Britney Spears won't have to duke it out alone against Christina Aguilera in the ongoing Pepsi versus Coke wars. Joining the feud is hip-hop producer/MC Wyclef Jean, who signed on with Pepsi for his first-ever ad campaign (the terms of the deal are undisclosed).

Jean will appear in two TV spots -- one breaking April 16th and the other in June -- as well as in radio and print ads. Pepsi, the country's number two soft drink maker, has also agreed to sponsor Jean's 2001 tour.

While Spears and Aguilera have the teen-pop market covered, Jean's ads are said to be targeting inner-city urban youths. The first commercial shows the Haitian-born Jean on a beach in Rio De Janiero joining a drum circle with guitar and Pepsi in hand, ending it with the slogan "Joy of Pepsi, Y'all." The second spot features Jean in a recording studio mixing together a collection of eclectic sounds, topping it off with a refreshing Pepsi "ahhh!"

LUCY SHAW
(April 11, 2001)