Jay continues to whet appetities for what is increasingly expected to be his triumphant return with The Blueprint 3. The cover is kind of interesting - is it the first Jay-Z album cover to not feature an image of Jay-Z in some way? Even Reasonable Doubt (the inspiration for our HIPHOP.COM weekly news title, for those that don't know) featured the top of his hat leaning down. And it's not like he was trying a Ghostface move either (for the first year or two that Wu-Tang were out peeps really didn't know what The Wizard Of Poetry looked like). What is going on with the cover anyway? A bunch of keyboards, guitars, and cassette players that look like they're off to one of Puffy's all-white parties (with the odd lone gramophone and cymbal) seems a bit cryptic to say the least. If I'm being dumb and missing the point - like the mafia scenes from the D.O.A video - then my bad in advance. Maybe it'll become clearer when we hear the music. And the tracklisting that accompanies the cover art really is the interesting part.  Empire State of Mind featuring Nas looks like being one of the standouts. The obvious nod to Nas' all time classic NY State of Mind is intriguing and there also seems to be some sort of allusion to Black Rebuplican, their historic (and that word is not used lightly) first collabo from Hip-Hop is Dead. Republican/Empire. Empire/Republican. I doubt very much as if the imperial leanings of the neo-cons are being bigged up here. I think they're just playing on words and stuff.

If they ever record an album together expect the game to be shut down. Speaking of Game's, Nasir and Jayceon are really cool no? Will sides have to be taken? Other famous names may find themselves with similar choices to make. Although their choice seems kinda obvious, you never know. I'm just saying. Mr Hudson on the joint twice? Okay. Kid Cudi up in that beeehatch. Okay. Drizzy comes with a guest spot despite not signing to Roc Nation. Oookaaaay!  I'm guessing the Timbo joint When It Comes To This is something special. Remember when Missy's best friend was rumoured to be producing the whole damn thing? Let's say they recorded between five to ten jidoints while this was still the arrangement. I may be very horribly wrong, but Jay doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would include a riddim just to keep someone happy. So it must be saying something. Something like Big Pimpin' or Dirt Off Your Shoulder.  But just like with Brandy's Afrodisiac album - yeah I like my obscure r'n'b references - Timbaland got bumped for Kanye. 'Ye has his stamp on 12 out of the 15 tunes (including bonus cuts) rumoured to have made the set. Not a bad move considering he's still one of the biggest deals in music right now. But what's this about fools trying to kill him and his lady wife? The whack job from the D also threatened to kill football player Jerome Bettis. That's diversifying the hate. Seriously, in these days and times when anything can be traced, sending threatening letters - one of the oldest forms of communication (only predated by smoke signals and carrier pigeons) - is some different kind of stupid.

Still no official response from Mariah's camp about anything Eminem related. This means they've either decided to leave it, decided to leave it until her album is about to drop, or they are preparing something so ridonkously, disgustingly horrible that they're sitting on while deciding whether or not it's actually a good idea. Which option is the most likely? One thing's for sure, Warning definitely didn't go unnoticed.

Let's touch on it ever so lightly. And with the respect that Big Pun's
memory and Fat Joe's gangsta deserves. Things are never financially easy when a music legend passes away. I mean, even Katherine Jackson had a little trouble getting those monthly allowances for her and the kids. So, it's perhaps not the biggest surprise that Pun's widow Lisa Rios is experiencing financial troubles. It's also well known that her and Don Cartagena don't exactly see eye to eye. Without being corny, the kids are the most important thing here. Someone, somewhere should find some accommodation for them all and give Ms.Rios the time she needs to getstuff straight. Not for one moment saying that Joe needs to be the one to give up the loot. But if someone could, it'd be nice.

Last but not least, have you heard that new Eve? Not only have Salaam Remi and UK dubstep producer Benga linked up to devastating effect on Me'N'My, her rhymes sound nice too! 2010 ish.

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