ALICIA KEYS AND SWIZZ BEATZ WELCOME A BABY BOY!!!

Singer, Alicia Keys, 29, and husband/producer Swizz Beatz, 32, are the proud parents of newborn son, Egypt Daord Dean. This is Alicia's first child, while Swizz has three children from a previous relationship. The couple married on July 31 of this year.

NEW Rihanna ft. Drake - What's My Name

ALBUM REVIEW: GUCCI MANE/ THE APPEAL: GEORGIA'S MOST WANTED/ 1017 BRICK SQUAD/ WARNER BROS./ASYLUM

Radric Davis b.k.a. Gucci Mane, has had his fair share of being on the wrong side of the law, since he first stepped on the scene back in 2005. After beating a murder rap, dueling with fellow ATLien, Young Jeezy, and countless setbacks that could have kept his career on ice, Gucci Mane continued to push his unorthodox-coke-inspired-nasal- style-flow to the masses until his name was in bright lights. Things were looking up for Gucci last year, until he found himself in a familiar place--behind bars. Just days before his album The State vs. Radric Davis hit stores, Gucci had to sit from the sidelines and watch his peers shine for the rest of the year. Now a free man, and a new outlook on life, Gucci Mane returns with The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted. Surprisingly, the this album is Gucci Mane's best material to date. Using his new crossover appeal, Gucci expands his musical landscape and brings in the game's top producers and artists. The Swizz Beatz--produced first single, "Gucci Time" finds Gucci at his best: "Cut the fuckin' lights on/ All this ice on/ No need to cut the lights on", as the hook states. The best cut is the unlikely pairring of Gucci Mane and Skateboard P. The Neptunes' angelic cords on "Haterade" is easily the standout track on the album. Equipped with a certified number 1 hook courtesy of Pharrell, and a guest verse from Nicki Minaj, the song finds Gucci and Nicki talking about their inspirational rise to the top, while laughing at the haters who said they wouldn't succeed. "Grown Man" features another odd collaboration, Estelle, and it is another step forward in Gucci's evolving music career. For those who think Gucci has done a complete switch-up , need to not worry. Mane reunites with producer Zaytoven on the songs "Missing" and "Brand New" and both are classic Gucci. The album is not without flaws. Filler tracks like the generic "Party Animal" and "Weirdo" have no playback factor, and Gucci's sometimes lazy flow can become annoying after a number of listens. Still, The Appeal, is a positive step in the right direction for Mr. La Flare. This album proves that Gucci does have staying power, and isn't afraid to try different things, which is rare in a rap world full of copy cats. Gucci Mane continues to grow, whether you like it or not, you still gotta respect his hustle. BURRRR! I rate this 4/5

ALBUM REVIEW: WAKA FLOCKA FLAME/ FLOCKAVELI/ 1017 BRICK SQUAD/ ASYLUM/ WARNER BROS.

Sometimes all you need is the right beat, and a catchy hook to propel you to stardom. Waka Flocka Flame is a prime example of what happens when you use the correct formula to make a name for yourself, oh yeah, and being cool with Gucci Mane, doesn't hurt either. When Waka released his keyboard-driven first single "O' Lets Do It" last spring, the song got so much buzz even rap vets Diddy and Rick Ro$$ jumped aboard to add their bravado to the young upstart from Atlanta, for the remix to the catchy single. Fast forward to October and Flocka is still i the driver's seat, ready to run down any nay-sayers that think his 15 minutes is up. The Pac-inspired title to his debut, Flockaveli, has already got the industry and fans attention since the title was annouced over the summer. Unfortunately, after a few spins of Flockaveli, the listener will be hit with a barrage of filler tracks and unispired rhymes. Flocka Flame's subject matter sticks to the script (i.e. Guns, Drugs, and Women) and in return, that's what hurts this album the most. The majority of the production is helmed by up- and -coming-producer, Lex Luger (Rick Ro$$' "B.M.F." and "MC Hammer") While the 808's are sure to blow the trunk off your car, the lyrics that are placed on top of them just makes a waste of a good beat. The only gems on this ablum is the singles. The second single-"Hard In Da Paint" and the Roscoe Dash and Wale-assisted "No Hands" are the only strong points. The somber "Fuck Dis Industry" is a departure from the tough-guy-persona that Waka displays throughout, but even that song sounds forced. Hopefully next go 'round, Waka can expand his subject matter and stop being so one-dimensional when it comes to lyrics. The right beat and catchy hook maybe good enough to get your foot in the door, but the right album maybe the difference between getting one foot in the door and getting both feet in. I rate this 2.5/5

ALBUM REVIEW: TREY SONGZ/ PASSION, PAIN & PLEASURE/ ATLANTIC

For Tremaine Neverson, known to most as Trey Songz, the strategy has always remained the same: continue to build. After a debut album (Gotta Make It) that went unnoticed by the masses, the young talent from Virginia continued to build on his brand until listener's ears were finally glued to their radios. Last years triumph, Ready, reintroduced a more confident, Trey (sans braids) to the rest of the world. The result was nothing short of a homerun for a kid who only a few years ago, had only a year to turn his dream of singing in to a legit shot at making it big. The process of continuing to build remains a year later, as Trey Songz opting out of the taking a break route, returns with the quick follow-up to Ready, with Passion, Pain & Pleasure. Songz continues to use the same formula that help catapult Ready to platinum sales. The main agenda here is sex. The album opens up with "Love Faces", which tries to go beyond the groundwork built by "Neighbors Know My Name" ( a sensual cut from Ready). Other highlights can be found on "Massage" an ode to doing just that. "Tonight, I got your neck, shoulders, back/ Baby, I'ma touch on all that...lose the panties and the bra/ I'ma start with a massage", Trey tells the lady of his affection. Trey invokes the likes of R. Kelly, circa, 1993 or even Jodeci in their hay-day. Where Trey stumbles is when he tries too hard to recapture the magic from his last outing. The Nicki Minaj-assisted-first single, "Bottoms Up" is a cheesy copycat of his song "Say Ahh", which is the most successful single of his career. Plus Trey gets bodied on his own song by Nicki Minaj's song-stealing verse. "Unusual" features Drake, but it fails in comparison to Trigga and Drizzy's previous efforts. Mr. Steal Your Girl makes up for his shortcomings with cuts like the ballad "Please Return My Call" or the second single "Can't Be Friends". While this album will continue to build onto the much deserving- success Trey has experienced in the past year, this album seems rushed at times, probably due to the fact that Trey and co. wanted to strike while the irons still hot. You can't get mad at Trey for trying to continue his winning streak, we just wish he didn't swing so early while at bat. I rate this 3.5/5

MIXTAPE REVIEW: BIG SEAN/ FINALLY FAMOUS VOL. 3

While Big Sean has been finally been waiting to become famous, the rest of the world is starting to finally take notice of the G.O.O.D. Music signee. Already considered ahead of the young crop of MCs of his generation, Big Sean has been single-handedly been changing the face of hip-hop right under our noses. An example can be found in the new simile- rhyme- flow that many MCs have been using (i.e. Drake) to rocket to success and superstardom. Big Sean's second mixtape, UKNOWBIGSEAN, the song "Supa Dupa" is where some critics and fans say is where the new rhyme style originated from. The best examples are the lines: "When they see me on my high horse, Polo, See what I'm wearing I know those hoes will want the same thing, homo, Elton, Jojo". The world is ready to see if this young upstart, who Kanye West signed out of Detroit is really that nice on the mic or just pure hype. Big Sean sets out to make nonbelievers in to believers on his third outing on the mixtape circut, with the highly anticipated Finally Famous Vol. 3. Hosted by DJ Don Cannon, and featuring production from the likes of The Olympicks, B.I.G. comes out with guns blazing from start to finish. On the triumphant opener "The Final Hour", Sean sets the tone with clever lines like: Catch me running to the money/Until my feet lose feelin'/ Stacking wall to wall/ 'til it's leakin through the ceiling...working graveyard shifts/ Cause we trying to make a killin'". On the Don Cannon-produced "High Rise", Big Sean expresses his desire for the finer things in life, but also the downside of what being on top of the world can do to one's psyche. "Isn't it ironic that I'm in a big-body/ Paranoid because every rapper named "Big" got bodied?" What makes Big Sean so unique is not what he says, but how he says it. Yes, the theme of Money, Cash, and Hoes is prominent through out the mixtape, but the dopeness in Sean's delivery can make old, tired, and overused lines seem fresh and new. As far as features go, Chip The Ripper and Curren$y pop up on "Five Bucks (I Got 5 on It)" an ode to smoking that good kush. Borrowing the Luniz' classic beat, the young trio tell tales of the high life. The song "Made" guest starring Drake, is a punchline lover's wetdream. Big Sean handles his own while rapping along side hip-hop's newest go-to-guy spitting: "See broads over niggaz/But business over broads/ See business equals money/ And money is over all" Fans will enjoy mixtape favorites "Supa Dupa (Lemonade freestyle)" and "What U Doin? (Bullshittin')", which have been out for months, due to the routine delays the mixtape has had since it's been annouced. Above all else, this mixtape promises to be a constant repeat on many die-hard's playlist. The dope beats, and witty-wordplay make this mixtape a must have. Big Sean reps his city to the fullest, while at the same time making Kanye West look like he know what he's doing. With only a few skip-worthy tracks (very few), FF3 is what hip-hop heads need...finally! I rate this 4/5

JAY-Z AND EMINEM MAKE HISTORY IN DETROIT!!!

In what may go down as one of hip-hop's greatest crowning achievements, rap Icons Jay-Z and Eminem rocked Comerica Park, home to the Detroit Tigers, in front of 42,000 fans (September 2nd). The Historic night was one of four shows scheduled for the rap titan's Home and Home tour, which will also make a couple of stops in Jay-Z's backyard, New York's Yankee's Stadium later this month. Whatever doubts that were discussed in the early months leading up to this event were quickly forgotten, because Jay and Em put on a show that will be ranked among other great stadium concerts in music history. In doing so, the rap duo brought hip-hop to the forefront and showed that they can also sellout huge venues like Rock 'n' roll legends, Rolling Stones, U2, and Springsteen. Jay-Z displayed why he's a seasoned perfromer as he went through his monster catalog of undeniable hits, such as: "Big Pimpin", "On To The Next One", "Hard Knock Life" and "Empire State Of Mind". The Detroit crowd treated Hov as if he was one of their own, but the night clearly belonged to Detroit's native son, Eminem. The stadium almost fell off its foundation as Slim Shady emerged from the stage surrounded in smoke, screaming "Deeeeeeeeetroit!" as he went right in to his song "Won't Back Down" (a gem from his latest opus, Recovery). This night not only meant so much for hip-hop, but also, it was significant for Eminem, who has seen his comeback take him to new heights after being out of the spotlight for so long. "Got dammit, Detroit, I'm back," Em said to packed house. "Did you miss me?" Other highlights include surprises from rap's elite: Young Jeezy, Drake, 50 Cent and G-Unit, and last but not least, Dr. Dre. Who also told fans his long-delayed Detox will be coming soon. "I'm Coming", Dre said to the chants of "Detox! Detox!" from the Motor City crowd. Jay and Em left everything they had on stage--on music's biggest stage. Score another win for hip-hop.