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.

Right now, T.I. is so hot, he can't be touched. He has a huge album, a potentially bigger tour, Grammy nominations, movie deals and a slew of companies willing to pony up his price to have him endorse their products.

A year ago, T.I. was so hot, he couldn't be touched. That's what corporations like GMC were thinking when they severed any ties they had with him in light of his arrest on felony gun charges. He lost millions in potential income.

A day after a $5,000 reward was offered by the Maricopa County Sheriff's office for his capture, fugitive rapper DMX (born Earl Simmons) was arrested in Florida on Tuesday (December 9) on a warrant issued by a Phoenix judge after he failed to appear in court last Friday.

Attorney Bradford Cohen told MTV News that the rapper was picked up by FBI agents on Tuesday after patient-confidentiality laws prevented Miami police from confirming whether X was at a local rehab facility. "

Police say Hudson family has been a 'key partner' in investigation.
William Balfour, the only suspect so far named in the murders of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, has been officially charged with their homicides, the Cook County State's Attorney's office told MTV News on Tuesday (December 2).

Balfour, 27, was charged at noon with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion in connection with the deaths of Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson and Julian King.

It took a Cincinnati jury less than a day to render a guilty verdict on Wednesday (November 26) in the murder trial of Hosea Thomas. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the jury convicted Thomas on all 11 counts he faced in the 2006 shooting death of rapper T.I.'s boyhood friend and assistant, Philant Johnson, 26, including murder, five counts of felonious assault and illegally having a gun after a felony conviction.

Atlanta rapper T.I. took the stand in a Cincinnati courtroom today (November 21) to testify about the 2006 shooting that resulted in the death of his friend and personal assistant, Philant Johnson. As reported earlier, Hosea Thomas is accused of  firing shots at a van carrying T.I. and his entourage on a Cincinnati highway and killing Johnson.

Attorneys for Remy Ma filed a motion in a Manhattan Court Room this week appealing the verdict handed down against the rapper in March of this year. In court documents, the lawyers argue that errors committed by the judge presiding over the 15 day trial may have lead to an inaccurate verdict.

At issue specifically, were the judge’s instructions regarding the testimony of Remy’s victim, Makeda Smith-Barnes, who was shot by the rapper outside a New York City nightclub during an argument over $3000.

Rapper Kanye West was arrested after a fracas outside a nightclub but released without charge, British media reported Friday.

The Press Association news agency and others reported that that the 31-year-old rapper was detained early Friday after an incident involving a photographer outside the Tup Tup Palace bar in Newcastle, northern England.

On Sunday (November 9) Lil Wayne added another accolade to his breakout 2008 year, as the World Music Awards crowned him the World’s Best Hip-Hop/Rap artist.

This year, the award show was held in Monte Carlo, Monaco and hosted by Desperate Housewives actor Jesse Metcalfe and former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams.

Department of Corrections official says suspect's girlfriend claimed she'd seen Balfour with gun matching murder weapon.

After a preliminary hearing on Monday (November 10), William Balfour, the only suspect named so far in the triple homicide of Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew, will remain in prison at least through December 3, when a full hearing will be held to determine if he violated his parole.