Photo: Jason Campbell

• Keyshia Cole
• Blackalicious
• Mistah Fab
• Mac Dre

Lil' Kim's <i>The Naked Truth</i>
Photo: Atlantic Records

The Truth Is Out: Lil' Kim's prison sentence might be garnering the raunchy rapper the most headlines, but that's not stopping her from cussing up a storm on The Naked Truth with tracks like "Shut Up Bitch" (intro), "Shut Up Bitch" (the proper song), "We Don't Give a F---" and My N---as." Other tracks include: "W.P.I.M.P.," "Spell Check" and "All Good."

Blood Work: The track list to Bloodhound Gang's Hefty Fine says it all, really: "Strictly for the Tardcore," "Balls Out," "Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo," "I'm the Least You Could Do," "Farting With a Walkman On," "Diarrhea Runs in the Family," "Ralph Wiggum," "Something Diabolical," "Overheard in a Wawa Parking Lot," "Pennsylvania," "Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss Uhn Tiss" and "No Hard Feelings."

Paulatics: Hip-hop, dancehall and reggae come together to form Sean Paul's Trinity, the third album by the Jamaican DJ. Shifting from high-profile producers like the Neptunes and Sly & Robbie to more obscure ones like Craig Parks and Michael Jarrett, Paul runs the risk of losing a few listeners this time around. Tracks include: "We Be Burnin'," "Temperature" and "Eye Deh a Mi Knee."

Crow Deluxe: Sheryl Crow fans, keep yer eyes peeled for a deluxe edition of the Lance Armstrong lover's latest, Wildflower, which is hitched with a bonus DVD featuring seven acoustic cuts. Main-album songs include: "Chances Are," "I Don't Wanna Know" and "Always on Your Side."

Christmas In September: Start the holiday season a few months early with these toasty chestnuts: The Regis Philbin Christmas Album and reissues of Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song, Al Green's Feels Like Christmas and Frank Sinatra's A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra.

Ante up with Joe McBride's Texas Hold'Em, Wolf Parade's Apologies to the Queen Mary, Ryan Adams & the Cardinals' Jacksonville City Nights, Junior Brown's The Austin Experience: Recorded Live at the Continental Club and Before the Devil, the new one from Black My Heart.

Song Titles Of The Week:

"Lighter Side of Global Terrorism" - Jello Biafra and the Melvins' Sieg Howdy

"Poppin' My Collar" - Three 6 Mafia's The Most Known Unknowns

"When Future History Became Current History" - Biology's Making Moves

New releases:

• Abandoned Pools - Armed to the Teeth (Universal)
• Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway)
  Buy Now: Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway)
• Rusty Anderson - Undressing Underwater (Surfdog)
• Barlow Girl - Another Journal Entry (Word Entertainment)
• Drake Bell - Telegraph (Nine Yards)
• The Benjy Davis Project - The Angie House (Bogalusa)
• Tab Benoit - Voice of the Wetlands (Rykodisc)
• Jello Biafra and the Melvins - Sieg Howdy (Alternative Tentacles)
• Eric Bibb - A Ship Called Love (Telarc)
• Big Star - In Space (Rykodisc)
  Buy Now: In Space (Rykodisc)
• Biology - Making Moves (Vagrant)
• Bizzy Bone - Speaking Tongues (SMC)
• Blackalicious - The Craft (Anti)
  Read: "Blackalicious Fight 'Nerd Rap' Tag, Saying 'Let's Take It To The Stage' "
  Buy Now: The Craft (Anti)
• The Blackout Pact - Hello Sailor (Astro Magnetics)
• B-Legit - Block Movement (SMC)
• Black My Heart - Before the Devil (Eulogy)
• Blind Melon - Tones of Home: The Best of Blind Melon (Capitol)
• Bloodhound Gang - Hefty Fine (Geffen)
  Read: "Bloodhound Gang Pen New State Anthem For Pennsylvania"
  Buy Now: Hefty Fine (Geffen)
• Bona Fide - Soul Lounge (Heads Up)
• Toni Braxton - Libra (Blackground)
• Junior Brown - The Austin Experience: Recorded Live at the Continental Club (Telarc)
• Bruce Campbell - Make Love! The Bruce Campbell Way (six-CD box set; Rykodisc)
• Vivian Campbell - Two Sides of If (Sanctuary)
• The Casanovas - The Casanovas (IROCK)
• Ray Cash - C.O.D.: Cash on Delivery (Sony Urban)
• Tom Chapin - Some Assembly Required (Razor & Tie)
• Bill Charlap & Sandy Stewart - Love Is Here to Stay (Blue Note)
• Cherish the Ladies - Woman of the House (Rounder)
• Cherryholmes - Cherryholmes (Skaggs Family)
• Bruce Cockburn - Speechless (Rounder)
• Sheryl Crow - Wildflower (Interscope)
  Buy Now: Wildflower (Interscope)
• The Detroit Cobras - Baby (Bloodshot)
• Grandaddy - Excerpts From the Diary of Todd Zilla (EP; V2)
  Read: "Grandaddy Can't Wait To Leave Home — But They Have To Finish Telling It Off First"
• Buddy Guy - Bring 'Em In (Jive)
• The High Strung - Moxie Bravo (Future Farmer)
• Ill Niño - One Nation Underground (Roadrunner)
• Wynona Judd - Her Story: Scenes From a Lifetime (live; with DVD; Curb)
• King of France - King of France (Echo)
• King's X - Ogre Tones (Inside Out)
• Lil' Kim - The Naked Truth (Atlantic)
  Read: "Lil' Kim's Wrath For 50, Foxy Has No Bounds On Naked Truth"
  Buy Now: The Naked Truth (Atlantic)
• Curt Kirkwood - Snow (Little Dog)
• Betty LaVette- I've Got My Own Hell to Raise (Anti)
• Ramsey Lewis - With One Voice (live; Narada)
• Maceo - Straight Out Da Pot (Big Cat)
• Mack 10 - Hustla's Handbook (Capitol)
• Kathy Mattea - Right Out of Nowhere (Narada)
• Joe McBride - Texas Hold'Em (Heads Up)
• Brad Mehldau - Day Is Done (Nonesuch)
• Sergio Mendes - Timeless (Concord)
• Miguel Migs - House of OM Presents: Get Salted, Vol. 1 (OM)
• Ministry - Rantology (remix album; Sanctuary)
• Mommy and Daddy - Duel at Dawn (Kanine)
• Morcheeba - The Antidote (Echo)
• Mr. Criminal - Sounds of Crime (Thump)
• My Ruin - The Brutal Language (Rovena)
• Jon Nicholson - A Lil Sump'm Sump'm (with DVD; Warner Bros.)
• Ric Ocasek - Nexterday (Sanctuary)
• P.J. Olsson - Beautifully Insane (Brash)
• Orange Sky - Upstairs (with bonus DVD; Granite)
• Sean Paul - The Trinity (DualDisc; Atlantic)
  Buy Now: The Trinity (Atlantic)
• The Persuasions - The Persuasions Sing U2 (Chesky)
• Regis Philbin - The Regis Philbin Christmas Album (Hollywood)
• Plastic Noise Experience - Noised (Van Richter)
• Project 86 - ... And the Rest Will Follow (Tooth & Nail)
• Reatards - Not F---ed Enough (Empty)
• Dianne Reeves - "Good Night, and Good Luck" soundtrack (Concord)
• Carmen Rizzo - The Lost Art of the Idle Moment (Fuel 2000)
• Emma Roberts - "Unfabulous! And More" soundtrack (Columbia)
• Boz Skaggs - Fade Into Light (DualDisc; Virgin)
• Anoushka Shankar - Rise (Angel)
• Smile Empty Soul - Anxiety (Lava)
• Supergrass - Road to Rouen (Capitol)
  Read: "New Supergrass LP: Born In A Barn, Literally"
• T-Bone - Bone-a-Fide (Flicker)
• Three 6 Mafia - The Most Known Unknowns (Columbia)
• Versus the World - Versus the World (Kung Fu)
• Roger Waters - Ça Ira (with DVD; SACD hybrid; Sony International)
• Gretchen Wilson - All Jacked Up (Epic)
• Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary (Sub Pop)
• Neil Young - Prairie Wind (with DVD; Reprise)
  Buy Now: Prairie Wind (Reprise)
• Various artists - Taste of Chaos (Image)
• Various artists - "Grey's Anatomy" soundtrack (Hollywood)
• Various artists - "Las Vegas" soundtrack (Image)
• Various artists - "Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" soundtrack (Sparrow)
• Various artists - "Radio Disney: Move It!" (Walt Disney)
• Various artists - "Rent" soundtrack (Warner Bros.)
• Various artists - "Serenity" soundtrack (Varèse)
• Various artists - "Veronica Mars" soundtrack (Nettwerk)

Notable reissues:

• Anti-M - Positively Negative (with bonus tracks; Topographic)
• The Band - A Musical History (six CDs; Capitol)
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (Interscope)
• The Carpenters - Chronicles (box set; A&M)
• The Carter Family - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (Mercury Nashville)
• Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Capitol)
• Criteria - En Garde (Saddle Creek)
• Miles Davis - The Cellar Door Sessions 1970 (six-CD box set; Columbia/Legacy)
• Al Green - Feels Like Christmas and Greatest Hits: Deluxe Edition (with DVD; Capitol)
• Mean Season - The Memory and I Still Suffer in Love (Indecision)
• Natalie Merchant - Greatest Hits (limited edition; Rhino)
• Thelonius Monk Quartet With John Coltrane - At Carnegie Hall (Blue Note)
• Frank Sinatra - A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra (Capitol)
• Train - Essentially (Columbia)
• Wall of Voodoo - The Index Masters (Rykodisc)

DVDs:

• Blind Melon - "Live at the Metro" (Capitol)
• Elvis Costello - "The Right Spectacle: The Very Best of Elvis Costello" (Warner Bros.)
• The Sun - "Blame It on the Youth" (Warner Bros.)
• Various artists - "Taste of Chaos" (Image)

Coming Attractions:

October 4:

• Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (DualDisc; Epic)
  Read: "Fiona Apple's Long-Delayed LP Slotted For October 4 Release"
  Buy Now: Extraordinary Machine (Epic)
• Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better (Epic)
  Read: "Set A Man On Fire, Name Next LP — Franz Ferdinand Do Whatever They Want"
  Buy Now: You Could Have It So Much Better (Epic)
• Nickelback - All the Right Reasons (Roadrunner)
  Read: "Nickelback Go The John Mellencamp Route For New Video"
  Buy Now: All the Right Reasons (Roadrunner)

October 11:

• Ricky Martin - Life (Columbia)
• Alicia Keys - Unplugged (J)
  Read: "Alicia Keys Taps Mos Def, Common For 'Inspired' 'Unplugged' "
  Buy Now: Unplugged (J)
• Story of the Year - In the Wake of Determination (Maverick)

October 18:

• Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel (Reprise)
• Ashlee Simpson - In Another Life
  Read: "Ashlee Remembers 'SNL' Incident But Forgets Boys On New LP"
• Thrice - Vheissu (Island)
  Read: "Thrice Going Underground — In A Sense — For Enigmatic Vheissu"
  Buy Now: Vheissu (Island)

• Lil' Kim
• The Bloodhound Gang
• Sheryl Crow
• Sean Paul
• Blackalicious

Blackalicious' Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel (file)
Photo: Quannum Projects

Blackalicious got a taste of big-screen glory when their song "Make You Feel That Way" was featured in the 2002 flick "Brown Sugar." And the duo's Gift of Gab is aiming high for the next one.

" 'Star Wars,' " he said, heedless of the fact that there's not supposed to be another film in the franchise. "We'd have to make a sci-fi song, but that'd be fun."

The theme continues as the group discusses their first meeting, which happened "light years ago" when they both were students at Sacramento, California's John F. Kennedy High School. According to MC Chief Xcel, they didn't like each other at first, but after arguing over whether Too Short or Ice Cube was the better rapper, they warmed and eventually began Blackalicious while Xcel was attending the University of California at Davis.

"My sophomore year, Gab moved up to Davis and we did 'Melodica,' our first record," Xcel recalled. "It didn't get released until '93, and around that same time we started SoleSides, which is the label that later became Quannum. [Label co-founder] Jeff Chang had a radio show, and Lyrics Born and myself used to go to the show every Thursday with DJ Shadow. Jeff was really the catalyst, he was like, 'You guys are all doing your thing independently, we might as well try to pool our resources.' So we pooled together all our little student-loan checks and put out our first 12-inch [single], and from there it just snowballed."

Although Blackalicious still co-own Quannum Projects (their 2002 album, Blazing Arrow, was released on major MCA), the group has taken its fifth LP, The Craft, to another indie: West Coast heavyweight Anti/ Epitaph Records.

"We wanted to be in a place, firstly, that was well-funded," Xcel said. "And secondly, [a place] where it was really not corporate. I wanted to be in a place where I didn't have to deal with the politics and the bureaucracy. Anti/ Epitaph is a big independent and they've been consistently successful, so it felt good."

And they've brought Anti their "most focused work yet," one that includes guest spots from George Clinton and Floetry, and stories drawn from their family's lives.

"My favorite song on the album is called 'The Fall and Rise of Elliott Brown, " Xcel said. "It's about a young man in the streets hustling and getting caught up. It's loosely based on the life of my godbrother: He ends up going to prison, he finds himself and gets in touch with his spirituality. And it completely turns his life around."

Meanwhile, "Diamonds and Pearls" was inspired by Gab's niece.

"It's about what kids are up against today," Gab said. "It's three verses but two stories: One is about a pregnant teen, this was inspired by my niece. She had a couple of kids when she was real young and had to face a lot of challenges. And the second verse is about a male who's mother is on crack but he sells crack and he supplies it to her, so he's caught up in that situation."

Considering the Oakland, California-based duo's conscious-leaning music (not to mention the "Star Wars" talk), some might characterize their music as nerd rap.

"I'm a battle lyricist first," Gab said with a laugh, "so if anyone thinks that our music is nerd rap just because it's not on no gangsta sh--, then let's take it to the stage." He asserted that the new album has a "more humorous side."

"' Side 2 Side' is about trying to meet a woman in the club," he said. "And we also got to work with George Clinton on a song called 'Lotus Flower.' It was a trip, because when he put his first layer down, it sounded awkward. We asked, 'You wanna do that over?' and he was like, 'I meant to do that.' By the time he got finished with all his layers, it was a masterpiece."

Blackalicious will hit the road later this summer, beginning in Europe and touring the U.S. before heading over to Japan and Australia. The Craft drops on September 27.

• Blackalicious

At the height of his beef with Jay-Z, Nas came out against the Roots for their decision to back Jay for his MTV "Unplugged" performance. But that's apparently all water under the bridge now, as Nas and the Roots' ?uestlove are pairing up to record a new song for an ad for MSN Direct's new Smart Watches. The clip was directed by — and stars — Spike Lee. ...

Ludacris and Kanye West aren't headlining stadiums yet, but they'll both be playing Chicago's Soldier Field soon. It's for the Boost Mobile Pro of Snowboarding competition, to be held March 26-27, featuring 45 of the nation's top male and female snowboarders. ... DJ Shadow, Blackalicious and their Quannum crew will trek across the country for a monthlong tour. It starts April 4 in Portland, Oregon, heads to the East Coast and then wraps up May 1 in the artists' hometown of San Francisco. ...

Velvet Revolver were all set to shoot their first video, "Slither," on Sunday in Los Angeles with Kevin Kerslake slated to direct. But during Scott Weiland's probation progress report hearing on Friday (March 5), a Pasadena judge denied the singer's request to join his bandmates for the shoot, which has since been postponed. Weiland is due back in court March 23 for another progress report. He's also due back in court March 15 to face charges of driving under the influence of drugs. ...

The Pixies will release their latest best-of compilation, Wave of Mutilation, and self-titled DVD on May 4 through 4AD records. The releases coincide with the end of their 11-city North American reunion tour. ... Joe Berlinger, the co-creator of the Metallica documentary "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster," can't get enough of the boys in black. In November, he'll release the book "Metallica: This Monster Lives," which will chronicle the three years he spent making the movie and will address many issues that were impossible to explore in a two-and-a-half-hour film. ...

Artsy nü-metal band Otep have been added to the second stage of this year's Ozzfest. The band will have a new album out this summer. ... Great White have scheduled 17 more benefit shows for the Station Family Fund. The first gig is Friday night (March 5) in Hidalgo, Texas, and the concerts run through August 15 in Bellingham, Washington. Great White were playing in a Rhode Island club last year when their stage pyro ignited the walls and ceiling, causing a blaze that killed 100, including the band's guitarist Ty Longley. ...

The Cure's Robert Smith and the Smiths' Johnny Marr make special appearances on 2 a.m. Wakeup Call, the second LP by former Nine Inch Nails drummer/producer Chris Vrenna's Tweaker persona. The follow-up to 2001's The Attraction to All Things Uncertain is due April 20. ...

03.04.2004

Britney Spears has added 17 shows to her North American tour, which kicked off Tuesday. The new dates begin June 22 in Hartford, Connecticut, and run through August 3 in Selma, Texas. Britney's March 28 concert in Miami will be broadcast live by Showtime. ...

After weeks of studio jam sessions that mimicked their nascent days playing on the streets of South Philly, the Roots have wrapped up work on their sixth studio album, The Tipping Point. The LP is due June 29 through the group's new label, Interscope. ... On Sunday night, federal agents arrested the attorney of rapper Turk, who is currently being held on charges of attempted murder near Memphis, Tennessee. Turk's attorney, Scott Crawford, was charged with obstruction of justice, bribery, attempted bribery, possession of crack cocaine and possession of an illegal handgun, according to a spokesperson for the rapper. It is unclear yet if Turk will have to find new legal counsel. ...

A Perfect Circle have added a batch of spring dates to support their second album, Thirteenth Step, which came out in September. The new shows start April 27 in Camden, New Jersey, and run through May 15 in Duluth, Georgia. ... Sonic Youth have finished their latest album, titled Sonic Youth Nurse. The band's 14th full-length studio LP, due in June, is the follow-up to 2002's Murray Street. ...

Longtime Anthrax bassist Frank Bello, who's played with the group since 1985, has quit the band because of "internal reasons." Armored Saint bass player Joey Vera will take his place for Anthrax's tour of Japan and Australia, which begins April 12 in Sapporo, Japan. Bello's last recording with the band will be the live DVD "Music of Mass Destruction," which comes out April 6. The show was recorded in Chicago in December. ... Elvis Costello, Tom Waits and salsa legend Rubén Blades are among the guests on Los Lobos' new album, The Ride, due May 4. Mavis Staples, Bobby Womack, Richard Thompson, Dave Alvin and Café Tacuba also collaborated with the iconic Latin rock band for the project. ...

On Wednesday night, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood premiered his new composition "Smear World" with the London Sinfonietta in Leeds, England. The experimental piece was part of the festival FuseLeeds04, and featured soloists Valerie Hartmann-Claverie and Bruno Perrault on ondes martenots, an instrument similar to the theremin. ... Three well-known bassists from Manchester, England, have united to form a side project that will likely be called Freebase. The group consists of New Order's Peter Hook, the Stone Roses' Mani and the Smiths' Andy Rourke. Hook is also writing new material for the next New Order album. ...

• Nas
• Ludacris
• The Pixies
• Otep
• Blackalicious

Public Enemy's Chuck D.
Photo: Rusty Skelding

ROYAL OAK, Michigan — While his sidekick Flavor Flav is in prison for parole violations, Public Enemy's politically charged leader Chuck D isn't about to let fans forget him.

Chuck repeatedly paid tribute to his clock-wearing court jester with testimonials and recorded vocals during the group's performance Friday at the Royal Oak Theatre.

"Flavor Flav is still locked up in New York because of traffic violations. Let me hear from the Detroit Tigers fans who don't like the Yankees. F--- the Bronx. F--- the Yankees. They did this to him," the rapper said, referring to all things New York, where Flav was arrested and imprisoned.

Afterward, he whipped off the hooded sweatshirt that had been hiding his face and bounced around the stage like a boxer practicing for a round in the ring. The energy level in the room hit the water-damaged roof for "Welcome to the Terrordome."

Two members of the Security of the First World book ended the stage, wearing bulletproof vests and holding swords. Their militaristic dance steps provided a backdrop to a handful of Public Enemy's songs. Professor Griff traded vocal licks with Chuck D.

A good chunk of the show was devoted to Public Enemy's political and social stances. Early in the show, Chuck shared his distaste for the president by flipping off a member of his posse wearing a rubber mask of George W. Bush during the song "Son of a Bush." The Bush stand-in was accompanied by two "Secret Service" agents who followed him as he and Chuck D criss-crossed the stage. The crowd screamed as the "president" flexed his biceps and raised his arms in victory. Near the end of the song, he dropped to his knees and prayed.

The rapper told fans he is opposed to the United States interfering with other countries' problems.

"They send people like us to war … They're trying to become kings of the world like some new Hitler. We need to shoot this sh-- down," he said before seamlessly going into "Shut 'Em Down."

The set list reflected Public Enemy's history, touching on hits such as "Don't Believe the Hype" and "Bring the Noise," as well cuts off of the group's latest album, Revolverlution. Nearly in sync, fans lifted their index fingers in response to "Public Enemy No. 1." Like its opening bands, Public Enemy suffered from a muddy sound mix that hindered performances and in-between banter.

The crowd was a diverse mix: Rockabilly cats mingled with rap fans, and gothic-clothed concert-goers camped out at a bundle of televisions.

Chuck D saw the concert as a way of teaching the crowd about music. He explained that "Detroit was always underrated on the rap" scene, before name-checking hometown rappers Insane Clown Posse and Esham. The rapper offered a vocal missive about Michigan's musical history that included mentions of Motown, soul, Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper.

"Let's bring some soul to the f---ing place. With Revolverlution, we're coming full circle," he added.

Chuck dedicated the "rest of this night to Flav," encouraging the crowd to show their love for his hypeman.

"I miss my man Flav. Really. How many of you miss Flav? I'd like to dedicate at least a moment of silence for Flav." Instead, the band played snippets of Flav's songs. "I had to do that for Flavor Flav, for real."

Last Wednesday, Flav (born William Drayton) was sentenced to nine weeks in prison for multiple parole violations, which include missing appointments with his parole officer and failing to pay fines for traffic violations.

Midway through the set, Griff took over the mic as Chuck took a break offstage. Griff and Public Enemy's band used the opportunity to share their influences, many of whom were rock artists.

During a Rage Against the Machine song, Griff, too, took a political stance, taking aim at Bush as well as the war with Afghanistan and trouble with Iraq.

"President George W. Bush stole the election like his father and his grandfather all did to get where they are today. I'm not doing this to ignite the Bush fans. … We got into a war that we American people know nothing about."

Chuck D re-entered the stage for "Can't Truss It" and "Gotta Give the Peeps What They Need" to close out the set.

Openers Dilated Peoples, Blackalicious and Impossebulls offered a mixed bag of performances.

The Impossebulls, a rap collective that dubs itself the first band to record an album exclusively using the Internet, hit the stage as ticket-holders were still filing in. Dilated Peoples — Evidence, Akaa and DJ Babu — inspired the crowd to rap along to most of the set. Those closest to the stage punched their arms in the air to the beat. But DJ Babu's turntable skills surpassed the rappers' performance.

Blackalicious' set, on the other hand, was consistent. Gift of Gab and Lateef, accompanied by DJ Chief Xcel and two back-up singers, waxed poetic between songs, eliciting an enthusiastic response from the crowd. "This is what we wake up and feel. This is how we feel all day," Gift of Gab said. He lived up to his name, taking deep breaths so that he could rap at lightning speed.

Lateef, who called his music "history in progress," rapped "Sky Is Falling" as he crouched down near the ground. He introduced Gab into the song by waving his arm sharply toward him. Facing each other, Gab wiggled his arms and fingers at Lateef like a puppeteer leading his toy. "Alphabet Aerobics" was clearly a crowd favorite. As Gab shared Blackalicious' version of the alphabet, the female back-up singer walked around the stage like a ring girl, carrying cards on which individual letters were printed.

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Public Enemy
• Dilated Peoples
• Blackalicious

Jay-Z performs at the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour
Photo: Walik Goshorn

WANTAGH, New York — When you hear Jay-Z say "Hovie's home," try not to just think in terms of his hometown. Think about Jigga returning to the stage for his first tour run since last year's Blueprint outings.

Jay had the best of both worlds Tuesday night, performing in New York City's unofficial sixth borough, Long Island, for the start of the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour along with 311, Nappy Roots, Hoobastank, N.E.R.D., Talib Kweli, Borialis, Nonpoint and Blackalicious. (Click here for photos from the show)

Literally making himself at home, Jay — who came on after 311 sang and rapped about losing love, getting the urge to smoke and always being down despite changing some (some) — dubbed the Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater "the Roc-A-Wear Theater" as he stood in front of backdrop of a project building with NYC skyscrapers behind it.

"Hovie's home," he proclaimed before going into "Guess Who's Back," while Beanie Sigel entered the stage riding on a low-rider bicycle. "Guess who's bizack, the boy B. Mizack," Sigel rhymed after Jay finished the first verse.

"How many people out there're ready for The Blueprint [2]?" Jay asked the crowd, whose cheers were their vocal thumbs-up. Jay took the response as a signal to perform a selection from his November 5 release (see "Jay-Z Returns From European Vacation, Ready To Hit Studio").

"Just the intro, just the intro," Jay said of what he was about to unleash. With no music playing in the background, Jigga started to rhyme about a dream he had in which he talked to the Notorious B.I.G.'s ghost. The two discussed the all the playa hating going on in rap, why Biggie died and why Jay should pay his naysayers no mind ("Then he said, 'Like I said before, just keep doing your thing,' he said/ Say no more").

This led into the most energetic portion of Jigga's set as he and Dame Dash pounded the air with their fists for "You Don't Know,' then Memphis Bleek joined the fray to exchange verses with Jay and Beans on "You, Me, Him and Her" ("Amil-lion, gone!" the trio said on the chorus, referring to the former Roc first lady Amil) and "Change the Game," where the audience exclaimed along with Bleek, "Who the f---/ Want/ What?"

The Killer B's weren't the only Roc family members Jay showcased. Freeway, whose debut, Philadelphia Freeway, is dropping in October, had a mini-set within Jay's program. (Cam'ron and the Diplomats were the only members of the R.O.C.'s rap clique who were not in attendance.)

"It's Freeway in the place with B. Sig," he rhymed on his duet with Sigel, "Roc the Mic." "And I got what it takes to rock the mic right, yeah/ Still watch what you say to me, p---k/ 'Cause I got what it takes to dump the AK clip." Verses from his guest spot on Faith Evans' "Burnin' Up" remix and Jay's "1-900-Hustler" followed before he closed with a new selection from his album, "What We Do."

Bleek then ran through a solo set of his own, with his finale being "1, 2, Y'all," the new single from his October 29 release, Misunderstood, which features Jay-Z and Geda K.

Jay squelched any tedium the audience may have been feeling hearing some of the newer, unfamiliar material with his crossover classics "N---a What, N---a Who (Originators '99)" and "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)." The show then came to a halt again as Dash took time out to present Jay with a plaque, commemorating over 15 million records sold.

Jay couldn't decide which one of his hits from those albums he wanted for his grand finale. Lenny Santiago, Jay's A&R at Roc-A-Fella and DJ for the night, threw a few songs at him, but none were moving him.

Finally, "Big Pimpin' " won out as Jay bounced along with his fans until a loud pyro explosion scared the usually calm and collected wordsmith. Hunched over and laughing at himself, Hovie left his home, telling everyone, "That's it."

The Sprite show came to a halt for some audience members even earlier in the day. Security guards escorted out fans who were jumping railings to come to the front of the then-half-empty venue as one of the first acts on the main stage, N.E.R.D., were performing.

"You should let the fans do what they want to do," the group's frontman, Pharrell Williams, urged the security team a few songs into his group's set. As some crowd members continued scurrying about the venue and being chased by security, Pharrell and company seemed to revel in the disobedience.

"In life, it's all about being a rebel," Williams rationalized after "Let's Stay Together." "We're not breaking the rules because we want to be a--holes."

The energy level for N.E.R.D reached its zenith as Pharrell started beat boxing the drum pattern to "Grindin'," the street anthem by his artists, the Clipse.

"The world is about to feel something that they've never felt before," Pharrell boasted, reciting his intro on the song. Meanwhile, the beat kicked in and the song's stars made a surprise appearance to perform. "Griiin-din'/ You know what I keep in a line-in'/ N---as better stay in line when/ You see a n---a like me shiiin-in'," the crowd sang along in unison.

The crowd and performers remained unified in their disdain for the security personnel during Hoobastank's set.

"I just thought that I'd let you know/ Being near you is/ A gift I only wish I could treasure/ But for now I'll sit and wait," lead singer Doug Robb sang on "Let You Know" before being distracted.

"You're gonna kick them out?" Robb asked security, questioning their treatment of few fans standing in the aisles, separated from the stage by a steal barricade. "I'm gonna come to you, then."

Robb then came down into the floor seats, giving the audience all the intimacy of a lounge singer. "You want to take a picture?" he asked a girl who was clamoring for flicks before saying cheese. "Who else wants to take a picture?" Walking down the aisles, he started talking to the crowd, even telling one guy he should pursue singing. By the time the band started playing "Hello Again," a small crowd of spectators formed around Robb and they all started jumping, conjuring memories of Kris Kross in their first video.

Meanwhile, Talib Kweli was performing in front of a small crowd of his own on the second stage, which also housed Nonpoint, Blackalicious and Borialis. Kweli kicked his titanium-strong metaphors, performing hits such as "The Blast" and new selections like "Waiting for the DJ."

On the mic, Talib showed no signs of frustration, but after his performance, he lamented about not being able to reap the benefits that come from being a part of such an eclectic mix of performers.

"I'm not going to get new fans if they keep me on the lower herb stage," Kweli griped. "They need to move me to the bigger stage, that's what they need to do. We're going to try and make it happen."

Clutch, whose group, Nappy Roots, was the first act up on the main stage with an early afternoon timeslot, assessed the situation. "You gripe at the beginning, but then you realize that you have to get over it, so it don't even matter," he said.

"It's a dirty job, but someone has to get the party started," his rap brethren Skinny DeVille added, before Clutch conceded it wasn't so bad.

"It was a lot of love out there," Clutch said. "We got good feedback."

• Jay-Z
• Hoobastank
• N.E.R.D.
• 311
• Talib Kweli

In R. Kelly's first court appearance since his arraignment in June, the R&B singer attended a five-minute status hearing in his upcoming child pornography trial in Chicago on Wednesday (August 7). As part of the beginning process of discovery, the defense received a videotape of the "Judge Mathis Show" which had been subpoenaed from Warner Bros. by the prosecution, though the tape's relevance was not revealed. R. Kelly's next court date was set for September 20. ... In lighter R. Kelly news, the singer, along with Irv Gotti, Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Mario Winans and the Neptunes' Pharrell Williams, tied for Songwriter of the Year at BMI's 2002 Urban Awards on Tuesday night, because each artist had two songs that were played most often on American radio and television this year. Williams also took home the Producer of the Year Award, while Janet Jackson nabbed Song of the Year for "All for You." ...

Nonpoint, Blackalicious, Talib Kweli, Borialis and Camp Lo will perform on the second stage of the Sprite Liquid Mix Tour, which kicks off August 20 at the Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York. They join a previously announced mainstage lineup of Jay-Z and the Roc-A-Fella Family, 311, Nappy Roots, Hoobastank and N.E.R.D. ... Taproot will work with directing team the Brothers Strause (Linkin Park, Godsmack) on the video for their new single, "Poem," according to their publicist. The shoot will take place on Thursday (August 8) and Friday (August 9) in Los Angeles. ... Texas alt-rock darlings ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead spent their weekend shooting a video for their single "Relative Ways" in the Mayan ruins of Uxmal, Mexico. Singer/guitarist Conrad Keely directed the clip, which is inspired by Graham Hancock's book "Fingerprint of the Gods," according to the band's Web site. ...

The DVD of the Wilco documentary "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" will feature an additional 72-minute movie, band photos and liner notes as well as 21 previously unreleased Wilco songs. The band has already recorded 26 new tracks for the follow-up to this year's Yankee Foxtrot Hotel. ... Raphael Saadiq will release "Still Ray" as the second single from his debut solo album, Instant Vintage. Saadiq will promote the album with a fall tour, which is expected to start in September. ... Boy George continues his career as a club DJ with the release of the mix album A Night Out with Boy George on August 13. Tracks from Christian Smith & John Selway, Jon Carter and the Gay and Lesbian Disco Association are featured on the record. ... A remix of Sacario, Angie Martinez and Fat Joe's "Live Big" will be included on the soundtrack for "The Transporter," due September 17. Previously released songs from Missy Elliott, Tweet, Knoc-Turn'Al, Nate Dogg and Keith Sweat are among the album's other tracks. ...

08.06.02

The odd trio of 'NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick,, Tenacious D's Kyle Gass and alternative rock icon Mike Watt appear in the video for Good Charlotte's "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." The track is the first single from The Young and the Hopeless, due October 1. ... Beyoncé Knowles and her sister Solange, Master P and his son Lil' Romeo, 3LW, Westlife, Isyss, Play and Lil' J will perform at Blockbuster Teenfest '02 on August 31 at 8 p.m. at San Diego's Coors Amphitheatre. The festivities will also include a teen job fair as well as celebrity Olympics featuring a go-kart race, basketball shooting contest and freestyle hip-hop lyricist battle. ...

The Best of Heavy D & the Boyz is slated for release on August 13. The compilation album brings together 11 digitally remastered hits from the group, four of which made it into the top 10 on the R&B charts. ... Badly Drawn Boy has set an October 22 release date for his third album, Have You Fed the Fish? His second release, the soundtrack to "About a Boy," was released in the spring. ... Sleater-Kinney have posted their entire upcoming album, One Beat, on the Web site of their label, Kill Rock Stars. The limited-edition live stream also features full lyrics to the album, which is available through mail order on the Web site now and in stores on August 20. ...

Jewel and her mom/manager have purchased their first script, "Wave," by David Rothmiller, for their production company Magic Lantern Entertainment. The mother/daughter duo will serve as executive producers of the project and Jewel will appear in the film, which chronicles the upheaval surrounding the reunion of a mother and her estranged son in Canada. ... The White Stripes will release a CD/DVD of their next single, "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," on September 2 only in the United Kingdom. The single will feature the song and new video as well as the video for "Fell in Love With a Girl" and live versions of "Suzy Lee" and "Stop Breaking Down." ... Icelandic electronic music ensemble Gus Gus will kick off their first North American tour in three years on September 9 in Los Angeles. Balligomingo are opening on the trek, which will promote Gus Gus' Attention, due August 27. ...

• R. Kelly
• Jay-Z
• Taproot
• Fat Joe
• Blackalicious

Everyone expects "Spider-Man" to be a box office blockbuster, but it's likely to make a pretty big dent on the Billboard albums chart as well.

The movie's soundtrack features Aerosmith doing their version of "Theme From Spider-Man" alongside tracks by Sum 41, Alien Ant Farm, the Strokes, Pete Yorn and others.

Meanwhile, Ali from Nelly's St. Lunatics crew reveals how he keeps his baggy pants manageable on Heavy Starch, which features guest spots from Nelly, Ms. Toi, Toya and Murphy Lee.

Blackalicious drop Blazing Arrow, the follow-up to 2000's Nia, and newcomer Vanessa Carlton releases Be Not Nobody.

And from the wayback machine, former teen heartthrob David Cassidy issues his fourth non-Partridge effort, Then & Now, while Robert Palmer releases the quizzically titled Best of Both Worlds, an anthology having nothing to do with Jay-Z or R. Kelly and featuring songs from 1974-2001.

Out Tuesday, April 30:

• 38th Parallel - Turn the Tides (Squint)
• 7th Rail Crew - Sevenation (Capo)
• Alabama Thunderpussy - Staring at the Divine (Relapse)
• Ali - Heavy Starch (Universal)
  Read about it ... "St. Lunatic Ali Unveils His Lexicon, Cleaning Instructions"
• Trey Anastasio - Trey Anastasio (Elektra)
• Babu: Dilated Junkie - Duck Season 1 (Sequence)
• Big Brother and the Holding Company - Live in San Francisco 1966 (Varese Sarabande)
• Big Tymers - Hood Rich (Cash Money)
• Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow (MCA)
• Boeing - Beta (Urabon)
• Brant Bjork & the Operators - Brant Bjork & the Operators (Music Cartel)
• C-Murder - Tru Dawgs (Riviera)
• Vanessa Carlton - Be Not Nobody (A&M)
• David Cassidy - Then & Now (Decca)
• Ray Chew & Crew - Feelin' It (Charu)
• Crosstops - Cloverleaf:Fandango (Tinnitus)
• Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane: Where Dead Angels Lie (Nuclear Blast)
• Electric Universe - Unify (EFA)
• Electric Wizard - Let Us Prey (Music Cartel)
• Ghostface Killah - Wonderful World of Wallabees (Warner Bros.)
• Gonzales - Presidential Suite (EFA)
• Miguel Graca - Monkey Mass (Bombay)
• Hip Hop Dub All-Stars - Hip Hop Dub All-Stars Volume 1 (Illstyle)
• Iniquity - Grime (Candlelight US)
• Insomnium - In the Halls of Awaiting (Candlelight US)
• Jethro Tull - Living With the Past (Fuel 2000)
• Kalmah - They Will Return (Century Media)
• Mark Knopfler - "A Shot at Glory" soundtrack (Warner Bros.)
• Mr. Lil One - Tha Sicko Hits (East Side Records)
• My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult - Golden Pillz: Luna Remixes (Underground Inc.)
• Nuspirit Helsinki - Nuspirit Helsinki (Guidance)
• Robert Palmer - Best of Both Worlds: The Robert Palmer Anthology (1974-2001) (Hip-O)
• Andrew Pelker - Station to Station (EFA)
• Amanda Perez - Where You At? (Universal)
• Ram-Zet - Escape (Century Media)
• REO Speedwagon - Hits (reissue, Legacy)
• Rocking Horse Winner - Horizon (Equal Vision)
• Roman Candle - Says Pop (Outlook Music)
• Simon & Milo - Ready Ready Set Go (Hollywood)
• Slug & El-P - RPM: Revolutions Per Minute Version 2.1 (Counterflow)
• Solar Dawn - Equinoctium (Candlelight US)
• Sonic Sum - Plasterman (Ozone)
• South Park Mexican - Reveille Park (Dope House)
• Suffocation - Despise the Sun (Relapse)
• Teddy Jack - Teddy Jack (Leon Russell)
• Tiamat - Judas Christ (Century Media)
• Tino - Tino's Breaks Volumes 1&2 (Tino Corp)
• Various artists - Battleaxe Warriors 2 (Battleaxe)
• Various artists - Between or Beyond the Northern Lights (EFA)
• Various artists - "Changing Lanes" soundtrack (Varese Sarabande)
• Various artists - House 2 Trance Me (Universal Music Latino)
• Various artists - More Ethereal Melodic Trance (Water Music)
• Various artists - Notes From Thee Real Underground Vol. 3 (Invisible)
• Various artists - Sole Beats (Sole)
• Various artists - T.H.C.: The Hip-Hop Collection Vol. 1 (High Times)
  Read about it ... "High Times Records: The Greenest Label In The Biz"
• Various artists - Tribute to the Beast (Nuclear Blast)
• Various artists - Troubadours: The Essential Album (Manteca)
• Various artists - "Salton Sea" soundtrack (Varese Sarabande)
• Various artists - Sharp Dressed Men: ZZ Top Tribute (RLG)
• Various artists - "Spider-Man" soundtrack (Columbia)
  Read about it ... 'Spider-Man' Theme To Come Courtesy Of Aerosmith
• Various artists - Ultra Chilled 02 (Ultra)

May 7:

• Grandmaster Flash - Essential Mix (Warner)
  Read about it ... Grandmaster Flash Brings Back '70s, '80s Beats On Essential Mix
• Musiq - Juslisen (Island/Def Jam)
  Read about it ... Musiq Soulchild Croons Conversation Pieces On Juslisen
• Naughty by Nature - Iicons (TVT)
  Read about it ... Naughty By Nature, 3LW Save The Day
• Various artists - Family Values Tour 2001(Elektra)
  Read about it ... Aaron Lewis Assists STP, Linkin Park On Family Values CD

May 14:

• Atticus Fault - Atticus Fault (Island/Def Jam)
• Various artists - Now Presents Urban Hits (Columbia)

May 21:

• Breeders - Title TK (Elektra)
• Tommy Lee - Never a Dull Moment (MCA)
• Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage (Universal)

June 4:

• Eminem - The Eminem Show (Interscope)
  Read about it ... The Doc's Diagnosis: Eminem Still Crazy
• Lil' Romeo - Game Time (Universal/No Limit)
  Read about it ... Lil' Romeo Battles His Evil Twin On B-Ball Court

• Aerosmith
• Sum 41
• Alien Ant Farm
• C-Murder
• St. Lunatics

This week Sheryl Crow soaks up the sun and the spotlight with C'mon, C'mon, while Destiny's Child fans get their first glimpse at the trio's solo albums with Michelle Williams' gospel disc, Heart to Yours.

Phish — who built a reputation as well as an enormous fanbase on the strength of their live shows — release six more volumes of their live CD series, capturing shows in Tinley Park, Illinois; Camden, New Jersey; Townshend, Vermont; Columbus, Ohio; Denver; and Noblesville, Indiana, dating as far back as 1989.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of "The Last Waltz" — the concert film directed by Martin Scorsese documenting the Band's final performance — a four-CD boxed set featuring the 30 tracks from the original soundtrack and 24 previously unreleased tracks hits stores this week. The new material features performances by the Band with Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan, among others. A special-edition DVD of the movie arrives next month.

And in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Sid Vicious' death (although the timing is slightly off — the former Sex Pistols bassist died February 2, 1979), U.K. label Ozit Morpheus will release Outrageous & Outspoken!. The CD of conversations with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious features gems from Vicious like "I'm better at borrowing money than anyone else in the world."

Maybe if you pick up this album and learn some tips, you can soon buy the whole lot of this week's new releases.

Out Tuesday, April 16:

• A Global Threat - Here We Are (Punk Core)
• Alien Sex Fiend - Singles 1983-1995 (Versailles)
• ATB - Dedicated (Radikal)
• Steve Azar - Waitin' on Joe (Mercury Nashville)
• Beards - Funtown (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
• Adam Beyer - Stockholm Mix Sessions Vol. 3 (Turbo)
• Black Dog - Unsavoury Products (Hydrogen Dukebox)
• Sheryl Crow - C'mon, C'mon (A&M)
• Dat Politics - Plugs Plus (EFA)
• Demigodz - Godz Must Be Crazy (Ill Boogie/Blackberry)
• Denali - Denali (Jade Tree)
• Dianogah - Millions of Brazilians (Southern)
• DJ Evolution & Lucien Foort - Fluid (Bliss)
• Flowing Tears - Serpentine (Century Media)
• Flying Tigers - The Flying Tigers (Atlantic)
  Read about it ... Former Powerman 5000, Frankie Machine Members Soar In Flying Tigers
• Isaac Freeman & the Bluebloods - Beautiful Stars (Lost Highway)
• Gallygows - Give it to Her (Rainbow Quartz)
• Gooding - Life Itself (S Three)
• Grand Magus - Grand Magus (Rise Above/The Music Cartel)
• Cary Hudson - Phoenix (Black Dog)
• Kingpin Skinny Pimp - Pimpin' & Hustlin' (Rap Hustlaz)
• Quincy Jones - Ultimate Collection (Hip-O)
• Legends of Rodeo - A Thousand Friday Nights (Bieler Bros./MCA)
• Michel Legrand - Michel Legrand by Michel Legrand (Decca)
• Maktub - Khronos (Ossia)
• Melvins - Hostile Ambient Takeover (Ipecac)
• Midtown - Living Well Is the Best Revenge (Drive Thru/MCA)
• Mr. Lil One - Once in a Decade Part 2 (Street Noise)
• MU330 - Ultra Panic (Asian Man)
• Bob Ostertag - Say No More, Volumes 1 & 2 (Seeland)
• Paris Combo - Attraction (Ark 21)
• Pedro the Lion - Control (Jade Tree)
• Phish - Live Phish 07 (3 CD, Elektra)
• Phish - Live Phish 08 (3CD, Elektra)
• Phish - Live Phish 09 (3 CD, Elektra)
• Phish - Live Phish 10 (3 CD, Elektra)
• Phish - Live Phish 11 (3 CD, Elektra)
• Phish - Live Phish 12 (3 CD, Elektra)
• Selby Tigers - The Curse of the Selby Tigers (Hopeless)
• Sex Pistols - Outrageous & Outspoken! (Ozit Morpheus)
• Skratch Comando - Incredible DJs (Bomb)
• Sucka MCs - Da Album (Ace Fu)
• Sufjan Stevens - Enjoy Your Rabbit (Asthmatic Kitty)
• Supersuckers/Electric Frankenstein - Splitsville (split CD, The Music Cartel)
• Tad Morose - Matters of the Dark (Century Media)
• Tapping the Vein - Damage (Nuclear Blast)
• TTC - Ceci N'est Pas Un Disque (Big Dada/Ninja Tune)
• Ursula 1000 - Kinda Kinky (ESL)
• Michelle Williams - Heart to Yours (Columbia)
  Read about it ... Destiny's Child Solo Gospel Album Features 9/11 Tribute
• Matt Zarley - Debut (Fynsworth Alley)
• Various artists - "Bird" soundtrack (Legacy)
• Various artists - Buddha Lounge (Buddha Lounge)
• Various artists - "Enigma" soundtrack (Decca)
• Various artists - Hollywood Disco (Thump)
• Various artists - "The Last Waltz" soundtrack (expanded reissue, Rhino)
• Various artists - Legends of Harmonica (Rhino)
• Various artists - Old School Funkin' Hip Hop Vol. 2 (Thump)
• Various artists - "Panic Room" soundtrack (Varese Sarabande)
• Various artists - "Pete's Dragon" soundtrack (Disney/Vista)
• Various artists - Purified: The Liquid Lounge Chill Out Series (Water Music)
• Various artists - "The Rescuers Down Under" soundtrack (Disney/Vista)
• Various artists - "Silk Stockings" soundtrack (Rhino)
• Various artists - Smooth Grooves: After Hours Cool Down (Rhino)
• Various artists - Still More Bounce (Wolfpac)
• Various artists - "Straight, No Chaser" soundtrack (Legacy)
• Various artists - "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" soundtrack (Disney/Vista)

April 23:

• Naughty by Nature - Iicons (TVT)
  Read about it ... Naughty By Nature, 3LW Save The Day
• Tina Novak - Been Around the World (Arista)
• Q-Tip - Kamaal the Abstract (Arista)
• Sneaker Pimps - Bloodsport (Tommy Boy)

April 30:

• Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow (MCA)
• Donell Jones - Life Goes On (Arista)
• Various artists - "Spider-Man" soundtrack (Columbia)
  Read about it ... 'Spider-Man' Theme To Come Courtesy Of Aerosmith

May 7:

• Grandmaster Flash - Essential Mix (Warner)
  Read about it ... Grandmaster Flash Brings Back '70s, '80s Beats On Essential Mix
• Musiq Soulchild - Juslisten (Island/Def Jam)
  Read about it ... Musiq Soulchild Croons Conversation Pieces On Juslisen
• Various artists - Family Values Tour 2001(Elektra)
  Read about it ... Aaron Lewis Assists STP, Linkin Park On Family Values CD

May 14:

• Atticus Fault - Atticus Fault (Island/Def Jam)
• Various artists - Now Presents Urban Hits (Columbia)

• Breeders - Title TK (Elektra)
• Tommy Lee - Never a Dull Moment (MCA)
• Raphael Saadiq - Instant Vintage (Universal)

May 28:

• Eminem - The Eminem Show (Interscope)
  Read about it ... The Doc's Diagnosis: Eminem Still Crazy

June 4:

• Lil' Romeo - Game Time (Universal/No Limit)
  Read about it ... Lil' Romeo Battles His Evil Twin On B-Ball Court

• Sheryl Crow
• Michelle Williams
• Phish
• The Melvins
• The Flying Tigers

Zack De La Rocha
Photo: Epic

While there's no word yet on when Zack de la Rocha's post-Rage Against the Machine solo album will be released, fans can expect to hear the lyricist next month collaborating with Blackalicious.

De la Rocha is one of several guests on Blazing Arrow, the major-label debut from the San Francisco rappers, due April 30.

Others joining Chief Xcel and the Gift of Gab are roots rocker Ben Harper, the Roots' ?uestlove, Jurassic 5's Chali 2Na and Cut Chemist, DJ Shadow, Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori and beat poets Saul Williams and Gil Scott-Heron.

Blackalicious filmed the video for the record's first single, "Make You Feel That Way," in Los Angeles last month. Shadow, a former labelmate at Solesides who contributes on the song, Jurassic 5 and Dilated Peoples all have cameos in the clip.

De la Rocha is expected to release his solo album this year. Dan "The Automator" Nakamura and ?uestlove have produced tracks (see ).

• Blackalicious
• Rage Against the Machine

Jay-Z, Hoobastank, N.E.R.D., Live At The Sprite Liquid Mix Tour

• Jay-Z
• Beanie Sigel
• Memphis Bleek
• 311
• Hoobastank