Since announcing the release of his third album, "L.A.X.," West Coast MC The Game has been hinting at retirement. According to reports, the rapper has now confirmed his retirement saying that he plans to pursue being a hip-hop mogul like Russell Simmons and Dr. Dre.

"I've been spending 100 per cent of my time being Game, so I haven't been able to focus on my producers and my artists, so this year I'm gonna get it crackin'... the same way Dre, Quincy Jones and Diddy do it (sic) - by being a rap mogul," said Game in a statement to the press. "There are a lot of ways to keep hip-hop alive without being an artist. I don't have to be vocal to make it happen."

In other Game news, the rapper has recently been under fire for comments he made about rappers wearing blood diamonds in his new song "Big Dreams." Game has struck back at his critics saying that what he said was indeed a fact. "I know the negatives of what I said, but the truth is, we're all wearing blood diamonds, so it ain't just me," said Game. "Do I feel the struggle in Africa? Yeah. Do I think people should be dying over diamonds? No. But it ain't like I'm the only cat around with a chain on."

After many delays "L.A.X." is scheduled to hit store shelves on August 26.

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