Nashville’s Mona, who formed in Dayton in 2004, have signed a major label deal with Island-UK and Island/Def Jam/Mercury.

El-P is allegedly collaborating with Atlanta rapper Killer Mike for an album called R.A.P. Music.  It doesn’t have a solid release date yet, but it is expected in mid-2011 via Adult Swim.

Trap Them have set Darker Handcraft as the title to their forthcoming album, which is expected out through Prosthetic in the coming months. The group recorded the outing at Godcity Studio with Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou at the helm.

The vinyl packaging for Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is pretty sharp looking.  Just sayin’.

Doomriders have bolstered their ranks with the addition of new permanent drummer Q (ex-Clouds) He officially fills the slot originally vacated by John-Robert Conners, who left the band to focus on his family life and the reactivated Cave In.

Former Husker Du co-vocalist Grant Hart is doing a short tour next month in support of a reissue of Nova Mob’s The Last Days of Pompeii.  The reissue will be out on Con D’or Records on January 11.  Here are the dates Jan. 13: The Black Cat, Washington, D.C. Jan. 14: Motorco Music Hall, Durham, [...]

Transworld offers up this six-minute video documenting the finest of street skating for 2010. It includes appearances by Chad Tim Tim, Levi Brown, Eli Reed, Tyler Surrey, Jimmy Cao, Theotis Beasley, Julian Davidson, Boo Johnson, Dan Murphy, Elijah Berle, Kelly Hart and Walker Ryan.

Neurosis are rereleasing Souls at Zero on February 15.  The reissue includes demo versions of “Souls” and “Zero,” and a live version of “Cleanse Iii” performed in London in 1996.  The cover art is also redesigned.  Neurot Recordings will make this available on CD and via digital download.

Woodsman is readying their sophomore release, Rare Form, for Altered Zones/Chocolate Bobka.  The album drops on January 25.

Footage of a recent acoustic set from Saves The Day’s Chris Conley is here: