Cliff Huxtable, rap star? After years of criticizing the hip-hop industry, comedian Bill Cosby is reportedly set to release a rap album titled 'State of Emergency.'

The 70-year-old television icon is said to be writing songs for the album about social issues such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse and high school dropout rates. He is not, however, including any profane language or derogatory lyrics about women -- two things he has voiced anger over in his much-publicized beef with gangsta rap.

This will be Cosby's 35th album, but his first in the rap category. He has won nine Grammy awards for his comedy and children's albums.

Pop superstar Janet Jackson is gearing up to release her upcoming as-yet-untitled album in February. Jackson is currently working on the album in Atlanta, while longtime boyfriend, producer Jermaine Dupri, lends a hand to Mariah Carey's forthcoming project.

In addition to dropping a new album, Jackson also plans to pen a book about her personal weight struggles. "[I'm] really coming from the soul with it," Jackson said of the project, "and what I was going through at different times in my life, and what possibly brought it about for myself."

The 41-year-old has also been keeping busy with movie roles, including her recent role in Tyler Perry's film ' Why Did I Get Married?'

Artist: Mary J. Blige
Album: 'Growing Pains'
Why You Should Watch: Find out how the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul manages to keep it real, and why she decided to call her December 18-due album 'Growing Pains.'

After sour sales and lackluster reviews for his last major label release, 'True Magic,' Mos Def is preparing to release his independent label debut on Downtown Records.

There's no release date for the as-yet-untitled album, but label head Josh Deutsch is already touting the project and its production. According to Deutsch, Kanye West, who's mother passed away suddenly last weekend, is on tap to produce some tracks.

In addition to working on the album, Mighty Mos will appear a bevy of upcoming flicks, including 'Be Kind Rewind' (2008), 'Stringbean and Marcus' (2009), and 'Touissant' (2009).

T.I. is putting his time indoors to good use. The rapper -- currently under house arrest while awaiting trial for federal weapons charges -- is working on a new album entitled 'Paper Trail.' T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr., has already recorded six tracks for the new project in his home studio.

Harris was arrested on October 13, when he allegedly tried to purchase machine guns and silencers in an Atlanta parking lot. The ex-convict was released from federal custody on October 26 after posting $3 million bond.

Harris' last release, 'T.I. vs. T.I.P.,' sold almost 500,000 its first week on the shelves, but still fell short of the success of his Grammy-nominated fourth album, 'King.'

Despite her recent legal troubles, Remy Ma plans to release a sophomore album, titled 'PunisHer.' The Bronx-bred rapper released her debut album, 'There's Something About Remy,' in 2006, two years after contributing a verse to the Terror Squad summer hit, 'Lean Back.'

In July, the rapper -- born Remy Smith -- turned herself in and was charged with attempted murder, which was later reduced to first-degree assault, in connection with a shooting in New York's Meatpacking district.

The rapper is accused of shooting her longtime friend, Makeda Barnes-Joseph, in the stomach for allegedly lifting $2,000 from Smith's purse. Smith is facing 25 years in prison for the incident, but in a recent interview with the Village Voice, the rap diva stands strong. "There are a lot of things I'll never forget and never forgive. But I'm not dwelling on that s--- every day."

Smith appeared in court November 7 for a pretrial hearing, but the judge was unable to rule on motions presented to the court. "The prosecutor was hoping to get back DNA evidence from some blood found in Remy Smith's car, but it hasn't come back yet," Smith's attorney, Ivan Fisher told MTV. Smith is due back in court December 5. No release date has been determined for 'PunisHer.'

After an announcement, a denial and a spelling modification, Nas is finally speaking out about his N-word album title controversy that has angered African American community leaders, social activists and politicians, alike.

"It's like talking to your child about sex. It's hard, but it's important," the rapper told Rolling Stone. "It's probably going to make people uncomfortable. I don't expect a lot of people to sell a record called [N-word]. Hopefully, people can open their minds up and lose some of their fear and deal with it. It's just an album. It's one piece of the many things I do, and this will be one of my favorite pieces."

Brooklyn assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries is not willing to open his mind and accept Nas' latest "piece of art." The assemblyman has requested that New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli withdraw a $84 million investment in Universal Music Group and its parent company Vivendi. "[They are] profiting from a racial slur that has been used to dehumanize people of color for centuries," Jeffries said. "It is time for Nas and other hip-hop artists to clean up their act and stop flooding the airwaves with the N-word."

Universal has not responded to the politician's demand, but the comptroller's office has expressed some concern and says they "urge them not to release the album" with the contentious title.