The Beastie Boys are in the midst of writing a new studio album, according to Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz. The King Ad-Rock told Billboard, "We're actually in the middle of recording it right now. We hope to have it out sometime next year. It's a lot of vocals, a lot of words -- very wordy. And it's political, depending on what you call political. You know, if toilet talk and fart jokes are political, which they can be, in that sense yeah, very." The Beasties are about to kick off their brief "Get Out And Vote" tour of swing states, starting in Charlotte, NC on October 27.

Congratulations to Rapper Lil Wayne, who became a father for the second time yesterday. MTV News reports that his son, Dwayne Carter III, was born Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati. The identity of the mother has not been announced. Wayne has a daughter, born in 2004, with his ex-wife Antonia.

Weezer main man Rivers Cuomo will release another volume of demo, titled Alone II, on November 25. Cuomo release the first Alone disc last fall. In other Weezer news, guitarist Brian Bell told the Dallas Observer that director Spike Jonze is set to reunite with the band to make a video for their next single, "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived."

Stone Temple Pilots drummer Eric Kretz is missing two of the final shows on the band's reunion tour, due to the death of his father. Drummer Ray Luzier (KoRn, Army Of Anyone) filled in last night, and will again Friday night at the Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans. STP wrap up the tour in Alabama on Halloween night. Frontman Scott Weiland will then focus on his upcoming solo record, Happy In Galoshes. The lead single, "Missing Cleveland," arrived at radio yesterday.

Gnarls Barkley will release a new digital EP for the song "Who's Gonna Save My Soul?" on November 11. The EP will include four different versions of the tune, along with a live version of "Neighbors" and the previously unreleased "Mystery Man."

Former Grateful Dead lawyer Hal Kant has passed away at the age of 77, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Kant is credited with protecting the band's legacy and intellectual property, including the Dead keeping their masters and publishing rights. Kent also worked with Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Sonny & Cher and many others.