(AllHipHop News) Jimmy Iovine was the Chairman of Interscope Records through every single significant rap rivalry since 1990 and is well accustomed to competitive marketing. During last night’s Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, Iovine took a shot at competing streaming service Spotify’s current popularity.
Spotify debuted in the United States in July 2011 and has since garnered 10 million paying subscribes globally. However, the streaming service has only been able to garner 3 million paying subscribers in the United States after three years. According to Iovine ““Spotify should have 10 million people in America”, even with Beats Music reportedly struggling to gain subscribers.
Beats Music debuted in January of 2014 and in its first 100 days was reported to have accumulated a paying subscriber base “in the low six-figures”. Comparatively, Spotify attracted roughly 600,000 paid subscribers in United States in its first year. Iovine used his history in the music industry to explain why Beats’ slow popularity growth is not that big of a problem:
When you’re making music, you don’t look at what’s going on in the studio next to you. We run our race. We market our race.
After claiming tha Beats spent “zero dollars” on marketing in the first three years, relying solely on media attention, Iovine stated him and Dr “knew how to harness the media.” Besides vaguely explaining his and Dre’s role at Apple, he does explain why the two chose to work with the tech giant:
[Me and Dr. Dre] met with the guys, and what we realized is they get it. They have feel. They understand culture.
Apple is set to hold an event at the Worldwide Developers Conference this Monday (June 2nd). Check out Beats by Dre and Apple’s first advertisement below:
Yesterday in Miami FL DJ Khaled shot the video for “They Don’t Love You No More.” the lead single off his forthcoming summer album, I Changed A Lot . Directed by Gil Green of 305 Films, the track features Meek Mills, Rick Ross Jay-Z and the chorus by French Montana who’s currently working on his 2nd album Mac and Cheese. Take a look at the exclusive photos below.
PHOTO CREDIT: www.ExclusiveAccess.Net
Pre-Order “No Label 2” now: http://bit.ly/GetNL2
Download the YRN mixtape HERE: http://bit.ly/migosyrn
(AllHipHop News) For the upcoming BET Awards, AEG and BET Networks have announced that they will continue the tradition of celebrities living out their basketball fantasies. Today (May 29th), the full lineup of participants for the celebrity basketball game taking place during BET Experience Fan Fest
Snoop Dogg, Terrell Owens and Mike Epps are apart of the 2014 Sprite Celebrity Basketball Game and have participated in celebrity basketball games in the past with Epps participating during last year’s game. In addition to these celebrity basketball veterans are Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Lesean McCoy, comedian JB Smoove, Brandon T Jackson and many others.
The event will feature music from guest celebrity DJ, former NBA superstar, Ron “Metta World Peace” Artest.
BET Experience Fan Fest is taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, June 28and Sunday, June 29, 2014. In addition to the celebrity basketball game, there will be a youth basketball clinic as well as a Sprite® Slam Dunk Contest.
The event will be live-streamed on Bet.com.
Check out footage from last year’s BET celebrity basketball game and the full list of the participants in this year’s celebrity basketball game below:
2014 Bet Experience Fan Fest Participants:
Snoop Dogg, Mike Epps, Flex Alexander, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Ellis, Tank, Cory Hardrict, Bobby V, JB Smoove, Ben Lyons, Tammy “T-Time” Brawner, LaSean McCoy, Cedric Ceballos, Cory Maggette, Terrell Owens and Anthony Lewis.
(AllHipHop News) Los Angeles rapper Vince Staples and Boston funk band Bad Rabbits unite for the new song “Made.” The track is the first single off Converse’s upcoming CONS EP VOL. 2.
[ALSO CHECK OUT: Vince Staples – Shyne Coldchain Vol 2]
The release of “Made” coincides with the launch of the Converse’s new premium CONS Weapon skate and lifestyle sneaker collection. The first installment of the Converse CONS Weapon collection will be available for purchase at various retailers on Friday, June 13.
[ALSO READ: Bad Rabbits Band Is Rocking Out R&B For A New Era]
Listen to Vince Staples x Bad Rabbits’ “Made” and watch a behind the scenes video below.
(AllHipHop News) Jay Z is currently worth over half a billion dollars and a year before his debut album claimed he was “still spending money from ’88”. In the last part of AllHipHop’s EXCLUSIVE interview with Calvin Klein Bacote, the former Jay Z associate speaks on if the famous lyric was true.
Bacote and Jay Z first entered each other’s lives after Klein returned home from prison back in 1986. According to Klein, from his dealings with Jay Z, him spending money from his drug dealing past of the late 80s in 1995 is not far-fetched:
Would you doubt him? I wouldn’t doubt him. I don’ tknow how many shoe boxes he got stacked up. I know how many I had stacked up. If he said it, I believe it. You have to kind of look at his history. How many times have you caught him in a lie? You have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Bacote stated that he kept up with the 90s Hip Hop albums even during his incarceration and also picks who is the best rapper of all time.
Check out the rest of ALLHIPHOP’s final interview with Calvin Klein Bacote below:

I think Ma$e is still a preacher. And I think Ma$e is still married. And I think he’s about to make another rap comeback. Well, according to Rolling Out, Ma$e got himself a new thing.
Rapper Ma$e has a divorce looming, but it looks like the former Bad Boy superstar has already moved on romantically. And he’s allegedly seeing a woman with her own high-profile split on the horizon, “Basketball Wives L.A.” cast member Malaysia Pargo. Pargo filed documents with L.A. Superior Court back on May 19 to split from her NBA player husband Jannero Pargo; she cited irreconcilable differences. Malaysia wants sole custody of her children, with Jennero having visitation rights. The Charlotte Hornets guard has not responded to the filing.
According to reports,Malaysia is seeking comfort in the arms of one Mason Betha.
“They’ve been dating for about two months,” a source tells HipHollywood. “She really likes him and they really connect on a spiritual level. They’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
Malaysia’s publicist issued a statement regarding the reality star’s split, but didn’t mention any connection to Ma$e.
“Our family is our top priority and while we have decided to amicably go our separate ways, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time. We are both committed parents and plan to remain friends as we co-parent our three children. At this time we do not wish to discuss the details of our divorce.”
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
Illseed, Out.
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How did Snoop Doggy Dogg come to be?
AllHipHop.com has an exclusive premiere of the legendary Snoop Dogg discussing meeting Dr. Dre and getting his first record deal. This is a excerpt from Snoop Dogg’s episode of Guitar Center Sessions set to air Sunday, June 1st on DirecTV.
Snoop recalls how he got his deal with Dr. Dre:
“When I made this song called “Gangster’s Life.” It was a story of me being born into a gangster life, me living a gangster life and me passing this gangster life on to my little brother, and my little brother ended up getting killed. It was so deep and so dope how I told the story, it was the song that got me my record deal with Dre.“
This series was filmed live at SXSW, on a rooftop perched high above the crowds with Austin’s majestic skyline as a backdrop. The 12 episode season features a wide range of musical acts including iconic artists Soundgarden, Damon Albarn, and Alice in Chains as well as buzzworthy acts CHVRCHES, Phantogram, Cage the Elephant and more.
(AllHipHop News) Two years ago, B.G. was sentenced to 14 years in prison for weapons possession and witness tampering. In an EXCLUSIVE interview with AllHipHop, former fellow Hot Boys member Turk spoke about a “legal loophole” that could help B.G. return from his prison sentence as soon as this year and more.
Three months after B.G. was sentence to his 14 year prison sentence, Turk was released from Forrest City Prison in Arkansas after serving nine years in prison for weapons’ violation:
I had 22 years, so I gave 12 years back on an appeal. Not no snitching. He ain’t coming home on no snitch pass. When he come home, he done found a loophole in the law. Which they gave him more time than they were supposed to give him.
Turk spoke on speaking with Boosie following his recent prison release this year and possible upcoming collaborations for Turk’s untitled new album:
I got on the phone with Boosie, probably two or three days since he came home. Boosie working righ tnow. I sent him a record. Waiting on him to deliver on that. If it make it on time, it’ll be on my time, if not, just be looking on music from me and Boosie.
Its almost two full years since Kendrick Lamar dropped his now-classic classic album G.K.M.C. Well, the guy has been making that money in all of his live shows and events. But, I am hearing that he’s also super hard at work on his new album. From what I hear, they are looking for a fall or fourth quarter release. The word is Kendrick is cooking up another classic solo album and putting a whole lot of work into avoiding that sophomore slump that plagues a lot of artists. What I don’t know is if Dr. Dre will have any involvement in the project. Dre just signed the deal with Apple so nobody really knows where he’s at! But, I sure am happy the deal went through though! Whew!
Lets listen to that new Ab Soul song while we are at it.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
Illseed, Out.
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(AllHipHop News) Forbes released its annual list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. The leading choices on the 2014 edition understandably include politicians, businesswomen, technology leaders, and philanthropists, but one entertainer managed to crack the top 20.
[ALSO READ: Jay Z & Beyoncé Named Top Earning Couple Again]
Global superstar Beyoncé Knowles landed in the number 17 position on the list beating out former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (26), Queen Elizabeth II (35), media mogul Arianna Huffington (52), and 80 others. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was number one, followed by U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen at number 2.
Forbes credits Bey for what it calls a “banner year” in 2013 which featured the success of her self-titled 5th album and the “Mrs. Carter” world tour. The “Drunk In Love” singer is also highlighted for what Forbes sees as Beyoncé “embracing her role as an icon of women’s empowerment.”
First Lady Michelle Obama came at number 8 with possible 2016 presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton coming in two spots ahead at 6. Other notable celebrities to make the list include Oprah Winfrey (14), Sofia Vergara (32), Anna Wintour (39), Ellen DeGeneres (46), Angelina Jolie (50), Lady Gaga (67), and Gisele Bundchen (89).
To see the full list visit Forbes.
[ALSO READ: Diddy, Beyoncé, Jay Z & Rihanna Named Among World’s Highest Paid Musicians]
(AllHipHop News) As Jay Z prepares to hit the road with his wife Beyoncé for the “On The Run” tour, there are reports the Hip Hop mogul may be making that trek without another close member of his inner circle. The New York Daily News reports that Jay and longtime manager John Meneilly have parted ways.
[ALSO READ: Jay Z No Longer Pursuing Extortion Charges Against Former Engineer]
One source revealed to the publication that the split was “amicable and mutual,” while a separate source claims it was not Meneilly’s choice to break from Jay. The decision was apparently made several months ago.
The former Provident Financial executive has reportedly helped navigate the Brooklyn emcee’s business moves for years including the unprecedented Magna Carta Holy Grail Samsung deal last year. Meneilly was also an instrumental player at Jay’s Roc Nation.
[ALSO READ: Jay Z Opens 40/40 Club In Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport]
(AllHipHop News) Kanye West has undeniably been one of the most influential producers in music over the last decade, but even one of the game’s top beat makers looks to others for inspiration. In outtakes from the Stones Throw Records documentary Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton, Mr. West talks about two board masters’ work he appreciates – J Dilla and Madlib.
[ALSO READ: New Kanye West Music Featured In Adidas World Cup Ad]
“It’s amazing: How could we lose Biggie, Pac, Dilla, Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson? It almost feels like the devil’s winning. We gotta make music and we think, ‘If Dilla was alive, would he like this?’ I have to work on behalf of Dilla,” says Ye. “It’s the best respect that we can pay to great artists that have inspired us so much is to never f**king – never sell out.”
The creator of Yeezus also speaks on working with fellow rapper/producer Madlib.
“I can just paint the scene of how I felt just sitting there with Madlib working on these tracks and just hearing the texture,” said Kanye. “Now that you brought this up we have to get some more Madlib beats for the next projects.”
[ALSO READ: Kanye West’s Next Album Reportedly Will Be “Soulful” & “Dark”]
Watch the clip from Our Vinyl Weighs A Ton featuring Kanye West (21:44, 24:09) below.