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J Dilla Ft. Bun B and Termanology
“Make It Fast”
Al Be Back Ft. Naledge and 88-Keys
“Walk On By”
Dorrough Ft. Mistah Fab
“Ice Cream Paint Remix”
Hi Dolla F. Cory Moe
“Choke On This”
Nipsey Hussle P###. By Jonny Shipes
“Strapped”
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“Dear Mr. Futuristic”
Jadakiss, Cam’ron Embarking On Joint Tour
Jadakiss and Cam’ron are planning a tour of mid-sized venues in the near future, Jadakiss recently revealed.
Both artists recently dropped CDs and are in the process of working on some new music together. Killa [Camron] is my homey from back in the day, the Ma$e era.
We are working on Whos Real Remix [with] hopefully him and Kanye, Jadakiss said in a recent interview.
Each rapper is expected to embark on the tour solo, sans their respective rap groups.
Its love we from the same era we appreciate the same things. We know about getting to the money, Jada declared.
Jadakiss’ The Last Kiss and Cam’rons Crime Pays are both in stores now.
Hot Dollar Ft. Pitbull, Yung Berg and K-Young
“All Night Long”
Is Black Music Month Worth Celebrating?
I recently saw the new blockbuster movie, Terminator Salvation; the latest installment of the Terminator series that started back in the 80’s. The Terminator movies are about what happens when a machine called Skynet ,which was originally created to serve mankind ,one day decides to turn on its masters and create a bunch of cyborgs to exterminate humans.
This being Black Music Month, it reminded me of the state of Black culture in 2009. In this case, the mega entertainment corporations are metaphorically collectively Skynet -dead set on blasting Black music and culture to oblivion.
Black Music Month, was started in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter as a way to honor black musical contributions to America, but as I listen to the radio and watch BET , I have to ask myself. “What is there to celebrate? The fact that my teenage daughter and her homies think that the highest form of black cultural expression is being able to do the “stanky leg?”
Contrary to popular belief, African people have a rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. So powerful was the culture of Africa that one of the first things that the slave traders did was to take away the drums of the captive Africans.
Scholars have suggested that Black” music is the only truly American music. If not for the influence of Black entertainers there would have never been an Elvis, Madonna, Kenny G or a Britney Spears. America would have just been stuck with Barry Manilow records in continuous rotation.
Perhaps placing the custodianship of Black music in the hands of mega-corporations started off as a good idea. Maybe the early artists saw it as a way to project their gifts to the world or a way to make more money. But as they say , the road to the hot place is paved with good intentions.
At some point the monsters that we created backstabbed us and turned the culture that was our lifeblood into a weapon of mass destruction.
With the current war raging between the recording industry and the radio monopolies over HR 848, it seems that the machines are even fighting amongst themselves. As in the previous Terminator movies, the radio and music executives appear to be human but under their faux exoskeletons beat the hearts of cold calculating machines doing the bidding of Skynet.
While there has been a lot of discussion over efforts to “save Black radio” from the Performance Rights Act legislation that some radio execs have said will be the death knell for Black radio, the bigger issue that is, skillfully, being left out of the discussion is how do we save Black culture for future generations?
There is an old African proverb that says when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. If the grassroots activists are left out of this discussion, unfortunately, it will be our children who will continue to get trampled.
So what do we do?
Writer Harold Cruse once proposed a “cultural revolution” which would lead to some sort of cultural socialism, whereby, the people would control Black culture and its means of dissemination.
Dr. Claude Anderson in his book “Black Labor, White Wealth” takes a more capitalistic approach by saying that “the wealth and power of the music industry offer the most compelling reasons for Blacks to recapture control of this cultural resource.”
It must be understood that we are not suggesting just having Black faces in high places but a system that is used to supply the needs of the Black community both economically and socially.
The primary question facing us this Black Music Month is does anyone still care about the fate of Black culture?
Seems that those to whom we would look to be on the front line of a recognizance mission to reclaim Black culture have either been blasted by money green laser beams or are being held hostage by promises of record deals or airtime courtesy of Skynet.
However, a few of us are still part of the resistance. We have not lost faith in the regenerative power of Black culture that has the ability to awaken the African genius that lies dormant in the minds of this Hip-Hop generation.
The war will not be fought by some b######## empowerment organization but by small bands of rebels in outposts across the country that demand to be heard. It is now time for the few of us who are willing to fight to reclaim black culture to come forward.
To borrow from the John Connor character in the movie.
“If you are hearing this message, then you are the Resistance.”
Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com. http://www.nowarningshotsfired.com
The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of AllHipHop.com.
Cee-Lo Helps Relaunch Elektra Records
The Atlantic Records Group has announced the rebirth of Elektra Records, the iconic label which was absorbed into Atlantic in 2004.
In its new incarnation, Elektra will be helmed by industry vets Mike Caren and John Janick, who will serve as the labels co-presidents.
Elektra has already announced its first three signings: Grammy Award-winning artist Cee-Lo, of Goodie M.O.B. and Gnarls Barkley fame; popular French electronic duo Justice, and British dance group Little Boots.
According to Caren, who most recently served as Atlantics Executive Vice President of A&R, the signings indicate a dedication to continue Elektras legacy of diversity.
The Elektra logo has always stood for quality and integrity, defining genres while crossing and transcending them, Caren said. John and I are devoted to seeking out original and compelling artists from all walks of music and giving them a place to call home.
Elektra Records will mark its 60th Anniversary in 2010, added Janick, and it feels like the perfect time to recapture and reignite the spirit which made the label a beacon of great music and eclectic artistry. Elektra has always been first and foremost about its artists, supporting their vision and giving them the freedom to do their best work.
As before the merger, Elektra Records will be a division of the Warner Music Group, operating as a freestanding label within the Atlantic Records Group.
The imprint will also benefit from Atlantics services and support. Craig Kallman and Julie Greenwald, Atlantic Records CEO and COO respectively, explained that even when the two labels merged in 2004, the plan was always to bring the brand back to live.
Both agree that Caren and Janick are the best candidates to run Elektra.
John and Mike are two of the most passionate, creative, forward-thinking young executives in our business, they said in a joint statement. They both started their careers as teenagers and have gone on to champion some of the most exciting new music of the last decade. The independent, entrepreneurial spirit that long defined Elektra is in great hands, and we are truly thrilled to see the label take flight once again.
Elektra Records was founded in 1950 by then 19-year-old Jac Holzman, who currently serves as the Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Warner Music Group.
Since then, the label which vowed to continue to offer disks of unusual and worthy musical fare on its very first release, has been home to The Doors, the Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Anita Baker, Tracy Chapman, Keith Sweat, Missy Elliot, Gerald Levert, and Yolanda Adams, to name a few.
In 1994, the Elektra Entertainment Group made history when Sylvia Rhone was appointed the companys chairman, becoming the first African American woman to hold that position at a major label group.
dead prez: Hood Stimulus Plan
If you check one, two, my word of advice to you is just relax/ just do what you got to do if you dont work then kick the facts/ if you a fighter, rider, biter, flame igniter, crowd exciter/ or you wanna just get high/ then just say it/ but then if you a liar-liar, pants on fire/ wolf-crier, agent with a wire/ Im gon know it when I play it. Its bigger than Hip-Hop
–dead prez
These candid lyrics reflects the eroding oral-agreement that the public shares with their lyrical architects.
Poetic license is always going to be a part of the art form but its the blatant poetic perjury, running rampant through todays Hip-Hop is jeopardizing its integrity. Many rappers regurgitate commercial stereotypes of whats hot or who has the most swag. These parrots insist on insulting our intelligence as well as our eardrums every time they play-pretend with their bogus, fabricated façades.
Thankfully, there are still groups like dead prez whose actions coincide with their message. The entertaining yet informative ideals expressed through their music have and always will be appreciated. Turn Off The Radio, Vol. 3: Pulse of The People, produced by DJ Green Lantern will hit the streets on June 23rd. The Evil Genius obvious talent in conjunction with the lyrics of dead prez will shock the streets, spawning a musical street movement. I want to say this about Green Lanterns production, he uses his computer like Prince uses the guitar and the keyboard and the drums. Its like Rock and Roll on the keyboard with his hands. Its like a mix between [DJ] Kool Herc, Prince and Andy Warhol but, its on the computer. His energy comes from a real ill place, declares M1.
Dead prez, along with DJ Green Lantern, voice their opinions on everything from freedom to the long-awaited release of the of their third studio album Information Age. Discover in part one of this exclusive interview why its bigger than Hip-Hop.
AllHipHop.com: Our words help to convey our ideas, with that being said, whats the metaphor behind the group name dead prez?
Stic.Man: Dead prez the name symbolizes our realitydead presidents isyou not to get moneyand capitalism in the world Everything is based on how much money you got [or] how much money you dont got. When we came out with that we definitely recognized that was going to be an on-going struggle and that was a way to connect with everybody; because, everybody got that issue. We also wanted it to mean a name that means more than that because we aint just about getting money. But, Dead President is how we feel about that system itself, like the financial system, the elite capitalist ruling-class-type system. Thats the s**t that make it have to be like that. So, we say, dead the president! The last thing is that were the dead presidents because we sleep on our own genius; we dont realize our own potential. Thats pretty much in a nutshell what that means.
M1: Straight up, dead the president, dead the system, dead that bulls**t!
AllHipHop.com: Some people earn a viable living by actually living their dream. What kind of personal success/gratification do you associate with being part of Hip-Hop?
M1: The personal gratification that I get from being a part of Hip-Hop music is pushing forward our culture to be able to be at least one voice thats able to shape and hold what the future will look like for humanity. Right now, Hip-Hop is the current voice of everybody who wants to say anything. Im happy that I can be included and a fighting voice that shows that this thing goes 360 degrees around. The fact that weve been blessed by [our] ancestors will to be able to make money and feed our children off the craft, that Ive been bobbing my head to, [has been] filling my spirit since I found that there was a heartbeat in the music.
DJ Green Lantern: Its crazy, I was just literally thinking about that I was going to Twitter it but I felt it might come of a little bit corny… I was in my backyard out in Phoenix, my kids were playing in the poolI was looking at it like, wow, Hip-Hop paid for all of this. I wanted to really thank the forefathers and the people that kicked down the doors for me to be able to provide for my family doing music and rebel music at that To provide a lot of good, and sustain a certain lifestyle based off the music; that in itself is just amazing.
Stic.Man: Its a blessing, man, and this is one of the dreams our ultimate dream is to be free Freedom is like Hip-Hop times a million. Every day, everywhere, how we learn how we live without all the negativity that were used to under the system. I give thanks, definitely, just being able to make a living and have some great things and provide things for our plans and all that but theres much far to go. Were enjoying the ride but we still got to ride
AllHipHop.com: As the radio middle-man is being demoted theres a plethora of ways for fans to easily access music. How has this accessibility affected dead prez in terms of sales and in terms of sharing your message?
Stic.Man: Its been a great advantage; its been a revolutionary step. Being able to skip the middle-man, thats what its all about, to be able to go direct [to the people]. I cant even overstate how important that is, the invention of Pro tools and the invention of the internet as it relates to independent artists That gave us what the record stores had a monopoly on and the big record companies who owned all the labels and all the studios; they had a monopoly on it. So, when they hand you that pimp contract, you pretty much in the situation where, like, damn where else am I going to do it? But now, its a little more options to do what you do
DJ Green Lantern: With me being somebody who has a background in FM radio. I see how it works. Now Im devoting a lot of time and energy to the satellite realm where theres way more freedom; because, its a paid service and its not dictated by advertisers Artists are breaking left and right using the internet.
I was talking to a program director the other day, from a huge radio station; he was complaining about the performance rights Big radio conglomerates will have to pay, if the bill goes through, millions of dollars every year. These are the people that are making hundreds of millions of dollars every year. This guy is complaining to me that all of these artists wont have careers if they end up having to pay this performance tax.
I really beg to differ. Right now theres a kid by the name of Drake and the internet footage of songs that they dont play on the radio and hes performing these songs in crowds, the whole crowd is singing the songs word for word. They didnt hear them songs on the radio. The radio doesnt have the pull and the be-all and end-all that it once did Its definitely a brand new day. As Dead prez likes to say, its an information age.
M1: Its a great opportunity because what it represents, as Green put it out so eloquently, right now its a prime opportunity for us to discontinue a relationship with a system that never really cared what the people wanted to hear. That was often a problem coming up.
How do you come up in Tallahassee, FL or Tulsa, OK, and you cant get the local artists to echo the sentiments that are happening on the radio? Its because the radio is being monopolized by a system that only wants to feed you and not be fed. Now theres a great opportunity to break from it Its a great new day.
AllHipHop.com: If Lets Get Free gives a political education and Revolutionary But Gangsta is the implementation of knowledge then what do you envision for the Information Age?
Stic.Man: Lets Get Free was like the introduction, that was the table of contents of the book of dead prez Revolutionary But Gangsta was like chapter one Theres a lot of things that the gangsta movement had in common with the revolutionary movement Instead of alienating the two; we chose to be a bridge with that record to show the unity and the organization Thats what RBG was attempting to deal with in a musical kind of way. Information Age is the next chapter where you come into knowledge itselfwhere you start learning about the contradiction of the system with its people Its almost like Neo in The Matrix. When you start to wake up, thats what the Information Age represents in a musical thing.
Brunos Booty: An Attack On Hip-Hop Or Eminem?
Eminem quickly became the highest selling artist of 2009 with the first week sales of his album Relapse.
In fact, he’s the highest selling rap artist of the decade.
Still, the honor did not forbid him from becoming the victim of a prank by MTV and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, acting as gay fashionista Bruno. The incident became the highlight of the MTV Movie Awards and left Eminem with egg on his face or something like that.
Since my editorial terrain is generally rumors, the rumors, gossip and speculation are running rampant like Carl Lewis on PCP.
Much of the rumors fodder centers around the so-called Pink Mafia making an overt, aggressive move to discredit Eminem. For the unclear, the Pink Mafia is a term for an underground and potentially fictional – group of extremely powerful gays people in Hollywood and the music industry. If the organization does exist, their memory isnt short and their sense of humor is barbed.
I thought Eminem had made amends with the gay community after hugging Sir Elton John. Guess not.
It all begs the question: has MTV (or just the brass) finally grown tired of Eminem even though hes good money in an industry with Mad Cash Cow Disease? Or is an artist with his own barbed sense of humor just getting a taste pause of his own medicine?
Then, there is another side to the speculation: was this offensive a direct sexual assault on Hip-Hop culture?
To say that Hip-Hop has been uncomfortable with gay culture would be an understatement and Em was once the poster child for Hip-Hop homophobia.
Get This Mother F***er Off Me, Eminem screams.
This truly seems to be an example of the pop media washing its hands clean of a culture that was undesirable to begin with. And, when that corporate beast is finished with you, you are gone. Theres no worries about how upset they may have gotten the years top selling act, nor a concern over an potential outrage for the Hip-Hop community. There didnt even seem to be a concern for Sacha Baron Cohens well being, which is quite telling.
Maybe Hip-Hop needs to be shunned again so the artists and fans must huddle together again like its amidst a nuclear winter. Lets get dangerous again! On a commercial level, Eminem and Lil Wayne are Hip-Hop. And Eminem is White, which is no protection when his face is dancing cheek to cheek with Bruno/Borats a**.
Like I said in the beginning, this is all based on rumor and speculation. But, its time for Hip-Hop to develop a survival plan that concedes the fact that the corporate powers are likely over it.
The most reassuring factor in all of this is that Hip-Hop is not a corporate construct and, if forced, it will head back to the underground thrive and swell again. Theres already proof of this happening. Look at Drake with his swelling popularity. Check MF Doom and his ability to live without a fraction of light on him. And for all the loathing of Rick Ross, hes selling units and crafting great music. All the while, they pay him no mind.
I love it.
Pay me no mind now, but you will have to later.
50 Cent’s “Over Valued” Mansion Comes Off The Market
After 722 days on the market, 50 Cent has taken his Farmington, Connecticut mansion out of the running for a new resident.
The Hartford Courant reports that the 50,000-square-foot homes asking price of $14.5 million was too much to attract potential buyers.
“The house is not worth $1[dollar] over $5 million,” Prudential Premier Homes agent Rob Giuffria told the newspaper, as he joined local real estate agents in alluding to the mansions Hartford area location, as a possible factor in deterring buyers.
“Celebrities often overvalue a house, so they keep dropping in price, Giuffria reasoned. That home in that location is not worth anywhere near $14 million, and it will never sell for that, no matter how long you leave it on the market.”
An agent familiar with the estate revealed the mansion has not been re-listed for sale yet, after the propertys listing contract with the Keller Williams office in Ridgefield officially expired in May.
The estates removal from the market is the latest development to occur since 50 Cent bought the residence in 2003 for $4.1 million .
Soon after acquiring the 17-acre home, the rapper spent an estimated $10 million on various renovations such as a 40-person hot tub inside a grotto.
Prior to dropping the price to $14.5 million late last year, the mansion was initially put on the market for $18.5 million.
Previous owners of the residence included former boxing champion Mike Tyson and Colonial Realty founder Benjamin Sisti, who built the estate in 1987.
In addition to the hot tub, the mansion included 19 bedrooms and 37 bathrooms, as well as a gym and a disco with a ‘dancing’ room, complete with stripper poles.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Jay-Z and Em’s Show! Cash Money Signs Freeway! Christina Milian Hating On Teairra Mari?
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.If ya did NOT, read yesterdays rumors!!!!! CLICK-O HERE!
JAY-Z AND EMINEM PERFORM SECRETLY!
I told you about Eminems mysterious secret shows all across the nation, cept where I am. Well, if you are in Cali, I heard you may have been a lucky SOB last night. I heard Jay and Eminem did a show last night and it was great! I dont know all that many details and since they are three hours behind. I am not even sure of anything. All I know is I got a note from somebody on AHHs staff saying that there was, in fact, a secret show in Los Angeles.
FREEWAY IS FREE THANKS TO CASH MONEY!
Trust me people. Freeway did get a raw deal. But hes about to show em all! Ya heard it here first! Freeway is getting a label deal from Baby of Cash Money Records and the deal is major. Not only does this include a new album from the Philly Fanatic, but it also includes a new label called Free Money Records! So, if you are a fan of Freeway, you can truly thank ya boy Baby for this one.
EMINEM KNEW ALL ALONG?
I scooped this from Miss Info:
an MTV insider has told Life & Style that producer Mark Burnett cleared the prank with the rapper beforehand. However, Eminem wasnt aware of exactly how naked Sacha would be when he agreed to do it! A second insider also confirms that Eminem was actually Burnetts second choice. The first? Heiress Paris Hilton, who declined to participate
It would seem that Eminem was in on the gag, but didnt think he would be staring at Brunos stank a**! Apparently, Borat Bruno was supposed to land in Ems lap. They played Em! Rumor has it, they even has a mic on his A** to capture the action. Not cool, dude!
Kathy Griffin thinks it was a stunt.
CHRISTINA MILIAN HATING ON TEAIRRA MARI?
I straight swiped this from Necole Bitchie. Check it it:
Ouuuuh! Let me find out its some shadiness going on amongst the R&B divas. Particularly Christina Milian! The editor over at The Prophet Blog just hit me up and told me about an interesting live chat session he had with Teairra Mari on UStream. At some point during the chat, Teairra (who was just a tad tipsy) revealed that Christina Milian was furious when she covered Diamonds featuring Kanye West. Christina initially scrapped the song from her upcoming project Elope but wasnt too happy when she found out that Teairra re-recorded it and planned to release it as her second single, especially after the positive feedback Teairras version received. She then used her relationship with the Dream to influence Kanye West to make a move that would prevent Teairra from dropping the song as her next single:
[Christina Milian] started kicking up a fuss behind the scenes to get Teairra to drop the song, even though Christina herself didnt own the track and had never paid for it in the first place. Kanye West (who is close friends with both The-Dream and Christina Milian) then got back to Teairra and tried to charge her 200k to shoot the video. Teairra said she couldnt afford 200k for his appearance fee, and according to her, Christina Milian used her relationship with The-Dream to convince Kanye to put the price up on the video so she wouldnt be able to afford it and release it. Shortly after the drama went down Christinas own version of Diamonds conveniently leaked online.
LIL WAYNE TO BE SUED?
I am getting rumors that Lil Wayne might be getting a suit thrown at him for copyright infringement. Apparently there is some artist in Atlanta that recorded a song called Mr. Officer with the same beat and concept as Weezy. I heard the rapper is a female, but I dont know for sure. I hope they settle, before it turns into something else.
Lil Waynes Daddy got sued click here!
CLASSIC PIC
Jay-Z and Shakir Stewert
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
B.J. from Naptown (Indianapolis) told me that Boosie and Webbie through on Saturday night and they rocked it. He made a point to tell me that they were even on time, which is a big deal, haters!
Jadakiss and Camron are going on tour together and its called the Big Bosses tour.
Shaq claims that he purchased 300k of Eminems new album. That would represent about half of Ems units. Im sure he was kidding.
Sacha Baron Cohen isnt gay, but Bruno is. Thanks. I know now.
If you want a good deal, go get that Soulja Boy iSouljaBoyTellEm for $2.99 on Amazon.com. Like, who makes money off this?
Looks like Reggie Bush is looking to wife Kim Kardashian. Kim Kardashian has been reportedly seen shopping for engagement rings.
Kimbo Slice is BACK sorta. The controversial heavyweight had joined 15 other contestants the next season of the UFCs The Ultimate Fighter reality TV series.
People are suggesting that Milfy Mel B is using roids! She sure did get ripped fast! I dont know though!
They say Diddy influenced Jay-Z to take his label over to Warner with basically the old Def Jam team. Maybe they can scoop up the rest of the Roc too.
RANDOM QUOTES
Lebron is a poor sport.
“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them. I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”
ITS A SPORTING GAME, not a street fight. SMH.
SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END
SEXTING. This the the new buzz word. All parents should be aware of sexting, because your kids teacher might be doing the wild thing via phone. In Georgia, an Albany High School teacher was fired for sexting, aka sneing a sexual text messages to a teenage student. It doesnt stop there. Teacher Abraham Wesley has been caught! The teens basketball coach was overseeing a sleepover with all of the girls. The coach had the cell phone of the teen when the texts came through from the teacher. The coach replied pretending to be the student. Well, the coach arranged a meeting. You know what happened next:
The teacher ended up meeting the coach at a hotel, the Comfort Inn! The teacher has been fired and reported, but no criminal charges have been levied against him. They say that there was no true case, because they didnt report it to the police and let them work their magic. The teacher may have his teaching rights revoked.
EPIC FAIL OF THE DAY
Whoever this girl really is, she should go jump down a well with no water in it. Kobe is about to win another championship and shes doing this. SMH.
SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!
Listen.I know I was one of the first people to start the ball rolling with that Pretty Ricky stuff. I want to apologize for it. It was an abomination then and it is today. So, I have to say sorry for posting this as well, but I HAVE TO POST IT. There is so much failure in this video that these people should never be allowed out of high school or any form of higher education! SIGNS AND FAIL!
video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsfree video player
AMBER ROSE IS A PIMP!
B – STROLLIN ON A BIKE IN IRELAND
T-PAIN PAYS RESPECTS TO DOLLA
Dolla working closely with T-Pain and now Pain is showing his respect by painting his vintage Chevy with his friends image. Honestly, we have to do more BEFORE people are gunned down…
SPEAKING OF THOSE NOT WITH US
This is a recent show with TLC. They do a nice job making up for the loss of LeftEye.
For more, go to illseed.com. Or just follow me at http://twitter.com/illseed
LEFTEYE & DOLLA, WE LOVE YOU!!!
They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!
-illseed
WHO: illseed.com
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].
Bryan “Baby” Williams Sued Over ‘Birdman’ Royalties
Finnish business man Jari Kuosma has filed a lawsuit against Cash Money Records, demanding over $200,000 in owed royalties in connection with Bryan Birdman Williams partnership with Lugz, Inc.
Kuosma owns the trademark for the name Birdman.
His company, Birdman OY, Inc. founded in Helsinki in 1999 and currently operating in Omaha, Nebraska sells wing suits, skydiving apparel and equipment, and street wear inspired by the skydiving lifestyle.
The companys website says it is the most well-known skydiving brand and the leading wing suit manufacturer in the world.
In early 2004, Kuosma granted a nonexclusive license to use the Birdman name for Babys Lugz footwear line.
In exchange, Kuosma was to receive 35% of the royalties paid to Cash Money for footwear sold.
The license agreement was terminated three years later when Kuosma decided he did not want to extend the terms of the license.
In February 2008, Cash Money Records and Lugz confirmed that the New Orleans-based label earned a total of $522, 835.40 in royalties.
Thus, Kuosma and his company were owed $217, 992.39.
On February 13, 2008 Kuosma and Cash Money settled on a payment arrangement whereby the defendant would receive his royalties in six monthly payments of $36, 332.05.
However, as of the filing of the lawsuit on Friday (May 29), not a single payment has been made.
Kuosma and his attorneys have requested that the District Court of Douglas County, Nebraska grant him a judgment against Cash Money records in the amount of the owed royalties, plus interest, costs and fees as allowed by law.
The Lugz Birdman line has been discontinued for over a year.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Pink Wants To Skin Kanye! Jamie Foxxx WINS With Halle! Hardbody Mel!
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.
PINK DISSES KANYE WEST!
“grrrrrrrrrrr….”
What the hell just happened? I didnt even think Kanye was a furry type, but apparently Pink dissed the Chi-Town rapper for his affinity for wearing fur.
Pink said: Kanye West is the person p***ing me off right now. I was at STELLA McCARTNEYs Paris fashion show with the vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PAUL McCARTNEY and Kanye West. The entire time Kanye is going, They need more fur in this show. He just wouldnt shut up about how he loved fur. I mean, hes saying this to me, the PETA guy and Paul McCartney! I was just so grossed out by him. Im like, Youre an idiot! There are so many people who I think are a waste of skin and hes up there. I should wear him. Go on, donate yourself Kanye. People can wear your fur. We feel her irritation (fur and PETA dont quite mix, Ye), but d##### if these Peta folks arent crazy as hell. Pink went all Jeepers Creepers on us talking about wearing human beings and sh*t.
Source!
THE DAILY TWO SENSE
Anyway, you now the weekly Monday slow down. It was a pretty slow weekend, but I did get rumors in Saturday so read that. Here is what I have for you.
OMARION GETS DOWN WITH LIL WAYNE!?
Omarion was supposedly going to sign with Timbaland, but its looking like hes going somewhere more in line with his goals. The internet is going wild over the rumor that O is going with Young Money and Lil Wayne. This basically started with Tyrese on twitter. There are a lot of jokes to be told here. I’m going to chill though.
I wonder what happned to the deal with Timbaland?
Shout out to B-Illy!
SHOUT OUT TO KERI HILSON
Maybe I cut Keri loose too fast. I know this is old, but I finally came to terms with this.
Nas tried to get into Canada and he was stopped! Click here for the news story, but one of my favorite Canadians was RIGHT there and gave me his perspective.
hey illseed,
My name is Keyon and i was visting my grandma in st. johns for the week cuz im from toronto (shout out 416 and rexdale) and i saw Nas and his crew (huge guys maybe his bodygaurds) get hustled right infront of me. I was right behind Nas and was way to scared to ask him for his autograph because dude was flipping out on the customs agent. The whole crew was wearing www.splifftube.com t-shirts and the agent accused them of smelling of marijuana. I was personally behind the dudes and it didnt smell like anything but alot of hugo boss and stuff. The customs agents told them to unlock there bags and nas insisted that his bag was still closed since he arrived and was leaving because of a canceled show. Nas was so p##### and that he said that he was being profiled. He also tried telling the agents that he had enough of the b####### in Canada. One guy that he was with put on a splifftube hat and told the agent that he was probably be now accused of smuggling marijuana cuz he had a pro marijuana hat on. S### was bonkers. The agents checked his and his crew bags and found nothin!!!!! In your face agents!!!! Nas is serious cat, never would mess with him. I was too svared to approach him after cuz i dint want to get knocked. Hope Nas returns to canada after this. Sorry Nas we still love u, plz come back to Toronto we will show u mad love.
hope this helps u illseed
Keyon Jenkins
ps: illseed you and allhiphop are the greatest!!!!!!
ILLSEEDS QUICKIES
I heard Blaq Poet from Queens is about to drop a new album with all Preemo beats! Love it already!
We heard it and now its true! Jennifer Hudson had a baby shower over the right in her native Chicago. She plans to marry that reality dude sometime this year.
Nas and Damian Marley’s Distant Relatives is due to drop on June 23. This will be an interesting CD.
What the hell is Jon and Kate?
Hugh Hefner is reportedly looking to sell Playboy to British billionaire Sir Richard Branson.
EMINEM: REAL OR FAKE?
If it is real, Eminem is the Epic Fail of the Day. If it was stage, then Em is just doing what he’s got to do to sell another 600k. That is a gay man’s a$$ in his face, for those that don’t know.
Here is the video of the whole scene as it played out last night on the MTV Movie Awards. I didnt watch, but I heard it was under par for MTVs legacy. Well see, I guess.
EPIC WIN OF THE DAY
MY GOD. Jamie Fox is a WINNER. How in the hell did God deem him so blessed as to have this moment with Halle Berry? The Spike TVs 2009 Guys Choice Awards-WOW yall ROCK!
Images via Wireimage
MASHONDA TELLS ALL!
NICE TO SEE VICK HOME WITH HIS FAMILY OF HUMANS.
MEL B: GOING TOO FAR?
I like Mel B, but she is about to lose her Queen of the MILFs status if she gets any more ripped. We need some curves and a lil plump. Sheesh!
A few months ago, she was looking like this:
I HAD HER FIRST!
Sorry Wayne I had Lauren way before you!
MORE RUMORS IF I FIND EM! IF YOU HAVE ANY…EMAIL ME!
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
WHO: illseed.com
WHAT: Rumors
WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed
HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].
Jay-Z Inks Chinese Expansion Deal for Rocawear
Mogul Jay-Z and partnering company Iconix China have secured an expansion deal to bring the Rocawear brand to the country of China.
The deal was finalized with Bosideng International Holdings, who will manufacture the brands Spring 2010 lines.
Additionally, the company has forecasted a timetable to break ground on over 300 Rocawear stores throughout Greater China by 2012.
As an original founder of Rocawear, Jay-Z stated that making the brand an international product was one of his main goals since selling the companys rights to Iconix for $204 million.
“When Iconix purchased the Rocawear trademark two years ago, Neil Cole and I made a commitment to building Rocawear into a global lifestyle brand, Jay explained in a prepared statement. Our expansion into China is a validation of our joint efforts to bring an authentic interpretation of American fashion to young people around the world.”
The deal is reported to be a 50-50 split venture with Iconix Brand Group and Novel Fashion Holding Limited.
Last year, the Rocawear brand remained strong despite the ailing U.S. economy, grossing sales of 18.3 million dollars in the third quarter alone.
At press time, Jay-Zs Blueprint 3 LP is tentatively aimed for a September release.
Eminem w/ Travis Barker
“3 A.M.” [Travis Barker Remix]
Sha Stimuli Ft. Nas [Heater Of The Day]
“Horrorglyphics”