(AllHipHop News) Former Cash Money super producer Mannie Fresh has opened a new chapter in his musical evolution with a new group called Sole Fresh. The group, comprised of a pair of New Orleans teenagers, garnered Mannie’s attention as they found a following on the local music scene. Knoxx St. Peter told AllHipHop.com, “We just created some buzz in the city. We were opening for Drake, Knuxx and Tyga and Mannie is like the kingpin of New Orleans, like the Hip-Hop scene. He ended up signing us to his label.””These are white kids that wear skinny [jeans]. When I met them, they didn’t feel out of place,” Mannie Fresh told AllHipHop.com. “[Sole Fresh] just like ‘Hey, dude, this is what we do.’ I feel you have to have courage these days anyway.” The pair said Mannie Fresh took them to his new studio in Houston, where they found they worked well together. The pair impressed Mannie and he signed them to his Chubby Boy Music imprint. “[Our sound] is something different, its something new,” said Leonardo “Nardo” Jonze. “What he really liked was we were just doing ourselves. He liked that we weren’t trying to be anybody. He appreciated the originality in the music. That kind of sparked his interest. We went from there.” “I caught an interview and he said our diversity kind of caught his eye. We have rap songs but we also have songs that are definitely rock influenced. Its just a whole variety of different things.” The group call themselves a blend of their “Hip-Hop base” with pop and some rock influence. Much of their base in the music game comes from Mannie Fresh, Nardo said. “Mannie throws the stardust in there,” he explained. “I produced our single, ‘I Don’t Want To Grow Up,’ and he came in and touched it up. But he produced the majority of the album.” Barely, college age, Nardo and Knoxx said they may one day seek to do more conscious songs, but for now, they simply enjoy making music. “We just do us and have a lot of fun while doing it.” Sole Fresh’s debut Peace, Love & Overweight Babies is due in June. video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

(AllHipHop News) Atlanta booking agency owner Johnnie Cabbell has responded to Gucci Mane’s jailhouse announcement that he has severed his ties with Cabbell’s booking agency Hitt Afta Hitt Entertainment. Gucci released a statement yesterday (May 4th) announcing the formation of a new label, 1017 Bricksquad and a new management team. The rapper also announced he had severed ties with manager Debra Antney of Mizay Entertainment and Cabbell’s Hitt Afta Hitt booking agency. According to Gucci, his new booking agent is CAA, a Los Angeles based firm that represents major acts like Drake, Ludacris, Usher, Young Jeezy and a host of other superstars. In an exclusive statement issued to AllHipHop.com, Cabbell said that he has received no correspondence from Gucci Mane or his legal team as of press time to support the claim. “While it is being widely reported that my booking agency Hitt Afta Hitt is no longer working with Gucci Mane, I have yet to receive any type of correspondence from Gucci, the label or anyone else that supports that,” Johnnie Cabbell told AllHipHop.com in a statement today (May 5th).  “I have known and worked with Gucci for over a decade.  I have seen his career grow from being a local phenomenon into a household name and I feel like I helped play a minor role in his success.”Cabbell also shot down reports that there were outstanding lawsuits against himself or Hitt Afta Hitt, although his statement did not address a lawsuit filed in Allegheny Superior Court last week, surrounding a missed show in August of 2009. According to Cabbell his company is still handing the booking for Nicki Minaj, who made headlines in April, when she fired Antney and Mizay Entertainment and announced new management. “There are no federal criminal or civil lawsuits pending against me or my company Hitt Afta Hitt.,” Johnnie Cabbell told AllHipHop.com. “My booking and management agency is still one of the largest in the south and we are still the official booker for rapper Nicki Minaj. We look forward to continued success and growth.”According to reports, Gucci Mane is scheduled to be released from the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday May 12th, after serving a year in prison for violating his probation. Meanwhile, AllHipHop.com has learned that at least two other lawsuits have been filed against Cabbell.

In March, Sha’Nod Johnson filed a breach of contract complaint against Cabbell and Shawty Lo for allegedly failing to honor a contractual agreement not to perform two weeks before, or two weeks after his event.

On April 10th, All Hood Entertainment filed a lawsuit against Gucci Mane, Mizay and Hitt Afta Hitt, claiming Gucci missed a show in Louisville, KY in November of 2009, resulting in a $61,000 dollar loss.

(AllHipHop News) Toronto’s Marco Polo is back with another album entitled The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo, a collection of unreleased and rare tracks. The producer has logged a back catalog of unreleased material since his first release in 2003, titled Pumpkinhead’s Orange Moon Over Brooklyn.The unheard works will now be available in stores via Duck Down Records, on June 29th. Guests featured on Marco Polo’s new project include Large Professor, Skoob of Das EFX, Grand Daddy IU, Royce da 5’9,” Elzhi, Torae, Skyzoo, Ruste Juxx, and Diamond District. The album also features MC’s like Red Clay, Shylow, Saga, Promise, Surreal, D-Story, Bad Seed and Arcee who Marco Polo has worked closely with, while residing in Brooklyn. “My crew and I, which includes Shylow and DJ Linx, put a lot of work into this music and just because something is older and has never been released doesn’t mean it’s scrap — we put a lot of work into it and we want people to hear it,” explained Marco Polo.Many of the songs are tracks that are being released for the first time and have never made it to iTunes or a CD.  “I want people to know that when they see my name attached to something, they’re getting quality and consistency. This album is for the hardcore Marco Polo fans out there that just wanna have something to rock while I’m working on Port Authority 2. I’m locking myself in the lab on some caveman status for that one.”Below is a tracklisting for The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo:D-Stroy & Bad Seed – Buggin OutLarge Professor –  The Radar RemixPromise – The BridgeRed Clay – OfficialRuste Juxx – Bomb Sh*tShylow – Whylin OutSaga – Think of You NowTorae – Combat DrillsDJ K.O. – Best To Do It ft Royce Da 5’9,” Elzhi & Supastition (Marco Polo Remix)Skyzoo – Block Sh*tDiamond District –  Who I Be (Marco Polo Remix)Skoob of Das Efx – How I Get Down (Marco Polo Remix)Surreal – So BasicGrand Daddy I.U. –  The VeteranArcee – AmbitionExile – Radio ft Ruste Juxx & Torae (Marco Polo Remix)

(AllHipHop News) Rakaa of Dilated Peoples has announced plans to release his debut solo album Crown of Thorns this July. Rakaa was featured on four albums as a member of Dilated Peoples. For his first solo album, he will touch upon political issues, relationships, family and culture. Production on Crown of Thorns will be handled by Evidence, The Alchemist, DJ Babu, El-P, Eric Bobo & DJ Rhettmatic, Exile, King Jahzzy, Sid Roams and !llmind.”This record is my opportunity to give context so people understand more what I’m trying to do,” Rakaa stated. “It’s the first time I’m really making a conscious decision to sit down and let somebody come into my house, and after all of this time, I’m welcoming all guests.”The rapper’s debut solo album already features guest appearances by KRS-One, Defari, Chali 2na, Fashawn, Aloe Blacc, Roscoe Umali, Tasha (Yoon Mi Rae), Tiger JK and Tablo and Mithra Jin of Epik High. In related news, Rakaa has almost earned his black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Crown of Thorns is due in stores July 20th on Decon Records.

(AllHipHop News) FIFA, the international governing body of football announced that rapper K’Naan will perform at the Fifa World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert next month at Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg. K’Naan’s song “Wavin’ Flag (The Celebration Mix)” is the anthem from the entire advertising campaign between Fifa and Coca-Cola. Other artists previously announced to perform during the World Cup concert include Alicia Keys, The Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Shakira, Parlotones, Amadou & Mariam and legendary South African trumpeter, Hugh Masekela. “As South Africans we are proud to be hosting the first ever World Cup on African soil,” said Hugh Masekela. “I am very humbled and flattered to be part of this global event and am looking forward to the concert with great interest and excitement.”Fifa’s World Cup Kick-Off Celebration is being produced in conjunction with global events company Control Room. The concert will be broadcast live on SABC 1 on Thursday, June 10th. K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flags” earned the rapper a Juno for Songwriter of the Year last month during the Juno Awards. In related news, a Spanish song writer named Rafael Vergara Hermosilla is suing Coca-Cola, claiming he was never compensated for the use of his Spanish version of “Wavin’ Flags.”