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1. Jadakiss -- Ruff Ryders
   Ruff Ryders/Interscope artist Jadakiss is receiving a lot of attention for his single "Why?," featured on his new album, "Kiss of Death." The song questions President Bush's involvement in the events of Sept. 11, 2001, with the lyric "Why did Bush knock down the Towers?" The line has prompted some radio stations to edit the track. According to sources at MTV, the "Why?" video was serviced to the network without the lyric.
2. Ja Rule -- Ruff Ryder
   As the flagship artist for producer Irv Gotti's Def Jam-affiliated Murder Inc. label, Ja Rule became the rap industry's most commercially successful artist during the early 2000s, working closely with the hitmaker and his stable of talent. Ja initially won over a sizable following with Venni Vetti Vecci (1999), his rather hardcore debut album modeled largely after the style of rugged thug rap then popularized by DMX and the Ruff Ryder collective. In particular, "Holla Holla" became a breakout hit, but in retrospect it was a minor success relative to what Ja accomplished a year later with his follow-up album, Rule 3:36 (2000). On this album, Gotti juxtaposed the rapper's thuggish style with a trio of radio-friendly vixens -- Christina Milian, Lil' Mo, and Vita -- and produced three enormous hit singles: "Between Me and You," "I Cry," and "Put It on Me." These duets established the template for Ja's following album, Pain Is Love (2001), which featured yet more chorus-singing divas, this time Jennifer Lopez ("I'm Real") and Ashanti ("Always on Time"), as well as a similarly styled interpolation of Stevie Wonder's "Do I Do" ("Livin' It Up") featuring Case on the hook. By 2002, Ja alone had brought Gotti's Murder Inc. label into the national spotlight and helped break successive artists from the label, most notably Ashanti, who collaborated with him on "Down 4 U," yet another chart-topping hit. Roughly around this same time, Ja used his fame to launch a minor acting career for himself, beginning with The Fast and the Furious (2001), and he began to attract attention from his peers, uniting with Nas on the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards and squabbling with DMX in the press.
3. Jadakiss -- Rapper Jadakiss
   Before the release of Kiss the Game Goodbye, Jadakiss had been, as is the popular saying, "spitting straight fire" on records for a while. His verses on the songs "Ryde or Die", "Got it All", and "WWIII" showed the Kiss may well be ready for a solo album. Unfortunately, this CD proves that he, in fact, isn't even close. Jadakiss is the type of rapper that belongs on guest appearances and in group stuff. He's witty, but often too monotonous and mechanical. If Jadakiss isn't talking about the "mamis", or his cocaine dealings, he's talking about busting a gat at other rappers.
4. Eve -- Eve Jihan Jeffers
   Philadelphia native Eve Jihan Jeffers caught her first break when Dr. Dre signed her to his label, Aftermath. Her contract with Aftermath expired before she was able to record an album, but a meeting with DMX led to her being brought into the Ruff Ryders crew (DMX, Drag-On, Lox, and Infa-Red). Their debut album, Ride or Die, Vol. 1, entered the Billboard charts at No. 1 in 1999, and Eve's "What Ya Want" from the album became a hit single. Later that year she released her debut solo album, Eve: Ruff Ryders' First Lady, which sold nearly 2 million copies. Her second solo effort, 2001's Scorpion, featured guest performances by DMX, Monique, and Gwen Stefani, while 2002 marked movie roles in Barbershop and XXX, and the release of her third album, Eve-Olution. The following year she starred in her own sitcom, Eve, on UPN.
5. Styles P -- Sheek Louch
   After having his career toyed with by Fiddy Cent for the past several years, Styles P is back, courtesy of the Koch graveyard aka the house that Jim Jones built. Will this album be another Hustler's P.O.M.E., or another [insert the name of the last Sheek Louch album]? Find out after the jump.
6. Master P -- Miscellaneous
   The film ... features Fat Joe, Master P, Damon Dash, Russell Simmons, Chuck D, Flavor Flav and more than 50 other Hip-Hop artists, executives, and CEOs from across the country. Additionally, the documentary shares some of the real life personal challenges Collier faced to bring the film to life.
7. Styles P -- Album
   The streets have been eagerly anticipating Styles P's delayed second solo album, Time is Money. The album has had its release date modified on more than one occasion since 2005. Time is Money will now be released this December (finally!)…
8. Coming to America -- New York
   The anchor feature of BlackPlanet.com’s star-studded Black Music Month celebration coming this June is Wired for Battle an online American Idol style talent contest where members will compete to be named the best Hip Hop artist on BlackPlanet.com. Beginning on April 12th BlackPlanet.com members can enter the contest by submitting an original Hip Hop song online. During the month of May the contestants will be judged by the BlackPlanet.com membership in weekly online elimination rounds. At the end of the elimination rounds the final five finalists will be flown to New York City to perform in The Final Battle on June 21st before a live audience and a music industry insider panel of judges including Styles P from Ruff Ryder / Interscope records. The event will be broadcast live over the web on BlackPlanet.com.
9. Jadakiss
   Jadakiss is not the first Black person to come under fire during a political season, as every election needs a token big, black boogeyman to scare white folks into voting. From Willie Horton in the 80's to Sister Souljah (who was dissed by the Democrats) in the 90's, politicians need a black scapegoat to lay the sins of society upon. This year's poster child just happens to be Jadakiss.
10. Sacramento Kings
    Since the start of the new millennium the Sacramento Kings have been adding players to make a serious run at the NBA Championship. European players Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic along with Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Bobby Jackson, Doug Christy and Brad Miller are the nucleus of a solid team who can challenge for an NBA title. The window of opportunity for this group is getting smaller ... as injuries and age are taking a toll.

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