The highly anticipated Hip Hop album, to be released January 15th by Thug Life Army Records, a division of Star Sound Group International based in Hollywood, California; In The Shadow of an Icon, has seen an early digital release on all the major music download sites.

Itunes, Rhapsody and the rest have the unique hip hop album up now for download, 2 weeks before its expected release to download sites.

This exceptional hip hop project is aimed to show that hip hop is not ‘dead'', but that people are just not looking in the right places. ‘In the Shadow of an Icon'' is a collaboration of artists who all learned and grew out of the words and teachings of the late hip hop Icon Tupac Shakur (2Pac).

Bringing hip hop, rap and R&B artists from across the nation and Canada together, to showcase some of the best under rated talent that the hip hop genre has to offer, this project has been talked about from coast to coast because so many different areas of the country have got involved in it.

The album is being distributed thru Fontana/Universal/AMG on *Thug Life Army Records.

When asked about the direction the music takes in the CD, Thug Life Army Records Vice President RB explains ''The various sides and teachings of the ‘man'', Tupac Amaru Shakur are represented on this CD - from his street side, to his political side, to his deep inner self. A total look is taken at the course Tupac had traveled in his short life. A picture of Tupac's life is a picture of many of our lives. His up's and down's are roads many of us have shared along the way. That is why Tupac gained the respect of almost everyone in the hip hop community - we could feel his pain and joys, as he felt ours. His words and teachings remain relevant today because the situation has not changed since 2Pac first started exposing the real truth of hood life, and the artists on this project continue with Pac's message of ‘keeping it real'' thru real talk. No spinning rims or drinking in the club, just solid true about the reality of being raised in a society that does not understand you or your situation.-

Check your favorite download spot to hear samples and download or more information can be found at

Web Site – www.thuglifearmyrecords.com

And on MySpace at - www.myspace.com/intheshadowofanicon

and www.myspace.com/thuglifearmyrecords

Press Contact

RB Riddle

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cell - 513-673-3144

For radio mp3's and/or a press promo copies of the album for review or banners to help promote this project on your site please contact RB Riddle or Thug Life Army Records at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Artist interview request can also be honored.

*Thug Life Army Records is a division of Star Sound Group International based in Hollywood, California.