Professor Griff Has `Soul' Member Of Public Enemy Releases Solo Effort On The Right Stuff

BY GAIL MITCHELL Atlanta -based Griff, who's managed audience in cafés and open -mike LOS ANGELES- Professor Griff by Creamwerks and published sessions." has something to say. And Public through Taquiyyah Music (BMI). Tom Cartwright, VP of product and The Blues,. Enemy's Minister of Information "Then I let them do what they development at the Right Stuff, goes on record Sept. 11 with his wanted to do. I just tried to capture agrees. "Radio isn't our main GET READY: Moyo Music/Interscope and 13- year -old female singer first new solo project since 1998's a positive energy and vibe. avenue of attack," he says. "The artist Bilai joins the list of per- Jhene, arriving early next year via Blood of the Profit. "However, I still want people to ideal is to get Griff in coffeehous- formers Aug. 30 at the first Bill- Epic. IMx is also featured in House And the Word Became Flesh (the es, record stores, and clubs that board R &B /Hip -Hop Awards show Party 4, released Aug. 14. Right Stuff /EMI) is set against a stage poetry readings. We're also at the New York Hilton. The event rhythmic panorama of R &B and planning major Internet buzz caps our second annual R &B/Hip- PEOPLE MOVES: Kirk Burrowes, for- jazz grooves. The 24- track, four -skit [including publicenemy.com, Hop Conference, scheduled for mer manager of Mary J. Blige (now set represents 15 years of previous- bringthenoise.com] as well as a tel- Aug. 28 -30, in association with with the Firm) and co- founder of Bad ly recorded poetry from Griffs four evision spot that we want to air on BET. Bilai, whose first album, 1st Boy Entertainment, has launched his earlier solo albums, as well as his BET and in selected markets." Born Second, debuted last issue at own music and entertainment-relat- work with Public Enemy. The Also on tap is a tour, tentatively No. 10 on the Top R &B /Hip -Hop ed enterprise, the Gutter Keys (212- resulting mix of words and music is titled Sounds of Truth. Still in the Albums chart, will share the stage 831 -4781) . .. Robert Ajakwe and something Griff (aka Richard Grif- preliminary planning stages, it with Tank, Jaheim, Mystic, tha Charmaine Chapman have estab- fin) has christened "poetical soul." would encompass six to 10 cities. Liks, and Ruff Endz. lished Beyond the Box Communica- "This art form has been around While promoting his solo proj- Also in the house during the con- tions (310- 645-6045). The Los Ange- for a while, but up until recently ect, Griff is also in the studio with ference will be Motive /MCA new- les -based full- service multimedia people haven't been paying atten- Public Enemy recording the comer Jaguar and Robert "Kool" agency specializing in entertainment tion to it," says the rapper, who also group's new album on Internet - Bell, namesake of the legendary publicity and marketing is currently doubles as host of the spoken - based label Slam Jamz, due later Kool & the Gang. Both artists will working with music producer /film- word /poetry program Poetical this year (Words & Deeds, Bill- share their outlooks on the black - maker Tony Dofat on his forthcom- Tonguez heard on rapstation.com. board, Aug. 11). After joining the music industry during the confer- ing Street Dreams: From the Streets "But a lot of songwriters are poets: pioneering rap outfit upon its 1982 ence's "Then & Now" panel. to the Executive Suite. The three -vol- Many R &B songs start as poems in inception, Griff departed in 1989 to ume documentary series about the a notebook. I'm just trying to bring pursue a solo career. He rejoined A NEW LINE FOR IMX: Nearly two evolution of hip -hop is co- produced this art form to the forefront, to realize there are issues that need to the group in 1997. years after its fourth and last MCA by Heavy D and Stevie `Black" Lock- make people understand there is a be talked about, open up the lines Asked to assess today's rap scene, album, Introducing IMx, the trio for- ett ... Holly Davis -Carter, president place for poetical soul." of communication," he adds. "It's Griff questions artists' motives. "I'd of L.A. -based talent firm Agency West Among the updated, digitally re- 2001, and we're still dealing with like to take the money equation out (323 -468- 9470), has formed a new recorded songs are "R.A.P. (Real the same issues. For instance, a of it and ask artists, 'Do you really division, Agency West Live, and has African People), Pt. I & II" (from track like 'A.I.D.S. (Africans in like what you're doing in making signed playwright/producer David E. his 1990 solo debut Pawns in the Deep Shit)' is about a global polit- some of these songs? What does it Talbert as the division's first client. Game), "Black Beauty & the Bitch" ical issue that needs to be dis- do for your heart, head, and soul? Agency West Live will focus on creat- (from Blood of the Profit), and cussed." What do you get out of it ?' Hip -hop ing original live entertainment, from "Sudden Death" (from Public's Both Griff and Carter admit that today goes right through your soul concerts to stage plays. Enemy's 1997 soundtrack to He one line of communication will be to your pocket. Got Game). difficult to open up: radio. "We "I just hope this album sparks SCREEN SCENE: Ventura Distribu- "This is a re- introduction to know radio is just not going to other spoken -word artists," he tion's Urban Works Entertainment, important elements of Griff that grab us," Carter says. "So we have adds. "I want to hear from the sis- under the direction of president Jeff people missed the first time," says to go on the underground, use ters. I'm sure they have something Clanagan, is launching a new home - Shawn Carter, who served as the word -of- mouth; grab the mature to say." video series, titled Uncovered. Kick- album's project coordinator and ing off the up- close- and -personal, also books Griff's appearances. behind -the -scenes rap and hip -hop "Hopefully it will get them to go merly known as Immature is back series is K-Ci & JoJo'sX (Sept. 4). Also back and check out his earlier with a new, eponymous album (due being primed for the Uncovered chute albums." Aug. 21) and a new label, New Line are OutKast, Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim, In addition to guest appearances Cinema's New Line Records. and Busta Rhymes ... Luther Van - by Public Enemy frontman Chuck Los Angeles -based members Kelton dross, Eve, and TV personality Leeza D and the Last Poets' Umar Bin "LDB" Kessee, Jerome "Romeo" Gibbons will join Shemar Moore as Hassan, as well as such up -and- Jones, and Marques "Batman" Hous- co -hosts of the seventh annual Soul coming artists as Dei Dee Deionne, ton produced the majority of the Train Lady of Soul Awards. The spe- Uno the Prophet, and Sphinx, the album, which features lead single cial tapes Aug. 28 at Los Angeles' new project sports three new tracks "Clap Your Hands," a playfully naughty Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. that showcase Griff's biting social takeoff of the kids' rhyme, and such commentary. "Hypocrites" -which tracks as the tender love song and sec- SAVE THE DATE: The BMI Urban borrows a loop from featured ond single, "My First Time." Music Awards are set for Oct. 3 at music in the documentary The "People think we're a fly -by -night Loew's Miami Beach Hotel. Late R &B Gospel According to Al Green - group that's dropped off the map," pioneer Curtis Mayfield will be hon- knocks record labels' emphasis on Batman says with a laugh. "When ored with the BMI President's Award the bottom line instead of their they listen to `First Time,' they don't ... The 2002 Holy Hip -Hop Music artists, while "European on Me" recognize that it's us. But the kiddie Awards will be held Jan. 18 -19 at tackles the subject of 21st -century voices are gone. We're more mature downtown Atlanta's EarthLink Live. technological slavery. "T.H.I.N.K." now, and this album reflects that." The two -day event includes an artist incorporates a hook from Little Diamond Jubilee. The International Assn. of African- American Music (IAAAM) few showcase and the awards themselves; Anthony & the Imperials' 1965 During the past years, the recently presented its annual Diamond Awards in New Orleans. Among those Nuwine, Urban D, R &B hit Out of My Head" to threesome has stayed busy behind nominees include "Coin' on hand, from left, were Warner Bros. artist and IAAAM chairman Eric Benét; the boards, producing for Colum- and GODSunz. This will be preceded underscore its life -is -tough theme. IAAAM president Dyana Williams; New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial; award hon- bia's Destiny's Child and Blaque. by the first Holy Hip -Hop Summit "I didn't want to mentally ex- orees musician Allen Toussaint, Danita Muse of Women With a Vision, the The guys have also signed a two -act (Jan. 17), staged by the Holy Hip -Hop haust people [about issues], so Meters' George Porter Jr., and jazz bassist Walter Payton; IAAAM co- founder deal with Sony for male teen act Music Alliance. Additional details are that's why I brought in other musi- Sheila Eldridge; and award honoree trumpeter Nicholas Payton. B2K, coming in November via Epic, available at holyhiphop.com. cians and artists," recalls the

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