CASH BOX MAY 7, 1 994 IS URBAN

THE TOP 25 RAP SINGLES RHYME

PLAYER'S BALL (Laface/Arista 2-1060) Outkast 1 8

2 GOT ME WAITING (Uptown/MCA S4815) . . . Heavy D. & The Boyz 2 4

3 DUNKIE BUTT (Sireet Life/Scotti Bros.) 12 Gauge 3 11

4 PUMPS AND A BUMP(Giant/Reprise 18218) Hammer 6 6 ^BORN TO ROLL

(Delicious Vinyi/Eastwfest/AG 98315) Masta Ace Incorperated 5 6 6 SOMETHING TO RIDE TO

(Scariace/Priority 53851) Conscious Daughters 7 4 (JC.R.E.A.M. (Loud/RCA 62766) Wu-Tang Clan 11 8

8 GIN & JUICE (Death Row/lnterscope 98318) . . . Snoop Doggy Dogg 4 8

9 YOU KNOW HOW WE DO IT (Priority 53847) Ice Cube 9 9 [gJCOMlN' ON STRONG (Eastwbst 98334) Sudden Change 12 4 jJJ|SWEET POTATOE PIE (Outbust/RAL/Chaos 77 350) Domino DEBUT 12 WHATTAMAN

(Next Plateau/London/PLG 857 390) Salt-N-Pepa/En Vogue 8 10

13 CANTALOOP (FLIP FANTASIA) (Blue Note/Caprtol 44945) 10 The name of the upcoming album by LaFace Records act Outkast is a mouthful. Try US3 10 saying Southemplayalisticadillacmuzic fast three times. This act got some mileage |Jj|lT AIN’T HARD TO TELL (Columbia 77385) NAS 17 18 out of their first single “Player's BaM" while ona promotional tour of the West Coast 15 IF THAT'S YOUR BOYFRIEND (HE WASN’T LAST NIGHT) Pictured during a stop in San Francisco are (l-r): Jeff House, national director of rap and marketing, Arista; Outkast members Big Boi and Ore; and Anthony Daughtry, (V\Amer Bros /Maverick/Sire 18326) Me’Shell NdegeOCellO 16 6 Bay Area Street promoter. [|U|l GOT CHA OPIN (Week/Nervous 20083) Black Moon DEBUT

17 GANG STORIES (RAuchaos/coiurrbia 77368) . . South Central Cartel 13 3

18 MASS APPEAL (Chrysaiis/ERG 5811) Gang Starr 18 7

19 I’M OUTSTANDING (Jive 42201) Shaquille O’Neal 14 8 20 IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE MONEY

(Coiumbia/RAL/chaos 77168) Terminator X 20 6 21 BACK IN THE DAY (Tuff Break/A&M 7009) Illegal DEBUT

22 U N I TY. (Motown 3225) Queen Latifah 15 13

23 ON AND ON (Virgin 38415) Shyheim 23 8

24 HEY D.J. (Mercury 858 402) Lighter Shade Of Brown 24 8

25 WHOOMPI (THERE IT IS) (Life/Bellmark 79001) Tag Team 25 9

The newly-formed Infrared Music Group recently joined the Priority Records fold

(see story below). Pictured at a signing of the deal are (l-r, standing): Em Llamado, director of A&R, Priority; Jon Krashna, KKR Management Group; and Bryan Turner, president of Priority. Seated are (l-r): Producer CMT, E-A-Ski, president of Infrared; RAP SINGLE REVIEWS and artist Rally RAI. By Dr. Bayyan

INFRARED LIGHTS UP PRIORITY: A multiple artist production deal and distribution pact has been cast by Priority Records and MYSTERME & DJ 20/20: “Unsolved Mysterme” (Gee Street Independent newly-formed Infrared Music Group under the direction of company 162-440 579-4). president E-A-Ski and CMT. Initial releases under the pact will be Mysterme uses the “I’m the greatest me in the world” technique while Virgin Ski and CMT's debut album. Infrared , and Tighter Than A by working over relatively simple beats with excessive amounts of turntable Oakland-based artist Rally RAI. Ski & CMT have produced some scratching. The tight hooks are the best feature. Both songs, “Call Me recognizable talent, including Spice 1, Das EFX, KAM, Digital Myster” and “Couldn’t Get It Right,” rely on loose jazz tracks. Underground and Champ MC. The duo also contributed the track “Trigga’s Got No Heart” to the Menace II Society soundtrack album. MISTERY: “Rollin’ Wit’ The Funk” (Cisum 9303-4). Priority president Bryan Turner said of the deal: “Ski and CMT It’s obvious that Mistery values beats more than lyrics since the deep bass are the most incredibly rare and talented artists and producers we’ve hnes almost drown out his voice. The song has a ’70s funk feel to it, but the heard since Dr. Dre. They have the same regard for quality music that sharp scratches let you know that it’s pure gangsterism. On The B-side, we do. Infrared Music Group is a great asset to Priority.” Mistery glorifies his favorite tool in “9mm,” going into detail about its SOUND NIBBLES: Atlantic Records artist MC Lyte recently cele- destructive capabilities. brated her induction into the Hard Rock Cafe’s Memorabilia Collec- tion by donating her jacket from the “Paper Thin’ ’ video and the Gold TEENAGE FAN CLUB & DE LA SOUL: “Failin’” (Immortal/Epic single “Ruffneck.”.. .CLARIFICATION: In a recent column item Soundtrax ESK 5598). (“Harmful Gangsta,” Cash Box April 16) it was not clear that the Reminiscent of an old Mother Goose fable, this group uses soul-soothing Recording Industry Assn, of America cooperated with Congress on guitar music and distorted vocals to create a blues-like melody. De La Soul hearings concerning gangsta rap, and is an ardent supporter of First uses their thought-provoking poetry to play the role of the fallen rapper who Amendment rights. Cash Box apologizes for any contusion the item didn’t stay true to himself or his art. may have caused.