Drake will kick off his Club Paradise tour on November 9th in Columbus, OH. Joining Drake will be Compton’s Kendrick Lamar and Harlem’s ASAP Rocky. Full dates below.

Nov 9     Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
Nov 10    University Park, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center
Nov 13    Champaign, IL @ Assembly Hall
Nov 15    Fairfax, VA @ Patriot Center
Nov 19    Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena
Nov 20    Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex

Ticket are available here.

Below are some flicks of Drake finishing up his ‘Take Care’ album in New York courtesy of QueenShmink.

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Still no song, although some Googling with turn up a snippet if it’s that serious for you.

In other Tip news, homeboy slithered out of the Atlanta halfway house where he was finishing up his sentence under the cloak of darkness last night:

Previously: Future ft. T.I. – Magic (Remix)

The nominations for the 2012 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions are in and Eric B. & Rakim are among the honorees. Unfortunately, they’ll probably have to wait another year or so as it’s more likely that the Beastie Boys, who were nominated last year but ultimately snubbed, will be the sole Rap act selected this time around. Other nominees include, Guns & Roses, Rufus with Chaka Khan, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Cure. The induction ceremony is scheduled for April 14, 2012 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Well, whoop-dee-doo you say. Well, I might say the same thing, but it’s featuring and produced by Big K.R.I.T. so at the very least the beat should be tough.

Link: T.I. To Drop New Song on Monday Featuring Big K.R.I.T. (XXL)

Previously: T.I. – Power & Beauty (Book Cover)

Pusha’s still getting ready to release his Fear of God 2: Let Us Pray EP on September 27th through Decon Records, but he told Karen Civil that he has signed a deal with the house that Russell built:

“Solidifying my first solo venture, G.O.O.D Music/DefJam is my home. That machine with my creativity is gonna make for satisfied hiphop fans,” said Pusha.

What Will Malice Do?

Previously: Pusha T ft. Kevin Cossom – Feeling Myself (Video)

Despite some confusion over whether or not he was getting out today or next month, MTV reports that Clifford walked out of the Forrest City Correctional Facility in Arkansas this morning as a free man.

About an hour ago the following tweets appeard on his verified Twitter account:

Tip is reportedly on his way to a halfway house to serve out the rest of his 11 month sentence.

Previously: A Message From T.I. (Pt. 2)

MyFoxPhoenix reports:

MESA, Ariz. – The rapper known as DMX was arrested on Wednesday by Department of Public Safety officers on the U.S. 60 westbound at Power Road. The 40-year-old whose real name is Earl Simmons, was caught on radar at 102 miles per hour in a Chrysler 300. There was another vehicle following him and both were stopped.

A check showed Simmons’ license was revoked.

He was cited for criminal speed, driving on a suspended and revoked license and reckless driving.

Simmons’ passenger was the registered owner of the Chrysler.

I have to say, that’s one of his better mugshots.

Previously: DMX Interview w/ ABC 15

MTV announced this morning that Tha Carter IV will drop digitally at midnight following the MTV Video Music Awards this coming Sunday.

New York, NY (August 22, 2011) – In a music industry first, Hip-Hop megastar and super mogul, Lil Wayne will release his highly-anticipated album, Tha Carter IV, in its entirety online via retail sites including Itunes, Amazon and more when the clock strikes midnight following the “2011 MTV Video Music Awards” this Sunday, August 28th. The physical CD will be available at all major retail stores on August 29th. This innovative album release designates Lil Wayne as the first artist ever to release an album digitally after an award show and is the culmination of what is already a huge night for him with his performance and nominations for “Best Hip-Hop Video” and “Best Collaboration.”

“I am extremely excited to be the first artist to utilize such an amazing idea. I hope that I can open the door for others,” stated Lil Wayne.

Ronald “Slim” Williams, CEO, Cash Money Records said, “The MTV Video Music Awards are one of the most watched and respected shows in the industry. Wayne is one of the most respected and prolific artists in the industry. By pairing the release of Tha Carter IV with the VMAs, it will certainly add to the overall anticipation and excitement for fans everywhere for what will surely be an unforgettable evening.”

“Lil Wayne continues to change the game, this time with a new release strategy that demonstrates the power of the VMAs to grab the attention of music fans,” said Stephen Friedman, President, MTV. “After our millions of viewers experience the VMAs, they can go online at midnight and download the album they’ve all been waiting for.”

You gotta love how these dudes are patting themselves on the back for this “groundbreaking” new strategy of releasing an album digitially on a day other than Tuesday. The industry should have been employing these kinds of outside the box, “event” type release strategies.

Previously: OVOFEST 2011

A second and final message from the incarcerated King:

What up world? This will be my last message from Forrest City. Just reaching out and sending my love, respect and appreciation to all who have been ridin’ with me throughout this chapter in my life and not just recently but since all the things started happening one after another back in ’06. From Big Phil’s murder to my beautiful little angel Leiah being called home to heaven, to my arrest in ’07, the 1st prison sentence in ’09, to this last journey that I’m nearing the end of. A lot of people who are aware of all that has happened to me in my life say that there aren’t many men who could have endured and withstood so much pain, pressure and turmoil while managing to remain sane and keep their wits about them. I must say that I wouldn’t have been able to do so without God’s grace and having a strong support system behind me every step of the way. So often we spend time acknowledging the presence of “haters” and all the negativity they send our way but we don’t take the time to acknowledge and appreciate all the ones who love and support us and supply us with the positive energy we need to overcome. We complain about the pain so much that we don’t even notice how much stronger, wiser and better of a person the suffering has allowed us to become. I heard Pac say once “To live is to suffer and to survive is to find meaning in that suffering.” I later found out it came from an author by the name of Friedrich Nietzsche. When I heard Pac say that it was just some hard shit to hear your favorite rapper say before he kicked a verse. Now that I’ve gone through it and grown from it those words have a real true meaning to me. I know this won’t be my last battle with adversity but it has truly prepared me for whatever else may come in the future. For that also I’m thankful. Now it goes without saying that I hate I had to come back to prison for these 10 months but I am truly grateful for the knowledge, growth and understanding I’ve received from the experience.

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Danny Brown’s XXX, the follow up to his lauded 2010 project The Hybrid, will collide with the internets on August 15th.

The first full-length release from Danny since his acclaimed The Hybrid in 2010, XXX is a concept record about hedonism, growing up, and Detroit, taking listeners on a profane and psychedelic journey through the uncensored mind of rap’s most electric MC. There’s no laundry list of guest appearances or producers-for-hire, keeping the focus squarely on Danny and his rhymes: a triple stack of pop culture references and did-he-really-say-that? provocations atop the heart of a poet.

Fool’s Gold and pioneering streetwear brand ALIFE will premier XXX with an invite-only event in NYC this Saturday (8/13) featuring live performances by Danny Brown, ASAP Rocky and DJ sets from Nick Catchdubs. Danny will perform alongside Action Bronson and FG label mate Party Supplies at Rockaway Beach on August 20th, and join Das Racist on their “Relax” tour throughout the USA all this fall.

XXX will be available for free download on Monday August 15th over at foolsgoldrecs.com. Hit the jump for the tracklist.

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