NEWS: 8-4-07 :: Klashnekoff new LP :: Manie Fresh joins Def Jam :: Akon attacks the charts

UK rapper Klashnekoff - whose latest album is expected to be the hottest new release in British hip hop this year - describes himself as a "rapper, MC and street journalist". The musician, from Hackney in east London, released his debut album The Sagas Of..., in 2004. His follow-up, Lionheart: Tussle With The Beast, is a more structured album, with greater maturity.

Pharrell Williams, along with music stars Big & Rich and the All-American Rejects, are taking part in Pepsi’s global re-branding efforts. While the familiar Pepsi logo remains untouched, the background graphics change every few weeks.

Mannie Fresh has signed a deal with Def Jam that will allow him to sign and produce new artists for the label. Mannie Fresh revealed that in addition to finding talent, he will produce for Southern acts on the label. The platinum-plus producer also has the freedom to continue to produce for artists outside of the Def Jam label.

Daz Dillinger and Kurupt will offer an inside look behind their feuds and disputes over the years in a new documentary, titled DPG Eulogy. The two-hour film, directed by Damian Zellous, will chronicle the group's conflicts between 2001 and 2005, including the public beef between Dillinger and Kurupt during Kurupt's return to Death Row in 2001.

If you've ever had an ear for classic soul reminiscent of James Brown or Jackie Wilson but with a youthful vibe then you've got to listen to Ryan Shaw. He's touring with Joss Stone this summer.

Young Jeezy & USDA are assembling all-white female street teams in various cities across the US, as part of the promotion for the group’s latest single White Girl. The ladies will join Jeezy’s field marketing team on the remaining dates of the Street Dreams Tour and help promote the upcoming Def Jam/CTE release, Young Jeezy Presents USDA: Cold Summer.

The truce between rapper Eminem and his ex-wife Kim Mathers has dissolved. Just one day after the two agreed not to criticise each other in public for the sake of their daughter Hailie, Kim Mathers spoke negatively about Eminem during an interview on New York's Hot 97 radio station, during Miss Jones’ morning show.

Akon’s Don't Matter begins a second week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, and also rises 10-7 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. In addition, Akon shares the No. 2 slot on the Hot 100 with Gwen Stefani on The Sweet Escape, which climbs from No. 6 in the wake of the duo's performance of the song last week on American Idol. The song sold 140,200 digital downloads, a 67% increase, to zoom 7-1 on Hot Digital Songs.

Daddy Yankee has Akon and the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie and will.i.am in his corner on The Cartel: The Big Boss, due June 5 via El Cartel/Interscope. The first single is the Scott Storch-produced Impacto, an English remix of which will feature Fergie. Other guests on The Cartel include Jim Jones and the Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger.

Exhaustion has been given as the main cause of Lady Sovereign’s cancellation of her UK shows at Glasgow King Tuts and a show at the Academy 2 Birmingham. Having established herself in the both sides of the Atlantic over the past 12 months and after a series of tour dates in Australia and Japan, Sov was due to begin her UK tour in Glasgow.

Australian label Obese Records is glad to announce the signing of Vents. Vents is a solo artist from Adelaide who will be dropping his eagerly anticipated debut album Hard To Kill (predominantly produced by Trials of Funkoars fame) mid year. Keep an eye out for more details on this talented MC in the coming months.