EARS TO THE GROUND: Who better to...

EARS TO THE GROUND: Who better to predict next year’s stars in the fast-changing hip-hop market than the artists themselves?

Record companies feel they haven’t found anybody better, so they’re turning increasingly to young rappers for guidance in signing and developing talent.

Ice Cube, the Beastie Boys, Parrish Smith (formerly of EPMD), Cypress Hill’s B-Real and Dres from Black Sheep have all brought acts to major labels. Many have been rewarded with labels of their own, and more--including A Tribe Called Quest--apparently have deals in the works.

“Dres has become a valuable source because he’s traveled all over the country,” says Lisa Cortes, vice president of artists and repertoire at Mercury Records. Cortes helped Dres create One Love Records, which soon will be releasing debut albums from the Bronx-based rap trio Legion and Oakland-based female R&B; group Emage.

“I wish I could do a big road trip from Boston to Seattle and hit every place, but when you’re an artist, you’re in these places anyway and the kids find you,” Cortes says. “They give you tapes all the time.”

Some rappers also see A&R; as a way to further their own careers.

“I was born and raised in projects most of my life,” says Dres, 24 (real name: Andres Titus). “And it’s remarkable that young people, especially ghetto people such as myself, have the opportunity to do other things now, even beyond music. We’re employing people that we come up with, people that we’re close to, people that need opportunity just like we got the opportunity.”