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      M-l Records announces the release of the debut album for the popular, Santa Barbara, rap rock band 40 OZ (forty oh-zee) with lead singer ED Diamond. The new 40 OZ CD, "blunt:", is already selling in Santa Barbara, Isla Vista, Goleta, Lompoc, San Luis Obispo and Ventura record stores and has already been featured on KHTY, KTYD, KJEE and KCSB college radio station.

      Recently, the 40 OZ band performed live on KHTY's very popular HOME GROWN show and in studio interview by KTYD and KJEE. The band also performed cuts from the new album to a packed house at its CD release party, which was held at the BACKSTAGE in Santa Barbara.

      Tony Fahri, M-l's President said "this is an important step toward making 40 OZ's dynamic musical style available to not only their many fans here in Santa Barbara, but also to an expanded audience in many other markets, all across this country and the world".

      40 OZ has been performing for the "X generation" of rock aficionados all over Santa Barbara and Los Angeles for the past 6 years. The band is best known for smoldering 'funkified' grooves and socio-political lyrics. Ed Diamond has an "inner city, urban in your face" style of rap combined with a distinctive blend of rock and jazz. All the group's uniquely original material is written and composed by the stylin' vocalist himself. Before founding 40 OZ, Ed Diamond toured and performed for years as backup vocalist for recording and performing star Chaka Khan.

      The new CD captures the energy and depth of the live shows that have rocked Santa Barbara college crowds over the past several years. The group has also been extremely well received at their Los Angeles appearances at the famous Roxy, as well as the Club Lingerie and Viper Room. The selections on the CD are proven favorites of the 40 OZ band's live performances.

      "We have performed in all the best clubs in Santa Barbara area, Los Angeles and we find that performing live in Isla Vista for the university crowd, is still the best," says Ed and the other band members. The band expects to start touring other college towns in early 1997.

      Cuts on the new CD include "No Guilt to Spare" a hard driving socio-commentary on dangers lurking in the streets of inner cities. "3 hot" is a warning about ending up on the wrong side of the law. The band's tribute to music's ability to stimulate the human thought process with tell-it-like-it-is contained in "John Lennon Was the First White Rapper", which is the first single release.