(AllHipHop News) Rapper Eminem, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna have all landed at the top of the Social 50, a brand new chart being introduced by Billboard in its print and online editions, ranking the most popular artists on several prominent social networks. The new Social 50 uses a formula that blends the artists’ popularity based on their weekly addition of friends, fans and followers, based on song plays through MySpace.com, YouTube.com, Twitter.com and iLike.com. According to Billboard, the data is collected by Next Big Sound, a company that tracks music being shared on the social networks. The chart also uses a “unique metric that measures the ration of page views-to-fans/friend on YouTube.com and MySpace.com. “The Social 50 provides a weekly snapshot of the artists with whom music fans engage with the most in the social arena, which in today’s world is a significant validation of their investment in an act,” said Billboard director of charts Silvio Pietroluongo. “The chart is a logical complement to Billboard’s other popularity rankings.”Rihanna toped the chart by leading in new friends, fans and followers for the week, while Justin Bieber landed at #2, Eminem is sitting at #3, #4 is Lady Gaga and newcomer Nicki Minaj landed out the list at #5.  “The volume of online activity that top artists now receive is too big to ignore,” added Next Big Sound CEO, Alex White. “We are thrilled that social music activity now receives the same emphasis as the music charts for which Billboard is synonymous.”

(AllHipHop News) Pioneering rap legend Kurtis Blow was busted in Los Angeles Airport this morning (December 2nd), after new body scanners installed by the TSA found a stash of marijuana on him. According to TMZ.com, Kurtis Blow was at LAX this morning when a scan revealed an “anomaly” the rapper’s pants. A pat down of the rapper-turned-pastor turned up a stash of pot in Blow’s pockets. Kurtis Blow, 51, was issued a ticket for the violation, because he was in possession of less than an ounce of the drug. The incident comes as the TSA works to deploy over 400 body scanners in 70 airports around the country.

(AllHipHop News) Rapper Rick Ross is keeping busy this holiday season, with the release of a brand new mixtape slated to drop on Christmas Eve (December 24th). According to “Ricky Rozay,” the latest mixtape is titled Ashes To Ashes, his first collection of new music since dropping his album Teflon Don. The new material from Rick Ross comes as he works on an album with his manager Sean “Diddy” Combs as The Bugatti Boyz, in addition to recording material with his group Triple C’s for their upcoming sophomore album Color Cut Clarity. In related news, Rick Ross will head to Aventura, Florida this weekend, where he will take photographs and sign autographs for fans at the Sean John Apparal and Fragrances area within the Macy’s Men’s Store at the Aventura Mall. Rick Ross’ appearance at Macy’s in the Aventura Mall is slated to kick off at 2:00PM on Sunday (December 5th).

(AllHipHop News) Canadian rapper Drake will return to his hometown of Toronto this March, as host of the 2011 Juno Awards. Drake, 24, has been tapped to host the Award show, which is Canada’s equivalent to the annual Grammy Awards in the United States, which are held in Los Angeles each year.The rapper, who won his first two Juno’s during the 2010 celebration in Saint Johns, for best new artist and best rap recording of the year. “I am beyond honoured to be hosting this monumental Juno Awards in the greatest city on earth,” Drake said in a statement “I want to bring a youthful energy to the show and encourage people to be excited about what Canadian music has to offer.”The gig makes Drake one of the youngest artists to ever host the Juno’s, which have taken place annually since the event became the Juno Awards in 1971. The news comes on the heels of Drake being nominated for four Grammy Awards for his hit debut album Thank Me Later. Nominations for this year’s Juno Awards will be announced February 1st.

(AllHipHop News) Sean “Diddy” Combs will be among the celebrities who will “roast” BET executive Stephen Hill next week in New York as part of the annual Music and Entertainment Industry (MEI) Comedy Roast.  Combs will be joined by actors Chris Rock, Nick Cannon, Anthony Anderson, Mike Epps and actress Gabrielle Union, who will roast Hill, the popular executive in charge of BET’s music and programming.The comedic roast is set to take place during City of Hope’s Fourth Annual Music and Entertainment Industry event (MEI). Hill is an honored City of Hope supporter. “The complete bludgeoning of my ego during this roast is absolutely worth it for the support and attention that will be brought to City of Hope’s efforts,” Stephen Hill told AllHipHop.com in a statement. The annual MEI Comedy Roast has helped raise over $1.3 million dollars to benefit the City of Hope’s research and care for patients with cancer and diabetes. Previous celebrities who have been roasted include John Mellencamp, Fat Joe and legendary music executive Clive Davis. This year’s Celebrity Roast of Stephen Hill will take place at the Frederick P. Rose Hall Home of Jazz at the Lincoln Center, on December 9th.