Hizhul Islam and Al Shabaab groups control a large amount of the region and enforce  a strict interpretation of Islam which bans sports, music and dancing.  This is the first time that the World Cup has been held in South Africa, and some Somali residents have continued to watch the event regardless, using makeshift satellites and tuning into local FM stations.

Looking to provide more awareness on the country and the history of Africa, and integrating it with the ancestry of the entire human race, the two artists seem to have an aim of bridging the gap specifically between the motherland and the United States.

As the project dropped today, a bonus cut was released as more of an incentive to go pick up the project.

“Ancient People” feat. Junior Reid

Having the proceeds go towards Africa and teetering the possibility of building a school in the Congo, this project is about much more than album sales, so go out and support the history.

Shortly after dropping his debut album Asleep In The Bread Aisle, rapper Asher Roth was becoming a headliner in news for everything except for his music.

With remarks at Rutgers about “nappy headed hoes” to blasting rappers for not giving back to Africa and rumors of being the gay rapper, the new white rapper seemed to be setting himself up for his own downfall in the eye of the mainstream.

A new year represents a fresh start and a clean slate and Roth intends to shake the image he left in 2009 to present the rapper with a message that he holds himself to be.

Roth is currently working on his next mixtape which he states should drop March 2, but adds to not take his word for it.

Already getting the gears in motion, Roth has teamed up with B.o.B., Consequence, Styles P and Emilio Rojas in his return back to music.

Shedding the persona of being the Eminem clone, the rapper looks to establish himself as being more than just that kid that loves college.

Check here to watch Roth talk about “F*ck the Money” with B.o.B. and raising awareness on AIDS in Africa.

From climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to a documentary and planning a trip to Africa, the Chicago native has had quite the agenda placed in front of him.

Fans, fortunately, won't have to worry as Fiasco is still on the path to releasing his album Lasers, and although the climb forced a push back from December to 2010, the rapper has stated to expect the first single to drop at the top of January.

Just the way everybody would want to bring in the New Year.

The rapper adds that some collaborations for the upcoming album, as he has already been rumored to be on B.O.B's debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray.

Bobby Ray actually spoke on the rumored joint effort between himself and Fiasco with HipHopWired where he attempted to keep particular news under wraps.

“I actually had worked with Lupe and Eminem, in terms of the album.  I can't confirm certain things.  I won't say yay or nay, there are rumors out there, but I have worked with Eminem and Lupe.”

Find out what Fiasco has in store here:

On a world stage looking for any form of scientific breakthrough to battle the often fatal juggernaut that is AIDS, any glimmer of hope is just as good as the next; in this case, the next would do best to come sooner than later because the gel is nothing more than a over-hyped bust.

Clinical trials of over 9,000 women found sounded the proverbial death knoll for the vaginal microbicide, with none of the subjects exhibiting any resistance to any AIDS/HIV viral strain.

Nearly 33.4 million people were recorded as having HIV in 2008; that same year saw 2 million people of AIDS complications.

Fresh off a demolition of instrumentals from his mixtape Enemy of the State: A Love Story, along with recording the track “Solar Midnite” for the box office movie smash Twilight: New Moon, Mr. Fiasco has dug his foot deep into the dirt and has pushed his way back into listeners' ears.

Be on the lookout for another mixtape, Friend of the People, that should be dropping on Christmas.

Along with the music aspect of his life, Lupe has also been trekking with plans of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro which was sponsored by Hewlett-Packard.  He is even in the process of making a trip to Africa.

During a discussion with Jessie Maguire, the rapper spoke on his recent mixtape and the inspiration behind it.

“I was playing with different joints that sounded cool and Enemy of the State had so many pieces and parts and I felt like I was the enemy of the state of what was going on in Hip Hop.  I always felt like that, like I was always the underdog or the guy that was supposed to bring balance.”

Hip Hop music has come to a stalemate and Lupe feels that it was necessary to enter the ring once again to shake up the foundation, even if it was only but a sample.

“I just felt it needed that raw injection of Lupe Fiasco, over the top, lyrical, what have you and just play it out like that.  It wasn't even really for the movie.  I didn't pull it from the movie or anything like that, it was more so making that statement.”

Hear him speak more on his contribution to Twilight and more here:

President Obama described himself as surprised and deeply humbled. So in response to the Norwegian Nobel Committee's it seems people have broken down into 3 camps.

The first, those who hate this decision.
The second, those who like this decision.
The third, those who are pretty confused.

I'd venture to guess most are in that last group, including President Obama, based on his speech about the news and how long it took him to make it.

I was a bit confused to at first too because he is a war president, but then things made more sense to me. I don't think this award was given to President Obama based on rhetoric. I think it's more so based on his campaign, his goals for peace, his stance on climate change and a big fat f*** you to 2 time president George W. Bush.

This award pushes and supports President Obama in a way Black people, Latinos, progressives and young people could not. Now before the whole world it's his honor and his burden. He is going to feel pressured to live up to it and he should.

There are people that agree with Asher Roth but would never say it like that especially with the track record Asher has of suffering from the dreaded foot-in-mouth-disease.

This is by far not one of the smartest things this rapper has ever said on Twitter in reference to someone Black. His past comments include this in reference to Don Imus's infamous statements about the Rutgers ladies basketball team:

He quickly apologized on Twitter then went on to make other ridiculous statements in interviews like this one with the Canadian Press:

Maybe Asher Roth should focus on actually making good rap that people who know rap can like instead of riding the wave of MTV cosigns.

A few more suggestions for Asher Roth: Listen to "Love Me, I'm A Liberal" by Phil Ochs (lyrics)

Take note that it is October 2009 and ask yourself if you'll be around next year.

Also, consider getting a good publicist to help transcribe your thoughts on Twitter into something less offensive to the Black people you claim to care about.

The climb for awareness was organized by Kenna. In Ethiopia his father suffered from waterborne diseases as a child.

More celeb participants will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime you can donate to Summit on the Summit or check out their website. We all know water is a basic need. One can live longer without water than one can live without water. Not just any water but clean water and many living in industrialized countries may be as "astonished" as Jessica Beil was to learn over a billion persons worldwide don't have access to clean water.

According to summitonthesummit.com One dollar provides 100 liters of clean, safe drinking water for 50 days of healthy living.

You can donate directly to the cause at the Untied Nations Foundation website here.

Celebrity endorsements are helpful in bringing awareness to causes and charities but there is no substitute for knowing as much as you can about where your money goes. summitonthesummit.com provides plenty of info for you on themselves and the Untied Nations Foundation.

Props to Lupe for putting and the others for putting themselves out there for a cause they believe in.

Lupe's not the only one with a heart. Other charitable rappers include Ludacris, Saigon and 50 Cent among others.

Lupe Fiasco will be going on tour with Wale and Jay-Z.