Virgin/EMI is preparing
to release a greatest hits collection from Gangstarr titled Mass Appeal: The
Best Of Gang Starr. The CD features 21 of Gangstarr’s greatest hits, spanning
their 20-year-career. Included on the CD are two bonus tracks. "Tha Squeeze"
is from the Training Day soundtrack, while "Natural" was taken
from the Spin This soundtrack. Both songs appeared on a Japanese import
version of the group’s 2003 release The Ownerz. A CD/DVD deluxe version
of Mass Appeal: The Best of Gangstarr is also available. The deluxe version
comes with 13 music videos from the group, including clips for "Step In The
Arena," "Just To Get A Rep," and "Take It Personal."
Mass Appeal: The Best Of Gang Starr hits stores Dec. 26. Lil’
Kim has inked a deal with talent agency International Creative Management (ICM)
to represent her in all aspects of business, including her foray into television.
"I am excited and anxious to work with Jeff Berg and the ICM team,"
said Kim. "This is a very important period and transition in my life as I
further explore my creativity and build upon my film and television career, while
keeping the music as my soundtrack and my base." Lil’ Kim has had roles in
more than seven films, including She’s All That and Ben Stiller’s Zoolander. Her
reality television series Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown was the highest-rated
premiere in BET history. The rapper currently has a major development project
with VH1 in the works. Terror
Squad leader Fat Joe, rap icons Ice-T and Kurtis Blow, and singer Chris Brown
are among the artists taking part in VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors Celebrity Hoops game.
The celebrity exhibition game will take place Oct. 15 at the Wellness, Recreation
and Athletic Center of Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus, as part of VH1
Hip-Hop Honors Week, which runs Oct. 12-17. The week aims to highlight various
elements of Hip-Hop culture, as well as focus on education, music, culture, fashion,
and cuisine. Other celebrities participating in the event include Pete Rock, Busy
Bee, Grand Master Caz, Whodini, Grand Master Melle Mel, DJ Mister Cee, DJ Cash
Money, DJ Alamo of Brand Nubian, Pharoahe Monch, and Doug E. Fresh, who will be
the MC for the day. Tickets for the game are priced at $20 and $50 and will be
available beginning Sept. 21 through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com). Proceeds
from the game and a portion of the ticket sales will benefit the Madison Square
Boys and Girls Club.Houston-based
rapper/songwriter Baby Bash has inked a deal with Arista Records. In 2003, he
released a pair of albums for Universal, including the gold-selling The Smoking
Nephew and the follow-up, Super Saucy, which spawned the No. 1 hit
singles "Suga Suga," and "Baby I’m Back." As a songwriter,
Baby Bash has penned smash records for artists like Frankie J and Arista labelmate
Paula DeAnda. Bash, who originally hails from Vallejo, Calif., was a member of
Potna Deuce and Latino Velvet. In 2001, he moved to Houston and hooked up with
South Park Mexican’s Dope House Records to release his debut, Savage Dreams.
"I look forward to Arista elevating me to a higher level," said
Bash. "This business is crazy and it feels good to have people on my team
who see and understand my vision."
