nas, Common, and his G.O.O.D. Music family as guests. One the project is complete, he hopes to catch up with fellow Detroit-native Eminem to play the finished product for him.

Watch Big Sean on the red carpet, below……

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There’s been plenty of talk (including from the man himself) over the past year that a new Eminem album is in the works. The rapper’s long-time manager, Paul Rosenberg, offered the latest update on the forthcoming record today. Speaking to Billboard, Rosenberg revealed that Em is “far into the process” of recording his eighth studio album, and that it is due post-Memorial Day (which falls on May 27 this year).

We fully expect to be releasing a new Eminem album in 2013. He’s been working on it for some time. It’s safe to say that it will be post-Memorial Day at some point, but we’re not exactly sure when. We’ve got some dates locked in for him to perform live in Europe in August, so we’re trying to see what else lines up.

Rosenberg also discussed Shady Records’ other future releases. He reassured us that 50 Cent’s Street King Immortal will arrive in the first-half of 2013, and that new solo projects from Yelawolf, Royce Da 5’9″, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Joe Budden are all in the works.

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Not only a breakout name in New York’s thriving underground hip-hop scene, Angel Haze has also been catching the eye of the fashion world. The Brooklyn-based MC has been selected to model Mark McNairy’s Fall 2013 collection. Catching up with MTV Style on the set of the lookbook shoot, Angel spoke on how Danny Brown’s past involvement with McNairy encouraged her to model the line, spoke on her own style, which she describes as androgynous, and praised the designer for his ’60s Oxford-style spin on urban fashion. McNairy’s Fall 2013 collection will be on show at New York Fashion Week next week.

Watch the interview after the jump…

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