After releasing her long-awaited eighth studio effort “Anti” on Samsung and Tidal, singer Rhianna has racked up one million downloads in less than 14 hours after unveiling the disc. The pop star tweeted in celebration and thanked fans for their support. The recording star’s “Anti” promotion included ANTIdiaRy, a Samsung partnership that offered download codes for fans to venture through different rooms on the road to the album’s release. The same day she released “Work”, her duet with Drake, she released the set on the Jay Z streaming service Tidel, giving out a limited number of download codes that were instantly redeemable. A deluxe version of “Anti”, which includes three new songs, is available today. Michigan born rapper Jon Connor addresses the water crisis currently burdening the city of Flint on his new single “Fresh Water For Flint”, featuring singer/actress KeKe Palmer. The Aftermath Entertainment signee raps on top of a hard hitting beat produced by The Fr$smen and mixed by Dr. Dre. He told hip hop magazine XXL that the song is about a situation that no one sees. Connor has been proactive about being the voice of his city after meeting with Mayor Karen Weaver, partnering with the Flint Food Bank as well as speaking with teens at the Boys And Girls Club. Meek Mill, Diddy, The Game and Big Sean have also donated fresh water to Flint. Rap icons the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and will now be receiving their own memorabilia showcase. This weekend, the Rock Hall’s third floor will host an exhibit of artifacts, mementos and other items from Mike D, MCA and King Adrock. Curator Meredith Rutledge-Borger told Cleveland.com that since the Rock Hall had a rich collection of things from when the group was inducted that they thought they’d bring it out. The items include hand written “Brass Monkey” lyrics, Mike D’s Volkswagen medallion, Beastie Boy action figures and costumes from the groups “Intergalactic” music video. The Beastie Boys induction came before Adam “MCA” Yauch died of cancer.

Beyoncé has done it again. The singer has released two new tracks with little advanced notice. “7/11” and “Ring Off” are both included on the deluxe repackaging of her 2013 album, due out next week. Both tracks have made their way online, whether intentionally or otherwise. The tracks were leaked today. “7/11” is more of an uptempo number, while “Ring Off” is a smooth mid-tempo ballad. The two songs are featured on the box set titled “More” and also includes four remixes: “Flawless Remix” featuring Nicki Minaj, “Drunk In Love Remix” featuring Jay Z and Kanye West, “Blow Remix” featuring Pharrell Williams and “Standing On The Sun Remix” featuring Mr. Vegas. Rumors abound regarding rapper Kanye West’s next album “Waves”. Here’s what Billboard magazine has confirmed thus far. He’s releasing a track every Friday via his wife Kim Kardashian, who tweeted the info to fans. The album contains guest appearances by such artists as Tyler Bryant, Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Cydel Young and Victor Mensah, among others. Singer Ty Dolla $ign says he worked with West as well. The album’s title was changed from “So Help Me God”. The rapper has gone through quite a few changes since the release of “Family Business” from his 2004 debut “College Dropout”. Conflicting reports regarding the album’s release date continue and the latest update is that the album is still a work in progress. The album has been renamed “Waves” and will make its New York Fashion Week debut when West debuts it at Madison Square Garden during his Yeezy Season 3 show on Feb. 11. Singer/songwriter/producer R. Kelly has lived an interesting life, to say the least. He’s chronicled that life through song. During a recent interview with GQ, Kelly gave a 45 minute performance that was part talking and part singing, detailing everything from a childhood incident where he was shot while riding his bicycle, to busking on the street and how he found his singing voice while in the shower.

Iconic rap group Run-DMC will receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award when the ceremony airs next month. The group, which consists of Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and the late Jason “Jam Master J ” Mizell, will join a list of honorees that includes R&B legend Ruth Brown, Latin legend Celia Cruz, counter culture legends Jefferson Airplane and jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Rev. Run tweeted that it was an honor and thanked the academy for the award. Rapper Young Jeezy unveiled the visual for his new single “Sweet Life” on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The black and white clip, directed by Matt Barnes, shows the Atlanta MC hustling through his own struggles as images of police officers arresting a young black man play out. The clip also features R&B songstress Janelle Monae. Jeezy stated that he wanted to show what happens to  African Americans daily. He also shared his thoughts on the Academy Awards controversy by tweeting that African Americans should be concerned about what’s going on in Chicago and Flint instead. “Sweet Life” appears on his upcoming album “Church In These Streets”. Chicago based singer and poet Jamila Woods, whose appearance on Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment’s single “Sunday Candy” brought her voice to prominence, has signed a recording deal with independent Chicago based label Closed Sessions. “Blk Girl Solider” will be the first single from the upcoming project, which will be released this spring. Produced by Jus Cuz, the track is driving, soulful and shines a light on issues facing African American women, which Woods says was therapeutic to write.