This month, Big Beat/Atlantic Records releases “From the Brick Jungle,” the first single from local rapper MC Thick’s (Stewart Harris) debut album The Show Ain’t Over Till the Fat Man Swings.

“From the Brick Jungle” is the follow-up to Harris’ 1991 release “What the Fellas Be Yellin’ (Marrero).” The song addressed the drug problems in Marrero and led to a national record deal with Big Beat/Atlantic Records. Harris says “From the Brick Jungle” is a “hype, party song” that’s a spin-off from “What the Fellas…” A video for the song was shot in Marrero and the Warehouse District. Harris kicked off a promo tour last month in Houston and plans an album release party in New Orleans this month.

DJ West/Columbia Records female rapper Boss made an appearance at the Big Easy Nightclub last month during a promotional tour. Lichelle “Boss” Laws is the first artist on DJ West, a new label created by Def Jam’s Russell Simmons to feature hardcore talent from the West Coast underground. Boss’ current single, “Deeper,” is climbing the rap charts. Her debut album is raw street rap, and Laws says she has no intention of softening her act for commercial considerations. She wants to compete with groups like NWA, The Geto Boys and Ice Cube.

Local rappers looking for extra cash and exposure can enter the Big Easy Nightclub’s rap contest every Friday night. $100 goes to the best rapper (solo or group). Contestants are judged by audience applause. If you’d like to enter, sign up at the Big Easy on Fridays before the contest (which starts around 12:30 a.m.). The contest is sponsored by Cash Money Records.

Mia X (Mia Kristen Young) was tired of rap lyrics that disrespected females, so she decided to give male rappers “a taste of their own medicine.” “Da Payback,” Young’s latest release on Rap Dis/Mardi Gras Records, is the answer to male rap songs that humiliate females. Critics say her lyrics and stage show are hard, but Young says she’s dealing with street issues that adults can relate to. Young calls herself “the grandmother of rap” since she’s older than the average late-teen/early-20s female rapper. This month she’ll release a maxi-cassette with cuts “Da Payback Part II,” “Head Up” and “Edge of My Sanity.” “Da Payback Part II” promises to be “harder than cement, but a little more positive,” says Young.

DJ Precise (Leroy Edwards), the deejay/producer behind the scenes on projects for Black Menace, DJ Jimi, E.R.C., Papa Doc, M.C.E., The Juvenile and Tim Smooth, released his first single on Precise Recordings called “Shake ‘Em Up, Shake ‘Em.” The song, featuring Tim Smooth, is the first release from Edwards’ upcoming album featuring Smooth, Bustdown, Papa Doc, The Juvenile and other New Orleans rappers. Edwards was originally a member of Fullpack and co-produced the EP with “Give You What You Want (Give You What You Need)” and “Fullpack Is in the House.” He’s producing 12″ singles and LPs on Bustdown, Smooth, Yuset, Black Menace, The Juvenile and M.C.E. This month he’ll release “Hittin’ the Exit” by K-Swift, a local teenage rapper who raps about searching for a way out of a broken home in the ghetto.

Pack Records, the local label best known for street rap records from groups like Fullpack and Females in Charge, has released its first R&B/hip-hop group, X-cel-n-choice. Group members Elray Holmes and Michael Yea wrote and produced cuts for the EP along with Antoine Mentor and Laveliss Fountain of Pack Records. “Alone in the Rain” is a sultry ballad originally recorded in 1988. “Rock the Boot” is a hip-hop cut featuring Females in Charge, Pimp Daddy and other artists on Pack Records. X-cel-n-choice kicked off a promo tour last month performing with E-la-te and Dionne Davis. Their album, due in August, is a mixture of R&B, hip-hop and rap. They’re also producing a female group called Sweet Attitude that they say sounds like a younger version of En Vogue.

Westbank rapper Chocolate (Lydell Gilmore) is working on his debut album for Upstairs Records. Gilmore’s controversial rap song “Kill Dirty Harry” drew media attention in May when police officials expressed concern about the song’s lyrics, which referred to the killing of Sheriff Harry Lee and some Westbank detectives. Gilmore says the meaning of the song was misinterpreted. “I’m not saying kill Harry,” says Gilmore. “Kill the system.” Gilmore claims “the system” promotes racism and injustice and that blacks are more likely than whites to be victims of police harassment. Gilmore’s album The Westbank Hitman will be released later this year.

“Bounce Slide Ride” is the new single from Lil Slim on Cash Money Records. The 12″ was produced by DJ Crackout and Mannie Fresh. The LP The Game is Cold features Pimp Daddy, U.N.L.V., PMW and B-32.

1st Amendment is working on an album and producing a 12″ on Ice Gold that will be out this summer. 1st Amendment is Page 1 (Michael Page), Kid Wild-Style (Patrick Anderson) and Cult Master Countrie (Anthony Coleman). They’ve been performing together for ten years as dancers with the Dragon Master Showcase, the street dance group that performed in the French Quarter and toured Europe last summer.