Nas calls out Tiger Woods, recalls the golfer's "coon move" ...

Diddy plans $2 million bash to celebrate his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ...

Ne-Yo couldn't find time to work with the Spice Girls. Smart move, Ne-Yo ...

Looks like Lil Wayne's been playing Guitar Hero. Unfortunately, the rapper hasn't really honed his guitar playing skills ...

Police drop domestic battery charge against Vanilla Ice ...

Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Rakim are among the artists signed on to perform at the traveling 'Rock the Bells' festival, which kicks off on July 19 in Chicago, wrapping August 30 in Vancouver. The ten-city tour will also act as the reunion for '90s alternative hip hop group the Pharcyde.

"This year's line-up represents, respects and recognizes the diversity and inspirational possibilities often promised, but rarely delivered in a live hip-hop experience," Chang Weisberg of Guerilla Union, the event's organizer, said in a recent interview. "We really feel that this year's group of artists define our platform and further galvanize the legacy that Rock The Bells has earned through the years."

De La Soul, Raekwon, Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, Murs and Kidz In The Hall will hit the stage, along with newcomers Kid Sister, Spank Rock, Santogold, Flosstradamus, Jay Electronica, Wale, and The Cool Kids.

The wait is over! Queensbridge, N.Y. emcee Nas takes no prisoners on the new single 'Be a [Insert N-word] Too,' off his highly anticipated upcoming album, '[Insert N-word here].'

The rap star shouts 'Critics, eat a d---' as he rhymes about the controversial pejorative term that many rappers have been criticized for using in their music. The track, which is meant to express that the N-Word is used by all races and ethnicities, was produced by Salaam Remi and Big Jack.

Listen to 'Be a [insert N-word] Too'

Like many other artists, Nas admits he's not putting his support behind any particular presidential candidate, but the rap star did have some amiable words regarding Senator Barack Obama.

"I'd love to see Barack Obama become the president. He's the face of America, hands down," the rapper told MTV. "There's no two ways to look at it, man. The man's got what it takes. He's serious."

While the rapper was willing to talk politics, he was a little less forthcoming when it came to divulging details of his much-delayed controversially-titled upcoming album, dubbed '[insert N-word here].' "I don't wanna reveal everybody that I worked with yet," Nas said. "Because I'm still working [and] still finishing up the record. And I think I want that to speak for itself."

Looks like Nas won't be subscribing to or picking up a Maxim magazine anytime soon. The rapper expressed some confusion and discontent with the men's mag -- known for its revealing pics of female actresses and models -- when they gave his upcoming album a 2 1/2-star review.

The 34-year-old rapper, who's been making hits since the mid '90s, wasn't dismayed by the thought of receiving a less than stellar critique, but was instead surprised that Maxim could even have an opinion on the incomplete project.

"I'm finishing the album now, and it will be out April 22," the rapper told the New York Post's Page Six. The rap star went on to admit that a review from Maxim, good or bad, wouldn't weigh heavy on his mind. "I'd prefer [a review from] Playboy," Nas said. "That kind of stuff doesn't reach my radar or effect anybody around me. I don't know what a music rating from Maxim is ... I don't know what it even means really."

The blogosphere is buzzing with rumors that the two biggest artists in hip-hop could be planning a collaborative album. According to New York Daily News' Rush & Molloy, Jay-Z and Nas are working on an upcoming album, titled 'The Kings of Hip Hop,' to be released on Jigga's rumored "in-the-works" record label, Carter Music Group in 2009.

If there's any truth to the whispers, the collaboration could catapult the Carter Music Group to magnificent heights with just one release. In the meantime, fans of Jigga man can check out the hip-hop mogul when it hits the road with Mary J. Blige, beginning March 22 in Miami. As for Nas, there's still no word on when the rap star will release his controversial N-word album.

In, possibly, the worst "Stand By Your Man" moment, Kelis donned a jacket with the N-word bedazzled on her back at the 2008 Grammy Awards show. We can assume the singer's bad taste was an attempt to support her husband, rap star Nas, who caught flack in November when he announced that his 10th studio album would be entitled [insert the N-word here].

Nas is no stranger to controversy. The rapper released 'Hip-hop Is Dead' in 2006 and ruffled feathers as he criticized the entire genre. Critics and hip-hop elite alike assumed the rap star was directing his angst toward Southern hip-hop, which has been accused of lowering the standards of rap with its lack of solid lyrical content. The album was slated for a February release, but a single has yet to be dropped.

Kanye West received a whopping eight Grammy nominations -- including Album of the Year -- for his chart-topping 2007 effort 'Graduation.'

The rapper/producer, whose mother passed away suddenly last month, was insiders' top pick and leads the list with the most nods. Troubled songstress Amy Winehouse tails behind West with six nominations. 'Graduation,' West's third album, sold almost 1 million copies its first week, topping 50 Cent's 'Curtis.'

Jay-Z ('Kingdom Come'), Common ('Finding Forever'), Nas ('Hip Hop Is Dead'), T.I. ('T.I. vs. T.I.P') and West ('Graduation') all earned nominations for Best Rap Album.

Other nominees included Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, T-Pain, Chris Brown, Timbaland, and Akon.

Read more on the nominees for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Nas, who's made it perfectly clear that he's all about making a statement, -- see 2006's 'Hip Hop Is Dead' -- released details about his controversial upcoming album, [insert N-word here], in a recent interview with MTV.

"I have a song called 'The Fear,' " he told MTV. "The full title of the record is 'The Fear of the Black Man's D---.' That's some s--- you can get comedy [from], or you can get some seriousness from it when you talk about the barbaric castrations that happened in our past -- which is very serious, nothing to laugh at."

Known for being a little deeper than some of his counterparts, Nas claims the album's sensitive subject matter isn't intended to single out or attack any particular race or ethnic group.

"It's not an attack on white people at all," he said. "It's knowledge; it's understanding for all people. It's not an attack on any race." He adds, "It's about the attacks that have happened to blacks, whites, all ethnicities ... I have a song called 'You a [N-word] Too.'"

Nas also said he's decided to push back the album, which was originally slated for a December release, to February in honor of Black History Month.

Song: 'Made You Look'
Album: 'God's Son' (2002)
Why It's Still Hot: Nas takes it back to the streets as he plants his feet and leaves his mark in every borough of New York City.

Song: 'Bridging the Gap'
Album: 'Street's Disciple' (2004)
Why It's Still Hot: Nas' father, jazz musician Olu Dara, gives a shout-out to Ray Charles at the end of the harmonica-laced track, which also gives a nod to blues greats Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.

Song: 'Hate Me Now'
Album: 'I Am ...' (1999)
Why It's Still Hot: The controversial video with Sean 'Diddy' Combs -- then known as Puff Daddy -- features Nas being crucified. The video was also the cause of Diddy's alleged attack on Nas' off-and-on manager, Steve Stoute.

Song: 'One Love
Album: 'Illmatic' (1994)
Why It's Still Hot: Nas reaches out to his incarcerated friend via letter in the video for 'One Love,' which was directed by hip-hop legend Fab Five Freddy.

Song: 'Street Dreams (Remix)'
Album: 'It Was Written'
Why It's Still Hot: What's a remix without a guest appearance? In the video for 'Street Dreams (Remix),' Mr. Bump and Grind joins Nas on the hook to add a soulful spin to an already hot track.

Song: 'Got Ur Self A'
Album: 'Stillmatic' (2001)
Why It's Still Hot: Nasty Nas confesses his sins over a sample of Alabama 3's 'Woke Up This Morning' while reenacting the deaths of the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac.