You’ve read about it on your favorite blogs and websites. You watched the crazy teaser videos that ripped off the Brad Pitt flick Seven. You downloaded the free MP3s. Now it’s time to wipe away the drool, because the Meth, Ghost & Rae collabo album is coming out.

Set for release via Def Jam on March 30, Wu Massacre is mostly a Wu affair, with production from RZA and Allah Mathematics and guest spots from Inspectah Deck, Streetlife (Remember “PLO Style?”) and Trife. Interestingly, the Rhythm Roots Allstars, who were the backing band on many of those Scion Live mini-tours from a few years ago, and even showed up on Ghost’s The Big Doe Rehab, contribute to a few tracks.

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Next week, September 29, Ghostface Killah drops his seventh album (eighth if you include the odds-and-sods collection More Fish), Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City. As widely reported, it’s an R&B affair, with appearances by an auto-tunin’ Raheem DeVaughn, John Legend, Lloyd and others. Two singles from the Def Jam release have already hit the internets: “Baby,” which has a classic 90s feel, and the raw dog “Stapleton Sex.”

After the album’s release, Ghost will hit the road for his second tour this year, following a successful run with Meth & Red last summer.

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Ten years after their classic first outing, Meth & Red have recorded a sequel to Blackout! Due on May 19 via Def Jam, Blackout! 2 features the usual suspects. However, unlike so many would-be “sequels” to classic material (including Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2…prove me wrong if I’m not right), I’m actually looking forward to this based on the banging leaks that have come out since last fall.  Thanks to Nah Right for additional info on the features.

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According to a recent Billboard.com post, Ghostface Killah’s new GhostDeini the Great is an odds-and-sods collection of greatest hits (“Cherchez La Ghost” and “All That is Got Is You”), hard-to-find remixes (“Run” with Lil Wayne and others and “Back Like That” with Kanye West) and new tracks (the intriguing-sounding “Ghostface Christmas”). Unfortunately, it seems that the recently leaked cut “Computer Love” isn’t included. GhostDeini the Great drops via Def Jam on December 16.

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The neverending hype machine surrounding Nas’ new album — which has lasted for nearly a year now — will subside when Def Jam releases it on July 15.

The big news is that after months of pressure from his record company and sundry self-styled activists, Nas finally caved in and removed its controversial title, Nigger. “Record stores are gonna have a problem in this day and time selling a record with that title,” he told MTV.com. In a subsequent press statement, he tried to explain why he backed down: “I want my fans to know that creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It’s that important. The streets have been waiting for this for a long time. The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it.”

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that Nas has turned into a coward. Back in 2002, Nas was scheduled to headline Hot 97’s Summer Jam, thanks to the widespread belief that he “won” his famous battle against Jay-Z. (Or rather, Jay-Z “lost” by going too far with “Super Ugly.”) Nas allegedly wanted to use a number of props celebrating his “victory,” including a noose and an effigy of Jay-Z. But Hot 97 (WOHT-FM 97.1) wouldn’t allow him to use the props. (Nas denied that he planned to use an effigy and a noose in his performance.)

Angrily, Nas canceled his appearance without an official explanation. He then gave an interview to Hot 97’s rival, Power 105 (WWPR-FM 105.1), and alleged that many of Hot 97’s top DJs, including Angie Martinez and Funkmaster Flex, took bribes from major labels in exchange for playing artists on their shows. “A whole evil empire funded by a bunch of other evil empires, Def Jam is one of them – that’s giving [Hot 97] money to play all they artist records,” Nas, who was signed to Columbia at the time, claimed during the interview.

However, by the end of 2002, Nas retracted his statements in order to promote his then-new album, God’s Son, on Angie Martinez’s highly-rated show. In his analysis of Nas’ surprising shift, Entertainment Weekly Evan Serpick wrote, “It’s a sad week for hip-hop. Tuesday morning, Nas, one of the most talented rappers and outspoken critics on earth, appeared on New York’s Hot 97 radio station and completed his transformation into the biggest sell-out on the planet.”

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A New York Times story posted this evening (April 2) reports that Jay-Z is leaving Def Jam and joining forces with music industry behemoth Live Nation.

According to the story, Jay-Z is on the verge of signing a $150 million deal that would give Live Nation a stake in his business ventures (including the 40/40 nightclub chain), which will be consolidated under the umbrella company Roc Nation; publishing and merchandising deals; and touring revenue. In addition, the story says that the company will give Jay-Z a $10 million advance for each album recorded over the next 10 years. The deal calls for a minimum of three albums.

Many acts, most with proven drawing power on the road, have signed highly publicized 360 deals with Live Nation — multi-million-dollar contracts encompassing merchandising, touring revenue and, in some cases, record sales — including U2 and Madonna. But Jay-Z — arguably the biggest hip-hop artist in the world — is the first hip-hop artist to pair with the former Clear Channel-owned corporation.

Jay-Z has recorded for Def Jam since 1997’s In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, making it one of the longest tenures in the hip-hop world. However, after contract talks between Def Jam and Jay-Z regarding his position as label president fell apart last year, many speculated whether or not Jay-Z would stay with the company after his contract was up. (He owes Def Jam one more studio album.) Sundry rumors suggested that he would launch a new hip-hop company with Apple.

The story answers some of those questions, stating that Live Nation will help finance Jay-Z’s new, unnamed record company. But it doesn’t specify how Jay-Z’s music will be distributed, or whether a major label with better distribution channels might step in as well. It’s also unclear whether Jay-Z will continue to have a say in the direction of Roc-A-Fella, the legendary label he launched with Damon Dash in 1996 and sold to Def Jam in 2004. Regardless, as one of the most influential artists of the past decade, Jay-Z’s departure from Def Jam is a historic event.

Jeff Leeds writes in the story, “Though sales for Jay-Z’s tour with Ms. Blige have been strong since it began on March 22, with almost all the early dates resulting in sold-out arenas, it is unclear when Live Nation could carry out other aspects of the deal. (Jay-Z said that he hoped to deliver his final album for Def Jam later this year.)”

The deal answers a question that had been circling through the rap world for months: Where would Jay-Z take his next corporate role? As part of the arrangement, Live Nation would finance the start-up of a venture that would be an umbrella for his outside projects, which are expected to include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing. Live Nation is expected to contribute $5 million a year in overhead for five years, with another $25 million available to finance Jay-Z’s acquisitions or investments, according to people in the music industry briefed on the agreement. The venture, to be called Roc Nation, will split profits with Live Nation.

The overall package for Jay-Z also includes an upfront payment of $25 million, a general advance of $25 million that includes fees for his current tour, and advance payment of $10 million an album for a minimum of three albums during the deal’s 10-year term, these people said. A series of other payments adding up to about $20 million is included in exchange for certain publishing, licensing and other rights. Jay-Z said Live Nation’s consolidated approach was in sync with the emerging potential “to reach the consumer in so many different ways right now.” He added: “Everyone’s trying to figure it out. I want to be on the front lines in that fight.”

www.myspace.com/jayz

Don’t worry, I’m not going to compile every tidbit filtering out of the legendary Roots crew. That’s what Okayplayer.com is for. (And more power to them; they make an amazing site.) But as one of the all-time greats, the Philadelphia hip-hop band do things that often resonate beyond its rabidly loyal fanbase.

First up: the forthcoming Roots Picnic. Rap star-curated festivals are nothing new — I remember Living Legends’ Unsigned & Hella Broke jams back in the day, and even the Roots used to do the Black Lily showcases. But this picnic promises to be a next level affair, with scheduled appearances from Gnarls Barkley (who are weathering some punishingly mediocre reviews for The Odd Couple), Diplo, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Santogold, Deerhoof, J*Davey, Esperanza and the Cool Kids. It goes down June 7 at the Festival Pier in Philly, and tickets go on sale Saturday, March 29.

Meanwhile, Al Green is releasing his long-anticipated collaboration with Questlove and James Poyser. Scheduled for release on May 27 via Blue Note, Lay It Down includes guest shots from Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend and Anthony Hamilton.

Before that comes the Roots’ Rising Down, which drops April 29 on Def Jam. I haven’t posted the track listing so, hell, here it is. And just for kicks, here are the tour dates, too. (April 22 update: The itinerary has been updated.)

• 1. “The Pow Wow”
• 2. “Rising Down” (feat. Mos Def & Styles P)
• 3. “Get Busy” (feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Crack & DJ Jazzy Jeff)
• 4. “@15″
• 5. “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)”
• 6. “(Time Up)”
• 7. “Criminal” (feat. Saigon & Truck North)
• 8. “I Will Not Apologize” (feat. P.O.R.N. & Dice Raw)
• 9. “I Can’t Help It” (feat. Malik B & P.O.R.N.)
• 10. “Singing Man” (feat. Truck North & P.O.R.N.)
• 11. “Up There (Unwritten)” (feat. Mercedes Martinez)
• 12. “Lost Desire” (feat. Talib Kweli & Malik B)
• 13. “The Show” (feat. Common)
• 14. “Rising Up” (feat. Chrisette Michelle & Wale)
• 15. “Birthday Girl” (feat. Patrick Stump)

Here are the tour dates:

• 3/29: Millikin University, Decatur, IL
• 3/30: Kool Haus, Toronto, ON
• 4/05: University of Texas, Austin, TX
• 4/07: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• 4/09: Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
• 4/11: Pickle Barrell Nightclub, Killington, VT
• 4/16: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
• 4/17: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
• 4/18: Webster University, St. Louis, MO
• 4/20: National Mall, Washington, DC
• 4/26: Tigerfest Towson University, Towson, MD
• 5/03: Fair Grounds Race Course, New Orleans, LA
• 5/04: Fox Theater, Detroit, MI
• 5/06: University of Montreal, Montreal, QC
• 5/08: The Orpheum, Boston, MA
• 5/09: Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
• 5/10: The Pier, Baltimore, MD
• 5/11: Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA
• 5/14: Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
• 5/15: Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
• 5/16: Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, VA
• 5/17: Special Events Center, Greensboro, NC
• 5/18: Landmark Theater, Richmond, VA
• 5/20: Misner Park, Boca Raton, FL
• 5/23: Fox Theater, Atlanta, GA
• 5/24: Three Sisters Park, Chillicothe, IL
• 5/25: University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
• 5/27: Andrew Jackson Hall, Nashville, TN
• 5/29: Fox Theater, St. Louis, MO
• 5/30: Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL
• 5/31: Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL
• 6/01: Harrah’s Concil Bluff, Concil Bluff, IO
• 6/02: Fillmore Theater, Denver, CO
• 6/03: The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT
• 6/04: Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene, OR
• 6/05: Marymoor Park, Seattle, WA
• 6/06: TLA, Philadelphia, PA
• 6/07: Festival Pier, Philadelphia, PA
• 6/08: Paramount Theater, Oakland, CA
• 6/10: Humphrey’s Theater, San Diego, CA
• 6/12: Greek Theater, Berkeley, CA
• 6/13: Linn Park, Birmingham, AL
• 6/14: Mesa Amphitheater, Phoenix, AZ
• 6/15: Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM
• 6/17: Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
• 6/18: House of Blues, Dallas, TX
• 6/19: House of Blues, New Orleans, LA
• 6/22: Genesee Valley Park, Rochester, NY
• 7/04: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, WI

4/20: Green Apple Festival
5/03: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
5/04-5/10, 5/14-5/23, 5/27-5/31, 6/02, 6/05, 6/08-6/12, 6/14-6/15: w/Erykah Badu
5/24: Summer Camp Festival
5/25: Jazz Reggae Festival
6/06: w/Santogold, the Randy Watson Experience, Janelle Monae
6/07: Roots Picnic
6/13: City Stages Festival
6/22: Rochester Music Festival
7/04: Summerfest

www.myspace.com/theroots

As previously announced, Ghostface Killah’s The Big Doe Rehab is on the way, and hits stores December 4 via Def Jam.

Ghostface Killah has been on the road for most of the fall, touring with the Rhythm Roots Allstars and a sundry of opening acts. According to the track listing for The Big Doe Rehab, which hit the Internet last week, he returns the favor by collaborating with the LA funk combo on "!" (Perhaps he’s taking a page from the Brooklyn band !!!) Other guests on the disc include Raekwon, Method Man, Beanie Sigel, Styles P, and Chrissette Michelle. The first single, "We Celebrate," features mixtape pioneer Kid Capri and is percolating on mix shows nationwide.

The Big Doe Rehab is part of Ghost’s winter attack. In addition to the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan album 8 Diagrams (more on that in a minute), Ghost Dini is finally dropping that book he talked up last year. The World According to Pretty Toney, co-written with J. Brightly and published by MTV Books, comes out on January 8. According to the press release, "Pretty Toney offers nuggets of street wisdom on the key elements to becoming your own personal success story: livin’, hustlin’, lovin’, eatin’, and the all-encompassing Toneology. Coupled with vibrant 4-color photos by renowned photographer Dave Hill that illustrate each pearl of wisdom, these are indispensable life lessons that will become hustler hallmarks for playas everywhere to live by."

While you chew on those nuggets, check out the track listing for The Big Doe Rehab below.

Every year since 1999, Jay-Z has teased his fans with rumors of a forthcoming album. It usually begins in the spring, as top-flight producers brag of heading into the studio with Jay Hova. It picks up steam in the summer, as fans openly begin to wonder: will Jay-Z "bless us" with another masterpiece? By the start of the fall, someone makes it official: Jay-Z is back. (This time around, the New York Times did the honors.) Then you know the rest: near-constant MTV updates, early leaks on the Internet, a number one debut on the Billboard charts, blah, blah, blah.

Why do fans continue to fall for this well-worn strategy? Well, it’s Jay-Z, one of the most popular artists of the past decade. And for American Gangster, his soundtrack to the upcoming Frank Lucas biopic of the same name, S. Carter is promising a return to the crack-rapper-made-good persona that we first fell in love with on Reasonable Doubt, not the sandals-wearing AARP candidate from Kingdom Come. Jay-Z’s American Gangster arrives via Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam on November 6. The first single, "Blue Magic," dropped last week.

However, since American Gangster is a period piece set in the early 70s with Hollywood superstars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, little to none of Jay-Z’s music will be used in the movie. So Island Def Jam has prepared a proper American Gangster original motion picture soundtrack. It features soundtrack music from 2008 comeback player of the year candidate Hank Shocklee, and vintage cuts from Sam & Dave, Bobby Womack and others.

The track listing for the Jay-Z album hasn’t been announced yet, but the compilation’s track listing is available below. (October 3 update: The songs for Jay-Z’s American Gangster was unveiled on Rollingstone.com earlier this morning, and are listed underneath the soundtrack.)