UrbanFest LA: DJ Quik Joins Line-up; Death Row RecordsDocumentary Screened.

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 17, 2000

The same day DJ Quik's new Arista album "Balance & Options" dropped, he joined the growing roster of artists performing at UrbanFest LA, a benefit festival sponsored by Wherehouse Music/CheckOut.com

To date, confirmed performers for UrbanFest LA include Common (MCA), Ideal (Virgin), Yolanda Adams (Elektra), Talib Kweli (Rawkus), De La Soul (Tommy Boy), Dwayne Wiggins (Motown), Spooks (Antra/Artemis), Kina (Dreamworks), Avant (Magic Johnson/MCA), Mary Mary (C2/Columbia), Ametria (MCA), Spragga Benz (VP Records)), Sean Paul (VP Records) and CAP.One (Motown).

The group Spooks will perform after the festival screening of "Once In The Life," a film in which actor Laurence Fishburne makes his directing debut and the group contributes to the music and soundtrack with its debut single, "Things I've Seen." Fishburne will be on hand to introduce this Shooting Gallery/Artisan film. "Welcome To Death Row," a Xenon Entertainment documentary about the formation, growth, rise and fall of the rap label, has been added to the screenings. Lydia Harris and Leigh Savidge are the executive producers of this film.

Sponsors and partners joining Wherehouse Music/CheckOut.com and USC include 92.3 The Beat (KKBT), Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Recording Academy, Warner Bros. Records, BMI, Electronic Urban Report (EUR), Support Online Hip-Hop (S.O.H.H.) and Music Business Registry.

Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 festival-attendees are expected daily. Vendors will line the main thoroughfare linking two stages that feature music from unsigned and signed acts, fashion, dance and other forms of entertainment. Organizers hope that UrbanFest LA will inform music lovers and the general public about digital technology and the urgent need for the community to be a part of the rapidly growing digital economy, not apart from it.

Proceeds from this event will benefit several not-for-profit organizations including the Urban Focus Music Foundation, the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, Music & Kids Inc. and Temple of Hip-Hop Kulture.

UrbanFest LA tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster locations (www.ticketmaster.com), May 13. Call 213/480-3232.