Paris Hilton Sings

She's certainly one of the most versatile 24–year–old women on the planet, a fact she's demonstrated to no small audience in recent years.

But the great thing about true artists is that they're never at rest but always looking to push against existing limits and explode beyond into new arenas.

Now comes the time for Ms. Hilton to explore the studio space and she's gonna do it with a bang: the producer of her debut solo album is none other than Scott Storch (below).

Who's Scott Storch?

Well, for starters, he's produced such songs as Mario's "Let Me Love You," 50 Cent's "Candy Shop" and "Just a L'il Bit," Lil Kim's "Lighters Up," Beyoncé's "Baby Boy," "Naughty Girl" and "Me, Myself and I," Fat Joe's "Lean Back" and Chris Brown's "Run It."

He's currently in the studio with Ice Cube, Method Man and Jessica Simpson.

'Nuff sed*

He's currently putting the final touches on Paris's album, scheduled for release this summer and including such songs as "Jealousy" and "It's Like That," among others.

Can Paris sing?

Does it matter?

Lola Ogunnaike profiled Storch in this past Monday's New York Times; highlights follow.

In the coming months Mr. Storch's hitmaking ability will be put to the ultimate test.

He spent a significant portion of last year working with the celebutante Paris Hilton on her debut album, which is scheduled for release this summer.

Ms. Hilton has already proven adept at selling books, perfume, racy videotapes and hamburgers, but will she be able to push albums?

Yes, the producer is betting.

"I think Paris's album is going to take everyone by surprise," he said confidently.

Still, walking into the project, Mr. Storch admitted, he had felt some trepidation.

"I remember having a conversation with Dr. Dre, and he said: 'Scott, this is a risk. You can either have incredible success or big failure. But risk is good.' "

He decided to gamble.

Later in the evening, at a Miami studio, he played a handful of tracks from Ms. Hilton's album.

"Jealousy" was clearly aimed at her ever-shrinking, ex-best-friend Nicole Ritchie.

And on "It's Like That," destined for the clubs, Ms. Hilton, in a breathy, digitally enhanced register, can be heard cooing, "Gonna lose my clothes/You like that don't you/Let's get exposed/You know you want to."

While Mr. Storch compared Ms. Hilton's sound to Cyndi Lauper's and Blondie's, he tap-danced when asked if Ms. Hilton could actually hold a note.

"If people are given the right circumstances and the right track and the right melody, it's about the conviction," he said.

"It's not necessarily about being a God-given virtuoso."

Sure.

Mr. Storch and Ms. Hilton became an item during their time together.

The two showed up hand in hand at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, and he did buy her a Bentley. (He also purchased one for his ex-girlfriend Lil' Kim when they were an item.)

Did the two mix business and pleasure?

"It's always a pleasure working with Paris," Mr. Storch said with a sly chuckle.

"We were good friends. Let the world figure that out. I take the high road."

********************

I guess that old saying, "Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere," is true after all.

*Great name I just made up for a rapper–to–be.

Take it and get rich.

Speaking of which, Storch charges between $80,000 and $90,000 to produce one song.

Last year he produced 80 of them.

Do the math — but if you'd rather dump it on me, OK: that's about $6,800,000 before taxes.

No small beer.