Bill Cosby who can sometimes be a harsh critic of rap music, is set to release a rap album called State of Emergency. The 70 year old actor and comedian will address issues of teen pregnancy, proper parenting, drug abuse, Black-on-Black crime and the dropout rate in America’s high schools.

As you may have guessed it, Bill Cosby’s album will not contain any profanity or any degrating comments towards women.

Reports are not clear whether or not Bill Cosby’s will work with any Hip Hop producers or rappers to help create the album.

This sounds like something that the Hip Hop community may need. I guess Bill feel’s that if he puts his message in a music form versus a book, people might listen. What do you think?

Get ready for the release of Jill Scott: Live in Paris + The DVD on February 5. The disc includes exclusive new songs and footage from her performance at the historic Elysee Montmartre in Paris, France. Later on this year, Jill will appear in “No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” the first major film to be film in Botswana, South Africa.

She is also nominated for two NACCP Image Award for her role in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?”

J. Holiday will be re-releasing his certified gold debut album, Back of my ‘Lac, with 3 new songs and exclusive footage on Feb. 5. J. Holiday is also nominated for a NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding New Artist. The NAACP Image Awards will air February 14 on Fox at 8 p.m (eastern. Also nominated in the same category is Chrisette Michele, Corbin Bleu, Jordin Sparks and Sean Kingston.

The odd couple – Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton and Thomas “Cee-Lo” Callaway?

Danger Mouse is a producer better known for his remix of The Beatles “The White Album” and Jay-Z’s “The Black Album” to create The Grey Album in 2004.

Cee-Lo is a rapper and singer that was once apart of the group, “The Goodie Mob”.

So what can be so odd about these two? According to the group’s official Web site, GnarlsBarkley.com, the duo will release “The Odd Couple” their follow up to their debut album, St. Elsewhere (which is a very good album, might I add). The first single off the album “Run” has already been leaked to the internet.

Danger Mouse told MTV, “We’re going to do it at our pace…If we love what’s coming out, then we’ll do another record; if we don’t love it the way we loved St. Elsewhere, well, then we won’t do it.”

“Honey” is the first single off of New AmErykah which is set to be released on February 26…Enjoy!

With recent stories about how the music industry is plummeting due to the advancement of internet technology, internet file sharing, and yes I am about to say it…music blogs exposing unreleased tracks weeks before an album even drops… I was recently intrigued by a verse that Andre 3000 spit on Devin the Dude’s “What a Job” from his latest lp Waitin to Inhale.

This song and especially his verse made me stop and think about what we are doing when we expose their songs too soon just to have the latest music. I will admit when I hear commercial rappers talking about how much money they have or how many cars they drive I honestly do not care about downloading music or sharing files with friends because I do not think that it will affect the artist financially. But then you have to remember that there are true artists out there that live for producing good music and do it for reasons way beyond making money. Just like how we go to work everyday making music is a job for artists and while some artists may exploit the fact that “they get money.” when does the time come to draw the line?

For artists that already have a following, such as Mr.3000 or an Alicia Keys or even a Jay Z where piracy may not effect their bank accounts as much -it just makes it extremely hard for a new artist trying to get in the game where they might not reap the rewards of bringing music to the people. But its also fair to say that the Internet helps new artists with You Tube and Myspace since it provides an avenue for exposure, as well as cost efficient promotions.

MMIM would love to hear your opinions on this, since this is a growing debate within the music community. But please listen to “What A Job” found below and read Mr. 3000’s views.

Andre 3000 on “What a Job” (from Devin the Dude’s Waitin’ to Inhale)
We work nights, we some vampires
Niggas gather round the beat like a campfire
Singin’ folk songs, but not no Kumbaya my Lord
You download it for free, we get charged back for it
I know you’re saying, they won’t know they won’t miss it
Besides, I ain’t a thief, they won’t pay me a visit
So if I come to your job, take your corn on the cob
And take a couple kernels off it that would be alright with you
Hell no! Yeah, exactamundo
But we just keep recording and it ain’t to get no condo
And Candy Bentley fanny with no panties in Miami
And that cute lil’ chick named Tammy that you took to the Grammys
See we do it for that boi that graduated
That looked you in your eyes real tough and said ‘preciate it
And that he wouldn’ta made it if it wasn’t for your CD number 9
And he’s standing with his baby momma Kiki and she cryin’ talkin bout
That they used to get high to me in high school
And they used to make love to me in college
Then they told me ’bout they first date, listenin’ to my tunes
And how he, like to finger nail polish
I say hate to cut you off but I gotta go
I wish you could tell me mo’ but I’m off to the studio, gotta write tonight
Hey, can you put us in your raps? I don’t see why not
Devin it’s the Dude you gon’ probably hear him talking ’bout

If you are anything like us, your music collection is broad and extensive, and it consists of music from different genres. BUT, you always have your favorites that you just cannot do without. With that said, if you had the chance to keep only one CD out of your entire collection, which CD could you not live without?

Here is the official album cover for Erykah Badu’s much anticipated release New AmErykah

Just like us, I know you guys are all patiently awaiting for Ms. Badu’s release of New AmErykah on February 26. But until then we are going to bless you with one the tracks off of the album.

Click here to listen to The Healer by Erykah Badu