Son of Rap Pioneer Dr. Dre Dead at 20

(NEWSER) - Eminem’s new album, Relapse, is as crude as you might expect, but his unflinching examination of his drug addiction has floored some critics. Overall, people love it or hate it.

• "The power of Relapse comes from Em aiming his beat-downs at his truest target, himself," Rob Sheffield writes in Rolling Stone. It's "a more painful, honest and vital record than anyone could have expected at this late date."
• "For anyone who carried a glimmer of hope that this talented if perverse MC had a great album in him," Greg Kot writes in the Chicago Tribune, "Relapse is a wake-up call."

Tennis player releases new rap song

(NEWSER) - Is Serena Williams switching careers? The tennis player has released a rap song that TMZ says is "actually pretty catchy" though a "little cliche." Williams recorded a few tracks last year at a recording studio owned by a friend, but nothing surfaced until now. Sister Venus gets a mention, and the lyrics—shocker—even include a reference to a tennis racquet. More»

Phil Mushnick column makes some people angry

(NEWSER) - New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick is taking some heat for some, er, colorful comments in today's column about the Brooklyn Nets' new uniforms. "As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their marketing shots—what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new 'urban' home—why not have him apply the full Jay-Z treatment?" Mushnick writes. "Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N------s?" More»

Shakur appears with Snoop Dogg ... in hologram form

(NEWSER) - All of Snoop Dogg's guests during his set last night at Coachella were impressive—Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent—but none could quite match an appearance by the late Tupac Shakur. Death didn't stop the legendary rapper, who appeared as a hologram, from dueting with Snoop on songs like "Come With Me" and "Hail Mary." "What's up, Coachella?" Shakur asked the crowd. More»

Rap group's FBI file comes to light

(NEWSER) - The notorious rap group Wu-Tang Clan has perpetrated a slew of crimes including gun running, drug dealing, and even murder, according to a recently unearthed FBI file. Among other details, the 94-page file on late Clan co-founder Ol’ Dirty Bastard—christened Russell Jones—claims the group purchased a .40-caliber Glock later used to murder a Robert "Pooh" Johnson: “Johnson was an associate of the WTC who had a falling out with the group and it is believed that his murder was ordered by someone within the WTC." More»