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According to Billboard several layoffs happened early in the week on Monday (May 7) and Tuesday (May 8) at Def Jam. Among those let go include Island's Senior National Director of Mixshow Promotions Crystal Isaacs, A&R manager Ray Romulus; an artist development staffer; a member of the creative department and the entire staff of Roc La Familia, which handled the label's international promotions.

In related news Island (Def Jam) recently hired Jermaine Dupri in February, appointing him president of urban music. Speaking of Dupri, he has issued a statement about a recent issue with police in LA County. Footage of Dupri being held in the back of a sheriff's cruiser was posted on popular site Tmz.com yesterday (May 9). The rapper left in his Lamborghini a short time later. "Just to set the record straight, I was pulled over because the police said my exhaust pipes were too loud," Dupri told AllHipHop.com. "I had tinted windows and platinum motor plates. Nothing more, nothing less." In related news, Dupri recently inked a deal that will allow Def Jam to release the soundtrack to Rush Hour 3. He has signed R&B group Jagged Edge and rapper Hot Dollar to the label. He's also over seeing upcoming releases from Dollar, Mariah Carey and Jagged Edge.

Nick Cannon and Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks are engaged. Cannon proposed on bent knee Monday in Times Square as the words, "Selita will you marry me?" flashed on a giant TV screen, Cannon's publicist, Tracy Nguyen, said Thursday. Ebanks, 24, said yes. Cannon then presented her with a 15-carat diamond ring that he helped design. The couple met at a Super Bowl party in Miami in February. In the past, the 26-year-old rapper, comedian, actor and host of MTV's "Wild 'N Out" has been romantically linked with socialite Kim Kardashian and singer-actress Christina Milian.

During a conference call with reporters Thursday, ousted American Idol contestant LaKisha Jones said if she could change anything about her time on "American Idol," she would have switched up her performances from Tuesday, which ultimately resulted in her elimination from the show on Wednesday. "I wouldn't have sung either one of them," a hoarse-voiced Jones said during the 25-minute call. She didn't say what songs she would have sung instead. "I was hoarse on Tuesday, and I tried to sing past my hoarseness and give it my all," she said. "Because of course, on 'American Idol' you can't say, 'My voice is jacked up, I can't sing this week.' You can't say that, so you have to just kind of do what you gotta do, and I kind of knew (Tuesday) that those weren't the best songs, (but I) did the best with what I was given."

Eminem is giving back to his hometown community, offering a recent donation to Hip Hop 4 Habitat to help meet the goal of building a home for a needy family. According to The Detroit News, this morning (May 10) WJLB radio announced that the Detroit native contributed an undisclosed amount via his Marshall Mathers Foundation in order to help launch the program, which involves members of the hip-hop community working together to build a house.
Hip Hop 4 Habitat is seeking $75,000 in order to pay the costs of constructing the 1,100-square-foot house. The organization aims to build the home on the east side of Detroit, over the course of one week in October. Once the home is completed, Detroit rapper Trick Trick is slated to give a concert for the volunteers. Trick Trick has also announced plans to join the efforts to build the house. "Hip Hop 4 Habitat is meant to be a positive project and a way for the hip-hop community to come together and support a family in need. We're so thankful Trick and Eminem are leading this effort," Alyce Hartman, founder of A Prophetic Generation, was quoted by the Detroit News. A Prophetic Generation is a non-profit organization that is partnering with Habitat for Humanity Detroit for the project.

Hip Hop 4 Habitat is currently looking for those involved in Detroit's hip-hop community, as well as other volunteers to help out by participating in the project. Those interested in volunteering can contact Habitat for Humanity Detroit at (313)521-6691.