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Headlines to Your Site or Blog: Widgetbox MuseStorm Widget ProHipHop Network |
Hip-Hop News Plus Tupac Shakur Info |
DanceJam Presents Monsters of HipHop
Chocolate Industries and Artist To Market Distribution (A2M) Announce Exclusive Distribution Agreement for The Cool Kids Debut Release, The Bake Sale
Interactive One, Radio One's Digital Unit, Inks Exclusive Multi-Year Advertising Deal With AllHipHop.com, the #1 Site for Urban News
Snoop Dogg to produce for Extreme [Music]:
"The music production unit of Sony/ATV Music Publishing has snagged the rapper-actor to executive produce a multi-CD series of original gangsta music for film, TV and commercial projects...The "G Series" music is expected to be in styles similar to Smoking Grooves, Gangster Party and Slow Jams. The first CD should be ready in the fall."
Official Site:
ExtremeMusic.com
Slim Thug says he'll be off Interscope by the end of the week:
"If I'm supposed to be the mutha----ing boss, then I should be putting my [own] sh-- out."
Except many quotes of that line. Slim Thug explained:
"'Really, I just sat down and told them, 'Y'all over here don't understand the type of music I do, and y'all hold me back while y'all trying to get your situation together. I ain't really got that time to sit on the sideline while you do this. Let me pay y'all. Y'all gave me all this money. Listen, I'll give y'all some money off the new album.' I just can't sit on the sideline while they do their sh--. He sat down with [Interscope Chairman] Jimmy [Iovine], and we all came up with something we could all agree with. It ain't no hard feelings.'"
Currently Slim Thug is working on the Boss Hogg Outlawz second release to be followed late in the summer by his solo album Boss Of All Bosses that will include more focus on Houston.
Note to up and coming artists:
As usual, we'll never know the actual details about Slim Thug's stint at Interscope beyond "he said, she said" but Slim Thug may have made a major mistake:
"I was an independent artist that did all the work myself. Once I signed a major deal, I kind of felt like, 'I'm signed to a major label, oh, they gonna do all the work now.'"
Even if you get that major label deal, you can't sit back and play artist, though ST didn't clarify which work he slacked off on.
The idea that the major label does all the business while the artists focuses on their art needs to be wiped out of your mind and replaced with the harsher reality that the grind will get more intense in certain ways and that, at the end of the day, you can't count on the majors to make it happen for you or to give a damn if it's not happening, whatever the circumstances.
Kanye West's West Brands LLC has announced the launch of Kanye Travel Ventures, a celebrity branded travel service:
"Kanye fans will be able to customize their trips on the KTV site, www.KanyeTravel.com, including purchasing Kanye concert tickets and other performance-related merchandise and events, at the same time as they are booking their travel reservations."
And if that works:
"Kanye Travel Ventures, once successfully launched, will serve as a prototype for other such celebrity-brand driven travel programs, targeting the unique demographic profile and tastes of each artist's respective fan base."
A look at the Kanye Travel Ventures site currently reveals a generic, off-the-shelf service with little specific relationship to Kanye West other than the title and graphic so anything interesting beyond the announcement is still to come.
"Miki Woodard, president of the rapper's company, West Brands, told Advertising Age the process has already taken nearly a year. "We did a lot of due diligence with online travel partners" before linking up with Travelocity, Ms. Woodard said. Mr. West wanted an outfit that would be in it for the long haul, which could involve writing new software, she said."
"The next phase, expected within weeks, will be cross-promotional deals with marketing partners...negotiations are being conducted by Scotty Abrams, president of the celebrity brand-development firm Maniac Creative, Nashville and Los Angeles..."
"Mr. Abrams' father, Neil Abrams, president of a travel-industry consulting outfit bearing his name and also hired by Mr. West, said the marketing partners would include an automaker and wireless company."
Based on the logo at the bottom of the Kanye Travel Ventures homepage, the current travel service is provided by World Choice Travel, Travelocity's partner network.
Obviously this is going to work or not based on things we haven't seen yet. It could work if it's closely tied to the Kanye West experience which might well involve "writing new software". In fact, a well-done celebrity travel site linked to artist tours could be a real winner, especially if it leads to more such sites. But if it's simply a branded Travelocity service featuring cities on Kanye's tour plus merch then my Magic 8-Ball says get on outta here!
Sit Down Stand Up cuts to the humorous chase regarding DJ Khaled's newly announced deal with Def Jam for We The Best Music.
From the press release:
"KOCH Records is proud to announce the signing of Bubba Sparxxx and his New South Entertainment label...Bubba will release his fourth studio album in the summer of 2008...In addition to Sparxxx's new album, he will also release a new Mixtape in 2008 and will introduce new artists signed to New South Entertainment."
Current Free Mixtape at MySpace:
DJ Burn One & Bubba Sparxxx - Survive Til Ya Thrive
According to a press release on Killer Tracks, to which I was alerted via the Universal Music email newsletter, Chuck D is setting up a hip hop music library featuring SLAMjamz artists and guests like Professor Griff.
Killer Tracks provides music for film, tv, advertising and other media uses however they're also offering an "exclusive pre-release" of Chuck D Presents at the April 2008 NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Right now it's easy to find the press release on the site from the homepage since they're running Chuck's picture but you can't link directly to anything on this site or to an online version of Universal's email newsletter. I also couldn't copy and paste the press release so it's not on Hip Hop Press just yet.
Hey, if you're reading this in a couple of months, enjoy the hunt since their search engine doesn't bring it up either.
Devin the Dude Presents Coughee Brothaz - Waitin' Our Turn
Devin the Dude is leaving Rap-A-Lot Records after just over 15 years on the label.
From the press release:
"'Rap-A-Lot has been my family for a long time and there's no bad blood at all,' Explains Devin of his decision to leave the label, 'But change is a part of life and I feel like this is the time to make a change and focus more on the business side of my career, I've had a nice run so I'd like to develop artists and give some of these other cats out here a platform to shine.'"
"Devin has spent this past year touring with his original Coughee Bros. promoting the recently released independent project 'Waitin Our Turn'. With several offers on the table for label situations, Devin is exploring options right now but is ready to get back in the lab and blow out another batch of his finest music for a new generation of music lovers."
Best of luck with your new ventures! Now hand over that spliff, homie.
In a move that will attract a lot of attention, the HipHopSoda has announced a co-branding deal with Sean John, Diddy's fashion company.
I would love to know the terms of that deal cause, when you look at something like Diddy's Ciroc deal, you know that's got to cost HipHopSodaShop a big chunk of change in one form or another.
The wait may be almost over for Joe Budden as he signs with Amalgam Digital and waits for the release of Mood Muzik 3: The Album, an albumized mixtape, on February 26th and Padded Room, technically Budden's sophomore release until this mixtape thing complicated matters, in the second quarter of 2008.
Amalgam Digital has Mood Muzik 3.5, the mixtape version of the mixtape album, for sale as individual tracks but I imagine it's readily available elsewhere for less.
I cracked up when I heard that Eddie Murphy signed Karrine "Superhead" Steffans to his new label.
Reminds me that Kid Rock and Rev Run are going on tour.
It's like the entertainment biz is becoming one big reality tv show.
Update:
Karrine Steffans says the rumors of her signing are not true.
Howard Misle and Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean and Howard Misle have teamed up to create a joint venture, In Ya Face/Refugee/Carnival House:
Jean's Refugee/Carnival House Hip Hop duo Kontrast will merge with Misle's In Ya Face Records roster including: Pop princess Eva, R&B diva Holly Rae, R&B male star Sonny Blaq and Hip Hop acts Big Work and ProHoeZak.
In the new venture Misle and Jean will sign, develop and produce new and established acts. Jean will also become a strong creative force in the development and production of several of the artists from the In Ya Face stable. The first music project from the newly formed venture is due in the spring of 2008...
The team also has several major TV shows in development including a new reality program that will revitalize the hip hop genre. That show is set to begin filming as soon as January 2008. The duo is also expected to join forces with a major Hollywood film actor to produce several films.
The company is said to be based in Silicon Valley. Not sure if that's just a cute way of saying they're in San Jose but there's no particular mention of a tech or web emphasis for the joint venture.
[Photo courtesy: Business Wire]
The Rap Up has the Gangland theme from Duck Down records who are making some great moves including a deal with ESPN.
At Hip Hop Press:
Duck Down Records Partners with YOUTUBE & The History Channel
KIDZ IN THE HALL INK DEAL WITH DUCK DOWN RECORDS
Jadakiss "Pick[s] up the mic and die[s] again"
Jay-Z welcomes Jadakiss to the Roc but, as Miss Info attests, "so much for magical moments."
Badd Santa: A Stones Throw Records Xmas
Peanut Butter Wolf Presents Badd Santa: A Stones Throw Records Xmas is available exclusively through Urban Outfitters in the States and internationally via:
Europe: Carhartt Flagship Stores
Canada: Goodfoot (Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, & Calgary)
Japan: Beams Records + Beams T
That's a pretty interesting distribution approach for Stones Throw and fun marketing maneuver for the associated retailers.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Promo Vid: Peanut Butter Wolf's B-Ball Zombie War
Mixtape Monday talked with the Clipse about their recently announced deal with Sony:
"The deal is done, the ink is dry," Malice said last week. "We're very happy. Everything is going according to plan...We're pleased with the sense of urgency them dudes is moving with. I can say that we are a welcomed addition. They feel that way. The vibe is right. That says a lot, for me to say that, because I'm skeptical of all labels. I don't believe it till I see it. The game made me this way."
"We're looking forward to '08 and putting out consecutive good music," Pusha added..."Sony has that energy, that new blood that wants to win. It's [also] where the Clipse are right now. We've just never been in the position to put out music consistently. Every album [there's] always been something to stand in the way of us getting the music out in a timely manner. Sony has structured a deal that honestly gives me the free right to put out music anytime I want."
"This go-round, my brother and myself, we're CEOs [of our label], and we also got equity in the group," he added. "I think it will be all good."
Let's hope their happiness continues!
Jay-Z fills in Mixtape Monday on his efforts to bring Jadakiss to the Def Jam empire:
"Well, I've been actually trying to get Jadakiss to come to Roc-A-Fella/ Ruff Ryders for a minute," he said. "It's not done. It's in the final stages, though. I spoke to [co-CEO] Dee [Dean] and all of them about doing something really special with a Roc-A-Fella/ Ruff Ryders collaboration."
The Clipse have left Jive Records and Star Trak Entertainment and signed with Columbia Records to a "five-year, 50/50 profit-sharing arrangement...for Re-Up Gang Records".
More from Billboard:
The Clipse will own the masters for its Re-Up Gang artists, Ab Liva and Sandman. Next year, the Clipse will issue a Re-Up Gang album as well as a new studio disc, but for the first time, the latter will not be produced solely by the Neptunes. Instead, the brothers are anticipating working with Timbaland, Danjahandz and Dame Grease.
AllHipHop.com is reporting that the Interpublic Group has acquired Steve Stoute's Translation Consulting and Brand Imaging.
A topic of discussion since last spring, the impending deal recently got a quick look from Advertising Age.
The Spice Girls' new album will be sold exclusively through Victoria's Secret shops and website.
So far such deals, like Sonic Youth's deal with Starbucks, are focused on pop and rock groups.
I'm curious about what people think would be a natural fit for a rap group at this point in time.
I'm drawing a blank at the moment but such a fit should reflect both the individual group and retail outlet as much as the genre.
Please, good readers [& bad], what are your combos both silly and serious?
In a press release distributed by Koch Records, Jim Jones' deal with Columbia and ongoing relationship with Koch has been clarified, sort of:
Rapper and entrepreneur Jim Jones has signed a new deal with Columbia Records. This new deal is a partnership of sorts with KOCH Records. KOCH will still be involved in marketing and radio promotion for Jones, and participate in revenue streams, while Columbia will oversee all aspects of his campaigns.
Jones will have the best of both worlds as the #1 Indie label and one of the most historic major labels team up with him on his upcoming album.
So far, so good. We'll see if Mr. Jones is ready for a new level of the game.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Jim Jones Signs Deal w/Sony, Working w/Rick Rubin
Miss Info is reporting that Jim Jones has a joint venture with Sony. She spoke to him on the phone and he said:
I just left the lawyer’s office. I signed a multimillion dollar joint venture with Sony. My boss is Rick Rubin and Hip Hop (Kyambo Joshua) is doing my albums with me. What you think Jay-Z is gonna think about that?
Supposedly he's working on an album for early '08 and has already worked on a track with Rick Rubin!
Jones also stated:
What’s crazy is that they gave me the same deal that Un and them f*cked up back in the day when they got the Sony/Untertainment deal...I got that joint venture, that 50/50 split, they don’t give those out anymore. That’s a Dame Dash, Ruff Ryders deal. And I’m bout to go crazy with it. I’m gonna be a problem.
Whoa.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Koch Records In On Jim Jones' Columbia Deal
Saying they've never been signed to Diplomat Records and that they built the Diplomat brand in Europe largely on their own, S.A.S. is leaving Dipset behind.
Via illseed who is doing an excellent job of building out that highly trafficked little gossip column into its own division of AllHipHop.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Do Jim Jones/G-Unit Rumors Signal End of Dipset?
Public Enemy is using TuneCore to digitally distribute their next album, How Do You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul.
Not sure if this is a tie-in to the album title but TuneCore is currently running the saying, "Sell Your Music, Not Your Soul."
TuneCore also provides a helpful free Music Industry Survival Manual with tips on promoting and making money from your music via their homepage.
I'm looking at the news regarding Dr. Benjamin Chavis' takeover of H3 Enterprises and all I can think about is the fact that we may never really know the good stuff. I'm not saying that includes anything bad, only that there must be some fascinating behind the scenes tales to [not] be told.
Dr. Benjamin Chavis recently became CEO of H3 Enterprises in a deal that included his management firm:
Dr. Chavis comes to the leadership of H3 Enterprises, Inc., as part of an executive management services contract between H3 Enterprises, Inc. and CEF Management, LLC (CEF), a New York City based management firm, in which Dr. Chavis is a principal, along with New York attorney and developer Joseph Fleming, and entrepreneur and restauranteur Leon Ellis. One of CEF's major roles will be the future development and international roll out of HipHopSodaShops.
Dr. Chavis has since been voted President of H3 in a move further entwining CEF and H3:
Dr. Ben has also announced that H3's Corporate Offices have been moved to 116 John Street. All corporate and administrative activities will now flow through the Company's Wall Street area offices per H3's new contract with the CEF Executive Management Services Team, lead by Dr. Ben, which has become the cornerstone of Team H3's management and operational support structure.
Cofounder and former President Brian Peters plans to be CEO and President of the H3 Foundation which will do charitable stuff.
Wow. Chavis is also getting nice uptake from the mainstream media for his socially conscious theme of "Empowerment through Investment". In an article titled "HipHopSodaShop to serve as youth business school", Paul Swider of the St. Petersburg Times reports:
H3 hired Chavis and his firm, CEF Management, as the company's board gets serious about its novel business model. Pitching itself as the first publicly traded hip-hop company, H3 is planning to use HipHopSodaShop as a vehicle to promote sound business, teach investment to hip-hop youth and incorporate social responsibility into what Chavis describes as a unique business concept.
"This is a model development," said Chavis. "We hope the rest of corporate America will look at this."
..."For the last three years, Russell and I have been talking about teaching financial literacy to young people," Chavis said. "This is the perfect teaching tool. We're going to put it into practice."
Details to follow. Investigative reporters encouraged to dig in. There's a great story here for somebody with the resources to get past the pr shield.
Official Site:
H3 Enterprises
Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth
Rhymesayers Entertainment has signed a deal with Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group allowing this core entity in independent and/or alternative hip hop to:
utilize various aspects of ILG's extensive network of sales, promotion and marketing resources to further promote its stable of cutting-edge artists. WMG's Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) will primarily handle distribution with select titles being distributed by WEA Corp.
According to a quote from Rhymesayers' Brent Sayers, the possibility also exists to "upstream artists to a WMG label while still playing an integral role in the artists' career."
In related Rhymesayers news, Brother Ali's The Undisputed Truth drops April 10th.
Digital music label and distributor INgrooves has signed deals with multiple artists, at least some with their own labels including Too $hort, to provide online and mobile distribution:
Too $hort, who sold over 7 million albums while signed to Jive Records (Sony BMG), just delivered his last album to them and is setting up his own label as well. Too $hort will release new and previously unreleased recordings from his catalogue as well as music from emerging Bay Area artists that he is developing on his own label.
Steve Rifkind Wu-Tang Reunion Video Announcement
I'd been meaning to write about SRC Records' promo blog the label as a promotional vehicle when I got news that label head Steve Rifkind had posted a video announcement regarding a Wu-Tang reunion album.
In the video posted above, Steve Rifkind states that he just got off the phone with Divine and RZA and a reunion album is on. Divine handles Wu-Tang business affairs and Steve Rifkind originally signed Wu-Tang to Loud Records for the release of Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers.
I find Rifkind's on-camera persona rather underwhelming but, then again, I assume he's just being himself and that's part of the experiment now, I guess. Can we promote what we're doing while still being who we are?
In any case, the blog looks solid to me as a promo device and nobody can get mad at a Wu-Tang reunion.
Bottom line: Big news about Wu-Tang announced first in a YouTube video posted in a promo blog. Times are getting different!
Chris Lighty has announced that Diddy has joined with Violator Management who will "direct the music career for the internationally successful hip-hop artist, producer, designer and entrepreneur" with a mandate to "specifically implement brand extension plans intended to expand Diddy's reach and influence exponentially in music" starting with Press Play.
I'm kind of on the run here but I think it's worth mentioning that Google is buying YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock.
I'd suggest PaidContent.org for ongoing updates and analysis, like today's look at media deals announced by both YouTube and Google.
YouTube Founders on the Acquisition
Vivendi Visual Entertainment and RuffNation Films Releasing Enter Distribution Pact
Vivendi Visual Entertainment (V V E) has entered into a multi-year, multi-film distribution agreement with RuffNation Films Releasing (R F R) to market and distribute its upcoming slate of home entertainment product. The agreement was announced today by V V E General Manager Tom O'Malley along with R F R CEO Chris Schwartz and President Rich Murray.
Facebook Launches Back-to-School Promotion to Give Away 10 Million Music Samplers from iTunes
Facebook, the social directory that allows people to share information, announced today a back-to-school promotion to give away 10 million music samplers to Mac and PC users from the iTunes Music Store. Starting today, Facebook will give away one million, 25-song music samplers from iTunes each week for the next 10 weeks. Each iTunes music sampler will feature select songs from a different genre ranging from Alternative to Rock, Hip-Hop to Dance and Electronica.
As a commenter on my post critiquing Steve Stoute's Online Self-Marketing reminds me, Steve Stoute and General Motors are in bed together, so to speak:
Translation Consultation & Brand Imaging, a New York City-based brand marketing firm headed by founder and Chief Creative Officer Steve Stoute, has aligned with General Motors Corp.
The company will provide strategic counsel and marketing communications guidance for Chevrolet and other GM vehicle brands in the U.S. on key projects as it helps expand GM's appeal to young, diverse, well-educated consumers living in key metropolitan markets in the US, particularly coastal markets.
ProHipHop wants to honestly congratulate Steve Stoute and his hard working staff at Translation Consulting & Brand Imaging on this impressive accomplishment. I may give you a hard time on occasion, but your achievements in the face of great obstacles have been a driving force in the legitimisation of hip hop marketing, a force that has not only pushed hip hop to mature but has also helped create the context for ProHipHop's very existence. Thanks!
Paid, Inc. today announced a major coup:
Snoop Dogg . . . has selected Paid Inc. celebrity services (OTCBB:PAYD) to manage his official fan club "4AllMyDoggs", fan club ticketing and fan experience package sales when he tours, his official www.snoopdogg.com Web site and his MySpace page. Additionally, Snoop Dogg has chosen Paid to manage and fulfill his official online merchandise store, as well as create and sell "Snoop Authentic," a line of authenticated memorabilia and items used onstage.
This is one of those rare press releases that's actually worth reading for its in-depth description of the extensive services that Paid, Inc. will provide Snoop Dogg.
Official site: Paid, Inc.
Yahoo Finance: Paid, Inc. Profile
The following announcements of distribution deals come from Hip Hop Press. All text is taken from the press releases.
Hiero Announces 2006 Releases, Inks New Distribution Deal
New work from Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, A Plus, and Pep Love to be distributed through Fontana.
Hustle. & DJ Whoo Kid Ink Deal with Koch Entertainment for Rewind DVD Magazine
Multi-Media company, Hustle., and DJ Whoo Kid announced today that they have inked a joint venture with New York based company Koch Entertainment to distribute Rewind DVD Magazine.
Spyder D and Spydo Music, Inc. Sign an Ambitious Distribution Deal for Newtroit Records
Pioneering New York rap producer/artist Spyder D signs distribution deal with TOFA/Empire Musicwerks/Universal Records.
RMD Entertainment Inks Global Distribution Deal With DVD Magazine Pioneer -- Block Star Entertainment
The three-year deal not only gives RMD the exclusive right to globally market and distribute all Block Star related content and merchandise, but it also states that RMD has the right to license any and all Block Star related projects for use in other arenas like film, television, internet, and mobile.
At the bottom of today's edition of Mixtape Monday is the news that Jay-Z has signed Miami's Rick Ross to Def Jam. Ross is hot off the success of Hustlin' which resulted in heated speculation about label interest and what he termed a "bidding war."
Rick Ross on signing with Def Jam:
I sat down with a lot of people and ultimately [Def Jam] came with the best situation . . . I feel comfortable with their system. It's obvious they know what they're doing. We wanna win big. They wanna win big. So we knocked it out.
On Jay-Z:
It was love . . . I can't even front. We sat down, chopped it up. He knew what time it was. He knew what I needed, I knew what they needed. It was easy.
On getting out of the hood alive:
I kept it gangsta and I hit my number . . . I made it out [of the 'hood] alive. I didn't get indicted, so I won. A n---a is focusing on the future.
Career Criminal, Rick Ross's Def Jam debut album with a spot on there somewhere for Jay-Z, is expected out this summer.
Nas spoke with Billboard in his first interview regarding his deal with Def Jam. He stated:
"I've been in this business a long time and know what a great deal is . . . I signed a significant and excellent situation."
Most of the details are as previously reported, however the $3 million per album for the first two Def Jam releases that I thought went to Nas was actually the recording budget which may include advances for Nas. However, sources are now saying that Nas will receive a separate, much higher sum. Those details are yet to be revealed.
Beyond what Nas gets financially, he's also getting his own imprint at Def Jam to be called The Jones Experience. The imprint will kick off with Nas's first album for Def Jam to be followed by whatever artists are signed. Though other genres may be included, Nas says that the focus will be "first and foremost on hip-hop."
All discussions of beef aside, bringing Nas to Def Jam is a major coup for Jay-Z and is strongly indicative of the potential upside during his executive reign.
In a story originating with Jeff Leeds at the NY Times, a deal has been struck between Sony Music and Def Jam that will open the way for Nas to sign with Def Jam according to "music industry executives involved in the arrangement." The initial deal calls for Sony and Def Jam to split the profits or losses from Nas's next two albums and marketing campaign planning will also be shared. However, Def Jam will cover the costs of production and marketing with profits to be split after expenses are covered.
Nas gets around $3 million for each of the first two albums to be followed by two albums with Def Jam. Sony will have the option to put out Nas's greatest hits. Interestingly enough, Sony only had one more album under contract so this seems like a way for Def Jam to solidify a deal with Nas and start immediately profiting from the recent Jay-Z/Nas truce.
This deal comes on the heels of DMX's not so amiable split with Def Jam in a deal that takes him to Sony's Columbia label from which Nas is exiting. Since Sony and Def Jam representatives aren't speaking about the current development, it's unclear if the two deals were related at any stage.
It sounds like Jay-Z is gradually tightening things up at Def Jam with a focus on established assets, just as 50 Cent has been doing as he builds a collection of older artists. Given Jay-Z's dead in the water signing of Aztek Escobar and 50 Cent's estrangement from The Game, we're still waiting to see if either is able to develop new rappers successfully.
Update: The $3 million per album is actually the recording budget. Nas may be getting more, according to Billboard.
Scarface will design a Capture the Flag cap for New Era's 59FIFTY custom hat series.
For February, Koch Visions has arranged a copromotion of the dvd Don Vito Presents CRUNK & FAMOUS and CRUNK!!! Energy Drink.
Gamer Graffix and 50 Cent/G Unit have entered into a three year deal beginning with "50 Cent: Bulletproof Gamer Graffix Skins for video game consoles."
Talib Kweli is doing a PSA for Big Ten basketball featuring an original track entitled Welcome to the Big Stage.
Late last year Fat Beat Records signed Akrobatik.
Major label interest in the success of Houston rappers has led to such recent deals as Asylum's marketing and distribution agreements with local labels Rap-a-Lot and Swisha House.
As Bun B puts it:
"Major labels deal with crunching numbers . . . And when you see a Slim Thug on Boss Hogg Outlawz Records moving 40,000 units outside the system, they figure they could put a push behind that and sell five or 10 times as much."
According to Tito, who dropped a comment in response to a recent post about Damon Dash and Beanie Sigel, NY's Hot 97 radio was hyping rumors earlier this week about the possibility that Sigel may sign with G-Unit now that he's leaving the Damon Dash Music Group.
A quick web search reveals that lots of sites are speculating, seemingly off the same MTV article headlined: Beanie Sigel Signing With G-Unit? May Be Best Way For MC To Avoid Picking Sides. But that's a misleading headline that may not have been chosen by the writer, since editors traditionally have that responsibility. To quote Shaheem Reed in the article:
"One person Sig may be aligning with, however, is 50 Cent. Beanie has heard the rumors, just as his fans have, that he's signing with the G-Unit. Sigel said nothing has happened beyond a few conversations with 50, and noted that even if they do business together, it would have to be some type of co-venture. Beanie can't see himself being anyone's artist anymore."
In fact, check the phrasing in what you read to see if it's presented like a rumor but simply rewrites the lines above.
Beanie clarified further in comments posted at MTV's Mixtape Monday:
"We can talk . . . We can do a co-venture. I can't see myself signing nowhere else as an artist. I got my own thing. But I'll definitely do business with him. I had a couple of conversations with 50 because me and his uncle were locked up together. And his uncle is a real thorough dude, so [50 and I] definitely kicked it. His business sense is crazy . . . We can definitely do something. I think that might shock the world."
So, no, Beanie's his own man now so he doesn't want a new boss but, yes, he'll do business with 50 Cent, cause he loves that money. Since they're both ultimately under the Universal Music Group, that should eliminate some obstacles and I doubt anybody's going to be too upset with the money that could be made off that combination.
?uestlove recently discussed The Roots signing with Def Jam in terms which seem to support the power of creative visualization:
"You know, back in high school in Philadelphia, when the Roots first started, me and Black Thought just used sit in lunch making our album covers, what they would look like. We would put the Def Jam logo on the bottom. . . Now, some 12, 13 years later, nine albums later, we're putting out an album and there is gonna be a Def Jam logo imprint on the bottom of it."
He also addressed the possibility of a Jay-Z cameo:
""We'll see what's up," ?uest smiled. "I just want him to guide our careers. Of course, being on Def Jam doesn't mean you'll get a free Hova verse." He paused, then said with a light giggle, "I don't know, does it mean you'll get a free Hova verse? I don't know.""
The Roots next album Game Theory, described as "a dirty, dirty record - a raw-sounding record", is expected in February or March of 2006 and will include guest appearances by Black Star and Saigon.
Though I really have mostly given up aggregating, I think it's important that I note business deals even when I'm not going to say more about them. I'll try to make that more of a weekly thing, rather than a periodic deluge like today.
DJ Clue joins UrbanWorld Wireless as UWW's Ringtone A&R Director. I know people have been fulfilling A&R functions for ringtones but has anyone been named a Ringtone A&R Director before?
Free & AJ will no longer host BET's 106 & Park. Supposedly this was their choice and AJ has announced that he will open a restaurant called Mahogany in Brooklyn.
Topps has signed a deal with Jay-Z for exclusive use of his image on trading cards and related promotional material. He'll also get a Rookie Card, a Relic Card and an Autograph Card in the 2005 Basketball trading card releases.
International Enterprise will handle Blokhedz' international licensing. An animated feature of the Blokhedz comic is under development.
MySpace.com will be a sponsor for The Industry Jumpoff, an entertainment industry networking event in LA.
I'd seen references to Roc La Familia, other than the earlier Roc-A-Fella releases, and then basically forgot to follow up. Now more official press is announcing the launch of Roc La Familia, a new imprint on Def Jam Recordings to focus on Latin music. What caught me by surprise is the planned emphasis on "reggaeton, reggae, calypso, tribal and West Indian music."
However, the first signing is Aztek Escobar who's described as a "Houston-based Colombian rapper" and is said to have a mixtape out with a track featuring Jay-Z called Problem Houston. I haven't found a link to that but the track is showing up all over the place with variations on the title and there are other tracks with Jay-Z and Aztek also in circulation.
Apparently, Aztek was signed before the Roc La Familia announcement and there are already controversies about his background. I'm not intrigued enough to dig further but I'm sure we'll hear plenty more on the topic.
Juan Perez, described as "Carter's longtime partner in his New York studio Baseline and the 40/40 Club", will be Roc La Familia's prez. And, I love this part, the article goes on to state that a "Def Jam spokeswoman said there would be a dedicated label staff, in a number to be determined." That's good. They'll need a staff.
According to a news item at SOHH, Escobar's debut album will be entitled Columbian Necktie. Hey, is that a reference to those grown up clothes all the rappers are wearing today? Or does it refer to a topic discussed in the OJ trial?
I've added links to the 25 most recent press releases at Hip Hop Press here at ProHipHop to facilitate access. Hip Hop Press has become quite popular as a way of keeping up with hip hop press releases and, in addition to the site, you can subscribe to the RSS/Atom newsfeed or get the daily email newsletter via a sign-up box at the site.
The Real Hip-Hop Network, planned as a hip hop cable channel, was announced in February and they recently held a press conference regarding some kind of "Merger/Partnership" with The Source. So why isn't this news and why can I only find reprints of the press release? Holla if you hear something - clyde(at)prohiphop(dot)com.
Bungalo Records and Fireworks Productions are joining forces to add in-house marketing muscles to Bungalo's activities as label and distributor and provide distribution opportunities for creative content from Fireworks.
Eagle Rock Entertainment will represent Death Row Records' catalogue outside of North America beginning in 2006 and will also distribute the dvd Tupac Shakur: Live at the House of Blues expected in September. Website: Eagle Rock Entertainment.
H3Enterprises is acquiring D Apparel to form H3D Apparel gaining contacts related to NBA apparel as well as production capacity for H3 apparel.
DJ Muggs and Self-Scientific are working with Fontana Distribution, the independent distribution division of Universal Music Group, to create their own imprint Angeles Records.
TriMedia Entertainment will distribute the Menace film and soundtrack produced by Philly's Take Down Records.
TriMedia
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