LOS ANGELES-Cingular Wireless L.L.C., Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications L.P. and Sony Urban Music are teaming with hip-hop artist Xzibit for a text-message-based contest to find undiscovered rappers across the country.
Entrants are asked to submit an original song to Sony executives, who will select 10 finalists. Ringtones will be created from the finalists’ entries, and fans will vote by sending text messages, ‘American Idol’-style, from their handsets.
Throughout the contest, finalists will perform during Xzibit’s U.S. concert tour in March and April.
“As we enter into music’s newest era, we are searching for artists with strong vision and a creative delivery of their self expression-someone who defines what hip hop is all about,” said Dino DelVaille, vice president of A&R, Sony Urban Music. “The winner will be someone with an authentic, unique style who can connect with the hip-hop community in a way that’s both real and fun.”
