MELVIN VAN PEEBLES - VAN PEEBLES PLANS HIP-HOP ALBUM AT 73

Movie veteran MELVIN VAN PEEBLES is planning to release his first hip-hop album at the age of 73.

The actor/writer/director will release RARE SOUL MEETS QUASIMODO in February (05).

He says, "It's a double CD and I'm really very pleased with it. It's a new idea.

"The kids like remixing stuff and all that, so on one side will be their take on what I perceived."

Meanwhile, the SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAAD ASSSSS SONG star is also working on a new movie project, I SHOT DOT, with his son MARIO VAN PEEBLES.