In an effort to bring awareness to the worldwide water crisis, Chicago lyricist Lupe Fiasco has confirmed plans to ascend Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro.

Fiasco was recruited for the stunt by Ethiopian pop singer Kenna, whose father nearly perished as a child due to a lack of clean drinking water.

“My dad almost died as a child from waterborne diseases in Ethiopia, and he had talked to me about digging a well there,” Kenna explained to Elle Magazine. “I thought, ‘I have too many friends who would be concerned with the subject of clean water.’ Maybe I can help out.”

Mount Kilimanjaro boasts the highest peak on the African continent at 19, 330 feet. Most routes to the top of the mountain take a maximum of 6 to 7 days.

Although the voyage is a popular retreat amongst climbers, the journey is not without its dangers.

An estimated 10 people die every year attempting to climb Kilimanjaro.

The majority of the fatalities are due to altitude sickness, which can cause swelling of the brain tissue (high altitude cerebral edema).

Despite the risks for a novice climber, Fiasco plans to make the event a light-hearted competition with his friend Kenna.

“I’m an adventure junkie,” Fiasco stated. “Part of the motivation is beating Kenna to the top. Sabotaging his tent, taking the lining out of his coat, [and] lacing it with ants or something like that.”

Along with Kenna and Fiasco, pop superstar Justin Timberlake is expected to participate.

The Mount Kilimanjaro charity climb is scheduled to take place this Fall.

At press time, Lupe’s anticipated third studio album Lasers is due out in June 2009.

Rapper Rick Ross has aligned three of 50 Cent’s former rivals on a new remix for his track “Mafia Music,” taken from his upcoming album Deeper Than Rap.

The new remix features a verse from The Game, Ja Rule and Fat Joe, three rappers 50 Cent has violently feuded with in the past.

50 Cent has made numerous mentions of Ja Rule and Fat Joe during his latest feud with Rick Ross, which has included raps, cartoons, court documents and pornographic videos from both camps.

While The Game avoids any out right mentions of beef or 50 Cent, Ja Rule wastes no time dissing 50 Cent and gets straight to the point on his verse.

Curly [50 Cent] get off my d**k/before that chopper (AK-47) gets to poppin off/at ni**as who be mouthing off/read in between the lines when you hear me talk go ahead get out of line/this Rule York

Fat Joe comes out swinging, with lines directed at 50 Cent’s co-horts Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, Whoo Kid, Chris Lighty and Nelson Gomez.

Still went to Africa/Still wore the big chain/where you got robbed at/ni**a on the same stage/I say s**t that you cant say/cause I am not a snitch/I aint b**ch made

Rick Ross starts his verse by stating : “David, meet Goliath,” and then follows with a verse where he reveals details about his drug dealing past, in addition to name checking 50 Cent, as well as his son Marquis.

“I’ll put a milli on it/this p**sy don’t want it/show up in his hood with the wolves by the morning “Once you cross that line, it aint about North and South,” Rick Ross says at the end about his alliance. “It’s about money and power. Riders and punks. My money is long as 183rd street aka Miami Gardens. “

Ross also ends the latest version of Mafia Music with a prayer from the bible, Psalm 27:1.

DeShaun Holton lived what many considered a good life.

A man who inspired a movement among Hip-Hop purists in his native Detroit, the man known as Proof gave much of himself in shining a light on up and coming lyricists in his hometown.

From forming the rap collective D-12 to helping mold Grammy- and Oscar-winning rapper Eminem, Proof made worthwhile contributions to the evolution of Detroit’s Hip-Hop scene and Hip-Hop culture in general.

Today marks three years since Holton died following a heated exchange at the CCC club on Eight Mile Road in Detroit.

Prior to his death, the rapper garnered local recognition as a host of Saturday afternoon battle rap competitions at the Hip Hop Shop.

In addition to hosting, Proof participated in the event as he garnered a near victory in the 1998 Blaze Battle Contest.

The competition and buzz surrounding Proof’s lyrical ability behind the mic resulted in national recognition from The Source magazine, which featured the entertainer in its Unsigned Hype column in 1999.

Proof’s prominence continued to rise with D12 as the group released two platinum albums, 2001’s Devil’s Night and its follow-up, D12 World in 2004, after signing with Eminem’s Shady Records.

Proof later made the move into acting with a small role in the film 8 Mile. The drama featured the character Future, who was inspired by Proof and portrayed by Mekhi Phifer.

With a critical and box office hit and success with D12 under his belt, Proof launched his solo career with the release of his debut album, I Miss the Hip Hop Shop, in 2004.

The rapper followed the release one year later with his final solo opus, Searching for Jerry Garcia.

The project, which was released on Aug. 9, 2005 via Proof’s label, Iron Fist Records, featured appearances from Eminem and his fellow D12 members as well as Cypress Hill frontman B-Real, 50 Cent, Method Man, T3 of Slum Village, Obie Trice and Royce Da 5’9″.

Despite the underwhelming performance of Searching for Jerry Garcia, Proof continued to remain active with releasing various mixtapes and touring with close friend Eminem and D-12.

The rapper’s life came to a tragic end on April 11, 2006 a single gunshot wound to the head.

According to reports, the tragedy resulted from a heated exchange at the Triple C club between Proof and the club’s bouncer, Mario Etheridge.

The argument between the men escalated into a physical altercation. In an effort to calm the situation, Etheridge fired his gun into the air.

Despite the intention, Etheridge’s cousin, Keith Bender Jr. was fatally shot in the head by Proof. Soon after, Etheridge shot Proof three times in the head and chest, killing the rapper.

Bender, who was in critical condition after being taken to a hospital, died a week later. News of the death sent shockwaves in Detroit as details surfaced regarding the incident.

Although no other drugs were found in Proof’s system, it was discovered that the rapper had a blood alcohol level of 0.32 percent at the time of his death.

Days following the CCC Club incident, Proof’s estate was at the center of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bender’s family.

Etheridge, who maintained he was acting in self-defense when he shot Proof, was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm inside a building.

Proof was laid to rest on April 19, 2006 as thousands of fans joined the artist’s family and friends at the Fellowship Chapel in Detroit.

Among those attending the funeral were 50 Cent, Obie Trice and Eminem, who eulogized his friend as he credited Proof as the one who “taught me how to be a leader.”

“I’m sure everybody who ever met him – even just once – can testify to the fact that he illuminated a room when he walked in it,” he said. “He was a magnet. He lured you in. You wanted to learn about him, follow his swagger. Without Proof, there would be no Eminem, no Slim Shady, no D12. You’re the man.”

Harlem rapper Immortal Technique, best known for his hugely influential underground albums Revolutionary V. 1, Revolutionary V.2 and The 3rd World, has just returned to the United States from a two week voyage to Afghanistan.

The rapper personally participated in opening of the Amin Institute.

The Amin Institute partnered with San Francisco’s OMEID International to serve the children of Afghanistan as an orphanage, school and medical facility.

Immortal Technique helped finance the project by performing in benefit concerts as well as donating his own money.

While in Afghanistan, Immortal Technique helped with final construction on the institute, gathered supplies, hired staff and spread the word.

The opening ceremony took place and the first students were enrolled. During his time in Kabul, he stayed in both a safe house and the home of a retired Afghan military officer, giving him further insight into the inner-workings of the country.

Of the people of Afghanistan, Immortal Technique said: “If you are a visitor, they will treat you like one of their own and more,” Immortal Technique told AllHipHop.com. “They are some of the humbled and more respectful people I have ever come across. You have to admire their resilience of their spirit fighting again and again [against the Soviets, Taliban and Al Qaeda] to retain their independence and identity. I hope the operations there are handled with extreme care and respect for the sovereignty of the nation. If the situation worsens, and the people of Afghanistan are fully turned against the United States, it will not be a winnable war.”

According to various to reports on CNN and the Huffington Post, President Obama has ordered 21,000 U.S. troops into Afghanistan to fight the Taliban, and has asked Congress for $83 billion dollars for the war in Afghanistan.

Just yesterday (April 9), five people were killed and at least two injured in a suicide bomb attack on a counter-narcotics unit in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, a police official has said.

Another 32 insurgents were killed in airstrikes throughout the southern region of the war-torn country.

In related news, Immortal Technique is also a co-founder of an organization named Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME), which provides health care for the underground artists with whom it works.