Rappers from the labels Cash Money and Ruff Ryders, including platinum-sellers DMX, Juvenile and Eve, begin a 40-date, cross-country arena tour Thursday.

After the opener at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y., the tour continues through April 17, when the rappers wrap the outing in California at the San Diego Sports Arena.

Last year, Ruff Ryders and Cash Money emerged as the two hottest hip-hop labels in the industry, scoring nine top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 albums chart between them. Ruff Ryders released four #1 albums alone — DMX's Flesh of My Flesh — Blood of My Blood and ... And Then There Was X, Eve's Let There Be ... Eve — Ruff Ryders' First Lady and the compilation album Ruff Ryders: Ryde or Die Vol. 1.

Cash Money's top performers were Lil' Wayne, whoseTha Block Is Hot debuted at #3 in November, and Juvenile, with 400 Degreez (#9) and Tha G-Code (#10). The B.G. album Chopper City in the Ghetto (#9) and supergroup Hot Boys' Guerrilla Warfare (#5) also reached the top 10, at #9 and #5, respectively. The Hot Boys feature Juvenile, Lil' Wayne, B.G. and Young Turk.

The LOX, a Yonkers, N.Y., group signed to Ruff Ryders, also scored a top-10 album last month with We Are the Streets, which debuted at #5 and featured the single "Wild Out" (RealAudio excerpt).

"We going on there ... to boost up the units," LOX rapper Jadakiss said last month about the tour.

"You're every day out there in different towns and cities telling people to buy your album," added group member Sheek.

The tour is the latest in a string of arena outings featuring only rappers. Last spring, DMX, Jay-Z, Redman and Method Man toured as part of the Hard Knock Life Tour, which grossed more than $13 million. In the fall, Master P, Snoop Dogg and other rappers from No Limit Records also played arenas.

Ruff Ryders–Cash Money tour dates:

Feb. 24; Rochester, N.Y.; Blue Cross Arena

Feb. 25; Uniondale, N.Y.; Nassau Coliseum

Feb. 26; Auburn Hills, Mich.; Palace of Auburn Hills

Feb. 27; Rosemont, Ill.; Allstate Arena

Feb. 28; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Van Andel Arena

March 1; Dayton, Ohio; Ervin J. Nutter Center

March 2; Buffalo, N.Y.; Marine Midland Arena

March 3; Philadelphia, Pa.; First Union Center

March 5; Hartford, Conn.; Hartford Civic Center

March 7; Hampton, Va.; Hampton Coliseum

March 8; Albany, N.Y.; Pepsi Arena

March 9; Washington, D.C.; MCI Center

March 11; Nashville, Tenn.; Gaylord Entertainment Center

March 12; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mellon Arena

March 13; Milwaukee, Wis.; Bradley Center

March 15; Indianapolis, Ind.; Conseco Fieldhouse

March 16; Greensboro, N.C.; Greensboro Coliseum

March 17; Memphis, Tenn.; Pyramid

March 19; Uniondale, N.Y.; Nassau Coliseum

March 20; Greenville, S.C.; Bi-Lo Center

March 22; Houston, Texas; Compaq Center

March 23; San Antonio, Texas; Alamodome

March 24; New Orleans, La.; New Orleans Arena

March 25; Dallas, Texas; Starplex Amphitheatre

March 26; Kansas City, Mo.; Kemper Arena

March 27; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Myriad Convention Center

March 29; Minneapolis, Minn.; Target Center

March 30; St. Louis, Mo.; Kiel Center

March 31; Cleveland, Ohio; Gund Arena

April 1; Baltimore, Md.; Baltimore Arena

April 2; Boston, Mass.; FleetCenter

April 5; Louisville, Ky.; Freedom Hall

April 7; Miami, Fla.; American Airlines Arena

April 9; Atlanta, Ga.; Philips Arena

April 10; North Little Rock, Ark.; Alltel Arena

April 13; Seattle, Wash.; KeyArena at Seattle Center

April 14; Sacramento, Calif.; ARCO Arena

April 15; Irvine, Calif.; Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre

April 16; Phoenix, Ariz.; Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion

April 17; San Diego, Calif.; San Diego Sports Arena