Last Friday (August 28), The LOX released their fourth studio album, Living Off Xperience. Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P released two albums by the end of 2000, ahead of a 16-year-hiatus. Now in a distribution partnership with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation, their second LP in nearly four years has some charms from the respected Yonkers, New York veterans. The release arrives as Ruff Ryders Chronicles has premiered on BET. Fellow R.R. royalty DMX appears on video single “Bout Sh*t” (audio embedded below). Meanwhile, Large Professor laces the Warlocks with their Griselda collaboration “Think Of The LOX” (also embedded below). Extra P unveils a scratch-driven track that involves Westside Gunn and Benny The Butcher. Notably, The LOX made their debut on Main Source’s sophomore LP, F*ck What You Think. While Large Pro’ had exited the group by 1994, Jada’ and Sheek appeared alongside MC Mikey D on “Set It Off,” also featuring Sha Queen (nka Ma Barker). Additional highlights include the Oswin Benjamin-assisted “My America,” a song about maturing. Other participators in the LP are Nottz, Statik Selektah, and Swizz Beatz, among others.

The new music arrived the same day as actor Chadwick Boseman died at the age of 43. Succumbing to stage III colon cancer, Boseman had starred in Black Panther, 21 Bridges, 42, and Marshall throughout the last decade. The Anderson, South Carolina native had also segued into production and executive production while keeping his health concerns mostly private during a game-changing series of films.

Black Panther Is Not A Movie. It’s A Movement & It’s Bigger Than Box Office Success.

Ambrosia For Heads’ official playlist features selections from Living Off Xperience, plus new music from Black Thought, Pusha-T, and Killer Mike, as well as Vic Mensa:

Here Is What Else Is Happening Of Note:

Public Enemy has returned to Def Jam Records. The legendary Hip-Hop collective led by Chuck D re-signs with the label where they worked for over a dozen years. Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin’s Def Jam was where P.E. released Yo! Bum Rush The Show, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, and Fear Of A Black Planet. As pioneers in the digital music space and major-to-independent movement, Public Enemy exited Def Jam following 1998’s He Got Game soundtrack, ahead of 1999’s There’s A Poison Goin’ On. Other past Def Jam flagship acts, DMX and LL Cool J, have also recently returned to the label. With the news, the group’s 2020 remix of “Fight The Power,” featuring Nas, Black Thought, Rapsody, YG, Questlove, and Jahi has been formally released. (Billboard)

Ultramagnetic MC’s co-founder Ced Gee has alleged that Boogie Down Productions member Scott La Rock was assassinated. In a new interview, the Bronx, New York artist, who co-produced B.D.P.’s Criminal Minded, tells Soren Baker that he believes B-Boy Records’ owners, Jack Allen and William Kamarra, orchestrated the August 27, 1987 fatal shooting of Scott Sterling. Ced Gee alleges that the incident transpired to secure a business deal, bringing B.D.P. to Jive/Zomba Records. Previously, Just-Ice and D-Nice have offered detailed accounts of the tragedy. (Unique Access)

Joe Budden has announced that his top-rated Joe Budden Podcast with Rory & Mal is ending a relationship with Spotify. Following the fulfillment of a two-year-exclusive contract with the streaming giant, Budden’s show will be leaving the platform in September, despite a reported eight-figure offer to stay. In show episode #375, Budden explained why he is refusing the bid to remain with the DSP while detailing recent frustrations with the streaming partner. (Vulture)

RZA has sold 50% of his publishing, including his work with Wu-Tang Clan. Hipgnosis Songs purchased the rights for an undisclosed amount in August. It does include 841 songs. Apart from his group and solo work, Wu-Tang’s Abbott has produced on platinum albums by The Notorious B.I.G., Cypress Hill, and Big Pun, among others. Hipgnosis previously purchased Timbaland’s catalog. (Variety)

HOT 97 has dismissed production department staff member Pasquale Raucci (aka “Paddy Duke”) following the HBO release of Yusuf Hawkins documentary, Storm Over Brooklyn. Raucci had worked at the station since 1994, serving as a show producer alongside Angie Martinez, Funkmaster Flex, Ebro Darden, and others. Sixteen-year-old Yusuf Hawkins was murdered in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn as the result of a 1989 hate-crime. Raucci was among those charged with second-degree murder. In 1991, he was acquitted of that charge, despite being convicted for rioting, illegal imprisonment, menacing, and weapons possession. Raucci, now 50, has declined to comment publicly. (New York Times)