ProHipHop: Hip Hop Business: January 27, 2005

NY Times on The Inc. Investigation

The NY Times goes into decent detail about the investigation into money laundering at The Inc. way back when it was Murder Inc.

Posted by Clyde Smith on January 27, 2005 in Labels | Permalink

Boxingtalk Blesses Dash/DiBella Promotions

Boxingtalk's Kirk Lang believes that Damon Dash's foray into boxing with Dash/DiBella Promotions should be a particularly strong partnership. Lang notes that, though Dash is not well known in boxing, he has actually long been a fan and that Roc-A-Fella sponsored junior welterweight Zab Judah. Lang also states that:

"Dash once said in a Hip-Hop magazine that one of his prized possessions is a pair of personalized autographed boxing gloves that Muhammad Ali gave to him."

Nice bit of "instant" credibility based on actual personal involvement.

Posted by Clyde Smith on January 27, 2005 in Damon Dash , Sports | Permalink

The Damon Dash Music Group

Damon Dash has formed The Damon Dash Music Group with Kareem Burke, the third founder of Roc-A-Fella. Dash's new enterprise will both sign artists and oversee Dash's label partnerships. Current partnerships include Dream Factory with 7 Aurelius and Militain Musica, a reggaeton label that will be launched with N.O.R.E. Future plans include label partnerships with the Wu-Tang Clan and M.O.P./First Family.

This seems like big news for multiple reasons. One is the reggaeton aspect with N.O.R.E.'s involvement. Reggaeton's on the move and N.O.R.E.'s the lead man in the States, as I understand it. The other is the idea of having an umbrella company for artist-oriented labels. Hip hop artists have been particularly aggressive about wanting their own labels either when they sign with a major or after they chart. It gives them ownership and a way to bring on other artists. Forming a group focused on such endeavors by already established artists seems like a sharp move, though I'm not clear if this involves the artists' current labels or if these are entirely separate entities. However, I am sure we'll be hearing more about this endeavor and the relationships will become clear in actual practice.

Posted by Clyde Smith on January 27, 2005 in Damon Dash | Permalink

2005 East Coast (of Canada) Music Awards

I received a note from a rapper known as Pimp Tea who received two nominations for Urban Single in the East Coast Music Association's 2005 East Coast Music Awards. I checked out the list of nominees and there may be other hip hop acts on here but I'm unfamiliar with these artists and they're not identified by genre. Worse, the list itself has dark blue text on a black background, undermining my commitment to further investigation. So I have to give the site extremely low points on that for both usability and accessibility.

However, I did cut and past the nominees for Urban Single Track Recording of the Year:
In Another Lifetime - Nucleus Remix ( Dion Todd )
Never Surrender - 22 Green Remix ( Dion Todd )
P. Titty ( Pimp Tea Featuring Mickey D & Bonshah )
Shake Ya Caboose ( Pimp Tea )
Strugglin' ( The Chronicles )

I also discovered that Pimp Tea's aka is Troy Neilson and he's also nominated in the Industry Categories for Manager of the Year. I was already familiar with Troy from his Atlantic Canadian hip hop newsletter but he doesn't have any information online about that cause he's too darn busy!

Posted by Clyde Smith on January 27, 2005 in Awards | Permalink

Almost Off Topic: Kid Rock, Beyonce

I'm never quite sure how much to cover rap/rock acts. It's not a personal issue but a question of how to focus this project. Nevertheless, when Kid Rock switches music publishers, it's hip hop business news. Especially when he clarifies his stance on money and music:
""Labels like Atlantic and Warner Chappell aren't the great music labels they used to be. They're just businesses now," Kid Rock told The Associated Press. "I've been fortunate to make a lot of money and to have a great fan base, so now my focus is on just making music.""

I also try to avoid R&B, although that's difficult with all the duets and crosspromotions and the insufficient label "Urban" mixing them together, but when Jay-Z's girlfriend Beyonce launches a clothing line, that's pretty darn close to hip hop business news. Plus, she'll design the line with her mother! That girl ain't never leaving home.

Posted by Clyde Smith on January 27, 2005 in Fashion , Music Industry | Permalink

Mario Refuses to Step Down

With Mario at no. 1 on the Hot 100 Billboard singles chart with Let Me Love You, rappers and R&B artists are scrapping for lower rungs, except when they're working together. Most of the top 10 held firm with T.I.'s Bring Em Out rising to no. 9. 50 Cent's Candy Shop entered the charts at no. 53 becoming the top debut for the week and giving 50 Cent presence in four songs in the Hot 100.

Posted by Clyde Smith on January 27, 2005 in Charts: Singles | Permalink

The Game Ringtone Promotion Only for Some

The release of The Game's The Documentary includes an interesting ringtone/wallpaper bonus that requires one to text message to the Compton zip code 90220 (so close to 10 but so far away). Unfortunately, the ringtone promotion is only available to T-Mobile and Cingular subscribers. I hadn't realized that some of these recent ringtone offerings might be specific to certain wireless services. All I can say at this point is, if I had bought that album and couldn't use those ringtones, I'd be mighty pissed.

Posted by Clyde Smith on January 27, 2005 in Mobile | Permalink