(AllHipHop News) Houston rap icon Bushwick Bill has been released from federal custody, after he faced deportation back to his country of origin, Jamaica. Bushwick, a former member of pioneering Hip-Hop group The Geto Boys, was released on Monday (October 18th), after being arrested over five months ago, according to XXL Magazine.According to Bushwick’s attorney Carlos Solomiany, the rapper was almost deported because he had three previous convictions on his record, in addition to his most recent arrest in May for possessing marijuana. After he paid his bail, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement started removal proceedings against Bushwich, who won a hearing last Thursday (October 14th) when a judge ruled in favor of the rapper, who is “back to being a lawful permanent resident of the United States.”Bushwick Bill, born Richard Shaw, is currently working on a new spiritual album titled Road to Redemption, the follow-up to his Gospel album, My Testimony of Redemption.

(AllHipHop News) Wal-Mart executives have finally issued a statement surrounding a controversial tweet by rapper Kanye West, who claimed the world’s largest retail chain banned his new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Last week, Kanye West tweeted that Wal-Mart banned the highly anticipated album because the artwork was too racy to be carried on the stores’ shelves. The company claims that Kanye never showed them the artwork, but they are still excited to carry the upcoming album.”We’re excited about Kanye West’s new album and we look forward to carrying it in our stores on November 22nd,” Wal-Mart said in a statement. “As always, it’s our standard practice to carry the edited parental advisory version. We did not reject the cover artwork and it was never presented to us to view.”Kanye West’s album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is due in stores on November 22nd.

(AllHipHop News) Red Bull has enlisted the talents of Brooklyn Rapper Talib Kweli and Los Angeles urban-Latino band Ozomatli to compete in a live performance at the Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom. Red Bull Soundclash, which is being organized as one concert in a series of global musical battles, is designed to be a live musical conversation and performance between two bands with diverse sounds, styles, and creativity.  Seeking to create the ultimate musical battle where two bands fight for the acceptance of the public, the two artists will compete in a series of four rounds. The bands will perform various tasks, some rehearsed and some improvised, to showcase the range of their musical abilities.The audience participates in the back-and-forth exploration between the bands by judging each round and their reaction is measure by a decibel meter that the crowd must elevate with noise. Recently, Talib Kweli has had great success with his Blacksmith Records label, which is distributed by Warner Brothers Records.  In addition to his most recent Reflection Eternal project with Cincinnati producer Hi-Tek, he has been working closely with well-known signees Jean Grae and Strong Arm Steady on select tour dates and musical projects. Ozomatli has recently added to their Grammy Award winning resume, by becoming the Cultural Ambassadors of the U.S. State Department. Having been hired in a series of government-sponsored international tours to Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East, the group is able to continue their dedication to grassroots political achievements. The Red Bull Soundclash takes place October 28th in Dallas, Texas at the Palladium Ballroom.

(AllHipHop News) Twista is focused on delivering a flawless product when his eighth solo album, Perfect Storm, drops next month. By now, fans know what to expect with Twista’s rapid-fire delivery. Instead of experimenting with his sound, the Chicago emcee concentrated on mastering the sound and style that’s allowed him to remain in the Hip-Hop for nearly 20 years.

“The focus on the new album is always giving the fans with what I think they consider the perfect Twista album,” he explained to AllHipHop.com. “I try not to steer too far from what they want to hear and get all crazy. You’re going to hear perfection in my lyricism, some dope ass songs, and Trax killing them on the beats.”

Twista and the Legendary Traxster broke a five-year drought last year by working together on the Category F5 album. Even within the confines of the Twista sound, the rapper says fans can still expect some surprises.

“You’re going to be surprised on there by tracks like ‘Heat,’” Twista said, referencing his recent work with Raekwon. “You going to be like that’s what I wanted to hear when you hear songs like ‘Back to Basics.’ It’s going to be big.”

While respected, Twista had to contend with lyrical battles in his career. The most prominent of those contests were lyrical confrontations with The Beatnuts, Bone and Naughty By Nature. But when reflecting back on artists that keep him lyrically focused, he cites peers he had cordial relationships with.

“Man, that’s a good one. It was never really one person. It was always different people like Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie, [and] Tupac, those types of artists,” Twista detailed. “It would be an Outkast, anybody that was hot from the perspective of doing their thing from being true lyricists. Those are the guys that kept me on my toes.”

Twista’s Perfect Storm features appearances from Lloyd, Yo Gotti, Chris Brown, Ray J, Raekwon and Waka Flocka Flame. The release date is November 9.

(AllHipHop News) Grammy Award winning rapper/producer Dice Raw of the Legendary Roots Crew has officially launched a new music imprint named R&S Music Group. According to Dice, the new label will focus on creating new music in multiple genres, across a variety of platforms, in addition to releasing music by Dice and new artists the label is currently cultivating. Through R&S Music Group, the Philadelphia-based producer is applying the knowledge he has accumulated over the years by licensing works to movies like Superbad, Hancock, Stomp The Year, Hurricane and the updated version of the Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith, son of rapper/actor Will Smith. “We are all about the preservation of good music and culture while also trying to be innovative with technology and the web,” Dice Raw told AllHipHop.com. “We want to open the doors to up and coming artists and provide a credible platform of digital distribution without them having to sell their life to a record company.” R&S is currently working with local producers Khari Mateen and Rick Friedrich, who have produced tracks for a variety of local artists, including The Roots and Jill Scott.Dice Raw will be performing new material next weekend near the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, when he hits the Mojo On Main for an exclusive performance on Thursday (October 28th). Advanced tickets to the show can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/131042.For more information on R&S Music, contract @RandSmusic or @diceraw on Twitter or email [email protected].

(AllHipHop News) A public wake will be held for Michael “eyedea” Larsen, who died on Saturday, October 16th 2010, from unknown causes at the age of 28. Family, friends and fans will gather on Thursday (October 28th) at the Minnesota Grand Ballroom to celebrate the life, legacy and music of eyedea. Additionally on Tuesday, November 9th, a celebratory event will take place at First Avenue Mainroom, to honor eyedea. “Always remember that where ever you go and what ever you do my love will always be with you,” eyedea’s mother, Kathy Averill said. “I knew before you were born that you were going to affect the world. I didn’t know how or with what gift, but now I do.  You have given me the most joy, trouble, happiness, and pain. Now it’s time for the rest of us to step up and be the humans you know we can be.  All my love, Mom.”Tickets to the celebration are priced at $20 and will be donated directly to the family of eyedea. This Saturday (October 23rd), eyedea will be remembered on Rhymesayers Radio from 9:00-11:00PM CST. “Mike was the closest friend I ever had. He was as caring as he was brilliant and was a true prodigy,” said Gregory “DJ Abilities” Keltgen. “I am honored to have been in his life and to have created with him and help spread his messages. He was a great human being and he will be missed.”Eyedea was remembered by his fellow Rhymesayers label mates, who were devastated by the sudden, unexpected loss of their close friend and musical collaborator. “My friend, my brother. I do not know who I would be without your influence in my life,” said Sean “Slug” Daley. “You challenged me without tearing me down. You pushed and encouraged me to be a better person. You had my back even when I didn’t have my own back. Your words, thoughts, and ideas impacted me in ways that I probably haven’t fully realized yet. You made me laugh and cry. You made me look and question. Thank you for everything. I love you Mikey.”Eyedea was a precious soul,” added Brother Ali. “We’re better artists for working with him and better people for knowing him. He added so generously to our lives and his passing leaves an empty space in our hearts. His spirit will forever be entwined in our life changing moments. Thank you, Mikey for sharing your light with us. We love you so very much and your music, insight and laughter will never leave us.””Anyone who carries leadership qualities always has my utmost respect,” said Evidence. “I truly feel he was a leader. So many others were so much closer to him to already know this firsthand, but if I could sense it from a distance, it must’ve been so potent to those up-front.”

(AllHipHop News) If a press release issued by the manager of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is accurate, the group is planning to release a variety of new projects, minus group members Bizzy Bone and Krayzie Bone. While Bizzy’s absence from the group has been well documented, in recent months it was speculated that Krayzie Bone was also in the process of leaving the group. The rumors seemed to be confirmed when Krayzie Bone announced the formation of a new label The Life Entertainment, which immediately caused friction with former group member Bizzy, who’s artist claimed he owned the rights to the label name. In a press release issued yesterday, Bone’s manager Jeremy Geffen stated that the group would wrap up their 90-city tour on October 30th, in Albuquerque  New Mexico. Wish, Layzie and Flesh-N-Bone will spend the rest of the 2010 writing a book, developing a film project and recording a new CD through a soon-to-be disclosed new recording deal. “We’ve got a great team and big plans for BTNH for 2011 and beyond that are quickly coming to fruition,” the group’s manager Jeremy Geffen stated of the veteran Hip-Hop group. “I am confident that we have some exciting times ahead including marketing, TV and film synch and branding concepts as unique as the group itself.” Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are one of the best known, and best selling groups in Hip-Hop history, moving over 30 million records worldwide, since their 1994 debut Creepin’ on ah Come Up on Eazy E’s Ruthless Records imprint. No further details were available on Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s upcoming albums or book.

(AllHipHop News) Pharoahe Monch is celebrating the 15th Annual National Day of Protest To Stop Police Brutality by premiering a new video for his anti-police brutality anthem “Clap (One Day) today (October 22nd). The 15th Annual National Day of Protest To Stop Police Brutality takes place each year in communities across the country to protest aggressive police tactics.To show support for the day, supporters are wearing all black to show solidarity. Pharoahe Monch premiered “Clap (One Day)” last month to a sold out crowd at the Jazz Cafe in London. The album was taken from his upcoming album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades), which will be released through Pharoahe’s W.A.R. Media and Duck Down Records in February of 2011. “Instead of protect and serve, police often escalate situations, as with the cases of Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, or Aiyana Stanley Jones, and hundreds more who fell victim to police violence,” Pharoahe Monch told AllHipHop.com. “I wrote this song to express my frustration, as well as raise the question of how our communities can create safety and prevent violence, with out relying on police.”The never-before-seen footage also features vocalists Showtyme, Mela Machinko and DJ Boogie Blind, who will also be in the short film and music video for “Clap (One Day),” which will be released in December 2010.Pharoahe Monch was clear that despite the song’s title, it does not advocate violence against police officers, as his brother protects and serves a local community. “My brother is a police officer so I know there are some well intentioned people wearing blue uniforms,” Pharoahe Monch told AllHipHop.com. “But the issue of police violence is much bigger than good cops and bad cops, it comes down to a broken system which criminalizes our communities, and must be completely transformed.”Pharaohe Monch’s album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) will hit stores in February of 2011. For more information visit http://www.Pharoahe.comClap (One Day) from W.A.R. Media on Vimeo.