Virgin Digital, the digital entertainment platform of the Virgin Group Ltd., and Foot Locker, Inc. the New York-based athletic specialty retailer, today announced a special promotion and sweepstakes to offer exclusive content from Island DefJam artists LL Cool J, Ludacris and Ja Rule, Virgin Digital 30-day free trials to Foot Locker customers, and a chance for one lucky customer and guest to winthe Flyaway Sweepstakes and attend the All-Star Game in Denver with Ludacris.

The promotion runs until January 31. Exclusive downloads through Virgin Digital include Ja Rule's "BetterDays," Ludacris' "Get Back -- Rock Mix" and LL Cool J's "Paradise" featuring Terri Walker.  Foot Locker customers who visit a store during the length of the promotion and try-on or purchase product will receive a download voucher to receive access to the exclusive tracks and 30-day trial of Virgin Digital.

Those who fill out a sweepstakes entry form and mail it in will be entered in
the flyaway sweepstakes to attend the All-Star Game with Ludacris in Denver
from February 18 through February 21, 2005.

For The People

Legendary hip-hop duo M.O.P. will perform at benefit for victims of the Southern Asian Tsunami. The event will be hosted by T error Squad's Remy Ma. The event dubbed Relief and Recovery takes place in New York City's at Joe's Pub venue (Today) January 12, 2005. The event kicks off at 11pm. Tickets are $15, with 100% of the proceeds going to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. Other guests and performers on the bill include Petelshot, DJ Eleven, DJ J. Period, and others.

Sign On The Dotted Line...

Q-Tip has signed a worldwide deal with Universal/Motown as a solo artist. The former frontman of A Tribe Called Quest, is working on a new album.Tip was most recently signed to DreamWorks but never released an album for the label. Previously, he was aligned with Arista, which released his solo debut, Amplified,in 1999, a year after A Tribe Called Quest disbanded.

The artist recorded another album for Arista, the jazz/soul influenced "Kamaal the Abstract," but the intended spring 2002 release was shelved. Of late, Q-Tip has played a handful of shows with A Tribe Called Quest, but plans for a new studio album have not moved beyond the discussion phase.

Hittin' The Road

Mobb Deep and the Alchemist are heading over to the United Kingdom for a mini tour. The tour, which kicks off on January 31, 2005 and concludes on February 2, 2005 will find the infamous duo performing tracks from their latest album Amerikaz Nightmare.

DUI

D'Angelo, was charged with drunken driving and drug possession after a traffic stop, police said.

Police in suburban Richmond arrested the Grammy Award-winning singer early Sunday. A subsequent search turned up "what we believe to be cocaine and marijuana," said Chesterfield police Capt. Karl Leonard. He said the substances will be analyzed.

Along with drunk driving, D' Angelo, 30, a Richmond native, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance. He is due in court next Tuesday.

On Hold

Producers Quincy Jones and Jermaine Dupri have postponed the all-star recording of "We Are the Future," which was to take place on Feb. 14, the day after the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The event would have marked the 20th anniversary of the recording of the like-minded charity single "We Are the World."

"The timing is not right for us to record a song about the future when so many people have lost their lives," Dupri says. "We will proceed in a few months, but right now its about helping those who are dealing with the tsunami disaster and that should honestly be the focus."

Return Of The Mo

Even though she is 8 months pregnant , Lil Mo' is putting in work on her Cash Money debut album Syndicated: The Lil Mo Album. The album is due in stores in April and features apperances from Amiri Ben Ari aka “The Hip-Hop Violist"  and Lil Wayne.