Lauryn Hill and Pras hit the stage at the 2011 Rock the Bells festival in New York City, New York, but were one member short of a full Fugees reunion. Speaking with UsMagazine.com, Wyclef Jean explained that he was originally asked to appear during the show but a conflict kept him from participating.

“It wasn’t really a reunion,” he said. “I had a concert, but I got the offer to come. Pras was at the crib, so I said, ‘Pras, Lauryn wants me at Rock The Bells and I can’t make it.

So don’t you think you should just surprise her and pop up instead?’ So Pras shows up. And there’s two Fugees. Then they’re like, where’s the third? But that’s what happened.”
While he didn’t grace the stage with his former band members, ‘Clef didn’t entirely rule out joining forces with L Boogie and Praswell in the future.

“There’s an energy and a buzz about the Fugees that everyone likes,” he added. “I think that it would be exciting to see that happen again. I don’t know if it would be another album — but maybe a song!”

In an exclusive interview, Wyclef’s Presidential rival Michel Martelly also questioned the rapper’s ability to help Haiti recover from a devastating earthquake in January, which killed 250,000 people and displaced another 1.5 million. Former Fugee group member Pras Michel is backing Martelly in his run against Wyclef Jean for President of Haiti.

Martelly, who is also an award-winning Haitian musician, first became familiar with The Fugees after the release of their hit 1996 album The Score.

According to Martelly, he has been a very close friendship with Wyclef and the rapper’s family for years and his son even attended the Fugees reunion concert in 2006 in California.However, Martelly questioned Wyclef’s ability to really lead the country.

“I know that Clef is well intentioned. But, I believe that not having been raised here, not being familiar with any neighborhood – because I don’t think Clef can drive anywhere here on his own – he can’t speak the languages, I agree that those are handicaps, Martelly told in an exclusive interview.

“I’m not saying that he couldn’t surprise the world and be a good president. I cannot say that; I would be speculating. I’d be speculating if I said he couldn’t deliver. But there are things about him that raise concerns for us here in Haiti.”

Drake’s highly anticipated performance in New York was unceremoniously shut down by the New York Police Department. The show with cancelled because of the tremendous swell of fans that came out to see the rapper.

The Toronto rapper was scheduled to perform during Paper Magazine’s free Sounds Like Paper concert series at the South Street Seaport with artists Ninkasonik and Hanson.

Over 15,000 people showed up according to sources. “I am humbled by the crowd that showed up in support of my performance and the release of Thank Me Later,” Drake told. “I love performing for my fans but unfortunately the show was canceled by the NYPD due to over crowding, leaving me without the chance to give my fans a real show.”

Pharoahe Monch’s upcoming third solo LP W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) has found a home with Duck Down Records. Originally, Monch announced last September that he would be leaving his previous label SRC to distribute W.A.R. through his own imprint, W.A.R. Media.

At the time, he cited the overall decline of the music industry as reason to forego a major label deal. But with premier indie label Duck Down, Monch feels he has secured the distribution and creative control needed to make W.A.R. a success.

“I’m incredibly excited about my upcoming release W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) and my new partnership between my company W.A.R. Media, LLC, and Duck Down Music,” Monch told. “This album deals with conflicts and resolutions of the spirit, the soul, the government, and the industry among other things.”

Tomorrow (March 19), fans in Austin, Texas can see Monch as a part of Duck Down’s 15 Year Anniversary Concert at the SXSW Showcase, located at The Scoot Inn on East 4th Street.

Jay-Z has responded to the barbed words of Beanie Sigel, in the aftermath of a diss song called “What You Talkin Bout (I Ain’t Your Average Cat)” at a Canadian Press conference. Jay-Z appeared at Montreal’s Bell Centre to answer questions from writers and reporters. Sigel, once a prominent rapper in Jay’s Roc-A-Fella Records, expressed a number of issues with his former comrade.

These matters ranged from loyalty to allegations that he had Sigel removed from a concert in Philadelphia by police.

“Beanie Sigel, to be honest and you can look it up, just to be honest…was driving two Bentleys. I don’t know how,” Jay-Z said at a press conference to the Canadian Hip-Hop site. “Its impossible to drive two cars at the same time. With his momma in the sticks, selling 800,000. I don’t know what more you can do for somebody.”

An upcoming performance at North Carolina A&T featuring Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane is drawing criticism from students and faculty members. Gucci will be performing with artists Fabolous, Trey Songz, Keri Hilson and OJ Da Juiceman.

According to the News & Record, students have been complaining to officials about Gucci’s alleged gang ties and the reflection his appearance could have on the school.

“We are reviewing our options right now,” Chancellor Harold Martin said yesterday (September 30.) “We are trying to determine if this artist can be replaced under the existing contract, how that would be done, what the fiscal result would be.”

Reports stated that some students are divided over picking a socially conscious artist as opposed to choosing an artist who may draw a large following.

Officials with the school said the concert will continue as scheduled on October 31, since contracts have been signed – and 6,000 tickets have been sold.

The release date for Jay-Z’s highly anticipated album The Blueprint 3 has been shuffled due to bootlegging and leaks on the Internet. The new album will now be released this Tuesday (September 8) as opposed to the original date of Friday, September 11.

Over the past two week, songs from The Blueprint 3 – mainly those produced by Timbaland – landed on net.

More recently, the entire album was leaked, prompting Jay-Z to address the issue in an interview.

Jay-Z’s benefit concert supporting the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund will continue as planned on September 11.

Lil Wayne’s manager is countering a Bahamian promoter’s claim that the rapper missed 2008 concert because he was “unconscious” at the time of the scheduled performance. On Thursday (July 9) TMZ.com reported that Red City Ent. had filed a lawsuit against the multi-platinum artist in regards to a missed appearance on Sept. 27 of last year.

The promoters claim that when Wayne was a no-show at the venue, police officers discovered him unconscious in his hotel room. Red City’s suit seeks a total of $432,000, with $210,000 of the amount representing Wayne’s advance.

Wayne’s manager, Cortez Bryant, offers a much different account of the events. “Our show was set for September 26th last year,”

Bryant told. “We arrived on time, ready to perform.” Bryant claimed promoters didn‘t have the rest of Wayne‘s deposit, forcing the show to be canceled. According to Bryant, Wayne agreed to reschedule the concert despite on his birthday (Sept. 17).

“I presented their case to Wayne and he said he would do it if the promoters had everything right, based on our contract …. when I arrived at the venue, the security was horrible, causing it to be an unsafe environment and the sound system wasn’t up to our contracted standard.”

Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday will include more than cake, as rapper Lil Kim and ‘80s pop songstress Cyndi Lauper take the stage together to help celebrate the occasion during a concert to honor the former South African president. The three-hour event, which will take place at 8 p.m. July 18 at Radio City Music Hall, will feature what organizers labeled as “special collaborations” between performers.

In addition to Lil Kim and Lauper, Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am will perform with Jesse McCartney at Mandela Day: a 46664 Celebration, while Alicia Keys and Angelique Kidjo share their time on stage.

Soul music queen Aretha Franklin and Josh Groban will also take to the stage in a collaborative performance. According to event organizers, the Mandela Day celebration will serve as a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to make an imprint and help change the world around them for the better.

Legendary pop singer Michael Jackson was taken to the hospital, after suffering a heart attack in Los Angeles, California today (June 25). Jackson was taken to a local hospital in Los Angeles by ambulance, where they administered CPR on the 50-year-old singer.

Calls from Jackson’s house were placed to 911 around 12:20 PM PT from his Holmby Hills home in Los Angeles.

In December of 2008, Jackson’s brother Jermaine made startling claims that the King of Pop was suffering from a rare lung disease and other potentially fatal illnesses, although neither health issues were confirmed.

Jackson is currently in the middle of planning a 50-date concert series at London’s O2 Arena, but another promoter is contesting the tour, claiming the shows violate a contract signed by Jackson’s manager.

Jackson is in Los Angeles rehearsing for the London concerts, which were slated to start in July.