We already know that Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama is a fan of hip-hop. Now Jay-Z, one of the artists he's given a shout-out to on the campaign trail, will return the favor this weekend by putting on two free shows encouraging young voters to get out and support Obama in Detroit and Miami.

Read more about Jay-Z's concerts for Obama here.

For Eminem fans, the four-year wait since the Detroit MC released his last studio album, Encore, has been painful. But according to Dr. Dre's latest protégé, Bishop Lamont, the end of the drought could be right around the corner. "Em is excited," Lamont said, according to an Entertainment Weekly blog report. "He's been quiet too long, and he's got a lot to get off his chest."

No release date has been set yet for the album, but Em's label confirmed that he's in the studio at work on the album. The 35-year-old MC has been on hiatus for the past two-plus years, in part to deal with his emotions about the 2006 death of best friend and fellow D12 member Proof in a bar shooting in Detroit, but Lamont said Slim Shady is emerging from his grief. "He went through what he had to go through, and now he's been able to take all the pain and stress and put it out in his music."

Has Slim Shady waited too long to return, or are you still excited for his comeback? Tell us what you think!