Following a lengthy bidding war, former Rawkus standout Pharoahe Monch recently signed to Steve Rifkind's SRC label.

In the past year, rumors had Monch signing to Denaun Porter's Runyon Ave. label. Several weeks prior to inking the deal with Rifkind, Monch told SOHH.com that the Runyon Ave. talk was "propaganda" and that a straight Shady deal had been on the table. Monch was also rumored to have signed with The Inc.

Word is Sony Music and Bad Boy were also interested in signing Monch.

"I realized I had just heard the record of the year," Rifkind said in a statement in regards to listening to Monch's sophomore solo album.

Rifkind has a history of breaking underground acts like Mobb Deep, Big Pun and The Wu-Tang Clan, among others, via his now-defunct Loud Records. His current SRC roster includes Terror Squad, Remy Ma, Akon and David Banner, among others.

Formerly of Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe released his critically-acclaimed solo debut, Internal Affairs, via Rawkus Records back in 1999. The CD featured his biggest hit to date, the Godzilla-sampled "Simon Says."

The wordsmith followed-up with the single "Agent Orange" in 2003, but his long-awaited set, Innervisions never hit stores. The MCA-distributed Rawkus was later absorbed by Geffen. Once released from the label, Monch went to work on Desire, an album produced by longtime collaborator Lee Stone and the aforementioned Porter.

"On a creative and business level, I've never been this excited," Monch said via a statement. "I've had the time to work on this album, and being a perfectionist, it's really come to fruition. It's very soulful, very gospel, a fresh, new sound for me. It shows so much growth spiritually, almost as if I'm a new artist. When I play the record for people, that's how they hear it."

The single "When the Gun Draws" is scheduled to drop via white label this May and will be accompanied by a short film. The track reprises Organied Konfusion's "Stray Bullet," in which a story is told from the perspective of a bullet. Meanwhile, "Push" will serve as Desire's first commercial single.

"There's an element of obvious patience, but that's just who I am," Monch explained. "I've learned that it was best for me to wait for the best situation. Everything happens for a reason. This is my expression and creation. I know people are waiting for this album, and I respect my fans enough to put out quality music
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After a three-year hiatus, DMX is slated to release Year of the Dog, Again on Ruff Ryders/Sony Music.

X was initially slated to release the album under the title Here We Go, Again last summer. The album would have dropped under Def Jam. Since then, X has left the label and signed with Sony Music.

Contrary to popular belief, X is still signed to Ruff Ryders. In fact, Swizz Beatz is reported to have played a big role in the album and produced its first single, "We In Here."

Year of the Dog, Again will mark the Yonkers, NY rapper's sixth album. To date, he has released It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh Of My Flesh Blood Of My Blood, And Then There Was X, The Great Depression and Grand Champ.

Year of the Dog, Again is slated to hit stores this summer.
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Fresh Fest '06 will head to Britain this April with Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante and Biz Markie slated to perform for the event.

Fresh Fest got its start back in 1984 with hip-hop pioneers Run DMC and Kurtis Blow among the lineup for the historic event. In the spirit of the original tour Fresh Fest '06 will honor all aspects of hip-hop culture, giving shine to graffiti artists, beat boxers, break dancers and DJs as well as offering rap battles and show cases.

Last August, Ed Lover and Monie Love hosted the kickoff to a Fresh Fest 2005 tour at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom. Doug E. Fresh, Sugar Hill Gang, Chubb Rock, Nice & Smooth, Biz Markie, Whodini, Dana Dane, Brucie B, DJ S&S, Cynnamixx and DJ Scratch were among the performers.

In addition to Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie and Roxanne Shante, Fresh Fest '06 will also feature appearances by Doug E. Fresh, Chubb Rock, Rob Base and EZ Rock. The show comes to the Carling Academy in Brixton on April 29th.
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