Carmen: mtv’s Hip Hopera.

CARMEN–the soundtrack to the music network’s groundbreaking “first hip-hop musical”–is a modern retelling of Georges Bizet’s 19th century opera “Carmen” incorporating contemporary urban music penned largely by Kip Collins and Sekani Williams.

The inaugural release on Mathew Knowles’ Music World Music, a new Columbia Records Group label, mtv’s hip hopera: CARMEN features performances by some of biggest names in hip-hop including Beyonce Knowles, Da Brat, Wyclef Jean, Royce Da 5′ 9″, Rah Digga, Mos Def, and Destiny’s Child featuring Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott. The first single from the album will be Royce Da 5′ 9″‘s “Boom.” mtv’s hip hopera: CARMEN is in stores June 12.

A joint production between MTV and New Line Television, “Carmen: A Hip Hopera” first aired on the music network on May 8, 2001. The production, narrated by Da Brat and starring Destiny’s Child’s Beyonce Knowles in the title role, moves the action out of the 19th century Spain of Bizet’s original and transports it to present-day Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Full of passion, drama, love, murder, corruption–and plenty of hip-hop and rap, the film portrays the tumultuous and doomed love affair between the feisty vixen Carmen Brown and police officer Derrick Hill (Mekhi Phifer). “Carmen: A Hip Hopera” features support roles by a Who’s Who of hip-hop–including Lil Bow Wow, Rah Digga, Mos Def, and Wyclef Jean–to help give this contemporary “Carmen” a hip postmodern twist. “Carmen: A Hip Hopera” is directed by Robert Townsend (“The Five Heartbeats,” “Hollywood Shuffle”).

Both Wyclef and Da Brat found working on “Carmen” extremely positive. “I love supporting MTV and the various projects they have involved me in,” said Da Brat. “I worked with a great cast and it was a good experience for me.” Wyclef, reflecting on recording with Beyonce and Rah Digga on “Cards Never Lie,” had this to say, “‘Carmen’ gave me a chance to work with two of the most brilliant and talented women in the music industry.”

mtv’s hip hopera: CARMEN isn’t the first time Bizet’s 1875 opera has been updated with a black cast. The legendary show-tune lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II (“South Pacific,” “Oklahoma!,” “The King & I,” “The Sound of Music”) wrote English lyrics to accompany Bizet’s music for “Carmen Jones,” a 1943 Broadway musical that was made into a film in 1954 starring Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte. “I hadn’t seen the opera ‘Carmen,’ but I had seen ‘Carmen Jones,'” said Beyonce Knowles in an interview with The New York Times. “That made me pretty nervous. I know that film is legendary, and it’s hard to touch things like that. Hopefully, people our age and our generation will be interested to see that classic story retold.”

The New York Times called the MTV production “…an audacious blend of drama, hip-hop, movie musicals and visual flash….the artistically sophisticated ‘Carmen’…may be the most mature film MTV has yet produced….” With the success of “Carmen: A Hip Hopera” and the eagerly-awaited release of mtv’s hip hopera: CARMEN, it seems that Bizet’s classic opera is reaching a whole new generation.”

mtv’s hip hopera: CARMEN

1. “The Introduction” — performed by Da Brat

2. “Survivor” Remix — performed by Destiny’s Child featuring Da Brat

3. “Boom” — performed by Royce Da 5’ 9″

4. “What We Gonna Do” — performed by Rah Digga

5. “If Looks Could Kill (You Would Be Dead)” — performed by Beyonce Knowles, Mos Def, Sam Sarpong

6. “Cards Never Lie” — performed by Beyonce Knowles, Wyclef Jean, Rah Digga

7. “The Last Great Seduction” — performed by Beyonce Knowles & Mekhi Phifer

8. “B.L.A.Z.E.” — performed by Casey Lee, Rah Digga, Joy Bryant

9. “Black & Blue” — performed by Mos Def & Mekhi Phifer

10. “Stop That!” — performed by Beyonce Knowles & Mekhi Phifer

11. “Blaze Finale” — performed by Casey Lee

12. “Immortal Beloved (Outro)” — performed by Da Brat

13. “Bootylicious” (Rockwilder Remix) — performed by Destiny’s Child featuring Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott