Spirit of a child in the hands of a maverick

Here's a downturn with a silver lining. According to a retail analyst, sales of bottled water in Britain have fallen for the first time, dropping nine per cent in the year to March. This may be because of general belt-tightening, or it could be that people are getting less comfortable about the ecological costs of bottling and shipping the stuff.

The shots that killed Tupac Shakur, hip hop's most revered performer, still reverberate through America's rap fraternity. And now, fresh allegations about the alleged conspiracy to kill him threaten to tarnish the image of the nation's most urbane and wealthy urban music mogul

NHS patients must be reimbursed for medical treatment abroad if they face an "undue delay" for surgery at home, European Court judges ruled today.

Voting is hot, voting is cool and voting is sexy. That is the message from Sean Combs, the rap impresario and fashion mogul who is heading a campaign in America to encourage more young people and minorities to vote in this November's Presidential election.

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What happens when you give 10 writers and cartoonists free rein to compile and illustrate their own CD? Something surprising, predictable, innovative and revelatory. Andy Gill spoke to Hunter S Thompson, Gilbert Shelton and Savage Pencil about their choices

THE PHARCYDE JAZZ CAFe LONDON

One of the highlights of the year has been a resurgence of inventive hip-hop at the expense of gangsta rap. As well as the emergence of new names like Jurassic 5 and Company flow, the climate has changed enough for crews such as Latino LA rappers Cypress Hill (right) to command large audiences again. After three years, they also have a new album - Cypress Hill IV - to tour. Their own little niche in the hip-hop world is as the chief propagandists for the propensities of the fragrant weed, but their live shows have also always provided excitement with plenty of humour thrown in, too. This one-off gig should see them running through old favourites like "Light Another", "I Wanna Get High" and the signature "Insane in the Brain", as well as the newer material.

SNOOP DOGG SUBTERANIA LONDON

HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL: THE SPECTACULAR RISE AND VIOLENT FALL OF DEATH ROW RECORDS

Being lippy seems to go with the territory if you're from Manchester: Liam'n'Noel, Mark E. Smith, and now Nicky Lockett, feisty frontman of Dust Junkys, rarely out of your face on their Done & Dusted debut. Lockett used to be Manc rapper MC Tunes, and he's lost none of the essential charm that comes through regarding the world as a threat and money as your god.

Propellerheads, "Decksanddrumsandrockandroll"

COCAINE by Phil Strongman Abacus pounds 9.99