JT Money
Photo: Priority

Now that the hip-hop community knows "Who Dat" is, JT Money is gearing up for his second album, Blood, Sweat and Years, scheduled for a May 1 release.

The follow-up to 1999's Pimpin' on Wax features the former Poison Clan frontman rapping in an authoritative, elder statesman-like tone on the collection's 14 songs, which range from optimistic to confrontational.

"The title is about the struggle and time I put in this game," said JT, whose new set features production from Dallas Austin, C. "Tricky" Stewart and Sam Sneed. "Pimpin' on Wax, that's something I do, but this album is what I'm going through, with no tears." Although the Miami rapper showcases a serious slant on his forthcoming album, there's no shortage of his signature festive dance tunes, as evidenced by the potential smash "Lil' Charlie," which has Nelly-like potential, and the lead single, "Hi Lo," which some feel could be another "Who Dat," the song that introduced the sultry Sole to the hip-hop community and earned JT Money his first platinum plaque.

"My manager picked that to be the first single because he said it felt like 'Who Dat,'" JT said of "Hi Lo." "He said it's got the same vibe, coming out strong and crunk. It's all good, though, because 'Hi-Lo' is tight. I kill some busters on there." But JT makes a point to balance the mayhem on Blood, Sweat and Years with messages. The album's most poignant moment comes on "Father to Son," where JT urges his child to become educated and avoid falling into a life of crime.

"I went through the bull for him," JT said. "I hope I can influence the young brothers to evaluate their situations with their kids." Even though JT Money hopes to inspire his listeners to live earnest lives, some of his work with the Poison Clan explored criminal activities. On the Florida group's debut album, 1990's stunning 2 Low Life Muthas, JT included a potent mix of titillating crime capers, arousing sexual interludes, irresistible dance cuts and a dash of social commentary.

As the JT Money-fronted group continued recording and rotating members in the '90s, JT emerged as a cold-hearted player willing to call out a trifling female.

"We brought truth to the game," JT said. "Before I was making records, I felt like cats were begging them hos. They made the women harder on us on the street. It took a player like myself to come out on wax and make cats players again." JT hopes to do just that and more with Blood, Sweat and Years, which should mark a triumphant return for the pioneering southern rapper.

"It's a new time and I grow with the time," he said. "That's survival. I don't think I could fall off. When I'm missing in action, I'm just holding out."

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Female rapper Solé, who got her big break as JT Money's counterpart in his "Who Dat" video, will hook up once again with JT -- this time for her new single and video, "4,5,6."

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Master P, JT Money, Goodie M.O.B., Silkk the Shocker, and Eightball & MJG are just a few of the artists from down south that are represented on the new rap compilation, "Get Crunk (Da Album)."

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JT Money is preparing to release his new single, "Halright," and plans to head out on the road next month with fellow rappers Juvenile and Cash Money for a summer tour to support JT's debut album, "Pimpin' on Wax."

• 7/2 - Houston, TX @ Astro Arena
• 7/3 - Dallas, TX @ Reunion Arena
• 7/8 - Nashville TN @ Municipal Auditorium
• 7/9 - Greenville, SC @ Bi-Lo Center
• 7/10 - Birmingham, AL @ Boutwell Auditorium
• 7/11 - Montgomery, AL @ TBA
• 7/15 - Augusta, GA @ Richmond Coliseum
• 7/16 - Mobile, AL @ Civic Center
• 7/17 - Lafayette, LA @ Cajun Dome
• 7/18 - New Orleans, LA @ Uno Lakefront
• 7/22 - Miami, Fl @ Miami Arena
• 7/23 - Jacksonville, Fl @ Vets Memorial Coliseum
• 7/24 - Tampa, FL @ Sundome
• 7/25 - Orlando, FL @ Centroplex
• 7/29 - Columbia, SC @ Carolina Coliseum
• 7/30 - Hampton, VA @ Convocation Center
• 7/31 - Atlanta, GA @ Morris Brown College
• 8/1 - Louisville, KY @ Freedom Hall
• 8/5 - Memphis, TN @ Mud Island
• 8/6 - Indianapolis, IN @ Market Square Arena
• 8/7 - Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena
• 8/8 - Dayton, OH @ Hara Arena
• 8/13 - Cleveland, OH @ Convocation Center
• 8/14 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
• 8/15 - Milwaukee, WI @ Mecca
• 8/19 - St. Louis, MO @ J's on The Landing
• 8/20 - Kansas City, MO @ Municipal Auditorium
• 8/21 - Little Rock, ARK @ Statehouse Convention Center

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ANAHEIM, California — Creed vocalist Scott Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti will start working nights this week as they resume writing the follow-up to 1999's smash Human Clay. Refreshed from taking the holidays off, the songwriting duo plans to buckle down four nights a week and pen an album that intensifies the larger-than-life feel of its predecessor.

"It's gonna be more extreme on all extremities — the harder stuff a little harder, the epic stuff a little more epic," Tremonti said Saturday.

Creed plan to spend the next few months writing before heading into the studio in July and hopefully releasing the disc in October or November. Tremonti said the band, which worked with longtime friend and producer John Kurzweg on both My Own Prison (1997) and Human Clay, has not picked a producer for the album.

The spiritual Florida rockers parted ways with bass player and founding member Brian Marshall in August and hired Brett Hestla as their touring bassist. Hestla will be working on an album with his group Virgos while Creed are recording their LP as a trio, but the bands are considering a joint fall tour after both albums hit stores. Hestla said he would play both sets.

Tremonti, Hestla and Creed drummer Scott Phillips attended last weekend's National Association of Music Merchants trade show in Anaheim, where Paul Reed Smith Guitars unveiled Tremonti's new signature model.

Tremonti said he had been working with PRS to design the guitar for about a year. "It's the baddest guitar on the planet. It's a technically perfect, thick, massive-sounding guitar. I think it's the best in the world today." Creed, who cleaned up at several recent award ceremonies, are up for two Grammys next month. "With Arms Wide Open" is nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rock Song, the latter of which would go to its songwriters, Tremonti and Stapp.

"A Grammy would be great — I'm just not gonna count on it," Tremonti said. "We've won a lot of awards this year, and I'm happy about 'em. If we don't win a Grammy, we don't win a Grammy. We've got a lot more albums ahead. But we're up for two of them, so we'll keep our fingers crossed." For much more on Creed, don't forget to check out the MTV News Online feature Creed: Higher Learning"

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After almost ten years in the music biz, rapper JT Money is finally getting his due, thanks to his hit song, "Who Dat," which has been entrenched atop the "Billboard" Rap Singles chart for the last few weeks.

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