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In the rap world, a criminal background is the ultimate resume. The former drug dealer Beanie Sigel, who spent years bucking the law before getting his big break as a Jay-Z protege, has never lacked for street cred. With his menacing glare and criminal-minded rhymes, the Philadelphia native positioned himself as one of the most authentic gangstas on the rap scene.

But last year he was sentenced to a year in prison on a weapons charge, and still faces a retrial on an attempted murder charge (the first case ended in a mistrial last fall). Now, as he releases his latest album from behind bars, Sigel is among a number of high-profile rappers finding that a criminal present may not be as lucrative as a criminal past.

With the exception of arguably rap's greatest artist — Tupac Shakur — most rappers who have done significant time have been unable to sustain their careers or revive them after being released. And while some have suggested that Lil' Kim, who was recently convicted of perjury, will gain more street cred if she goes to prison, the examples of rappers like Shyne suggest otherwise.

"There's no credibility in going to jail," declares Damon Dash as he talks about Sigel, the star of the Roc-a-fella label Dash started with Jay-Z. "I don't think it's ever a positive thing and I would never advocate anybody going to jail and I don't think Beanie would ever advocate it — Beanie did a crime, and right in front of the judge, he said, 'I said I did my crime, so I'll do whatever time you give me.'"

Dash talks a lot about what Sigel says and thinks — because Sigel can't do it himself. He's at a federal prison in solitary confinement (which Dash blames on overzealous corrections officials), unable to promote "The B. Coming," his third album.

So the charismatic mogul Dash has become Sigel's stand-in, doing radio spots, appearing on TV shows, conducting interviews — all the things artists normally do to push a new album.

"If they're going to try to put him in a place where he can't make money, we're going to try to reverse that, where we benefit from it to some degree, even though there's no real benefit from him being in jail," Dash sai

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AP