This month, DJ Vlad returns with Hot In Here 5 hosted by Shaq. The CD features Shaq attacking Skillz over Lloyd Banks' "On Fire" and Eminem's "Say What You Say." On the latter, Shaq offers:

"...even with wins you never as fly as me / you remind me of Kobe Bryant trying to be as high as me / but you can't; even if you get me traded /wherever I'm at; I'm Puffy; you Mase and you're still hated..."
The CD also includes premieres by Eminem, Young Zee and Rah Digga's "We Come To Party" and blends like Kanye West's "Jesus Walks" and Notorious B.I.G.'s "10 Crack Commandments" trading instrumentals.

Meanwhile, Shyne links up with Clinton Sparks and Rukiz to address 50 Cent, P. Diddy, Suge Knight, Jay-Z, Foxy Brown and Dr. Dre among others on If I Could Start From Scratch. Besides an exclusive in-prison interview, the CD also contains new Shyne tracks with Grafh, Ashanti, Jay-Z and Foxy Brown with production by Kanye West and Just Blaze.

On the Detroit side of things, DJ Exclusive Presents The Boiler Room features a healthy blend of underground and mainstream cuts. Hosted by D12 affiliate Paradime, the set includes a Paradime cut on which Kid Rock disses Nas. The issue reportedly arose when Nas said "It's, the, return of the Prince, the boss / This is real hardcore, Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit's soft" on "Got U'rself A Gun." Two years later, Rock retaliates by spitting:

"...still these rappers jock these nuts / hey Nas I heard what you had to say / motherf#@$er, I got your album and threw it away."
The CD also features tracks from Young Buck with Tony Yayo and 50 Cent, "Bonafied Hustler" and Jay-Z, "I'm Back" as well as Terror Squad's "Lean Back" remix featuring Mase and Eminem.

Lastly, DJ Whoo Kid brings The Fifth Element hosted by The Game and Steve-O of MTV's Jackass and Wild Boyz. In addition to an exclusive cut from Eazy-E featuring The Game, the set mostly features cuts from Compton's newest sensation and his G-Unit brethren with appearances from Busta Rhymes, DJ Quik, Lil Scrappy and Ludacris.

DJ Vlad's Hot In Here 5, Clinton Sparks and DJ Rukiz' If I Could Start From Scratch, DJ Exclusive's Boiler Room and DJ Who Kid's The Fifth Element are in stores now.

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50 Cent has recorded with many high profile characters, but this is the first time the multi-platinum rapper has laid down tracks with a cartoon character - namely one Bart Simpson.

According to actress Nancy Cartright, who voices the mischievous boy wonder on The Simpsons, G-Unit's 50 Cent laid down a cut with Bart for a fall episode. Cartright says 50 was a "pu$$ycat" and penned a "brilliant" rhyme that sounded "street."

The 50/Bart collabo is not the first time the popular cartoon character has ventured into rap. Besides guest appearances by the likes of Cypress Hill on the show, Bart recorded his own rap track, "Do the Bartman" in 1991.

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New York Post gossip columnist Tim Arango is reporting today that new Island Def Jam head, Antonio LA Reid, has extended an offer to Jay-Z to run Def Jam Records. Jay would take the role as President of the legendary rap label once held by Kevin Lyles up until his resignation weeks ago

Reid reportedly made the offer to ward off Lyor Cohen, once head of Island Def Jam and now head of Warner Music, from snatching up Jay-Z for his team. Sources say Jay-Z declined the offer and is still negotiating to launch his own Shawn Carter Records. A spokesman for Reid denied the rumor saying, "It's absolutely not true."

Jay-Z is still contracted with Def Jam for a venture stake in his Roc-A-Fella Records. The label, co-owned by Damon Dash, has a buy option which can be exercised by Def Jam next summer or sooner.