Teen country singer Taylor Swift appeared on Saturday Night Live last night (November 8) and struck back at rapper Kanye West, who interrupted her speech during the MTV Music Awards in September.

Swift, 19, hosted the long-running late night sketch comedy show. She opened SNL with her original acoustic composition, “The Monologue Song (La, La, La).”

“You might be expecting me to say something bad about Kanye/and how he ran up on the stage and ruined my VMA monologue/But there‘s nothing more to say/everything‘s ok/I have security lining the stage…”

The studio audience broke out into laughter and cheers as Swift is flanked by two fake security guards as she finished her song, which also took shots at her former boyfriend Joe Jonas.

Russell Simmons’ critique of Bill Cosby has struck a nerve with rappers featured on the actor/comedian’s forthcoming Hip-Hop album, Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency.

On Wednesday (Nov. 4), Simmons spoke out against Cosby’s criticism of Hip-Hop and the conduct of today’s youth in a blog about the entertainer on GlobalGrind.com

Despite expressing his admiration and respect for Cosby, Simmons feels Cosby’s attacks have undermined his “pure and good” intentions of motivating youth to realize their potential for success.

“Bill Cosby is an example of someone from the older generation who has consistently blamed the poets and asked suffering community members to bare the full burden of guilt for the struggles that they endure,” the Hip-Hop mogul wrote on Globalgrind.com. “What they don’t understand is that the young people who they criticize did not create their own realities.”

Cosnarati, which features appearances from rappers Supa Nova Slom, Jace the Great, represents the comedy veteran’s efforts to bridge the generational gap and inspire social change with socially conscious rap songs.

According to Jace the Great, the television and movie star realizes the power of Hip-Hop culture as “a means to reach more youth not to condemn them.”

“It is clear to see Cosby has actually moved beyond just addressing or blaming the youth,” Jace the Great told AllHipHop.com.

“He is working from an intergenerational standpoint not only by involving us emcees who come from the Hip-Hop generation and lifestyle but he also spoke openly to the elder generation about their involvement and accountability,” said the rapper. “Point blank, the problem right now is there is a state of emergency in our communities and we need to act fast.”

According to Supa Nova Slom, Simmons should focus more on what Cosby is doing now rather than dwell on past comments.

“I respect Russell Simmons for all of his contributions to Hip-Hop culture but I hope that people do not get distracted and lost in his critiques of Cosby’s past comments … Cosby is taking a whole other route by investing in politically charged Hip-Hop that does not condemn but instead inspires and uplifts during a time when there is next to none of that happening in the music industry,” the rapper stated.

With Cosnarati, Supa Nova Slom hopes listeners will be motivated to make changes to elevate themselves and their community. So much so, the rapper cites the past as inspiration for taking charge in the struggle for progress.

“It is all of our jobs to play a role in creating a collective movement. People need to be inspired and empowered again to get involved just as we got involved during the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements,” Supa Nova Slom explained. “This CD hopefully will inspire not only conversations, but also actions, programs, and raised self-esteem.”

Bill Cosby’s Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency is slated to hit stores on November 24.

Miley Cyrus drew headlines when she name checked Britney Spears and Jay-Z in her hit single “Party in the U.S.A.,” but the pop singer has admitted she has never heard a record by the rap superstar.

The track, which was produced by Lukasz Gottwald and written by Gottwald, Claude Kelly and Jessica Cornish, hit #1 on the Billboard Pop Song chart.

“I’ve never heard a Jay-Z song,” Miley Cyrus told Us Weekly before a Halloween concert in Louisville, Kentucky. “I don’t listen to pop music….I don’t know, I didn’t write the song, so I have no idea.”

She revealed that the track, which debuted at #11 on the UK Singles chart this week, is not her “style of music.”

The 16-year-old told Us Weekly that she picked the song to go with her clothing line with designer Max Azria.

“I’m really blessed for it to have done as well as it has. Totally blessed,” Cyrus said. “God has definitely put me in an amazing position with amazing people.”

Last month, Miley Cyrus pulled the plug on her Twitter account via a rap message posted on the Internet.

With Blueprint 3 still posting strong numbers on Billboard two months after its release, Jay-Z has confirmed today (November 6) a new nationwide tour.

Simply titled “The BP3 Tour,” Live Nation has verified 14 arena dates with more to be announced.

Accompanying Jay on his tour dates will be Grammy-nominated emcee Young Jeezy, who has signed on for select tour dates throughout the country.

Fans will have the option of picking up the “Empire State of Mind” bundle pack, which includes a t-shirt derived from the song, and an exclusive MP3 of the track’s first live performance at the Madison Square Garden Answer the Call charity concert.

Presale begins on Tuesday (November 10). Tickets will be available to everyone starting next Friday (November 13).

Below is a list of the confirmed tour dates thus far:

February 22, Houston, TX Toyota Center February 23, Dallas, TX American Airlines Center February 25, New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena February 27, Atlanta, GA Philips Arena February 28, Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex March 03, Washington, DC Verizon Center March 07, Norfolk, VA Scope Center March 11, Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden March 16, Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena March 19, St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center March 20, Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse March 22, Denver, CO Pepsi Center March 24, San Jose, CA HP Pavilion March 26, Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

Rapper B.G. is currently in the custody of the New Orleans Parish Criminal Sherriff’s Office after being arrested in his hometown on Tuesday night (November 3), the night before he was scheduled to host an exclusive listening session for his latest project. The former Cash Money recording artist was arrested along with two other individuals following a routine traffic stop. According to The Times-Picayune’s website, officers from the New Orleans Police Department’s 7th District discovered three hand guns upon searching the late-model Chevrolet Tahoe in which the three were riding. Along with the three weapons, two of which had been reported stolen, authorities also seized loaded magazines and two extended magazine clips, the police said. Twenty-nine year-old B.G., born Christopher Dorsey, was charged with illegal carrying of a firearm, as was 28-year-old Jerod Fedison. The one minor in the vehicle, 17-year-old Demounde Pollard, was charged with multiple drug charges, including possession of hydrocodone, oxycodone and alprazolam. Pollard was also charged with two counts of illegal possession of stolen firearms, and one count of illegal carrying of a weapon. Following a first appearance hearing on Thursday (November 5), B.G. remains in custody without bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on December 20. The Times-Picayune reports this is the Chopper City Records CEO’s fourth arrest this year. In June, he was arrested on a drug charge for which he is scheduled to appear in court in New Orleans next week. He was also arrested over the summer on a Texas arrest warrant, which was dismissed a month after his arrest. In March, B.G. was arrest on drug charges in Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans. The charges in that case were dismissed in August. On Wednesday (November 4), Chopper City Records hosted a private listening event during which DJs, promoters and members of the media were invited to hear his latest album, Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood. Scheduled for a December 8 release, the album features appearances by a veritable who’s who of Louisiana artists, including Lil’ Boosie, Lil’ Wayne, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Soulja Slim and C. Murder.Also appearing on the Chopper City Records/E-1 Music/Atlantic Records release are T.I., Young Jeezy, Trey Songz and Young Buck. The album boasts production credits by Scott Storch, KLC, Cool & Dre, Oddz N Endz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and more.

This Saturday (November 7), Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss, fashion stylist Freddie Leiba, and MTV personality Fonzworth Bentley will be among the celebrities coming out to support the fight against breast cancer through Atlanta’s Pink Ribbon Affair Benefit and Fashion Show.

The event was organized through the partnership of the non-profit Sisters of Faith Breast Cancer Foundation and the Asato Agency, Atlanta’s first and only full-service styling agency.

The directive of the show is to raise funds to create a new biopsy program in 2010 to assist low income women without health insurance.

According to recent statistical data from the CDC, low income women of all backgrounds are less likely to receive an annual mammogram, which is critical for early intervention.

Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of death in U.S. women.

“This cause is extremely important, not only to me, but for our communities,” explained Asato Agency CEO Tangie Black to AllHipHop.com. “After losing my own mother to breast cancer last year, I’ve come to realize the impact this disease has on the entire family. Women from low-income families in particular are historically the least informed and most frequently diagnosed at later stages. The Pink Ribbon Affair is a fund-raiser that will help change the lives of those women and their families. By providing mammograms and biopsies, early detection will allow them to get the treatment they need sooner.”

Sisters of Faith administrator Stephanie White echoed Black’s words, and gave recognition to the celebrities giving their efforts to an often underserviced medical condition in urban communities.

“We’re so excited about what The Asato Agency is doing to support our organization,” she stated. “We’re also very fortunate to have the support of Freddie Leiba, Kandi Burruss & Fonzworth Bentley. All of these celebrities are major stars in their industries. The fact that they are using their talents to help women who are so often overlooked is amazing.”

The Pink Ribbon Affair will take place at the AmericasMart Penthouse Theatre and feature a runway show of fashion from Chloe, Versace, Chanel, and Vera Wang.

The event is open to the public, and tickets can be obtained through www.asatoagency.com.

The new CBS drama NCIS: Los Angeles starring rapper LL Cool J has been sold into syndication just seven weeks of being on the air.

According to reports, NCIS: Los Angeles, which stars LL and Chris O’Donnell, has been licensed to the USA Network, which also airs off-network runs of the original series, NCIS.

USA reportedly paid over $2 million per-episode to air the hit new series staring weekly in 2011, until Fall 2013.

Just last month, CBS announced full season orders for NCIS: Los Angeles, which airs every Tuesday night on the network.

NCIS: Los Angeles is the most-viewed new show of the Fall season, averaging over 17.5 million viewers each week.

On Tuesday (November 3) in Atlanta, Red Bull crowned their 2009 national Big Tune champion after a beat battle featuring 16 talented producers from around the country.

The finalists were last year’s runner-up and 3 year veteran Frank Dukes, and New Orleans’ Hannibal the Beat Animal.

Throughout the night, Hannibal was the crowd favorite courtesy of a Hannibal Lecter inspired mask, and acting out his beats on stage.

For example, when the eccentric beatmaker showcased a Nintendo Punchout sampling track, he ran to stage center and began the Lil Mac jogging routine seen in the 8-Bit classic.

In the end, it was Dukes’ low end bass sound that won out over the theatrics, which entitles the fledgling producer to a collaboration with an A-list emcee of his choice.

Last year’s winner, C-Sick, selected Nas and created the track “Film” which hit the net several months ago.

“It would be really cool to chop it up with guys on that level. In my session, I’ll try to push forward and hopefully it will stand the test of time. That’s my goal,” Dukes explained afterward. “Yeah for awhile it seemed like people was caught up in the theatrics of Hannibal, but I’m happy to have won with my skill and nothing else.”

One of the highlights of the show was the Just Blaze/Alchemist battle, where both producers traded their best released and unreleased beats back and forth with crowd response determining the winner.

Alchemist held his ground and enthralled Tri-State area transplants with hard tracks like “Surgical Gloves,” “Backwards,” and “The Realest.”

However, Just Blaze took the friendly contest with his assortment of orchestral songs that translate well in club atmospheres such as “Breathe,” “U Don’t Know,” “What We Do,” “Hovi Baby,” and “I Really Mean It.”

Afterward, Just stated it was important for established and upcoming producers to put egos aside to inspire and develop ideas amongst each other.

“It’s good for them to be able to pick our brains and it helps us hear new talent and keep us on our toes,” Just Blaze explained.

In addition to the Blaze/Alchemist set, Atlanta fans were treated to an even battle between production duo Tha Bizness and Denaun Porter, along with a 20 minute concert set from Jadakiss.

DMX’s career as a boxer has ended before it even began, as the rapper has pulled out of an upcoming boxing match, sources have told AllHipHop.com.

DMX was scheduled to square off against New Mexico based fighter Eric Martinez on December 12 in Alabama, during an event sponsored by Thunder Promotions.

One source said DMX pulled out of the fight because his safety could not be guaranteed, while another claimed that the rapper backed out because Thunder Promotions refused his request to “fix” the fight.

Sources stated that Thunder Promotions may pursue legal action against DMX.

In the meantime, a variety of popular rappers have been contacted to stand up to Eric Martinez during the fight.

A replacement for DMX will be announced as early as next week.

In late October, DMX called into Washington’s 106.7 to talk about the bout.

He stated that he had no plans to train for the fight and appeared to take the challenge against Martinez lightly.

“I’m a just walk in as is. It wouldn’t be fair if I trained,” DMX said and later said: “I aint trying to have my face all messed up.”

Rap star Jay-Z performed with U2 today (November 5) in Berlin, Germany where the artists kicked off the MTV Europe Music Awards. Jay-Z and U2 gave the free concert in front of Bradenburg Gate for thousands of music fans to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which divided the country. Jay-Z hit the stage to perform U2’s 1987 track “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” taken from the group’s legendary album The Joshua Tree. In addition to Jay-Z’s performance, his wife Beyonce has been added to the list of performers for tonight’s show. Katy Perry will host the awards show, which will include performances by Shakira, Tokio Hotel, Green Day and others. The 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards air tonight at 7:00 pm EST. Check local listings for air times. In related news, Jay-Z And Alicia Keys have recorded a sequel to their hit single “Empire State Of Mind.” The track will feature a new verse from Jay-Z and will appear on Keys’ upcoming release Element of Freedom.

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After announcing in 2008 the creation of Better Black Television (BBTV), entrepreneur P.Miller has been hard at work getting the fledgling network off the ground. As chairman and CEO, Miller has promised to debut a network the covers the full spectrum of the African-American experience in news, politics, movies, teen/children’s educational programming, animation, and sports. When asked whether BBTV was a response to the complaints leveled at networks such as BET, Miller explained that his project is more so about creating a new, distinct message. “I don’t think it’s a response, but it fills a void,” Miller told AllHipHop.com. “You look at The Cosby Show and that was funny and entertaining but also educational and uplifting. It sent a message that probably sparked a lot of black doctors and lawyers now. That’s what I want to offer with BBTV. It’s going to show people where the future is going because a lot of us don’t want to die gangbangers in the hood. Some of us do want to get older and be around to raise their kids.” Creating a new network is a slow, meticulous process that Miller has spent the last 8 years refining. During that span, the New Orleans mogul studied the industry and made the necessary alliances to move his vision forward. Today, the advisory board for BBTV includes Oscar winner Denzel Washington, NAACP executive director Vicangelo Bullock, Hip-Hop founder Kool Herc, cable industry veteran Professor Sal Martino, and real estate mogul Curtis Oakes. Now, Miller details his biggest challenge is formulating programming devoid of stereotypes, particularly in the representation of Hip-Hop culture. “[The biggest challenge is] to be able to make a diverse product and knowing that you need something that the churches and other cultures can feel good about so you don’t just stereotype your product to where it’s just all African Americans,” Miller stated. “To me, Hip-Hop is all cultures now, but it’s also being able to service the corporations and make good shows that sponsors want to be involved in. At the same time, I want to make stuff that the Hip-Hop culture feels proud about and doesn’t feel like it’s selling out.” At press time, P.Miller has set BBTV to launch in 2010. For more information, viewers can visit http://betterblacktv.com.

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