Busta Rhymes Speaks On Slain Ex-Bodyguard

A former bodyguard of rapper Busta Rhymes was found dead in the back of his pickup truck on Wednesday (May 28).

NYPD police officers found 35 year-old Jermaine Williams dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the backseat of his SUV in Ozone Park, Queens. Police apparently discovered Williams' after they saw blood dripping from the backseat of his truck. The slain man was wrapped in blanket in the backseat of the vehicle.

A Bronx native, Williams was formerly employed as Busta Rhymes' bodyguard nearly eight years ago. In a statement exclusively released to, Busta took time out from his European tour to ask for the family of Williams' be given the proper space to mourn their loss.

"We have all suffered a great loss and Jermaine Williams will be deeply missed," he said. "He has remained a dear friend, even though we have not worked together in 8 years. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family and we ask that we be allowed to mourn the loss of our friend in peace."

It is reported Williams' went to Queens to visit his grandmother and ended up missing for almost 24 hours. He's survived by two children.

Police are still seeking the suspects who committed the murder.

50 CENT'S LONG ISLAND HOUSE BURNS DOWN: House at center of lawsuit between rapper and baby mama.

As we all know Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson's life is filled with drama of one kind or another.

The latest example of his on-going drama happened Friday when the multimillion-dollar home at the center of a bitter dispute between the rapper/actor and the mother of his son was destroyed by a suspicious fire early Friday.

Six people, including 50's ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins and their 10-year-old son, Marquise, were taken to a hospital after suffering smoke inhalation and later released. A firefighter also suffered a minor eye injury, officials said.

50 Cent doesn't live in the home and wasn't there at the time.

"Informed this morning while filming a new motion picture on location in Louisiana, Curtis Jackson expressed deep concern over this fire at his property," a representative for 50 said in a statement. "He is extremely thankful that everyone including his son, Marquise, escaped the burning house safely. He is confident that authorities will be conducting a thorough investigation of the incident and is eager to review their findings."

The home was essentially burned to the ground, with charred embers and wreckage littering the lot where the home once stood in the tree-lined neighborhood in Dix Hills.

Investigators from the Suffolk County arson squad were called to the scene after Dix Hills Fire Chief Larry Feld deemed the blaze suspicious. The fire was reported at 4:59 a.m. and was extinguished about 45 minutes later, Feld said. The arson squad had finished its work at the scene six hours after the blaze.

JUDGE YELLS AT JA RULE FOR SKIPPING COURT: Rapper got a scolding Wednesday by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice

A Manhattan judge gave Ja Rule a stern talkin' to Wednesday after he missed a court date in April because he was on tour.

The rapper, born Jeff Atkins, was due in court on gun possession charges stemming from a traffic stop last summer. But, he failed to appear because he was busy performing at a concert in Germany. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Micki Scherer didn't care.

"There was no excuse in my view for your absence [last month]," she told the entertainer, according to the New York Daily News.

Scherer said Ja Rule must give the court five days' notice of any business trips that will take him out of the metropolitan area. Ja Rule's lawyer Stacey Richman said the German tour dates were booked by mistake.

Ja Rule, his road manager, Dennis Cherry, and his driver, Mohamed Gamal, were charged with gun possession after police stopped their car on the upper West Side and searched it because, they said, they smelled marijuana. No one was charged with possession of drugs.

Lil' Wayne Sued For Copyright Infringement

Lil' Wayne may be headed back to court again. This time it's not for guns or drugs, but stealing.

Singer Karma Ann Swanepoel filed a lawsuit in Louisiana recently, claiming Wayne stole her tune "Once" and turned it into the track "I Feel Like Dying," according to TMZ.

Karma's "Once" is a folky, guitar-layden ballad, whereas Wayne's "Dying" features a sped-up, chipmunk-sounding sample.

Karma said that Wayne's label had been trying to reach an agreement with her for use of the track, but hadn't been able to come to one. Meanwhile, Wayne's made his "Dying" available on his MySpace page and elsewhere.

Weezy's manager didn't return a call for comment.

In other Wayne legal news, the rapper pled not guilty on May 6 to several drug and weapons charges stemming from an earlier arrest in Arizona. Almost two weeks later, he gave up a DNA sample in another case in New York to be tested against a gun found on his tour bus.

In the midst of his cases, the self-proclaimed best rapper alive is still slated to close out "The BET Awards" next month, airing June 24, and he's also got a role in the upcoming Fast And The Furious flick.

Tha Carter III, his highly anticipated follow up album to 2005's Carter II, hits stores on June 10.

50 Cent Makes The Mogul, Diddy Makes The Rock Band W/ New MTV Shows

MTV's adding two more hip-hop headliners to its reality show line-up this summer and fall, but neither of them have much to do with the music.

50 Cent's still untitled reality competition will focus on business skills, and Diddy's show remakes "Making The Band" for the rock arena, according to Billboard.

Fif will challenge 16 contestants to master the business savvy that brought him from a street existence to his present star status. Each week, one of the protégés will be eliminated and the last one standing will receive a full scholarship to an undergraduate or graduate business program.

The contestants have a lot to learn.

The mogul's portfolio includes an investment in Vitamin Water, his own record label, a branded clothing line, sneakers through Reebok, books, video games, Hollywood movies, his own body spray through Right Guard and most recently a memorabilia line through a deal with Steiner Sports.

As previously reported, the rapper will be done with his Interscope contract after the completion of one more solo album. The soon-to-be free agent is already looking for his next big pay day.

Diddy's "Making the Band" spinoff, "Making the Rock Band" will take on the basic structure of the first Band, with the new genre.

"Our main goal is to always pull the rug out," MTV programming head Tony DiSanto says. "If something is working great, we don't want to do it again, we want to do something new. Our viewers expect us to keep evolving, genre-busting and taking chances."

Yesterday reported that Atlanta rapper, T.I., will also be getting his own reality show on MTV. The docu series will follow him as he performs the remainder of his community service hours and prepares for a one-year prison sentence next spring. The show is slated to air shortly after the rapper reports to prison for federal weapons charges in early 2009.

Chamillionaire, Slim Thug & Paul Wall Congratulate Houston HS Grads

Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, Paul Wall and Swisha House CEO, Michael '5000' Watts, joined Houston Mayor Bill White yesterday to celebrate the graduation of 40 members of the Marilyn Gambrell's No Victims, Inc advocacy program.

To commemorate the final year of the M.B. Smiley High School program, a spokesperson from the office of Mayor White and the Texan rappers congratulated the 40 graduates on their accomplishments at the ceremony. The special celebration is one that Gambrell organized for the students who have been a part of the program since its inception.

Gambrell's No More Victims, Inc, is an advocacy program for infants and children of incarcerated parents within the city of Houston. It currently serves over 700 members, past and present. The program has garnered national media attention from CNN, US News, People and World Report. Lifetime released a motion picture in 2005 about Gambrell titled, Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story. The film was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding feature film, that year.

Gambrell and the Houston rappers honored the teens for graduating high school despite the hardships of growing up with one or more parents serving jail time.

Lil' Kim Drops "Ms. G.O.A.T."

Lil' Kim's officially releasing her street disc Ms. G.O.A.T. next month.

Collabos on the album feature stand-outs 50 Cent, Nate Dogg, Britney Spears, and newcomer Maino. The disc also boasts tracks Kim lent a few bars to -- Keyshia Cole's hit "Let it Go," with Missy Elliott, Gucci Mane's club banger "Freaky Gurl," and Alica Keys' "No One" remix.

Kim parted ways with Atlantic Records at the top of the year, saying she was considering going Indie. She's done just that with this latest album. Indy distributor Amalgam Entertainment is putting the project out.

In related news a stroke of bad luck and a few unpaid installments got her silver Bentley repossessed last month -- though according to Kim she wasn't responsible for the bills. The tide turned a couple of weeks ago when Kim won a $500,000 lawsuit against former friend, Junior M.A.F.I.A. rapper Lil Cease for featuring her in a street DVD about the now defunct click.

Ms. G.O.A.T. hits shelves June 3rd.

50 Cent Associate Accused Of Striking Woman

An employee of 50 Cent was arrested yesterday at the rapper's Connecticut home after allegedly attacking a woman.

According to local New York paper Newsday, Farmington, CT police arrested 27 year-old Dwayne McKenzie yesterday after receiving a call from a 22 year-old woman.

McKenzie is accused of choking the New Britain woman and striking her with a belt during an argument at 50's house. McKenzie has been charged with assault, strangulation, breach of peace and unlawful restraint.

McKenzie is currently on conditional discharge stemming from an arrest in Hartford for allegedly pistol-whipping a nightclub promoter.

The G-Unit associate has a history of legal problems, which also includes a 2007 incident where he was accused of firing a .40 caliber Glock in a crowd after being robbed of his $100,000 diamond and platinum chain.

McKenzie was released after posting $10,000 bond and is due back in court July 15.

T.I. Reality Show Coming To MTV

In addition to performing concerts and speaking to youth before reporting to the slammer next year, T.I. now has a crew of cameras watching him do it all. The rapper is using the last of his year on house arrest to film a documentary series for MTV.

According to Variety, the network will go with the self-proclaimed "King of the South" as he performs the remainder of his community service hours and prepares for a one-year prison sentence next spring. The network plans to air the show some time soon after T.I. goes to jail in early 2009.

The series, by Ish Entertainment, has already gotten an eight-episode order from MTV.

"We began the conversations in the middle of deliberations over what would happen to him," said Ish's Michael Hirschorn, whose executive producing with partner Stella Stolper. "The original idea for the show had him staging a series of interventions in each episode with people in danger. But when we visited him under house arrest, it felt much bigger and more powerful than we anticipated."

Tip (born Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr.) has a history of being on the wrong side of the law, convicted for selling crack cocaine in the late 1990s. In March, the rapper pled guilty to federal weapons charges; the offense that got him the year's stint.

"Hopefully the mistakes I've made will be a lesson to today's youth and they won't go down that same path," T.I. said.

Tip didn't need the court's permission to do the show, but MTV will stick to the rules of the artist's home confinement. The show will also cover the release of Tip's upcoming album, Paper Trail, heavily inspired by his latest legal woes and the birth of his newborn son.

XZIBIT MOURNS DEATH OF NEWBORN SON: Baby was born prematurely on May 15.

Xzibit is mourning the death of his newborn son Xavier Kingston Joiner. The baby was born prematurely on May 15th and passed away on Monday, 11 days later.

The rapper, whose real name is Alvin Nathaniel Joiner, recently wrote about the tragedy on his blog. The message was posted at about 4:32 a.m., roughly one hour after the infant's death.

“Well, this week was extremely difficult for him, because his lungs were not strong enough to handle regular oxygen on his own,” he wrote. “Xavier passed away this morning at 3:30 am and I must tell you this, it is unnatural for a parent to bury a child.”

“I am telling you this because of the same reason I tell you when I’m having great times, life is too short to be fake. Hold on to your kids if you have them, protect them and show them you love them everyday you wake up and see them,” he said. “Don’t take a second you get to hug them teach them and care for them for granted.”

“You can have all the material wealth in the universe but it is nothing compared to having your family. I am thankful for all of my blessings and I’m not one to question God's perfect plan,” he continued. “So I leave you with great love and thanks for the love that was sent earlier on my previous blog to my son.”

Usher's love split

DMX's $1.5 Mil Award Put On Hold In "Rape" Suit Judgment

A Maryland judge has vacated a $1.5 million judgment awarded to a woman who filed a defamation suit against DMX after he alleged that she raped him.

Last week, Prince George's County Circuit Judge Thomas Smith ruled that DMX (whose real name is Earl Simmons) was not properly served with court papers in the case filed against him by Monique Wayne.

After an August 2003 encounter with Simmons, Wayne gave birth to a son by the rapper in April 2004.

As previously reported, in a 2006 Sister 2 Sister magazine interview DMX said he was raped while he was sleeping. Wayne, who was not mentioned by name in the story, denied the claim and filed a defamation of character suit, citing "severe emotional distress" as a result of the interview.

During a court hearing earlier this year, Wayne said she awoke to find Simmons on top of her, which led to consensual sex. She said she filed the lawsuit because "he lied to the whole world on me" about what happened. The January hearing resulted in Wayne being awarded $1.5 million after Simmons failed to appear.

Attorneys for DMX challenged that claim, saying Wayne failed to properly serve him with lawsuit papers and that the rapper was unaware of the case against him.

X's lawyer William "Hassan" Murphy III said the Yonkers MC "looks forward to proving Wayne's allegations to be wrong" if the case continues.

In related news, Simmons is also facing criminal charges in Arizona for allegedly mistreating pit bulls found at his Phoenix home and felony drug possession. He pleaded not guilty last week.

IS SEAN COMBS CHEATING ON CIROC VODKA?: Diddy says reports of him getting toasted with 1800 Tequila are false

Looks like the Diddy man is doing some damage control in the wake of rampant reports throughout the blogosphere about him imbibing with spirits other than Ciroc vodka.

According to various bloggers, Diddy was seen swilling 1800 Tequilla at various nighttime hangs

Obviously the folks at Ciroc's parent company, Diageo, aren't too thrilled at the reports because, not too long ago, they cut a $100 million deal with him to pump up the Ciroc brand.

So where does that leave us today? Well it seems that Mr. Combs has seen the light and is declaring to the world that he's given up "champagne and tequila."

"When I reach for a drink, I reach for Ciroc Vodka," Combs says in a press release from his publicist Kwasi Asare.

Combs and camp insist the reports of him having an affair with another brand are false; he professes to love his Ciroc and wouldn't stray from the relationship.

“Cîroc Vodka and Diddy are a match made in party heaven. We are both at the top of our game and bring only the best to whatever we do," Combs said in the release. "Nobody rocks a party like Diddy and there isn’t a better tasting vodka on the market – why drink anything else?”

That's exactly what Ciroc/Diageo is asking, too.

Jim Jones Plots Summer '08 Takeover, Album, Byrd Gang & DVD On The Way

Dipset Capo Jim Jones has several projects in the works this summer; with a Byrd Gang album coming next month, followed by the release of his major label debut and documentary about his life and career.

On June 24th Jim Jones and his fellow Byrd Gang members (Chink Santana, Sandman, Oshy, NOE and Mel Matrix) will follow up the release of their new single "Splash" with a full length album. The album, which is entitled M.O.B. (Members of Byrd Gang), will drop on Jones' Byrd Gang imprint on Asylum Records.

In addition, the Harlem representative is also prepping a solo album for August 19th release through Columbia Records. As previously reported, Jones' childhood friend and business partner, Dame Dash, recently went on the record calling the Byrd Gang front man's major label debut a "classic."

"His new album, I think he might have come up with a classic, and that's me saying that," Dash said in a recent internet video.

Dash and Jones have been working together on The True Jim Jones Documentary, which traces Jimmy's life from his early days as a CatholicSchool kid from the Harlem streets to a "full blown superstar and business mogul." [Watch Below]

The documentary will be released two weeks before his solo album, on August 8th.

Kanye West, Common, Meth & Red Sued Over Copyright Infringement

Kanye West, Common, Method Man and Redman, and their perspective record companies were sued Thursday by the late U.S. jazz musician Joe Farrell's daughter, who accused the emcees of using her father's music without approval.

According to Billboard, Kathleen Firrantello filed an infringement lawsuit against the rappers and their various labels owned by Universal Music Group at U.S. District Court in New York, for the unlawful use of Farrell's 1974 musical composition "Upon This Rock."

The lawsuit stated all four rappers used portions of Farrell's opus in three separate songs- Kanye's "Gone," Common's "Chi-City," and Meth and Red's "Run 4 Cover."

Firrantello is seeking punitive damages of at least $1 million. She also asked that no further copies of the songs be made, sold or performed.

None of the record companies or representatives for the rappers were available for comment.

T.I. Sets Concert Dates Throughout The Country

Until T.I. turns himself in for a prison sentence set for next year, he plans to run a hectic schedule filled with speaking to kids about staying out of trouble and criss-crossing the country for concerts.

Along with a concert in his hometown of Atlanta which includes rival Shawty Lo, T.I. is set to bless the stage in New York City, Chicago and Missouri next month.

Tip will be hitting the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights on June 12th, the Congress Theater in Chi-Town on June 19th and on the 21st he'll be headlining the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in St. Louis with Keyshia Cole and Bun B, among others.

As previously reported, T.I.. agreed to a plea deal in March, where instead of going to trial on federal gun charges, he was ordered to 1,500 hours of community service, a fine, a year in prison, up to 3 years probation and a year on house arrest.

When caught up with Tip's lawyer, he explained that the rapper is allowed a lot of leeway under his home detention program, which works more like a curfew than traditional house arrest.

"Between the hours that the curfew doesn't apply, he is free to go and do anything, basically," Steve Sadow told. "But he has a full time monitor with him and he has to get permission to go out of town and permission is given for work or community service."

Saigon Departs From Atlantic Records

The on-going feud between Brooklyn MC Saigon and his label, Atlantic Records, has finally come to an end, as the rapper officially announced his departure.

According to Billboard, Saigon and Atlantic Records separated after a tumultuous four-year relationship surrounding the delayed release of his debut album The Greatest Story Never Told. Saigon is currently in talks with several major labels as well as a non-traditional music company for his next deal.

"I'm not that excited about going to a major label," Saigon said. "They would have to make it so I'm set for the rest of my life. [Labels] want too much for the little that they're giving."

As previously reported, Saigon's dispute with Atlantic began after the label failed to put out his debut on several occasions. Last summer, the rapper called out Atlantic on his MySpace page for failing to promote and release his anticipated debut and threatened to release the project without the labels approval.

Referring to Atlantic as "a home of ringtone making artists," the rapper denounced the notion that the album's hold up had anything to do with him.

"Please don't believe that the hold up of my album has anything to do with me or my work ethic or my rate of producing great music," he wrote. "If you go to YouTube and type in JBTV Saigon you will hear snippets of my album that Atlantic doesn't seem to have the desire to release."

A few months later, reconciling their creative difference, Saigon and Atlantic seemed to have come to an understanding and issued a December 4, 2007 release date for the project. But, as the album date drew near, Atlantic in accord with Saigon decided to push back the album.

"It ain't coming out till its ready," Saigon said of the push back. "The album's not even done yet. Just Blaze is such a perfectionist, even more so than me. And we keep finding things that can make it better."

Releasing the sets lone single, "Pain in My Life," the track failed to take off at radio and on the charts. Atlantic continued to push back the project until there was a viable single. However, Saigon claims the label tried to turn him into a ringtone artist.

"It's not like I didn't want to put out music," he told Billboard. "But Atlantic wanted me to do ringtone songs but they didn't sign me as a ringtone artist."

Sai further blamed the lack of support on the departure of the A&R executive who signed him, Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua, who left to join Columbia.

With his release from Atlantic imminent, the Yardfather is busy concentrating on promoting his music. His latest single, "Believe It," was released to yesterday (May 21) via Just Blaze's blog, TheMegatrondon2.com and the MC has seven viral videos in tow.

"I'm happier [now] than I've been in a minute," he confessed to Billboard.

The rapper also has plans to return to return to the set of HBO's hit series Entourage this season. He first appeared on the show in 2006.

50 Cent Plans To Drop Solo Project This Year, Eyeing New Major Label Deal

50 Cent is not yet free from his deal with Interscope, but he's already looking around for the next big score.

According to the New York Post, the G-Unit honcho wants to follow in the steps of fellow mogul Jay-Z, who, previously reported, recently struck a $150 million partnership with Live Nation.

But before 50 is free to ink a more lucrative deal, he has to turn out two more records for Interscope. The first of the two, G-Unit's T.O.S. (Terminate on Sight), is set to hit stores on July 1. Sources close to Fif say he wants that second album, a solo project, out by fourth quarter, so he can wrap up his Interscope ties by the end of the year.

Still, insiders close to the rapper's camp said that unnamed parties are already talking the mogul up. There was speculation about a major deal with MySpace, though several industry executives familiar with the situation called the idea premature.

But Fif would be a great asset for any company looking to make its way into the record business, or for a label that's ready to revamp.

Fif's portfolio includes an investment in Vitamin Water valued at $100 million, his own record label, a branded clothing line, sneakers through Reebok, fitness videos, books, video games, Hollywood movies, and most recently a memorabilia line through a deal with Steiner Sports.

Live Nation hasn't been ruled out as a bidder for 50's services, though already deeply financially committed with a major like Jay already on its payroll.

Before anybody gets their hands on 50 Cent though, Interscope has to be satisfied. Rumor has it the label has a first refusal option that could keep any other interested company off the horizon.

T.I. & Shawty Lo Set To Share A Stage, Amidst Beef

Atlanta rappers T.I. and Shawty Lo have waged a public beef the last few months, exchanging words on the radio and on wax. Now, the feuding emcees will be sharing a stage together in an upcoming Birthday Bash concert for Atlanta's Hot 107.9.

As previously reported, Lo took issue with Tip for failing to acknowledge him as a Bankhead-bred rapper. On his song "Dunn Dunn" Shawty took some shots at T.I., and the self-professed King of the South fired back on Atlanta radio station 92Q. [Listen here]

"Come on dog," T.I. said. "Who are you for real to be acknowledging like that? Get in the game first."

Then Shawty Lo shot back on DJ Kay Slay's radio show, saying T.I wasn't even really from Bankhead, the hood he's claimed throughout his career. [Listen here]

The rappers are both on the bill to perform at Hot 107.9's 13th Annual Birthday Bash at the Phillip's Arena in Atlanta on June 14.

Branded PR is handling the publicity for the event and confirmed the two rappers will be performing, but according to Tahira Wright, they're not anticipating any problems with the line up.

"I'm not one to perpetuate beef but T.I. and Shawty Lo are indeed scheduled to perform," Wright wrote in an email to. "However, I'm not aware of any heightened security measures. The Philips Arena is very secure as is."

Other confirmed performers are Young Jeezy, Plies, Soulja Boy and Webbie, with others to be added.

Polow Da Don Named Pop Songwriter Of The Year

Producer Polow Da Don added a fifth award to his BMI collection as he was given Songwriter of the Year honors at BMI's 56th Annual Pop Awards last night.

The honor is the result of his success writing four of 2007's top 50 songs including the Pussycat Dolls "Buttons" ft. Snoop Dogg; Fergie's "London Bridge," and "Glamorous" ft. Ludacris as well as "Runaway Love," by Luda ft. Mary J. Blige.

While Polow currently holds four other BMI awards, this marked his first time winning BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year.

The event was held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Other honorees included Publisher of the Year EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc, and Daryl Hall and John Oates, who were honored as BMI Icons. Previous BMI Icons include James Brown, Carlos Santana and Isaac Hayes.

Lil' Wayne To Shut Down BET Awards, Stars In New "Fast & The Furious" Flick

Lil' Wayne, the self-proclaimed best rapper alive, is in talks to close out "The Bet Awards" next month as well as star in the upcoming Fast And The Furious flick.

"I'm really excited that Usher is opening the show," BET's executive vice president Stephen Hill told Billboard. "I'll give you a little tidbit - Lil' Wayne is probably closing the show. So, we have a grand opening and grand closing."

Lil' Wayne has racked up three nods for "The BET Awards," with nominations for "Best Male Hip-Hop Artist;" the "Viewer's Choice" award for his hit "Lollipop;" and "Best Collaboration" for DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood (Remix)." The award show is set to air on June 24.

Wayne is also in talks to appear in the upcoming movie, The Fast and Furious 4. He let the cat out of the bag during last week's "BET Awards" press conference. The flick, which is scheduled to hit theatres in 2009, stars the original Fast and The Furious cast; Paul Walker, Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez.

While Weezy is still in talks with the Fast and the Furious producers, he has secured a role in the upcoming Forest Whitaker film Patriots, which began filming in Wayne's New Orleans hometown this month. The movie will also star rapper/actor Bow Wow and is set to open in theaters in November.

The Game Eyes B.I.G. Career, Police Tow Bentley

The Game's Bentley was reportedly towed last night after the Compton rapper was pulled over in Glendale, Calif. for driving with expired tags.

According to TMZ, Game was stopped by authorities around 7 p.m. "His car was towed because the tag has been expired for more than 6 months," Glendale police spokesperson John Balian said.


Game, who was also cited for not having proof of insurance, will have to pay fines, late fees and produce an insurance card to recoup his ride from the police impound.

In related news, recently chopped it up with Game to talk about how his third album, L.A.X., may possibly be his last. The controversial emcee compared his short career to The Notorious B.I.G.'s, saying sometimes "three albums is enough in hip-hop."

"Biggie only had two albums and that was enough for people," Game explained. "People say he was the greatest rapper alive, which is one of the things I agree on, but he only had two albums.

L.A.X., which hits stores on July 8, features production by Kanye West, Cool & Dre and Just Blaze along with appearances by Common, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Raekwon, Busta Rhymes and Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry.

Nas Backs Down From ''N*gger'' Album Title

Within the past few months Nas has stirred up controversy in anticipation of his eighth studio album, N*gger. Now it seems as if the Queensbridge emcee has conceded to his critics and changed the title of his upcoming release.

According to Entertainment Weekly, a representative for Def Jam records has confirmed that Nas (born Nasir Jones) has decided to change the title of his new album N*gger to Untitled.

"The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it," Nas said in a statement. "It's important to me that this album gets to the fans...It's been a long time coming. I want my fans to know that creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It's that important."

The Queens-bred rapper sparked a heated debate last fall when he announced the provocative title. Despite the controversy surrounding the title, Nas' label and chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid stood behind God Son's concept.

In an exclusive with, Reid delivered a message of support for Nas and the album concept, but was unsure of its title. "Expect Nas to educate us without preaching to us," Reid said. "Expect him to give a point of view that maybe the world hasn't thought about. Expect him to really enlighten us."

When asked if the album would be released with the n-word title, Ried replied, "We'll have to see."

In a survey conducted by in response to the album's title, out of 1,899 respondents 85.27% said they were not offended by Nas' decision to name the disc N*gger. 14.73% of those polled said they were.

The newly named set was originally scheduled to be release in April, but with recent material from the project leaking on the net, Nas reported the album to be released in July.

Nas is now set to hit stores July 1st via Def Jam Recordings.