RAP UP: Is it the end of...

RAP UP: Is it the end of the line--as some are speculating--for N.W.A., the rap group that everyone loved to hate before Ice-T and Sister Souljah grabbed the headlines?

Manager Jerry Heller insists things are fine with the group and that there’ll be a new album by March, but others aren’t so sure. One concern: All four members of N.W.A. are involved in solo projects and if any of them catch on they could follow Ice Cube’s lead in saying goodby to the group.

MC Ren kicks off the parade of solo projects with a just-released, six-track EP (“Kizz My Black Azz”). It’ll be followed this fall by a full album by Ren as well as collections by Dr. Dre, Eazy-E and Yella. Dre already has two tracks--one as a rapper, another as producer/writer--on the soundtrack from the movie “Deep Cover.” Guests on Eazy-E’s album reportedly will include members of Guns N’ Roses, Above the Law and D.J. Quik.

Second concern: Dr. Dre, who’s widely credited with shaping the group’s sound, has been feuding for months now with leader Eazy-E over business matters--both in court and in print.

The good doctor has been out and unavailable for comment.

But Eazy-E snapped: “We can make great records without Dre. There’s a lot of good producers and writers out there. We can make an album just as good without him.”