Thug Life Army

Outlawz Due Out April 19th

The Outlawz, best known for their affiliation with hip-hop cultures late great rap icon Tupac Shakur, announce the release of their new album ''Outlawz 4 Life 2005 A.P.'' due in stores April 19, 2005 on 33rd Street Records. This explosive new album is executive produced by The Outlawz and features production by Focus, The Legendary Traxster, Dani Kartel, and A.D.

Future.

Originally assembled by Tupac in the mid-1990s by pulling members from a number of his affiliate groups, the Outlawz were set to be the biggest supergroup in rap history.  But that dream suffered a number of setbacks, as Tupac and Kadafi were killed and Fatal and Napoleon left the group.  By 2003, the group had released a string of hit independent projects and had appeared on albums that had collectively sold more than 40 million copies. Nonetheless, the group The Outlawz had become just Kastro, Young Noble and E.D.I..

One thing you won''t hear on the new Outlawz album is Tupac.  Plenty of other material with Tupac and the Outlawz, including the platinum plus 'still I Rise'' album, exists.  Therefore, the group wanted ''Outlaw 4 Life''  to be their moment in the spotlight.   "It's time for us to stand up on our own," Noble says.  "Pac did enough for us.  He gave us the blueprint.  We''re talented and we don''t need to have Pac on the album.  People want to hear some new Outlawz stuff and they want to hear us on their own."

The Outlawz show throughout ''Outlaw 4 Life'' that they are also the total package.  They get gangster on the searing "Let It Burn," team with Bun B (UGK) on the pounding "Big Ballin''" and kick street lessons on "Ghetto Gospel Pt 2."  The latter includes pointed, insightful lyrical food for thought about the risks that come from life in the streets.

It is that type of insight that makes ''Outlaw 4 Life'' such a significant album, as the group explores life's highs and lows throughout each of the album's 17 songs.  Cuts such as "Celebration" and "These Are The Times" best illustrate the Outlawz's brand of music with meaning.  "We''re not concentrating on rapping for other rappers or rapping for the girls," Noble says.  "We''re trying to make real substance with everything we do.  We were taught by the best and we can''t have it any other way."

Indeed, the Outlawz are already gearing up for the release of its next album, ''Chapter 2 The Rebirth'',, later this year and are setting up their new artist Stormey.  With each step, the Outlawz work on healing the pain they have endured throughout their remarkable career.  It is one reason why ''Outlaw 4 Life'' sounds so therapeutic.

"Everything we do is therapy," Noble says.  "Everything we go through, we put it into our music.  We learned that from Pac.  That's what music is about, experience.  That's why some people will rather listen to oldies that what's out now.  It's timeless when it comes from the heart.  We''re trying to make music like that."  ''Outlaw 4 Life'' does just that.

''Outlawz 4 Life 2005 A.P.''

Tracklisting:

1.       Real Talk

2.       Can''t Turn Back

3.       Celebrate

4.       Big Ballin''

5.       They Don''t Understand

6.       Let It Burn

7.       If You Want To

8.       These Are The Times

9.       Ghetto Gospel Pt. 2

10.     Smilin'' Faces

11.     I Dare You

12.     Don''t Get It

13.     Sacred Vows

14.     Better It Get

15.     Interlude

16.     Listen To Me

17.     Losin'' My Mind