Producer Dallas Austin
hopes to recapture the early success of his Rowdy Records label and will relaunch
the imprint with a new group, Da Back Wudz.
Austin’s label found mainstream success when the Atlanta, Georgia
based label released Monica’s debut album Miss Thang in 1995, helping
to launch Atlanta’s R&B/Hip-Hop scene to national prominence.
Austin, who also served as executive producer/music producer
on 2002’s movie “Drumline,” said he reactivated the Rowdy
Records label after he heard the music from the Decatur, Georgia based group
Da Back Wudz.
“This is the best rap group to hit the Atlanta Hip-Hop
market since I’ve been here,” Austin said.
Da BackWudz feature two cousins, Sho-Nuff and Big Marc. The
group hopes their album Wood Work will solidify their place in the
long lineage of Atlanta talent that can be found through out the music business.
“A lot of people think dudes can’t rap down in Atlanta,
that everybody’s in love with crunk music, but the thing that sets us
apart is that we can do it all,” group member Sho-Nuff said. “Down
bottom, up top, Left Coast, Midwest, whatever; we talk about a lot of issues
that set us apart from lots of people. And when it boils down, it’s always
about creativity and we got a lot of creativity.”
The first single “You Gonna Luv Me” was produced
by platinum producer Milwaukee Black, who created hits for 8-Ball & MJG,
Pastor Troy, TLC and others.
Wood Work
is slated to be released in early summer 2005 and features Lil Flip, 8-Ball,
Daz Dillinger and Jermaine Dupri.