This week denotes a landmark in Lord Jamar's continually dynamic acting and musical career. You probably know Lord Jamar from his work with "golden age" hip-hop legends Brand Nubian.

With the announcement of the June 27th release of his debut solo concept album, "The 5% Album" (featuring guest appearances from legendary hip-hop rap group Wu-Tang icons rappers RZA, GZA & Raekwon) on NY-based powerhouse indie Babygrande Records, as well as his prominent role in the next episode of HBO's smash series "The Sopranos."

While "The Sopranos" role is amongst the highest profile stints in Jamar's acting career to date, he has appeared prominently in numerous other shows: "Law & Order" & "Third Watch," and perhaps his most renowned role to date as a 5%-er on the acclaimed HBO series "OZ."

So why a Lord Jamar solo album now and why an album about the 5% message? Jamar says, "I've always wanted to do a solo album but certain things side-tracked me, i.e.: discovering and working with Dead Prez, acting in things like Oz, etc." Jamar grew up with a generation of hip-hop and rap artists that were down with the 5% message, including: The World Famous Supreme Team, Just-Ice, Rakim of Eric B & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Poor Righteous Teachers, all the members of the Wu Tang Clan, Digable Planets, & Busta Rhymes.

Owing to the rich history of the 5% movement, Babygrande Records will be issuing "The 5% Album" with a special 40+ page collector's edition booklet that expounds further upon the principles of the 5% movement, its origin and continual growth, as well as its profound effect as one of hip-hop's cornerstone ideologies. And as members of the 5% Nation themselves, it only made sense that the Wu-Tang Clan would come to be integrally involved in the project.

Babygrande Records CEO Chuck Wilson also weighs in on the gravity and magnitude of "The 5% Album":

"The African-American nuclear family was decimated by slavery. The rebuilding process continues today. For many African-Americans, particularly those in the ghetto trapped in a world of poverty and crime, the 5% ideology offers a means of finding self esteem, purpose, discipline and so much more. Lord Jamar (and his A&R Dreddy Kruger), has crafted a brilliant album that pays homage to the ideology that helped shape his life and the entire genre of music we call hip-hop."

The 5% Message is a continually vital message to many urban youth. With "The 5% Album," Lord Jamar is reaching out and giving a long overdue voice to a culture that he, as well as some of hip-hop's most influential artists, have lived for years.

Lord Jamar's "The 5% Album" hits stores on June 27th, 2006

For further information and to preview tracks from the forthcoming album, please visit:

www.5percent.org

www.hiphopcrack.com

www.babygrande.com