Full service independent music promoter Block Starz Music LLC (www.blockstarzmusic.com) has confirmed the addition of chart-topping platinum rap star Twista, former first lady of Ludacris’ Disturbing tha Peace camp, Shawnna, XXL “Freshman Ten” honoree/Kanye West affiliate Big Sean, and Mickey Rocks of Cool Kids to its upcoming Midwest Block Starz compilation scheduled for digital release on May 12 at all major online retailers.

These high-profile guest appearances bolster an explosive Midwest Block Starz lineup that already features Grammy Award winner Rhymefest, 2009 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards “Best Midwest Artist” Slick Watts, “Best Performer” Machine Gun Kelly, and a host of newcomers, including Chi-town’s Skooda Chose, Cleveland’s Tugun Cannon, Columbus, Ohio’s Fly Union, St. Louis representative Will Victory, Topeka, Kansas lyricist Mike Schpitz, and Korean rapper/Wisconsin native Smokes. Check out snippets below:

Midwest Block Starz is the third installment of Block Starz Music’s critically-acclaimed regional compilation series, which debuted in 2009 with West Coast Block Starz followed by East Coast Block Starz last December. Label executives say Midwest Block Starz will continue building on their company’s reputation for linking promising new independent talent to the marketplace.

“Our track record speaks for itself when it comes to exposing the public to a diverse selection of exciting new artists and producers,” says Block Starz Music co-founder and president Bayer Mack. “The key to the success of our compilation series is quality. Artists can’t pay to be on our releases, we have to actually like their material. If someone gets Block Starz Music’s seal of approval, you can believe the hype.”