DJ Lethal
Photo: Lethal Dose Records

SANTA MONICA, California — When he's not supplying killer beats for Limp Bizkit, DJ Lethal is keeping busy with his new record label, Lethal Dose Records, and an upcoming solo debut.

The scratch master recently signed his first artist, New York rapper Rock of the underground hip-hop duo Heltah Skeltah and the group Boot Camp Clik.

Rock's upcoming solo album, Planet Rock, is expected to feature guest vocals by Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Outlawz, Method Man and Redman, while producers will include Lethal, Rockwilder (Method Man & Redman), Shok (DMX, Rah Digga) and Scott Storch (Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre). Timbaland (Jay-Z) and the Neptunes (Ol' Dirty Bastard, Kelis) are being sought as well.

Lethal met Rock through Tha Liks (formerly Tha Alkaholiks) last summer, but he's been a fan of Rock's work for years. "Besides his style and how authentic it is, his voice just puts it in there," Lethal said while hanging out with Rock in a recording studio Thursday night. "After one note of his voice, you know it's him." Rock first gained notice in Heltah Skeltah with his partner Ruck. An underground buzz over their 1996 debut, Nocturnal, resulted in a deal with Priority Records, which released their second album, Magnum Force, in 1998.

Rock laid down several songs last year for a solo album he had planned to release through Priority; several of those tracks will be carried over to Planet Rock. "I'm an adrenaline junkie, so expect a lot of adrenaline on my album," the rapper said.

Lethal said his vision for Lethal Dose Records is "breaking barriers, all authentic, no Britney Spears put-together pop stuff — bringing back the phat sh--." The Lethal Dose imprint is a joint venture between the DJ and Geffen Records.

Meanwhile, Lethal is making progress on his solo LP, though he's had to put the project on the back burner while Limp Bizkit tours behind last year's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water. He's hoping the group's upcoming hiatus will allow him to complete the disc in time for a late summer release.

"It's hard to finish, especially when I have to find so many artists to rap, since I don't rap," he said. "I get a month at a time, and I use that month to make music, so by the time I'm ready to have vocals, I end up going back out on tour." Lethal had planned for the effort to be half rock and half rap (See "DJ Lethal Taps Korn, Sugar Ray, STP Singers For Solo LP"), but the album is shaping up to be heavy on the hip-hop. "I might sprinkle a little bit of rock in there, but it's pretty much straight hip-hop, my first love," he said.

Tha Liks, Kurupt, Rock and Dilated Peoples have already recorded their vocals. Kurupt appears on a track with a late rapper named Smash, whom Lethal had planned to sign to his label.

"Apparently he used to ride his bike to see these girls in the 'hood," Lethal said. "And one day, somebody just pulled up on him and thought he was somebody else or something and shot him." Lethal said he and Everlast are discussing the possibility of a House of Pain reunion, but finding the time to make it happen has been difficult. "I'm open to it — we're just trying to figure it out."

• House of Pain
• Limp Bizkit

Eminem has thrown another punch in his ongoing war of words with Everlast, recording a song in which he calls on fans to physically attack the former House of Pain MC.

While adding to previous swipes on Everlast's music, age and heart troubles, Eminem asks fans to "whip his ass" and threatens to kill Everlast himself. The brutal "Quitter," recorded last week with his group D-12, has turned up on radio and Napster.

"Hit him with sticks, bricks, rocks, throw sh-- at him, trip him, spit on him, treat him like a 'ho, bitch slap him," Eminem orders in a rapid-fire flow. "Do it for me, do it for Fred, do it for Limp, do it for rock, do it for rap, do it for Kid, do it for Ice-T, do it just to do it. F--- it — he's a bitch. He ain't gonna hit you back — he's nuthin.' "

"Quitter" is the latest in a series of songs the rappers have aimed at each other, and it follows Everlast's blistering "Whitey's Revenge," which also surfaced on radio and online recently.

Eminem's Interscope spokesperson, Dennis Dennehy, said there are no plans to release "Quitter" commercially. He had no comment on the song's content.

"Quitter" features an ominous backdrop of timpani drums before eventually moving into a funky breakdown. It samples Tupac Shakur's "Hit 'Em Up," in which the late MC bragged that he had sex with rival rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s wife, Faith Evans.

Eminem echoes Everlast's suggestion in "Whitey's Revenge" that they make their battle physical. "F--- you, fat boy, drop the mic, let's fight," Eminem raps in the song.

The chorus, sung in the same melody as that of The Marshall Mathers LP's "Marshall Mathers," includes the lyric: "If you talk about my little girl in a song like that again, I'm gonna kill you."

While working on "Quitter" in a Los Angeles studio, Eminem told MTV News that "the only thing that makes me salty" in "Whitey's Revenge" is Everlast's reference to his daughter.

"You better check your kid for DNA," Everlast suggests in the song.

"Battle, fight, you said my little girl's name in a song, and that's enough to make me do things that I can't talk about right now," Eminem said.

He said he had hesitations about releasing the song. "I don't even want to give him any more press. I wish him the best with his career and his heart. ... If I put it out I don't want to be arrested for murder 'cause he'll have another heart attack."

Everlast suffered a heart attack while recording his solo breakthrough, Whitey Ford Sings the Blues (1998), which featured the hit "What It's Like."

Everlast could not be reached for comment at press time because he was traveling from New York to Los Angeles, according to his management office. His Tommy Boy Records publicist had no comment.

The rappers' beef first emerged on record when Everlast appeared on a remix of Dilated Peoples' "Ear Drums Pop." Everlast rapped, "I'll buck a 380 on ones that act shady/ You know you ain't the one that repped peckerwood status."

Eminem responded with "I Remember," the B-side to the "Sh-- on You" single he released with D-12 in October. Everlast swiped back with "Whitey's Revenge."

Both Eminem and Everlast say the fued stems from when they crossed paths before a concert in early 1999. Eminem says he didn't greet Everlast because he didn't recognize him right away, and said Everlast didn't acknowledge him. Everlast's version is that he tried to congratulate Eminem on his success, and Eminem blew him off.

"It was no disrespect, but then he goes and disses me on an underground record thinking I'm not going to hear it," Eminem said. "I'm like, I'm an MC, and ... I'm not gonna let someone else dis me on a record and not say something back. It's in my blood; it's a competition thing."

• Eminem
• Everlast
• House of Pain

The ongoing lyrical battle between Eminem and Everlast has entered round three.

Eminem blasted the former House of Pain rapper on a track called "I Remember" last month, and now Everlast is fighting back with a blistering attack called "Whitey's Revenge."

"Initially I was concerned with this lyrical bout being extremely one-sided [and] favorable to Eminem, because Everlast has never been known as a battle rapper," MTV News correspondent and radio personality Sway (of the "Sway & King Teck Show") observed. "However, on this particular song, he measures up to the challenge."

Everlast pulls no punches on the slow-grooving track, using the intro to dedicate the song to Eminem's mother, who has waged a very public legal battle with her son.

"It was hard not to be drawn in to [the song's] dark, eerie undertone — it led me to believe that Everlast was going for Eminem's jugular vein," Sway said.

On the track, Everlast asks "Will the real Slim Shady please act up?" and suggests both rappers drop their mics and make their battle a physical one. He then goes on to question Eminem's sexuality and to accuse him of being an "Ecstasy junkie." Everlast also taunts Eminem for his high-profile troubles with his wife, Kim, rapping, "You better check your kid for DNA."

Everlast also accuses Eminem of being a mainstream sellout and a fake gangster on the track.

Speaking about the song, Everlast said that Eminem's talent as an MC is undeniable, but that Eminem is used to taking lyrical shots at "caged deer" like pop singers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Everlast noted that he is not 'NSYNC, and that he will fight back.

Eminem's record label, Interscope Records, was unprepared to offer a response on Thursday, but expected that Eminem would offer an official reaction soon.

It is not yet known if "Whitey's Revenge" will find a commercial release, but Everlast said that he plans to release the song via the music-sharing service Napster.

The beef between the two first emerged — at least on record — with Everlast's appearance on a remix of Dilated Peoples' "Ear Drums Pop." On the track, Everlast rapped, "I'll buck a 380 on ones that act shady/ You know you ain't the one that repped peckerwood status."

Eminem then responded with "I Remember," a track that appeared as the B-side to the "Sh-- on You" single Eminem released with his group D-12 in October. On the song, the Detroit rapper takes swings at Everlast's career, his age, and even his heart troubles (see "Eminem Attacks Everlast On B-Side").

• Eminem
• Everlast
• House of Pain

Madonna is returning to New York City, as the actress/singer has announced plans for a one-off North American show to be held at Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom on November 5.

Tickets to the gig, which will also feature a DJ set from Deep Dish and former House Of Pain MC Everlast, are free and will be given out via various radio contests in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Madonna won't be playing a full set at the Roseland concert and is viewing the show as "a chance for me to get my feet wet on the stage again and a way to say thank you to an intimate group of my fans for all their support over the years," according to a statement issued by Madonna on Monday.

"It's a party that 3,000 people are invited to," Madonna's missive continued, "and I am going to sing a few songs at my party."

Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said that the Roseland show was the only performance Madonna has scheduled for the U.S. and was not an immediate precursor to a planned tour.

Rosenberg did indicate, however, that there were plans for a similar Madonna gala to be held at London's Brixton Academy before year's end, although the date for that show has yet to be confirmed.

In related news, Madonna has selected "Don't Tell Me" as the second single from "Music," and she will reunite with photographer/director Jean-Baptiste Mondino to shoot an accompanying video in the next few weeks.

Mondino filmed the singer's clips for "Open Your Heart" and "Justify My Love," among others. He also shot the images of Madonna for her "Music" album, which SoundScan reports has already sold more than 883,000 copies in its first month in stores.

• Deep Dish
• Everlast
• House of Pain
• Madonna

Hailed in the underground as an incredibly gifted battle rhymer at a time when commercial success still eluded him, Eminem appears to be returning to his roots with a biting attack on onetime House Of Pain leader Everlast called "I Remember."

The track (a blues infused hip-hop number over which Eminem mostly sings, mocking Everlast's more recent solo output) has surfaced as the B-side to the "S**t On You" single Em released with his group D-12 earlier this month.

In the song, Eminem takes the Irish-American rapper/singer to task for his switch in styles over the years, going all the way back to Everlast's pre-House of Pain days as a member of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate.

Em hits far below the belt with comments on low-points in Everlast's career ("Back in '94/ Like right before Miss Everlast was Whitey Ford/ when House Of Pain was out of fame/ destined to never jump around again"), his age ("Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit came along/ Now nobody wants to hear your old ass sing no more") and even his heart troubles ("I was right there laughing when I heard the news/ I just wish the cardiac would have murdered you").

Em actually censored himself (somewhat) in one line, singing, "I wasn't trying to steal your light or nothin'/ But you're a homosexual white rappin' Irish..." offering a "beep" over what may have originally been a swipe at Everlast's conversion to Islam.

In the song, Em seems to suggest that he was once a fan of Everlast, singing, "I went to get your s**t/ Man, I was into it/ But then you went and took your style and switched the s**t/ Now you sound ridiculous."

Everlast isn't too damaged by the barbs, at least according to his record label, Tommy Boy Records. A statement issued by the label on behalf of Everlast said, "He is amused. He thinks that the song is quite funny."

The drama, or at least a good chunk of it, may be attributable to a verse that Everlast (using the alias White E. Ford) contributed to a remix of the Dilated Peoples song "Ear Drums Pop," which appears as the last track on the group's latest album, "The Platform."

In the verse, Everlast (whose own "Eat At Whitey's" album is set to drop this week) took an old-school style swipe at America's latest chart-topping white rap sensation. Mentioning no names, he said simply, "I buck a 380 on ones that act shady You know you ain't the one that repped peckerwood status," adding, "let's take it back to the House/ Slide off your blouse/ Lift up your skirt/ And expose your panties/ For the world to see/ You can't rep it like me."

"Why would you diss me?" Em snarls back in "I Remember," boasting, "...I could rap circles around you/ Plus I can sing better than you/ And I don't sing/ And probably play guitar better/ And I ain't never touched a string."

• Eminem
• Everlast
• House of Pain

To coincide with the release of their highly anticipated new album, "Breach," this week, the Wallflowers have just lined up a short, nine-date West Coast tour, beginning on November 9 in San Diego.

Everlast, who is slated to issue his own new LP, "Eat At Whitey's," on October 17, has been tapped to open the Wallflowers shows, and he will be rolling into the tour after finishing up his current stint on Santana's fall outing (see "Everlast, Santana Hook Up For Fall Shows").

As for the Wallflowers, the Jakob Dylan-fronted outfit has just completed a multi-night stand supporting the Who at Madison Square Garden in New York City (see "Wallflowers Talk 'Breach,' Will Open Who Shows"). While he was in town, Dylan talked with MTV News' Kurt Loder about playing for a band that is almost as legendary as his dad.

Dylan said. "It's great. We were just thrilled to be asked. We got to open for the Rolling Stones a few years ago, now the Who, and maybe the Beatles some day. You know, [we're] holding out.

"[The Who] sound amazing. Absolutely amazing. It's pretty incredible, really, and they look younger than we do. They're playing not only like they used to, but apparently they've been taking even more lessons," he said, laughing. "They sound even better than they used to. It's pretty great." [RealVideo]

Dates for the Wallflowers-Everlast November mini-tour:

• 11/9 - San Diego, CA @ University of San Diego
• 11/10 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
• 11/11 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Arlington Theater
• 11/14 - Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
• 11/15 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theater
• 11/18 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom
• 11/19 - Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
• 11/21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
• 11/22 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium

• Everlast
• House of Pain
• The Wallflowers

As Everlast prepares to drop his third solo album, "Eat At Whitey's," on October 17, the former House Of Pain MC has announced plans to join guitarist Carlos Santana on the road for a monthlong run of dates starting on September 28.

• 9/28 - Englewood, CO @ Pepsi Arena
• 9/30 - Kansas City, KS @ Sandstone Amphitheater
• 10/1 - St. Louis, MO @ Riverport Amphitheater
• 10/3 - New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
• 10/5 - Dallas, TX @ Smirnoff Center
• 10/6 - Houston, TX @ Woodlands Pavilion
• 10/7 - Houston, TX @ Woodlands Pavilion
• 10/8 - San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
• 10/10 - Albuquerque, NM @ Mesa Del Sol Amphitheater
• 10/11 - Phoenix, AZ @ Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion
• 10/13 - San Diego, CA @ Coors Amphitheater
• 10/14 - Los Angeles @ Hollywood Bowl
• 10/15 - Los Angeles @ Hollywood Bowl
• 10/17 - Irvine, CA @ Irvine Meadows Amphitheater
• 10/20 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
• 10/21 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater
• 10/22 - Sacramento, CA @ Sacramento Valley Amphitheater
• 10/24 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena
• 10/25 - Seattle, WA @ Tacoma Dome
• 10/26 - Vancouver, BC @ GM Place

• Everlast
• House of Pain
• Santana

With a new album on the way, hip-hop folkster Everlast has settled on a title for effort and has shot a video with Grammy-ordained guitarist Carlos Santana.

When Everlast's next effort arrives this fall, fans will find it under the title "Eat At Whitey's," an allusion to his breakthrough 1998 album, "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues."

As we previously reported, Everlast has enlisted the help of Cypress Hill's B-Real, N'Dea Davenport (formerly of the Brand New Heavies), The Roots' human beatbox-turned-rap soloist Rahzel, Goodie M.O.B.'s Cee-Lo, doo-wop veterans The Persuasions, and Beck's father, folk artist David Campbell, for the album (see "Everlast Recording 'Whitey Ford' Follow-Up").

Another of Everlast's collaborations, his work with Santana on "Put Your Lights On," will soon resurface as Everlast recently joined the guitar legend to shoot a video for the song. The track turned up on Santana's "Supernatural" album, and the two will hit the road together for a tour starting August 18 in Milwaukee.

"It's easy. It's all his show. I just have to show up with a guitar and play, you know," Everlast told MTV News of playing with Santana. "I mean, it's incredible. I did the record with him... He was a legend already, and now he's had like the biggest record. His record's still huge. He deserved it. He earned it all. It's the product of good karma, I think." [RealVideo]

If you want to catch the karma live, here's where you can find Everlast and Santana sharing the bill:

• 8/18 - Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheatre
• 8/19 - Tinley Park, IL @ New World Music Theatre
• 8/20 - Noblesville, IN @ Deer Creek Music Center
• 8/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center

• Everlast
• House of Pain

Everlast is recording the follow-up to his Grammy Award-nominated solo album, "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues," and he plans to have it in stores by October.

For the still-untitled work, Everlast will record songs with artists such as N'Dea Davenport (formerly of the Brand New Heavies), The Roots' human beatbox-turned-rap soloist Rahzel, Goodie M.O.B.'s Cee-Lo, B-Real of Cypress Hill, and doo-wop veterans The Persuasions.

On May 25, the rapper-turned-singer will enter a Los Angeles recording studio to work with Beck's father, folk artist David Campbell, who will arrange string sections for two songs from the upcoming album.

According to Everlast's label, the performer may once again collaborate with guitarist Carlos Santana on a song.

Everlast recently shot a video for his collaboration with Santana, "Put Your Lights On," and taped a performance of the song for the concert special "A Supernatural Evening With Santana," which will air on Fox-TV on Wednesday, May 31 (see "Santana Special To Air On Fox").

This summer, Everlast will also serve as the opening act for Santana during select dates on his tour. Here are a few dates that have become available:

• 8/18 - Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheater
• 8/19 - Chicago, IL @ New World Music Theater
• 8/20 - Indianapolis, IN @ Deer Creek Music Center
• 8/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center

• Everlast
• House of Pain

It never hurts to have friends, especially when you're looking to jazz up a new single.

-- John Gill

• Cypress Hill
• Deftones
• Eminem
• Everlast
• House of Pain