Melanie Fiona pays her respects to one of her favorite artists Amy Winehouse with a cover of “Wake Up Alone,” a cut off the late singer’s Grammy-winning album Back to Black. The video was recorded in January when Melanie was in London, but only released now.

“Earlier on this year, I made this video and never posted it,” wrote the “It Kills Me” singer. “Today, it’s all I can do to express my gratitude to one of my favorite artists. May your music live on to inspire others, as it has inspired me. R.I.P. AMY WINEHOUSE. xo.”

Lauryn Hill has added another member to her growing family. The former Fugee gave birth to a baby boy over the weekend.

Hill, 36, welcomed a son on Saturday (July 23). The father was not immediately identified. She has five previous children with Bob Marley’s son Rohan Marley.

According to Blackcelebkids.com, who first reported the news, the Grammy-winning singer “had a little scare because the baby came out the womb with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.” But mother and child are doing fine. “All is well now and everyone is happy,” adds the source.

Marley congratulated Hill on the birth of her son. “I’m forwarding all well wishes to Ms. Hill on the birth of her new son,” he tweeted. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate the love being sent to her RASTAFARI R.M.”

Hill first hinted at her pregnancy at one of her recent concerts. “I keep having these children. I don’t know if I’m the most fertile woman in America,” she joked during a Los Angeles gig.

She wrote an open letter to her fans last month where she addressed her pregnancy and apologized for being late to her shows. She is scheduled to perform at the Rock the Bells Festival next month.

The U.S. leg of Rihanna’s “LOUD” tour came to a close in Boston on Sunday (July 24). Along the way, she was joined by her pals Drake, Jay-Z, and Kanye West, who performed “All of the Lights” and “Run This Town” with her at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York. In this behind-the-scenes footage, the superstars are seen preparing to go on stage. Watch as they meet up backstage, mingle with Heidi Klum, and perform “All of the Lights.”

Jay-Z  and Kanye West have combined their talents to create a group dubbed “The Throne” and will release their collaborative album exclusively to iTunes on August 8. It will be available at additional physical and digital retailers on August 12, featuring the lead track “Otis,” as well as collaborations with Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, and Mr. Hudson.

On the same day as the iTunes release, tickets for their fall tour will go on sale to the public. The North American trek kicks off September 22 in Detroit and travels to cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and Boston.

Starting July 28, fans that visit Live Nation’s website will have access to pre-sale tickets, which includes a digital copy of the album.

Watch the Throne Tour Dates

Sept. 22 – Detroit, MI – Palace of Auburn Hills
Sept. 24 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre
Sept. 25 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Sept. 27 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center
Sept. 28 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center
Sept. 28 – Washington, D.C. – Verizon Center
Oct. 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Oct. 6 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Oct. 7 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Oct. 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
Oct. 10 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
Oct. 13 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
Oct. 14 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
Oct. 16 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion
Oct. 17 – Sacramento, CA – Power Balance Pavilion
Oct. 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center

Oct. 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
Oct. 21 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
Oct. 25 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Oct. 26 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Oct. 29 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
Oct. 30 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
Nov. 1 – Baltimore, MD – 1st Mariner Arena
Nov. 3 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!

Washington, DC rapper Wale is among the African artists who are banding together to present the African Connection Relief Event (A.C.R.E.).

The event is aimed at promoting awareness about the plight of the African continent, in addition to bridging gaps between African entertainers and American artists of all types, within the community.

The event also serves as a fundraiser for the group’s organizations, Artists for Charity (AFC).

A number of widely celebrated African musical artists will perform during A.C.R.E.’s event, which will take place at the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University.

In addition to Wale,  whose parents hail from Nigeria, 2011 BET International Artist of the Year Tuface Idibia and International Recording artist M.I. will make appearances.

Other artists to hit the stage during the evening include Wande Coal, Wiz Kid, Banky W, Naeto C and Skales, while a special guest appearance will be made by DJ Tay James, the official DJ of Justin Bieber. Sources told the Associated Press that the group will hold a press conference on Friday (July 29), to unveil more details about the African Connection Relief Event as well as the Artist for Charity organization.

For more information visit http://www.acreconcert.com.

Prosecutors have accused rapper Lil Boosie of paying $15,000 to have rival rapper Christopher “Nussie” Jackson murdered. Prosecutors played a videotaped statement from Michael “Marlo Mike” Louding in court this week. Louding confessed to detectives that Lil Boosie wanted Nussie killed, after the rapper was allegedly disrespectful to one of Lil Boosie’s associates during an altercation. According to The Advocate, Lil Boosie hired Louding and another associated named Michael “Ghost” Judson to murder Nussie, as well as another man named Terry Boyd. Only Michael Louding is on trial for the murder of Christopher “Nussie” Jackson, because Judson is dead.

Louding’s trial for murdering Nussie is just the start, as he has been charged with five other murders between 2009 and 2010. Rapper Lil Boosie, born Torrence Hatch, is also charged with first-degree murder in one of the killings. Prosecutors claim to have evidence that Lil Boosie hired Louding to shoot a man named Terry Boyd in October of 2009. Lil Boosie, 28, was not charged in the death of Christopher “Nussie” Jackson, because he did not have direct contact with Michael Louding prior to Nussie’s murder.

Earlier this week, Lil Boosie was accused of attempting to smuggle drugs into a second state prison in Louisiana. The rapper was indicted for trying to smuggle codeine into Angola State Prison, as well as the Dixon Correctional Institute at Jackson, where he was previously incarcerated, while serving a 10-year sentence for possession of marijuana. Prosecutors are still debating if they are going to seek the death penalty against Lil Boosie.

Chris Brown’s raps will soon have a home. The singer has announced plans to release a hip-hop mixtape called Boy in Detention.

Breezy took to Twitter to share the news with his fans. “New(chris brown) hip hop mixtape called ‘Boy In Detention’ coming soon!” he wrote.

He has released several R&B mixtapes in the past, including last year’s Fan of a Fan, In My Zone, and In My Zone 2, but this will mark his first full rap release.

“And people… Yes I’m a singer so if this mixtape doesn’t reach your quota for hip hop! Simply don’t listen,” he forewarned skeptics.

The 22-year-old star has been brushing up on his rhyme skills in the last week with the release of freestyles “Real Hip-Hop Shit # 3” and “Real Hip-Hop Shit #4” produced by 9th Wonder.

R. Kelly has been forced to take a break from touring as he undergoes emergency throat surgery.

“R&B superstar R. Kelly will be laid up for an indefinite amount of time after undergoing an emergency procedure at Northwestern Memorial Hospital yesterday to drain an abscess on one of his tonsils,” stated his rep.

The 44-year-old entertainer had visited a throat specialist after complaining of severe throat pain. After a preliminary exam, he was rushed to Northwestern Memorial for the procedure.

It is not known when Kelly, who recently wrapped the U.S. leg of his worldwide “Love Letter” tour, will return to the stage. He had to cancel a show scheduled for Friday at the Reggae Sumfest festival in Jamaica.

“I’d like to thank everybody for their love, concern and support. I WILL BE BACK!” tweeted Kellz.