Freestyle Battles and Rap Battles at Hiphopmadness.com

DMX's legal woes in Arizona finally came to a close Tuesday morning (December 30), as the rapper entered into an agreement that will allow a number of charges to be dropped against him.

In return, the former Ruff Ryders star (known legally as Earl Simmons) formally pleaded guilty to four lesser counts on cases of animal cruelty, drug possession and theft. He's scheduled to be sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court on January 30.

Local up-and-coming rapper 29-E was fatally shot this morning (January 4) and two additional artists have suffered gun wounds after a concert shooting in Washington.

Accoridng to Seattlest, around 12:30 a.m. a dispute took place at Seattle's Chop Suey venue when someone opened the club's side door and began to unload gun shots at artists and show attenders inside a hallway.

A representative for Soulja Boy has confirmed reports the rapper was the victim of assault earlier this week. Unconfirmed reports alleged the star - real name DeAndre Ramone Way - and several of his friends were robbed at gunpoint after six men invaded his Georgia home on Tuesday.

Speculation heightened on Wednesday after two masked men posted a video, in which they took responsibility for the crime, online. They also boasted of stalking the star at a release party for his new album iSouljaBoyTellem before following him home.

DMX's Arizona home is reportedly under foreclosure and has been put up for sale by a local bank.  The realtor selling DMX's home, Andrew Wheeler, revealed to AZFamily today (January 2) that the home was left unprotected and in shambles after it was raided for the second time by authorities in May 2008.

Wheeler divulged that the house's doors and windows were blown during the raid and it made it easy for thieves to enter the house.