Video: Tha Dogg Pound - "Dogg Chit (1 in 1 Out)"

-Happy 60th birthday to Afeni Shakur

-2006 was the hottest on record in the U.S.

-According to Ras Kass' publicist, this open letter to Capitol Records was not intended for the public. It was rather leaked to the web by one of Ras' associates.

-Erstwhile Birdman weed carrier B.G. launches a new rap group. SMH at the mention of "B.G." and "legend" in the same sentence. Never mind, that's the title of BG's 2003 album.

-Hip-hop scholars push for recognition.

-Hip-Hop Weekly goes national.

-MP3: Joe Budden - "Unforgiven"

-March XXL cover.

-Speaking of Mos Def's Tru3 Magic... (Props to Makkada Selah for the quotational shoutout in the article.)

(A Special apology to those who're yet to receive their prizes from last month's contest. In between Christmas and New Year is usually the worst period in the snail mail department. I'm told your packages are already on the way.)