Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Watch The Throne” was one of the most anticipated hip hop albums of the summer. One of the advantages of launching their album exclusively on iTunes before distributing compact discs was that leaks were prevented. Often times music stamping and compact disc shipping employees hi-jacks the tracks and uploads them to the Internet. Perhaps the leak prevention may encourage other artists to launch exclusively through iTunes now too. Another cause for the decline of the compact disc. [Gizmodo]

Rapper Jay-Z has launched a new website called LifeAndTimes.com. The website Life + Times utilizes thumbnails and tiles as the navigation similar to Windows Phone 7. Check out the promo video below:

DJ Hero is a video game that was made by FreeStyleGames and Activision. The game features a turntable with buttons that acts as the controller. The objective of the game is to “scratch” and mix music when in order to match the beats. There is music and avatars in the game featured that include Eminem, Jay-Z, DJ Shadow, Z-Trip, DJ AM, Cut Chemist, J.Period, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Daft Punk. The game is actually dedicated to DJ AM who passed away earlier this year.

Eminem and Jay-Z both worked as consultants for the game. In return the gaming companies dedicated an edition for the two rappers called the Renegade Edition. The Renegade Edition features unreleased singles and tracks by the two rappers. Above is a video of Eminem behind the scenes discussing the game.

DJ Hero is going to be one of the most exciting games to play when it launches. Jay-Z and Eminem have agreed to have their beats and names used in the game and the controller pictured below feels like a real turntable (pictured below). Now there is an official trailer for the game and it is embedded above. I need to get myself this game when it comes out.