A little deja vu, perhaps? Sheek Louch of The Lox told Vibe that the group has agreed to terms with Diddy and Bad Boy, but that they need Interscope and Ruff Ryders to release their respective shares of the group.

It has been over a year and a half since Jadakiss revealed that Diddy had offered the group a return to their former label. In that time, we've learned that Diddy wanted to do a one album deal and only a one album deal with them. In January, Styles P said that they were talking to Diddy and no one else. But, in May, Jadakiss seemed less than certain they'd end up at Bad Boy.

Their first exit from Bad Boy followed protests on their behalf to "let The Lox go," including t-shirts and a public war of words. Diddy eventually agreed to a buyout from Interscope, and the group signed with them.

That wasn't the end of the story, though. Diddy maintained a meaningful stake of their publishing, which he purchased from them in the 1990s. Again, their displeasure led to a very public confrontation on Hot 97. Jadakiss even made a nonsensical threat on Diddy's life, suggesting that no bodyguard could stop a refrigerator from landing on you.

I felt then, and still feel, that the group played - not once, but twice - on the emotions of the public to get out of contracts that they themselves signed. But, within a month, they had their publishing back. They were able to make lightning strike twice. But, I hope that they don't try for a third time.

Instead of asking for companies to let them out of a contract they signed, perhaps they should buy the company out and buy back that share that they themselves sold as a group. Oddly enough, the group would likely be distributed by Interscope under Bad Boy, anyway. But, with all of this in mind, you can see why a one album deal would be for the best. You can't get into this sort of contract dispute with a one album deal. They release the album and then they are on their way.

Thanks Theo.