R &B Billboard & Bet JAMELIA'S U.K. DEBUT SETS STAGE FOR U.S. CONQUEST (Continued from preceding page) dates of the high -profile rock and Los Angeles -mixed album will dance V2000 festival Aug. 19 -20 in need a revamp for a possible Essex and Staffordshire, which early -2001 stateside release, the precedes the release of the next omens bode well. One of the two are pleased to single, "Boy Next Door." tracks recorded in America, "Boy Jamelia, who nabbed a best Next Door," was produced by Rory newcomer nomination at this Bennett, who wrote and produced year's Brit Awards and just came K -Ci & JoJo's hit "All My Life." off Montell Jordan's European And Montell Jordan and Tyrese tour, has "been picked up for most have offered to work with Jamelia announce of the key territories," adds on future projects. Wozencroft. The plan is to first "Without wishing to sound work Europe with staggered Dickensian, there's no substitute releases, particularly Scandinavia, for hard work," says Lindsay France, Holland, Spain, and Italy, Wesker, MTV Digital music where promotional copies of the al- programming manager. "Jamelia bum have just been serviced to the doesn't need to change her style media. for the American market -she Although Jamelia's manager, just needs to be given a break by Phil Byrne of Scotland -based U.S. programmers. My advice to Heineken Maxx Management, believes the them is, `Try it, you'll like it.' "

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Video Magic. DMX's new single, "What They Want" -from the Ruff Ryders /Def Jam album "... And Then There Was X "-features Dragon /Def Soul's Sisgó and was produced by Sisgó's Dru Hill colleague Nokio, who also makes a cameo Heineken appearance in the accompanying Hype Williams- directed video along with LL Cool J. Pictured during the video shoot at Los Angeles' Paramount Studios, from left, are Williams, DMX, Sisgó, and Def Jam /Def Soul president Kevin Liles. Bill rd up. c august 16-18 2000 NYC

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'Life Gets Better.' That was the theme of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund's recent fund -raiser at Los Angeles' Sunset Room. The evening- hosted by Michael Colyar of "BET Live" with a performance by singer Alyson Williams - I I y paid tribute to producer Jimmy Jam, veteran record industry executive Larkin w w. b i b o` r d Arnold, and diabetes researcher Dr. Bill J. Releford. Pictured, from left, are Jam, Williams, Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund president Dwayne Ashley, actress Anna Maria Horsford, and dinner committee co -chair Maurice Bennett. w w w. b e t. c o m

BILLBOARD JULY 29, 2000 www.billboard.com www.americanradiohistory.com