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Jay Z Discusses Tidal's Profit Sharing, $20 HiFi Cost, & Criticism The Streaming Service Is Elitist

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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(AllHipHop News) This week Jay Z and a group of other leading music acts – including Beyoncé, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, and Kanye West – launched the new music streaming service Tidal. The brand is being billed as an artist owned high-fidelity music platform which provides lossless audio quality.

On Wednesday, Jay and Tidal executive Vania Schlogel met with students at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to talk about the new venture. NYU professor Errol Kolosine moderated the discussion.

Read some of the quotes from Jay’s Q&A at NYU below (via Fadar).

[ALSO READ: Jay Z, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Kanye West, J. Cole & More Announce Tidal Will Be The First Artist Owned Music Platform]

On whether Tidal was a direct response to criticism artists receive small portions of profits from streaming on Spotify:

Jay Z: Not a direct response. You don’t want to single anyone out, per se — but currently we pay the highest royalty percentage. And there is no free tier service. If you have five people paying for music, and ten people consuming it, then the artist starts at -5. We start at 1. There is no free tier and we’ll pay the highest royalty percentage. That’s how we’ll change the industry.

On the difference between Tidal’s payout structure and its competitors:

Schlogel: The royalty rates will be higher than other services. In addition to that, there won’t be that free tier that’s been depressing the recorded music industry, and frankly been a part of what’s been driving the downfall of the recorded music industry, is that free consumption…

All artists who come in — and this is an open platform, an open invitation — will participate in the equity upside. And that is important, too, because of that participation in the process, by having a board seat, by actually being an owner in this. It’s a different type of involvement.

Jay Z: I know everyone thinks “new company, main business competitor is Spotify” but we’re really not here to compete with anyone, we’re actually here to improve the landscape. If just the presence of Tidal causes other companies to have better pay structure, or to pay more attention to it moving forward, then we’ve been successful in one way. So we don’t really view them as competitors. As the tide rises, all the boats rise.

On the difficulty level of independent artists’ ability to add music to Tidal:

Schlogel: The truth of the matter is, we took control of this company a few weeks ago. We’re still a very young, nascent company and we have a lot of initiatives that we’re working on, especially when it comes to indie talent, emerging talent, giving people visibility, giving people a forum to put their music up and giving them control of their distribution and their creative content, how they want to communicate with their fans. Those are all initiatives, and that one specifically is something that we’re working on addressing.

Jay Z: As well as having a discovery program, where established artists can take things that they like and just showcase them. It’s all about paying it forward and working very cyclically and discovering new music. Imagine if Win from Arcade Fire puts up an artist that he discovered in Haiti — and he had this idea, actually, I don’t want to step on his idea — and through the curation process gets something really good and introduces it to the world. And then the world is inspired by that sound. It gets a little ethereal from there, but just the possibilities of what Tidal can do are really exciting, on a creative front.

On whether exclusive content will be available for purchase anywhere:

Jay Z: I don’t know. It’s available for streaming immediately. I don’t know where streaming will go in the future. The analytics that we’re seeing tell us that streaming is the next thing, and downloads are going down. I feel like with the history of this platform, from vinyl to where we are now, it just seems like the next logical step. Before you had a CD, you put it in, you had the download, they eliminated the CD so just downloads. Now you’re going to eliminate the download and you just play it. So it just seems like the next logical step in what’s going to happen.

On artists’ payout from streaming:

Jay Z: You guys may have seen some of the stats like, Aloe Blacc had a song that was streamed 168 million times and he got paid $4,000. For us, it’s not us standing here saying we’re poor musicians. If you provide a service, you should be compensated for it. And not just artists — just think about the writers and the producers…

What about Jahlil Beats, who produced Bobby Shmurda’s “Hot N**ga”? He went on to get a $2 million record deal or whatever, and Jahlil Beats just put the song out. So he wasn’t compensated for that song at all. There are dozens — more than dozens, there are thousands and thousands of those sorts of stories of someone who worked at their craft, worked really hard at the studio, they did their job and people loved it and consumed it and they just went home. I think we’ll lose a lot of great writers in the future because you have to do something else, because you can’t sustain a lifestyle, and I think that’s a shame. That someone has that talent and just isn’t being compensated because someone needed a business to profit off of their work.

And we’ve seen that time and time again, we’ve seen it time and time again. Companies that pretend to care about music and really care about other things — whether it be hardware, whether it be advertising — and now they look at music as a loss leader. And we know music isn’t a loss leader, music is an important part of our lives.

On the $20/month cost for Tidal HiFi:

Jay Z: We believe that if you consume music for free, and that’s what you want to do, that’s your choice. There are good and bad parts of a democratic society — do what you like to do. I’m just talking to people who care about musicians and the music they consume. That’s who we’re speaking to…

It’s not for everybody, and we’re not trying to force it on you but if that’s what you like and that’s what you really care about, then you have the option. And that’s what Tidal is saying.

On streaming’s competitive market:

Jay Z: We’re cool with, you know, they can be McDonald’s, we’ll be Shake Shack. We don’t have to be number one, we just want to be very specific and very great at what we do. We want to do a very specific thing, we want people to come to Tidal for a specific sound, a specific experience, and to know that there are going to be the greatest new artists in the world, the biggest artists, introducing the newest artists, collaborations and things you’ve never seen before. That’s what we’re going to do. After that, the world decides. The universe decides.

On major label involvement: 

Jay Z: Well, we can’t exclude the major labels because they have contracts with the artists. But if you don’t have a contract as an independent artist, they you can do whatever you want and we would love to work with you…

I’m on Tidal. I don’t have a record deal. So… yes.

On the perception Tidal is a self-serving platform for the musical elite:

Jay Z: You never hear Tim Cook’s net worth whenever he tries to sell you something. Steve Jobs, God bless, he had to have been pretty rich — nobody’s ever said, “Oh, the rich getting richer! I won’t buy an iPhone!” Yeah, right. It’s not about being pretentious; again, this is a thing for all artists. You pay $9.99 for Spotify, so why not $9.99 for Tidal. We’re not asking for anything else, we’re just saying that we’ll spread that money to artists more fairly. We’re not saying anything other than that, and we’re saying that we’re in a position to bring light to this issue. We’re using our power that way…

Imagine the President: he has to take care of ISIS, gay rights, equal pay for women, discrimination — all at the same time! So, you can’t say “You started this site when you should be out in St. Louis!” It’s like, okay, J. Cole is out in St. Louis. I wasn’t in St. Louis, but I was in the governor’s office. Because, we can march all day long but if the laws don’t change, then we’ll be marching again and it’ll just be a different slogan on the shirt, and that’s a greater tragedy as well. Everyone has to play their part, everyone has to do different things, and it all has to happen at the same time.

[ALSO READ: Madonna Is Fine With Tidal Being Called The Illuminati]

Rich Homie Quan Said It Wasn't Him!

By: ClassicOne Updated Category: Rumors
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Photo via Rich Homie Quan’s Instagram

Rich Homie Quan says there’s no way he could’ve beat the Miami security guard. His alibi is he was too busy getting drunk. RHQ said “it wasn’t him” while talking to TMZ at LAX. Rich Homie seems to be certain that he wasn’t involved in the incident that left Christian Cajigas bloody outsude of Club LIV. Hmmm but RHQ does talk about the infamous getaway yacht. He’s a little unsure about the details or just lying. Check out the video below.

Eminem Decodes "My Name Is", "Stan", "Renegade", "Lose Yourself", "Rap God" & More

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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(AllHipHop News) Eminem has been called one of the greatest lyricists in Hip Hop history, so who better to annotate his songs on Genius.com than Slim Shady himself. The Detroit rhymer joined the website and decoded some of his classic tracks as well as cuts from the Shady family. Em also shared his thoughts on the current battle rap scene.

[ALSO READ: 50 Cent Talks His New Track With Eminem (VIDEO)]

Read some of Em’s Genius.com annotation’s below.

Eminem’s “Stan” featuring Dido:

When I heard “your picture on my wall,” I was like “Yo, this could be about somebody who takes me too seriously.” So I knew what I was going to write about before I wrote it. A lot of times when I’m writing songs, I see visions for everything I’m writing. This was one of those.

I remember Mark The 45 King sent me that beat. And when I first heard it, I was like, “Holy s*8t.” But I didn’t know it was going to be so big. When I was writing it, I just thought, “Whoa, people are going to get sick of this because it goes on for so long.”

Eminem’s “My Name Is”:

“My Name Is” was the first thing that came out of my mouth that first day I was at Dre’s house. I don’t know if we released what I did the first day or if I re-did it, but it was basically the same. I didn’t understand punching, or believe in it. So I would just go from the top of the song all the way down. I was never flying in hooks. Everything was live, one take. If I got all the way to the f**king end, and messed up the last word, I’d be like “Run it back, let’s do it again.” I remember Dre was like “Yo, are you f**king crazy? Let’s just punch.” I didn’t like that concept because I wasn’t used to it. When we were recording here in Detroit, in the beginning, I was saving up my money to go in. We only had an hour, you know? I’m like “One take down, alright, let’s go to the next song. F**k it.” That’s what I was used to.

Eminem’s “White America”:

I always wanted to make sure that people knew what I was doing. That’s part of what Paul’s role was in the skits. He was the adult. We wanted people to know that we knew this s### was f**ked up and pushing the envelope, but that there was still a voice of reason somewhere.

Songs like “White America” and “Cleanin’ out my Closet,” those aren’t really Shady. So I thought, “I’m going to call this album The Eminem Show. This is me as the rapper, not as the character.”

Eminem’s “Rap God”:

I’ve always been into comic books. Spiderman, Hulk, old Batmans, Supermans — mostly vintage Marvel s### from before I was born. Just being able to have those pieces of history is crazy. I would not want to face off with somebody comparing comic book knowledge, but I know a pretty good amount.

I don’t ever want to be too braggadocious. If I’m going to brag, let me pull it back with lines like “school flunky, pill junkie.” I’m a f**king waste of life. I’m a waste of sperm. I am a f**king outcast of society, I am a piece of s**t. But I know how to rap. Other than that, I’m a f**king scumbag. I’m worthless. Or this is what I’ve been told.

Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”:

When we were making 8 Mile, I was revisiting this old CD from two years before, going through old loops. I found the “Lose Yourself” demo on this session where me and Jeff Bass were just making beats. Jeff was just sitting on those guitar chords, and then it went into something different. I was just like “Yo, that section, right there, I gotta make a beat out of that.” I recorded the demo version of it the same day I made the beat. I didn’t like the rhyme, and put it off to the side.

But it’s one of those beats I never gave up on. That beat was definitely a highlight of my producing. I ended up doing the new version on the set of the movie, just writing between takes.

8 Mile wasn’t coming out for another year and a half, and Curtis really wanted music for the movie. He wanted it to be created from the environment, so he was pushing me to make stuff. I think “Lose Yourself” was the only thing I worked on specifically for the movie.

Jay Z’s “Renegade” featuring Eminem:

When I’m writing, I’m in the syllable game. I’m connecting 5-6-7-8 syllable phrases where every syllable rhymes. I get heavy into that. When I start rapping something, and I think of more syllables that connect with it, sometimes I want to just keep the scheme going forever.

I’ve done it before in songs, where the syllable scheme of the first verse ends up being the syllable scheme of the second verse, and the third verse — all the way down. I do it because the lines start connecting and making sense. Once I find something and lock in, it comes out pretty quick.

50 Cent’s “In Da Club”:

We couldn’t decide on the first single from Get Rich. It was going to be either “If I Can’t” or “In Da Club.” We were torn, so me, 50, Paul, Chris Lighty, and Jimmy Iovine decided to flip a coin.

Bad Meets Evil’s “Lighters” featuring Bruno Mars:

Because of the Martin Luther King quote — “had a dream” — someone thought “milking” was a play on M.L. King. It’s not. But I’ve thought that about other people’s lines. Sometimes me and Slaughterhouse will talk, and I’ll be like “Yo, you meant this?” And he’ll be like “No,” and I’m like, “You should tell people you meant that.”

I should have told that guy that’s what I meant. That “milking” thing is pretty cool.

D12’s “Purple Pills”:

Sometimes, a full melody will hit me and the words fall out easily. Other times, I just get a basic idea of a melody and whatever the rhythm is doing, however many syllables it is. Ham-bur-gers. Sometimes it will be the last word that will hit me, and it will be like “Okay, now fill in the blanks.” And sometimes it will just get the beginning phrase, like with “Purple Pills.” I think a lot of that material just came from walking around the studio. We’re just goofballs man. We would just clown.

Hollow Da Don Vs Tsu Surf (URL):

Battle rap is healthy for hip hop. The entire battle scene, the way that it’s thriving right now and how big it’s becoming and everything—it’s great. There’s something to be said about two guys, facing each other and squaring off. But if you take any of those raps and put them on a record, that turns into fighting, for some reason.

If I’m battling somebody, I go into the battle knowing that. This person’s gonna say foul s**t about me. But when somebody calls somebody out on a record, it’s different. In a battle, people expect it.

Check out all of Eminem’s Genius.com annotations here.

[ALSO READ: Rick Rubin Shares His Thoughts On Songs By Kanye West, Jay Z, Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre & More]

Kokane Speaks On Personal Memories With Eazy E, NWA Movie & Connecting With Joe Young

By: Scooby Wilson (@mcscoobins) Updated Category: News
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With the NWA Movie approaching and things looking up for Westcoast Hip Hop thanks to aspiring leaders like Kendrick Lamar, Siccness.net had a chance to mix it up with one of the pioneers of it all, OG Kokane.

From being featured on countless songs with Eazy E and NWA as well as other Westcoast Heavyweights like George Clinton, Above the Law and Tupac he has an interesting story to tell. While on the phone with Joe Young & Coop from Siccness discussing their project Fan Appreciation which features some of todays westcoast elite The Game, Crooked I, Kurupt, K Young, Crooked I & more, they had an interesting story to tell.

Check out the new single by Tha Dogg Pound called “Skip Skip” which features OG Kokane as well as his new single “HALLA” off the 24 Year Anniversary album dropping April 24th. Also get ready for new music by Joe Young and the anticipated European Tour with Truth Hurts.

Stream the Fan Appreciation Mixtape:

Tyga: Kanye West Took My Album To A Dark Place (VIDEO)

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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(AllHipHop News) Even though Tyga’s next album is tentatively titled The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty, the California rapper says fans should expect the project to be dark. That artistic direction is thanks to the LP’s executive producer Kanye West.

[ALSO READ: Kanye West Talks Grammy Controversy, Amber Rose, Tyga/Kylie Jenner, Louis Farrakhan, & Possible Joint Album With Drake (VIDEO)]

T-Raww sat down with Diana Madison to discuss his upcoming collection. Tyga explained how Ye shaped the sound of his fourth solo album.

“[Kanye] executive produced the album. Just having his vision took it to a dark place. He heard things in the music that I didn’t hear or wasn’t looking for,” said Tyga. “It’s going to show people the potential and get to the roots when I started doing music, the feeling I wanted to create when I first started.”

This will not be the first time a Kanye West produced album will turn toward the dark side. He released the critically acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010. The GOOD Music leader also executive produced Big Sean’s 2015 chart topper Dark Sky Paradise.

[ALSO READ: Big Sean: “You Can’t Talk About Rap Music And Not Mention Lil Wayne” (VIDEO)]

Watch Tyga’s interview below.

Political Group Demands The Release Of Mumia Abu-Jamal

By: yourfavenightmare Updated Category: News
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Political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal is suffering in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections after several days in the intensive care unit of the Schukylkill Medical Center. During this period of time, his family members and loved ones were either granted very limited time seeing him or denied altogether, according to records. Furthermore, Mumia’s health is deteriorating and the medical facility is seemingly unable to improve his condition nor will the Department of Corrections move him into a hospital equipped to care for him properly.

The Campaign to Bring Mumia Home is demanding that Mumia be removed from his conditions rooted in a “compassion release.” While it is not often used, it is used. For example, in 2013, Amnesty International managed to get 71-year-old Herman Wallace released because he had advanced liver cancer. Organizers are asking that supporters go to BringMumiaHome.com for more information and rolling updates.

Mumia was convicted of killing Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981, but the former Black Panther has steadfastly maintained his innocence. Based on the facts of the case, his sentence was even reduced from death to life in prison. He and others have repeatedly appealed his conviction on the grounds he did not receive a fair trial and continue to demand his release on those grounds.

Below is an account of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s situation has it has played out this week:

Mumia was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Schukylkill Medical Center Monday morning after losing consciousness due diabetic shock (with a blood sugar level of 779 and a sodium level of 160).  After 20hrs of vigil his wife Wadiya and his brother Keith Cook were given 30 minutes each to see him. Pam Africa, listed on Mumia’s medical records as his emergency medical contact was also denied a visit.

On Wednesday Bill Cook (Mumia’s youngest brother) and Jamal Hart (Mumia’s oldest son) visited him.  Mumia’s condition was distressing. Jamal Hart left the room after 10 minutes, distressed that his father was in pain. Bill Cook reports that Mumia was very ill.  He had labored breathing, was in pain, thirsty, and he was shaking.  He also had difficulty getting out of bed. He was chained with one hand to the rail. Except for the two short visits on Monday and Tuesday, he was without any family contact.  He was denied all other visits including legal visits.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections created an arbitrary and capricious rule on Wednesday, announcing that immediate family members would only be permitted to visit once a week. This means that Mumia’s wife, brothers, and son will be prevented from returning to visit until next week. Given that everyone else – lawyers included – are banned from visiting. Unless we organize to change it- Mumia will have no visitors.

Today, Thursday, April 2nd, Mumia was transferred from the hospital back to the prison because the hospital said it does not have any diabetic specialists.

Mumia is not well and has not recovered.  In fact his condition is deteriorating and as Dr. Johanna Fernandez who first reported Mumia’s illness has expressed, “The house is burning.”

On Friday, April 3rd, the Campaign to Bring Mumia Home is asking supporters to organize caravans to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to arrive at 11am. For those unable to come to PA, the campaign encourages supporters to put forth their own demands and to air their grievances concerning prison conditions and prisoner health care at their local Attorney General’s Office.

For more information and latest updates on Mumia Abu-Jamal please visit BringMumiaHome.com

Former Hip Hop Cop Derrick Parker Talks Bobby Shmurda Case (VIDEO)

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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(AllHipHop News) Derrick Parker is a former NYPD detective that participated in the department’s rap intelligence unit (aka Hip Hop Cops). According to Parker, he spent years investigating rap stars like Sean “Diddy” Combs, and attending major Hip Hop events such as Hot 97’s Summer Jam concert.

[ALSO READ: Killer Mike Addresses Law Enforcement & Prosecutors Unfairly Targeting Black Artists]

In a new video posted to YouTube, Parker discussed one of the most recent rappers to face prison time – Brooklyn’s Bobby Shmurda. The GS9 affiliate has been arraigned on criminal possession of a weapon, conspiracy, reckless endangerment, and other charges.

“The case of Bobby Shmurda, look what happened to him. He was part of the GS9 crew – guns, drugs, and shootings. Once you do all that stuff, the police department monitors you,” states Parker. “With Bobby Shmurda, they were hellbent on not letting his career take off before they got him. They weren’t going to let him become a major rap artist before they took him down. They had some good detectives that did some good police work.”

Parker also adds he thinks Shmurda is done in the music industry. The prosecution having a strong case against the Epic Records signee in Parker’s opinion.

Shmurda has expressed he believes racism and a police bias against rappers have led to authorities targeting him. He told Hot 97 in March that the only thing he could have done to cause his current incarceration was “say hi and bye to people. Probably take a couple of pictures with people.”

The “Hot N***a” performer has also stated:

What [the public] is hearing about that night is bulls**t. It’s not true. The cops been trying to slay me forever, but they never catch me with nothing. Four or five cops had grabbed me up. They told me, “I don’t want my kids listening to your music.”

[ALSO READ: Bobby Shmurda Delivers Message To 50 Cent From Jail (AUDIO)]

Sicko Mobb – "Super Saiyan Vol. 2" (Mixtape)

By: Scooby Wilson (@mcscoobins) Updated Category: Music
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As summertime nears, the rising RCA signees Sicko Mobb drop off the sequel to their highly rated debut tape Super Saiyan Volume 1. The 17 track project is chalk full of summer time hits with the usual catchy bop sound the Mobb brings.

Former N.W.A Manager Jerry Heller Speaks On "Straight Outta Compton" Biopic (AUDIO)

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: News
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(AllHipHop News) Later this year, Paul Giamatti will star as former N.W.A manager Jerry Heller in the biopic about the legendary Hip Hop group. The real life Heller has now spoken out about Straight Outta Compton. The 74-year-old longtime entertainment insider discussed the film and more with the Murder Master Music Show.

[ALSO READ: Paul Giamatti To Play Jerry Heller In N.W.A Biopic]

On his feelings about the movie:

I haven’t seen anything yet. I am waiting until the movie comes out, and I will be there in the front row with my lawyer and looking to make sure it is an accurate movie. They didn’t reach out to me at all to give any kind of advice, insight, or background, so it’s hard for me to believe that they got it right…

I didn’t expect them to [consult with me], because that’s the way that they are. I certainly thought that Universal, Warner Bros,or one of their companies would insist on it. I am really shocked that, even though they didn’t reach out, somebody didn’t reach out.

On whether Giamatti contacted him about portraying him:

I am sure that somebody told him not to do it. I am sure they told him to stay away. They can’t write me out of it, but they can sure re-write it. If it is accurate then I’m a fan like everybody else. If it’s not accurate, I’m not going to sit back and let them say whatever they want.

On Dr. Dre and Ice Cube:

I have never seen Cube anywhere since the day he left Ruthless. I never saw him anywhere – at a Laker game or a Dodger game. I never saw him again. I’ve seen Dre a couple of times. His mother lives a few streets away, so I see her all the time. I used to see him once in awhile. We were always pleasant to each other. I’d run into him at the gas station or whatever. We always tried to be pleasant and superficial whenever I saw him. I got nothing against Dre. I think Dre is the most talented guy of the entire rap era.

On DJ Speed:

He was never in N.W.A. He was a gopher. He took Eric’s [Eazy-E] laundry in. He was a friend of Eric’s. I just found out from Vinnie Caruso that he got in trouble and Eric fired him. He was never a member of N.W.A. All the years I knew Eric, I probably ran into Speed two or three times. He talked s**t about me all the time like he knows something. He’s just a punk. He had nothing to do with N.W.A.

[ALSO READ: Dr. Dre Talks N.W.A Biopic “Straight Outta Compton” & The Making Of “Nuthin’ But A G Thang”(VIDEO)]

Listen to Jerry Heller’s interview below.