Rapper says its not about money.

B RICH RETURNS WITH NEW "BORN RICH" ALBUM: One of the musical highlights of the 2004 feature film "The Cookout," starring Queen Latifah, Ja Rule and Danny Glover, was "Whoa Now," the hit soundtrack song co-written and performed by rising star rapper B Rich. Well Rich is back with an impressive new album entitled "Born Rich," featuring the hot lead single "Grown Man."

"The album's 'Born Rich' title isn't referring to having money," B Rich advises; "it means being rich in family, friends, community, and, if you're an artist, loyal fans. Having that kind of support in your life makes you eternally rich â€" inside and out."

Slated for Summer 2005 release, "Born Rich," produced by Flatline Entertainment, is a substantive hip-hop collection, offering solid slices of urban life and cross-generational appeal.

"I want the album to move your feet and motivate your mind," says B Rich, born Brian Rich in Baltimore, Maryland, 23 years ago. "When Whoa Now' first came out on my 2003 Atlantic Records album '80 Dimes,' it showed that I had strong microphone and writing skills and that in using The Jeffersons' Moving On Up' theme, I could positively and successfully blend the best of the old with the best of the new. However," he continues, "since that time I've matured as a person and as an artist, having experienced the good and bad that life can bring. So when I started recording my new album, I wanted to widen my lyrical and musical range to include my upbeat and more serious sides. I think people can relate to both."

They'll also relate to the fact that "Grown Man" distinctively reflects B Rich's unique writing, rapping and producing spectrum. Its booming beat, powerhouse production and enlightened lyrical content have the potential to catapult him to hip-hop's hierarchy before 2005 is over.

"There's nothing more important to me than entertaining people and making them think â€" hopefully in a positive direction," notes B Rich, whose rather low key but always personable persona also reveals a tastefully well dressed young man who isn't trapped into the platinum teeth, bling-bling, misogynist lifestyle so many of his high profile peers are.

"On 'Grown Man' I'm telling my brothers especially to take responsibility for their actions, and to stop showing little or no respect for females," a serious B Rich explains. "I mean, how would they like it if their mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers were disrespected and abused like so many men do their girlfriends, fiancees and wives? Men young and old have to step up and treat women like they deserve to be treated â€" right. All my brothers have to seriously and responsibly get their 'Grown Man' on."