Dressed in all black with gold chains in his mouth, Drake shows up on the cover of The Source Magazine’s 14th annual “Power 30″ issue, just in time for the release of his sophomore album “Take Care.”

In The Source’s November 2011 issue, Drizzy talks about how Kanye West was a major music influence for him back in the day:

“When I was a kid trying to figure out what I liked, it was [Kanye] who I related to the most. He was an artist, in every sense, from his cover art to his music. Now, I would say he was a really great competitor…”

The issue hits newsstands on November 15th, the same day Drake’s “Take Care” album hits store

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Drizzy picks some of the most influential albums on his life and career.

For his recent cover story with The Source magazine, Drake spoke with former Editor-in-Chief Kim Osorio about his five favorite Hip Hop albums of all time. During the interview, he named offerings from The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, OutKast, Clipse and Little Brother as his most coveted picks.

“[Jay’s] Black Album. Clipse, Lord Willin’. Uh, this is not an album, but The Little Brother/[Mick] Boogie mixtape [And Justus For All], that was like pivotal in my life. And then I would have to say, uh, I say [B.I.G.’s] Life After Death. And then I will say a toss up between The Love Below and Aquemini,” he said.

He also tacked on a few more influential albums that pushed him towards a career in rap. “And then that’s without…. That’s life changing. That’s without, you know, [Lil Wayne’s] Carter 2 and other things that pushed me to rap. Those were definitive albums that opened my sound. Oh, and Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle. Those were just definitive albums that opened my mind to sound and melody and cadences and flows and you know. Those were like really important to me.”

Drake’s sophomore album, Take Care, is due November 15th.

RICK ROSS / JAY-Z COLLABO ON THE WAY! Yep! The Tweets have been talking all day about Rick Ross and Jay-Z working on a new song for Rozay’s new CD, “God Forgives, But I Don’t” or something like that. Anyway, Ross appeared on “106 & Park” and he let a lot of things known. He didn’t say much more than that regarding the collabo. But he did talk about the pair of incidents where he had a pair of seizures: “I came back totally healthy. It was a case of me not getting enough rest, not getting enough sleep.” “What it was was I was going about my business as every day. I boarded a flight, and on the flight, I had a seizure and when I snapped out of it, they told me what had happened. I was like, you buggin’, call a jet, we finna keep it moving. Because I understand me growing up and hearing about seizures, they can be violent, you bust vessels and bite your tongue up and this and that and in my case, it wasn’t none of that. I felt a little worn out, but I felt I could keep going and that’s what it was I boarded a jet and I had another seizure, and when I snapped out of that one, I woke up in front of a doctor and he asked me basically, ‘When was the last time you slept eight hours?’ and I said ‘It had to at least been five years.’ Being the fastest growing label in the game, it comes with a lot of sacrifices. And in my case, it was sleep. I would get two hours of sleep and keep moving, me being a hustler. And that has to stop.”

RZA, of the Staten Island based Wu-Tang Clan, recently told XXL magazine that either Eddie Griffin or Tracy Morgan would be playing Ol’ Dirty Bastard in an upcoming biopic about the fallen Wu-Tang Clan member.

“Eddie Griffin is down,” RZA told XXL. “Me and Eddie talked about it, laughed about it. Tracy Morgan, he wanna do it [too]. I said ‘Ya’ll both kinda can do it.’ “

As ODB’s cousin, RZA appointed another cousin, Raeshawn to write the script, which has been in the works for at least two years according to the producer.

“[In fact] I think Eddie’s already signed on with a letter of Intent—I signed on, of course. So you know [Raeshawn] got my blessin’ to make it happen,” RZA revealed.

In addition to ODB’s movie, the RZA recently concluded shooting for the movie, The Man With the Iron First, his debut in the director’s chair.

The Eli Roth written script stars Russell Crown, Lucy Liu, Pam Grier and several others.

Wu-Tang Clan fans can also look forward to a Raekwon movie in the makings, as well in which Cee Lo Green will reportedly play Rae’s father.

Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo is being sued by two Georgia producers who claim they were jerked out of advances and royalties relating to his album Units in the City.

Producers Cory Way and Teriyakie Smith filed the lawsuit late last week against Shawty Lo and D4L Records in the Superior Court of Fulton County in the state of Georgia.

According to the producers, they entered into an oral agreement with Shawty Lo and D4L Records in November of 2007, which was supposed to have amended their original, written agreement.

According to the complaint, the pair agreed to produce Shawty Lo’s album Units in the City, which was released on a Asylum/Atlantic Records in February of 2008.

The lawsuit claims that in exchange for producing Units in the City, Shawty Lo agreed to pay Way and Smith a producer fee of $5000 per track, for any master recording they created for the rapper.

According to the lawsuit Way claims that he is owed a total of $22,500 in advances, plus a 2% royalty rate of the retail sales for each album that was sold.

Teriyakie Smith claims that he is owed a total of $30,000.

Both men claim that Shawty Lo, born Carlos Walker, advanced them tens of thousands of dollars each, but he still owes a balance for the remaining work that was completed.

Both men are seeking a combined total of $200,000 in damages.

Rapper Queen Latifah will make a return to daytime television, through a new deal between her Flavor Unit Productions and Will Smith’s Overbrook Productions.

Variety reports that Queen Latifah host the new daytime talkshow, which will be syndicated through Sony Pictures Television.

The move is Queen Latifah’s latest incursion into the television and film industries, through her Flavor Unit productions.

The world famous rapper/actress, born Dana Owens, recently relocated Flavor Unit from Jersey City, New Jersey to Miami, Florida where she’s developing her film studio/company with longtime partner Shakim Compere.

Latifah also recently inked a deal with rapper Cam’ron, to produce the new movie “Percentages,” and is also a producer of “Single Ladies” for VH1 and “Let’s Stay Together” on BET.

Queen Latifah is no stranger to daytime television. She hosted her own hit talk show “The Queen Latifah Show,” from 1999-2001.

She also starred in the television series “Living Single,” which aired from 1993-1998.

According to Variety, Queen Latifah’s new talk show is slated to debut in 2013.

*Adele is undergoing surgery on her vocal chords – but it’s not because she has cancer, as some publications have speculated, reports People.

“We would like to reiterate that Adele is to undergo surgery for a hemorrhaged vocal chord,” her rep said in a statement Monday in response to rumors on Twitter that the British singer has throat cancer. “All reports regarding any other condition are 100% false.”

Adele, 23, has subsequently canceled the remainder of her North American tour, in addition to several dates in the U.K.

The Grammy winner, who released her chart-topping sophomore album 21 in February, has previously expressed her disappointment, blogging on Oct. 4, “I’m heartbroken and worried to tell you that yet again I’m experiencing problems with my voice.”

The singer’s surgery is imminent, and doctors have ordered her to rest before performing again, while a statement on her official website says that “a full recovery is expected.”

(blackmediaSCOOP) President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama got off the campaign trail to welcome students from 17 area public schools, participants from the Boys and Girls Clubs, and children of military families to The White House on Saturday.

It’s the Obamas’ third time they have opened 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to children for Halloween.

The kids’ trick or treat goodies included M&Ms especially made for The White House, sugar cookies, and dried fruit. After all it can’t all be candy as one of the First Lady’s biggest causes is decreasing childhood obesity in America. But, she’s apparently willing to compromise for

A pregnant woman in Texas who was the victim of a hit-and-run gave birth to a healthy baby girl and then died of her injuries, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Diann Ford was struck crossing the street in San Marcos, Texas while walking home from her job at Long Jon Silver’s restaurant, where she worked as a cashier sources told the newspaper.

She was found by a passing motorist who called emergency responders.

The 22-year-old, who was 37 weeks pregnant, was rushed to the hospital and gave birth by cesarean section on Wednesday. She died hours later.

Co-workers told the newspaper that Ford had been so excited about having a baby girl.

“She had picked out a name,” Kris Jaccard, her boss, told the paper.

Police are still searching for the driver of the hit-and-run vehicle.

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