(Los Angeles, Calif.) Big Vision Entertainment has announced the DVD release of Lyrikal Kombat, a first-ever battle of the underground MCs captured across the U.S. Produced by The Cartel, the program will be available at retail stores on January 17, 2006.

Lyrikal Kombat is strapped and loaded with the hottest MC battles from Coast to Coast. From Detroit to Atlanta, today’s new kings of the MC underground go at it. On college campuses in California to radio station battles in NYC, these MCs battle for cash and respect. “Big Vision is very pleased with the content and execution of these MC battles, and look forward to more product from our new partners, The Cartel,” Houston Curtis, President, Big Vision Entertainment noted.

Lyrikal Kombat is the brainchild of Cartel’s production team, Chris Briggs and Chris Carlson. Briggs credits include co-producer on Poseidon, the Wolfgang Peterson directed, Warner Bros remake of the classic disaster movie, The Poseidon Adventure, set for release in the summer of 2006 and he produced the upcoming horror film Hostel, set for release under the Quentin Tarantino Presents banner by Lions Gate Entertainment in early 2006. Carlson has produced both scripted and unscripted TV programs for Spike TV, MTV Networks, NBC, CBS, TBS and the WB.

According to Briggs, “The goal with Lyrikal Kombat was to present a raw and uncensored view of the exciting world of underground rap battles. This is the real 8 Mile. Freestyle MC battles are a cultural phenomenon, occurring everywhere across the country. Lyrikal Kombat brings the excitement of these explosive, underground events into people's living rooms.”

BigVision/Lyrikal Kombat/2

Lyrikal Kombat currently is being sold through a huge direct response campaign. Sixty days before its street date, spots began on such networks as MTV, MTV2, BET and Fuse. Print adverting is currently running in The Source, Murder Dog, XXL and other national hip hop publications. Check out the Lyrikal Kombat.com Web site.

DVD Extras include Bonus Battles and Battle Selection Mode, as well as Interactive Menus.

Lyrikal Kombat, 60 Minutes, srp$19.95, UPC 881737111197, Available 1/17/06. Label: Big Vision Entertainment. Distributor: Ventura Distribution.

Big Vision Entertainment is one of the leading special interest home video labels with a range of hit titles including the award-winning Masters of Poker series featuring World Champion poker players Phil Hellmuth and Annie Duke; the Billboard chart topping Hardcore Homecoming and Forever Hardcore, and the critically acclaimed, Baby Know It All, among other niche-based products. In addition, it is a full-service television production and video distribution company