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“Blow Out Your Brains”
Lil Wayne, Hurricane Katrina, and the Future of Political Hip-Hop
“Instead of broadcasting how we smokin’ trees, on the radio, we need to hear more local MC’s/ Where you at? Come on where you at? This is the difference between MC’ing and rap/ Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal, MC’s spit rhymes to uplift they people/ Peace, love, unity, and havin’ fun—these are the lyrics of KRS One/”
– KRS-One, “Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been),” 2007
In
a recent exchange—packaged for Grammy Awards special—between CBS host,
Katie Couric and New Orleans-raised rapper, Lil’ Wayne, something
unprecedented, and truly disappointing, happened. Asked by Couric what
questions, about the handling of Hurricane Katrina, he would like to
ask the out-gone President Bush—if he could—he responded
that as “a gangster,” he can’t, because “gangsters don’t ask
questions.” Surely, this was meant comically, but on a deeper note,
perhaps the rapper who lost family and friends to the 2005 storm, and
the criminal ineptitude which followed it, should have exuded more
political courage than that. The bloods of the more than 2,000 killed,
and exterminated, would insist on a less-stereotypical response than
that Wayne afforded.
With Dr. Condoleezza Rice’s recent
“I was appalled” tour, anyone sincerely concerned about the plight of
those displaced and bankrolled should be reinvigorated in their fight
for a right of return
for Katrina’s ejected low-income victims. Rice, who claimed to be
“angry” at the “implication that some people made that President Bush
allowed this to happen because these people were black,” refused to
entertain the charges lobbed at her “friend,” because nobody “at any
level of government” was “prepared for something of Katrina’s size and
scope..” Dr. Rice also noted that Katrina was devastation on many
levels, because of its exposure of “an America that we sometimes don’t
see—people who are trapped in poverty.” Rice is, of course, in a moral
position to defend the federal government’s response, as one who was
shelling a few thousand bucks on the latest footwear at Ferragamo
(an Italian fashion store in New York), while her people were drowning
in the oceans of neglect and apathy. Lil Wayne, a multi-platinum
artist, could have easily grabbed the opportunity by its horns and
lambasted the former Secretary of State for willfully evading unearthed truths
about the National Hurricane Center’s warnings, to the federal
government, before Katrina’s landfall. Unfortunately, this expectancy
might be far-fetched, given the circumstances on the ground..
In
the Hip-Hop industry, the old saying that “Money talks B.S. walks” is
validated in perpetuity. Lil Wayne has been, for the last one year, the
top grossing rapper, and the commercial constraints of such prestigious
post are an impediment to any political expressions that fall outside
of the mainstream (white) discourse. Artists like Lil Wayne have very
little liberty to decide what is conducive to the marketed images
packaged by industry executives and A&R directors. At the signing
of their contracts, they lose all claims to the decision-making
process, and have no say over what complements their corporate
sponsorship and what doesn’t. Rappers are brands, and thus, marketed
with a specific intention—to make money, at all costs. When they
venture outside of the commercial realm, to make political statements
that might offend white listeners—commercial Hip-Hop’s major
patrons—such artists are reprimanded (Young Buck), and sometimes, punished (The Clipse). With studies
suggesting a 64% difference in the views of Blacks and Whites,
vis-à-vis the racial politics of Katrina, it’s quite easy to see why
the successful rapper would rather be muted, at the height of his
popularity, than speak up for the voiceless and defenseless.
Very
few listeners are aware that most commercial artists are not as free or
independent as they are depicted in music videos, or portrayed on wax.
The intentionality of big-money industries’ fixation on the Hip-Hop
world cannot be mistaken. They have found worthy accomplices, in
commercial artists, to carry out their nefarious agenda. The surge of beer and liquor companies
into the Hip-Hop community is an example of the completion of a
long-sought agenda to paralyze the political cord of Hip-Hop music.
With Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s The Message,
released in 1982, a significant portion of society got introduced to
the righteous rage of Black and Brown youth—who had been rendered
invincible by a dominant society. The revelation of a reality which
consisted of human beings “livin’ in a bag,” and “eating out of garbage piles,”
was a shock to many who considered themselves well-learned and educated
about the world they existed in. They couldn’t comprehend a community
whose heroes—for lack of employment opportunities—had become “smugglers, scrambles, burglars, gamblers Pickpockets, peddlers and even pan-handlers.”
Sadly enough, the ‘90s would usher in an era of “Gangster rappers”—a
terminology devised by those uneducated about the Black and Brown youth
experience—with which came a great decline of political impulse in
Hip-Hop music.
The explosion of Ni**az Wit Attitude
(NWA), and a few other groups, classified as “gangster” in their
interpretation of the socio-political climates, helped arrest the
development of social-consciousness in the Hip-Hop community. Though
conscionable voices like Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Brand Nubian, Gang Starr, Lauryn Hill, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, MC Lyte, Poor Righteous Teachers, Lakim Shabazz, and Tupac
prevailed, the age of conscientious Hip-Hop music seemed to be nearing
its death rattles. Ever since, the new millennium has been anything but
encouraging for listeners with an appetite for multi-dimensional,
creative, enriching, and thought-provoking content. Safe for a few
dedicated craftsmen and craftswomen, the bling-bling generation is, thanks to
commercial Hip-Hop, likeable to a lost cause. Bombarded with an
overload of misogyny, materialism, opulence, egoism, and indifference,
the upcoming generation has been reduced, by avaricious corporations,
to money-bearing ATM machines. Their usefulness now lies solely in the
ability to buy, buy, and buy, from the companies their favorite artists
promote. This is why Lil Wayne, who recently signed a deal with liquor specialists, Straight Up Brands,
cannot be expected to think, speak, or act outside the commercial box.
Whether mainstream Hip-Hop acts are willing to muster their innate
political courage, however, the examples of several Hip-Hop artists
provides ample hope to disgruntled listeners and critics of the culture.
In
2005, when Kanye West, alongside other entertainers, was invited by NBC
to read a teleprompter and contribute to the benefit, little was known
that the Chicagoan artist wasn’t too thrilled with the federal
government’s response to, or the media’s coverage of, Hurricane
Katrina. The live telethon would deviate from schedule about two-thirds through the program, when West began by castigating corporate press for “the way they portray us in the media.” West, who didn’t have to be prompted by Katie Couric, brought up the glaring disparities in the racially-tinged depictions of Katrina’s survivors, by mainstream media: “You see a black family, it says, ‘They’re looting.’ You see a white family, it says, ‘They’re looking for food’.” He would then remark that the government is “set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible.”
Separating the lie from the truth, West would take it a step further,
in his analysis that the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars played a part in
siphoning resources from emergency-relief organizations like the
level-5 storm that ripped asunder New Orleans: “We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way — and they’ve given them permission to go down and shoot us!” NBC later apologized for his
statements, exonerating the station because “Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him.”
It should be noted that Kanye West’s endless legal, musical and
political problems began shortly after that historic appearance.
Another artist of impeccable courage is the Detroit-based Invincible.. A gifted lyricist, she has never wavered from expressing politically-charged sentiments in her songs. Being Israel-born, Invincible
feels a certain level of entitlement to speak out about the plight of
the Palestinian peoples. In a recent song, she addressed the
Israeli-waged assault against Gaza, which has claimed more than 1,500
lives, to-date. In The Emperor’s Clothes, Invincible, who is also an activist, argues that “Israel–
you should be ashamed/ Kill and maim 1,000’s of civilians in our name/
Claim you hitting terrorists but children in your aim/ Even murder
relief workers blood spilling from they brain.” Drawing a parallel between the execution of Oscar Grant, and the Israeli onslaught against innocent Palestinians, Invincible takes no prisoners: Shot
‘em in the back like the cops to Oscar Grant/ And in each case the good
ol’ united states sponsored that/ 7 million a day that we pay tax and
AIPAC’s lobbyists is robbin’ us/ Sometimes it feels like they’re ain’t
no stopping this/ BUT now nobody can deny it cuz you made it too
obvious/ Naked truth exposed like the emperor’s clothes.” She doesn’t end without offering concrete steps that send a clear message of solidarity with the oppressed: “Boycott, Divest, and Sanction/ Til there’s right of return for displaced and
reparations.”
Contrary to popular belief, Invincible
is hardly alone in engaging Hip-Hop’s listening audience in vigorous
discussions on the implications of War and imperialism. The
British-born actress, producer and vocalist, M.I.A. (infamous for Paper Planes), is an also towering political force in the record industry. Speaking recently with Hip-Hop journalist Touré, M.I.A. addressed the ongoing conflict
in Sri Lanka. Calling it a case of “systematic genocide, [and] ethnic
cleansing,” M.I.A., wants her fans to know that she is more than a
Hollywood celebrity with no emotional connection with the causes they
raise. She implicates U2 front-man, Bono, in her assertions:
“I want my fans to know I’m not tryin’ to be like Bono—someone Irish
talking about what’s going on in Africa. I actually come from there and
the fact is that this is happening now. The war has been going on for a
long time, but it stepped into the genocide bracket recently with the
new President [Mahinda Rajapaksa].” The Oscar and Grammy-nominated star believes that her accomplishments are worthless “if I don’t actually get to speak about this.”
Her contention that the repressed condition Tamilian people—the
ethnic-minority population—are forced to exist in is comparable to
“Nazi Germany,” is substantiated by her sobering description: “Tamil people are banned from the press,” she says,
“and there’s no international media allowed into the country. They get
shot. The government’s banned any independent observers, media, aid,
humanitarian agencies, NGOs—nobody’s allowed in to see what’s going on.” She goes further: “Tamil people were banned from doing the Census report,” which, according to M.I.A.., “means that you could wipe them out and no one would know. You can’t account for how many there are.”
The
courageous words and actions of Kanye West, Invincible and M.I.A., are
refreshing for many Hip-Hop listeners and critics. An unbreakable bond
of mutual support for activism-oriented artists can help in restoring
the political audacity of Hip-Hop, which reigned supreme in the ‘80s.
As a response to Reaganomics, Hip-Hop artists utilized their God-given
voices as megaphones for justice, in informing the world about the
undocumented realities they were (as people of culture/color)
entrenched in. It is the belief of this author that a resurgence of
such spirit would do Hip-Hop good in the years, decades, and hopefully,
centuries, to come.
Tolu Olorunda is a Columnist for BlackCommentator.com.
The Last Word: Good News About Rihanna (Finally), Ne-Yo In a Lawsuit, and Stevie Wonder on Dancing With the Stars?
What’s good, everybody? This week proved to have a lot going
on as A-Rod admits to using steroids, the man over the company that put out the
salmonella infected peanut butter issues a no comment while appearing before
the Senate, banking CEOs catching it during another Senate hearing and Chris
Brown experiencing the fallout from allegations that he beat up his girlfriend
Rihanna.
Get well wishes for Usher’s wife, Tameka Raymond, who is
recuperating after suffering complications from cosmetic surgery in Brazil.
Congratulations to Tiger Woods and his wife on the birth of their new baby boy.
Shout out to the sounding boards for seizing the day in order to rule the
night.
Happy Valentine’s Day in advance for all those in like, love
or lust with whomever they plan to spend quality time with on Saturday (Feb.
14).
Check it out now…the Last Word for the week ending Feb. 13,
2009.
1. Rihanna Steps Up for 5-Year-old Fan
With all the talk about her alleged beating at the hands of
Chris Brown, there seems to be nothing else Rihanna has done this week to
generate headlines. But the songbird is putting her fame to good use as People reports that Ri-Ri is making an effort to help a
5-year-old fan find a bone marrow donor.
Jas Jasmina Anema is suffering from acute leukemia, a rare
and aggressive form of the disease. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, DKMS rep
Katharina Harf says a bone marrow transplant is “the only chance for her
survival. This is a very serious situation.”
Upon hearing about Jasmina, Rihanna immediately felt the
need to help the young girl, who is a huge fan of the singer. However, it may
be a challenge to find a bone marrow match in light of Jasmina being
African-American.
“It is so unfair that for a Black patient it’s so much
harder to find a bone marrow match,” Rihanna told People. “Leukemia is the most common disease children
in the U.S. die of and we need to change that,” the vocalist continued.
“I urge everyone to sign up as a bone marrow donor with DKMS. If we have
more donors, we can save more children like Jasmina.”
“For African-Americans, it’s so much harder to find a
bone marrow match because they are underrepresented in the registry
worldwide,” Harf added as she urged people to sign up as bone marrow
donors.
Those interested in seeing if they’re a match for Jasmina
can ask for a donor kit from DKMS. Once you obtain the kit, just do a cheek
swab and mail the kit back to DKMS. For details on how to help Jasmina, visit
DKMSAmericas.org.
2. Steve
Harvey Asks Kat Williams for a Grown-Ass Conversation
Throughout his career, Steve Harvey has made many friends
and stepped on few toes. But it seems that the comedian’s troubles with fellow
comic Katt Williams are remaining front and center as Williams went in on
Harvey during a New Year’s Eve performance in Detroit.
Both entertainers were on hand to do their respective stand
up at the event. Williams’ dislike of Harvey was voiced loud and clear a week prior
to the show as he insulted Harvey while promoting the performance. The conflict
came to a head as Katt used his set to get on Steve’s physical appearance and
talent as a comic, among other things.
And while Katt continues his beef, Harvey is wondering why
the comic has him in his sights.
“He went up there for 40 minutes and not only talked
about me, but Jamie Foxx and a couple of other people,” Harvey told EUR’s
Lee Bailey. “It was just a really, really disrespectful show. If you say
you’re funnier than me, prove it. …But don’t disrespect me man, and go up there
in real negative overtones and slam me on stage.”
Harvey added that he left five minutes into Williams’ set,
but heard what was said about him after he left. To hear him tell it, Williams
has never approached Harvey personally about why he has a problem with him.
“And now he’s doing more interviews saying that all of this was my idea.
Well that’s amazing.”
“I just wish the brother well,” Harvey continued.
“But stop being a coward and talk to me. See I’m available. I’m available
and willing to talk. So stop being a coward going to all these interviews and
Web sites saying stuff about me. I’m a grown-a** man.”
Stay tuned to see whether Katt puts his pimpin’ on hold to
give Steve the time of day.
3. Jermaine Jackson Pleads for Less
Child Support, More Sympathy
I’m finding this hard to believe, but it seems like Jermaine
Jackson is strapped for cash. So much so that he can’t pay the $3,000 a month
in child support for his two kids, Jaafar and Jermajesty.
TMZ reports that Jackson, who barely made $10,000 in 2008, has
filed legal papers with the L.A. County courts on Wednesday (Feb. 11). The
singer claims he hasn’t made any serious cash since 2007, when he got $450,000
to appear on the U.K. version of Big Brother. As it turned out, that payday was a factor in Jackson
agreeing to paying the $3,000 per month in May 2008 for clothes, laundry,
groceries and a tutor for his kids.
Fast forward to now and Jermaine is making $892.75 per month
because what he calls a “significant change of circumstance.” As a
result, he says it’s unfair for him to shell out $3,000 to ex wife Alejandra
Jackson for the kids. Couple that with the fact that Jermaine is so broke that
he wants Alejandra to pay his legal fees and we got yet another one of Joe’s
kids making a name for himself on Lifestyles of the Broke and Shameless.
I think Jermaine said it best himself back in the day:
“Let’s Get Serious.”
4. R. Kelly Switches Titles for New
Album
It’s been a minute since R. Kelly graced the Last Word, but
the acquitted hitmaker has returned. MTV reports Kells is hard at work on his
forthcoming album. So much so that he has decided to go abandon the project’s
original title, 12 Play Fourth Quarter,
for something more creative.
“I’m out here working on the muthaf**kin’ album,” Kelly
told partygoers at Atlanta’s Velvet Room on Sunday (Feb. 8). “I’m working on a
new album and I’m calling that muthaf**ka Untitled. Y’all call it what y’all want.”
Not only did he reveal the new album title, but Kelly was
also kind enough to put on a mini-concert for the crowd. Despite all those
child p### charges and the scandal surrounding that, the crooner still managed
to make an impression on the females, who “went crazy” for him.
“All you heard was ladies screamin’ in the club and
cameras going off,” said DJ Infamous.
Crazy. I didn’t know Fisher Price was making cameras for
adults now. It’s good to see how much love the R still gets when he’s in the
place.
5. Denzel Washington Gets Waxed While Preparing for Tom Cruise Showdown
Last week he was named America’s favorite movie star. This
week, Denzel Washington was immortalized with a new wax figure from Madame
Tussaud’s Las Vegas.
The figure is the newest creation to reside at the museum’s
Black History Month exhibit as it joins wax replicas of other historic
African-Americans such as including Michael Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama. The Black History Month
exhibit, located in the “Spirit of America” room, will be on display until the
end of the month.
In other Denzel news, the Oscar winner is gearing up to
share the big screen with Tom Cruise. Variety reports that Cruise is in talks to join Washington in the film
adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s The Matarese Circle.
The David Cronenberg-directed MGM feature will have Denzel
and Cruise playing two bitter enemy spies who, after spending two decades
trying to kill each other, grudgingly team up against the Matarese, a powerful
group at the root of a conspiracy.
Plans call for the film to go into production later this
year to set it up for a 2010 release.
6. Stevie
Wonder Considers Dancing With the Stars Takeover
“Even Stevie Wonder got from around that piano,” Andre
Benjamin told John Legend on the hit song “Green Light.” Now it seems that
Stevie is considering taking a stab at Dancing With the Stars.
Although his blindness could raise an eyebrow, Wonder says
that it’s not that but his weight that stands in the way of going out for the
competition.
“Someone asked me the question, ‘Can you dance?’ and I said,
‘You know, after having had seven children, I guess I can do something,’ the
Grammy winner told WENN.” It’s possible… My challenge is, first of all to
lose a little stomach… and then once I feel that I look good enough, then
I’ll go on and win.”
Stevie’s desire to cut a rug comes as the new cast for DWTS
was announced on Sunday (Feb. 8). Among those competing on the show’s upcoming
season are rapper Lil Kim, comedian David Alan Grier, former NFL star Lawrence
Taylor and actress Denise Richards. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Olympic
gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson and Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell will
also be featured as well as singer Jewel and her husband, rodeo champion Ty
Murray, country singer Chuck Wicks and his girlfriend, two-time DWTS champion
Julianne Hough, Go-Go’s frontwoman Belinda Carlisle; Steve-O from MTV’s Wildboyz and actor Gilles Marini.
The new season of Dancing With the Stars premieres March 9 on ABC. Too bad Stevie couldn’t do
this upcoming season. The thought of a dance-off between him and Lil’ Kim…well,
I’ll just leave that alone and let you think on it.
In Other Words…
* With a string of hit movies, a successful stint as a
rapper and loving family, life is good for Will Smith. Especially, when you’ve
been voted the most bankable star in Hollywood by Forbes.com. Smith took the
top spot with a score of 10 out of 10. Forbes.com’s first “star currency” list,
which was put together from a survey of more than 150 industry professionals.
The list, which was released Tuesday (Feb. 10), factored in a star’s ability to
attract financing for a project as well as their ability to generate global box
office revenue.
Others making the list include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt,
Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, who all tied for second with a score of
9.89, Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.
* Bob Marley’s likeness is set to be displayed on a variety
of items. Billboard reports the late
reggae legend’s family has joined forces with Hilco Consumer Capital to license
Marley’s likeness, trademarks and themes on apparel, video games, shoes, food,
collectibles, musical instruments, luggage and stationary with the Bob Marley
family of brands.
* Ne-Yo has found himself at the center of a new lawsuit
that claims he was a no-show for a New Year’s Eve performance in Bellevue, Wa.
In the recently filed suit, Wet Entertainment had Ne-Yo booked for the show and
even paid him $95,000 up front to ensure his presence. Although people with
Ne-Yo got to Washington, the singer was nowhere to be found. As a result, the
show was canceled. TMZ reports that Wet Entertainment is suing Ne-Yo and the
booking company that made the deal for $95,000 they paid the singer in addition
to more than $1 million in damages.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Chris Brown=Attempted Murder? Ray-J Havin’ A Bay Bay! Keshia Chante Denies Her Spot!
DISCLAIMER:
All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.
TODAY’S RUMORS!
THE DAILY TWO CENTS!
We have been going on and on about Chris and Rihanna for about a week now. I need more stuff from yall. I’m maxed out over this situation. I definitely will keep the updates coming, but dag on! This is so crazy, 50 Cent and Rick Ross had to get all crazy just to override the attention they weren’t getting. I kid. Don’t go looking for my mother, please! Anyway. Send me some rumors to AllHipHopRumors@gmail.com. Oh yea, I’m still waiting for Foxy Brown to offer her “Brooklyn Style” diss.
KESHIA CHANTE DENIES BEING INVOLVED!
I would like to think that my sources are thorough, but I must admit that Keshia Chante is denying that she was involved in the Chris Brown/Rihanna fiasco. Here is the official statement to AllHipHop.com from Miss Chante’s manager, Mona Scott-Young / Monami Entertainment:
“It has been reported that recording artist/actress Keshia Chante was involved with the alleged domestic dispute involving Chris Brown and Rihanna on Sunday morning 2/8 in Los Angeles. Management has definitively clarified that Keshia Chante was not involved in any way nor was she with Chris Brown or Rihanna at any point during the alleged incident.”
There you have it. Still…that doesn’t include the possibility of a text message. By the way, Mona even denies that Keshia is going to be playing Aaliyah in the movie on the singer. What is going on here!?
THE CELL PHONE RECORDS
I am quite sure that Keshia doesn’t want any parts of this mess, because it is a career defining mess. I will say that SOMEBODY is looking to seize cell phone records to reveal something. Chris and Rihanna’s cell phone files were reportedly open for 24 hours after the alleged incident and, after that, the account was locked for investigation. I have the numbers that were called during the melee, but I am not going to reveal that. Some people are very frustrated right now. There is more on the way…stay tuned.
RICK ROSS…GOT HACKED.
This 50 Cent/Rick Ross beef is something else. The funniest thing ever. The site that hosted negative pics of 50’s son has been HACKED. 50 Cent and his internet warriors just don’t play that. The site, which shall remain nameless now goes to a p#### site.
CHRIS BROWN COULD BE CHARGED WITH…
Attempted murder? They said the wounds sustained by Rihanna were so bad that they might be trying to charge the kid with attempted murder. I don’t mean any harm, but…is this Chris Brown or…Suge? Man, this is getting crazier and crazier.
Here is a report about how Rihanna was the one to call 911.
CHRIS BROWN “SPEAKS” TO RIHANNA IN SONG!?
I am not familiar with Chris Brown’s music at all. But I hear the song below is a series of sonic apologies to Rihanna that Chris Brown will be making. Her family have told him “don’t call and don’t text” so this may be the only way. He is reportedly in Vegas or LA making these hit records. The name of this song is called “Cry No More” and it is a duet with some dude named JBlue. Now, I totally don’t know how true this is, but sources are telling my sources that Chris has been taking masculine hormone pills or ‘roids. You know what ‘roids do to the temper. He seems sorry, but who isn’t right after they do some wrong. I don’t know how much this will help his defense.
CHRIS BROWN “SPEAKS” ON FACEBOOK!
I truly don’t believe this is Chris Brown, but I guess I have to say something. “Chris Brown” (aka probably somebody pretending to be CB) reportedly commented on the Rihanna situation. “You’ll begin to see her true colours. Believe it!” said the Chris Brown of Facebook. Also, this CB changed his status from “In a relationship” to “Single.” Per tmz, Chris Brown’s rented Lambo was dusted for fingerprints.
SMH.
CHECK OUT THE TOP MUSIC MONEY MAKERS LIST
This is from Billboard magazine and its based only on monies derived from the sale of music.
1. Madonna: $242,176,466
2. Bon Jovi: $157,177,766
3. Bruce Springsteen: $156,327,964
4. The Police: $109,976,894
5. Celine Dion: $99,171,237
6. Kenny Chesney: $90,823,990
7. Neil Diamond: $82,174,000
8. Rascall Flatts: $63,522,160
9. Jonas Brothers: $62,638,814
10. Coldplay: $62,175,555
11. The Eagles: $61,132,213
12. Lil Wayne: $57,441,334
13. AC/DC: $56,505,296
14. Michael Buble: $50,257,364
15. Miley Cyrus: $48,920,806
16. Taylor Swift: $45,588,730
17. Journey: $44,787,328
18. Billy Joel: $44,581,010
19. Mary J. Blige: $43,472,850
20. Kanye West: $42,552,402
JUELZ GETS LIL WAYNE WITH IT?
Everytime I have seen Juelz, it appears that he has it all together, but in a new interview with Miss Info, Cam’ron makes him seem like he’s addicted to that stuff Lil’ Wayne loves.
“Juelz started drinking syrup, Robitussin. He got hooked on it, addicted to it, you go to the studio he got, like, a hundred Hawaiian Punches already pre-mixed with the stuff in it. So I kinda stopped speaking to him like, we already smoked mad weed, we don’t need to be on Robitussin. I called his mother about it. I called his closest friends about it. They knew it, knew about it. They was like, ‘Yo Cam it’s not that bad’…I’m like yo, that’s like saying you just smoke a little bit of crack, it ain’t that much crack…So that’s kinda how I shot away from Juelz. It was even a point where Jim [Jones] called me like, ‘What’s going on with you and Juelz’…I said, he’s on drugs.”
I don’t know. Sounds a lil snitchy to me.
ILLSEED’S QUICKIES
Rumor has it, Mos Def and his former wife are still together. At least, they are in the process of working things out.
Shout out to my dude Chadwick in Florida. He cops clothes from DJ Khaled’s mom. Sheeesh!
Aubrey’s Playboy pics have leaked and boy am I disappointed. She looks like the O######## Lady!
Weed smokers have reportedly boycotted Kellogg’s. They don’t like how they did that swimmer Phelps guy.
Doesn’t Ne-Yo always look super happy?
Mario is slick. He’s got a song with Rihanna called “Emergency Room” and he just released it. What an opportunist.
Last night Beyonce won one of those coveted NAACP Award. Did anybody else catch Diddy when he rolled his eyes from the audience? CLASSIC!
Usher’s wife had a damn heart attack in Brazil! That is CRAZY!
RANDOM QUOTES!
Nobody is supporting Chris Brown right now. LOL. T.I. has fallen back on his “he’s cool” comments:
“After careful consideration I realized I made the mistake of commenting before understanding the situation. I myself am no stranger to media scrutiny. My only intention was to support both Rihanna and Chris during these times.”
Terrence Howard, ahem, submitted his own retraction:
“When they asked me about Chris Brown the other day, I was in no way aware of what he had been accused of. Had I known, I would have never had said something so insensitive.”
Howard’s initial comment was:
“Chris is a great guy. He’ll be all right… Rihanna knows he loves her… Everybody just needs to get out of their way.” This is the man that once rapped “Whoop The Trick” SMH!
EPIC WINNER OF THE DAY: SANAA LATHAN
Sanaa Lathan wore THIS to the NAACP Awards last night. I drooled all over myself. I lost. She looks better than LIFE. Yo…where is my boo Keri Hilson! I don’t wanna switch up on her!
EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY! THE FIRST ONE
Ray-J’s show is truly real. The singer has impregnated one of the ladies on his celebrated reality show that attempts to get him a true love. Monica ‘Danger’ Leon now alleges that she is more than three months pregnant AND ITS RAY’s! She claims that the comdom broke AND her birth control couldn’t stop that lil sucker from getting to her egg. Now, this bird is already engaged. She is engaged to Nick Cannon’s brother. So that’s two fails for one. Rumor has it Nick’s brother Gabriel is willing to raise the kid as his own. Don’t do that, bro. I bet Ray is scrambling for a paternity test like a M###.
Here she is bugging out. Nice song though:
EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY! THE SECOND ONE!
You cannot mug somebody and end up getting put to sleep. Fail!
SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END
A 50-seater passenger plane has crashed into a house in Buffalo, New York State, officials have said. Police official John Manthey told the AP news agency that the plane hit a house. It was going from Newark NJ to Buffalo, NY.
Email me at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com …tips, information and other stupid stuff.
For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed
RAY-J’S FETUS, WE LOVE YOU!!!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com.
Rick Ross’ Website Hacked, New Tracks Released
50 Cent and Rick Ross both removed elements of their running rap feud that involved their immediate and extended family members.
On Wednesday (February 12), 50 Cent released a video of his affiliates or himself video recording themselves in a Florida retail store owned by DJ Khaled’s mother.
Khaled is a coveted musical tastemaker that has proclaimed on record that he will “stand beside Rick Ross for the rest of my life – through the good times [and] through the bad times.”
In the video, the woman is sleep and the ominous video suggests the woman is in possible danger.
Initially, it was believed that 50 Cent had taken this feud to new levels, but the Queens-bred rapper told media personality Miss Info he was responding to Rick Ross.
On the newly erected diss site, thisiscurly.com, an image is presented of a picture of 50 Cent’s son as a chimp captioned “Lil’ monkey.”
According to 50, the image was put on the site Sunday and the video of Khaled’s mother was a reply.
“How come everyone hears the shot, but nobody sees the slap that comes before the shot?” 50 Cent said. “You push, I punch, you stab, I shoot.” Rick Ross told Miss Info that he claims no responsibility for the offending image or the site devoted to warring with 50 Cent.
As a truce, both parties have removed the video of DJ Khaled’s mother and of 50 Cent’s son, Marquis.
The rap beef isn’t over though. As of 9:40 PM on (February 12), Ross’ thisiscurly.com had been hacked.
The site directed visitors to a sex toy shop that offered a variety of adult products for sale.
A track titled “Cigar Music” off of Ross’ upcoming album Mafia Music also hit the net tonight as well, while 50 Cent has released a song called “Tia Told Me,” a diss song that refers to Rick Ross’ child’s mother.
DJ Quik, Snoop and Teddy Riley Form Production Unit
Seeking to expand pool their talents together for the entire industry, West Coast producer/emcee DJ Quik has united with fellow veterans Snoop Dogg and Teddy Riley to create a super production team.
With records labels becoming reticent about spending money, Quik explains that many promising artists are struggling to get their music heard.
“Snoop started this company called QDT (Quik-Dogg-Teddy). We produce records and write songs for other cats that don’t have access to great producers or songwriters,” Quik told AllHipHop.com. “We are trying to be a medium between them and the record company. Teddy has been writing for the Pussycat Dolls and other people at Interscope. Snoop has been writing for his groups, and I’ve been storing tracks for them when it’s time to go full-fledged with it.”
Even with a strong team beside him, Quik is still focused on developing his own acts.
First up for the Compton native is The O Boyz, a full-fledged band out of Oakland.
“My band, The O Boyz. They come from Oakland, California. They are really talented kids that really get it in,” Quik revealed to AllHipHop.com. “The drummer is Q, the keyboardist is Lynette, the guitarist is Greg, and the bass player is Marcus. These guys really love music. They are young but they were born into music so it’s real easy for them to play whatever we do.”
Although he will continue working extensively with labels via QDT and his own Universal imprint, Quik would rather have his new group retain some independence from him.
“I am actually going to get them their own deal. Signing somebody is not always the best option,” Quik admitted “People go around saying, ‘I signed so and so’ and then they go and get a release because nothing happens. I am going to keep the group free but they know that my loyalties lie with them. I am going to do what is best for them, even if that means letting them sign with somebody else.”
At press time, an official QDT announcement on their first project is pending.
THE DAY REPORT: Conferences, Seminars, And Award Shows
These days, it seems like everyone is doing a conference
and/or awards show in Hip-Hop. What is
up with that? I guess people see one or
two people do it, and they think they have the proper connections, knowledge,
and opinions to do it their damn self.
The problem is, most fail. It’s
also not a money maker and most people seem to think it’s a quick come up. It’s really not. Ask anyone who has done a real conference or
awards show.
I believe strongly in knowledge, so in the past three years,
I have attended every seminar, conference, and summit that seemed worthy, and
that fit into my schedule. This kept me
on the road, speaking live, for at least 10 days a month in the past few
years. I now have enough frequent flyer
flight miles to go to Hong Kong in the Summer. That’s a lot of conventions and seminars, and
yet only a handful were worthwhile. I
have attended so many bullsh*t events, that I am now officially burned out on
seminars, award shows, and conferences.
Most of the events lacked the proper funding to advertise
and promote the event properly, so numerous times I ended up with other high
profile panelists, speaking to rooms with less than 50 people. Almost all of the events were done in
nightclubs, which confused the attendees when they were told to shut up and
listen to the folks on stage speaking. As
you can guess, most didn’t shut up, so we ended up speaking to ourselves and
the first 10 feet
of attendees with the dull hum of voices in the background to thoroughly
distract and insult us.
And at almost every conference, I ended up speaking along
side of people who were more interested in self-promoting their company or
crew, or who gave wrong information to the attendees. My favorite was a local lawyer who told the
crowd that artists didn’t need to copyright their music. Idiot!!
I’ve sat next to “managers” and “label owners” with artists I’ve never
heard of before or since, and who weren’t qualified to flip burgers at
McDonalds, let alone speak to folks about creating success in this industry.
Somebody, somewhere, must be telling folks in our industry
that they can put on a conference or award show with no upfront money (wrong!),
without advertising or promoting it, and without having panelists that people
would be willing to pay $100 or more to hear speak. Seems more than a few of the conventions
trick folks into coming by offering showcase spots (for $500 to $2,000 a spot),
telling the artists that they will get to perform in front of industry folks
(yeah, folks like me who wouldn’t stay for a showcase even with a gun to my
head) who could sign them and make all of their dreams come true. Very often the people advertised don’t even
show up.
These suckers who pay for showcase spots are obviously the
people who are talking through the panels in the back of the room because the
majority of panelists actually tell artists exactly how to get signed to a record
deal (if you were listening, you’d know too).
Hell, I spoke over 60 times in the past 2 years, and at every event I
talked about how to get a deal and how ineffective it is to hand out demos. At the end of every panel, I was bombarded
with demos. I also skipped every
showcase (while it’s important for artists to practice their craft and perform,
doing so in front of the industry with the intention of getting signed to a
major label is a waste—doing so in front of consumers who will buy a CD is a
better move; more strategic, and the sales are more likely to attract a label
to sign you).
The importance of a local seminar in smaller towns and
cities that don’t have access to a music industry, is its ability to bring together
like-minded people. A seminar brings
together local radio people, DJs, retailers, artists, etc, into one place so
they can network and interact with each other.
It’s a great way for new people to get to know who is who, and an even
better way to plan to work together on projects and build relationships. This is a who-you-know, relationship
business. In a perfect world, these
events may even bring in national or regional folks from the music industry who
are proven successful and willing to share their secrets of success. At least share them with the folks who aren’t
standing around rudely talking to each other in the back of the room.
I built my career at conferences and seminars that matter—that’s
how I learned much of what I know about this business. I met folks, kept in touch, and learned from
their experiences. I’m fortunate that I
came up in this industry when there were a handful of conventions each year
that mattered, that everyone attended. That
no longer exists. We seem to have split
into sub-regions, and the South seems to have taken the focus. Plus the major labels no longer spend money
to sponsor or attend conventions—probably because they’d have to actually leave
New York.
Instead, we now have hundreds of little seminars that no one
attends, with panelists who don’t really matter, and with attendees who didn’t
come to learn. When I am the most
powerful person in a room, something is horribly, horribly wrong. This means the seminar organizers fu**ed
up. Hell, folks can come to the SEAs
(Southern Entertainment Awards weekend) every year (March 19-22) and hear me
speak—even spend time with me over the weekend.
And the SEAs are free and have far more important and powerful folks
than me in attendance.
So, if you are planning a conference or seminar in your area,
please make sure you find the perfect venue (nightclubs are for showcases, not
panel discussions), and sponsors who are willing to invest in your vision. Make sure your panelists are a nice mix of
successful people who genuinely want to share useful information (as opposed to
airing out others or pumping up their own businesses). Your panelists should consist of local
successful people, regionally established industry people, and nationally
significant people—all with proven track records of success. The panelists should be people willing to
give back, not people coming into your marketplace to “rape” the local artists.
Plan out the panels so the panelists can speak to your
market. If you have an abundance of indie
labels in your area, make certain you have panelists who can share knowledge on
putting out an indie record and maybe a LEGITIMATE distributor on the panel. If your market has no great producers but a
ton of rappers, make sure you have some regional and national producers on the
panel to help both the artists and the up and coming producers learn. Fill the void! Whatever your community is missing is what
you should be offering access to. You
will most likely need to fly key people in and put them up in a hotel. That is standard unless you have the
connections and power to ask people to come at their own expense (for the SEAs,
I ask the panelists to pay their own way so the conference can remain free and
open to everyone).
Panel discussions should last longer than 45 minutes. You need at least an hour to get a real
discussion going, and almost as long for the audience to ask their
questions. Make sure you post a schedule
on a website so people know where to go and what’s going on. It’s a good idea to print that schedule and
hand it to your attendees as they come to your event. Make sure the panelists receive it ahead of
time so they can attend more than just their panel—I spoke on a panel recently
and missed a panelist dinner because no one told me there was one. I was sitting in my hotel room with nothing
to do.
Have a moderator who can control the crowd and keep the
discussion moving along in a lively fashion.
Have a strong moderator no matter what.
Last Spring in Houston, at
the Go DJs/OG Ron C event, Mannie Fresh and I did a one on one conversation for
90 minutes (in a nightclub). This event
was historical because I shopped and negotiated the Cash Money deal 11 years
ago, based on Mannie’s excellent hit-making production (as well as the
outstanding rappers and the owners’ vision for the label). Mannie and I had not seen each other or
spoken for those eleven years. Also, in
that time, we both had done some amazing things in our careers. You’d think the 70 people in attendance would
have wanted to learn from us (especially the producers, artists, and DJs in
attendance) but the talking and murmuring from the audience was distracting
us.
Finally, one of my friends (Rick Edwards, who used to run
Suave House back in the day) decided to moderate the conversation, grabbed my
mic, and told the audience to shut the f### up.
He pointed out that between Mannie and I, we had earned (not necessarily
made, but earned) millions and millions of dollars in this industry. Mannie’s production has sold over 30 million
CDs and singles, and my deals have sold over 100 million CDs worldwide, netting
a larger share to the artists than ever in the history of rap music. The crowd let Mannie and I continue without
any more distractions after Rick broke it down for them. I would have NEVER imagined that someone
would want to talk through Mannie sharing secrets of his success, but that day
proved me wrong, and proved the necessity of having a strong moderator.
Make sure you spread the word about your event. Just using free MySpace and FaceBook blasts
are not enough. Radio ads, flyers and
posters, and advertising to the urban music community at least two months ahead
is key for a small event. Six months
ahead if you are trying to attract attendance from a larger area like your
entire region. The SEAs begin
advertising the next year’s event the week after the SEAs end. You don’t have to be that thorough, but maybe
that’s why the attendance there always breaks a couple thousand. If your event wasn’t worthy of people
attending this year, there won’t be a next year. I know I won’t be back.
And lastly, if there’s already a successful event in your
area or region, find another avenue. Why
try to copy or compete with something that already works and works well? TJsDJs springs to mind. Every Quarter, his event attracts 3,000+
people to Tallahassee, mostly key
artists and industry people. If you are
in that region, why would you want to compete with that? You’d end up looking bad, unable to attract
the volume and the key people that his events attract. Don’t follow, lead. Find what’s missing in your region and supply
that. And then be sure to do it well.
And if you advertise that someone is coming to speak or
judge your ineffective showcase, they damn well better be there. You can’t ever repair your damaged
reputation.
Events that I’ll be attending this year, if anyone cares:
·
Southern Entertainment Awards
Weekend (Tunica, MS March 19-22)
·
The Core DJs Event (Atlanta,
GA April 24-27)
·
One Stop Shop Producer’s
Conference (Phoenix May
9-10)
·
Tampa Music Conference (first week
of June)
·
TJsDJs/Ozone Award Weekend
(usually the second weekend in August)
·
TJsDJs Record Pool (usually in late
October)
·
The Diamond Awards (Jacksonville,
FL usually the second week of December)
And of course, I moderate the In The Know Seminars (dot com)
that are on-line monthly (the third Saturday of the month on the internet), so
I’m always there.
I do not attend any of the traveling “minstrel shows” that
move from city to city charging exorbitant rates for artists to perform. If it smells like a scam, it probably
is. Find the cities that any event has
already been to, and ask artists on MySpace in that city if it was worth
it. I find that when folks get burned
out of money, they are more than happy to tell others about it. Don’t be fooled by recognizable logos—and if
you attend an event that is b#######, write to those “sponsoring” companies
whose logos are plastered all over everything and tell them it was bullsh*t!!!
True Hip-Hop Stories: Bckshot
D-Nice has Buckshot of Black Moon explain the making of “How Many Emcees”
Live Painting of J Dilla
Slang paints to Dilla in 2008 at Southpaw in Brooklyn, NY.
BOOK REVIEW: Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans
It is difficult for most
to recognize that African-American history evolves by the second. Though a
consensus of its milestones has not been reached, perfect shoe-ins would
include Harriet Tubman’s underground railroad, Ida B. Wells’ campaign against
lynching, Marcus Garvey’s UNIA movement, the Harlem Renaissance, and Martin
Luther King’s fight for Civil Rights, among others.
Not one of those moments
defines the entire African-American struggle and none of them exists without
the events before it, but each are characterized by the overcoming of racism during dire times when it seemed like societal rules would
not budge. For that, the African-American experience has been one of both pride
and humiliation, progression and regression, firsts and delayed firsts.
Still I Rise (Sterling), written by
Roland and Taneshia Laird and illustrated by Elihu “Adolfo” Bey, seems like a natural document of the times. In its second
edition, the graphic novel covers slavery in America all the way to President
Obama’s election in November 2008. The original book culminated with the
Million March, but once again Black History unfolds by the second and the
Lairds are right there with it.
Every tale in Black History
needs a legend, and the Lairds effectively pinpoint the heroes of each era.
They lay out the rich African-American tradition of resilience through the
lives of Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Madame CJ Walker, Ida
B. Wells, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., men and women who have transcended
their own lives and have become enduring icons of perseverance. “No matter
where we wind up,” remarks the wizened cartoon couple who narrate the comic book,
“One thing our history has taught us is that though we may have started in
America at the bottom of the ladder, any of us can climb our way to the top….”
Those who already are familiar with the landmarks in African-American history
will find the stories in Still I Rise both
historically accurate and politically reflective of that mantra.
The Lairds, with their
prudent sense of Black History’s canonical events, dedicate adequate time to
each. The units describing the rise of slavery, the Transatlantic trade that
started it all, and the Black soldiers who fought for the Union during the
Civil War, are intricately told, as are the stories of the nameless individuals
who participated in the freedom rides in the 60s. The Lairds have also done
commendable research, detailing both the primary and secondary characters of
the Civil Rights movement; while reporting on that epoch, they shine light on
Bayard Rustin and A. Phillip Randolph, principle role players often
overshadowed by the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
All bases are covered,
which classifies Still I Rise as a
bona fide resource. It doubles up as a reliable classroom tool as a
non-intimidating introduction to African-American history. Readers get
everything from Nat Turner’s Rebellion to Hurricane Katrina. In short, Still I Rise is a worthwhile companion
to Black History month that readers young and old should index.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Rihanna Hit Somebody With A Bottle? Rick Ross Strikes Back! The KKK In NYC?
DISCLAIMER:
All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.
TODAY’S RUMORS!
STILL FLESHING IT OUT: MORE DETAILS ON CHRIS AND RIHANNA
I just got just got confirmation – from one of my sources – that Keshia Chante was the one who was texting about making plans that night. What media HAS YET to report is that Rihanna’s team seeks to suppress that she made the first hit. Apparently Chris did do some sort of rendezvous with Keshia and witnessed Rihanna making the first hit. I initially reported that he picked her up, but that’s not possible – the Lambo is a 2-seater. Also, she apparently witnessed Rihanna throwing Chris’ car keys out the window. I hear Keisha is a pretty honest gal and will tell it like she saw it. Where were the paps when all of this happened? They are everywhere during Grammy weekend!
RIHANNA IS A SCRAPPER?
I got his off of AskMen.com:
Rihanna once hit her brother in the face with a glass bottle. The ‘Umbrella’ singer, who has two younger brothers, used to have fierce physical fights with her siblings. “We used to fight and when I say fight, I don’t mean arguments, I mean physically fight. I hit the older one in his face with a glass bottle. My mom was pretty upset.”
OUCH.
50 CENT’S NEW DIS “TIA TOLD ME”
50 CENT PROBABLY DIDN’T VISIT KHALED’S MOM
I know it appeared to be 50 Cent visiting Khaled’s mother at her job at Avenue’s Mall, but don’t you believe it. Here is what I heard. First of all, she is a part owner of a high end clothing store called Sebastian’s that does very, very well. DJ Khaled’s dad comes and picks her up every night she gets off and they are both very proud of their son. From what I can disern, it would be impossible for 50 Cent to get in there unannounced and visit her. Now, for one of his “internet soldiers” – not so impossible. At any rate, with a heads up like this, I don’t think anything is going to happen. IF 50 Cent was going to do something, why broadcast it like that? Lets be smart about this, guys!
Here is the video again:
Why, 50, why dude’s mother? She didn’t do anything wrong!
CAN THE BAR GO ANY LOWER?
Oh wow. Rick Ross has taken it there with 50 Cent’s son.
Very racist to me –this monkey stuff. Please explain it to me or its ThisIsSelfHate.com. SMH. More on the KKK later! ALL OF YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR! There I said it! But, who am I to say, after all this is a snowball going down a steep hill! You mess with a man’s baby moms, moms and he’s gonna “respond!”
JIM JONES TALKS KANYE WEST
Does Jim Jones still have a Kufi List? He also discusses Kanye West!
9TH WONDER MADE A MISTAKE…LMAO!
9th Wonder is such a cool, humble dude…but not THAT humble. He made a total error on Twitter when Jean Grae asked him for his number. He responded with his actual number to all those that follow him. I heard his spot got blown. Here is one of the people that called.
ILLSEED’S QUICKIES
Unfortunately, I am hearing that Tony Neal will not be getting a position at Def Jam.
Akon has a gas station at his house. Wow. What did I do wrong in my life?
It would seem that most people in Virginia, where Chris Brown is from, feels this is totally out of character for CB.
Here is the new Jadakiss mixtapes for people looking to warm their homes up. Click here.
EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY
The KKK having a rally? Oh noooo…nope! This isn’t the well-know domestic terror group. This is actually PETA dressed up as the KKK in protest of a dog show. Here is their reasoning, according to a brochure.
“Like the Klan, dog breeders who subscribe to the AKC standards are all about the sanctity of “pure bloodlines.” So what if beagles have epileptic seizures, Dalmatians are deaf, and pugs can barely breathe because of how they are purposely bred to look a certain way? Looks are everything!”
Their little stunt really wasn’t effective since most people thought they were looking at the real KKK, not some quacks trying to make a statement about the treatment of dogs at the Westminster dog show. You know…this happened right in New York. More than offended, this is just corny and a desperate cry for attention. FAIL.
CHRIS BROWN HAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?
Adisa Banjoko has some interesting thoughts on what will help keep Chris Brown out of trouble.
Email me at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com …tips, information and other stupid stuff.
For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed
DILLA, WE LOVE YOU!!!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at allhiphoprumors@gmail.com.
Rihanna: Chris Brown Has Hit Her Before
Singer Rihanna charges that Chris Brown has attacked her in the past, claiming she was in an abusive relationship that progressively got worse.The incident, which allegedly occurred during over the Grammy weekend, apparently left the singer with swollen eyes, a cut lip, a bloody nose, contusions on the face and bite marks on her fingers and arm. Sources say the case has been returned back to the police department by the Los Angeles County District Attorney for further investigation. Chris Brown now faces felony domestic battery, and has already faces a possible jail term for criminal threats.With the rumor mill swirling, there have been various versions on what happened between the two that night. According to the police report, the argument began after Chris received a text message from a woman who wrote about getting together.During the argument, he allegedly started striking her, reports tmz.com. The police report states that she ordered Chris to drive her home and “faked a call” to someone, saying, “He’s dropping me off and make sure the cops are there.”At this point, Brown began to attack Rihanna with his fists, police say. After this call he reportedly stated. “You are really f***ed up now, I’m going to kill you.” After the attack with Rihanna took the keys out of the ignition and threw them outside of the vehicle. Representatives from either entertainer has offered a statement on the most recent development.
AHH Stray News: Cash Money Signs First Latina Artist
Cash Money Records has signed T. Lopez, the first ever Latina on the record label. T. Lopez, born in Ontario, California, was born to Mexican-American parents. The singer is featured on a new remake of “Macarena,” which is celebrating its 15th year as the biggest selling Latin single ever on the Billboard pop charts. The new Spanish version remix, which was released on IMC Records, features T. Lopez with group Los del Rios. Lopez is currently on a promotional tour of Puerto Rico and will make an appearance with Cash Money Records during the upcoming NBA All-Star weekend. In related news, Cash Money’s other cross over artist Kevin Rudolph will perform during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest this Saturday (February 14) at 8:00 PM.
Veteran Music Exec Julie Greenwald Named COO Of Atlantic Records Group
Veteran music executive Julie Greenwald was named Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of The Atlantic Records Group.
Greenwald, who was President, will run Atlantic’s group of labels with CEO Craig Kallman, who will continue to oversee the labels operations as well.
Under the pair’s watch, Atlantic has become the No. 1 label in the United States, based on hit records by T.I., Kid Rock, Plies, Lupe Fiasco and Jason Mraz.
Additionally, Kallman and Greenwald helped Atlantic Records to become the first major label to achieve more than 50% of U.S. recorded music sales from digital products.
Greenwald launched her career in 1992 with Def Jam Records in 1992, where she developed marketing strategies for rappers like Jay-Z, DMX, LL Cool J and others.
In 2002, Greenwald was named President of Island Records and promoted to Executive Vice President of Island Def Jam.
In 2004, she left Island Def Jam alongside Island Def Jam executives Kevin Liles and Lyor Cohen, now the Vice Chairman of Warner Music Group.
“Five years ago I tasked Craig and Julie with the challenge of completely reshaping Atlantic into a music company built for the digital age,” Cohen said in a statement. “Not only did they rise to the occasion, but in just a few years Atlantic achieved a level of success it had not seen in decades. Most importantly, throughout the rebuilding process, they never lost sight of our core mission: signing and developing magnificent artists. With Craig’s brilliant A&R vision and tireless entrepreneurial spirit and Julie’s thoughtful, cutting-edge approach to artist development, we are fortunate to have one of the preeminent executive teams in today’s music business. I congratulate Julie on this much-deserved promotion.”
At Atlantic, Greenwald has worked with a number of top-selling acts, including Rob Thomas, James Blunt, Diddy, Death Cab for Cutie, Gnarls Barkley, Missy Elliott, Flo Rida, Estelle and others.
“I’m really proud of the company Craig and I have built,” Greenwald stated. “I’m inspired every day to be working alongside the most dedicated staff and to have such a rich and diverse roster of talented artists. I’m confident we will continue to flourish within the house that Ahmet [Ertegun] built.”
Jadakiss Ft. Barrington Levy
“Hard Times”
Busta Rhymes Ft. Akon and T.I.
“Number One”
Smoke N Features: Beastie Boys Ft. B Real
“So Whatcha Want” B-Real worked with one of his favorite groups, The Beastie Boys, and he speaks on how working with them helped Cypress Hill’s career.
Twista Ft. Busta Rhymes
“Billionaire”