(AllHipHop News) Over the last year BitTorrent has been at the forefront of fostering innovative ways for artists to share their music and interact with fans.
The company partnered with Curren$y’s Jet Life label to release four mixtape bundles and Public Enemy to host a remix contest. Madonna, Moby, Linkin Park, and many other musicians have teamed with BitTorrent as well.
BitTorrent and µTorrent users will now be able to download bundles via brand new Android V2 mobile and desktop applications. The apps will make it easier to track download progress and access real-time download data.
“Fast, light, and powerful: that’s the core of BitTorrent technology. And that’s how we approached our Android app updates,” states BitTorrent Senior Product Manager Pramod Sokke. “We’ve refreshed the UI, and we’ve improved performance. For us, this is about building the best possible utility for our users.”
Since the launch of the platform in 2013, more than 60 million bundles have been downloaded, more than 8,000 publishers have signed up, and the BitTorrent library now contains over 2 million licensed, legal titles. It also provides artists, particularly mixtape creators, direct-to-fan exposure to 170 million monthly users.
“For mobile users, we added simple, at-a-glance progress indicators, one-click access to download details, and file management features. For desktop users, we’re providing licensed content from partners like Moby and Madonna — from the get-go,” adds Annabell Satterfield, Senior Product Marketing Manager. “These new updates will let us optimize the client experience for our desktop users as quickly as we do for mobile users, and with fewer interruptions.”
The always dapper James Harden show and proved that he has a flare for fashion. This year’s NBA All Star Week, James Harden had numerous looks to show off his fashion forward style. Check him out on the GQ red carpet making his blazer, pants and sneakers all work in harmony.
Here, James Harden, was spotted court-side during the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was rocking a Versace Digital Barocco print silk shirt, Cazal 650, and a pair of Balenciaga Arena white leather sneakers.
Harden has never been shy of his style, Kevin Durant thought Russell Westbrook should have gotten best dressed … Take a look and you decide.
(AllHipHop News) The reunion of Mannie Fresh and Birdman as the Big Tymers is still on hold at the moment. According to Mannie, another album featuring the two New Orleans legends is not official yet because the business end of the situation needs to be tied up.
“Facts and figures,” Mannie told MTV recently. “That’s where we at right now. Facts and figures. We just trying to lay down a plan for it, a blueprint and we’ll see what happens from there.”
The duo that created “Get Your Roll On,” “Number One Stunna,” and “Still Fly” have yet to record any material for the potential project, but Mannie is optimistic that a deal will get done and new tracks from the original Big Tymers will see the light of day.
“No verses, no music, none of that. We just started on negotiating, that’s where we at right now,” added Mannie. “Hopefully it’s gon happen.”
Mannie Fresh joined Birdman along with fellow Cash Money Records alum Lil Wayne, Turk, and Juvenile on stage at the 2013 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards last August. The event honored Birdman and his brother Slim with the Icon Award for their contribution to music.
(AllHipHop News) The ongoing murder trial of James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond has become a major topic in both traditional media and social media outlets. The case has drawn comments from many observers about the convicted drug dealer and Czar Entertainment CEO.
As Rosemond faces a murder conviction for the killing of G-Unit associate Lowell “Lodi Mack” Fletcher, 50 Cent was one of the people who took to social media to express his thoughts on his longtime rival.
50’s posts implied that Rosemond cooperated with the authorities. He wrote, “old gangsta Jimmy, go ahead tell some more s**t.”
Jimmy Henchman’s publicist, Sibrena Stowe de Fernandez, contacted AllHipHop.com to issue an official statement about the press coverage of the case. Fernandez also addresses allegations of “snitching” on the part of Rosemond.
Read the full statement below.
As James Rosemond’s publicist and as I weigh in on media commentary regarding Mr. Rosemond’s new trial I only have to say that I’d like for the media to remember Mr. James Rosemond is currently in the middle of a trial and I’d like for him to be afforded a fair trial and not have it played out in the media which can and in my opinion has influenced his last sentencing.
I read what a certain rapper and music mogul wrote on twitter and he too is entitled to his opinion but it doesn’t make the information that he tweeted correct because as I remember the last trial, Mr. Rosemond never testified in court against anyone and so the term, “snitching” shouldn’t apply to him. I don’t recall this music mogul/rapper or anyone from that camp at the last trial and so the information that he allegedly tweeted is not accurate information. Let’s let the trial play out and let’s see what the verdict is. There are folks who are testifying in this trial and they’re looking at a lot of time and so let’s see how it plays out.
(AllHipHop News) It has been a big week for Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of The Roots. It started with the Legendary Roots Crew making their debut as the new house band of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Monday.
Quest is also featured as part of Wired magazine’s music issue, and the drummer/producer got in front of the camera to speak about a host of topics. Questlove shares his opinion of “vinyl heads,” his respect for J Dilla, his reflection of Prince’s 1999, and his bond with his father through music.
(AllHipHop News) Either lines of communication got crossed or 50 Cent just really wants to help Schoolboy Q promote his album, but apparently the two rappers’ collaboration will not make Q’s debut album. In a recent interview, Q explains why he chose to keep 50 Cent off of his debut album Oxymoron.
Last week, 50 Cent posted a picture of Schoolboy Q’s album pre-order promo to his personal Instagram account and commented in the picture “I’m on school boy Q album. We did a joint together”. Today (February 18th), Schoolboy Q told Angie Martinez on The Angie Review that 50 would actually not be appearing on his album. After admitting that he is the one who ultimately makes the decision on album’s tracklist he explains why 50 did not make the cut:
So many records that I have. That I have to pick and choose and I felt like it didn’t fit as good as the other records I have.
While the record will not appear on the album, Q says he is definitely going to release their collaboration.
Check out Schoolboy Q’s interview on The Angie Review:
(AllHipHop News) Last week footage of former Death Row head Suge Knight punching a man outside a weed dispensary surfaced online. Suge had not spoken publicly about the incident until he appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show.
During the sit down with Arsenio, Suge explains that the relationship with the people at the pot shop started off on good terms, but when he found out the man’s name was “Zimmerman” Suge says that threw his “mood off.” Apparently, things got worse from there.
“When I get to the door, they buzz me in. They’re happy to see me,” states Suge. “This guy pops in and tells me [expletive] if people don’t have they papers right they can get killed in this [expletive].”
Suge also took the time to address the business side of the music industry while on Arsenio. After speaking on D.O.C. and Dr. Dre’s contract situations while at Eazy-E and Jerry Heller’s Ruthless Records, Suge then claims that Interscope has given bad deals to The Game and Kendrick Lamar.
“If you look at Interscope, the two guys from Compton – Game, Kendrick Lamar – got two of the worse deals in the industry,” claims Suge. “Reality there’s more slavery now than ever.”
(AllHipHop News) Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Pharrell Williams will be releasing his next album next month. Skateboard P’s latest LP G I R L will feature the smash hit “Happy” and 9 other tracks.
“They say misery loves company, what a surprise/It was just me and my nig*as, we were just trying to survive/But we would never make it out alive/We..living to die/oxymoron”-Schoolboy Q
Schoolboy Q and The Chef wax hood philosophies over the subdued production of LordQuest for “Blind Threats”. The latest leak off of Schoolboy Q’s highly anticipated Oxymoron debut album finds Q venturing back into the duality of righteousness and morality while Raekwon delivers his usual brand of vivid street tales.
During his live stream listening session with Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg earlier today (February 18th), Q stated that “Blind Threats” was his favorite song off of Oxymoron.
Check out Schoolboy Q and Raekwon’s collaboration for “Blind Threats”:
WOW. It is basically open season on young Black men, these days. You really can’t say its a theory or a concept anymore. There is a new case that resembles Trayvon and Jordan Davis. A kid was running with a hoodie on and a man, Claudius Smith, shot him. The difference here is that Claudius Smith is African American. This has not stopped him from evoking “Stand Your Ground” based on his fear. The other difference from Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman is that this Black man has already been charged and arrested. This dude was 32 and the man he killed was 21. Read the BS from Political Blind Spot.
Another potential “Stand Your Ground” shooting recently occurred in Florida. An Orlando man shot and killed a 21-year-old who was allegedly running through (or from, depending on who you ask), his yard. But the young man had not stolen anything, nor broken in to anyone’s home. He was literally just running. He had not threatening anyone, but Claudius Smith nevertheless said that he was afraid that this running youth was a burglar.
That’s when he decided to stalk him, and shoot him. Is this starting to sound familiar? Smith followed the young man over a fence into a neighboring apartment complex. When police arrived, they found 21-year-old Ricardo Sanes dead in the grass, surrounded by six .45-caliber shell casings.
In a confession documented in the Orlando Police Department report Smith said that he was afraid of his victim “because his pants were falling down”. This, Smith explained, must have meant that the “fleeing” young man was “armed.” The irony that Smith himself was armed, was apparently lost on the shooter.
As well, Smith explained that Sanes “had his hands in the pocket” of his hooded sweatshirt, another piece of attire that Smith said indicated the young man was up to no good.
While the similarities with the killing Trayvon Martin are obvious to most, where this case differs is that Smith has already been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Nevertheless, this is Florida, and a judge may still grant him “Stand Your Ground” immunity from prosecution. It’s happened before, and you had better believe it can happen again.
“They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!” -illseed.
(AllHipHop News) Well, that was rather quick. Less than a month after the original broke the record for the biggest January opening weekend ($47.8 million), the sequel to Ride Along has been confirmed to be in the works.
According to Deadline, Ride Along 2 will have the same director (Tim Story) and scriptwriters (Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi) as the original. Rumors of negotiations for Ride Along 2 surfaced last April, nine months before the original premiered in January.
Ride Along, made on a $25 million budget, has already grossed over $120 million worldwide in less than six weeks. Deadline reports that only 3% ($3.6 million) of Ride Along‘s international gross comes from foreign box offices. In effort to increase their international revenue, Ride Along 2 will reportedly include more multicultural characters.
(AllHipHop News) Schoolboy Q’s debut album Oxymoron will be officially released next week (February 25th) but he is on a listening session tour in New York City. Today (February 18th) Schoolboy Q has decided to stream his entire debut album with Hot 97.
Hosted by Peter Rosenberg, Schoolboy Q will run through the 15 tracks and answer questions. Q previewed the album at a listening session held at Sonos Studios in Los Angeles yesterday (February 17th). He will also be performing and previewing the album at the Beats By Dre popup shop on 67 Green St at 6pm. Those who pre-order the album before 4pm get wristbands to the show.
New York City!!!!!!! Pop up sHow later come freeze yo azz off wit puffy
(AllHipHop) Involvement in the music industry almost always mandates that an artist has to go through tough times to eventually make it to the top. Brownsville’s BK Brasco has had his fair share of ups-and-downs in the business, but the Timbaland protégé is on the path to reaching his goal of having the world experience his music.
Brasco’s career began as a member of the group Brooklyn. At one point, they were signed to Arista Records with the backing of the late Shakir Stewart. The group eventually disbanded, but Brasco later landed a deal with Jimmy Iovine at Interscope. Again, the situation with a major label did not work out as planned. The experience at Interscope did connect Brasco with a superproducer from Virginia that took him under his wing.
BK Brasco has moved past the corporate issues and now he is preparing to release his 18th Floor: Thompson Hotel Edition EP. Hip Hop albums like Harlem World, Life After Death, Hard Core, and early Nas LPs serve as inspiration for BK as he crafts his own project of what he calls “car music.” Brasco plans for 18th Floor to be a celebration for the ladies and fly guys looking to see an element of fun brought back to New York.
In the latest edition of “5 & Done,” AllHipHop.com chatted with Brasco about his forthcoming EP, working with Timbaland, being in the studio for the recording of Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail, and what the pinnacle of success means for him.
AllHipHop.com: How did you first connect with Timbaland?
BK Brasco: Jimmy Iovine gave me an option for me to work with Timbaland when I was signed to Interscope. Then I met my homeboy who managed Pusha T, Steven Victor, that introduced me to Mike Daddy, one of Tim’s partners. We just became friends. He asked me to do some ghostwriting for a couple of people, so we built a report like that. He said I want you to meet Timbaland, and Timbaland wants to meet you. I flew down to Miami, and the saga started from there.
What was the most valuable thing you learned from your past experiences with major labels?
How to win. Not waiting for nobody. You got to do this yourself. I was a young kid given a deal, and I didn’t know how to treat this. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to go, how to turn. I had people around that didn’t know either. I got a lot of the talent, but I didn’t really have the right people in my corner at that point to navigate me through the pitfalls.
You have a track on the EP called “Pray” where you say you pray to be on top. What will being on top look like for you?
To be top for me is to influence the world. I just want to be a voice. Nothing against guys that don’t smoke or don’t drink, but I feel like somebody needs to be out there, a person like me, so the kids can understand that you don’t have to smoke or drink to be cool, fly, or popular. I have a younger brother. He looks up to other rappers that smoke and drink, and he feels he has to do it. That’s cool to them, but I don’t believe that’s cool. I believe being yourself is cool.
You’ve had the chance to work with a lot of high-profile artists. What is one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had working in the studio?
I think it would have to be in VA when we – me, Tim, a lot of people – were just creating. We created the bulk of this EP. Justin Timberlake was there, so it was just a lot moving. I just like to be in zones like that. I just like to be in a place where we’re going to this studio and this studio. I just love that. That’s where we made “Every Bag,” “Big Spenda,” and most of the EP. VA and Miami are the places we really went in.
Working with Tim is great. To see how he does it, I learned so much from him. I use to not write stuff down. I would just write 4 bars, 6 bars and then put them in my phone. Then I saw him when we were working on some record. He would put the melody down, and then add the words. I learned a new technique. It felt so good, because you marry the beat the first time you hear something. That’s the first love. He would just put the melody down then scribble some words. I took that from him, and it’s been working. Being in the studio with him and Jay. That was another memorable moment.
Timbo & Brasco
Were you around when they recorded Magna Carta?
Yeah, I remember the night they made “Open Letter.” When they were making it, I heard the beat… I was sitting outside the A-room like “What the hell is that?” Then I hear Jay rhyming in the booth. I’m in the B-room, and he comes in to get us, because he wanted us to hear it. I remember Jay comes to me like “Brooklyn, I’m the best ever.” I was like “word? Okay.”
I remember him playing me the record. They played the record like 30 times. After they made “Open Letter,” Jay said this feels so good let’s not stop. Tim was on his beat machine. Swizz [Beatz] was right there, so they started doing another beat. Swizz and Tim were going back and forth. I remember Jay writing “Versus.” That whole night was just crazy. They just kept making new songs. I think they made the Jay Z and Beyoncé song [“Part II (On The Run)”] that night too.
Yeah, I was around for that. [Roc Nation’s] Lenny S. heard the EP. He loved it. That’s how we got RaVaughn on “Every Bag,” because Lenny S. manages RaVaughn. I played him the EP, and he was like, “This s**t is crazy. We should put RaVaughn on ‘Every Bag’.” I said, “That’s dope. Let’s do it.” We’ve been just collaborating. When I say on “Pray” I want to be on top, I just want people to have an open ear and listen. I just want to make good music.
WOW. It is basically open season on young Black men, these days. You really can’t say its a theory or a concept anymore. There is a new case that resembles Trayvon and Jordan Davis. A kid was running with a hoodie on and a man, Claudius Smith, shot him. The difference here is that Claudius Smith is African American. This has not stopped him from evoking “Stand Your Ground” based on his fear. The other difference from Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman is that this Black man has already been charged and arrested. This dude was 32 and the man he killed was 21. Read the BS from 
