"Watch the Throne" Not Dropping July 4

Reports hit the Internet yesterday (June 30) that the highly-anticipated Kanye West/Jay-Z collaborative album Watch the Throne would be released on July 4th. There was buzz that the album would be a digital-only released that would be made available on iTunes on Independence Day.

According to VH1, there is no truth to the rumors, however. "We spoke to sources close to Jay-Z's management team earlier today who have direct knowledge of the album's release plans, and they confirmed that the rumored July 4th release date is 'not happening,'" VH1 said via statement. "Sorry to ruin your holiday, folks!"

It has been reported that Jay and Kanye have completed recordings for the album.

Mashonda Leaving "Love & Hip Hop"

Mashonda revealed in a recent interview with Hip Hop Weekly that she will not be returning to the VH1 reality show "Love and Hip Hop." The former Mrs. Swizz Beatz says that she feels the show misrepresents her and she has no desire to be a part of anything associated with the typical reality show drama, i.e. catfights and bickering.

“I really honestly did do the show to help Emily [B.] and help women across the United States, to let them know that you’re not the only one that can go through something like this {divorce and heartbreak}," Mashonda said. "No matter what I say, it’s going to be judged at the hundredth power, people are just going to look at me and judge. People are going to say I’m too emotional, or I need to get over it, or I need to move on, I’m bitter. A lot of people were actually saying (I) was strong, (I) made it out classy, (I) did everything (I) could, but when you do a show, you have to know what’s coming next, a world full of judgment.”

“I just don’t feel like at this point in my life, 'Love and Hip Hop' represents who I am, it’s just a chapter that is over," she added. " When I shot the show, I thought that it was going to be like more of a sisterhood, but when I saw a lot of the drama and the beef, I was a little surprised, I was like wow, okay, I didn’t know this was going to be apart of what this is.”

Evelyn Lozada Wants $20k Raise

Apparently the going rate to employ loud-mouthed basketball wives is $20,000 per episode, at least that’s what it’s going to cost VH1 to keep Evelyn Lozada.

According to TMZ, Evelyn is refusing to shoot the next season of “Basketball Wives” until the home of reality television, VH1, coughs up some serious dough. Considering that until recently, her latest claim to fame was being Shaunie’s sidekick, we think Evelyn might want to keep her mouth shut and collect those checks. Reportedly each ‘cast member’ currently receives $7,500 an episode.