Lil B, The “Based God,” is cooking up something sweet for fans.

Last month, the 22-year-old emcee, took the stage at NYU in a “rare” lecture and hinted at future collaborations with Lil Wayne and an unnamed artist who he, himself, dubbed “the biggest artist on earth.”

With rumors floating around that that artist may be Young money superstar Drake, Fuse caught up with Lil B to finally clear the air. And the verdict is in.

Lil B says he’s indeed working on a collaboration with Drizzy.

“Yeah, we’re about to do something real big. I can’t speak on it too much right now, but Drake is the only artist [Lil B] wants to work with,” B told Fuse. “We’ve talked about doing some production. [Drake] wants to do something and we’re gonna make it happen. Something real big, so just look out for it.”

It looks like an upcoming collaboration with Drake isn’t the only project Based fans have to look forward to. Last week, the 2011 XXL Freshman teased fans, hinting at a possible venture with his newly adopted tabby cat, Keke.

“Also news with the first animal in hip hop ‘keke’ the adopted tabby cat who is signed to Lil B…..keke will make video ths week – Lil B,” he tweeted.

When asked about a possible collaboration with Keke, B confirmed the venture.

“My adopted Tabby cat Keke, the first animal artist signed to a label, is shooting a video this week,” he told Fuse. “We wanna get Amber Rose on the remix because Amber showed love for Keke. Shouts out to Amber Rose for that!”—Shamecca Harris

Nick Cannon does some storytelling in his new video for “Die Young,” where he tries to provide some inspiration to those that are getting bullied.

Tastemakers and industry elites were in for a real treat last night (May 15).  That’s because, Mississippi MC, Big K.R.I.T. held a private listening party for his upcoming debut album, Live From The Underground, in New York City. The VIP event brought many supporters and even artists, like Maino.

Just like the chosen attendees last night, K.R.I.T. was particular about the artists he worked with on his upcoming debut album, Live From The Underground, which is due out June 5.

“I did songs with people I had established relationships with,” K.R.I.T. said. “I love the music that they do. I worked with Bun B, Melanie Fiona, Anthony Hamilton, 8Ball and MJG—they my partners—and you know 2 Chainz is the homie.”

Although K.R.I.T. did a lot of great songs with different artists, one special feature stands out the most and is very special to K.R.I.T. That’s of Blues legend, BB King, who is featured on the new project. And it’s of no surprise that K.R.I.T. speaks of his love for blues music and the influence it had on him and his grandmother.

“BB King was a crazy situation,” he said. “To do a record and for him to actually play ‘Lucille’ on a project was crazy!”

Big K.R.I.T. also produced the entire album. He says it’s possible that he is open to the possibility of working with other producers in the future, but for now he really enjoys doing his own thing.  He adds, “I produced the last three mixtapes I dropped.  It’s one of those situations, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”—Chanel Clark

Last week, a photo of a newly-svelte Chaka Khan hit the web and immediately internet chatter began to circulate about which celebrity the singer—who lost 60 pounds—  resembled in her new-and-improved skin. And, the first name that cropped up was none-other-than Nicki Minaj. In fact, just Tuesday night (May 15), a fan tweeted: “Is it me or do Chaka Khan and Nicki Minaj resemble each other?” to which Chaka herself responded: “I’ve heard that quite a bit lately. I do see the resemblance.”

XXL will keep it 100: We don’t see it. But, we are curious to know what the readers think. A-Alikes or Non-Alikes? Vote below:

Producer/Song Writer Rico Love says Ma$e and MMG A&R/lensman Spiff TV helped make Rick Ross’ “Touch N’ You,” featuring Usher possible.

Monday night (May 14), Ross dropped the first official single from his God Forgives, I Don’t (due July 31) LP. Rico, who wrote the hook and produced the song said the track came together relatively quick.

“What happened was, I went to Ross’ house. That’s the day I was with Ma$e,” Rico said today via phone from Miami. “Spiff came through, he said ‘play me some joints.’ I’m working with Omarion too. So I played him what I did for Omarion, I played him this crazy joint I did for Wale, I played him some shit I did for Meek, some shit I did for French.

“Then I played him ‘Touch N’ You,’” he said. “He said ‘you gotta play that for Ross. Ross called me the next day. I came to his house with Ma$e. On the way over, Ma$e said ‘Make sure you play him that ‘Touch N’ You’ joint.’ Ross heard it…he said, ‘That’s my first single.’  We made the song happen in two weeks.  That’s quick. Usher loved it. After we did it, he said it felt like history.”

Rico says he wanted to give Ricky Rozay a record the late great Notorious B.I.G. would make.

“If Biggie was here, he would have done ‘Touch N’ You,’” Rico says.  “Something cool and fly, [Ross’] voice over the track was so calm and he’s talking that fly shit. That’s what people wanna hear from Ross.

“Basically the record is a ode to women,” he added. “A sexy song.  ‘I been thinking about you all day.’  A man telling a woman how bad he wants to touch her, feel her, be intimate with her. Ross puts it in a way, even the street dudes who don’t feel comfortable expressing themselves, feel comfortable with that. It’s a club banger and a radio smash. I’m excited for Ross because I feel it has the potential to be a radio banger.”

Last month, a picture surfaced (shown here) with Rico Love alongside Ma$e, Rick Ross, French Montana and Omarion in a Miami studio.—Shaheem Reid

Sap does not want a lot; he wants “Just Enough” as he shows in this witty visual.

Now signed to After Platinum, Phreshy Duzit is running into more “Ms. Industry” types, as shown in his latest video.

Sean Falyon pays no mind to people with a fistful of dollars and a “Mouthful of Lies.”

J.A.E gets “Throwed” in the visual to the lead single to his upcoming project Fruition.

Paypa “Tried to Tell Em,” but they just wouldn’t listen. So, he recruited Raekwon, Nick Ds and JD Era to further emphasize his point in his newest video. The Bottle: Henny On the Rocks II is available now.

Set to kick off at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA on August 18^th and 19^th the Guerilla Union sponsored festival will also be trekking through the Shoreline Amphitheatre  in Mountain View (8/25-8/26) and closing at the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey (9/1-9/2).

Featuring a slew of acts including the likes of Kid Cudi, Nas, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, Ice Cube, Dipset, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, Naughty by Nature and much more, the star-studded festival will be reuniting groups Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, who will be performing their classic E. 1999 Eternal in its entirety, and The Hit Squad (EPMD, Redman, Das EFX, K Solo, Keith Murray). Also joining the bill is Missy Elliott and Timbaland, as well as Method Man & Redman who together will be performing their fan-favorite Blackout LP also in its entirety.

Despite being featured on the line-up, Chi-Town MC Lupe Fiasco has announced that he won’t be part of the festivities, tweeting via his Twitter account “Not doing Rock The Bellz…thats a typo fam and friends…#FreedomAintFreeMay22.”

Hosting the shows will be RZA and Supernatural with more surprise acts to be named at a later date.  See below for the full list.—Ralph Bristout

The King is back and he comes baring a release date and new single.

T.I.’s much-anticipated eighth studio album, Trouble Man, will come out September 4 according to a conversation the ATL rapper had with Angie Martinez yesterday. It will be his first since he was released from prison in September 2011.

The self-proclaimed King of the South also premiered his new single, “Like That,” for Angie, which will lead the album’s push and is a return to the up-tempo trap music that made him a star last decade.

Trouble Man will be Tip’s first release since 2010’s No Mercy, which went gold and featured appearances from Kanye West, Drake and Eminem.

In an interview with Billboard.com, T.I. revealed he has already collaborated with Usher on the new album and hopes to work with many more artists beyond hip-hop.

“I’d love to work with Ke$ha,” said Tip to Billboard. “I want to work with Cee-Lo, Bruno Mars. I’d love [to work wtih] Frank Ocean, Miguel. I like to work with a lot of different people that can provide a lot of different sounds.”

Earlier this year, T.I. released a New Year’s Eve mixtape titled F*ck the City Up. Since being freed late last year, Tip has been focusing on his family life, starring on VH1’s “T.I. and Tiny’s Family Hustle,” and building his Grand Hustle record label which includes 2012 XXL Freshman Iggy Azalea.

Tip will appear on MTV.com’s RapFix at 4 p.m. today (May 16) with Sway Calloway to discuss the new album.—Calvin Stovall

The Atlantic records release moved a shred under 25,000 over the seven-day span, good for No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and enough to move Bobby Ray’s total to 101,000 since the album’s release. The projet still has some catching up to do if it hopes to be on par with the ATLien’s recent single, “So Good,” which was certified platinum last week.

Two other sophomore efforts also landed in the top 40 this week, as releases from Young Money royalty Nicki Minaj and Drake continued moving units. Minaj hit No. 21, selling 17,600, to move her Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded total to 453,500 since it dropped on April 3. Meanwhile, Drizzy’s November release, Take Care, sold 11,000 copies, good enough to land him at No. 38 on this week’s chart and bring his half-year total to 1.7 million. A few slots down, 2012 XXL Freshman Future comes in at No. 49, with his debut album, Pluto, selling 8,700 discs to bring his six-week total to 79,000.

Licensed To Ill, the seminal debut from the Beastie Boys, hit No. 29 this week, selling 13,600 units and slipping 11 slots. Group member Adam “MCA” Yauch passed away on May 4.

A bit further down the chart, Top Dawg Ent. rhymer Ab Soul’s Control System, which dropped on Friday, rather than Tuesday, like other releases, hit No. 91, with 5,300 units sold.

Next week, look for new albums from veteran independent acts Killer Mike (R.A.P. Music) and Krizz Kaliko (Kickin’ & Screamin’) to land on the Billboard 200. —Adam Fleischer (@AdamXXL)