Fourth Quarter Showdown, Kanye Takes On Jay Z, 50 Reinvents The Wheel, Luda Retires

It's that time of year again folks. We're once again approaching what many may consider the best time of our Hip Hop year--the notorious fourth quarter. With releases from Hip Hop heavyweights such as Jay Z, Kanye West, T.I., and Ludacris, 2008's fourth quarter is slated to bring nothing but gems.

Chicago MC Kanye West and his management have confirmed the release of his fourth LP tentatively titled, "Good Ass Job," while Jay Z has confirmed the long awaited "Blue Print III."

According to recent reports, the Roc-A-Fella allstars are rumored to be planning a December showdown in the same fashion as last years, September brawl between Fif & Kanye.

Jay Z recently released a street single off the "Blue Print III," entitled Jockin' Jay Z. The track, produced by Kanye West, has been in heavy rotation since its debut.

Last night at MTV's 2008 Video Music Awards, Kanye West debuted what is rumored to be the lead single off his forthcoming LP entitled "Love, Lockdown."

The pseudo-rock single, marks a drastic departure for West, as it features no rapping, and is sung using an Auto-Tune. It will be on Itunes available for purchase today, Monday, September 8th.

Other noteable releases this fourth quarter come from hip hop giants 50 Cent and Ludacris.

Fif's "Before I Self Destruct," will be his last album on Interscope Records. According to Fif, he plans on reinventing the wheel this time around.

“[Other rappers] can take what I’ve done for the last five years and do their version of it and be successful with momentum,” the G-Unit head told Rolling Stone. “Meanwhile, I have to reinvent the wheel.”

50 also says he’s tuned out most of the music out now, trying to find a zone of his own.

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”I’m not really listening to anyone else’s record. Now I’m in another space where I gotta make what I’m excited about,” he added.

"Theater Of The Mind," will be Ludacris sixth solo effort and may mark the end to the rappers musical career.

In a recent interview with the LA Times, Luda says he isn't planning on doing music much longer and would rather concentrate on his budding acting career.

“I can see a point where acting is my full-time job, really,” he tells the Los Angeles Times.

"Theater Of the Mind" will hit stores on Halloween.

Yonkers rapper, Jadakiss, will also be dropping his forthcoming LP, "Kiss My Ass," this Halloween.

The LP will mark the rappers debut on Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam records and will feature the long awaited Biggie Smalls tribute, "Letter To Big."

With Blueprint III arriving in December, Kanye possibly releasing his 4th album the same month, 50, Luda, and Jadakiss all dropping new material-- hip-hop may be in for an exciting Christmas.