The A'z signs with TVT Records

New York, NY (TVT Records) - TVT Records announces the signing of the leading group of the hyphy movement, Oakland's The A'z. The A'z are poised to shoot to national prominence after several years of local dominance with their hot new anthem 'Yadadamean,' Bay Area slang for 'you know what I mean.' The group will release an untitled debut album on TVT Records in 2007.

Hailing from the streets of North Oakland, East Oakland, and Southside Richmond, The A'z are A.E., Speedy, and Ice, all sporting the government name of Alex. Formerly a group named 4 Deep, The A'z have been making serious noise since 1997 ' they were the first hyphy trio to get serious radio play in the Bay area and with their legion of young fans, popular rock group Smashmouth proclaimed them 'The Beatles of the Bay.'

"We chose to go with TVT because we've seen how they really grind it out for an artist,' says Speedy of The A'z. 'They did their thing with Lil Jon and crunk and now it's time for the Bay Area to get some shine. We're about to bring the Yay to the next level.'

'The Hyphy movement has had a lot of heat but not a real breakout hit act. The A'z have exactly the kind of energy to make the movement huge," says TVT Records President, Steve Gottlieb. 'We see massive crossover potential with The A'z and this signing makes TVT's hip-hop catalogue truly full of coast-to-coast artists.'

Like the South's crunk before it, now the hyphy of The A'z TVT is now poised to help push a regional style of hip-hop with an already huge fanbase firmly into the mainstream.