Atlanta, Georgia rap
duo Outkast have launched a new label and recently signed fellow Georgian rapper
Bubba Sparxxx. Outkast’s Purple Label also inked a distribution deal with
Virgin. Sparxxx, formerly on Interscope, first hit big with his 2001 single “Ugly”
from his Timbaland produced major label debut Dark Days, Bright Nights,
as well as 2003’s “Deliverance,” taken from his album of the
same name. Organized Noise/Dungeon Family member Sleepy Brown is best known for
his vocal performance on Big Boi’s#### “The Way You Move,” taken
from their critical and commercial success, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
Simmons Lathan
Media Group (SLMG), owned by Russell Simmons and TV honcho Stan Lathan, have
teamed with Clear Channel to produce music and fashion related shows. The union
will produce “Def On Demand Live!” 12 music and fashion related
shows for their Def On Demand subsidiary. The productions will be distributed
via television and is part of a two-year-agreement between the companies that
will create original programming for the On Demand service. "We are extremely
pleased to be partnering with Clear Channel, a world leader in the production
of live entertainment events," said Will Griffin, President of SLMG. "With
our focus in urban entertainment, and our ability within Def On Demand Live!
to draw on the creative experience of our co-founders Russell Simmons and Stan
Lathan, we look forward to our partnership with Clear Channel and believe that
together we can continue to develop and produce the compelling live events for
which we are known."
Young Buck gave
his first performance in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee last night (Dec.
12). Buck, who was charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a
man at the Vibe Awards who assaulted Dr. Dre, is free on $500,000 bond. Fans
who attended the concert at the Gateway Entertainment Complex faced heavy security,
as the venue used metal detectors for the first time in the establishment’s
history.
Flavor Flav is
working on a new solo album as well as a new album with Public Enemy group member
Chuck D. The untitled album will be released independently and Flavor said that
he would fund the project himself, in order to avoid being signed to another
record label. Flavor Flav also said the new Public Enemy album is near completion,
but the group has yet-to-determine what record label it will be released on.
Flavor Flav experienced a surge in popularity thanks to his television romance
with Brigitte Nielsen on “The Surreal Life.” Flavor returns to television
early next year with Nielsen on the VH1 reality show “Strange Love.”
