Check out the latest news on the mixtape circuit.

Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

• Foxy Brown
• Lupe Fiasco
• Fat Joe
• Drake
• Lil Wayne

'He called me the other day from jail and rapped me two verses, man,' Drake says.
By Shaheem Reid

Drake and Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV News

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

As a journalist, you love hearing the person you're interviewing say, "I don't know if I'm supposed to say this ..." That almost always means they're about to talk what we call "good ish." Last week in Atlanta on the video set for Drake's "Fancy," Drizzy dropped a jewel on us: Lil Wayne rapped for him over the phone again.

The last time Weezy kicked a verse on the jack from Rikers Island, it wound up being a super-underground, added-on remix verse for "Light Up." This time, the New Orleans Fireman gave his Young Money family member a preview of Tha Carter IV.

"He called me the other day from jail and rapped me two verses, man," Drake said. "It really made me, like, 'I gotta do something different. I gotta get sh-- together,' because he's really got bars and he's rapping from a broader life perspective, saying these things people love to hear."

Drake also revealed that, although he wasn't aware of the title of Weezy's September EP I'm Not A Human Being at the time, he's definitively a featured guest.

"I'm on it," Drake said. While our talk continued with the 23-year-old Toronto native, he also said that his mentor was in that rare space where fans loved him no matter what.

"It's gonna transfer over to whatever he does," Drake said of Weezy's following. "They're waiting for that new Wayne. I don't know if people are waiting for that new Drake. Thank Me Later was great — it was phenomenal things I've never seen, like people lining up. But it might have just been the moment — that's yet to be proven. But Wayne is just a proven artist. There's no doubt in my mind that people are waiting for that I'm Not a Human Being, that Carter IV, that Wayne and Drake album. All that!"

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc.

• Mixtape Daily: Foxy Brown, Lupe Fiasco

• Lil Wayne
• Drake

'You're getting a free Game album to get you ready for this R.E.D. Album,' producers Cool & Dre tell Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid

Game
Photo: Moses Robinson/ WireImage

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

The Game says he's about to put out music to make his rivals pump their brakes. He has a new mixtape, hosted by DJ Skee and produced entirely by Cool & Dre, ready to drop at the beginning of August called Brake Lights.

"We did this Drake record called 'Good Girl, Bad Girl' in L.A. during the BET [Awards] for The R.E.D. Album," Dre of Cool & Dre told us earlier this week of how the mixtape was conceived. "That record feels like an authentic Game record, something off The Documentary. It has that soul music. Him and Drake made a classic record. It feels like something the DJs would drop the needle on. What Game wanted to do was take the energy from that session and continue it.

"The R.E.D. Album is wrapped up," Dre continued of the August 24 album. "Sh-- sounds good. Pharrell gave him some heat, [DJ] Khalil gave him some heat, Dr. Dre gave him some heat. So what he's trying to do is 'Let's kill the streets with a mixtape before the album.' And he asked me and Cool to produce it for him. I always get on him, like, 'Yo, Game. One of these albums, man. Our track record is kinda all right. You should give us an opportunity to really go in with you, do the majority of your album.' "

"Every time, they'll be like, 'We ain't never did a whole mixtape with you,' " Game explained Wednesday night from his tour bus. "They said, 'We know Skee is gonna host it.' They was like, 'Let us supply all the tracks.' They started sending me tracks. Three one day, four the next day. I was bodying them joints back to back to back."

In just three days, Game had recorded 10 songs over the Miami duo's beats. Everyone loved all the cuts.

"Me and Cool will play a beat, and he'll turn that beat into an incredible song," Dre applauded. "We sent Game a CD with 15 joints. For three days he spazzed out. He sent back 10 to Cool, and Cool started mixing them."

"Mixtapes, you don't mix them joints," Game said. "You just throw them out. But Cool wanted to mix them joints, make sure all the vocals and the beats was right, well blended. We dropped the 'M.I.A' joint — the LeBron, D. Wade and Chris Bosh joint — on the Internet. The people went nuts. It was the first song talking about that. A shot in the dark I threw out there for the people, man. We buzzin'."

Game also revealed that one of his favorite records from Brake Lights is the title track, and he put a few guests in the mix as well. "I did a few collaborations," the Compton MC said. "I got something I did with [Lil] Wayne before he left. I got something with Baby. Always gotta have them a part of anything red. Them my dudes. Waka Flocka came through to jump on the mixtape hook. I got some stuff, man."

Dre is partial to a song Game has with Busta. "He's got a record with Busta Rhymes called 'Shot Down in Cold Blood,' " Dre described. "The beat is a beat we originally did for Kanye, for his new album. It's got a vibe, man. Through the whole song, Busta says, 'Shot down in cold blood.' Every two bars he says, 'Shot down in cold blood.' Busta does it in a Jamaican patois voice. Game just spits a bunch of sh--, which makes the 'shot down in cold blood' make sense. He has a feature on there I can't say.

"There's a record called 'People' that has Mary J. Blige on it," he continued. "That's soulful. It's a lot of soul-sample beats, which we're known for, on the mixtape. There's a lot of gangsta sh-- on there. Some 'Big Dreams,' 'Hate It or Love It' type sh-- is on there. You're getting a free Game album to get you ready for this R.E.D. Album."

Game says he wants to shoot a couple of videos for the mixtape when he gets off tour.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc.

• Mixtape Daily: Game, Pharrell

• The Game
• Mary J. Blige
• Lil Wayne

Cash Money boss says Wayne's crew visits the incarcerated MC 'every week.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Lil Wayne
Photo: Alexander Tamargo/ Getty Images

Updates about Lil Wayne's jail bid have been pouring in, and in recent weeks Wayne himself has taken to his website, WeezyThanxYou.com, to speak directly to his fans and chop it up about sports. Cash Money honcho Birdman said that the incarcerated superstar is keeping his head up as he rides out the rest of his sentence.

"Wayne in good [spirits], taking it one day at a time," Birdman told HipHollywood.com, adding that Weezy's camp has been diligent about supporting and visiting the locked-up Grammy winner. "Everybody there supporting him. The whole family there, we there every week. We write, send him pictures, do everything the family supposed to do. We just taking it day by day, working hard, because that's what he drive on. That's what we do."

Wayne is roughly midway through his yearlong sentence and, assuming he stays out of trouble, is expected to head home on November 4, according to the MC's prison records. Like millions of the superstar's fans, the Cash Money boss is eagerly anticipating Weezy's return from Rikers Island. "He be home in a minute and we can't wait," Birdman said.

When Weezy does return he'll have a lot of business to tend to, including a .1 million tax bill. Young Money's Jae Millz recently told MTV News that Wayne might mark his return home by heading directly to the stage.

"I hear when he comes home, he's hitting the stage," Millz said. "I hope they let him keep his inmate uniform. He needs to come onstage with that, the whole Bruce Leroy [jail attire] and take it off and throw all the jewels on and tear it down for everyone. 'Cause they waiting for him."

• Lil Wayne Goes To Jail: Celebs React
• Lil Wayne Goes To Jail

• Lil Wayne Heads To Rikers Island

• Lil Wayne
• Birdman

'I believe that this Miami team will be explosive,' Wayne says in a post on WeezyThanxYou.com.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Lil Wayne
Photo: Alexander Tamargo/ Getty Images

Lil Wayne's yearlong bid at Rikers hasn't dulled the superstar MC's love of sports. In a letter to fans posted last week on his website, WeezyThanxYou.com, Wayne revealed that he keeps up with ESPN as part of his daily routine. Now, like millions of basketball fans, LeBron James' move to the Miami Heat has excited the incarcerated rapper.

"Oh LeBron! The recent move by the Miami Heat confirms that we will someday soon have that good ole basketball back," Wayne wrote in a blog posted Tuesday (July 20) titled "The Tricks of the Trade."

With the Heat's newly acquired superstar talent, Weezy wrote that he expects the team to bring fire to the court.

"I believe that this Miami team will be explosive as intended," Wayne continued. "Anything less than an NBA championship title will be uncivilized."

The MC also described some ways the Florida team might work the court: "Well with [Dwyane] Wade at the 1 and LeBron at the 2 or vice versa even, or Mario Chalmers at the 1, Wade at the 2, and Bron at the 3 ... Wow! Not to mention that I didn't mention [Chris] Bosh, who can live at the 4 or 5. Zone defense will be a must against this team," Weezy wrote. "That's 3 players on the court that commands a double team. Just imagine those guys on a fast break, the defender back [pedaling] ... Wade can take it to the hole or throw it up and you know Bron. Bron is going to get it ... or dish it back to a trailing Chris Bosh who will definitely finish at the rim ... again, wow!"

The Young Money star also analyzed a potential face-off between the Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA championship. "Hey, what if [former Lakers coach and current Heat President] Pat Riley returns to the sidelines and it ends up being the Lakers vs. Heat in the finals? Riley vs. [current Lakers coach Phil] Jackson! Epic! [Pau] Gasol on [Chris] Bosh, Ron-Ron [Artest] on Bron-Bron, and Kobe [Bryant] on Wade ... wow!"

In addition to following LeBron's power moves, the rapper has apparently been keeping tabs on the NBA as a whole and examined the strengths and weaknesses of other teams in the league. "Also, beware of the [Chicago] Bulls. [Carlos] Boozer will fit in well because they're similar to Utah [Jazz] in many ways. A nice guard surrounded by the shooters," Weezy wrote. "The Bulls led the league in the rebounds last season and I'm sure they will again with Boozer and [Joakim] Noah."

The MC also dished on the potential performance of the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic. "If they can stay healthy, then expect [Amar'e Stoudemire] and [Anthony] Randolph to be beasts in the paint," Wayne wrote, adding, "I'm not sure about Orlando in the East this upcoming season. I mean [Chris] Duhon isn't exactly a good move but it has potential."

The post suggests that in addition to reclaiming his spot in the hip-hop game, the star is also looking forward to a stirring b-ball season. "I can't wait to see how teams stack up next season when those other big name players hit the market," Wayne wrote, capping off the post simply with, "Good ole basketball."

Are you glad Wayne is still keeping up with the sports world? Let us know in the comments!

• LeBron James' New Neighbors In Miami
• LeBron James' Big Night

• Lil Wayne

Weezy cranked out videos, Hilton attended the MTV Movie Awards, and T.I. filmed a reality show.
By Gil Kaufman

Lil Wayne in court on March 8, 2010 in New York City
Photo: Louis Lanzano/ AP Images

There's a reckoning that needs to happen before you surrender to authorities for a jail term. Whether you're a celebrity or an average Joe, affairs have to be put in order, plans need to be made, and goodbyes have to be said.

But if you are a celebrity, there may also be a lot of business you have to complete before surrendering your freedom. And with Lindsay Lohan less than 24 hours away from reporting to a Los Angeles jail to serve a 90-day sentence for probation violations, it's worth noting how other celebrity inmates spent their final hours before going in.

Lohan is expected to serve only 23 days of her sentence, due to chronic overcrowding at jail facilities in Los Angeles, to be followed by a 90-day term in an inpatient rehab facility, meaning she is likely to be out of the star machinery full time until the fall. With only one major project on her docket at press time — the Linda Lovelace biopic "Inferno" — unlike other celebs, Lohan isn't leaving behind a lot of unfinished business.

In contrast, before he began serving a one-year term in March on a gun charge, rapper Lil Wayne was a dervish of activity, filming seven music videos in one day, hitting the studio to lay down tracks that might show up on an upcoming EP, hopping onstage with Young Jeezy, Nicki Minaj and Drake at Madison Square Garden and attending various parties.

Before going in for his one-year bid on gun charges, T.I. spent his time filming the MTV show "Road to Redemption," on which he attempted to put some wayward souls on the straight-and-narrow, and logging time at more than 260 public appearances talking to youth groups, churches and schoolkids. He also joined Young Jeezy and Ludacris onstage at a peacemaking show in Atlanta and spoke out against gun violence.

Gucci Mane also spent time in the lab just before he went away for a year on probation-violation charges, finishing up work on The State vs. Radric Davis.

Then there was Paris Hilton, who did what she always does the night before she was locked up as a result of a parole violation for DUI arrest: She partied. The golden-haired heiress walked the red carpet at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, bucking those who expected her to shamefully slink to jail by spending her last hours of freedom basking in the limelight. "I decided to do something nice before I went off," she told MTV News of her 23-day jail sentence at the Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood, California, the same jail that will hold Lohan. While Hilton was released after five days for medical reasons, the judge summoned her to reappear in court and ordered that she be sent back to jail to serve her full sentence.

It was mostly business as usual for Khloé Kardashian, who was sentenced to 30 days in jail for a DUI. The youngest of the reality-TV sisters spent the weekend before her incarceration at a beach-house party in Malibu with her mother and sister Kourtney, where she got a massage.

Lohan, typically seen at several Hollywood hot spots a week, has kept an unusually low profile in the days leading up to her jailing, which will be considerably longer than the 84 minutes she spent in lockup in 2007 on a drunk-driving offense. Last Thursday, she was spotted checking into a sober-living facility, which she appeared to be staying in until she reports Tuesday.

• Lil Wayne's 'Road To Rikers'
• Lindsay Lohan: Crime And Punishment

• Lindsay Lohan Goes To Court
• The Highs And Lows Of Lindsay Lohan

• Lil Wayne
• Paris Hilton
• T.I.
• Lindsay Lohan

IRS filed a tax lien against the incarcerated rapper last month.
By Gil Kaufman

Lil Wayne
Photo: Andy Kropa/ Getty Images

We've already found out that Lil Wayne plans to drop an EP before he's released from prison in November, and his Young Money cohorts have said their capo is eager to get right to work the day he's out.

But before he takes care of any of that, he may have to settle some business with the state of Florida. According to The Detroit News, Florida court records indicate that the Internal Revenue Service filed a .13 million tax lien against the rapper last month in Dade County Circuit Court.

Apparently, he owes income taxes from 2004, 2005 and 2007, and the lien lists the address of Weezy's One Family Foundation on the document. The 2004 line shows an unpaid balance of 6,561, as well as ,686 for 2005 and 4,511 for 2007 for the organization.

This is the second time Wayne has had a tax lien filed against him, following one in 2008 when he paid off a tax debt of 7,840.

A spokesperson for Wayne could not be reached for comment at press time.

The good news out of Wayne's camp is the EP, which manager Cortez Bryant recently spoke about.

"I'm putting out a [Wayne EP] called I'm Not a Human Being, and I'll probably drop it on his birthday, September 27," Bryant told Vibe.com. Bryant said the EP won't have the fanfare of a high-profile major-label release and revealed that he's opting instead for a more low-key way to get the music to the masses. "We're not about to roll out no three-month setup. I'm not even putting it out in stores. We just gonna put it out virally and maybe package it up for Christmas. Give 'em a hard copy later for fan appreciation," Bryant said of the release, which is billed as a prelude to Tha Carter IV.

Wayne is approximately halfway through his yearlong sentence and may be released early on good behavior. While the Human Being EP might satisfy fans until the star is back on the scene, Weezy protégé Nicki Minaj — who has kept in touch with Wayne throughout his sentence — said he's probably going to head back into the game with an arsenal of new material.

"I know when he comes out, it's gonna be a problem, 'cause he's one of those people that needs to get out his thoughts," Minaj told MTV News. "So I would imagine he would probably be in the studio for 60 days straight. He'll probably do three albums the day he comes home."

Are you looking forward to new Wayne music when he's released? Let us know in the comments!

• Lil Wayne

A November 4 release would mean Wayne served eight months of his yearlong sentence.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Lil Wayne, Beacon Theater, New York City, 07.22.2007
Photo: Alexander Tamargo/ Getty Images

Lil Wayne is approximately halfway through his one-year jail sentence, which began March 8 when the superstar MC turned himself into authorities after reaching a plea deal. According to prison records accessed by MTV News, the rapper has a projected release date of November 4.

Pending any violations or infractions for behavioral issues, the rapper is expected to see the light of day eight months after entering prison.

While Wayne has been away, however, his presence has remained potent. His protégé Drake debuted atop the charts with Thank Me Later, on which Wayne served as an executive producer.

The Toronto MC visited Lil Wayne in prison last month and told MTV News about the experience. "He kept looking to the window," Drake said. "He'd look up at the window almost like he's looking right through it. It's frosted, so you can't see out. I was like, 'Why does he keep staring through the window? There's nothing out there.' To him, there's a whole world moving out there that he hasn't seen for so long."

In addition to Drake, Diddy and Fat Joe have also ventured to Rikers Island to see Lil Wayne. Joe said the New Orleans native was in good spirits and appeared to be making the best of a bad situation through humor.

"He's doing fairly well," Joe told MTV News. "Way better than I thought he would be doing. He was telling me some crazy funny story about him and this older guy. They always going back and forth with each other, arguing. To hear him say it, it's like Archie Bunker [with this guy]."

Recently, Wayne's manager Cortez Bryant announced that an EP from the rapper would be released in September, and there are tentative plans in place for Tha Carter IV to hit shelves by the end of the year.

Another Wayne protégé and member of the rapper's Young Money collective, Jae Millz, said he expects his boss to get back to work right away on the day of his release. The Harlem rapper told MTV News that Lil Wayne is likely to perform a concert as soon as he gets out.

"That's the day," Millz said of the November 4 mark. "I hear when he comes home, he's hitting the stage. I hope they let him keep his inmate uniform. He needs to come onstage with that, the whole Bruce Leroy [jail attire] and take it off and throw all the jewels on and tear it down for everyone. 'Cause they waiting for him."

Are you looking forward to Wayne's release in November? Let us know in the comments.

• Lil Wayne's 'Road To Rikers'

• Lil Wayne and Friends concert, New York, NY, 07.22.2007

• Jae Millz
• Drake
• Fat Joe
• Lil Wayne

'Amazing would be too typical and perfect would be unfair,' Weezy says of his new rhymes.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Lil Wayne
Photo: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

Since Lil Wayne went to jail earlier this year, his fans have been curious about how the star is holding up. Artists who have kept in touch with Weezy — like Tyga, Nicki Minaj and Fat Joe — have given updates about the star's bid, and roughly midway through his sentence, Wayne has written another letter to his fans, opening up about his time in Rikers.

In the letter, posted Tuesday (July 13) on his website, WeezyThanxYou.com, Wayne said he's "counting the days and still smiling" and gives up details about his daily routine. "I wake up around 11AM. Have some coffee. Call my kids, and my wonderful mother. I then shower up. Read fan mail. Have lunch. Back on the phone. Read a book or write some thoughts down. Have dinner. Phone. Pushups. Then I listen to ESPN on the radio. Read the bible, then sleep. That's my day," Weezy wrote. The routine reflects a level of normalcy that experts predicted the star would experience in jail.

The superstar MC also opened up about the new lyrics he's been penning in the pen, writing, "There's no word that I can think of that properly defines them. Amazing would be too typical and perfect would be unfair."

In addition, Weezy said the outpouring of support he's received while in lockup has prompted him to pay closer attention to his words. "I never imagined that I could have such an impact on people's lives. Because of this, I vow to be a bit more careful of what I say," Wayne wrote.

Wayne also revealed that he's keeping up with the pace of music, writing, "I listen to the radio sometimes, emphasis on sometimes, and I hear the new music. I like some." He might not be into all the latest radio hits, but Weezy did show love to his Young Money artists. "I applaud my Young Money family for what they're doing. As I'm not surprised. This is what we're supposed to do. Congrats to Drake and Nicki for all their recent success. Those 2 are going to have me retiring early."

The megastar rapper closed the letter by sending detailed messages to dozens of individual fans. The star wrote to one fan (who's presumably a fan of both Miley Cyrus and Weezy), "Me and Miley? Different, but cool. Enjoy Utah," and to another, "Thanx for supporting me in the U.K.. Say hi to Lexie for me." To those he wasn't able to shout out by name, the artist ended the letter with a simple message: "I thank my fans for appreciating me the way you do."

Are you surprised by Wayne's daily routine in prison? Let us know in the comments.

• Lil Wayne Goes To Jail

• Lil Wayne Heads To Rikers Island

• Lil Wayne

'Free Lil Wayne!' Em shouted before launching into 'No Love' at T in the Park festival.
By James Montgomery

He took the stage nearly 45 minutes late — allegedly due to "laser pen fears" — but Eminem more than made up for the delay with a fiery headlining performance on Saturday at the T in the Park festival in Scotland.

Em's made just a handful of live appearances over the past year (his last U.S. gig was a headlining slot at the Voodoo Fest in New Orleans back in October), yet he didn't show any signs of rust at T, ripping through a 29-song set that spanned his entire career.

Backed by a live band, he opened with "Won't Back Down," his collaboration with Pink off his comeback Recovery album, then worked through tracks including "3 a.m." (from last year's Relapse), "Kill You" (off The Marshall Mathers LP) and his breakout "My Name Is" (from 1999's Slim Shady LP).

Em shouted "Free Lil Wayne!" before launching into "No Love," the Haddaway-sampling song that features both rappers (obviously, Weezy couldn't make it to the show). He dedicated "Love the Way You Lie" to "everyone who's been in a f---ed up relationship" and paid tribute to his late friend (and former D12 member) Proof, telling the Scottish crowd about the time the two had devoured "weed brownies" in Amsterdam and "started speaking in tongues."

The remaining members of D12 joined Em for a run of their hits, including "Purple Pills," "Fight Music" and "My Band."

He also acknowledged the rainy weather that had dogged the fest throughout the weekend ("I know it's muddy and sloppy and sh--, but this is fun," he laughed), and then, just before wrapping his set with an anthemic take on "Lose Yourself," he thanked the crowd — and his fans worldwide — for sticking with him through the years.

"Everybody who's an Eminem fan, I just wanna say thank you so much for the support you've shown over the years, for not giving up on me," he said. "I hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did tonight. Peace."

• Eminem
• Lil Wayne

Sucker Free Summit 2010: 'Mixtape Of The Year' Nominees

• Fabolous
• Gucci Mane
• Jadakiss
• Lil Wayne
• Wiz Khalifa

Loyalty

• Artist: Lil Wayne

Get A Life

• Artist: Lil Wayne
• Label: Universal Motown
• Director: David Rousseau
• Album: Rebirth [Clean]

Runnin

• Artist: Lil Wayne
• Label: Universal Motown
• Director: David Rousseau
• Album: Rebirth

Lil' Wanye's "I'm Single" Video References

• Lil Wayne

I'm Single

• Artist: Lil Wayne
• Label: Big Picture Productions
• Director: DJ Scoob Doo

Inkredible

• Artist: Lil Wayne
• Label: Fontana Universal, A.B.N. Entertainment, Prez Ent.
• Director: Mr. Inkredible

Behind The Scenes Of Lil Wayne And Eminem's "Drop The World"

• Eminem
• Lil Wayne

Women Lie Men Lie

• Artist: Lil Wayne
• Label: J Records, Polo Grounds
• Director: Benny Boom
• Album: Women Lie, Men Lie

Lil Wayne Heads To Rikers Island

• Lil Wayne