(AllHipHop News) Rapper Mystikal is heading right back to work since being freed from jail after serving 6 years in a Louisiana prison or sexual battery and extortion.

The Grammy Award winning rapper has been tapped to headline the “Mystikal and Friends” Mardi Gras concert at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for Performing Arts.

The rapper, who was released from prison on January 11, will perform hits like “Danger,” “Shake Yo Ass,” “Bouncin Back (Bumpin’ Me Against the Wall),” and “Move B**ch.”

“I’m back. It almost feels like a dream,” he said in an interview with New Orleans’ radio station Q93 FM after his release on January 11. “Six years off the scene for most rappers, it would be over with, but it’s a new beginning for me….we cant be foolish especially when you are blessed and successful. We gotta tighten up”

Sources told AllHipHop.com that during his incarceration, Mystikal, born Michael Tyler, wrote hundreds of songs, which he plans on recording for a new, untitled release.

“The Mystikal and Friends” concert is slated to take place February 16 at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $36-$63.

(AllHipHop News) Rappers Nelly and Bow Wow will host their own celebrity basketball game this weekend in Chicago to foster peace and unite in the community. The pair will be on hand with various representatives of Nelly Derrty Ent as well as reps for the Cash Money Millionaires. Nelly’s team will play Bow Wow’s and the losing team will have to donate $100,000 to a charity. The event, which takes place January 31 at the UIC Pavilion on January 31, will also feature Nelly and Bow Wow speaking the students and children during halftime about the importance of education.

Reverend Run of Run-DMC is offering a fan the chance to be married on Valentine’s Day as part of the “Ultimate Rock-N-Roll Wedding.” The Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City is offering couples to share their love stories, with the grand prize being a wedding officiated by Reverend Run. The winner will receive the “once in a lifetime wedding” on February 14 at the Borgata’s Gypsy Bar. Additionally, the couple will receive “rock star” treatment at The Borgata, a custom cake designed Executive Chef Thaddeus Dubois and an post-celebration at MIXX nightclub for the official Kid Rock concert after party, where Rev Run and DJ Ruckus will perform.

Fabolous will join a number of rappers this weekend as part of Nike’s “Lace Up, Save Lives Concert.” The concert will features performances by Fabolous, Pac D##, Asher Roth, All American Rejects and others. Nike’s “Lace Up, Saves Lives” raises millions by selling specialized (NIKE)RED laces. The proceeds are donated to The Global Fund, which helps fight AIDS in Africa. The concert takes place at The Montalban Theater in Los Angeles from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Admission is $4 with a high school ID.

(AllHipHop News) Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) Founder Russell Simmons and CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis have partnered with several organizations to create the Music 4 Peace Initiative and Tour.

HSAN will team with the Music4Peace Foundation, Tribes of the Worlds, SwaggMedia and The Gandhi Tour to promote a global message of peace, using music, artists and global resources.

Under the new partnership, Simmons and Chavis will launch an international extension of their Hip-Hop Summits, which have been active in every major city since it’s inception in 2001.

A Hip-Hop Summit will take place in South Africa in conjunction with the World Cup and FIFA this June, while another Summit is being planned for India in November.

Additionally, HSAN will support The Gandhi Tour’s International day of Peace in Brazil.

“Hip-Hop music artists are leaders in the youth movement,” Russell Simmons told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “We’re excited about the potential these diverse organizations have in coming together to harness music as a transformative and unifying power to promote peace throughout the world.”

Music4Peace has also announced a contest to raise funds for HSAN and Haiti with the Film 4 Peace contest.

One filmmaker will be awarded a trip for two to South Africa to attend The Hip Hop Summit’s inaugural concert and event during The World Cup this June.

For more information visit http://www.music4peacetour.com for more details.

(AllHipHop News) Convicted drug lord “Freeway” Ricky Ross will celebrate his 50th birthday tomorrow (January 29th) and he has vowed to continue to educate youth about the perils of drugs and gang culture.

Ross served over 20-plus years in prison for running a massive crack-cocaine operation that was grossing almost $3 million dollars per week.

He was also catapulted to international infamy, when the San Jose Mercury Times exposed a link between Ross’ suppliers and the CIA, DEA, which lead to the Iran-Contra scandal.

Now, Ross spends his time reaching out to youngsters who might glorify the previous life he lead, which took two-decades from his life, in addition to acknowledging that his actions helped destroy his own community.

“We have to stress early the importance of leadership, finances, credit, entrepreneurship, and an improved vocabulary,” a reformed Freeway Ricky Ross told AllHipHop.com. “Becoming an active mentor is the first step to everything in this process.”

Freeway Ricky Ross is currently traveling the country for speaking engagements with organizations like Unity One, Amer-I-Can, Hip Hop Detox and his own non-profit, The Freeway Foundation.

Ross, who was released from Texarkana Prison in early 2009, will celebrate his 50th birthday at Westside Stages in Los Angeles, California.

The nationwide Sprite Step Off competition will be the focus of a new docu-series hosted by rapper/actor Ludacris.

The six-part series, titled Sprite Step Off, will follow six step teams from fraternities and sororities across the country as they prepare for the regional rounds of the Sprite Step Off competition while learning steps and beats as well as juggling round-the-clock rehearsals and family, friends and school demands.

Each team will compete for a chance to win one of two $100,000 scholarships at the event’s national final. The Sprite Step Off is regarded as the largest national step team competition in history as it celebrates the creativity and originality of the multicultural college experience through stepping, scholarship and service.

The combined prize pool of the Sprite-sponsored event amounts to $1.5 million in scholarships. In addition to the competition, the Sprite Step Off competition promotes a national program called the Sprite Step Off Challenge, an effort designed to inspire youth nationwide to help their communities by donating a collective total of 1.5 million hours of volunteerism and service between September 12, 2009 and September 12, 2010.

For Ludacris, the chance to showcase teams in the Step Off as well as the merits of stepping provides a win-win situation for viewers and step enthusiasts.

“I love that MTV2 and Sprite are giving a Step competition national exposure and introducing this creative dance form to an audience outside of the urban college landscape,” the entertainer said about the half-hour series, which was shot on location at college campuses around the country. “The teams competing on the show are not only dedicated but diverse and will take Step competitions to a new level.”

Fraternities and sororities featured on Sprite Step-Off include Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and Zeta Tau Alpha.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Sprite to bring these student performances to television as part of our new original series lineup for MTV2 and to provide a platform for the rich and historic tradition of college stepping,” added Chris McCarthy, senior vice president of Strategic Development and Digital TV Networks, MTV.

The Sprite Step Off docu-series featuring Ludacris will premiere Sunday (Jan. 31) on MTV2.

Memphis rap group 8Ball & MJG will release a new album titled Ten Toes Down via a new deal between T.I.’s Grand Hustle and E1 Music.

The group’s 12th official album will feature an all-star lineup of rap artists that includes Snoop Dogg, David Banner, Young Dro, Bun B. and Grand Hustle CEO, T.I.

“I’m happy to be working with America’s #1 independent, E1 Music,” T.I. told AllHipHop.com about the new deal in a statement released today (January 29).

Grand Hustle co-CEO Jason Geter was excited to be working with the veteran Memphis-based group, who have been signed to labels like Suave House and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy imprint, since their debut with 1993’s Comin’ Hard.

“T.I and I were thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Ball & Gee from the very beginning,” Geter stated. “We’ve both been fans, and this new album is classic Ball & Gee material & we’re excited for the world to hear it.”

The album features production by Drumma Boy, Nitti, Nard & B and former No Limit Records’ in-house hit maker, Mo. B. Dick.

“Ten Toes Down, in my opinion, is one of the best 8Ball & MJG albums ever,” 8Ball told AllHipHop.com. “It’s a heart-felt, soul-filled, portion of the lives of 8Ball & MJG. 8Ball & MJG sounds and feels like 8Ball & MJG on this album 4sho!”

8Ball & MJG recently shot an album for the title track to the album, which was directed by Gabriel Hart.

Ten Toes Down is due in stores on April 6th.

(AllHipHop News) Internationally acclaimed DJ Irie and Miami Dolphins All-Pro Jason Taylor begin a new after-school initiative for children interested in the discipline of deejaying tomorrow (January 29).

“Irie’s DJ Spiniversity” will be held at the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center in Miramar, FL.

Its location is strategic, with the goal bridging the student’s predilection for music and their educational skills needed to excel in school.

Irie’s debut seminar is set to include an exhibition, a DJ battle, and teaching Jason Taylor turntable skills.

In addition, students will be taught the history of the DJ, music theory, scratching, and mixing.

Even as a DJ that’s traveled the world and received much acclaim, Irie holds his new educational endeavor as one of his most important career ventures.

“The Irie DJ Spiniversity is one of the greatest achievements of my career,” Irie told AllHipHop.com. “Being a performing DJ has afforded me a wonderful & fulfilling life and to be able to spearhead an establishment for our youth to learn the art and the business is the absolute best. I expect to see some great talent come out of the Irie DJ Spiniversity.”

The class is free every Friday for the remainder of the 2010 school year.

The subsequent classes will be taught by DJs from the Scratch DJ Academy of Miami, known as the first DJ school in the world.

The first class commences at 4PM tomorrow in the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center, located at 7000 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33023.

(AllHipHop News) Dogg Pounds fans will be treated to an album of all new material from group member Kurupt next month, when Down & Dirty hit’s the stores.

The album is being released by Death Row Records/ Wide Awake Entertainment, the company that bought the famed Gangsta rap label out of bankruptcy in January of 2009.

The new album features 16 “rare” recordings from Kurupt and includes guest appearances by 2 Pac, Petey Pablo, Kokane, Danny Boy, Young Tone, Val C. and others.

Down & Dirty will hit stores on February 9th.

The track listing is below:

1. Speak on it – ft. Val.C 2. Anarchy 87 3. Throw Back Muzic 86 4. Riot in the Club 5. Stalkin 6. Can you Feel it ft. Potion 7. Slide N Slide Out ft. East Wood/ Big Tri/ Young Tone 8. You Don’t know who you fu**in wit ft. KoKane 9. Jealousy ft. Roscoe/M.O.P 10. Tha Past ft. Dave Hollister 11. Bulls**t & Nonsense 12. Calico 13. Hustlin Ft. Big Tri & Young Tone 14. It’s a wrap 15. One things for sure ( Reprise)ft. Danny Boy 16. Put this money right there ft. Petey Pablo

(AllHipHop News) The worlds of Hip-Hop and Rock will collide during the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, which take place this weekend in Los Angeles.

Singer/comedian Jamie Foxx and T-Pain will hit the stage with Hip-Hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh and legendary Guns-N-Roses guitarist, Slash.

Newcomer Drake will hit the stage with previous Grammy winners Eminem and Lil Wayne and they will be backed by Travis Barker.

T-Pain is up for four nominations this year in the Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group for his hit single “Blame It,” which features Jamie Foxx. The track is also up for Best R&B Song.

The song “I’m On A Boat” (with The Lonely Island) is up for best Rap/Sung Collaboration, while T-Pain’s album Thr33 Ringz is up for Best Contemporary R&B Album.

Foxx and Eminem landed three nods each.

Foxx landed two for “Blame It” and will face off against T-Pain in the Best R&B Contemporary Album category for his release Intuition, while Eminem is up for Best Rap Solo Performance for “Beautiful,” Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for “Crack A Bottle” (with Dr. Dre & 50 Cent), and Best Rap Album for Relapse.

Other performers during the evening include The Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Maxwell, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Lady Gaga and Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli, who will duet during a benefit portion for Haiti.

Presenters include LL Cool J., Ke$ha, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, Jennifer Lopez, Seal and Lionel Richie.

The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards take place live on Sunday, Jan. 31, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will air on CBS from 8:00PM – 11:30PM.