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Beyoncé Makes Top 20 Of Forbes World's Most Powerful Women List

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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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]

Reports: Jay Z Cuts Ties With Longtime Business Partner

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(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]

Kanye West Discusses His Appreciation For J Dilla & Madlib (VIDEO)

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: MOBILE
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(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.


 

Iggy Azalea Makes Hot 100 History With "Fancy" & "Problem" Singles

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Australian performer Iggy Azalea made history this week when her first two charting singles reached the number 1 and number 2 spots on Billboard‘s Hot 100. This is the first time an act has achieved that feat in 50 years.

[ALSO READ: Forbes Changes Controversial Title Of Iggy Azalea Article]

Azalea’s “Fancy” rose to the top spot, and she also claims the runner-up’s position as a featured guest on Ariana Grande’s “Problem.” This has not happened since 1964 when The Beatles held 1 and 2 with their initial singles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.”

The rapper/model also joined three other very exclusive lists. Iggy became only the 15th act in the history of the Hot 100 to have a number one and number two single simultaneously. She is just the third woman to achieve that milestone (Mariah Carey, Ashanti), and she is only the fourth solo female rapper to ever have a number one single (Lauryn Hill, Lil Kim, Shawnna).

[ALSO READ: Tyler The Creator Says Iggy Azalea “Stinks”; Iggy Responds]

Watch the video for Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” below.

T.I. Involved In Shoving Match With Security Prior To Mayweather Fight (VIDEO)

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) The self-described “King Of The South” has been involved in several battles in recent days. Footage of a brawl at a Las Vegas Fatburger between T.I. and Floyd Mayweather made the rounds on the internet and television, but that was not the only incident involving Tip while in Vegas.

[ALSO READ: T.I. & Floyd Mayweather Reportedly Get Into A Fight In Las Vegas (VIDEO)]

The Atlanta rapper was apparently attempting to get into a party in Sin City featuring Nicki Minaj when he was denied entry by security. Tip and the guards on post then began pushing each other as onlookers yelled in the background.

This is the third recorded confrontation involving T.I in the last month. He and Los Angeles emcee Game were also in the middle of stand-off with police outside the Supperclub in L.A. four weeks ago.

[ALSO READ: Supperclub L.A. Releases Statement About Videotaped Fight + T.I. & Game]

Watch video of the incident below.

Jimmy Iovine Steps Down From Interscope; Replaced By John Janick

By: Yohance Kyles (@HUEYmixwitRILEY) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Now that the Beats Electronics/Apple deal has been official announced, and Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre are taking on roles at the company, Iovine has stepped down from his old job as Interscope Geffen A&M chairman and CEO.

[ALSO READ: Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine & Tim Cook Discuss Apple’s $3 Billion Beats by Dre Purchase]

The long time head of Interscope has been replaced by indie label Fueled By Ramen founder John Janick. The 36-year-old executive began working under Iovine at IGA in 2012. There were sources inside the company who claimed that Janick, serving as Interscope’s president and chief operating officer, was already effectively running the label before the Beats announcement.

“To have been able to work alongside Jimmy Iovine and contribute to the current success of Interscope Geffen A&M–three of the most storied brands in music—has been an extraordinary privilege,” stated Janick. “Now to be appointed Jimmy’s successor and be in a position to carry on his tradition of creative excellence and innovation is a truly humbling honor.”

IGA is currently home to some of music’s biggest stars including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Lady Gaga, and M.I.A.

“John Janick has exactly what it takes to lead Interscope Geffen A&M: he started his own label, he understands the art of making records and the unique dynamic between a record label and artist, as well as the enormous responsibility that comes with representing one of the greatest artist rosters ever assembled,” added Iovine.

[ALSO READ: Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine Facing Lawsuit From Alleged Co-Founder Of Beats Headphones]

Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine & Tim Cook Discuss Apple's $3 Billion Beats by Dre Purchase

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Did Dr. Dre become Hip Hop’s  first billionaire? No, but he is closer than anyone else. Today (May 28th), it was officially announced that Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre has been sold to Apple for $3 billion. During a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine discussed the historic deal and what it means for both brands.

The deal for the leader in the premium headphone market was originally speculated to be for $3.2 billion, however the deal reportedly stalled for unspecified reasons. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine spoke about the deal earlier today for USA Today. Cook does not give any concrete details on what Dre and Iovine’s roles will be at Apple, however does state their importance:

Dre and Jimmy bring us the artists’ lens. We’ve had that from a relationship point of view but there’s nothing like having that under our roof, that expert ear of audio. So when you take all of those intangibles, you get excited.

Apple has a scheduled Worldwide Developers Conference this Monday (June 2nd) and Cook promises “Apple will be doing some great things in the near term that are exciting and you’re going to love them.” Iovine describes the deal as one that will help relations between music distributors and labels:

They feel like one of them has gotten into a game where they can have impact. Where what we do will be understood. We’ve managed to bridge those worlds, because we come from music but we’ve worked in software and hardware.

According to the article, Dre was silent for most of the interview except to chime in on the financial benefit of this deal on his personal banking account:

Financially I’m in a place I never dreamed of. Now I’m just ready to get started with the work.

Hours before the Beats by Dre sale was announced, Interscope Record’s President and Chief Operating Officer John Janick will succeed Jimmy Iovine as Interscope Records’ Chairman and CEO.

LaVar Burton Raising $1 Million To Restart "Reading Rainbow"

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Crowdsourcing has become the greatest way for fans to resurrect their favorite cancelled shows. Former Reading Rainbow host Lavar Burton has started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $1,000,000 to bring back the legendary PBS show.

Currently, Burton’s campaign has garnered over $580,000 of its proposed $1 million goal with a July 2nd date as the deadline. The campaign is aimed to bring the TV show online and providing it to over 1500 classrooms for free.

Those that donate are eligible for a variety of rewards that are separated by different pay tiers. For example, those that spend $10,000 towards the project will be awarded a Los Angeles private dinner with Burton and “a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take a photo or video while wearing LeVar’s ORIGINAL visor” from Star Trek: The Next Generation according to the official Kickstarter page.

Reading Rainbow ran from 1983 to 2006 and in the process racked up numerous accolades, including multiple Daytime Emmys, Peabody Award and millions of fans. Reading Rainbow relaunched as an app and as of today has had over 15 million books read on the app.

Check out the Kickstarter page and/or pledge here.

Nas Starts "The Nas Scholarship Fund" For College Graduates

By: Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) Updated Category: Headlines
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(AllHipHop News) Nas once rapped “read more, learn more, change the globe” and he is putting his money where his bars are. Today (May 28th), the Queensbridge legend and his investment company Queensbridge Venture Partners have teamed up with Koru to offer college graduates The Nas Scholarship Fund.

The Nas Scholarship Fund is the product of Queensbridge Venture Partner’s investment in Koru, a highly selective program that gives exceptional college graduates job training and placement. Koru has partnered with 13 colleges and recently awarded the first recipients of The Nas Scholarship Fund. Steeve Simbert, a prospective Georgetown University graduate of the 2015 class and  wMarixa Rodriguez, an Occidental University graduate of the 2014 class were the first to be rewarded with the honor. Simbert is majoring in Government, whereas Rodriguez graduated with a double major in History and Spanish.

Nas dropped out of school after the eighth grade in the late 80s. However, in a statement released earlier today regarding The Nas Scholarship Fund, Nas spoke on the importance of helping those who’ve achieved higher education:

I’m inspired to support Koru participants because I know how hard it can be to carve out your path and purpose in life.  It takes conviction, hard work and the right network. The young people going through Koru are gritty, book smart and street smart.  The Koru program gives them an opportunity to put those smarts to work. I can’t wait to work directly with them and share what I’ve learned through my own life experiences.

The deadline for the July program is June 9th and the deadline for the September programs in Seattle and San Francisco is June 30th. To find out more about Koru, The Nas Scholarship Program and ways to apply, check out Koru’s official website.