Eminem
Photo: MTV News

A new Eminem song produced by Dr. Dre: That's what DJs Big Mike and Neptune are advertising on their joint mixtape, 4th Quarter Pressure Part 2.

Labeled "Number One" on the mixtape, Em introduces himself as Slim Shady and starts singing the hook over a beat that has a big snare and medium-paced, flowing bass.

"So crack a bottle, let your body waddle/ Don't act just like a sloppy model, you just hit the lotto," Em raps melodically. "Uh-oh, uh-oh, b----es, hoppin' in my Tahoe/ I got one riding shotgun, and not one of them got clothes."

As the song progresses, it becomes more clear that the cut doesn't seem to be just an Em song, but at least a couple of the three verses call for Dr. Dre to rap, although his vocals don't appear on this version. Em introduces his friend right before the first verse.

"They see that low-rider go by, they like, 'Oh my!'/ You ain't gotta tell me why ya sick, 'cause I know why/ I dip through in that six tre like, 'Sic 'em, Dre!,' " Em raps, in what appears to be a reference to the Doc. "What else can I say, I love L.A., 'cause over and above all, I love L.A. ... Beats quake like Waco. "

Interscope has yet to comment on the song or confirm that Dre produced it, or whether the track will appear on either or both artists' forthcoming albums. Regardless, it seems like we are indeed getting closer to officially released material by Eminem, and maybe even Dre.

Interscope honcho Jimmy Iovine told Billboard recently that his two breadwinners are loading up new albums.

"I'll tell you about Eminem," he said. "We only tried to put him out this year to replace Dr. Dre, but we got into a quagmire. Eminem was always coming next year. But what happened was, I lost Dr. Dre to Eminem. Dre had to stop making his album to finish Eminem's album. Eminem hit a streak, and when a guy like Eminem gets on fire, you stop everything. That's how we lost Dre. Dre's going back in January. He'll be finished with Eminem by then, and he'll finish his album."

Release dates for Em's Relapse and Dr. Dre's long-percolating Detox have been announced. However, it looks likely that both will come after 50 Cent drops his Before I Self Destruct on February 4.  

• Eminem
• Dr. Dre
• 50 Cent
• Big Mike
• Neptune

Dashboard Confessional's <I>Dusk and Summer</I>
Photo: Vagrant Records

A Dash of Heartbreak: "Reason to Believe," "Secret's in the Telling," "Rooftops and Invitations" ... yep, sounds like a new Dashboard Confessional album all right. Dusk and Summer took Chris Carrabba three years to create, with help from producers Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan) and Don Gilmore (Avril Lavigne, Duran Duran), so make sure you've got extra Kleenex. If you're in DC's demo, show your student ID at a nearby Best Buy and the disc will only cost you $6.99.

Let's Get Active: Kurupt and Daz Dillinger threw a collar on Snoop Dogg and yanked him onto Cali Iz Active, Tha Dogg Pound's first full-fledged LP since 2001's, er, 2002. While Snoop is considered an official member this time around and has an executive-producer credit, he only crops up on a couple of tracks. Still, spots by Diddy, Ice Cube, Paul Wall, David Banner, Lady of Rage and Nate Dogg should make up for it.

Block Party: Shawnna's got a pretty impressive guest list of her own, especially for a sophomore artist. The Def Jam singer and "You Hear It First" alum coaxed Ludacris, Lil Wayne, Too Short, Syleena Johnson, Bobby Valentino and even her father, blues king Buddy Guy, onto Block Music. Tracks include "Candy Coated," "Lil Daddy What's Good" and the remix of "Gettin' Some," featuring Luda, Wayne and Short.

How to Sum It Up?: Welsh rockers Lostprophets have been around for almost 10 years, but they still seem to have a hard time speaking succinctly. Their third offering, the Bob Rock (Metallica, Mötley Crüe)-produced Liberation Transmission — which has already spawned numerous import versions — features such longwinded titles as "Can't Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time)," "Broken Hearts, Torn Up Letters and the Story of a Lonely Girl" and "Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances and Messed Up Chances)."

Björk'd: The Icelandic queen has a handful of box sets already out there, and she's keeping her fans Surrounded with a seven-DualDisc chest. Each one is a 5.1 surround-sound update of one studio record — and her recent soundtrack to husband Matthew Barney's "Restraint 9" — plus respective videos for that effort. The brick package is a work of art in and of itself.

Cases of Mistaken Identity: No, that's not Sammie making a comeback this week, even though we recently reported that the R&B crooner is in fact on the rebound. Rather, it's the Sammies, North Carolina's latest rock hopefuls, whose self-titled debut arrives shortly after one of the group's songs was used on ABC Family's "Wildfire." And no, that's not actress Julia Roberts singing on Men & Mascara — it's country/pop artist Julie Roberts, who mulls if she's "Too Damn Young" but finds room to "Smile" on her second effort. Nor is that U.K. luminaries the Coral dishing up Volcano and Heart this week. It's actually Santa Barbara, California's the Coral Sea whose "Look at Her Face" you may have heard on "Grey's Anatomy."

But that is '80s mainstays Warrant getting Born Again with their first full-fledged set of original studio recordings since 1995's Ultraphobic, albeit without Jani Lane singing. And that is Afroman still enjoying the aftereffects of his 2001 hit "Because I Got High" with yet another similarly titled record, Drunk 'n' High.

Getting Saucy: St. Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo may be behind us, but that's not stopping this week's roster from getting its drink on. Afroman's already buzzing with his aforementioned Drunk 'n' High, and Julie Roberts is "Chasin' Whiskey" on Men & Mascara, but not to be overlooked are the Moonshine Bandits tossing back a few with Bubba Sparxxx, Celly Cel, Jay Tee and others on Prohibition. And needless to say, there's more than a few cocktails being tipped back on Dr. Dre's Chronicles: Death Row Classics, the two-part "Reggae Spring Break" DVD series and, presumably, Rendezvous in Rio by folk-pop singer Michael Franks.

A Docking of the Docs: Three music documentaries of note this week, beginning with "Let's Rock Again," a snapshot of fallen Clash frontman Joe Strummer taken by friend Dick Rude. The set captures Strummer in the 18 months leading up to his death and features interviews and more. "We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen" is a portrait of the influential San Pedro, California, punks and features interviews with Flea, Ian MacKaye, Thurston Moore, Henry Rollins and tons more. "Look at All the Love We Found: Live - A Tribute to Sublime," on the other hand, isn't a documentary of the '90s stalwarts but a chronicle of a tribute gig staged in Los Angeles last year that featured Unwritten Law, Blackalicious, Los Lobos and other amigos. The bonus CD chips in a handful of tracks that didn't appear on last year's audio comp of the same name.

Song Title of the Week:

"Divine Birthrite (Maiden Voyage of the Grape Ape)" from An Albatross' Blessphemy (of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear-Warp Kumite)

Other Notables:

Jonah Smith's Jonah Smith: The buzz is strong with this new New Yorker, who's drawing raves for his rich blend of soul and Americana. His eponymous effort was produced by Lee Townsend (Bill Frisell, John Scofield) and boasts "Little Black Angels," "My Morning Scene" and "Dressed in White."

An Albatross' Blessphemy (of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear-Warp Kumite): Much fun to be had on the latest opus by the herky-jerky spazz-outs. In addition to the Song Title of the Week, be on the lookout for "Lysergically Yours, My Psychadelic Bride," "Ballad of the Electric Coyote" and a speedy, three-part "epic."

DJ Spooky's DJ Spooky Presents: In Fine Style - 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records!!!: Not so much a new Spooky record as an effort to show how vintage reggae tunes are largely responsible for much of today's club music, the DJ goes overboard with a two-disc set that culls tunes by Lee Perry, Desmond Dekker, Sly and Robbie and many more. A jolt indeed.

New Releases:

• 7L & Esoteric - A New Dope (Babygrande)
  
• A Life Once Lost - Hunter (Ferret)
  
• Afroman - Drunk 'n' High (Siccness)
  
• An Albatross - Blessphemy (of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear-Warp Kumite) (Ace Fu)
  
• India.Arie - Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (Universal)
  Buy Now: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (Universal)
  
• Authority Zero - Rhythm and Booze (Suburban Noize)
  
• Baby Ray - Low Rises (Dren)
  
• Balun - Something Comes Our Way (live; Brilliante)
  
• Hector Bambino - Roc la Familia & Hector Bambino "El Father" Present Los Rompe Discotekas (Roc-A-Fella)
  
• David Benoit - Full Circle (Peak)
  
• Big Mike - Keep It Playa (BCD)
  
• Billy Talent - II (Atlantic)
  Buy Now: II (Atlantic)
  
• Bittersweets - The Life You Always Wanted (Virt)
  
• Brand New Heavies - Get Used to It (Delicious Vinyl)
  
• John Brannen - Twilight Tattoo (Sly Dog)
  
• Héctor Buitrago - Conector (Nacional)
  
• Carpathian Forest - F--- You All!!!! (limited edition; Season Mist)
  
• Ray Cash - Cash on Delivery (Gheto-O-Vision/ Columbia)
  
• Gilbert Castellanos - Underground (Seedling)
  
• Catch 22 - Permanent Revolution (Victory)
  Buy Now: Permanent Revolution (Victory)
  
• Cellador - Enter Deception (Metal Blade)
  
• Cephas & Wiggins - Shoulder to Shoulder (Alligator)
  
• Chevreuil - Capoeria (Sickroom)
  
• The City Drive - Always Moving Never Stopping (Red Ink)
  
• The Coral Sea - Volcano and Heart (Hidden Agenda)
  
• Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer (Vagrant)
  Read: "Secrets? Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba Has A Few About Dusk And Summer"
  Buy Now: Dusk and Summer (Vagrant)
  
• Dead Celebrity Status - Blood Music (Bodog)
  
• Kris Delmhorst - Strange Conversation (Signature)
  
• Jesse DeNatale - Soul Parade (Jackpine Social Club)
  
• Dirty on Purpose - Hallelujah Sirens (North Street)
  
• Dirty Rig - Rock Did It (limited edition with bonus DVD; New Media Studio)
  
• Dr. Octagon - The Return of Dr. Octagon (OCD)
  
• Dry Kill Logic - The Magellan Complex (Repossession)
  
• George Duke - In a Mellow Tone (Bizarre Planet)
  
• Four Tet - DJ Kicks (!K7)
  
• Michael Franks - Rendezvous in Rio (Koch)
  
• Good Riddance - My Republic (enhanced; Fat Wreck Chords)
  
• Graf Orlock - Destination Time Yesterday (Level Plane)
  
• Hacienda Brothers - What's Wrong With Right (Proper)
  
• John Lee Hooker Jr. - Cold as Ice (Telarc)
  
• Ray Wylie Hubbard - Snake Farm (Sustain)
  
• Glenn Hughes - Music for the Divine (Frontiers)
  
• iiO - Poetica (Made)
  
• The Illuminati - On Borrowed Time (enhanced; Liquor & Poker)
  
• François K - Frequencies (Wave Music)
  
• Mike Keneally Band - Guitar Therapy Live (Exowax)
  
• Sammy Kershaw - Honky Tonk Boots (Category 5)
  
• Chris Thomas King - Rise (21st Century Blues)
  
• Jeff Lang - Prepare Me Well: An Introduction to Jeff Lang (Telarc)
  
• Lord Jamar - The 5% Album (Babygrande)
  
• Lostprophets - Liberation Transmission (Columbia)
  Read: "Lostprophets Enlist Metallica Producer But Leave 'Chugga-Chugga' Metal Behind"
  Buy Now: Liberation Transmission (Columbia)
  
• Bobby Lyle - Hands On (Heads Up)
  
• Brad Mehldau Trio - House on Hill (Nonesuch)
  
• Metal Church - A Light in the Dark (Steamhammer)
  
• Moonshine Bandits - Prohibition (Independent Music Network)
  
• Tim O'Reagan - Tim O'Reagan (Lost Highway)
  
• John Ottman - "Superman Returns" original score (Rhino)
  
• Person - Entitled (Echelon Productions)
  
• Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental (limited two-CD deluxe edition also available; Rhino)
  Buy Now: Fundamental (Rhino)
  
• Grant-Lee Phillips - Nineteeneighties (Zöe/ Rounder)
  
• Julie Roberts - Men & Mascara (Mercury Nashville)
  
• The Sammies - The Sammies (MoRisen)
  
• Roger Sanchez - Come With Me (Ultra)
  
• The Seventh Cross - Scorched by the Flames of Vengeance (Candlelight)
  
• Shawnna - Block Music (enhanced; Def Jam)
  Buy Now: Block Music (Def Jam)
  
• Kierra KiKi Sheard - This Is Me (special edition also available; EMI Gospel)
  
• Slabz R Us - Mike Moe, Beltway 8 Boys (BCD)
  
• Jonah Smith - Jonah Smith (Relix Records/ Image Entertainment)
  
• DJ Spinna - Intergalactic Soul (Shanachie)
  
• DJ Spooky - DJ Spooky Presents: In Fine Style - 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records!!! (Trojan)
  Buy Now: DJ Spooky Presents: In Fine Style - 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records!!! (Trojan)
  
• Spores - Imagine the Future (Sidecho)
  
• Takeovers - Turn to Red (Fading Captain)
  
• Tha Dogg Pound - Cali Iz Active (Koch)
  Read: "Snoop, Ice Cube, Xzibit Show 'Cali' Love In DPGC Video"
  Buy Now: Cali Iz Active (Koch)
  
• Theatre of Tragedy - Storm (Candlelight)
  
• Wayman Tisdale - Way Up! (Rendezvous)
  
• Warrant - Born Again (Cleopatra)
  Buy Now: Born Again (Cleopatra)
  
• Peter White - Playin' Favourites (Columbia)
  
• Yip-Yip - In the Reptile House (Saf)
  
• Various artists - A Rough Guide to the Music of Iran (World Music Network)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Ian Anderson - The Ian Anderson Collection (two CDs; Fuel)
  
• Shirley Bassey - An Introduction to Shirley Bassey (Fuel)
  
• Debashish Bhattacharya - Calcutta Slide Guitar 3 (limited edition with bonus DVD; Riverboat)
  
• Björk - Surrounded (seven-DualDisc box set; Rhino)
  
• The Church - Sometime Anywhere (Lemon)
  
• Alex De Grassi - Pure Alex De Grassi (Windham Hill)
  
• Dissection - The Somberlain and Storm of the Light's Bane (two CDs each; The End)
  
• Dr. Dre - Chronicles: Death Row Classics (Death Row)
  Buy Now: Chronicles: Death Row Classics (Death Row)
  
• Dub Specialist - Version Dread: 18 Dub Hits From Studio One (Heartbeat)
  
• Michael English - Greatest Hits: In Christ Alone (Curb)
  
• The Flying Burrito Brothers - Airborne/ Flying Again (Acadia)
  
• Judy Garland - The Essential Judy Garland (Capitol)
  
• John Gorka - Pure John Gorka (Windham Hill)
  
• Michael Hedges - Pure Michael Hedges (Windham Hill)
  
• John Holt - I Can't Get You Off My Mind: 18 Greatest Hits at Studio One (Heartbeat)
  
• The Hot Doggers - Surfin' USA (Sundazed)
  
• The Kickstands - Black Boots and Bikes (Sundazed)
  
• B.B. King - Gold (two CDs; Geffen)
  
• The Knights - Hot Rod High (Sundazed)
  
• J.B. Lenoir - An Introduction to J.B. Lenoir (Fuel)
  
• Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction (limited-edition gold disc; Mobile Fidelity)
  
• Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane - The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (two CDs; Riverboat)
  
• Van Morrison - Pay the Devil (deluxe edition with DVD; Lost Highway)
  
• Nightnoise - Pure Nightnoise (Windham Hill)
  
• Lee "Scratch" Perry - An Introduction to Lee Perry (Fuel)
  
• The Rip Chords - Summer U.S.A.! The Best of the Rip Chords (Sundazed)
  
• Sons of the Pioneers - Classic Cowboy Songs (Varèse Sarabande)
  
• The Specials - Greatest Hits (Big Eye)
  
• Dusty Springfield - Gold (two CDs; Hip-O/ UMe)
  
• Cat Stevens - Chronicles (three CDs; A&M/ UMe)
  
• Liz Story - Pure Liz Story (Windham Hill)
  
• Whitesnake - Gold (two CDs; Geffen)
  Buy Now: Gold (Geffen)
  
• Hank Williams Jr. - That's How They Do It in Dixie - The Essential Collection (Curb)
  
• Various artists - 60's Gold (two CDs; Hip-O/ UMe)
  
• Various artists - The New York Sound: From the East Coast to the Future (BGP)
  
• Various artists - Rockin' Bones: 1950s Punk & Rockabilly (four-CD box set; Rhino)
  
• Various Artists - US Vs. UK Punk (Sanctuary)
  
• Various artists - "Dolemite" soundtrack (Relapse)

DVDs:

• The Afro-Cuban All-Stars - "Afro Cuban Legends" (Kultur)
  
• Paul Anka - "Music Man: The Authorized Biography" (White Star)
  
• Chuck Berry - "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" (two DVDs; four-DVD "Ultimate Collector's Edition" also available; Image)
  
• Chamillionaire - "Littles Presents: The East Coast Shakedown" (Best of Block)
  
• Cro-Mags - "Live in the Age of Quarrel (1986-2001)" (Cro-Mags)
  
• Deep Purple - "Music in Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine: The DVD (Relapse)
  
• Green Day - "The Ultimate Film Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• Jim Jones - "A Day in the Fastlife" (Koch)
  
• Happy Mondays - "Live in Barcelona" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Led Zeppelin - "Music in Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• The Minutemen - "We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen" (two DVDs; Plexifilm)
  
• My Chemical Romance - "Things That Make You Go Mmmm!: An Unauthorized Documentary" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Nico - "All Tomorrow's Parties: Nico Live" (Hep Cat)
  
• Omar & the Howlers - "Bamboozled: Live in Germany" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Marty Robbins - "Music Anthology" (White Star)
  
• The Skeptix - "Live at CBGB's" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Slade - "Slade Alive!: The Ultimate Critical Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• Slightly Stoopid - "Live in San Diego: November 25 & 26 2005" (Shout! Factory)
  
• The Smiths - "Under Review" (Sexy Intellectual)
  
• Joe Strummer - "Let's Rock Again" (Image)
  
• Richard Thompson - "1000 Years of Popular Music" (one DVD with two CDs; Cooking Vinyl)
  
• Various artists - "Look at All the Love We Found: Live - A Tribute to Sublime" (with CD; Music Video Distributors)
  
• Various artists - "The Montreux Dream - The Story of the Montreux Jazz Festival" (Kultur)
• Various artists - "Reggae Spring Break Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2" (Music Video Distributors)

Coming Attractions:

July 4:

• Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways (Lost Highway)
  
• Rise Against - The Sufferer & the Witness (Geffen)
  Preorder: The Sufferer & the Witness (Geffen)
  
• Hans Zimmer - "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" soundtrack (Disney)

July 11:

• Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (Warner Bros.)
  Preorder: Black Holes & Revelations (Warner Bros.)
  
• Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras From the Illinois Album! (Asthmatic Kitty)
  Preorder: The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras From the Illinois Album! (Asthmatic Kitty)
  
• Thom Yorke - The Eraser (XL Recordings)
  Read: "Thom Yorke Records Album Without Radiohead, Rejects 'Solo' Label"
  Preorder: The Eraser (XL Recordings)
  
• Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 22 (Sony)

July 18:

• Alien Ant Farm - Up in the Attic (New Door)
  Preorder: Up in the Attic (New Door)
  
• The Bronx - The Bronx (digipak; Island)
  
• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don't You Fake It (Virgin)
  Read: "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: You Can Call Them Sellouts"

• Dashboard Confessional
• Tha Dogg Pound
• Shawnna
• Lostprophets
• Lord Jamar

• Game
• Nas
• T.I.
• Fat Joe
• DJ Green Lantern

DJ Kay Slay poses with a friend at the 2004 Mixtape Awards
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Ghostface and Mobb Deep performed, and Fat Joe, Loon, Bad Boy's Da Band and members of D-Block showed up to show love, but on Wednesday night at Club Speed the DJs were the main stars.

Record spinners like Kay Slay, DJ Vlad, Ron G., Kid Capri, Sickamore, Mister Cee and Green Lantern rubbed shoulders with their peers during the eighth annual Mixtape Awards.

"All the labels want to be a part of it," Mixtape Awards founder and producer Justo Faison said Wednesday night. "All the artists want to be a part. The DJs wanna be here, they know what it's about. This is a big event for them. We got like 2,000 people inside and 2,000 outside. We're doing all right."

DJ Big Mike did great. He took home Best Hip-Hop Mixtape DJ and Best Mixtape Duo along with Kay Slay. Slay won Best Commercial Mixtape DJ. The Harlem Drama King was retired from the night's plum category, Best Mixtape DJ. Slay won that honor three years in a row, so this time around he made way for the 2004 champ, the G-Unit's own Whoo Kid. Lloyd Banks also held it down for 50 Cent's musical family — "The Boy Wonder" won Best Artist on a Mixtape.

"This is good, man," said Grafh, who emerged on the mixtapes last year. "I think the DJs deserve their recognition. A street artist like myself would have never got heard nationally. [Mixtapes] are the only way to eat right now if you ain't got big-time radio on lock. I just rocked every mixtape I could get on. Then I started a big buzz and ended up in a bidding war between all the majors. Sony was talking the talk so they got a hold of the kid. Making the transition was easy. I still do it for the streets." Grafh's success story includes appearances on remixes by labelmates like Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and Ginuwine.

Faison is already planning his next turntablists shindig: He has the Justo Global DJ Awards coming in August.

"It's going to be for all DJs over the planet," Faison said. "I thought about it because when Jam Master Jay passed away, we didn't have no real way to represent Jay besides saying, 'Yo, we're sorry Jay is gone.' I been repping mixtape DJs, now it's time to rep all DJs. I'm always for the underdog, mixtape DJs were the underdogs, now they're the strong horse."

Besides the Mobb and Ghost, Pitch Black and new singer Teedra Moses took to the stage for performances.

Winners of the eighth annual Mixtape Awards:

• Best Mixtape of the Year: DJ Vlad, Dirty Harry, & DJ Green Latern
• Best Mixtape Producer: Green Lantern
• Best Commercial Mixtape DJ: Kay Slay
• Best Dirty South Mixtape DJ: Michael 5000 Watts & DJ Ron C
• Best Artist on a Mixtape: Lloyd Banks
• Best Mixtape Personality: Sickamore
• Best West Coast Mixtape DJ: DJ Warrior
• Best Midwest Mixtape DJ: G-Spot
• Best Skillz on a Mixtape: DJ Juice
• Best Club Mixtape DJ: Mister Cee
• Best Mixtape Duo: Kay Slay & Big Mike
• Best Promotional Mixtape: Don Diva
• Best Female Mixtape DJ: Lazy K
• Best Underground Mixtape DJ: J-Love
• Best Hip-Hop Mixtape DJ: Big Mike
• Best Reggae Mixtape DJ: Soul Controllers
• Best Blends Mixtape DJ: J-Faire
• Best R&B Mixtape DJ: Absolut
• Rookie of the Year: DJ L
• Best New Mixtape DJ: P-Cutta
• Best Mixtape DJ: Whoo Kid
• Best Radio Mixtape DJ: Cosmic Kev
• Best Graphics on a Mixtape: Four Five
• Best Mixtape Team: Get Money Nation

For more on mixtapes, check out the feature "Mixtapes: The Other Music Industry" and our Mixtape Mondays Headlines.

• G-Unit
• Big Mike
• DJ Kayslay
• Mister Cee

Name: Big Mike

Mixtape: Cruel Summer 2K3

Hometown: Danbury, Connecticut

Joints to check for: "Pop Sh--" by O.D.B.; "We Make Hits" by Kanye West, featuring O.D.B.; Ja Rule freestyle; "The One Remix" by Jennifer Lopez, featuring Joe Budden.

Previous mixtapes: Cruel Summer and Dead to Rights, among others.

The 411: The machine-gun-toting Gary Coleman look-alike on the cover alone makes the CD worth copping. But if you're not exactly the type who's into graphics, Mike is back on his grizzly with exclusives and remixes.

Kanye West gets Dirt McGirt to assist in his heckling of inferior rappers on "We Make Hits." An exasperated Dirty asks, "Do anybody else make hits anymore?" over Kanye's slow drums and guitar wails before answering his own question: "Guess not, muthafu--a!"

There is no guessing about who Ja Rule and Fatal Hussein are talking about in their latest freestyle, which comes on the heels of "The Wrap." Rule, who acknowledges that he's "hated like Jesus Christ," continues to levy threats and ill will toward 50 Cent, rapping that 50 can burn in hell.

Hussein is less harsh, but not much. Tupac's former protégé takes exception with 50's decision to make a record with the thug immortal. "You ain't a gangsta Em/ This is gangsta sh--, and 50, you ain't sh-- but a gangsta bitch/ Pac would have never done a song with no wanksta snitch."

Eminem does get his chance to speak. Big Mike includes a freestyle Slim Shady did with European DJ Tim Westwood. Em raps over 50 Cent's "Wanksta" beat in the same flow of his signee. "Damn, 50/ Your sh--'s about to hit the fan, 50/ What the fu-- happened to Ja?/ ... You 'bout to play with his paper/ You finnin' to fu-- up his chedda'."

DJ Envy is definitely hustling and making cheddar. Envy, who's working on his second LP while holding down a gig at New York radio station Hot 97, has another banger on the streets, Cut the Check Pt. 2. That CD features the O.D.B. and Pharrell Williams collaboration "Pop Sh--" as well as audio of the ridiculously dope Jay-Z and 50 Cent Reebok commercial.

Name: Kay Slay

Mixtape: Checkmate: It's Your Move Queen

Hometown: Harlem, New York

Joints to check for: Cam'ron freestyle; "I'm Getting Money N---a" by Cam'ron; "Where the Hood At?" by DMX; "House of Pain" by Notorious B.I.G., Tupac and Busta Rhymes; "Summertime" remix by Beyoncé featuring Ghostface Killa; "The Bullsh--" by Mary J. Blige, featuring Eve and Dr. Dre.

Previous mixtapes: Too many to name.

The 411: DJs go at it, too, just like MCs. Kay Slay's first mixtape since releasing his official album in May shows that the brief time off hasn't lessened his battle spirit. Slay doesn't name any names, but there's no confusing who he's addressing with his mixtape's title (especially when you look at all the question marks on the cover).

Slay has enough ammunition on Checkmate to back his cockiness. The CD starts with a skit in which Cam'ron is told by a show promoter that he cannot perform at a concert because Nas is on the bill and doesn't want to be at the same show as the Diplomats. Cam goes on to complain that this same thing has been happening all over the country and that he's had enough.

Later, Kay highlights DMX's "Where the Hood At?," on which the dog threatens to sick the wolves on rappers who he thinks are feminine.

Slay doesn't just slay them with the thugs, though; he gives the ladies a little burn too. Mary J. Blige and Eve unite to vent about their men's shenanigans on "The Bullsh--' ("I'm tired of all this child's play," Mary says), but Beyoncé is lucky in love on "Summertime."

Over a beat as smooth as freshly waxed rims, B sings about a love she met a year ago during the warm weather season. "You are my prize, wanna grow old wit'cha," she sings. "Build a house with your picture/ Have a son for you, little girl for me/ Together we're a family." Guest star Ghostface Killa comes with more of his vivid relationship love stories, seconding her emotions. "It's like I wanna be your daddy, your lover, your everything," says the Ironman.

You don't have to stray away from Slay's borough for more flava. Up-and-comer Statik Selektah of the Smashsquad brings Manhattan Mix Volume 1, and DJ J Period takes us on a trip down memory lane with The Best of Big Daddy Kane.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Mondays, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines.

• Big Mike
• DJ Kayslay

Ja Rule
Photo: Murder Inc.

Ja Rule's proposed six months away from the music biz has lasted a whole two weeks.

Murder Inc.'s biggest record seller resurfaced over the weekend via the mixtape circuit with a freestyle called "The Wrap," which features Tupac's one-time Outlawz clique member Fatal Hussein. No, the title isn't paying homage to one of your favorite MTV shows — it's referring to what Rule perceives to be the status of his foes' careers.

While Ja's wrath is contained to just one freestyle verse, the Queens native manages to once again throw a few barbs at 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and Busta Rhymes over the instrumental for Mobb Deep's "The Learning (Burn)." Rule also addresses a physical altercation between members of the Inc. and D12's Proof at a Miami strip club a few weeks ago and the accusation that federal agents are investigating his record company for laundering drug money.

"Plus the feds want us bad for cleaning cash," raps Ja, who orders 50 to "pull your skirt down" toward the end of the record. "But what cash is we cleansing?" he continues. "It's all about the Benjamins, what?/ If it's dirty then we rinsing it off."

Earlier this month in Miami, Murder Inc.'s head honcho, Irv Gotti, told MTV News that Ja was taking a six-month hiatus, explaining that after releasing a solo album every year since 1999 and becoming a fixture on radio and video airwaves, the fans may have been getting a little tired of Rule and needed a break. Gotti also revealed plans for a Rule double LP sometime in 2004 (see "Ja Rule To Give Fans A Break From His Music"). There is no further word on the status of that project.

In addition to working with the Outlawz, Fatal Hussein rapped alongside Tupac on various projects including All Eyez on Me before dropping his solo debut, In the Line of Fire, in 1998 and going to jail in 1999. A free man for the past year and a half, Fatal is now signed to Rap-A-Lot Records and says that a joint venture of sorts is being brokered between Gotti and Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince to put out his next LP.

"We're doing this little deal with J. and Irv — they talking about a deal, I don't know how it's going down," Fatal said last month inside Black Child's Queens, New York, recording studio. "Before I got locked up in '99, Ja was my man. We used to hook up in the 'hood, I used to come to his shows. We've always been cool. When I came home we was speaking through a mutual friend. I knew all I had to do was see my dog and it was going to be back on."

Fatal also said that he was affronted when 50 Cent used Pac's vocals on "The Realest Killas," incorporating some of his former mentor's rhyme flows and lyrics on the "Hail Mary" freestyle (see "50 Cent Disses Ja Rule On Tupac Joint; New Biggie Material On The Horizon").

"I feel it's a problem, playing with his lyrics like that," Fatal said of "The Realest Killas." "That needs to be addressed. I remember I heard it [and] they [were] trying to say that [Ja] is trying to sound like Pac when [50 is] dead on him. All you did was take 'Ambitionz Az a Ridah' and play it back, wrote a verse and took it to the lab and said 'I'mma be Pac now' and just try to say all this bullsh-- about Rule.

"I'm one of the Outlawz, so my opinion is going to be real critical," he continued. "That 'Hail Mary' was wack, total trash, no creativity. Why rap over certain stuff? You're not making it any doper. To me, it was a slap in the face to anybody that stood for something that Pac was holding down. It was a slap in the face to say you're repping Tupac. You're listening to his lyrics and putting his lyrics back on over his beats. You're not creating, you're biting. You didn't even know him. It's going to be some action taken. It's going to be some stuff coming out."

"The Wrap" can be found on Big Mike's Year of the Rookie Part 2 mixtape.

• Ja Rule
• The Inc. Records
• Tupac
• The Outlawz
• 50 Cent