Obie Trice releasing Second Rounds On Me on.....

Obie Trice was on WJLB.
And he announced that his second album "Second Rounds On Me" will be released on the 25th of July.
The firts single is expected to drop late May.

DMX claims 2006 as Year Of The Dog

After a three-year hiatus, DMX is slated to release Year of the Dog, Again on Ruff Ryders/Sony Music.
X was initially slated to release the album under the title Here We Go, Again last summer.
The album would have dropped under Def Jam. Since then, X has left the label and signed with Sony Music.
Contrary to popular belief, X is still signed to Ruff Ryders. In fact, Swizz Beatz is reported to have played a big role in the album and produced its first single, "We In Here."
Year of the Dog, Again will mark the Yonkers, NY rapper's sixth album. To date, he has released It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh Of My Flesh Blood Of My Blood, And Then There Was X, The Great Depression and Grand Champ.
Year of the Dog, Again is slated to hit stores this summer.

Pharoahe Monch signs deal with.....

Pharoahe Monch has joined forces with Loud Records/SRC founder Steve Rifkind to release Monch's first album since his 1999 debut Internal Affairs, on Rawkus Records.
Pharaohe Monch will release his highly anticipated album, Desire, on a new unnamed label Rifkind has founded and runs, after a bidding war which is also distributed by Universal.

A bidding war for Pharoahe's new album was reportedly between Sony, Bad Boy and Eminem's Shady Records.
Rifkind eventually signed the rapper after hearing what he dubbed "the album of the year."
"On a creative and business level, I've never been this excited," Monche said in a statement.
"I've had the time to work on this album, and being a perfectionist, it's really come to fruition.
It's very soulful, very gospel, a fresh, new sound for me. It shows so much growth spiritually, almost as if I'm a new artist. When I play the record for people, that's how they hear it."

Pharoahe Monch was a member of the renowned group Organized Konfusion. After releasing his critically acclaimed album Internal Affairs, label politics slowed down the rapper's career.
Rawkus signed a distribution deal with MCA and later, the label was absorbed into Geffen.
Monch recorded an album for Geffen but the recording was never released as the rapper attempted to free himself of the Geffen deal.
"There's an element of obvious patience, but that's just who I am," he said. "I've learned that it was best for me to wait for the best situation. Everything happens for a reason. This is my expression and creation. I know people are waiting for this album, and I respect my fans enough to put out quality music."

The first single from the album will be the white labeled "When the Gun Draws," which will be accompanied by a short film. "It's a concept record," said the rapper. "About life from the perspective of a bullet."
The first commercial single will be "Push." No release date was available for the album as of press time.

Rocawear has inked a deal to create watches

Rocawear has inked a deal with watch designer Vestal Group Inc. to create a timepiece collection that will launch at the 2006 Las Vegas MAGIC show this week.
Under the deal, the Vestal Group will create and design Rocawear timepiece collections for men and women. The merchandise will have a price range of $95-$395.
Founded in 1997, the Vestal Group is known for creating edgy, unique watches inspired by music.
"We are pleased to partner with the Vestal Group as they are uniquely positioned to provide the cutting edge design consistent with the Rocawear brand," said Rocawear CEO Jay-Z.
"I feel strongly that the taste level and loyalty of our customer is to be respected and our timepiece collection will appeal to their fashion sense while also giving them a true classic timepiece to be worn for many years to come."
The Rocawear collection will hit retail stores in fall 2006.

Freeway explains workin with G-Unit

We reported in November that 50 Cent announced he would co-executive produce Freeway’s sophomore album Free At Last, and the Philly product recently elaborated on the situation.

Freeway said he, Jay-Z and 50 Cent are working hard on the album which is tentatively scheduled for a May release through Roc-A-Fella Records. "I got mad love for [50]. What people don't know is that we have been tight for a while," said Free. "Our first album both came out in the same month, and we did a lot of shows and other things together back then."

G-Unit Records employee Sha Money XL said Lloyd Banks and Young Buck will join a list of features that includes, tentatively, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, the Roots' Black Thought, Nate Dogg, and Mariah Carey. "Philly, I got a crazy joint with Black Thought," said Free.
Referring to a song with Jay-Z Free said, "We only make classics, and the joint with 50 is stupid."

His manager, Ryan Press, says Free and the Def Jam president remain tight and the G-Unit ties do not present a problem. Press says we will hear a more mature Free on Free At Last and the Muslim emcee will address the status of his relationships with G-Unit, State Property and Roc-A-Fella Records co-founders Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke.
"I'm just very excited about my new album and also to help the unity in hip-hop and prove that young black successful people can work together in this game," said Free. "We need something like this.

B.G. makes "Moves" with new album and video

B.G. has reunited with former Cash Money mate Mannie Fresh on his forthcoming album, The Heart of tha Streetz Vol. 2 (I Am What I Am).
Due March 21 via Chopper City Records/Koch, the album's lead single, "Move Around," was produced by Mannie Fresh. The video for the single, which was filmed in Atlanta and New Orleans, premieres today (February 20) on Yahoo Music! It will also appear on BET and MTV Jams soon.
Since leaving Cash Money in 2001, B.G.'s career has had its share of ups and downs. The New Orleans native struggled with a heroine addiction, lackluster sales, and a recent arrest in Michigan. However, as Co-CEO of Chopper City Records along with partner, Carol Dorsey, the original Hot Boy hopes to prove that he is still a force to be noted in the rap game.
"Everything that I've been through qualifies me to be the heart of the streets," said B.G. via a statement. "Everybody knows my history and my background, so I've got the right to call myself the heart of the streets. I've been in the game since I was 14. This is my tenth solo project; nine solo albums, three Hot Boys albums, and gang of underground discs. I ain't but 25 and I'm already a legend."
For more with B.G., check out SOHH's exclusive interview with the rapper after his release from jail.

Common is coming with new album

Common's new album is named Finding Forever. Of course there is a message;
Go and find your own place in music so you will last forever.
"Music is only eternal if you create something that comes from your heart. I'm lookin at legends like Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and A Tribe Called Quest, that's all eternal music. At this point in my career I'm tryin to create my own eternal music."

He has just started to work on his seventh album but his plans are clear.

"I want to work with Kanye again and I would really want to work with Dr. Dre
, because he really is a producer from that Old School time. I love people that stay on top on the game for years and Dre is one of those persons."

Common is busy with his tour but it looks like he's stoppin the promotion for his last album "Be". If he would release another single for the album, it would be "They Say" featuring Kanye West & John Legend.
But Common is only thinking about doing new things. Common, who already has some experience as an actor, wants to expand his actin-career. He just finished the movie "Smokin' Aces" besides names like Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta and Alicia Keys.
Besides that you can see Common in "Dave Chapelle's Block Party", which will be released on the 3th of March.
And don't forget that his line of hats, "Soji", is coming too.