Shaq Nets Eden's Nicole

Eden's Crush Nicole Scherzinger lent her pipes to basketball star/actor/rapper Shaquille O'Neal on his new single, "Shaq's Tribute to the Lakers (It Takes Two)."

"He's rapping on it, and I sing the chorus," says Scherzinger, whose television-created group is currently touring with 'N Sync. "I have yet to hear the song though."

While the track will not be available on Shaq's forthcoming Shaquille O'Neal Presents His Superfriends album (due September 11th), it will be sold as the B-side to the single "Connected" at Wherehouse music stores. The $5 charge can be credited to the album cost.

Scherzinger, a former backing vocalist for rock band Days of the New, recorded the retooled version of the Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock classic "It Takes Two" with Shaq a few weeks ago, before the LA Lakers even won their second consecutive NBA championship.

"They didn't know for sure if they were going to win, but they were pretty confident," says Scherzinger. "That's why we made the song, just in case it happened."

She was told Christina Aguilera and Mya were also considered to sing the hook of the song, but weren't available.

"I did it down in the Valley somewhere in Los Angeles one night, at his studio that he works out of a lot," recounts Scherzinger. "I sang it a couple of times and [the producer] said, 'Perfect.' And they just used that. It was a fairly simple process -- an hour in and out."

The self-desribed "L.A. girl" and Lakers fan made sure to get a picture with Shaq as a memento. "I'm wearing my high heels and I look like a midget," says Scherzinger, who is five-feet-six to Shaq's seven-feet-one. "He's the sweetest, like a big gentle giant."

KAREN BLISS
(June 19, 2001)