After "Frontline," Facez of Death's infectious lead single from the soundtrack for the film Public Enemy debuted at #19| on this week's Billboard Rap Chart, Niles Rodgers' label, Sumthing Else Musicworks, is making an even stronger push into hip-hop.

The label is in the process of negotiating a deal with Sunz of Man member Hell Razah according to Sunz manager Reg Reg. Hell Razah and Sunz teammate Killah Priest are also featured on the Public Enemy soundtrack cut, "Ghetto Government."

The Bed-Stuy native first emerged with his Sunz of Man squad, this is his first solo record. The album, Ghetto Gov't, will be released the first quarter of 2000. The lead single "Like It Or Not" features live instrumentation and is produced by Dave Burnett and Robert Taylor, who have worked with The Hitmen.

Other producers on the project are Tru Master, 4th Disciple, and newcomers Nitro and Mark 5. "We recruited hungry new producers," Reg says. "We went to the people who were the Trackmasterz before they were the Trackmasterz."

Ghetto Gov't will also feature guest shots from Sunz' Killah Priest and Prodigal Sunn, as well as Fredro Starr, Beenie Man, and Method Man. Reg says that they are also working on a track with a far less likely guest, Foxy Brown. "We are going to try and regain her street credibility." The Sunz, which also includes 60 Second Assassin, will regroup in the distant future to release their third record on Red Ant Records. Killah Priest will release his sophomore solo joint on MCA in early 2000. - Adam Matthews