Music

 Lavish Life Productions As a precursor to his upcoming album, The Composition, Mums FP offers 24 as the quintessential introduction to his cross-regional sound. Using

 Capitol Records After becoming one of the UK’s unexpected breakout stars of 2007, Lily Allen reveled in her celebrity status by fighting, drinking and cursing

 A&M Records Somalian MC K’Naan is following the world hip-hop explosion led by M.I.A. with this powerful set of songs on conflict, love and war.

  Koch Records As a member of Queens Bridge’s most dangerous hip-hop group, Havoc created the sound that allowed Mobb Deep to thrive during the

Representin’: Chicago Sounds Like: Styles of Beyond meets A Tribe Called Quest Chicago native Simeon (now known as See-Me-On) Viltz had plenty of musical influences

Paul Wall is over living the fast life, even if that is the title of his latest album. He’s been in the business since he

Suge Knight Assaulted During NBA All-Star WeekendHip-Hop’s most notorious bully got a taste of his own medicine during All-Star weekend. Reports out of Scottsdale, AZ

Gospel Singer, Dreams Are PossibleShe won “Oprah’s Pop Star Challenge.” She’s a spokesperson for Ashley Stewart clothing line. She’s currently on a national tour bringing

Crawford, Miss., is poor — like the rest of the state that most readily brings to mind images of the slave trade. But that hasn’t

 MYX Music The production duo, Kyle “Keelay” Pierce and Tim “Zaire” Lewis has fortified numerous MCs’ efforts with their abilities, so it’s only fair that

 Drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts is perhaps best known for his work with the Marsalis brothers, Wynton and Branford. Here, he strikes out as a leader

 Heads Up International Philadelphia natives, Pieces of a Dream’s latest offering is a curiously titled collection of smooth jazz tracks. The album’s 11 cuts roll

 Sony BMG Music Entertainment The disco era hit many R & B acts hard, prompting them to change their sounds to adapt to the times,

  While with her latest album, India.Arie continues her trend of delivering emotional tales of hard-earned life lessons and love, this time around it seems

  Rapster Records When J Dilla lost his battle with lupus in 2006, urban music lost one of its brightest producers. Known by mainstream fans

  Charlie Wilson is always at his best when he’s singing age-appropriate songs, and so is the case with his latest effort, Uncle Charlie. Songs

 Zomba Shari Addison contributes to gospel by going by the numbers and yes, playing with clichés, but she manages to please listeners nonetheless by simply

 Hi Fi Recordings Resurrecting the classic sound developed by the legendary Stax Records, Melinda Doolittle’s debut evokes nostalgia for the days of yesteryear. The former

 Sony BMG Music Entertainment The Jacksons’ 1980 multiplatinum selling album came on the heels of brother Michael’s phenomenal Off the Wall album, yet it generated

  Strut Records The man who invented mixing, returns with The Bridge, Grandmaster Flash’s first album since 1988’s On the Strength. This set is full