Jay Z

The most famous student of Ball So Hard University strutted in front of a throng of reporters Wednesday. And naturally, he wore a black Ball So Hard University T-shirt as he explained where his school spirit came from. "A lot of guys on this team attended Ball So Hard University, including myself," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "The dean of students and president of the school is actually Shawn Carter," better known as Jay-Z. Suggs created an internet sensation before Sunday night's 23-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers when he said his alma mater was “Ball So Hard University” as the Ravens defense was introduced in a NBC graphic.

Tuesday night's "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" was what we've come to expect from the annual safe-for-CBS peep show: beautiful women, elaborate lingerie (Miranda Kerr wore a $2.5M bra), oogling celebrities and some live music in an attempt to distract us from wondering how the models got in that kind of shape. Last year's "Fashion Show" focused on Top 40 (Katy Perry and Akon), while this year's event showcased hip-hop (Maroon 5 and its "Moves Like Jagger" being the exception)

Jay-Z and Kanye West Watch the Throne Roc Nation Rating: 3 stars out of 4 Understanding royalty is always trickier than it seems. From a distance, we watch in awe of the stately presence and lavish lifestyle. But get close enough and we see the scars, the chinks in the armor, the dried tears of what it took to become king. Watch the Throne , the hotly anticipated collaborative album from Kanye West and Jay-Z that was released on iTunes at 12:01 a.m. Monday, deals with this dichotomy as navigated by two rap stars at once shockingly self-aware and blinded by their riches.

The most famous student of Ball So Hard University strutted in front of a throng of reporters Wednesday. And naturally, he wore a black Ball So Hard University T-shirt as he explained where his school spirit came from. "A lot of guys on this team attended Ball So Hard University, including myself," Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "The dean of students and president of the school is actually Shawn Carter," better known as Jay-Z. Suggs created an internet sensation before Sunday night's 23-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers when he said his alma mater was “Ball So Hard University” as the Ravens defense was introduced in a NBC graphic.

Tuesday night's "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" was what we've come to expect from the annual safe-for-CBS peep show: beautiful women, elaborate lingerie (Miranda Kerr wore a $2.5M bra), oogling celebrities and some live music in an attempt to distract us from wondering how the models got in that kind of shape. Last year's "Fashion Show" focused on Top 40 (Katy Perry and Akon), while this year's event showcased hip-hop (Maroon 5 and its "Moves Like Jagger" being the exception)

Kanye West and Jay-Z, whose new collaborative album "Watch the Throne" will be released next month, will also tour together, it was announced Monday by concert promoter Live Nation.  The two rappers will go on a 24-city tour, also called "Watch the Throne," that will kick off in Detroit September 22. The tour includes stops in Washington - on Sept. 29 at the Verizon Center - and Baltimore - on Nov. 1 at 1st Mariner Arena . Tickets go on sale August 8, the same day the album is released exclusively on iTunes.

Kings of Leon have cancelled all dates of their 2011 tour because the lead singer, Caleb Followill, is suffering from "vocal issues and exhaustion. " The announcement was made Monday by tour promoter Live Nation. The band had been scheduled to perform at Jiffy Lube Live August 9 as part of the 30-city tour. Tickets bought online or by phone will be refunded automatically; others can be refunded whereever purchased. Jiffy Lube Live started offering refunds today. The US tour will not be rescheduled because of the band's international tour schedule, the statement said.

Jay-Z got it right the first time. When he "retired" in 2003, he strutted off the stage in near-perfection, with the stunning, powerful legacy-builder The Black Album and his equally on-point farewell concert at New York's Madison Square Garden memorialized in the movie Fade to Black. How could you top all that? Why would you even want to try? In his years of "retirement," Jay became President Carter, head of Def Jam Records. He made some high-profile appearances on singles from Beyonce, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy, as well as that hot "Dear Summer" freestyle he did on New York radio station Hot 97 last year.

Hip-hop veterans Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige have been going nonstop. Being president of Roc-A-Fella Records and being in "retirement" didn't stop Jay-Z from releasing his narrative album American Gangster, and Blige's latest release marks her ninth album. The powerful pair have matched up on the Heart of the City tour, making an appearance at 1st Mariner Arena at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $49.75-$124.75. 1st Mariner Arena is at 201 W. Baltimore St. Call 410-547-7328 or go to ticketmaster.

If you're disappointed that the Jay-Z and R. Kelly tour will no longer feature the R&B star half of the bill, fret not, you can still experience the "Best of Both Worlds" in the concert documentary Fade to Black. The film is a celebration of rapper Jay-Z's November 2003 show at Madison Square Garden where the hip-hop superstar/mogul marked his "retirement" from solo performing, giving and receiving shout-outs from his fans and friends. The movie, directed by Michael John Warren (though Jay-Z takes the possessive "a film by" credit using his given name, Shawn Carter)

The best moment of Tuesday night's 'Watch the Throne' tour stop at 1st Mariner Arena - and there were plenty of candidates -  came 17 songs in, when Jay-Z and Kanye West ditched the flashy, multi-piece set and sat down, side by side, like old friends on a stoop. As an Auto-Tuned Nina Simone sample of "Feeling Good" poured through the speakers, Jay-Z wiped his brow after removing his snakeskin Yankee snapback. Kanye announced that this song, "New Day," was his favorite from "Watch the Throne" and its opening verse was his "favorite ever.

In what is easily the concert of the season, Jay-Z and Kanye West perform Tuesday at 1st Mariner Arena. The two are promoting their collaboration, "Watch the Throne," which was released earlier this year and divided critics who either loved its ambition or were disappointed with the sum of its parts. The concert, though, is a meeting of two titans of the industry. Also this week: Halloween parties finish up, Oxes, Mister Heavenly, and dance parties at Lith Hall, Club Hippo and the Get Down.

The hype surrounding J. Cole's debut album,  Cole World: The Sideline Story , is hitting a new gear, with only 12 days before it drops. On Wednesday, he dropped a video and a song - the vibrant clip for his radio-friendly-but-still-good single "Can't Get Enough" featuring Trey Songz and a rap-nerd's dream collaboration "Mr. Nice Watch" with his Roc Nation boss, Jay-Z. The "Can't Get Enough" video is standard fare, bolstered by the natural beauty of Barbados and a cameo from Rihanna.

Tickets for the Kanye West and Jay-Z joint tour, "Watch the Throne," go on sale today at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster. The two will kick off the tour in Atlanta on October 29. They will perform at Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena on November 1 and at the Verizon Center in Washington on November 3. Tickets for the show range in price from $47.50 to $219.35, and includes a digital copy of the rappers' new album, also named "Watch the Throne....

1. Open Ravens Practice So that 18-day summer training camp that was to be open to the public? Yeah, the Ravens want to make it up to you. They're hosting an open practice Saturday, with gates open at 9 a.m. followed by practice at 10 (early-ish tailgating?). Ravens execs say the team will be doing what they usually do at training camp. And you don't have to drive to Westminster. Consider yourselves forgiven, Ravens. M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St., Downtown. baltimoreravens.com 2. 'Jersey Shore' season premiere Italy gave us Leonardo da Vinci, gladiators, pizza and Prada.

Kings of Leon have cancelled all dates of their 2011 tour because the lead singer, Caleb Followill, is suffering from "vocal issues and exhaustion. " The announcement was made Monday by tour promoter Live Nation. The band had been scheduled to perform at Jiffy Lube Live August 9 as part of the 30-city tour. Tickets bought online or by phone will be refunded automatically; others can be refunded whereever purchased. Jiffy Lube Live started offering refunds today. The US tour will not be rescheduled because of the band's international tour schedule, the statement said.

For live music lovers, Tuesday night was a clash of the titans: Van Morrison, Jay-Z, Jewel and Snoop Dogg all performed at different Baltimore venues. It's rare to see such a diverse lineup of star musicians at once in Baltimore. Here are excerpts from reviews of the four shows, which originally appeared on the night life and music blog Midnight Sun: Jay-Z at 1st Mariner Arena: : Jay-Z's performance was a 90-minute hit parade that toured through "The Black Album," "Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life" and the rapper's latest No. 1 album (his 11th to debut at No. 1, which surpasses Elvis' record)

Kanye West and Jay-Z, whose new collaborative album "Watch the Throne" will be released next month, will also tour together, it was announced Monday by concert promoter Live Nation.  The two rappers will go on a 24-city tour, also called "Watch the Throne," that will kick off in Detroit September 22. The tour includes stops in Washington - on Sept. 29 at the Verizon Center - and Baltimore - on Nov. 1 at 1st Mariner Arena . Tickets go on sale August 8, the same day the album is released exclusively on iTunes.