Artists & Music

MC Bahamadia Bequeaths `BB Queen' EP On Goodvìbe/Atomìc Pop BY RAQIYAH MAYS native. "I went away; now I'm back. lining the Goodvibe 2000 tour with ter cut is pending. NEW YORK -With the July 25 re- I just came to pay everybody a visit." labelmates . The exten- "We're not the type of company that lease of her much -anticipated EP Working with a short -list of pro- sive itinerary includes dates in Seat- front -loads projects. It's going to be a "BB Queen," Goodvibe /Atomic Pop ducers, including seasoned beat - tle, Vancouver, Toronto, Boston, building process for her," says Lopez. master MC Bahamadia returns with master Jay Dee, "BB Queen" (which Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Los "With the kind of record she has, you a six -song effort that picks up where is short for `Beautiful Black Queen ") Angeles, San Francisco, New York, definitely have to first set a foundation her critically lauded 1996 debut, offers enticing hip -hop with pleasing, and Portland, Ore. Upon conclusion for her on the street before you even "Kollage," ended. jazz- enhanced arrangements. In of the tour, Bahamadia will resume try to approach commercial radio." "In my mind, I say that listeners assembling the team with whom she work on her next full -length album. The label is targeting several BAHAMADIA and critics are like family and would work on this project, Bahama- "I decided to go with the EP to re- markets to break "BB Queen ": New friends," says the Philadelphia dia intentionally opted for old friends and familiar faces. introduce myself," she says. "Plus, I York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los "I wanted to use all in -house pro- really wanted a summer release, and Angeles, San Francisco, and Wash- ducers because, spiritually, they knew I knew I wasn't going to have enough ington, D.C. While Goodvibe works where I was," she says. "A lot of times time to record a full 12 songs. It took hip -hop listeners with "Common- when you're out of the loop for a little me six months to put this EP togeth- wealth," it will attack drum'n'bass bit and try to call in a couple of favors, er." enthusiasts with yet another cut ONE CLICK CAN [people will often ignore] you until "Special Forces," the first single from the EP "Pep Talk." you prove yourself all over again." from "BB Queen," was serviced to "She's doing a great job promot- Bahamadia's production agree- mix -show programmers at rhythm ing herself," notes Lopez. "She has a HELP YOU DISCOVER ment with the EMI -tied Pro- radio June 26. The more airwave - sharp awareness of the business, and ductions (headed up by Guru of friendly jam "Commonwealth she has skills that a lot of female Gangstarr fame) came to an end sev- (Cheap Chicks)" will go to R &B MCs could take note from. She's on THE STARS OF eral years ago, when EMI Records radio in mid -July. A video for the lat- top of her game." folded. She then traveled to Europe, TOMORROW touring countries like Holland, Ger- many, France, and England, quickly making a name for herself in the European drum'n'bass scene by col- amusement laborating on tracks for outside proj- BOXSCORE ects with artists like . i b U S n e S S® TOP 10 CONCERT GROSSES To maintain her stateside rap Gross Attendance presence, Bahamadia hosted the ARTIST(S) Venue Date(s) Ticket Price(s) Capacity Promoter weekly hip -hop radio underground TINA TURNER, LIONEL Continental Airlines June 16 -17 $1,145,015 27,584 SEX Music Group show "Bahamadia's B- Sides" on RICHIE, JANICE ROBINSON Arena $125.25/$85.25/ 34.398 WPHI Philadelphia for two years. East Rutherford, N.J. $65.25/$45.25 two shows one sellout These experiences, as well as her tight family connections, contributed to the direction of her career. KISS, TED NUGENT Palace of Auburn May 24- 25 $1,128,300 27,493 Palace Sports And "I have about 85% power over my SKID ROW Hills $75/045 two Entertainment Inc., Auburn Hills, Mich. sellouts SFX Music Group, career right now," she says. "I'm Belkin Productions much more involved in the market- ing process. I have a say over the whole layout of the project -in JIMMYBUFFETT &THE Nissan Pavilion at June 15 -17 $1,665,491 50,140 SEX Music Group CORAL REEFER BAND Stone Ridge $54.50/$27 two terms of my Web site or different Bristow, Va. selouts venues I play ... everything." The marketing plan for `BB Queen"

includes an extensive Internet cam- RICKY MARTIN Nassau Veterans June 15 -16 $1,662,101 25,096 SFX Music Group paign through the artist's site Memorial Coliseum $96/$767$51/$36 29.642 (bahamadia.com). The weekly updated Uniondale, N.Y two shows site will consist of her personal movie picks of the month, book reviews, a show called "BB Queen Radio," and JIMMY BUFFETT & THE Blockbuster -Sony June 8-10 $1,595,847 49,681 SFX Music Group CORAL REEFER BAND Music Entertainment 550.50/526.50 49,744 forums where new artists are given Centre two shows the opportunity to be heard and where Camden. N.J. www.music- licence.com society issues will be addressed. the Web site that can make you rich! "The project is a walk into Ba- KISS, TED NUGENT Jones Beach Theatre June 9 -10 $1,292,865 23,542 SEX Music Group hamadia's world and everything that SKID ROW Wantagh, N.Y $85/560/$35 28200 Click here to register for free and begin she's into," says James Lopez, senior two shows director of marketing at Atomic Pop. one sellout scouting musical talent from around the "She's such an eclectic artist. She's Or put up globe. your established or into so many things that she wants 'N SYNC. SISOO PINK America West Arena June 5 -6 51,187,943 24,329 Evening Star up- and -coming stars and acts now for to express to her fans." Phoenix $49.25/939.25 two Productions, SFX Not only will visitors to the site sellouts Music Group licencing deals worldwide. Save time. get an opportunity to surf through Make money. Bahamadia's world, but they will be able to hear clips of the upcoming 'N SYNC, SISQO, PINK Alamodome lune l $1,151,541 25,800 SFX Music Group Try full -length album. Visitors will have San Antonio $49.25/$39.25 27.315 us. the chance to become part of the artist's E -team, an online street team that helps promote Goodvibe 'N SYNC, SIS00, PINK Compaq Center May 30 -31 $1,140,005 23,808 SFX Music Group artists. E -team members are given Houston $49.75/$39.75 24.626 T- shirts, autographed posters, and two shows exclusive show tickets as rewards. "The most important thing with

Bahamadia is you pick up where she TINA TURNER, LIONEL Nissan Pavilion at June 14 $963,282 20,032 SFX Music Group left off [with "Kollage "] and you take RICHIE, JANICE ROBINSON Stone Ridge $79.25/032 22,549 MUSIC-LICENCE.COM AG Bristow, Va. it to another level," says Bahamadia's www.music- Iicence.com manager, Timothy Maynor of Timo- friedensallee 7 -9 22765 hamburg germany theous Entertainment. "She carries phone: + +49 40 39 84 07 70 fax: + +49 40 39 84 07 98 a presence that you couldn't help but Copyrighted and compiled by Amusement Business, a publication of Billboard Music Group. e -mail: office @music- Iicence.com Boxscores should be submitted to: Bob Allen, Nashville. Phone: 615 -321 -9171, want to handle and manage." Fax: 615 -321 -0878. For research information and pricing, call Bob Allen, 615-321 -9171. Bahamadia is currently co -head-

14 www.billboard.com BILLBOARD JULY 8, 2000 www.americanradiohistory.com