Are you for them or against them (band them)?

Tuesday afternooon singer Monica delivered a healthy baby boy. The baby has been said to have weighed in at 5 lbs., 6 oz. and was 19 inches in length. Monica named the newborn Rodney Montez Ramon. Both Monica and fiance Rocky are very pleased to have finally welcomed the new addition to their family. Monica was working on her 5th album throught her entire pregnancy.

Snoop Dogg recently admitted that his next album might include some rock collaborations. According to Snoop Dogg, 36, he feels his next album will not only include guest appearance but will overall be inspired by rock and roll. He confessed to MTV.com that he is eager to work with Madonna, Mick Jagger, and Bono. He also said that hip hop does not really inspire him anymore and that he wants to step out of the box and do something different.

Over the holidays Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem was rushed to the hospital for a severe pneumonia and heart condition. It has been reported that he has recently gained a large amout of weight and is now weighing over 200 pounds. He has now been released from the hospital and is currently recovering at home.

Chris Brown has always clamed that Michael Jackson was one of his idols and that he wold love to work with him. Thanks to Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas, his dream might become a reality. According to a conversation that Chris Brown recently had with Michael Jackson, he verbally agreed to that in the near future him and Chris could collaberate and make a track together. Chris Brown who is now 18, has frequently stated that Jackson is an inspiration to him, noting that he grew up singing his songs and doing his timeless dance moves.

Rapper T.I. is expecting his fifth child with former Xscape member Tameka “Tiny” Cottle. It will be the couples second child together. Allegations of her pregnacy began to arise after he was arrested for possetion of marijuana and ecstacy. They are currently living together while T.I. is on house arrest awaiting trial for gun charges.

Since Jay-Z resignation from Def Jam, it has been speculated that he was going to sign with Apple. Since apple has incresed its revenue due to iTunes sales, making a music label would fit and increase their pay as well. Jay-Z refused to license his recent American Gangster blockbuster album to iTunes and the album remains unavailable through the online music store. Hiphopcheck will bring you more information if the rumor becomes official.

R. Kelly was hit with a lawsuit last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, saying that he fired R&B singer Ne-Yo without any justifications or reasons. They also had a deal where Ne-Yo would be recieving a six figure paycheck at the end of the tour.

According to Ne-Yo, R. Kelly fired him because he “upstaged” Kelly during the “Double Up Tour.”
Ne-Yo claims that he was to be paid $785,000 dollars to perform as a featured artist on the “Double Up Tour,” which also features other hit artists such as Keyshia Cole and J. Holiday.

Ne-Yo claims he was fired after two shows and only paid $50,000 dollars. Kelly’s representatives have stated that Ne-Yo was dropped for contractual reasons and has nothing to do with his performance on stage, which Ne-Yo denied in a previous statement.

Michael Jackson’s Thrillers was the world’s best selling album of all time, and now the 25th Anniversary Album will include all the previous songs with a hint of some new age style. It will be featuring Akon, Will.I.Am, Kanye West and Fergie on certain tracks. Each artist added their personal signature flare to the older Michael Jackson hit that they are featured on. Fergie has added her vocals on the new version of “Beat It” entitled “Beat It 2008″.

Epic/Legacy Recordings humbly celebrates the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller with a newly extended deluxe edition of the extraordinary record-breaking album, available in the U.S. on Tuesday, February 12, 2008. The album will be available worldwide the week of February 11, 2008.

The 25th Anniversary album will include all of the older tracks as well as a seven bonus tracks and a DVD with “Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean.” The newly extended version of Thriller premieres six tracks previously unreleased in any form, “Beat It 2008″ with Fergie , a new Kanye West remix of “Billie Jean” , a new 2008 version of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” with Akon , Will.I.Am on “The Girl Is Mine” and “P.Y.T.” (just remixing both singles) , and “For All Time,” a rare unreleased song from the original Thriller recording sessions, newly mixed and now being shown off by Michael Jackson.

Jay released the following statement Sunday December 24 that officially marks his resignation from his current position as President of Def Jam when his contract expires at the end of 2007.

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have served as President of such a culturally-defining label as Def Jam over the last three years. During that time, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many of the world’s most dynamic artists and many of the most dedicated and talented executives in the music business today, including [IDJMG Chairman/ CEO] Antonio “L.A.” Reid. But now it’s time for me to take on new challenges. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy, helping to move the company into a new era of artistic success.” – Jay-Z

Although Jay-Z resigned from his head lead at Def Jam, he will remain in charge of Roc-A-Fella, while still recording under it as well. From all the people he has signed since he became president in 2005, his “artists” have been nominated for 26 Grammy awards.