After years of almost total silence from Lauryn Hill, she finally opened up to NPR about her music, why she left the game, and where she’s headed next. While her classic solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was groundbreaking in part because of her unique ability to sing over hooks she also rapped, she’s focusing now on “opening up [her] range, really sing more.” According to Lauryn, “Most people have never really heard me ’sing sing sing’… if I do record again, next time perhaps it will be in an expanded context.” And for those have been missing Ms. Hill’s voice, she’s starting to perform again, including the Rock the Bells tour this summer. She told NPR, “I think it’s just time [to perform more], I’m starting to get excited again.”

Read the full interview here.

And watch Lauryn’s classic “The Ex-Factor” video above, just to remind you of exactly how dope she is, in case any of you forgot.

Ghariokwu Lemi, the man behind all of Fela Kuti’s classic album covers, speaks with Vibe on his relationship with Fela and the stories behind the artwork.

With M.I.A.’s new album /\/\ /\ Y /\ just around the corner, a second round of remixes for her “XXXO” single has been unveiled, featuring versions by Riton, SBTRKT, and Various. Check out Riton’s anthemic, piano-laced club re-rub below, and stream the other remixes here.

“XXXO” – Riton Re-Rub:

Come downtown to the South Street Seaport tonight for PUMA Social Night, presented by Giant Step, with music provided by DJs Erik The Red (Giant Step) & DRM (Bastard Jazz). It’s free all night with a huge open bar from 9pm to 10pm, so get your game face on and join us!

The much anticipated Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty album from Big Boi is almost here, but you can stream the entire album now on his MySpace and check out the video for “Shutterbug” above. Yes, we know the album leaked and so does Big Boi, who tweeted, “Hello good people, I know the album leaked, I don’t care if u download it, just support GREAT MUSIC July 6th!!!! Stank u.”

Download the new single “Tangerine” with T.I. from 2DopeBoyz here.

For die hard fans, BigBoi.com is offering limited edition bundles of the album, including a deluxe double-disc, ivory white vinyl, a limited edition T-shirt, and a custom GoodWood chain.

Pre-Order Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty on Amazon

German-born and French-raised singer with Caribbean roots, Oceana joins soul music of the ’60s with modern beats and contemporary texts on her debut album Love Supply, in stores tomorrow, which features the infectious single “Cry Cry.” As the child of a musician, she had the chance to meet entertainers at a young age, including James Brown’s famous saxophonist Maceo Parker. It was Maceo’s push that made her take the leap to a career as a vocalist. Now using her personal experiences, she writes and sings lyrics about subjects that connect everyone: desire, love and life. Love Supply mixes a fine blend of pop, funk, R’n'B, and reggae for a well rounded, top quality record.

Stream the full album on AOL now!

Purchase on Amazon

Rox, the 21-year old Jamaican/Iranian singer from the UK has already been featured on The BBC, has performed with some major stars around the world, and she’s had an internet hit floating around for more than a year with her single, “My Baby Left Me.” The track was released to critical acclaim from big-time blogs like Pitchfork, Pretty Much Amazing, and Discobelle.

Now check out Rox’s new video, “I Don’t Believe” and follow her current European tour via her Myspace. Also keep an eye out for a new album, Memoirs, coming through Rough Trade later this year.

Any project soul singer Aloe Blacc takes on, as he is continually showing, will be infused with the emotion and passion that gets both the guys and the gals tingly all over. His hit song, “I Need a Dollar,” was featured on HBO’s “How to Make It in America,” and sparked major attention. With a bouncing bass line, clean blues guitar riffs, and a sax and trumpet section from The Grand Scheme, Billie Jean’s intensely personal lyrics are brought out in an entirely new way in one of the best covers of the song we’ve heard. Look out for more Aloe Blacc videos in the near future, and if you’re in the New York area, don’t miss him at Giant Step’s Summerstage on July 17^th on the Central Park main stage.

“Drop” by The Pharcyde is arguably one of the greatest hip-hop videos ever made, not to mention all the Dilla-beat love. So when Skillz makes this confession about sleeping on Dilla and his tracks for “Runnin,” “Drop,” and “Something That Means Something” in his own ‘Confessional’ video series, we are truly getting a piece of hip-hop history.

This is the first single to be released from Belleruche’s third studio album, 270 Stories, set to hit the shelves on October 11th, 2010 on Tru Thoughts Records. The London based group’s lead singer, Kathrin deBoer, has a sound that epitomizes the word soulful. Look out for Belleruche’s album in the fall.