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And Still She Rises: Jennifer Hudson to Star in “Smash” on NBC

Grammy and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson is coming to the small screen this fall in NBC’s second season of the hit show, “Smash”.

“American Idol” is dishing out the stars, as this decision will bring two former contestants into the show – Hudson and the show’s protagonist, Katherine McPhee.

Executive producer Steven Spielberg supports the addition, saying:

“First Dreamgirls, now ‘Smash’. I have no doubt Jennifer will continue to deliver even more inspiration to the audience responsible for giving us a second season on NBC. It’s wonderful to be reunited with her at DreamWorks Television and NBC.”

SOURCE

Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest Adds Young Guru, Evitan, Uncle Ralph McDaniels, Chuck Chillout and More to the Mix

(AllHipHop News) It’s nearly July, and the reps from Brooklyn Bodega are in full planning mode for the 2012 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival (BHF 2012).

This year’s festival, to be held from July 9-14 at various New York City locations, boasts Busta Rhymes of Native Tongue, Leaders Of The New School, and Cash Money fame as its headliner for the culminating concert on July 14. Brooklyn Bodega recently announced that Philadelphia rapper Freeway would open for Busta Rhymes during the show that has typically included an “and Friends” portion in years past.

Added to the BHF 2012 kickoff event, The Show & Prove Super Bowl, are DJ/engineer Young Guru and rap group Evitan, consisting of True School MCs, Dres of Blacksheep and  Jarobi of A Tribe Called Quest.

Festival host and pioneer Uncle Ralph McDaniels of Video Music Box will join the “Salute The DJ” event, along with Chuck Chillout and Sucio Smash. KissFM host Bob Slade will be joining BEI, and “The Dummy Clap Film Festival” will show two screenings on Friday, July 13, including the documentary, The Infamous Mobb Deep.

Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest is the featured DJ for the “Dummy Clap” after-party, and the BHF 2012 Official Concert After-Party on July 14 will host Fat Tony and French-Chilean MC Ana Tijoux.

Nearly 200 donors helped to support the BHF 2012 with over $15,000 in donations through its recent, online Kickstarter Campaign.

For tickets to the Show and Prove Concert Super Bowl, click here.

For tickets to the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival 2012, click here.

Showcasing Dopeness: J Hatch From iStandard and “Get Your Buzz Up” On The Grind And In-Studio With Yelawolf

A lot of people know who J Hatch is. They just don’t know that they know who J Hatch is. Permit us to explain. J Hatch is a man of many hats in that he is always somewhere in the Hip-Hop game doing something.

If there is a stage, a live performance, and an eager artist ready to shine in the spotlight, then J Hatch can’t be too far away! His contributions through iStandardProducers.com and the “Get Your Buzz Up Showcase” are but a few of the things he does well.

He’s a host, a moderator, and a professional, and AllHipHop.com got a moment to talk with J Hatch to learn what it takes to make his Hip-Hop world go-round, the endless travel scene, and how many people he relies on to make each showcase a success.

AllHipHop.com: J, you do a whole lot in the music industry. We’re not sure when you find time to sleep, sir! Explain what iStandardProducers.com, the “Get Your Buzz Up Showcase”, and Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes are?

J Hatch: I am the co-founder of iStandard; we’ve run the largest live producer-driven event in the nation for seven years and are currently doing said events in 25 cities. We have placed records with artists such as 50 Cent (most recently on The Lost Tapes), Diddy, Rick Ross, Sean Kingston, and many more. We also operate the largest online production website, iStandardProducers.com, where new producers can not only get up-to-date news and exclusive production oriented content, but connect with their favorite artists by submitting music directly to them through our relationships.

I am the founder of the “Get Your Buzz Up” Industry EXperience, an artist showcase that takes things to the next level in regards to exposure for artists who are involved in the movement. Up until about four months ago, I was the VP of Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes, and I helped expand the brand into various markets through their monthly industry mixers. I also was the project manager on their annual Coast 2 Coast Convention for last four years.

AllHipHop.com: How did you become involved with them?

J Hatch: Every great company has a great team. I don’t do this myself. Don Di Napoli (my business partner and co-founder of iStandard) approached me with an idea of doing some type of event for producers, since I had already been doing them for artists. We sat down at the famous Katz Deli in NYC and mapped out a game plan. Seven years, multiple placements, staff expansion to 35 as of July 1, site numbers through the roof, we couldn’t be happier.

“Get Your Buzz Up” I started with my business partner Drawzilla and Mike Trampe of Maad Management. We wanted to create a special experience for up and coming artists that other showcases failed to do. We provide all artists with additional perks through doing our show, such as their own HD video clip, placement on a mixtape that gets distributed to four million contacts, a chance to perform in front of influential people in the music industry, an incredible prize package that includes a full paid trip to Miami to perform, and much more.

Coast 2 Coast is an explosive brand with a lot of potential. I met the CEO, Lil Fats, through one of my interns who was working on getting one of my artist’s additional mixtape exposure. We spoke on the phone, clicked quickly, and started working on some initiatives between brands. After a year or two, I became a consultant and project manager for their convention and helped get their business into an organized self-sufficient powerhouse.

AllHipHop.com: What is it that you guys are looking for an artist to bring to the stage when they are performing for you?

J Hatch: I want to see professionalism, passion, and pure talent. Also, a lot of artists don’t realize they are a walking billboard and must present their brand consistently every day. Being on Twitter and Facebook spamming people with links is not going to get you recognized. Wake up people, you can’t sound like every artist out and make it in the game.  Be yourself and push the envelope.

AllHipHop.com: It seems like you are always on the road! That has to be hard. How often do you get to see the inside of your own home?

J Hatch: Man, as we speak I am home for only 18 hours, head out to L.A. tomorrow and have seven events in four cities in next nine days. It’s definitely something you have to be built for, but I couldn’t even be doing this without our incredible support system within iStandard and Get Your Buzz Up.

AllHipHop.com: With all that traveling, you must have some pretty interesting stories from a city or two. Care to share any of them?

J Hatch: Every city has its own story, honestly. The producers all bring their own take on this production thing, so it keeps everything very interesting. I would say one of the high points was our recent session with The Mekanics, in-studio with Yelawolf at ATL’s legendary Patchwerk Studios after our 5th Annual “Beast of The Beats” (our year-end event powered by Monster Energy Drink that brings back all the winners in the 25 cities to New York City for a major finale with a major prize package – see videos below).

Plus, meeting and building relationships with some of the biggest names in the production game is always an incredible thing, too.

AllHipHop.com: What’s up next for J Hatch and all of the various projects you are working on?

J Hatch: Next up is an overseas and Canada expansion and a new event roll-out called “Beat Camp” for iStandard in 2013. I’m focusing on a few other non-music projects as well. To find out what we have going on, follow us on Twitter (@iStandard) and (@GetYourBuzzUp), and follow me personally (@Mogulstatus).

We have a lot of positive things coming up. Big shouts to my incredible business partners, Don Di Napoli, Mike Trampe, Drawzilla, and the the whole team, Rhythm J, 2ew Gunn Ciz, PJ, Daniel R, J Wil, Gerald Kong, Premise, Shah Evans, Joe Ramos, Ace, and anyone else that has helped advance my career. Thanks!

Check out video from Days 1-3 of “Beast of the Beats”, including an in-studio session with Yelawolf in Atlanta:

Jimmy Henchman, Six Others Indicted For Murder

(AllHipHop News) Former rap mogul James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond and six accomplices have been indicted for the murder of a man close to 50 Cent and G-Unit.

James Rosemond was officially indicted for the murder of Lowell Fletcher, who was gunned down in the Bronx in September of 2009.

Lowell Fletcher, aka Lodi Mack, had served almost two years in prison, for striking Rosemond’s young son, James Rosemond Jr.

The assault happened at the height of a bitter feud between 50 Cent and Game, who was managed by Rosemond’s company, Czar Entertainment.

Authorities claim Rosemond arranged for the murder as retaliation for the assault on his son, which occurred in front of the offices of Violator Management.

At the time, Rosemond’s Czar Entertainment and Violator Management were both located on 25th street in Manhattan.

During Rosemond’s cocaine distribution trial, violent acts
were not introduced as evidence against the mogul.

But testimony indicated that Rosemond purchased a cache of weapons and delivered them to Queens.

Once there, two associates, Brian McCleod and Torae Jackson, allegedly carried out the murder, in exchange for a few kilos of cocaine.

In related news, James Rosemond, who was convicted of cocaine distribution earlier this month, is facing a life sentence in prison.

Rosemond was found guilty of running “The Rosemond Organization,” a cocaine-based operation that imported hundreds of kilograms of he drug from the West Coast.

The gang then distributed the drugs
throughout New York City while funneling the proceeds back West and through Czar Entertainment.