Jay-Z may have retired from the rap game, but he's working double duty this week to help his protégés shine.
First up there's The Roc Files Volume 1, featuring Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Foxy Brown and the Jigga Man himself. Then, Memphis Bleek's M.A.D.E -- an acronym for Money, Attitude, Direction and Education -- finally hits shelves and, wouldn't you know it, Beanie and Jay turn up on that LP as well.
Raekwon reunites with some of his Wu-Tang buddies -- Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna -- on The Lex Diamond Story, and Santana's Ceremony -- Remixes & Rarities features what its title promises plus three unreleased tracks, "Manana," "Curacion" and "Let Me Love You Tonight."
Sarah McLachlan's Remixed finds her ethereal songs electrofied by beatmakers BT ("Hold On" and "I Love You") and William Orbit ("Black"). Meanwhile, the Goodie Mob hit us off with some Dirty South Classics, And Then ... Joe drops his new material as well.
Finally, Outkast release a DVD of their funked-up and freaked-out videos. Hey ya!
Out Tuesday, December 16:
B-Legit - Word Pimpin' (Outbac) Broken Bottles - In the Bottles (TKO) Down South Georgia Boys - 'Til Death Do Us Part (Universal) Goodie Mob - Dirty South Classics (La Face) Joe - And Then ... (Jive) Sarah McLachlan - Remixed (Arista) Memphis Bleek - M.A.D.E. (Def Jam) Raekwon - The Lex Diamond Story (Universal) The Rum Diary - Poisons That Save Lives (Substandard) Santana - Ceremony -- Remixes & Rarities (Arista) Scarling - Band Aid Covers the Bullet Hole (EP, Sympathy for the Record Industry) Spits - The Spits (Dirtnap) Year Future - Year Future (EP, Gold Standard Laboratories) Various artists – "Cold Mountain" soundtrack (DMZ/Soundtrax) Various artists - The Roc Files Volume 1 (Def Jam) Various artists – "Something's Gotta Give" soundtrack (Soundtrax) Various artists – "Wicked" original Broadway cast recording (Decca) DVD: Outkast - The Videos (Arista) B2K - "You Got Served" soundtrack (Sony) Juvenile - Juve the Great (Universal) Various artists - "Big Fish" soundtrack (Sony) Clarence Clemons - Live in Asbury Park Vol. 2 (Valley) Paul Weller - Under the Influence (UTI) Justin Timberlake - Live From London (BMG) DVD: Coldplay - Unauthorized (Music Video Distributors) Crystal Method - Legion of Boom (V2) Lou Reed, John Cale and Nico - Bataclan 72 (Pilot) Runaways - Waitin' for the Night (Cherry Red) Cee-Lo - Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine (Arista) Ani DiFranco - Educated Guess (Righteous Babe) Stereolab - Margerine Eclipse (Elektra)