How telling is it that Mase bailed on a "welcome back" show recently in NY (the pastor reportedly opted to spend time with wife and kids) and was replaced at the last minute by the Diplomats? The concert also featured, among others, Ja Rule, whose career actually seems to be on hold until 50 Cent's sun sets--but shit, maybe that won't take Hell freezing over, like it once seemed. Ja's "New York" joint with Fat Joe and Jadakiss strategically aligns him with two of NY's would-be kings (or whatever). 50 sure seems to be murda-ing everything he touches, up to and including the rhyme skills of those in his camp--including his man Eminem. That Eminem single, "Just Lose It," is godawful, and I gotta wonder if he's just lost it. Wherever you stand on the Real Slim Shady, the guy XXL called the "best rapper alive" appears, these days, to be a shadow of the MC he was just as recently as the Murder Inc/Benzino mop-up. Who knows what it is--maybe 50's mega-success (and subsequent lowering of the bar) has made Em too complacent (and rich) to care anymore; maybe 'Zino taking those tapes public took the piss out of him. Maybe it's the curse of fame; maybe it's his wife/ex-wife Kim, or his mom, or his daughter, or any other of his previously cited inspirations. Whatever the case, Eminem's spitting pure crap lately, and he needs to cut that shit out.

Lloyd Banks is another dope spitter whose bars may be slipping due to his proximity to Curtis. Not two years ago, anytime he popped up he'd be guaranteed to drop a verse you'd salivate over. However, his appearances on G-Unit's Beg for Mercy and his debut The Hunger for More left fans starved for the old Banks that murked many a mix tape. I wouldn't count Banks out, though--and I might even check him out at the Showbox come October 13; lemme just dig out my vest and spinning jewelry. Lloyd and 50's latest target, Nas, just dropped his double-disc Street's Disciple. I haven't heard all of it yet, but I honestly expect that it's gonna be tight, judging from what I've heard so far. The perfect double-disc rap album has yet to be released, however. Of course, some would argue that it has been thanks to Pac and Big's classic double albums, while still others would say that Nelly's Sweat/Suit is pure genius. Those people, however, might just benefit from the second annual "Back to Its Roots" spoken word and hiphop festival at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center October 8-10. This event will feature poet/actress/ activist Jessica Care Moore, Beyond Reality, Rajnii, Blue Scholars, DV One, Circle of Fire, the Massive Monkees, and many others. Make sure you also peep the ill visuals by local art fixture Christophe Roberts--and once the weekend is done, check out his Halla Bak Mondays, featuring DJs HiJack and Sean C at the Lo_Fi, next to the Lobo, on Eastlake. That is, if you get your swerve on during the week--a'ight!

hiphop@thestranger.com