While their five-times-platinum 2003 Arista set, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," continues to yield hit singles, the members of acclaimed hip-hop duo OutKast have an ambitious slate of projects on tap for 2005. Andre 3000 and Big Boi have just finished filming their first movie, which will air on HBO, and are simultaneously working on two albums.

The pair has also signed a distribution deal with Virgin for its Purple Label imprint, which will house longtime collaborator Sleepy Brown and rapper Bubba Sparxxx (formerly of Interscope).

"We just finished the OutKast movie, which will be out next year," Big Boi said on the red carpet at the Billboard Music Awards, where OutKast took home five trophies. "We don't know what it will be called yet. The next album probably will be the soundtrack to the movie. But we're also working on another album called 'The Hard 10,' which is top secret."

Big Boi added that the new music features he and Andre 3000 working together, as opposed to "Speakerboxx/The Love Below," which comprised one disc of material from each artist. As for the film, it is set in the Prohibition-era South and features Ving Rhames, Terrence Howard and Paula Jai Parker, in addition to Big Boi and Andre.

OutKast manager Kenneth "Blue" Williams told Billboard.com scheduling is still up in the air for the film and album projects. "If the movie comes out in the spring, the next album will be the soundtrack to that," he said. "If we push the movie until fall, we may drop 'The Hard 10' in the spring, to hold fans over. But creatively, with Dre and Big, they may just say, 'No, we'll wait,' and the next album will be the soundtrack to the movie."

Asked to describe the sound of the new tunes thus far, Williams enthused, "You're going to be surprised, because you'll be like, 'How did they do it again, musically?' I can't really describe it, but whenever I go into one of their new projects and hear the music, I find myself going, 'Wow, it's different, but it's still a hit.'"
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"Get back...you don't know me like that," argues Ludacris. "When you see me in the streets, remember you don't know me," spits T.I. Whether it's irony, coincidence or something less kosher, somehow the self-proclaimed "mouth of the south" and the "king of the south" are griping about the same subject matter on tracks on their new albums. What makes the plot more susp!cious is that these ATLiens have exchanged beef in the past over who truly reps the southern quadrant. T.I made a few sly comments aimed at Ludacris on Rap City over a year ago and recently spoke out in an interview saying Chris Luva Luva "ain't from the streets." And Ludacris dissed T.I on Young Buck's single "Stomp" saying "Get off the T.I.p of my dick." The question remains as to which one of these rivals got wind of the other's track and took a huge bite out of it.

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Earlier this week, Jay-Z officially was named president and CEO of Def Jam Records after folding Roc-A-Fella into the legendary label. Word is Hov has been appointed the label's savior because the current rap roster has expressed their distaste for R&B hitmaker, Antonio L.A. Reid. Sources say Jay is likely to keep a lot of rappers on board and use his brand to attract more hip-hop talent to the label.

But the streets are wondering whether Jay-Z can succeed where no former artist has before? An artist has never made the successful jump to head a major label since... never. Jay-Z has the feat to run a subsidiary of a multinational media conglomerate with over 250 employees. And with little corporate experience, Jay-Z will have authority over everything from album production to marketing strategies, with a roster including veteran LL Cool J, Ludacris and Ja Rule.

Undoubtedly, Jay will be seeking the advice of friend and former Def Jam head Lyor Cohen who took the label back to the top in the 90s and now heads up Warner Music. Only time will tell whether the Brooklynite's foundation with Roc-A-Fella and his formidable drive will be enough to succeed in running hip-hop's most important label.

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Though they've both released albums in recent months, De La Soul and The Beatnuts' lead videos have yet to be seen on BET and the streets are buzzing that the black network isn't showing love to these veteran acts. Instead, heads caught a glimpse of De La's "Shopping Bags" video in a promotional spot for the album's release. And despite featuring Akon, The Beatnuts' "Find Us (In the Back of the Club)" also got reduced to 'commercial' spins.

Now sources say De La and The Beatnuts recently met with BET heads and got dissed. Word is BET told De La they won't play their video because the legendary group isn't relevant to their audience. Meanwhile, The Beatnuts were told that BET doesn't break new artists and that their clip won't be added to the network's programming. Interestingly, the duo's "Off The Books," "Watch Out Now" and "No Escapin This" were all heavy spinners on the channel previously.

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Mos Def's "The Rape Over," (previously played last year on Detroit Bumps show 14) which uses the instrumental from Jay-Z's "Take Over" has reportedly been pulled from future pressings of The New Danger. Though there's no official word on the track's removal, Mos comments about, "quasi homosexuals" and a "tall Israeli running this rap sh!t" are believed to have caused the controversy. The latter reference is suspected to be a stab at former Def Jam honcho turned Atlantic Records boss, Lyor Cohen.

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After a long absence, comedian Pauly Shore is set to release Pauly Shore Is Dead - a DVD movie in January 2005. Word is the movie features appearances from Hip-Hop notables like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Ja Rule, B Real of Cypress Hill, Britney Spears and many more. In the past few years, Pauly Shore has popped up in his share of Hip-Hop vidaeos. Shore has previously made a cameo in Limp Bizkit and Method Man's "N Together Now," Ja Rule's "Livin It Up" and can presently be seen in Young Buck's "Shorty Wanna Ride."

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Cam’ron, the Harlem-based rapper, has departed Island Def Jam after the sale of Roc-A-Fella Records was made final and Jay-Z was appointed president of the label.

The rapper recently made the announcement on New York Radio revealing that LA Reid, the current head of Island Def Jam, granted the Diplomat Records CEO a release from his contract. He’s delivered a pair of albums to Def Jam, but contractually owed three more.

Radio/ television personality Miss Info said that Cam’ron personally told her that he left the label and was looking for a new deal.

“Cam called me up for [Hot 97’s] "Celebrity Drama" and told me that he had met up with LA Reid, and man to man, they worked out an agreement for his release from Def Jam,” Info said. “According to Cam, he didn't feel his project Purple Haze got the push that it deserved, and he was in the process of fielding other offers.”

A Roc-A-Fella source spoke under the condition on anonymity and offered an opinion on the matter. “I heard something about that but I don't really know if it's true or just talk. It makes sense though doesn't it? I can't see Cam reporting to Jay like that,” the source said. At press time Def Jam publicity had no comment and other source were not aware of the matter.

Jay-Z and Cam have had a less-than-cordial relationship in the past and, while they haven’t had beef, they haven’t been friendly either, Cam said in previous interviews.

Still in a recent interview, the Dip Set rapper reiterated that there was no friction with Jay-Z and that he had a conversation with chairman LA Reid that would avoid him having to report directly to new Def Jam president.

Last month Cam’ron told AllHipHop, “I have it written on [my renegotiated contract] that what he does, has nothing to do with my project. Well, I can say this: on LA’s behalf, that’s a very smart move getting Jay. He did a lot of things for the business, and accomplished a lot of over-achievements, and I don’t have a beef with him. We just don’t have a personal relationship, and at the end of the day I need people who I working with to have that kind of relationship with me. And I don’t think me and Jay will have that.”

Cam recently released Purple Haze, his fourth solo album, on Dec. 7 and also a group effort with the Diplomats on Koch. Co-CEO Jim Jones also released a solo album via Koch earlier this year and both have suggested that the independent deal is more profitable business-wise.

Cam’ron is among Roc-A-Fella’s elite, being one of the only artists to go platinum like Jay-Z, DJ Clue and Kanye West. He joined in 2001 and his subsequent album, Come How With Me was certified platinum.

Cam made a similar flight away from Epic Record, who delivered his Confessions Of Fire and S.D.E. [Sex, Drugs and Entertainment] after he was unhappy with his sales at the time of his exit.

In related news, Dame Dash is in the process of starting a new label deal called Roc4Life. Dash hasn’t revealed a home for the new venture.


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Guru, the mouthpiece for Gangstarr, has embarked on a solo deal that will spawn a pair of albums for the veteran rapper in 2005.

“We have a new project, a new venture. The label is called 7 Grand and the project is called Guru 7.0,” the veteran rapper announced to AllHipHop.com.

Additionally, Guru revealed that he’s already secured worldwide distribution though Studio Distribution, who has also released projects for Freddie Foxxx, Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock and Marley Marl.

The Guru 7.0 album is slated to drop on April 19, 2005.

The rapper said that he’s found a new start with a relatively new partner in producer Solar, who co-crafted the music with Guru.

“We're very excited about a label because it’s a chance for myself and Solar to take total control over our musical destinies, so to speak,” Guru explained. “I came in the game at a time when everybody was signing to the majors. The independence wasn’t that big. That stuff came after my [initial] era.”

With the advent the indie market, Guru said that he’s been able to exchange information with his younger peers and shifted the direction of his career.

“I was able to look at the younger cats and see what they were doing and learn from them as opposed to being one of those bitter cats looking at the young dudes in a spiteful way. I could never be that dude,” he continued.

Agreeing, Solar said, “In essence, [we’re saying] how can we take this to the next level. We learned from [younger artists], but it’s also an opportunity for them to learn from us as opposed to being preachy.”

In the past Guru has dabbled in the independent market with labels like Ill Kid Records, which spawned acts like Jeru Tha Damaja, Group Home and Bahamadia.

“7 Grand is more thought out [than previous ventures]. This is one stage, for lack of a better word. Ill Kid was more underground,” Guru stated. “7 Grand is an opportunity to be that great entity in the marketplace in the template of a Bad Boy or Roc-A-Fella. This is just a different version.”

Presently, Guru is the first artist on the label with others to be revealed at a later date. Guru also stated that the fourth installment of his Jazzmatazz series would drop in 2005.

While rumors have been rampant that Gangstarr had broken up, Guru clarified that he and DJ Premier were still a unit.

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R&B singer Ashanti recently shared her thoughts on the ongoing federal investigation of The Inc. record label to which she is signed the rampant rumors of a romantic link between her and Nelly.

The New York Daily News recently reported that Nelly was frequently spotted on the set of Ashanti's upcoming feature film debut "Coach Carter."

"Nelly would bring her organic vegetarian meals all the time because she didn't like the commissary food," a source told the Daily News.

Ashanti's co-star Samuel L. Jackson also confirmed in an interview, "Let's just say I ate more craft service because Nelly wasn't bringing food to me every day."

Ashanti has denied an amorous relationship with the St. Louis rapper, stating to AllHipHop.com, "Me and Nelly [are] just cool, we [are] just friends."

A rumor that Ashanti would distance herself from The Inc. as a result of a pending federal investigation of label associates for murder, drug dealing and money laundering connections, is also untrue the singer stated.

"There was never any truth to that. Its like everyone goes through a little bit of drama, and it would be different if it was just business and they were all just acquaintances, but that's my family," Ashanti told AllHipHop.com. "Every one goes through their hard times, but they had so much to do with my career. It wouldn't make sense for me to bounce."

Ashanti added that she had little knowledge about the investigation, calling it unfortunate, and she hoped it would end. Regarding The Inc. label mate Ja Rule and his return to the rap scene after a short hiatus, Ashanti said, "Ja is feeling great because the reception has been incredible and the shows he did a little something, something I was heated when I heard about what happened with Jay. I was in Van when I found out what happened with Jay and R. He did a couple more dates with Jay and the reception was incredible. You hear New York at least 500 times a day."

Many hip-hop fans are wondering about the future of the remaining artists on The Inc., including Charli Baltimore and Tah Murder.

"Obviously, we all ask what's gonna happen, and what I get is, it doesn't make sense to come out without a big bang, and you know, not sell any records," Ashanti said. "Once you put a single out there and it doesn't work you don't necessarily want to put your album out after that. And you wanna go for a million plus, you don't just want to go gold."

According to Ashanti, the situation with her label mates Charli Baltimore and Tah Murder, who have seen little exposure lately, is about coming out at the right time.

"For each of them - Charlie, Tah, Black Child and everybody - you know, that takes time. With me, Ja, and then the newest edition, Lloyd, everyone wants their exact right shine," Ashanti said. "You don't wait this long to just put any thing out and try to struggle."

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Rap star Snoop Dogg continues his ascent on the silver screen and has signed on for top billing in the real-life story of him coaching his son’s youth football league.

A bidding war for the story took place between Fox, Paramount and Columbia for the rights to the story, landing Snoop a cool seven-figure deal.

The movie is the story of the Rowland Heights Raiders, a team of 8 to 10 year-olds who play for the Orange Counnty Junior All-American Football League and an overworked Hip-Hop star, who is committed to coaching the team.

Snoop’s son plays quarterback and led the team to the league championship with an undefeated record of 13-0.

In an interview with the USA today last February, Snoop complained that Hollywood was limiting the roles that he could play, because of the recognition his name brings.

"Right now, they want Snoop for the 2 or 3 million people they think I'll bring to a movie just because of my name," he said. "I'm looking for more demanding roles, trying to find characters people normally wouldn't expect me to play. I really want to stretch."

The untitled movie is being penned by Mark Gibson and Philip Halprin who penned "Snow Dogs" and the upcoming animated Disney project "The Wild."

In an interview with the USA today in February, Snoop complained that Hollywood was limiting the roles that he could play, because of the recognition his name brings.

"Right now, they want Snoop for the 2 or 3 million people they think I'll bring to a movie just because of my name," he said. "I'm looking for more demanding roles, trying to find characters people normally wouldn't expect me to play. I really want to stretch."

Snoop said that coaching and teaching the children on his team fun and added that he gave the children strength and vision.

"I am falling in love with these kids," Snoop sai