Initially slated for release in March, Prodigy’s sophomore album H.N.I.C. Pt. 2 will now hit stores on April 8th.

As reported earlier, the set will be released in 1,400 languages including Spanish, German and French.

Prodigy, who plead guilty to weapons possessions last year, will begin serving his 3 ½ year on Thursday (February 21).

CERTIFIED WU

Wu-Tang's RZA and electronic pioneer Bruce Forat have teamed forces to create a custom drum machine called the Roland RZA/Forat Custom MV8800.

The Roland RZA/Forat Custom MV8800 is adorned with Wu-Tang artwork in celebration of the rap group’s latest album, 8 Diagrams.

Only eight RZA/Forat drum machines were made and they will go on sale February 28th, priced at $5999.00 each.  To view the drum machines, visit http://gc.guitarcenter.com/rza/

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR

Doug Liman, the writer/director of the sci-fi flick Jumper, recently revealed to MTV News that Eminem was in talks to star in the movie.

According to Liman, a deal to get the rapper to star in the flick fell through and the role was taken up by actor Hayden Christensen.

Jumper, which opened in theatres Friday (February 15), is based on man who has the ability to teleport himself anywhere but finds himself in a war battling other people with the same  teleporting ability.

PRESIDENTIAL TIES

The father of former Bad Boy rapper Shyne, Dean Barrow, was recently elected as the first black prime minister of Belize.

Shyne (born Jamal Barrow) is serving a 10-year sentence in New York State for a 1999 nightclub shooting that injured three people.  Word is the rapper could be released this year.