Ward is the latest high profile athlete to sign with Roc Nation…

Snoop will add some flair when he joins the cast in episode 11.

Empire airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.

The sanctuary was located on the fourth floor of 320 West 37th Street… D&D Studios. Some of the best Hip-Hop music ever made was recorded there.  Unfortunately…  new building ownership had a different idea… not a hip hop idea… The home of the historic studio will become luxury apartments… DJ Premier… the name synonymous with  D&D will relocate to Kaufman Astoria Studios in Long Island City, Queens.

For nearly 25 years, the studio was a second home to artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay-Z, KRS One, Big L and Gang Starr, to name a few.

It’s being alleged that Dre and Iovine duped their former partner prior to the sale of Beats to Apple.

The complaint filed Tuesday (Jan. 6) in San Mateo Superior Court accuses Dre and Iovine of double-crossing Noel Lee, the founder of audio cable maker Monster.

According to Billboard, Lee once held a 5 percent stake in Beats as part of a partnership between the headphone maker and Monster that ended in 2012. The lawsuit alleges Dre and Iovine orchestrated a “sham” deal that helped terminate the Monster alliance.

The suit alleges the shady maneuvering cost Lee tens of millions of dollars.

Apple Inc. declined to comment on the lawsuit.

According to Billboard, Philadelphia rapper Cool C is set to be executed by lethal injection on Thursday.  The execution comes 19 years after Cool C conviction for first-degree murder of Police Officer Lauretha Vaird during a bank robbery attempt.

Cool C is known for his contributions to the Philly rap scene since the late ’80s.  Cool C  garnered success with songs that are still heard today, “I Gotta Habit” and “Glamorous Life”.

The entire world is shaking their collective heads based on comments left on social media by Kanye West fans. I can understand how time can make youth not knowledgeable about former stars… but the same method (social media) that created this buzz could have easily helped fans find out information on Paul McCartney.

@DuesNice remarked: ‘Kanye has a great ear for talent. This Paul McCartney guy gonna be huge.’

@percyBlacksom posted: ‘Who is Paul McCartney? He boutta blow up thanks to Kanyer!!!’

@CurvedDaily added: ‘This is why i love Kanye for shining light on unknown artists.’

Now I would like those fans to use social media to find out about the Beatles…

The assualt charge in Australia apparently won’t stop the show… Joey Bada$$ will go on to New Zealand.

Australian police say 19-year-old Bada$$ punched a security guard and broke his nose after the guard asked him to prove his identity before a show.  I guess security in the Down Under didn’t know that you don’t ask Hip Hop artist that…

Charged with assault causing bodily harm, Bada$$ appeared in court under the name Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott. He spent one night in police custody and was released on unconditional bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum prison sentence of five years.

The 40-year-old Sigel was shot Dec. 5 in the abdomen.  According to Sigel’s attorney, he was an unintended target of the shooting.  According to Billboard, Sigel was reportedly released from the hospital Monday, after a month-long stay following a shooting in New Jersey nearly killing him outside his home.

Khari Digital is breaking down 10 in a “Hip Hop Collabo” series… not greatest… just 10 collabo’s that had meaning to the game and still resonate throughout the Hip Hop community today… Today we feature Ja Rule, Fat Joe, and Jadakiss… “New York”  This record came out when NY was losing it’s swag… I thought this might bring some back… It didn’t… New York still has yet to find it’s way in today’s Hip Hop… Keep your fingers crossed…

You already know that Skillz hailing from 2 up 2 down… VA… Back at it again… 2014 “Wrap Up”