• “Blue Magic,” the first single from Jay-Z’s forthcoming American Gangster-inspired album has made its debut on the Web following its first airplay on New York’s Hot 97 radio station. The track features Pharrell, and as promised, marks a return to Hova’s gritty roots.

• The first wave of musical guests for Saturday Night Live’s thirty-third season have been announced: Kanye West will kick things off on September 29th, followed by Spoon on October 6th. On October 13th, Foo Fighters will perform while Jon Bon Jovi flies solo as host, though he will also be joined by his bandmates and play during the show.

• Pearl Jam have announced a Los Angeles screening on the September 25th release date of their live DVD, Imagine In Cornice. The DVD was shot during the band’s 2006 European tour, and the screening will take place at Plant 16 in Van Nuys, CA at 8 PM (fans can purchase tickets here).

• Snoop Dogg has been sentenced to 160 hours of community service and three years of probation after pleading guilty to felony possession of a dangerous weapon stemming from an incident last fall. Snoop was also ordered to make a $10,000 charitable donation, and his attorney said the charge would be reduced to a misdemeanor after one year if Snoop does not violate the law.

• The manager of Great White who lit the pyrotechnics that caused 2003’s deadly fire at the Station nightclub in Rhode Island has been granted early leave from his four-year sentence. The state parole board voted unanimously on the parole, which will go into effect in March 2008.

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