Drake Rising Fast in Music World

Rapper leaves prison Thursday

(NEWSER) - Lil Wayne is not wasting any time: As soon as he leaves prison Thursday, he’s going to start recording … on the plane flying him home. “We're gonna deal with that microphone, no trip,” says a member of his team, which is currently trying to locate a plane with studio equipment. “You can't keep him out of the studio.” The rapper has been writing lyrics during his entire eight-month prison stint, Rolling Stone reports, and he had even more time to write when he got placed in solitary confinement last month. More»

Concert booking fees might surprise you

(NEWSER) - In the world of concert bookings, you probably wouldn’t be shocked to hear KISS commands a $500,000 fee. You might be surprised, however, by who comes in ahead of KISS. The Smoking Gun runs down contracts from the 2010 US summer concert season:

• Rascal Flatts: $702,500
• KISS: $500,000

Pair to perform at ballpark in September

(NEWSER) - Native New Yorker Jay-Z gets the honor of playing the first concert at the new Yankee Stadium, but he'll be sharing the stage with fellow rapper Eminem, the AP reports. The show is scheduled for Sept. 13, but that won't be their first concert together—on Sept. 2, the two will appear at Comerica Park in Detroit, Eminem's hometown. More»

Hundreds evacuated, three injured

(NEWSER) - An electrical fire broke out in the basement of the Manhattan courthouse where Lil Wayne was to be sentenced today, postponing the rapper’s big day. Three people sustained minor injuries in the fire, which started at 10:30 this morning. Hundreds were evacuated, and the court’s afternoon docket cleared. There was a “little fire, but no Lil Wayne,” a court spokesman quipped. More»

Looking to break into the biz? Use one of these pseudonyms.

(NEWSER) - With Diddy constantly changing his rap name, you might think all the good ones have already been used. But no: There are an awful lot of awesome pseudonyms still left, and Jesse Gissen lists his favorites on XXL :

• Sirius Black: “This bad ass dude from the Harry Potter series is known for practicing black magic, breaking out of prison and being able to turn into a werewolf. Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than this.”