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Fat Joe
Can Joe capitalize on the success of 'Lean Back?'
With Terror Squad firmly established thanks to "Lean Back," Fat Joe will drop Things of That Nature in February. Working with Timbaland for the first time ("Get Up"), Joe also hooked up with Swizz Beats on the album's club-friendly "Listen Baby." The Squad only show up on a few songs on the cameo-light album, but Joe called in Eminem, Mase, Lil Jon and Remy on the "Lean Back" remix. This is definitely Joe's time, according to DJ Envy. "I think he's going to have a big year," Envy said. "After a couple of albums where he didn't know which direction he was going, he's found his niche."
Prediction: The streets are ready for some solo Joe action, and 2005 should be his year.
50 Cent
Will success spoil 50's gangsta flow?
His Dre-produced "Disco Inferno" is already a hit, but 50 is planning a St. Valentine's Day Massacre on March 8. With songs produced by Dre and Em, and contributions from the G-Unit, the MC's follow-up to his multiplatinum breakthrough, Get Rich or Die Tryin', is a slam dunk. "I know I'm gonna exceed everyone's expectations on this project because they feel like Get Rich or Die Tryin' was the best I could do. I've got something up my sleeve," 50 said. Given the G-Unit's track record, 50 should cakewalk to the top of the charts. "Along with Jay-Z, he's one of the hip-hop artists over the past few years who has remained relevant for several years in a row," Mayfield said. You can expect the buff MC to answer some of the disses thrown his way on recent mixtapes, which should cement his rep, according to Envy. "It will be huge," he said. "I think he will be sh--ting on any artist who ever said anything bad about him. People love confrontation, and he's king of it."
Prediction: 50 has had the Midas touch so far, so look for a huge first week and a surefire multiplatinum bow.
The Game
Will the newest member of 50's posse bring honor to his family's name?
The latest find from the G-Unit camp will drop his debut, The Documentary, on January 18. With the first 50-assisted single, "How We Do," already a hit, the Compton-born rapper is on his way to joining the platinum Aftermath/G-Unit stable. "It'll be big because he's West Coast but he spits like he's from the East Coast," Envy said. "We haven't had anyone from the West Coast making noise in a long time. And the beats from Dre will be retarded." 50 and Dre are executive producers of the album, which also includes the songs "West Side Story" and "Higher."
Prediction: Dre rarely bets on a losing horse, and Game's distinctive flow should make this an instant hit.
Outkast
Is there such a thing as too much Outkast?
After sweeping awards shows across the globe with their joint solo albums, Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below, the hip-hop duo have two releases due this year, as well as their long-awaited HBO movie, "My Life in Idlewild." One of the albums is a soundtrack to the Prohibition-era musical, and Big Boi has referred to the second, 10 the Hard Way, as a return-to-roots record, due in June. "This will be super-huge," Envy said confidently. "This is their first album together in a while, and they said they will be rappin' hardcore, not like 'Hey Ya!,' but rugged and retarded." Mayfield was a bit more measured. "It's possible they peaked with the one that broke the mold, but that doesn't mean if this one isn't as big that it's dismal," he said. "Their overnight success took 10 years, and they built a substantial fanbase, and 'Hey Ya!' drew lots of people who had never gotten the Outkast bug before. People will give it a shot."
Prediction: Getting back together is sometimes harder than breaking up. At the very least, these two will make it interesting and unpredictable.
Kanye West
What's the super-producer/rapper got left up his sleeve?
After scoring the most Grammy nominations this year for The College Dropout, West is hard at work on Late Registration, due in April or May. He is, of course, producing it himself, and so far the only confirmed guest is, um, mellow guitarist/singer John Mayer? It doesn't matter if it's John Denver, Envy said. "His production with all these other artists makes his [next] album a beast," according to Envy. "He's making smashes with new artists, but I'm sure he's keeping some goodies for his album. His songs don't feel conscious, but they're not hardcore, so parents like them for their kids."
Prediction: No matter what happens on Grammy night, Kanye is the producer/rapper of the moment.
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Photo: MTV News
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