Ultimate Smash Hits...

[Businesswire Report]

Arista Records' ULTIMATE SMASH HITS Breaks Sound Barrier!

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2003--

18-song collection - essential 2002 & 2003 pop, R&B and hip-hop chart hits by Bone Crusher, Toni Braxton, Blu Cantrell, Clipse, Faith Evans, Whitney Houston, Avril Lavigne, OutKast, P. Diddy, P!nk, Santana, TLC, Usher

Bonus limited-edition DVD includes 6 video clips by Avril Lavigne, P!nk, Toni Braxton, and Clipse

Arista Records celebrates an extraordinary two years of chart-topping singles on the pop, R&B/Hip-Hop, and Dance charts with the release of ULTIMATE SMASH HITS, it was announced today by Antonio "L.A." Reid, President and CEO, Arista Records. The 18-song collection, which features a bonus limited-edition DVD containing 6 video clips, arrives in stores on June 3rd. This special compilation DVD - with clips by Avril Lavigne, P!nk, Toni Braxton, and Clipse - is only available as part of the ULTIMATE SMASH HITS (Arista/BMG Heritage) package and is the first and only to offer consumers this added value.

ULTIMATE SMASH HITS takes off with the Grammy-winning #1 song "The Game Of Love" by Santana featuring Michelle Branch, one of the signature tracks by which 2002 will be remembered. Avril Lavigne's second #1 Top 40 single, "I'm With You" (the follow-up to "Complicated") is also included as part of the limited-edition DVD.

Leading the roster of Arista artists with multiple tracks on ULTIMATE SMASH HITS are P!nk, with "Family Portrait" and "Just Like a Pill," both from her 5-times platinum second album M!ssundaztood, and both featured on the bonus DVD. The Neptunes-produced duo known as Clipse is represented by "Grindin'" and "When the Last Time," their back-to-back first two top 10 Rap and R&B 12-inch singles on the StarTrak/Arista label, both also included on the DVD.

The double-shot by P. Diddy, "I Need a Girl (Part One)," featuring Usher and Loon, and "I Need a Girl (Part Two)" with Ginuwine featuring Loon, Mario Winans, and Tammy Ruggeri, are sequenced back-to-back on ULTIMATE SMASH HITS. Back-to-back singles from Bad Boy's First Lady, Faith Evans, are also included: "I Love You" and "Burnin' Up."

ULTIMATE SMASH HITS covers the spectrum of Arista's successes, from TLC's #1 Top 40 hit "Damaged" and Whitney Houston's "One Of Those Days," to Toni Braxton's "Hit the Freeway" (one of the DVD clips) and the heavyweight debut of Bone Crusher, "Never Scared" (The Takeover Remix). Usher's "U Don't Have To Call," Blu Cantrell's "Breathe," and "The Whole World" by OutKast make ULTIMATE SMASH HITS the premiere compilation of the year!


ULTIMATE SMASH HITS
(Arista 82876-52522-2)

Artist Title
1. Santana featuring The Game Of Love
Michelle Branch
2. P!nk Family Portrait
3. Avril Lavigne I'm With You
4. P!nk Just Like a Pill
5. Baby feat. Clipse What Happened To That Boy
6. Clipse Grindin'
7. Clipse When the Last Time
8. Bone Crusher feat. Never Scared (The Takeover Jadakiss & Busta Remix) Rhymes
9. P. Diddy featuring I Need a Girl (Part One) Usher & Loon
10. P. Diddy & Ginuwine I Need a Girl (Part Two) feat. Loon, Mario Winans & Tammy Ruggeri
11. Usher U Don't Have To Call
12. Toni Braxton Hit the Freeway feat. Loon
13. Whitney Houston One Of Those Days
14. TLC Damaged
15. Faith Evans I Love You
16. Faith Evans Burnin' Up feat. Loon
17. Blu Cantrell Breathe (Rap Version) feat. Sean Paul
18. OutKast featuring The Whole World Killer Mike & Joi


Artist Billboard Charts Year
1. Santana featuring #1 Adult Top 40, #2 AC, #5 Hot 100 2002 Michelle Branch
2. P!nk #5 Top 40 Mainstream, #20 Hot 100 2002
3. Avril Lavigne #1 Top 40 Mainstream, #11 Hot 100 2003
4. P!nk #2 Top 40 Mainstream, #8 Hot 100 2002
5. Baby feat. Clipse #11 Rap Tracks, #14 R&B/Hip-Hop 2002
6. Clipse #8 Rap Tracks, #10 R&B/Hip-Hop, #34 Hot 100 2002
7. Clipse #7 Rap Tracks, #8 R&B/Hip-Hop, #19 Hot 100 2002
8. Bone Crusher feat. #13 Rap Tracks, #24 R&B/Hip-Hop 2003 Jadakiss & Busta Rhymes
9. P. Diddy featuring #1 Top 40 Tracks, #2 Rhythm Top 40 2002 Usher & Loon
10. P. Diddy & Ginuwine #2 R&B/Hip-Hop, #4 Rhythm Top 40 2002 feat. Loon, Mario
Winans & Tammy Ruggeri
11. Usher #2 R&B/Hip-Hop, #2 Dance, #3 Hot 100 2002
12. Toni Braxton #23 Dance, #32 R&B/Hip-Hop 2002 feat. Loon
13. Whitney Houston #29 R&B/Hip-Hop, #72 Hot 100 2002
14. TLC #19 Top 40 Mainstream, #34 Rhythm Top 40 2003
15. Faith Evans #2 R&B/Hip-Hop, #14 Hot 100 2002
16. Faith Evans #19 R&B/Hip-Hop, #60 Hot 100 2002 feat. Loon
17. Blu Cantrell #83 R&B 2002 feat. Sean Paul
18. OutKast featuring #6 Rhythm Top 40, #8 R&B/Hip-Hop 2002 Killer Mike & Joi

Limited-edition bonus DVD includes the following videos:

1. Avril Lavigne I'm With You
2. P!nk Family Portrait
3. P!nk Just Like a Pill
4. Toni Braxton Hit the Freeway
5. Clipse Grindin'
6. Clipse When the Last Time


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
www.arista.com

--30--FAP/ny*

CONTACT: Arista Records
Sandie Smith, 212/830-2393
Sandie.Smith@bmg.com
or
BMG
Mandy Eidgah, 212/930-4438
Mandy.Eidgah@bmg.com

KEYWORD: NEW YORK
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCT
SOURCE: Arista Records
 

NEWSFILE: 27 MAY 2003