JAY Z - JAY-Z WELCOMES FOXY BACK TO DEF JAM

Rapper JAY-Z has made his first big signing as record label DEF JAM's new boss - he's bringing FOXY BROWN back to the company.

Jay-Z was named President and CEO of Def Jam last month (DEC04) and isn't wasting time in building up his roster.

Brown's representatives confirm the raunchy rapper is in the studio working on her next album, which she'll release as a Def Jam artist.

Brown performed dates with Jay-Z during last year's (04) BEST OF BOTH WORLDS and JAY-Z + FRIENDS tours.

Brown released her last album, BROKEN SILENCE, on Def Jam in 2001. Her follow-up, ILL NANA 2: THE FEVER, was never released.

Her new album, tentatively called BLACK ROSES, features collaborations with DIDO and LUTHER VANDROSS among others.