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 The clearance was revoked & I’m fighting to get it reinstated by the Biggie Estate.”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.”

He may have starred in the Michael Jordan-inspired film Like Mike, but Bow Wow is no match for Lakers all-star Kobe Bryant. The 24-year-old rapper went one on one with the NBA champion on the basketball court and (surprise) ended up losing $1,000, which Kobe donated to his Campers.

“Call Lil Wayne too, I’ma tell Wayne thank you,” said Kobe before sinking the first shot. “Two hot singles coming my way. Easy money.”

An out-of-breath Bow Wow ponied up the money, saying, “All the shit they be doing with Kobe on [NBA] 2K is real.”

Beyoncé severed ties with her father-manager earlier this year and now details are surfacing on what may have led to their split. Legal documents filed by Mathew Knowles claim that Beyoncé was under the impression that her father stole money from her.

According to Mathew, Live Nation Entertainment wanted a piece of Beyoncé’s 2011 world tour. TMZ has obtained papers where Mathew reveals that Live Nation told his daughter that he “had stolen money from Beyoncé on her most recent tour or otherwise taken funds that [he] was not entitled to.”

While Mathew denies the accusations, Beyoncé had her law firm conduct an audit. They determined that he had indeed taken money from her. Upon learning about this, Beyoncé reportedly fired her father as her manager. After he was fired, Mathew claims that Beyoncé hired a manager who had previously worked at Live Nation.

In order to clear his name of the theft accusations, Mathew wants the judge to allow him to depose select employees at Live Nation to find out just how they came to their conclusion.

Hip-Hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is selling his opulent, Alpine, New Jersey mansion for $13.5 million.

The New York Post reports that Combs has put the 12,000 square-foot, Colonial style home up for sale, after paying $6 million for the residence in 2004.

Combs originally lived in the house with his longtime girlfriend, Kim Porter and their son Christian.

According to The Post, the mansion is being put up for sale because Combs and Porter spend more time in Los Angeles.

But the rap mogul will not be without a roof over his head after the sale of his New Jersey mansion.

In addition to his mansion in Los Angeles, Combs has residences in Miami, New York and Atlanta.

As for Porter, Combs purchased her a $5 million, 9,655-square-foot, six bedroom, mansion in Toluca Lake, California last year.

It seems there is no stopping Beyonce’s intensive push for latest LP ‘4′.

For not satisfied with appearances at The Glastonbury Festival, Le Grand Journal and The Shepherds Bush Empire, Mrs. Carter has added X Factor France to the long list of places she has graced her new music with.