Rapper J-Kwon is suiting up for the summer release of his new So So Def album, “Louisville Slugger.” Describing the set to Billboard as “more truthful” than his 2004 debut, “Hood Hop” (featuring the hit “Tipsy”), the rapper said the guest lineup includes Chingy, Nelly and new artist Ebony Eyez.
J-Kwon touted Eyez, who is working on her Capitol debut, as the “first female rapper” from St. Louis. Last week at the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles, the pair performed the track “Get XXX’d,” which, as previously reported, will appear on the Jive soundtrack to “XXX: State of the Union.” The set arrives April 19.
“Hood Hop” peaked at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 625,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
— Gail Mitchell, L.A.
Rock act the Dandy Warhols has dubbed its new album “Odditorium or Warlords of Mars,” according to its official Web site. The set isn’t expected until late summer/early fall via Capitol, but a video has already been shot for first single “Smoke It.”It’s unclear if the band will tour this summer. In addition, a DVD is in the works but no details have been unveiled. “Odditorium” will be the follow-up to 2003’s “Welcome to the Monkey House,” which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.
— Jason MacNeil, Toronto
Hootie and the Blowfish and Sister Hazel will be among the artists performing at the Drive for Show Rock Fore Dough concert on April 5 in Augusta, Ga. The event will raise funds for the First Tee of Augusta, which fosters the development of sportsmanship through golf. The concert at the First Tee of Augusta golf course will also feature Edwin McCain, Josh Kelley and the Pat Blanchard Band. It will be held the day before the Masters, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments, opens across town.
Advance tickets are $20 and available online at Rockforedough.com and local outlets. Tickets will be $30 at the door.
— Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.