(Nov. 27, 2006 - New York, NY) After a way-too-long six year break
between official album releases on the Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam label, mixtape
impresario and Desert Storm mogul DJ Clue? returns on December 19th
with the arrival of THE PROFESSIONAL, Part 3, the long-awaited sequel to
the all-star-studded The Professional, Pt. 2 (released February 2001).
If it were possible to outdo the guest-list on Pt. 2, then THE
PROFESSIONAL, Part 3 has done it - with the Who’s Who of hip-hop’s A-list,
starting with “Like This.” The album’s first single pick, co-written and
produced by fellow Def Jam artist Kanye West, features Kanye and
Fabolous, the newest Def Jam mega-signing. Brooklyn-born Fabolous has been the
core artist on DJ Clue’s Desert Storm imprint for his two albums in
2003 (the RIAA platinum Street Dreams) and 2004 (Real Talk, certified
gold). His upcoming Def Jam album debut, From Nothing To Something, will
drop in early 2007.
DJ Clue? exercises his craft as a producer on a hefty six tracks of
Part 3, starting with “Middle Figure U” featuring Camron and Juelz
Santana, then “It Was All Good A Week Ago” (Part 1 featuring Mario Winans and
Part 2 featuring the Game and Mario), followed by “I Really Wanna Know
You” featuring Jagged Edge and Fabolous; “The Gold” featuring Mobb
Deep; “Liberty Bell” featuring Beanie Sigel and Cassidy; and the album’s
closing track, “Da Animal” featuring Stylez P.
And the guest list doesn’t stop there - that’s just the beginning.
There’s Snoop Dogg on “Almost Fucked” (produced by Lt Hutton); Young Jeezy
and Juelz Santana on “Fuck Off” (produced by Develop); Lil Wayne,
Ransom, and Rick Ross on “Da Scene” (produced by Doughboyz); Jadakiss on
“Ugly” (produced by Swizz Beatz); Mike Jones and Paul Wall on “Grill &
Woman” (produced by Chops); Fat Joe and Remy Ma on “U Don’t Wanna”
(produced By Baby Paul); and M.O.P. on “NY Giant” (produced by the Heat
Makerz).
It was nearly a decade ago that Jamaica, Queens, NYC native DJ Clue?
(Ernesto Shaw) made the transition from the burgeoning mixtape industry
to the major label domain of Def Jam Recordings with his first
over-the-counter release, The Professional (1997). His parallel career as a New
York vj and dj - first on MTV’s “Direct Effect,” then on radio station
Hot 97, and later on Power 105 - combined with his imaginative remixing
skills gained him access to the hottest new tracks from hip-hop and
pop’s most important names.
The Professional (which hit #3 on the R&B chart and #26 on the pop
side) spun off a pair of Top 40 tracks, “It’s On” and “Ruff Ryders Anthem,”
and was eventually certified RIAA platinum. DJ Clue Presents:
Backstage: A Hard Knock Life (released in 2000) documented the touring that
accompanied his pal Jay-Z’s multi-platinum album. The Professional, Part
2 was first released in December 2000, propelled by the hit single
“Back 2 Life 2001,” featuring Mary J. Blige and Jadakiss. The album also
featured new exclusive music from hip-hop notables Jay-Z, Eminem, DMX,
Snoop, Foxy Brown, Method Man, Li’l Kim, Busta Rhymes, Miami natives
Trick Daddy and Trina, and many others.