Following the lead of Matthew Knowles who released a staggeringly long statement in defense of his daughter Beyonce, Russell Simmons has released a statement defending his choice for a cross-party political endorsement.Jay-Z’s so-called “comeback video” will be directed by Hype Williams, who told Billboard Hova’s one of his favorite artists to work with.

The New York Post offers a timeline that details how Foxy Brown became the mess she is today. Thanks to EUR for posting this.

Hardcore vet Chino XL drops a new single, “Don’t Run From Me” featuring Snoop Dog and Dre.

And finally, the Dunkadelic Era is being brought to the masses in a time-line booklet written by dunkedelic scholar Derrick E. Vaughan. The self-dubbed “basketball and hip-hop Guru” also offers enlightening info about 1984, the era’s birth-year: “Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin form Def Jam Records, RUN-DMC releases their debut album “RUN-DMC”, Kurtis Blow releases the hit rap song “Basketball,” the “Fresh Fests” [were the] first major hip-hop concert tour in America, Michael Jordan is drafted by the Chicago Bulls and signs with Nike to produce the “Air Jordan” sneakers and, LeBron James (December 30) and Carmelo Anthony (May 29) were both born in 1984.”