After two critically-acclaimed albums, Dark Days, Bright Nights and Deliverance, and zero platinum plaques to show for it, Bubba has teamed up with one-half of Outkast in hopes of taking his career to the next level.

"I bumped into Big [Boi] over in London and he just asked what was up with Deliverance," Bubba said via a statement. "He said, 'Man, they dropped the ball on your project! What happened?' So we kinda got into everything and he started telling me what he had going on with the Purple Ribbon situation."

Working with Big Boi was a unique opportunity for Bubba. "I'm just thankful that somebody I grew up idolizing has got that kind of faith in me," he said.

Due in April, The Charm features production by Organized Noize, his long-time partner in crime Timbaland, and a host of others.

"I'm ready to get out there and work," Bubba said about the album, which is said to blend the funky commercial sound of Dark Days, Bright Nights with the occasional deep introspection of Deliverance. "I feel like I can win on a big level."

Bubba Sparxxx's The Charm is due in stores on April 4.
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Kanye West has been chosen by Paramount Pictures to add his personal touch to the Mission: Impossible theme song for the film Mission: Impossible III.

West will not be the first artist to update the classic theme for the film series; U2 performed the song in 1996 for Mission Impossible as did Limp Bizkit for M:I-2.

"As a fan of Kanye's work, I was thrilled at the prospect of him contributing his talents to M:I III," said Tom Cruise, the film's star, via a statement. "We wanted to take this installment of Mission to the next level and Kanye's music definitely added to accomplishing that goal. As we've done with the film, what he's done with the Mission theme is going to blow people away."

"My goal is to take the Mission franchise and re-interpret it to make a movie that is familiar, but absolutely brand new," added M:I III director J.J. Abrams, also via statement. "Kanye has done just that with his version of the classic Lalo Schifrin theme, and we're thrilled to be working with him."

Mission: Impossible III is scheduled for release on May 5. The film also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames and Laurence Fishburne.

In related news, 'Ye is nominated for eight Grammys in tonight's 48th Annual Grammy Awards
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Miami-based Slip-N-Slide Records, label home to Trick Daddy and Trina, has just signed a multi-million dollar joint venture with Island Def Jam Records.

Under the new deal, Slip-N-Slide will be launching the careers of several new acts, starting with Rick Ross. Ross' single "Hustlin" has generated a strong buzz in the streets and features Busta Rhymes on its remix. His album, Career Criminal, is slated to hit stores this summer.

Through the venture, Slip-N-Slide will also debut Atlanta MC Citty, whose's album, Da Cookie Man, will drop later this year.

"We met with every major label head across the country, but the level of respect that Def Jam showed for Slip-N-Slide was priceless," Slip-N-Slide President/CEO Ted "Touche" Lucas said in a statement. "Jay-Z saw Slip-N-Slide's vision and was willing to do everything in his power to make that vision a reality."

With the new deal, Slip-N-Slide also hopes to branch out and sign acts from various regions of the country. Trick, Trina and new act Plies will continue to record for Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic.
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Following his bodyguard's killing, Busta Rhymes promised that justice will prevail but reportedly won't talk to cops.

According to police sources, authorities now believe that Israel Ramirez was killed when he grabbed the assailant's firearm outside Brooklyn, NY's Kiss the Cactus Production studio while Busta stood nearby. Claurice Lara, Ramirez's sister, says Bus told her he was present when the shooting took place.

"Busta said he was there when it happened," Lara told The Daily News. "He said he would do everything in his power to get justice."

Busta (born Trevor Smith) spoke to cops when the shooting occurred and told authorities he was inside when the shots were fired. According to The Daily News, sources say he has refused to talk since witnesses have placed him on the scene of the shooting.

"Busta Rhymes' form of justice apparently doesn't mean talking to cops," a police source told the Daily News.

Word is the rapper promised to pay for the funeral bills and said he would try to help provide for Ramirez's three children. He didn't give details on the shooting.

"I think he knew something that he wasn't able to tell me," Lara told The Daily News. "But that's up to him. That's his conscience. If he's a God man, like he swore to me he was on the phone, I think he'll do the right thing."

Cops are still hoping to talk with Tony Yayo, who reportedly came and drove off with the shooter. Yayo has retained an attorney and is tight-lipped on the incident.

Investigators were analyzing video footage taken inside the studio prior to the shooting and were looking to subpoena surveillance tapes that may have filmed the shooting. Police are also hoping fans and hangers-on who taped the video shoot will come forward with key footage.

According to The Daily News, Ramirez didn't carry a weapon. His family said he usually sported a bulletproof vest when working with Busta, but didn't wear one because he didn't expect violence at the video shoot.

Ramirez's funeral is slated to take place in New York's Church of Ascension. Busta is expected to attend.

Ramirez's killing apparently isn't the only incident Busta was involved in this past weekend. Reports are surfacing that Busta and his four bodyguards assaulted a photographer shortly after leaving a Manhattan restaurant this past Friday (February 3). Photographer Justin Baggoo claims the rapper quickly became hostile when he attempted to snap a photo.

"When [Busta] saw me, he rushed to me and one of the bodyguards came around me and grabbed me," Baggoo told The Daily News. "He grabbed me by the hand and they started to check me. [Busta] just came directly to me, and then he grabbed me by the hand and one of the bodyguards took the camera from me and it hit against a glass [wall] on the bank."

Baggoo claims Busta's bodyguard pushed his hand on the wall, causing his $10,000 digital pot.com/2006/02/please-share-your-thoughts-and.html#comments>Share Thoughts