Filed under: Pop, The BoomBox, Soul/R'n'B, R'n'B News

Pop sensation Chris Brown recently admitted to witnessing and experiencing abuse for six years of his childhood, according to I'mNotObsessed.com.

"I don't want to mention the person's name -- it wasn't my real father -- but somebody hurt my mom and me, I had to deal with that from seven all the way to 13," Brown confessed. "It affected me, especially [my behavior] towards women -- I treat them differently. I don't want to put a woman through the same thing that person put my mom through."

It's not clear what sparked the singer/dancer's announcement, but Brown is not shying away from expressing the effect the abuse had on him.

"I was scared and timid when I was little. I used to pee in my bed... I think it was me being nervous, and scared to get up [out of bed] and see what was going on," Brown said. "My mom used to try and hide it from me and my sister, but we knew. Anybody that's going through it, just try to deal with it, talk it out."

Filed under: Hip-Hop, The BoomBox, Hip-Hop News

Kanye West received a whopping eight Grammy nominations -- including Album of the Year -- for his chart-topping 2007 effort 'Graduation.'

The rapper/producer, whose mother passed away suddenly last month, was insiders' top pick and leads the list with the most nods. Troubled songstress Amy Winehouse tails behind West with six nominations. 'Graduation,' West's third album, sold almost 1 million copies its first week, topping 50 Cent's 'Curtis.'

Jay-Z ('Kingdom Come'), Common ('Finding Forever'), Nas ('Hip Hop Is Dead'), T.I. ('T.I. vs. T.I.P') and West ('Graduation') all earned nominations for Best Rap Album.

Other nominees included Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, T-Pain, Chris Brown, Timbaland, and Akon.

Read more on the nominees for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Filed under: Hip-Hop, The BoomBox, Hip-Hop News

Bow Wow was rushed to the hospital Thursday following the first date of the 'Exclusive' Holiday tour, which the rap star co-headlines with R&B sensation Chris Brown.

Bow Wow was taken to a local hospital in Cincinnati immediately following his performance. According to a statement released from the rapper's camp, Bow Wow "is in good spirits and awaiting the doctors' diagnosis, which appears to be a combination of stress and exhaustion."

There's no word on how many dates the rapper will miss, but he plans on sitting out the Chicago show. In the meantime, Bow Wow assured his fans that he "loves them and will be sure to come back to Chicago soon!"