Earlier this week, Erykah Badu released a video for the remix of “Window Seat” that features Rick Ross. That collaboration led to the singer appearing on Ross’ song “Maybach Music III,” which appears on his acclaimed new album Teflon Don.

“She never really collaborated with a lot of artists outside of Outkast,” Ross explained. “Maybe another artist or two, [like] the Roots. It was always conscious music she was making. You know, a gritty street artist — that’s always a plus when you get to work with somebody with the flowers around them and [they're] burning incense. And it’s positive.”

Ross was a longtime admirer of Badu’s work, which made the idea of working with her intriguing. “Her music always attracted me; it was always attractive to my kind of music,” he said. “Once we collaborated with the ‘Window Seat’ remix … the lanes of communication was open, I was like, ‘Let’s do something different.’ ”

The track, which was produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, also features T.I. and Jadakiss.

“I felt the time was right for me and T.I. [to work together],” the Bawse explained. “We had never personally collaborated with each other on a record one on one. Early on in my career, I had said [negative] things when I didn’t know him. Just us being bosses and us being leaders and us being examples, we bossed up. We both did. He came from home doing what he did. I did my thing.”

But as time passed, the animosity waned, and Ross asked Tip to collaborate.

“Just on a mutual respect for each other, I reached out to him. When I got that verse back, I was like, ‘He meant that.’ We had been seeing each other over a period of time, saluting each other, bumping into each other, he knew I was a fan of his. We captured that moment in time which was one of the dopest records. And that meant the most to me. I used to play that T.I. verse in my studio, like, ‘This set the tone, right here. It set the tone.’ It just felt good for the homie to lace me. I salute Tip.”

Ross brought Jadakiss, a longtime friend, on “Maybach” as well. “Jada was always that New York underdog,” he said. “That next lyricist. You could be the hottest at the time, but if you slippin’, Jada is one record away. He’s a cool dude, somebody I got a mutual respect and a friendship with.”

This week, Ross released a new track online, “Summer’s Mine,” where he takes aim at his competition. “Bitch I run the south/ I’m what you wanna be,” he raps. “This how you wanna live/ This what you wanna drive/ Be honest with yourself/ I’m who you idolize.”

Nelly chopped it up with J. Cole in one of his first interviews since temporarily taking over hosting duties on St. Louis’ Hot 104.1 radio station.

Aside from expressing mutual admiration for one another, the Roc Nation rapper discussed the release date of his debut album (November/December), keeping the title under wraps, graduating from college, Jay-Z likely being the only guest on the album, his dream collaborations, Drake comparisons, and who he’s dating. Sorry ladies, he’s already taken.

XXL posted a Jeezy cover story excerpt from their September 2010 / 13th Anniversary issue, on newsstands August 10th.

Thug Motivation 103 has been long delayed. It’s evident that people are becoming very cynical about its release. How do you calm the skeptics and respond to those who say you’ve lost it and you’re not in a good space right now?

You think it wasn’t like that for B.I.G.? You think it wasn’t like that for Jay? ’Pac? Shit, that’s all Jay talks about. Like, “Nigga, y’all gon’ count me out? Okay, watch this. Boom. I do this better.” That’s what it’s about. But, at the end of the day, that’s what keeps me goin’… Nobody’s not gon’ sit here and tell me, “We done with you, ’cause we’re done.” Nigga, that’s y’all. I’m not done with shit. And they gon’ sit up here and tell me, “Aw, well, you ain’t…” I’m doin’ what any nigga would do on his fourth album. I’m gettin’ it together. I’m not just gon’ give you anything, to be hot and relevant. That don’t make sense. That’s like telling a muthafucka anything just to get it done. I’ma be straight up with you, so when you walk away, even if you ain’t satisfied, I kept it real. I kept it 100. And that’s the way I feel. I wouldn’t even call it the top of my game. I’m just really figuring out the music shit. Once I put that old-school blueprint outline together that I used, with this shit that I’ve done now, it’s a wrap on ’em, homie. C’mon, I’m on my fourth album. Think about niggas’ 10-year plans. I done did more in four albums than a lot of niggas gon’ do for the rest of they life.

Fash speaks about some projects, including his most recent Ode To Illmatic.

Eminem drops by Big Boy’s Neighborhood for an interview about his new album Recovery.

TJ Holmes of CNN last interviewed T.I. before he went to jail in 2009, when Tips ankle bracelet went off. He discusses being in jail, and his new lease on life.

Not too long ago, Cam’ron and Vado stopped by Hot97 to chop it up with Funkmaster Flex about Vado’s Summer Jam debut and more before dropping a freestyle for the people.

Cam’ron, Vado Interview + Freestyle

Rap Radar caught up with Juvenile on the Red Carpet at the Hip Hop Honors last night, and here’s what he had to say about his latest album cover.

Juvenile: I don’t know what’s going on, tell me. What’s going on what the talkin’ bout?
Well, they’re saying it looks like Drake’s album cover.

Oh. I ain’t see Drake’s album cover. I can’t—I don’t [shrugs].
But did anyone question you about that?

Nah. You’re the first one.
Oh really? It was on the internet today.

See, I—I ain’t get to see it yet.

The Game stops by the studio for an interview with The LA Leakers. Game speaks about how the single with Justin Timberlake came about, and some of the producers he worked with on the new album.

Get Him To The Greek hits theaters tomorrow.