In addition to being nominated for three Grammy's and holding down Billboard’s Top 100 Singles and Tracks' #1 slot, Outkast's "Hey Ya" has just been voted the best driving song of 2003. Kast edged out 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P" and greatly surpassed Evanescence's "Bring Me To Life." The survey was conducted through Yahoo Autos with 2,400 users picking their favorite driving track from a listing of songs charted on Billboard's Hot 100. Besides Andre 3000, Hip-Hop standouts dominated the Top 10 list. Eminem's "Lose Yourself" came in at no.4, Beyonce and Jay-Z's "Crazy In Love" at no.5, Sean Paul's "Get Busy" at no.6 and Black Eyed Peas' "Where Is The Love" came in at no.9.

Pharrell Williams of the production team The Neptunes and the band N.E.R.D. recently announced that he will be launching two new apparel ventures with Reebok: Ice Cream, a collection of men's and women's footwear, and Billionaire Boys Club, a men's clothing collection. In a statement, Pharrell said, "I've always wanted to do more than music, and now I'll be able to explore the world of fashion by designing my style of clothes and sneakers". The lines will launch next summer and feature a select run of five or six items available only in high-end boutiques and better department stores, said vice president of Reebok's RbK division, Todd Krinsky,.

Rapper and mogul Master P has signed to the Las Vegas Rattlers, an ABA minor league team. Master P will suit up in the forward and guard positions. He has played basketball before, with Fort Wayne of the CBA and San Diego of the IBL. He also tried out for the Charlotte Hornets in 1998 but ended up getting cut.

Congratulations to Mary J. Blige, who on December 7, married her fiancé and
“soul-mate” Kendu Isaacs in an intimate ceremony at her home in New Jersey. When she announced their engagement in November she said, “I'm so happy, he's a good man and he loves me. He completes me in the areas that I'm weak in. He's an analytical brain. I'm a creative brain. We pray together. We read the Bible together."

Hip Hop and R&B finally get their due at the upcoming Grammy Awards. This year’s leaders of the pack include Beyonce, Jay-Z and Pharrell with six nominations a piece. Right behind them are Missy, Eminem, 50 Cent, Chad Hugo (Pharrell’s producing partner in the Neptunes) and Luther Vandross, each with five nominations. It’s about time our music is recognized as something more than just a passing fad. Tune in to the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in February to see who walks away with the coveted trophies.

Christopher “Play” Martin (Kid ‘N Play), and Cheryl “Salt” James (Salt-N-Pepa), have teamed up with Allan Houston of the New York Knicks and his entertainment company H20 Productions to bring to the stage "Rise," a hip-hop musical. The show will begin in Atlanta and then embark on a 19-city tour. The talented cast features members of Whodini and Tamika Scott of Xscape.

Compiled by Connie M. Howell