Billboard’s Mariel Concepcion recently spoke to Hov and got some clarification on the deals he just closed with Atlantic and Sony.
“Sony is Roc Nation. That’s where Roc Nation’s going through,” Jay-Z told Billboard.com on Friday (June 29).
As for the deal he recently signed with Atlantic, he clarifies that it is a one-off situation for his upcoming album, “Blueprint 3,” slated for a September 11th release.
“That’s pretty much just for this specific album. Roc Nation — we’re experts in marketing and making records. But we do distribution deals,” he says. “On this one, we’re working directly with the Atlantic staff, which is Julie [Greenwald], Lyor [Cohen], Kevin [Liles] and Kyse [Mike Kyser]. For the rest of the Roc Nation artists, we did a distribution deal with Sony.
Sony must have brought a pretty sweet deal to the table for Jay to pass up a reunion with Lyor, Kev Liles and Mike Kyser. I mean, just look at all of the bromance oozing out of that pic up there.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Jay-Z Confirms, Explains Sony & Atlantic Deals
Cory Gunz Interview & Freestyle w/ CultureVI
Another Culture VI exclusive - Wil sits down with Cory Gunz and Square Off at In Ya Ear Studios to talk about his collaboration with Joell Ortiz, coming up under hip-hop royalty, and his last ever song!
Tahiry Stalking Her Man? (JoeBuddenTV)
Tahiry pops up at the “One” video shoot to keep an eye on Joe.
Tash - New Bikini
The official video for the first single off the new solo project from Tash of Tha Liks, Control Freek, out now.
50 Says He’s Still #1
While he admits that mentor Eminem ranks higher than him on the list, Fif is quick to point out his dominance over Weezy. “What does that mean that you sold that,” he told XXL pertaining to Wayne’s last album, Tha Carter III, selling one million copies in its first week out last year. “So you gonna forget that I sold 10 million albums twice -12 million first album, 10 million next one. So what does that one million mean?”
Fiddy believes fans are quick to forget his history; getting caught up in whoever is hot at the moment. “What you’re talking about is who is a buzz,” he explained. “A buzz is a song. So the next song that I release can turn me back into what you feel like is the hottest thing out here. So I mean if I’m showing you full capability of it than what makes you doubt that.”
Dream x Christina Milian Cover VIBE's Final Issue
Here is the final cover of VIBE magazine, and from what I'm told, it will not be available on newsstands. Check the official statement from former CEO, Steve Aaron.
Dear VIBE Team:
It is with a heavy heart that I share some tough news, VMG is closing down effective today, June 30th.
It’s been an 16 incredible years since VIBE’s inception. There are very few magazines with the richness of history and breadth of talented visionaries who created the powerful lens in which VIBE viewed and shaped urban music and culture.
Ever since I first set foot in this courageous company, I’ve regarded myself as incredibly fortunate to be be involved with this remarkable brand and group of individuals whose performance has never been nothing short of outstanding. We finished 2008 in an improved position versus the prior year, and accomplished so much, including:
* Editorial Awards
* Editorial transformation into content dept
* New Ad accounts being broken
* The Most Mag Launch
* Award winning re-design
* Profitable digital operation
* VIBE.com growth and improvements and programs such as Best Rapper Ever, #1 Stan, etc
* Mobile VIBE launch
* Micro-site development Mostmag.com to start off.
* V Sessions
* Improved PR coverage
Unfortunately, over the last several months, a confluence of events has obviously posed VMG to exceedingly serious challenges.
* The collapse of the capital markets has impacted us greatly. Over the past several months, we have actively pursued investment resources while working intensively with our bank to find a solution. But the deal market right now remains very poor and at the end of the day, the lack of investment resources to restructure the huge debt on our small company has made this outcome become a reality.
* The print advertising collapse hit VIBE hard, especially as key ad categories like automotive and fashion, which represented the bulk of our top 10 advertisers, have stopped advertising or gone out of business. It’s also unfortunate that in a recession many companies reduce the multi-cultural campaigns. These facts, coupled with the continuing decline of the music industry not to mention the newsstand wholesaler consolidation in early 2009 all negatively impacted our business in a significant way.
* The relentless economic situation has depressed our growth initiatives on the digital front. To be clear, VMG has made significant improvement in this part of our business, but not at the accelerated pace required to offset the devastating effects of the most severe recession in our lifetime and the accompanying print losses.
I want to thank you all for your hard work and commitment, and for all of the adventures along the way. I’ll miss this place a lot, but I’ll miss you all and the magic you create.
Vibe will be remembered as a shockingly brilliant content company that everyone can be proud of and I look forward with great excitement to all of future endeavors you all pursue.
With great affection and respect –
Steve Aaron
former CEO of VIBE Media Group
Naledge - Focus
Naledge "Focus" from Okayplayer on Vimeo.
The video was directed by Noah Banks over the course of two weeks and was made from 3,000 still images and zero video footage. Watch Naledge get his stop-motion on while making his way through the streets of the Chi.
Drake On Alexa Chung
Hip-Hop's Willis Reed appeared on Alexa Chung today and talked about signing to Cash Money, Kanye West, and Degrassi High.
Michael Jackson Tried To Diffuse 50 Cent & Game Beef
As far-fetched as this sounds, Game tells the 1515 Boys that MJ tried to Farrakhan his beef with 50 Cent.
"I was on tour in Canada, sitting in my room, cutting my hair. I was messing my hair up. Then my road manager knocks on my door. Boom, boom, boom. He told me, I got MJ on the phone. I ran and snatched up the phone. He said, 'I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, but I want to ask you something. I don't want you to judge me, but I don't really know everything that's going on between you and 50. But I want to be the middle man behind you putting this situation to bed.'"
The Game feat. Chris Brown, Diddy, Polow Da Don, Mario Winans, Usher, Boyz II Men - Better On The Other Side (MJ Tribute)
The Making of the Heineken/Biz Markie Ad
Some behind the scenes footage from the making of that Heineken “Let A Stranger Drive You Home” ad with the 4 drunks and the cab driver singing Biz’s “Just A Friend”. I never noticed that Biz actually did a customized remake of the song for the ad, I just assumed it was the original playing. Watch the finished product after the jump.
One Stop Shop Conference Promo
Here’s the official promo/wrap-up video for Sha Money XL’s One Stop Shop Producer Conference that went down in Phoenix back in May.
Slaughterhouse Interview w/ RubyHornet
Joe Budden, Joel Ortiz, & Royce Ds 5′9, chop it up with RH’s DJ RTC. Crooked I stepped away for a bit, but RH caught up with him not to long after. This all took place @ Rock The Bells Chicago
Monday, June 29, 2009
Alchemist Interview w/ Gooch
Gooch talks to Alchemist about touring with (the sober) Eminem, and what they now have to do make time go by:
“We play a lot of Uno on tour with Em. He enjoys my Uno game. Now that he’s sober, it’s a little bit different these days. Not many tequila parties before the show. It’s more like 80s music and Uno, and we’re ready to rock. Private jets, Uno, pizza, 80s music… Air Supply, “Fast Car” Tracy Chapman, Hall and Oates. That’s basically what we do.”
Drake Signs With Lil Wayne’s Young Money
Well, the wait is over: After weeks of speculation, Drake has chosen to go with the home team and sign with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Records, according to a source close to the situation. The deal breaks down as a joint venture between Young Money and Cash Money, with Universal Republic distributing. Drake’s management was adamant that he should be viewed as an independent artist, although Universal will distribute the project.
“Today is a definitely a comfortable day for me, having my team now that’s been in place for a couple of years. It’s just a great day,” Drake said. “It’s something new, but it feels familiar.”
Drizzy is excited about having a corporate push to help with the momentum he’s gained independently.
“Independent is a funny term,” he told MTV News on the set of his video for “Best I Ever Had.” “I can go independent, but you need distribution, period. You need somebody to distribute your record and you need that army that a label has to really push the record.”
Kurious - Sittin’ in My Car
Official video for Kurious new joint off his upcoming album, II, dropping tomorrow.
Michael Jackson x Stevie Wonder In The Studio
Swiped from TIME magazine's Special Commmerative Edition. On newsstands now.
Skyzoo - The Making of The Saving Pt. 1
Part 1 in a weekly series where I breakdown the making of my debut album “The Salvation”. Includes sneak peaks of the music and concepts. “The Salvation” in stores August 25th on jamla/duck down records
50 Cent Interview w/ DJ Whoo Kid
Speaks on War Angel, Forever King, Michael Jackson, Tight Jeans, R&B hooks in Hip-Hop, Eminem, why he’s not working with other artists, previous albums, mixtapes, labels, BooBooTV, “Power By Fifty Cent” Fragrance, Cassie and Rihanna photos, Oprah Winfrey, Jeremih, Drake, Soulja Boy success, Family Day, Internet thugs, BET Awards, Gucci Mane vs Young Jeezy…
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Drake Talks “Best I Ever Had” Video Treatment
The entire video is a metaphor. I’m a coach of a high school basketball team. As a young man, I guess I’m not ready to commit to one person. So as young men who aren’t ready to commit, we have what may appear like, a roster of women that we talk to. I happen to be coaching my roster of women, which happens to be the high school basketball team. And no matter how bad they play, to me they’re the best. So it’s a metaphor for that… Kanye directed it. Fabolous showed up, Trey Songz, Common…
Friday, June 26, 2009
Jonathan Mannion: Favorite Picture
In the final clip, Jon speaks on his favorite portrait. And it just so happens to be Jay-z's Reasonable Doubt album cover. See it for yourself for free at the Milk Gallery (450 W 15th St) in NYC until July 11th.
50 Is Listening
A lot of different artists out there that they’d be surprised that I got their CD, you know what I mean? And I play it… because of the competitive nature of the art form, I don’t shout it out or I don’t even let em know I’m listening, you know I just let it.. stay there because it might cause them to say something that makes me have to compete with them. - 50
The Game, Chris Brown, Diddy, Polow Da Don, Mario Winans, Usher, Boyz II Men - Better On The Other Side (Tribute To MJ)
Thursday, June 25, 2009
R.I.P Michael Jackson Dies at 50 from Heart Attack
Entertainment website TMZ is reporting that Michael Jackson died Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles. He was 50.
On Thursday, Jackson was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Los Angeles.
TMZ says Jackson was suffering cardiac arrest and received CPR en route to the hospital.
TMZ reports that the 911 call came from his home in Los Angeles at 12:21pm.
The L. A. Times reports that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home.
Curtis’ Thoughts on Drake’s Buzz
I wouldn’t use the word jealousy here, but he certainly does sound mad that Interscope didn’t put up 2 mill for him.
KRS-One & Buckshot’s Surprise Performance
KRS-ONE shocks a sold out Hip Hop Legends show at BB KINGS, NYC, by taking the stage with Buckshot to perform their new track, “ROBOT,” off their collaborative studio album, “SURVIVAL SKILLS,” in stores September 15th. The event, hosted by Funk Master Flex, also featured performances by Black Moon, Smif N Wessun, Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, Naughty By Nature, and more.
Snoop Dogg Kicks Mike Tyson's Ass
...In Fight Night Round 4 that is. In the clip, Snoop and Iron Mike go head to head at the video games' launch party in L.A.
Kanye West x Spike Jonze Debut “Nightmares” Short Film
Last night, Kanye West surprised the audience at the Los Angeles Film Festival with the debut of the short film We Were Once A Fairytale, directed by Spike Jonze. What was initially supposed to be a music video for the 808’s & Heartbreak track that now has a mind of it’s own:
In the film, Kanye plays himself drunk at a club acting belligerent and boastful, telling starstruck club-goers that the song playing in the club is his. He wanders into a side room where he encounters a beautiful woman. They start having sex and then he passes out on her leopard print dress. When he comes to, he finds himself in the VIP room with his pants down – he was hallucinating and fucking the pillow. The realization startles him and he rushes to the bathroom where he vomits what look like rose petals.
Then it gets weird.
Kanye finds a bowie knife in the bathroom and cuts into his stomach, spilling a torrent of more petals. He digs in the knife deeper and then with his hand rips out a small furry rodent, like a demon, only its quite cute. When Kanye realizes it’s connected to him with an umbilical cord, he pulls it hard, ripping it out of him for good. He then puts the demon on the sink and hands him a tiny bowie knife to fit the critter’s scale who then uses it to commit hari kari.
They go on to say that the video takes what people like and hate about Ye’s persona and pushes it to the limit, the video also “walks the fine line between self aggrandizement and self mockery.” The piece also mentions that the song has beens remixed (sort of like Paranoid was) and that it was done by Spike Jonze’ brother, Squeak E. Clean of N.A.S.A.
Link: Kanye West, Spike Jonze debut bizarre short “Nightmares” film at LAFF
The Roots - How I Got Over (Live on Jimmy Fallon)
The group shot a video for the track earlier this month; the clip will be released in early July.
“How I Got Over” is a prime slice of the Roots’ socially conscious hip-hop, as Black Thought raps, “Livin’ with the police right behind ya / It’s always more than a slight reminder / we’re livin’ in a war zone like Rwanda.”
As for “How I Got Over” the album, the Def Jam project was originally due this summer but has since been bumped to Oct. 20. Among the tracks expected to make the cut are “Walk Alone,” the vintage R&B-leaning “Make a Move,” “The Day” featuring Icelandic vocalist Patty Crash and a cover of Frank Zappa’s instrumental classic “Peaches en Regalia.” “How I Got Over” is also expected to include a version of Cody Chesnutt’s “Serve This Royalty;” the singer-songwriter rose to fame in 2002 when the Roots re-recorded his song “The Seed” for their album “Phrenology.”
The Roots have national dates booked beginning Saturday in Tinley Park, Ill., as part of the Rock the Bells tour, in addition to their weekly jam session residency at New York’s Highline Ballroom and a residency in Atlantic City, New Jersey, starting in July.
Grand Puba x Lord Jamar Talk Golden Era Studio Days Pt. 2 Pt. 3
Legendary MC and golden age veteran, Grand Puba (of Brand Nubian) talks with Lord Jamar about their early days and their aspirations coming into the music business, when the game was less about money and more about earning the respect of artists and musicians who you respected. They also talk about the creative process and collectively writing the track “Slow Down” while in the studio.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
No Country For New Artists
Busta Rhymes Booed Off Stage For Shouting Out New Artists(Cudi, Weezy, Kanye)
RZA Wu-Tang Chamber Music Sampling Promo
Producer RZA discusses sampling and the decision to move towards live instrumentation on Wu-Tang’s upcoming album entitled Chamber Music, which drops June 30, 2009.
Cam'ron Smiles Like A Proud Dad
"His mom don't like that. His mom don't want him on TV or the album covers. When I put him on the album cover, his teacher will change it from 'Cameron' to 'Cam'ron' on his [school] paper. He had to change schools two or three times. I had to fall back from letting him be on the camera. I feel her for that. It's his safety first before anything. I feel her for that."
Curtis Talk New Mixtape w/ XXL
11 seconds in and he’s already used the words “aggressive” and “content” although, to his credit, not in the same sentence. Fucking Curtis.
Jay-Z & Drake Give Their Thoughts On Soulja Boy
Drake says Soulja Boy is the smartest artist of our generation below.
Raekwon’s “Empire’s Men Club Tee”
Last Sunday Raekwon hit the Island of Hawaii for a special concert at Empire Men’s Club. For the occasion In4mation produced a limited run of t-shirts with Morals Fiber. The shirts were initially only available to concert goers, but a few remain and are up for grabs at In4mation shops.
Curtis Explains His Process With Timbaland
Well, it’s not really cheating when you have producers such as Dr. Dre, Timbaland and Polow Da Don working on your album. Fif is stacking the deck for his current incarnation of Before I Self Destruct. Fif is on his third different production of the album, and he said the third time’s the charm.
“I feel like my album is as close to perfect as it’s gonna get,” 50 told MTV News last week. “I’m reaching the point to where if I have to continue to write it, I’ll be overkilling it. That’s why I gave myself other writing assignments, like the War Angel [mixtape], like the ’90s [tape] Sincerely Southside Part 2 and our actual G-Unit mixtape I’m doing with [Lloyd] Banks and [Tony] Yayo.”
Fif said reconnecting with Timbaland for Before I Self Destruct has been a unique experience. “When me and Timbaland go in, a lot of times it’s a compromise,” Fif said. “He’s doing things that’s a little different production-wise from what I would usually do. Like ‘Ayo Technology’ — you never heard me rap with that cadence. That beat was actually for Justin [Timberlake]. It was golden, some sh– he had on the side, and he gave it to me. I went and did it. Justin laid the hook to it.”
Timbo will go in the studio and mumble a melody and tell Fif to pen lyrics with that flow, which 50 said is easy for him. “I could put lyrics to any melody,” the G-Unit General said. “I can write a rap song, I can write an R&B song, I can write whatever type of song. If you put a note on it where I can hear it, man, I can write that. We did that, and that’s how I came up with that new cadence for ‘Ayo Technology.’ We did that a couple of times while we was on there working [on Before I Self Destruct]. It’s fun that way to have him participate with me.
Clipse Interview w/ DJ Skee
They talk to DJ Skee on his KIISFM show:
DJ Skee sits down with Malice and Pusha T of the clipse and discuss their new album “Til The Casket Drops”, Air Yeezy’s and their favorite spots in L.A.
Pharrell’s Steps to Success Pt. 1
This one is called You Can Do It Too:
Listen as Director, Opiyo Okeyo gets Pharrell Williams’ 3 major Steps to Success in this three part series. From band class to music icon, “You Can Do it Too”.
Joe Budden Interview w/ All Access DVD
Joe Budden talks candidly about Method Man/Busta Rhymes, Slaughterhouse and JoeBuddenTV.
Nicki Minaj - BET.com Video Blog #1
Nicki Minaj's BET.com Video Blog Entry #1 from Andreas Hale on Vimeo.
Nicki Minaj delivers her first BET.com video blog titled “Step Ya Cookies Up.” Nicki gives a behind the scenes look at her performance in Maryland and explains the concept behind “Step Ya Cookies up.”
?uestlove & Melanie Fiona Mixtape Coming Soon
Melanie Fiona will be dropping a mixtape with ?uestlove remixing and covering several records…below is a link to a teaser as well as a snippet of what they did to “Give It To Me Right.” The tape will be dropping this Friday (6/26), and preview clips will be dropping every day until then.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Lil Wayne Credits Pac For Tattoo & Says No More Mixtapes To DJ's... Stores Only!
Clipse, Diz Gibran & Terry Kennedy Myspace Music Interviews
THE CLIPSE, DIZ GIBRAN & TERRY KENNEDY Exclusive Interviews
Roslynn Cobarrubias of Myspace Music catches up with Diz, Malice & Pusha, and Compton Ass Terry @ Club Nokia this past Friday.
Tony Yayo Talks Swine Flu 2
“We just making movies now,” Yayo said. “Shout-out to the whole ThisIs50.com … Lloyd [Banks] … We living the life. This is the sh– Rick Ross rhymes about. We overlooking the city. The Unit is bringing the energy back through the Internet. It’s to the point now where you don’t have to pay nobody to get on — you could just put it on the Internet and become a star.”
Like 50 Cent, Yayo just put out a mixtape — Swine Flu 2: The Pandemic.
“It’s called The Pandemic because that’s before an epidemic comes,” he explained. “The [actual] swine flu has actually turned into an epidemic, so now it’s getting crazy. I got Hell Rell on there — you definitely should check out this record. I redid the Drake [song] over — instead of ‘Successful,’ I did ‘What you think I wear a vest for?’ I went over the ‘Daytona 500′ beat with ‘Goin In.’ Shout-out to Wu-Tang. … I’m just working.”
Homeboy Sandman Learns How to Drive Stick
Homeboy Sandman Learns How to Drive Stick Directed by P.CASSO the Earth Tone King from PCASSO on Vimeo.
This is actually a Homeboy Sandman music video. Directed by P.CASSO.
