D’Angelo is apparently back at work on his decade-plus-in-the-making third album. A studio session took place in New York late last night with two longtime D’Angelo collaborators, Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and bassist Pino Palladino, as well as producer/engineer Russell Elevado, according to posts from Questlove on Twitter.

“Most people use midnight as a time to sleep. others are working on their 11 year followup. this of course being hour number one,” wrote Quest.

The album, which was at one point provisionally titled “James River,” is being eyed for release before the end of the year through J Records, according to a source, but could move to early 2012 depending on when it is finally turned in. It will be D’Angelo’s long-awaited follow-up to the 2000 album “Voodoo,” which won the 2001 Grammy for best R&B album and has sold 1.7 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Questlove and Palladino later backed D’Angelo on an acclaimed tour in support of the album.

The new project has been plagued by long breaks in recording and other delays, and many collaborators have come and gone. Last year, producer Mark Ronson told Billboard.com he was about to hit the studio with D’Angelo, but it is unknown if any of his work will make the final cut. Prince, Raphael Sadiq, John Mayer, Cee Lo Green and Roy Hargrove have also been mentioned as contributors at various times during the process.

Since the release of “Voodoo,” D’Angelo has endured a serious car accident and arrests for drug possession and solicitation. In lieu of new music of his own, he’s made sporadic guest appearances on albums by Ronson, Common, Snoop Dogg, Q-Tip and the late J-Dilla. His last release under his own name was the 2008 Virgin compilation “The Best So Far,” which rounds up highlights from “Voodoo” and its 1995 predecessor “Brown Sugar,” along with soundtrack contributions.

T.I. is counting down the days to his release. In a new letter posted on his website, the incarcerated rapper thanked his fans for their loyal support and promised to return the love. “I WILL RETURN THE FAVOR!!! And that’s on PHIL!!!” he wrote of his late friend, who was killed in 2006.

The King of the South, who recently released the B.o.B-assisted track “We Don’t Get Down Like Y’all” is looking forward to coming home in September after serving 11 months behind bars. “I love y’all and I’ll see you in September,” he added, while also acknowledging individual fans and celebrities including Drake, J. Cole, Nelly, and Nipsey Hussle.

Read the full letter and shout-outs below.

What up world? I appreciate the continued love and support that everyone has been giving me. This chapter in my story will soon be coming to an end and I will be back in the flesh with you sooner than later. In the meantime I want to give a special shout out to a few particular individuals that have been sending me letters, cards, comments, tweets and just overall holding me down. A little loyalty goes a long way with me…I don’t do fake shit shawty. So I can’t thank y’all enough for keeping it 1 thousand and as soon as I’m able I WILL RETURN THE FAVOR!!! And that’s on PHIL!!! I love y’all and I’ll see you in September.

– KING

SHOUT OUTS:

OMG Girlz, Tameka, Pretty Hustle, Angie Martinez, DJ Enuff, DJ Infamous, Drake, J.Cole, Nipsy Hustle, Nelly, B.o.B, Killa Mike, Lil Book, Donnis, Rich Kid Shawty, Amare Stoudemire, DJ Drama, MLK, Greg Street, Maino, Mouse and Hustle Hard (Welcome Home 80!!!!). Also would like to shout out…

Deidra Collins / Memphis, TN, Kyrstal Greenwood / Gaithersburg, MD, Trevor Toodle / NC, Christopher Chizer / Houston, TX, Renee Mathews / Clinton, MD, Ronnie P / St. Louis, MO, SimoniaMeChelle / Memphis, TN, Justin Allen Garcia from the Phillipines, Ashley Smith / Birmingham, AL, Brunette /Jackson, MS, @lilmariahc, @bash_ti, @1stlaydi, @the_blueprint4, @jmuse821, @jstablishgohard, and @ladyflirty!

Beyoncé is sitting pretty on top of the albums chart once more. The pop superstar’s latest album 4 holds onto the No. 1 spot for a second week.

B’s fourth solo offering, featuring the singles “Run the World (Girls)” and “Best Thing I Never Had,” sold 115,000 copies in its second week in stores, according to Nielson Soundscan. This is down 63% from opening week sales of 310,000. The album debuted at No. 1 worldwide upon its release late last month.

Lloyd scores the highest debut of the week on the Billboard 200 at No. 10, moving 26,000 units of his fourth LP King of Hearts. The Zone 4/Interscope release, which features André 3000, R. Kelly, and Keri Hilson, marks his third top 10 set following 2008’s Lessons in Love, which opened at No. 7 with 51,000.

Nicki Minaj is refuting reports that she was attacked by a man at a Dallas hotel this week. The Pink Friday rapper took to Twitter to set the record straight.

TMZ reported that Minaj got into an intense verbal fight with an unidentified man who “struck” her in the lower lip at Dallas’ Palomar Hotel while she was in town for Britney Spears’ “Femme Fatale” tour. She reportedly told a hotel employee to call the police after the incident, but did not press charges.

A further investigation contradicts TMZ’s story. A spokesperson for the Dallas Police Department confirmed to MTV News that officers did respond to a call at the hotel on Monday night, but there was no mention of assault. “We responded to her and a friend arguing over a suitcase, and one of them let go and it hit her in the lip,” said Dallas PD spokesperson Kevin Janse.

Nicki fervently denied reports that she was attacked. “The fact that u believe a man either slapped or punched me in the face & didn’t leave on a stretcher w/his balls hangin off? #getaF%cknLife,” she tweeted. “The media could pee on ur leg & tell u its raining. You’d believe it. You’d believe u were an adopted martian if TMZ told u so. #stopit5.”

Her associate Safaree “SB” Samuels, who some had mistaken as the unidentified man, also blasted the allegations. “The general public are some stupid muthafuckas!!!! Y’all dicks believe anything on a website…. It’s really a shame,” he wrote. “4the record I would never lay a hand on ANY woman, I have all sisters and No brothers And that’s the last I’ll say about that!!! God bless.”

Monica is standing up for Lil’ Kim after the rapper’s verse was unexpectedly removed from her new single “Anything (To Find You).

When the Notorious B.I.G.-sampled song made its debut at No. 71 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart this week, Kim’s name was nowhere in sight. A rep for Monica’s label J Records tells Billboard.com that the raptress was cut entirely from the official version due to contractual issues.

Monica took to Twitter to express her disappointment and vowed to get her friend back on the song. “I am just finding out what has happened to my single and myself & Missy are beyond hurt that @LilKim was removed,” tweeted Monica. “She’s our friend, a legend & @LilKim will get the respect she deserves at all cost. The clearance was revoked & I’m fighting to get it reinstated by the Biggie Estate.”

According to Monica, Biggie’s mother Volleta Wallace did not clear the “Who Shot Ya?” sample with Kim. “We respect all parties involved & were gonna do WHATEVER to keep the song as is because @lilKim the bizness on the record,” she added. “I am as thorough as they come and I LOVE @LilKim bottom line is Ms Wallace has the final say and she said No. If we put it out we get SUED. ”

The  singer responded to upset fans, saying, “Your directing your anger in the wrong place & I am far 2deep in the game 2play games. These r facts. Still fighting 4 Kim to be on it.”

In a previous interview with “The Lil’ Kim Fan Club Show,” the Queen Bee said that her verse was shortened to make room for Rick Ross and that her full rap would appear on Monica’s seventh album, New Life, due in October.

“Monica is one of the realest bitches I’ve met in this game,” said Kim, who is readying the release of her own single “Looks Like Money.”

Mathew Knowles is speaking out for the first time since allegations surfaced that he stole money from Beyoncé. In an interview with The Associated Press, the singer’s father maintains that he is innocent and questions the integrity of Beyoncé’s new team.

“We absolutely have not taken any money from Beyoncé, and all dollars will be accounted for,” he told the AP in an interview. “In no way have we stole money. Again, this about the people who have made these claims—they have to come into the light.”

He doesn’t hold any grudges toward his daughter, but is skeptical of those surrounding her. “The relationship with Beyoncé is extremely amicable. I want to make that clear. Where there’s concern is the people that she’s doing business with,” he explained. “I’m challenging all of these folks on integrity, professional integrity.”

After he was fired, Beyoncé put together a new team, including executives from Live Nation and Roc Nation. “She changed almost every aspect of her business,” he said. “The team ironically appeared to be a cross-pollination of Beyoncé’s team, Roc Nation’s team, and Live Nation’s team, who ironically have the most to gain.”

Knowles has not spoken to his daughter since they parted ways, but hopes the court will be able to rectify the situation. “The only way we will be able to understand this is through a court of law. That’s the only way either one of us will be clear if someone in our camps did something that was not correct.”

Beyoncé released 4, her first album without the guidance of her father in late June. It debuted at No. 1, but has yet to produce any smash singles. Mr. Knowles attributed the slow start to her label and new management. “They put out the record in a vacuum,” he said, while praising his daughter’s status as a pop icon. “It makes you believe that there are some artists that don’t need radio. There are some records that don’t need a record label, and Beyoncé is one of those artists.”

If you weren’t already excited for Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaborative album Watch the Throne, then maybe these photos will do the trick. Jay-Z’s website Life + Times has revealed behind-the-scenes images from the making of the much-anticipated project, expected to drop August 2.

A tracklisting was finally revealed this week featuring appearances from Frank Ocean, Mr Hudson, and Beyoncé, who is featured on the single “Lift Off.”