Legendary hip-hop act The Roots return this week with the release of their latest studio album, “Rising Down.” “Rising Down” is the group’s 10th release. The crew from Philadelphia features Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter (vocals), Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson (drums), Kamal Gray (keyboards), Frank Knuckles (percussion), Kirk “Captain Kirk” Douglas (guitar) and Owen Biddle (bass). The band has made a name for themselves as being one of the best live acts around.

For more on The Roots, check out their Web site.

Click here to pre-order “Rising Down.”

No Depression, the bimonthly magazine covering a broad range of American roots music since 1995, will bring to an end its print publication with its 75th issue in May-June 2008. The continued decline of the record industry and the reduction of advertising sales are some of the contributers to the publication’s decision to shift their focus to their Web site, according to a press release.  The magazine will continue to expand its online product and will be collaborating with the University of Texas Press to publish a semi-annual “bookazine.”

For the full update on the future of No Depression, see the magazine’s Web site

Lupe Fiasco’s sophomore effort, “The Cool,” has been certified gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000.

For more on this story, check out the Rap News Network.

The hip-hop duo of Slug and Ant, known as Atmosphere, cancelled their April 25 show in Toronto after having been denied access to the country.

For more on this story, The Minnesota Monitor.