MTV News Online

NEW YORK — R&B singer Aaliyah joined Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella Records camp Tuesday night at a Manhattan screening room for a sneak preview of "Backstage," the movie that gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at last year's Hard Knock Life tour.

Those present caught an all-access glimpse into what turned out to be the biggest-grossing hip-hop tour to date. In addition to plenty of performance footage, the film, due Sept. 6, also captures Jay-Z, DMX, Redman, Method Man and the entire Hard Knock crew, as well as all the drama (mechanical and otherwise) behind the staging of the tour.

One moment finds DMX losing himself in the thrill of a new remote-controlled car, only to hand that car over to a young fan who offers a freestyle in return.

Before the movie hits theaters, its soundtrack will arrive in the form of DJ Clue Presents Backstage Mixtape (Soundtrack to the Movie). The companion CD boasts new music from various Roc-A-Fella artists, as well as Foxy Brown, T-Boz, Mya, OutKast, Cash Money Millionaires and Capone and Noreaga. The album is set to hit stores on Aug. 29.

— Elon Johnson, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes