Drake releases the cover work for his upcoming album, Thank Me Later.

The Young Money/Cashmoney/Universal Motown signee’s debut album is set to drop June 15th.

Check out XV’s “Lift the Game” from his mixtape, 30 Minute Layover. Tracklist & Artwork after the jump!

30 Minute Layout is preparation for his next mixtape of original material. It should be dropping sometime in the near future.

Download it here.

Shouts to Beats&Bombs!

Inspectah Deck prepares to drop album March 23. Tracklist and download link after the jump!

Inspectah Deck preps to release his fourth solo album, “Manifesto” on March 23.

Download one of the songs, “Serious Rappin” ft. Termanology & Planet Asia, for free here.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Tombstone Intro (Prod. by J.Glaze)
2. The Champion (Prod. by Alchemist)
3. Born Survivor ft Cormega (Prod. by Moss)
4. This Is It (Prod. by Dtox)
5. Luv Letter ft Ms. Whitney (Prod. by INS)
6. P.S.A (Prod. by Lee Bannon)
7. T.R.U.E ft. MeShel (Prod. by INS)
8. We Get Down (Prod. by INS)
9. The Big Game ft Raekwon & AC (Prod. by Mental Instruments)
10. Tombstone Interlude (Prod. by J.Glaze)
11. 9th Chamber (Prod. by INS and Khino)
12. Really Real ft. Carlton Fisk & Fes Taylor (Prod. by INS)
13. Serious Rappin ft Termanology & Planet Asia (Prod. by Mike Cash)
14. Do What U Gotta (Prod. by Flip)
15. Crazy (Prod. by J.Glaze)
16. Gotta Bang ft Kurupt and Billy Danze (Prod. by Shorty 140)
17. The Bad Apple (Prod. by K.Slack)
18. Brothaz Respect ft Cappadonna and Fes Taylor (Prod. by Cee the Architech)
19. 5 Star G (Prod. by Moss)
20. The Neverending Story ft Pleasant (Prod. by Agallah)

 B.O.B. releases next mixtape named after his album’s release date. Tracklist and download after the jump!

Atlanta-based rapper and Grand Hustle recording artist B.o.B. has finally released his mixtape titled May 25th, the date of his debut album release. The highly anticipated mixtape includes features from J.Cole, Asher Roth, and Charles Hamilton, to name a few. In addition, several of the tracks on his mixtape are self-produced. For those who have been following B.o.B., you can hear the improvement and growth from his first mixtape, Who The F-ck is B.o.B.?

Download the mixtape here!

Redman releases second single from new album.

“Oh My” is the second single from Redman’s new album, Reggie Noble 9 1/2. Give it a listen. Download it here.

Shouts to NahRight!

Quest releases a new track from his new mixtape. Quest releases a new track called “Exhibit Q” off of his new mixtape How Thoughtful. The mixtape is set to drop Feburary 11th with DJ RTC and is  presented by YesIamQuest.com & Rubyhornet.com. QuESt uses Jay Electronica’s monumental record “Exhibit C” for the track.

You can download it here.

Here are a few words from Quest:

“Hello everyone. I’ve been working non stop for the past couple months on my upcoming project “The Reason: A Defense Mechanism.” Taking my time making this project is very important. I want this to be my best work to date. As I want with every major project that I release. While I’m still working on “The Reason: A Defense Mechanism”, I took some time out seperately to compose a mixtape with my homie Dj RTC from the good folks at Ruby Hornet. Its called “How Thoughtful” & will be presented by YesIamQuESt.com & Rubyhornet.com.Just a little something to hold everyone over until “The Reason: A Defense Mechanism” is released. “How Thoughtful” will be released to the world on Feburary 11th. In the meantime here’s a leak from it called “Exhibit Q”….Why not right?. “The Reason: A Defense Mechanism” Still has no set release date. But my team and I are aiming  for an early summer release.”
- Quest

The roster of scheduled designers for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has been released.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has released a roster of scheduled designers to showcase their Fall 2010 collections during Fashion Week in New York this February 11-18.

More on Fashion Week here.

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek release new mixtape Reflection Eternal: the Re-Union via The Year of the Black Smith website.

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek are back with the RE:Union mixtape, mixed by Statik Selektah.
1. Intro
2. Revolutions Per Minute
3. In This World ##
4. Hip-Hop (Unreleased)
5. Back Again ##
6. Wishing On A Black Star
7. Just Begun ft. Jay Electronica, J. Cole, & Mos Def ##
8. Come Around ft. Termanology & Royce da 5’9 (produced by Statik Selektah)
9. Internet Connection
10. Let It Go ft. Dion
11. Testify ft. Styles P
12. Time
13. The Thrill Is Gone ft. Styles P (produced by Statik Selektah)
14. Can We Go Back
The Reflection Eternal Classics:
15. Fortified Live ft. Mos Def & Mr Man
16. Chaos ft Bahamadia
17. The Express
18. Respiration ft. Common & Mos Def
19. Definition ft. Mos Def
20. RE:Defininition ft. Mos Def
21. Move Something
22. Ghetto Afterlife ft Kool G Rap
23. The Blast RMX ft. Erykah Badu
24. Good To You (produced by Kanye West)
25. Get By REMIX ft. Jay-Z, Mos Def, Kanye West, & Busta Rhymes
(produced by Kanye west)
26. Back Up Offa Me
27. Piano (Hi Tek ft. Ghostface)
28. Music is Life (Hi Tek ft. Nas)
29. Hang Ups (NEW Reflection Eternal not on album)
30. Outro

Make sure you download it here!

According to Dan at Elitaste blog, “The Meeting,” recorded two years ago, was Wale’s manifesto of his goals in his music career. The track produced by Osinachi was once played in his first label meetings. Hear for yourself whether Wale measured up to his goals.

Listen here:

Source: Elitaste

Download: “The Meeting” by Wale

This week, three highly anticipated albums of 09′ have fell victim to the industry trend of the “push back”. 

According to HipHopDx, Lil Wayne’s Album ‘The Rebirth’, which was scheduled to drop on May 19th, may now be shelved. Originally ‘Rebirth’, the rappers first experiment at a rock album was slated for an April 7th release, making this the second time it’s been held over.

Wayne’s not the only one who is having trouble putting out the goods. Yesterday, ThisIs50.com reported that Busta Rhymes’s ’B.O.M.B (Back on My Bullshit)’ will be dropped on May 19th instead of March 24th. The album will feature Mary J. Blige, John Legend, and Common.

The self-proclaimed ‘biggest boss’ Rick Ross will also be appointing his upcoming third album ‘Deeper than Rap’ to an April 21st spring release, according to a Def Jam label rep. Ross recently announced on MTV that he will be doing a mini-tour in New York City and in Miami this spring, in which all proceeds will go to underpriveleged kids.

Unlike Ross and Rhymes, Wayne has yet to confirm an official date for his upcoming album.

-Natelege

It’s been 5 years since Eminem released the multi-platinum album Encore, and he has managed to make up for lost time by scheduling to drop two albums this year: Relapse and Relapse 2. Originally Relapse was scheduled to drop in 08′. But after going back to the studio with Dr. Dre, Eminem worked up enough steam of tracks to release both albums this year.  Slim’s recent release “Crack A Bottle” has already broken Neilsen SoundScan records, being the third most downloaded song in the history of their weekly sales. Look out for the April 7th release of the first single and it’s music video.

Relapse is reportedly set for a May 19th release.  

-Natelege

Last week Lupe stopped by St. Alfred in Chicago for the release of his Converse sneaker. Read more for event photos.

[shouts to Highsnobiety]