Given the fussin' and feudin' that's worked its way into the hip-hop world in recent times, the prospect of a few dozen artists squaring off with baseball bats might not sound like such a good idea. But thankfully, the folks involved in what's being called The First Official Hip-Hop World Series will be putting the lumber to its intended use when they gather on Randall's Island in New York next weekend.

The charity event -- which will not be open to the public for logistical reasons, according to organizers -- will feature eight New York-area teams, sponsored by community organizations such as the Christopher Wallace Foundation (run, of course, by the estate of the Notorious B.I.G.), Camp Cool J and the Wu Foundation. The Series will be broadcast on BET over the course of the following week.

A good number of performers are getting in on the action on the field as well, with starting lineups slated to include folks such as Big Daddy Kane, Heltah Skeltah, EPMD's Parrish Smith and members of Sunz of Man and Das EFX. We were hoping for an appearance by Lil' Kim -- who often boasts of her ability to do some pretty nasty things to balls -- but we guess that it's too tough to negotiate the basepaths in Prada heels.

DAVID SPRAGUE
(August 20, 1998)