Kurupt also brings a number of other talented folks into his musical modes on the new disc, such as fellow hip-hop homeboys Xzibit, Nate Dogg, Tha Liks, Daz, MC Ren from N.W.A. and Jon B., as well as some friends from the rock-rap camp like Everlast and Fred Durst and DJ Lethal of Limp Bizkit.

But Kurupt has been mixing it up since he emerged in the early 1990s on Dr. Dre's The Chronic and Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg. He debuted on his own in 1998 with Kuruption, and followed it up the next year with Tha Streets Is A Mutha. He's also released Dogg Food and Dillinger & Young Gotti with his pal Daz, proving himself one of the pivotal talents in the California urban music movement.

Space Boogie also features a collaboration with Kurupt's fiancée, Natina Reed of the R&B group Blaque, who shows off her other skills at the microphone on "It's Over," the new CD's first single. "It was fun," enthuses Kurupt. "We went in there with a cool little beat. I told her to go ahead and write my rap and I'd write her rap. We were just having a ball."

Kurupt seems happy with his life right now, having landed parts in two movies (The Plague Season and Keepin' It Real), and feeling satisfied with his latest CD, saying "This album is the first time I'm able to do whatever I want, however I want."

Although he has no formal musical training, Cory saw many r&b and pop giants pass through his Jamaica, Queens home growing up. His parents, Herb Rooney and Brenda Reid, were members of the '60s group The Exciters. His dad would later branch out into production, and was responsible for both the infectious piano part and production on the Isley Brothers smash hit, "It's Your Thing."

"I grew up around music, and picked things up by ear. I remember Ellie Greenwich writing songs for my parents."

Cory began writing while in his teens, and became a performer. His first group, Prince Markei Dee and the Soul Convention, signed with Sony Music. "I was part of the Soul Convvention! I then signed a deal with Sony as a solo artist, but decided quickly that I didn't want to be an artist. Why? I enjoy being behind the scenes, producing and writing."

Through his Sony work Cory hooked up with Tommy Mottola. This contact led to Rooney's writing for Marc Anthony. The results included the smash hits "I Need To Know" and "You Sang To Me." The success of these tracks, and "Bring It All To Me," recorded by Blaque with *NSYNC, were responsible for Rooney's award-winning year.

Sony recently carved out a significant project studio space for Cory in their West 54th St. complex. "I've got all my equipment here, including Pro Tools, an MPC 3000 and tons of outboard gear. It's great to be writing at Sony."

Asked whether he writes to satisfy his muse or the market, Rooney says, "It's a little bit of both. I work directly with Tommy Mottola. He'll give a call saying that Jennifer Lopez or Marc Anthony, for example, needs a song. I'll keep the artist's sound and style in mind and just start writing. These days I'm collaborating with different people, especially Dan Shea. We bounce ideas back and forth."

Topping his award-winning year may be difficult, but Cory Rooney plans on continuing what he does best: letting the ideas flow through him to the top tier of pop music stars.

One of the music industries "native sons," his parents -- Herb Rooney and Brenda Reid -- were members of the'60s group The Exciters. However, Cory's musical DNA was only one part of a very talented equation. Raised in Jamaica, Queens in New York, his love for hip-hop was reinforced at an early age due to the geographic proximity of rap all-stars like Marley Marl, LL Cool J, and Run-DMC.

Cory's star began to rise at Uptown Records in the late 1980s, while writing and producing hits like "Real Love" and "Sweet Thing" by Mary J. Blige and "I'll Do 4 U" by Father MC. The success of these uptown anthems caught the attention of Sony Music chief Tommy Mottola in 1989. In 1994, Sony solidified its relationship with Cory by offering him a permanent position, and six years later, with the title Executive Producer etched on his bio, he is responsible for some of the hottest albums on the charts. Cory is listed as Executive Producer on Marc Anthony's album I Need to Know and Jennifer Lopez's album On the 6. He has also produced several smash singles for Mariah Carey, including, "Fantasy," "Dream Lover" and "Butterfly." He has collaborated with Jessica Simpson, Brian McNight, Mandy Moore, Aretha Franklin, R. Kelly, Nas, and Blaque.

Cory knows how to take music from different genres and make them accessible to the masses. His vision has guided movie soundtracks ranging from the Nutty Professor to Men in Black and Runaway Bride.

Cory is a consummate producer and businessman, with unquestionable sagacity about things artistic and realistic.

Apparently, Blaque's best-of-both-worlds approach has struck a chord. Their million-selling debut disc has yielded two hit singles, "808" and "Bring It All To Me." The latter tune is a commendably understated single featuring classy piano flourishes and cameo vocals by *NSYNC. Blending soul, funk, rap and pop, Blaque is clearly aiming for the crossover success enjoyed by Janet Jackson, TLC and others.

Blaque's fusion of Motor City melody and Atlanta-style soul is no fluke. Though Shamari Fears, Brandi Williams and Natina Reed hail from Detroit and New York, they were assembled under the tutelage of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC. Taking cues from Motown founder Berry Gordy, Lopes has taught Blaque how to balance charm school sexuality with urban bravado. She has also encouraged the trio to compose songs that contrast Brandi's and Shamari's vocals against Natina's brash hip-hop rhymes.

Lopes's guidance notwithstanding, the members of Blaque possess the raw talent that often translates into superstardom. Brandi Williams' grandfather, Bobby Rogers, was a founding member of the Miracles, while Natina Reed paid her musical dues singing and playing drums in her uncle's church. These rich musical bloodlines bode well for Blaque's future.