With a Diddy album, you know you’re not getting a lyrical masterpiece (unless he takes a cue from Charles “Dukie” Hamilton and were to summon the ghost of Biggie via a séance) but the production would at least be tight. Besides being able to lock down any name in the game like he did on Press Play (Timbo, Kanye, Just Blaze, etc.), he could also turn to his in-house Hitmen squad, including the likes of Sean C and LV who were responsible for the best cuts on Jay-Z’s American Gangster.

However, as per HipHopDX, Diddy’s magnum opus Last Train to Paris is indefinitely shelved according to the man himself. Puff cited not wanting to be caught in the middle of both Drake’s and Jay-Z’s respective buzzes over their upcoming albums, which were set to be fourth quarter releases along with Paris. And so, the project, announced back in February could very well get the repeat push-back treatment a la Detox for the following reasons:

1. The Auto-Tune factor

Even with T-Pain’s blessings, which Puffy stated he had in the bag, it might be a stretch to think he could continue with its use ever since Jay effectively read it its last rites.

2. Who’s gonna ghostwrite for him?

Sure he doesn’t write rhymes, but according to Mad Skillz and a laundry list of other emcees, Puff doesn’t always write the checks either. Plus, everyone’s favorite ghostwriter, T.I., who may have or may not have penned some material for Press Play, is currently incarcerated.

3. The film accompaniment.

It takes a while to make a film—and by film I don’t mean some 30-minute, shot-by-your-homeboy-in-a-couple-of-days joint like Loso’s Way (Skip it, yo). Rumors stated that Hype Williams was set to direct the Last Train film portion but it seems like Hype is always busy shooting some new Kanye joint and knowing Kanye, he’s probably dropping an album any month now so a single or two will need visuals. Not to mention Hype’s last full-length foray Belly wasn’t exactly a blockbuster. It wasn’t his fault though—the Lil’ Homey couldn’t act a lick.

4. The business behind it.

Puff’s a business man, and according to Forbes, a damn good one, too. Albums don’t sell so why even bother? And whatever he has up his sleeve couldn’t possibly come cheap.

5. His fledgling acting career.

The whole Bond thing was never gonna happen for Puff (Idris Elba got it), but there’s always Broadway, right?

-Devin Chanda

The commercial below, in which one Doc big ups another (clever), is the clearest indication we have yet that Detox is coming… soon. It just might be the beginning of a promotional push for the album, like what Jimmy Iovine engineered for Em with his Punisher comic, MTV takeover, fake rehab clinic, etc.

50, on the other hand, gets no love.

The snippet heard at the end is the song “Shit Popped Off” (below), written entirely by T.I., as revealed by a leak in March of the unfinished track, where the “King” spits all the verses. Tip was also all over a Nas collabo for the album, so smart money says homey wrote the whole damn album, kinda like what Jay and Hittman (milkbox status) did for 2001 and Snoop for The Chronic. Tip over Dre beats > Bishop Lamont or The Game over Dre beats.

Gameday is approaching for the game’s greatest “practice squad.”

- Devin Chanda

Not surprisingly, Universal Motown confirmed yesterday (May 21) that it was once gain pushing back the release date of Weezy’s rock manifesto, Rebirth — for something like the fourth or fifth time (lost count).

For obvious reasons, the album might never see the light of day mainly because it’s a rock album, with guest spots from the likes of Avril Lavigne. The block might not be so hot for that.

It’s not that 14-year old New Jersey girls won’t eat it up Rebirth like they did Tha Carter III. It’s an instance of the “Mesmerize” phenomena. Remember when Ja and Ashanti pranced around like Danny Zuko and the blonde chick who made “Let’s Get Physical” in a scene out of mu’fuckin’ Grease? Sure, Ja was a retail monster leading up to and with that album, The Last Temptation. But once that video hit Rap City, homey’s career was a wrap afterwards. Tha Carter 4 could be the one to struggle if Wayne gets his syrup-induced Rebirth.

There’s also Hova The God, who bought out his Def Jam contract and his last remaining album obligation to the label. Hov got his independence, but for $5 milli. Was it worth it? Well, when you take into account the fact that he’ll have to cover promotion and production — I doubt baby bro is giving Big Brother free beats unless that’s the reason Hov ditched Timbo — that album, almost certainly to be Blueprint 3, is gonna cost Chinese Democracy money. And as faith would have it, Axl’s status thus suffered.

So, BP3 may be the in-case-shit album for Jay’s Roc Nation. To make that $5 milliion worth it, he’s probably gonna have to build Detox-like anticipation by having Gay Fish speak on it every few months or so. In the mean time, Roc Nation will probably put out the Mickey Factz, Young Chris, and State Property albums. And in case shit happens and they all flop — which is the likely outcome in this climate— only then will Hov throw up the Hail Mary with BP3 to balance the books.

And then there’s Dre. Today, hiphopdx published a story confirming that a member of Dre’s new practice production squad — unfortunately not Mel-Man — has been working with Dre around the clock since they wrapped production on Relapse. However, December will mark a decade since Mel-Man and Scott Storch made the pifftastic 2001. At some point, you start to lose faith — as most have done so already.

Cuban Linx 2 could’ve been thrown in the mix but folks from some rap mags said they heard it and it’s raw as hell.

And so, all the aforementioned dudes carry impeccable Soundscan reps. So too did Eminem. But Relapse is reportedly only gonna move 650,000 units. That gets a pass for now but when you consider the promotion — Jimmy Kimmel stints, Skinemax music vid debut, etc. — is that good enough?

By the time any of those long-gestating albums drop, that 650,000 might be half and surely that wouldn’t cut it.

If the allure of the game keeps calling Jay, Wayne, and Dre’s names, then surely they may no longer be worth their weight in platinum, let alone gold.

- Devin Chanda