Just when these other magazines thought it was safe…Complex is back with a monster issue that’s set to dominate this summer! For the first cover from our June/July 2011 issue, we hit the beach with Rick Ross and Andy Samberg, and came back with a hilarious image that references the iconic poster from Jaws 2 (this one, kids).

Our rap/comedy dream team is really running things right now—the Saturday Night Live star just released Lonely Island’s second album Turtleneck & Chain, while the Bawse just dropped Maybach Music Group’s debut Self Made Vol. 1. The new issue of Complex doesn’t officially hit stands until June 7, but we’re giving you a chance to read the full cover story now. UGHN!

Click here for the full article.

Related: Rick Ross Visits Cannes Film Festival | Jay-Z Covers Delta’s SKY

“Ye is just in an extraordinarily creative place—so much so I need to get him to focus so we can finish this,” Jay says. “But music is his refugee right now.” – Jay-Z speaking on Watch the Throne

True Jay-Z fans know that every time he records an album he lets his hair grow out. With that being said, it looks like he has been recording for a while. Hopefully him and Ye have cooked up a classic. In the meantime Hov covers SKY magazine for the month of May. Check out the full article here.

Related: Sade ft. Jay-Z – Moon & The Sky (Remix) | WBG Wise Words: Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z

The Dirty South legends, 8 Ball & MJG sit talk pimpin’ in Memphis with Ben Westhoff, author of the new book Dirty South: OutKast, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and the Southern Rappers Who Reinvented Hip-Hop, which is available on Amazon and your local bookstore now. Hit the jump below to check out the video and book cover.

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Now that you’re on G.O.O.D. Music and solo, will there be an adjustment to your rapping style?
Pusha T: I tell people a lot of times, the dichotomy of the Clipse is Pusha is the brash one and Malice is the more introspective, conscious one. But when you’re in a group, there are roles that you have to play. With me being by myself, you’re going to get more of what might have been Malice’s role when I was in the group. It’s not that I don’t think that way…he’s just better at that than me. [Laughs.] That’s his first thought when wordplay is my first thought. You’re probably going to get a little bit of me articulating really introspective things and getting the full spectrum of me.

What is it like for you rolling without Malice?
Pusha T: It’s really not a big deal to me. When we’re together, there’s been plenty of days where we’ll come do an interview and I’m just not into it. I just don’t answer, and he gets that sense of me and he takes the reign. Right now, it’s all on me. No days off. So I can’t really slack. Having him with me, I can slack. Other than that, it’s not really much of a change man. I mean, I guess I’m in New York and he’s not here. But in the studio at home, he’s there. He’s like, ‘Yo, that’s crazy,’ or ‘Yo, that’s mean.’ The visual to the public is what it is. But you got to remember we’re brothers, like we’re brothers. This isn’t made for TV. This is family.

Hit the jump below to view some more of the interview.

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Nitty Scott M.C. is a female rapper that was “born in Michigan, made in Florida and paid in New York.” She hit the scene a few months back and opened ears with her freestyles over Monster and Deep Cover in which she showcased her ability to rhyme and say something meaningful in the process. As far as the future of hip-hop is concerned, Nitty Scott is a bright young talent that’s leading the way. Nitty is not your typical female rapper that glorifies how good her body is. Instead she utilizes the power of her mind and empowers young women. We had the chance to catch up with the young star and ask her about her career, influences, success and how she gets down. Hit the jump below to check out the interview.

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BALTIMORE — The Library of Congress has selected Spike Lee’s 1992 biopic about Malcolm X and a 1959 film dramatization of a discussion between blacks and whites about jazz are among the images that will be preserved as part of its National Film Registry.

The 25 films selected this year include “Malcolm X,” which starred Denzel Washington as the civil rights leader, and “Cry of Jazz,” a 35-minute analysis of the origins of jazz – played out through black and white actors representing different points of view.

The Library of Congress announced the selections earlier today (Tues., Dec. 28). The goal of the registry, which began in 1989, isn’t to identify the best movies ever made, but to preserve films with artistic, cultural or historical significance.

”The Empire Strikes Back,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and “Airplane” will also join the registry this year.

via NO

“My light is brilliant.”

“Exhibit C” magnified everything. Everybody was coming at one time. I’m the kind of person where if I get to a point where I can’t make this decision then I’m gonna stand still. I don’t care. I’ll stand still for two years, 20 years. I’m 34 years old. I’m still learning myself, but I know myself a little bit, so I stand still. People was telling me, “Oh, you buggin’, this is the time.”

By the time March [2010] came, it was crazy. I coulda signed any kinda deal at that time. I coulda took these publishing companies to the cleaners. I met anybody you can think of. Like, I’m gonna entertain what you sayin’, but we already have a fundamental disagreement in the way that we view the music business and the treatment of people, period. I need to feel like I’m talking to my grandmother. I need to feel like I’m talking to my sister or my mama to feel comfortable. If I’m not at that comfort level then I’m completely uncomfortable.

(Universal Records CEO) Monte Lipman was the first person that visited me. He was supposed to come by himself. He came with his whole office, and Mr. Chow’s or Philippe’s. I don’t even know what that is. I was like, Is this a surprise attack? He came in, walked around the apartment like he owned it. He said, “Yeah well we here today, I came here to make you a rich man today.” He said them exact words. I said, “Hold on man, first of all,” and I gave him the history of the white man 6,000 years ago to now, and let him know, “Wait a minute, my man, you’re in my house. You are a guest in my home.”

Hit the jump below to read the full article. I suggest that you do.

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So here it is…NO MERCY, the most honest and intimate installment of my life story as promised. Hope y’all enjoy it and it lives up to the very high standards I’ve set for myself  or anyone who’s to be considered one of the best.  I must admit it takes a lot to go through as much as I have and still keep the love in your heart and in your art. But at the end of the day, if that’s what it takes to produce the music that keeps the world of hip-hop evolving on it’s axis….Then even the lowest of the lows of my life was all worth it. Thanks again for your prayers, your time and attention.  And remember….It does’nt matter how long it’ll be before the next time you see me.  What matters is that I’ll be a better man before that time comes.  The longer I sit, the smarter I get.

I’d like to give a vey special thank you to all the fans who’ve been writing me and lifting my spirits everyday.  I read all of them.   Although I would never be able to write you all back…I’d like to list as many of you individualy as i can and thank the others collectively.   It’s a relief to know that there still are people who see a man with a life and not just another headline in the news.  Most of you sound very concerned and optimistic at the same time about my situation.  Let me assure you all that I am deffenitely keeping my head up.  I don’t consider myself done by far.  Also many of you are convinced as I am that God has a plan for me that he’s preparing me for.  How do you tell God Almighty that all you wanna do is LIVE LIFE ???  What if all you wanna do is be a father to your kids, a husband to your wife, and son to your mother while providing insightful motivation through music and lending a helping hand when posible to those who need it most.  Well guys…That’s the topic of discussion between me and the MOST HIGH at the moment.  I’ll keep you posted on how it turns out.  Who knows maybe you can look foward to hearing the dialogue between us set to music on the next album…which I’ll be announcing the official title to sooner than later. But until then, thanks again for all your understanding, love and support. Y’all take it light and be eazy.

- Love King.

Related: Video: T.I. ft. The Dream – No Mercy

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp has held talks with media companies to license TV networks for a new online pay-television subscription service through devices such as its Xbox video game console, two people familiar with the plans told Reuters.

The software giant’s possible push into the television business comes as Google Inc, Apple Inc and Netflix have jostled for a seat at the table of television’s future — a main topic of discussion at the Reuters Global Media Summit to be held this week.

The maker of the Windows operating system has proposed a range of possibilities in these early talks including creating a “virtual cable operator” delivered over the Internet for which users pay a monthly fee.

Other options include using the Xbox to authenticate existing cable subscribers to watch shows with enhanced interactivity similar to how pay TV operators have sought to do over the Web, said these people.

Microsoft is also exploring the possibility of creating content silos and selling more individual channels directly such as an HBO or Showtime. It already has Walt Disney Co’s ESPN on the XBox Live online service for example.

Hit the jump below to read the rest of the article

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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — St. Louis overtook Camden, N.J., as the nation’s most dangerous city in 2009, according to a national study released Sunday.

The study by CQ Press found St. Louis had 2,070.1 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, compared with a national average of 429.4. That helped St. Louis beat out Camden, which topped last year’s list and was the most dangerous city for 2003 and 2004.

Detroit, Flint, Mich., and Oakland, Calif., rounded out the top five. For the second straight year, the safest city with more than 75,000 residents was Colonie, N.Y.

The annual rankings are based on population figures and crime data compiled by the FBI. Some criminologists question the findings, saying the methodology is unfair.

Greg Scarbro, unit chief of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, said the FBI also discourages using the data for these types of rankings.

Kara Bowlin, spokeswoman for St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, said the city actually has been getting safer over the last few years. She said crime in St. Louis has gone down each year since 2007, and so far in 2010, St. Louis crime is down 7 percent.

Erica Van Ross, spokeswoman for the St. Louis Police Department, called the rankings irresponsible.

“Crime is based on a variety of factors. It’s based on geography, it’s based on poverty, it’s based on the economy,” Van Ross said.

“That is not to say that urban cities don’t have challenges, because we do,” Van Ross said. “But it’s that it’s irresponsible to use the data in this way.”

Hit the jump below to see the full list

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