R. Kelly and Jay-Z Release The Best of Both Worlds

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R. Kelly and Jay-Z, the Reigning Kings of Hip Hop and Soul, Release the Best of Both Worlds

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2002--R. Kelly (Jive Records) and Jay-Z (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records), the reigning kings of soul and hip hop, will release the groundbreaking album The Best Of Both Worlds.

The album, featuring production by R. Kelly and Trackmasters, is the first time artists of such caliber have completed a 100% collaborative effort. The Best Of Both Worlds will be released worldwide on March 26, 2002 on Jive/Roc-A-Fella & Def Jam Records.

The Best of Both Worlds marks the first time a joint venture between two of the industry's most successful music companies, The Island Def Jam Music Group and Jive Records. R. Kelly and Jay-Z have been recording for the past months in both New York and Chicago. On Wednesday, January 9th a coin toss between Barry Weiss, President, Jive Records and Lyor Cohen, President & CEO of The Island Def Jam Music Group, determined the distribution of the album. The Island Def Jam will promote and market The Best Of Both Worlds in the US and Canada; while Jive will work the release throughout the rest of the world. The project will have exposure across AOL's proprietary network, as well as AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Compaq, Netscape and Radio@AOL throughout the month of March.

In addition to video programming, BET will air a 30- minute special behind the scenes of The Best Of Both Worlds.
"R. and I have always said that we were going to do a project together," stated Jay-Z. "We literally combined the 'best of both worlds' of R&B and hip-hop. There is no other artist that could be the other half of this equation. It's the right time."

"There's nothing greater than two of the best people in their fields individually coming together, creating the best album they can make together," stated R. Kelly. "I couldn't imagine accomplishing something like that with anyone else other than Jay-Z. Let the album tell you why."

"The magic behind Def Jam has always been our artists and our commitment to pushing the creative envelope," stated Lyor Cohen. This milestone collaboration between Jay and R. Kelly - and Def Jam and Jive - is an extension of that, and we are thrilled to kick off the new year with such a musically and culturally important project."

Stated Barry Weiss, "Just as we at Jive are so proud to have been involved (from the inception of his career) with the cultural icon and his music that R. Kelly is, so too are we proud to be able to help facilitate this watershed cultural event between these two great artists (R. Kelly and Jay-Z) and our market-leading respective record labels in an unprecedented spirit of cooperation and respect."

"The Best of Both Worlds is an opportunity to bring together Jay Z & R. Kelly, two of the most important brands of our culture, for a one-time only unprecedented event," added Kevin Liles, President Def Jam/Def Soul/Executive President Island Def Jam Music Group. "This is clearly more than just an album - it's a movement. One album, one tour, one movement, all from one culture."

Both artists have an impressive list of accolades. Jay-Z has been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards (3 this year), as well as 3 Billboard Music Awards, 4 Radio Music Awards and 3 MTV Music Awards. Just this year, Jay-Z topped Billboard's list as the #1 Rap Artist, #1 R&B Mainstream Artist and the #1 Crossover artist. Five of his last 6 albums have debuted at #1 in Billboard, including his last critically acclaimed album The Blueprint, which was released on September 11th and scanned over 410,000 copies. Jay-Z recently released his Unplugged album on December 18th. That album marked the first time a hip-hop artist released an MTV Unplugged album and only the 2nd time a hip-hop artist appeared on the show.

R. Kelly won three Grammy Awards in 1997 for his inspirational hit "I Believe I Can Fly" from the motion picture Space Jam. In addition, he was rewarded the 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2001 Billboard Music Award for Best R&B Album of The Year and awarded a 1999 American Music Award for R&B/Soul Favorite Male Artist of the Year for the multi-platinum R. R. Kelly has written and/or produced for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Kelly Price, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige and Maxwell.

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