Jay-Z Reportedly Back in the Studio

It's hard to stay out of the spotlight.

That must be why, according to industry insiders, rapper Jay-Z (alias Shawn Carter) is working on a new album despite public declarations that 2003's "The Black Album" would be his exit from the rap game.

Since becoming president of label Def Jam in 2004 Jay has publicly disavowed a comeback, saying he didn't want to compete with artists on his label. But that didn't stop him from allegedly enlisting rap legend Dr. Dre -- on Def Jam's sister label Interscope -- to produce the forthcoming album.

Not that Jay-Z has been sitting around since "Black" was released; the album inspired a concert film, "Fade to Black" and a remix album with Linkin Park which just won a Grammy, as well as picking up several MTV Video Music Awards (especially for the Mark Romanek-directed "99 Problems").