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R&B/ -NOP Makes A `Proposal' Rapper Says Duo's Second Project On Blackground Is His Last As An Artist

BY RASHAUN HALL Timbaland says the CD will be his understanding how it works and NEW YORK- Timing is everything last as an artist. how the money is made." when it comes to releasing a record. For Magoo, who found himself Working with renewed focus, the Just ask Timbaland & Magoo, whose grappling with newfound fame after duo crafted Indecent Proposal, a 15- and The Blues,. BlackgroundNirgin sophomore proj- track set featuring guest appear- ect, Indecent Proposal, is now set for ances by , , Jay -Z, SNOOP'S NEW HOME: Snoop Dogg is Backstage after the Atlanta show, a Nov. 20 release after a long delay. and Tweet, among others. Magoo setting up shop at MCA Records. But Wright commented on her desire for "I turned [the album] in a year - credits Timbaland with matching the former No Limit/Priority rapper onstage spontaneity. "I'm just being and -a -half ago, and it's just [now] artists to its tracks. still has one more studio album under me," she says. "It's easy. I wrote a coming out," a frustrated Timbaland "He has an idea of what direction that contract before he can exit. The bunch of songs that I really like, and I says. "And now we're in a recession - each song should go in," Magoo says. MCA deal also includes Snoop Dogg's have some very capable musicians and it doesn't make sense." "It has a lot to do with the concept Doggy Style Records, formerly distrib- vocalists helping me create the colors The delay was partially due to and who can come up with a good uted by TVT, and the production of and the pictures that I want onstage. Blackground changing parent labels, flow for that particular track -it has direct -to -video films starring Doggy From that point on, whatever comes Magoo adds. "It wasn't a matter of us to be complementary." Style artists. Priority retains ownership out, just comes out. I don't believe in not wanting to go back into the stu- Prior to interviewing Timbaland, of the catalog recorded during the packaging things. It's all about the dio," he says. "Our label was leaving Billboard asked Magoo whether a rapper's tenure with the label. heart. If putting it together is being Atlantic at the time, and it took a solo project is in his future. "I've Rapper Juvenile has established refined, I don't want to ever be refined. while for them to do that." never seriously thought about doing Uptown Project Records, distributed Wild rice is a beautiful thing." The hiatus proved to be a positive a solo album," he replied. "I've by Orpheus/EMI. Brother Corey Gray period for both MCs. Timbaland thought about it in passing-like if serves as CEO. The label's first proj- ON THE RECORD: The second install- expanded his résumé, producing the duo's first disc, Welcome to Our Tim decided he wanted to stop rap- ect is the Oct. 23 release Live From ment in De La Soul's Art Official hits for Aaliyah, Missy "Misde- World, the time off provided clarity. ping. It would be really difficult for Holly Grove by newcomer Skip. The Intelligence series via Tommy Boy meanor" Elliott, , and "When you get a little bit of suc- me to think about doing a 's other acts include Wack -O, bows Dec. 4. AOl: Bionix features , among others. He also cess, it's overwhelming in the without him. We've been together Corey C, and Young Buck. Juvenile collaborations with Slick Rick, established Interscope imprint Beat beginning," Magoo explains. "For since 1990, so [being solo] would be remains on the Cash Money roster. Cypress Hill's B -Real, 's Club, home to Sparxxx. me, [the time off] was therapeutic. weird. Tim and Magoo is more a MC Hammer is back with World- Cee -Lo, and Cuban artist Pariquo Discouraged by Indecent's delay, I had to get used to the business, friendship than it is a group." Hit Music Group. The label has inked Fernandez. First single is "Baby Although the two have been an exclusive pact with Red Distribu- Phat" . .. L.A. -based K'otic Records, together for 11 years, that hypothet- tion and will release Hammer's new headed by president Don Miles and ical solo project may become a reali- album, Active Duty, Nov. 20. distributed through Bungalo/Uni- ty for Magoo. "My first love is pro- Sources say Kenneth "Babyface" versal, has released its first project. NOVEMBER 10 Ya' 'a Com -N marks the 2001 Billboard Hot Rap Singles,. ducing," Timbaland explains. "I just Edmonds' Nu America imprint is Nev Seen It didn't have the control that I wanted leaving the Arista fold and looking debut of 22- year -old Chicago -born Compiled by SoundScan from a national subset panel of core R &B /Hip -Hop stores. [with this album]. I wasn't able to for a new joint- venture partner. rapper Big Cizzle The Tempta- I ... I I oversee things the way I would have Word has it that Edmonds will con- tions' new Motown album, Awe- TITLE Imprint & Number /Distributing Label ARTIST liked to in terms of release dates, etc." tinue as an Arista artist and produce some, arrives in stores Nov. 20; the

9 Weeks Al Number I Vt, NUMBER 1 '7 r- Also prior to the interview with Arista acts. Arista did not have any first single is called "4 Days." 1 Petey Pablo Timbaland, Billboard spoke with comment at press time. Jivg.a i7"'Zomba O0 2 I'M YOUR GIRL Dena Cali Blackground president Jomo Han - BOOK BEAT: Industry entrepreneur ES30119/Treyden 0 kerson about the delayed project. READY TO POUNCE: Singer Jaguar Russell Simmons sat still long 3 NOTHING'S WRONG Won -G Featuring DJ Quik TNO 70021 /0NA e "Tim is usually two years ahead Wright recently treated Atlantans to a enough with author and former Bill- 4 RE-ENTRY GET MO Sherm Featuring Bigga Figgas of the curve," Hankerson says. "So sampling of songs from her long -antic- board columnist Nelson George to Deans List 001 0 BUSTER Dennis Da Menace even if you have some tracks that ipated debut, Denials, Delusions & pen his adventures in hip -hop: Life 1st Avenue 00010 were done a year ago, this album is Decisions, due Jan. 22, 2002, on the and Def Sex, Drugs, Money, and JUMP UP IN THE AIR Original P Introducing Hyped Up Westbound Soljaz Westbound 555 e still really hot. He really took his Roots' Motive Records imprint God. It is published by Crown Pub- HOW WE DO Big Lew BKA Popeye Reds Featuring Nonchalant c' time with it. through MCA. The Philadelphia artist's lishers ... Singer and former Erykah Col -Beast 7117 0 MY LIFE Kool G Rap Featuring G Wise 9 "We've been doing marketing on electrifying stage show at Club Kaya Badu backup vocalist N'Dambi Rawrus351. O this project already," Hankerson con- drew a gathering of the city's music graces the front and back cover and a PO' PUNCH Po' White Trash And The Trailer Park Symphony Pocket Change 2121 0 tinues. "We did the `Drop' video as a industry professionals and recording two -page inside spread of New York GOTTA HAVE IT Chocolate Bandit video -only type of record to re- intro- artists. Wright, who some have dubbed City-based photographer Marc Bap- Countryboy 303/Warlock 0 LETS BE FRIENDS TaTa + Brando Featuring Larry Poteat Of The Donz duce them to the marketplace and set "the Millie Jackson for Generation X," tiste's first book, Beautiful: Nudes. Heartless 12726 0 the groundwork. We've been doing combines theatrics and storytelling Available Nov. 7, the Universe - THINK BIG Crimewave Crimewave 72002 0 O some grass -roots things on this proj- with a soulful vocal performance. published book also includes singer MAKE IT VIBRATE Rising Son ect for quite a while. It's not like we're Word is finally beginning to spread: N'dea Davenport and models Naomi Darkside 003' 0 0 WE THUGGIN' Fat Joe Featuring R. Kelly taking the music a year later and just The talented singer / also Campbell and Alek Wek ... Yet rerror Squad /Allan. 851799AG O now putting it out there. It's going to wowed an industry crowd Oct. 29 at another book about the history - BREAK YA NECK s J 211 %1' O be reminiscent of the sound [Tim] is LA.'s Knitting Factory. making Motown era is hitting stores. GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS Jay -Z known for. When you're lining up Motown: The Golden Years by Chica- Roc- A -Feba /Def Jam 588793'/I0JMG O UGLY Bubba Sparxxx 9 artists like Petey Pablo and Jay -Z, it go -based blues and soul writer Bill Beat Cleh 487e0r/Interscope O takes time to do that kind of album. Dahl is issued through Krause Pub- WHO WE BE DMX Ruff Ryders /Def Jam 572720' /IDJMG O Once you get that album in the can, lications ... On the educational tip, 19 BOUNCE Survivalist you want to roll it out and take the there's Take Care of Your Music Busi- Fa' Lne 3567/Treydan 0 by P. Kellogg, 20) RE- ENTRY LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Mr. Cheeks best care of it that you can as a label." ness attorney John Universal 015135. 0 When asked to respond to Timba- who knows both sides of the story- 21, FATTY GIRL Ludacris, LL Cool J & 9 F8OI5283'NniverselO land's disdain regarding Indecent he's a former member of Cameo and 22 THE BEDROCK Phatty Banks Presents Club Drama Proposal's delay, Hankerson says, counts Gerald Levert, the O'Jays, and Divided We Fall /Supertight 0 his The book r'z DIDDY P. biddy Featuring ^7 "We've gone through our ups and G -Dep among clients. Bedeoy 78908' /Arista O downs, but we're plodding ahead is issued by Bushkill, Penn. -based 24 NEW ROCK EM Boobakaw And Tha Wild Younginz Featuring Vita Whisesione 1277 0 full -steam with this project. I'm con- PJ's Publishing. (25' NEW 2 -WAY Rayvon Featuring Shaggy, Ricardo "Rik Rok" Ducent, Brian & Tony Gold 9 fident that he's given me an album Bra Yard 155891 /MCA 0 O Additional reporting by Rashaun America certification that I can go five or six singles deep Illiecords with the gg eatest sales gains this week. sr Videoclip availability. Recording Industry Association of IRIAAN for net shipment of 500 000 units (Gold). RIAA Certihcationfor net shipment of 1 million units (Platinum), with additionalmillion indicated by num- with, and this is what we do in the Hall in and Rhonda berfollbwing the symbol. O CD Single available. 0 DVD Single available. O CD Maxi -Single available. Cassette Single available. 0 Vinyl maxi -single available. O Vinyl single available. © Cassette maxi -single available. Catalog number is for O.' Indicates O unavailable, in which music business." Baraka in Atlanta. case, catalog number is for Gt, 0, ©.0 or © respectively, based on availability. ©2001, Billboard/BPI Communications and SoundScan, Inc.

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