RAP ON TAP: For the past few...

RAP ON TAP: For the past few years, Pee Wee Jam (real name: Keshaun McClendon) and M.C. Jam (C. John White) have been regaling classmates at University High School with a high-flying assortment of rap attacks (they even got class credit for one). Now the duo, whose group is called the West Coast Posse, is going big-time--and we don’t mean the school play. Their song, “Put on the Brakes,” a raucous, Run-D.M.C.-style rap number, is due out next month on Atlantic Records as the first single from the sound track to “Big Shots.” (The 20th Century Fox film, which is directed by Robert Mandel and exec produced by Ivan Reitman, hits the theaters in early October.)

As Pee Wee Jam, 15, and M.C. Jam, 16, tell it, their big break came when a school chum introduced them to his father, arranger Gene Page, who in turn got them together with guitarist Stevie (No Wonder) Salas, who wrote the music and played guitar on “Put on the Brakes.”

“We came up with the lyrics all in one day and had ‘em memorized by the next day,” Pee Wee Jam said. “We work best under pressure. If we have a lot of time, we’ll find anything else to do except do the work.” M.C. Jam added: “It works the same way with school. I can have three months to do a term paper and I’ll wait till the last night to write it.”

As you might have guessed from their West Coast Posse moniker, Pee Wee and M.C. are eager to end the “Eastie” groups’ monopoly on rap renown. “We’re trying to send the message that L.A.’s the place to be, that it’s happening for rap music,” said M.C. Jam, who’s headed to college this fall. The group’s favored outfits feature L.A. Dodgers and Raiders caps, Levi’s and Nike shoes--with laces (a big distinction in rap circles).

“Our wardrobe used to be all Adidas, like Run-D.M.C.,” said Pee Wee, who’ll be a junior at Uni this fall. “But now we never wear Adidas sweatsuits--that’s real Eastie. We want to have stuff that sets us apart--that’s fresh.” The guys haven’t landed a record deal yet, but having a song on a major Hollywood sound track is a big first step. “I’ll tell you this,” M.C. said. “Everyone in my family is going to see the movie--right away!”