Paul Wall Cosigns New Pimp Killa Thug Album

March 29th, 2007 | By Administrator

The Texas rap scene is about to become more competitive with the arrival of Pimp Killa Thug (PKT), a rapper best known for his association with fellow Lone Star lyricist Paul Wall.

Wall has teamed up with Southern Majesty Entertainment to officially introduce PKT to the masses with his debut independent album, Retribution.

The release, described as an “audiobiography,” marks a new chapter in the career of PKT.

The rapper, who has appeared on numerous mixtapes, was also recognized as the third member of The SleepWalkazz, a group that featured Wall and Chamillionaire.

Wall credits PKT with “teaching him how to rap.” The lead single from Retribution, titled “Laid Back”, was released as a mixtape anthem for Houston.

The response from the song later resulted in a remix that included a cameo from Wall, who is among the guests appearing on Retribution.

The 16-track album’s follow up single will be “Anytime.” Production on Retribution will be handled by Kenneth “Breallant” Williams of Street Dreemz Productions.

Retribution is slated to be released in the late Fall.

Lil’ Wayne Gets New Managers, Working With Kayne West On ‘Tha Carter 3′

March 27th, 2007 | By Administrator

Management/production firm Hip-Hop Since 1978 has entered into an exclusive partnership with Bryant Management to represent rapper Lil? Wayne.

Gee Roberson and Kyambo ?Hip-Hop? Joshua of Hip-Hop Since 1978 will work together with Lil? Wayne?s longtime manager Cortez Bryant as they take on all facets of Lil? Wayne?s career including music, television, and film.

Roberson and Joshua also manage superstar rapper Kanye West, who will lend his production talent to Lil’ Wayne’s upcoming release, Tha Carter 3.

?I?m excited to bring Hip-Hop Since 1978 onto the team,? said Lil? Wayne?s manager Cortez Bryant in a press release. ?I?m positive their combined experience, expertise, and well-cultivated relationships will help us take Wayne?s career to the next level.?

In recent news, Lil? Wayne is being sued by a young woman who suffered a broken collar bone and other injuries at a concert held at Tennessee State University.

Her injuries were received as a crowd of people rushed the stage to catch money Lil? Wayne had thrown at the audience.

Along with Lil? Wayne the woman is also suing Tennessee State University and another man involved in the incident; she is suing all three for a total of $150,000.

Despite this current lawsuit, Lil? Wayne continues to tour alongside rapper Young Jeezy as part of the Street Dreams Tour.

Tha Carter 3 will be released sometime this year.

Young Buck Decries Violence Against Kids, Deads Beefs, Talks New Album

March 27th, 2007 | By Administrator

Young Buck is on a promotional tour for his album, Buck The World, but the Nashville, TN rapper took a moment to comment on the alleged assault between Tony Yayo and a 14-year-old.

Buck said that he was unable to support the alleged action of his fellow G-Unit member during an interview with Angie Martinez of New York’s Hot 97.

“I’ma be honest, I don’t respect nobody putting no hands on no kid. I got a child myself. If somebody put they hands on mine, I understand the way it goes,” Young Buck said yesterday (Mar. 26).

“In this situation, I don’t understand the truth of it, but I don’t rock with nothing that’s under that circumstance about putting your hands on no kid. I’m a real street individual and it wouldn’t matter if it was my crew or any other crew.”

Tony Yayo was arraigned on Mar. 25 and charged with one count of misdemeanor assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a minor.

The alleged altercation took place between Yayo and the 14-year-old son of Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond, a rival. Tony Yayo allegedly backhanded the boy after seeing him in the street.

Young Buck related feelings to the mob code of leaving women and children out of the field of battle.

“It falls upon the individual. I maintain and do what I gotta do [but] I can’t rock with nothing that’s wrong. I can’t say Yayo did it, but if he did it, its wrong,” the 26-year-old said.

Nevertheless, Buck said that his comrade was innocent until proven guilty.

Buck has had his share beef in the past, but the rapper has recently expressed a desire for a more peaceful existence among his Hip-Hop peers.

Young Buck told AllHipHop.com that he and G-Unit rival The Game spoke and they made a resolution of peace over the phone.

“We just left the situation on the phone call on the note of ?you do you without involving G-Unit and me in your music and we do us without involving you or what you got going in our music,” Young Buck told AllHipHop.com. “And that?s the level we left the conversation on,” the rapper said.

While the two may be cool with one another, fans should not expect a Young Buck/Game collaboration any time soon, despite rampant rumors.

“We ain?t had conversations on nothin? like that. We?ve only spoke once,” Young Buck stated. There may be a lot of different rumors sayin? this and that, but we not even ready to be amongst each other at this point.”

In addition to the Game, Young Buck met up with another of 50 Cent?s rivals, Jadakiss, during his time in Las Vegas and inquired about the D-Block lyricist’s feelings about G-Unit.

“I don?t come disrespectful. Not at all. I come as a man and I come prepared for whatever it may be,” Young Buck told AllHiphop.com. “Jada, he wasn?t trippin?. Jada’s whole thing was ‘look man. I?m not trippin? off that s**t. I?m getting money. I?m all about getting to the music and the money Buck.’ We smoked a couple of blunts together and kept it movin.? Real n***a s**t.”

Buck The World features a diverse line up of entertainers, like Snoop Dogg, Trick Daddy, Bun B, Eightball and MJG, Ky-Mani Marley, Lyfe Jennings, Linkin Park member Chester Bennington and others.

The album also boasts production from Dr. Dre, Eminem, DJ Paul, Lil Jon, Jazze Pha, Polo Da Don, Jake One, Justice League and others.

“I realized that I?m in touch with a lot of different people, all different nationalities of people is in touch with Buck,” he added. “I think just from a fan point of view, they look for an artist to reinvent themselves with the music, but stay the same person that they grow to love. I was more relaxed with making this record. I had more time to put the album together than I did my first record. My first record [Straight Outta Cashville] was rushed, instead of classic. So you can imagine where this one was is.”

Buck The World hit stores today (Mar. 27).

Young Buck Brings the Outlawz to Cashville Records; Planning Reality Show

March 23rd, 2007 | By Administrator

While making quality music is part of his plan as an artist, Young Buck has a larger vision in mind with his record label, Cashville Records.

The imprint, which is currently at the center of a bidding war between various record labels, has made a major acquisition with the Tupac Shakur-founded collective known as the Outlawz.

“A lot of different things is getting good for me,” Young Buck told AllHipHop.com. “We’re almost at the end of the paperwork with their situation.”

The Outlawz are the latest addition to Cashville Records, joining veteran rapper C-Bo, who became a part of the label’s roster in January.

With the signings, Young Buck hopes to make the label an emerging force in the ever competitive music industry.

“I’m just focused on pretty much making sure I got the right product,” Young Buck told AllHipHop.com. “I understand you’re nothing without the product so with all the artists that I’m working with such as C-Bo and the Outlawz, and 615, I’m just making sure that they deliver the best possible album possible because we understand that all eyes is on us right now.”

As he gears up for the March 27 release of his new album Buck the World, Young Buck is setting the stage for more exposure in the months to come.

“I got a reality show titled Buck the World, ” said the rapper, who anticipates the show airing at the end of April or in early May.

“It’s coming out on MTV, showing the life behind the music with me,” Young Buck said. “And I also got a movie that I’m shooting titled the Story of My Life. So I definitely got a lot s**t going down. Just stay in tune, stay in touch with Buck and I’ma take us where we gotta go. Straight up.”

Lil Jon?s Bling Sets Guinness World Record

March 23rd, 2007 | By Administrator

Atlanta’s self-proclaimed King of Crunk, Lil Jon made world record history when he purchased his ?Crunk Ain?t Dead? pendant from jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills.

The $500,000 pendant is 7.5 inches tall, six inches wide, and one inch thick, weighing 5.11 pounds with a total 73 carats of diamonds and the total stone count is 3,756 genuine round-cut white diamonds, set in 18-karat yellow and white gold.

The valuable piece of jewelry will make it into the Guinness World Records, for the largest diamond pendant on record.

?I?m glad the Guinness World Records folks acknowledged me and my Crunk Ain?t Dead piece,? Lil Jon said. ?I grew up on reading and hearing about people and celebrities who break records in the Guinness World Records book and it always fascinated me. Now that I??m on the list, it feels great. Let?s just see how many rappers try to outdo my pendant and break my record. They don?t call me the King of Crunk for nothing!?

Since its first book was released in 1955, Guinness World Records has gone on to sell over three million copies each year in more than 100 countries.

In related news, Lil Jon is currently in the studio working on his first ever solo album, Crunk Rock.

Crunk Rock will include guest features and collaborations from Good Charlotte, Ciara, Lil Wayne, R.Kelly, Three 6 Mafia, Rick Rubin, Green Day, and Korn’?s Jonathan Davis.

Alleged Killer Of Soulja Slim Avoids Third Murder Indictment

March 20th, 2007 | By Administrator

After more than three years, the man accused of murdering rapper Soulja Slim has yet to be indicted for the slaying.

The rapper’s murder is one of three first-degree murder cases prosecutors have refused to bring against Garelle Smith.

The 25-year-old was arrested but never charged in the Nov. 26, 2003 murder of Soulja Slim.

Prosecutors originally said they dropped the murder charges against Smith because they were strengthening their case against him.

Smith was already behind bars for a Dec. 2003 murder.

Smith avoided being charged a third time on Monday (Mar. 19) for the capital murder of Mandell Duplessis. Duplessis, 24, was slain outside a FEMA trailer in Gentilly.

The evidence against Smith was far too thin to back up a capital murder charge, investigators told The Times-Picayune.

Soulja Slim, born James Tapp, was shot three times in the face outside of his mothers house, in what authorities described as a hit that Smith completed for $10,000.

The weapon used in the killing, a .40-caliber Glock pistol, was later determined to be a New Orleans Police Department-issued weapon, that was stolen from an officer’s house.

In addition to Soulja Slim, Smith was accused of killing 28-year-old Spencer Smith Jr. on Dec. 11, 2003.

Smith has yet to stand trial for another murder in Orleans Parish.

Jermaine Dupri Signs Hot Dollar, First Artist On New Island Def Jam Urban Label

March 19th, 2007 | By Administrator

A little more than a month after being appointed President of Urban Music at Island Records, Jermaine Dupri has hit the ground running by signing Compton,CA/ Hattisburg, MS rapper Hot Dollar.

According to the music mogul, Hot Dollar’s talent was too good to pass up.

“Yeah, he’s my first Island artist,” Dupri told AllHipHop.com. “His record was just one I couldn’t stop listening to and then I had him send me more songs and he had some s**t with him. I was like ‘Let’s Go.’”

Dupri believes Hot Dollar represents his ability to find quality talent, which will lead Island Records Urban Music in a solid direction.

The label is a new division of the Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ).

“This record is one of the hottest I heard this year,? Dupri continued. ?I wasn’t only brought in to make the hits, but find them as well. And I found one from the first listen as a true lover of Hip-Hop. You can tell soon as it drops, that it’s that s**t.”

Hot Dollar, who recently released his new DJ Nik Bean- hosted mixtape, Money, Respect and Techs Vol. 1, is currently working on his debut Def Jam/Island album.

The first single from the release will be “Streets on Lock. The album is slated to hit stores in the fourth quarter of this year.

As for Dupri’s So So Def label, the executive revealed that things are continuing to progress with new music from Johnta and Young Capone coming out soon.

Slip-N-Slide Records Awarded $9.1 Million in Pitbull Trial

March 16th, 2007 | By Administrator

Miami-based Slip-N-Slide Records is $9.1 million richer, thanks to a federal court settlement on Wednesday (March 14).

The Miami Herald reports that the label, which is home to Trick Daddy, Trina and Rick Ross, will receive $2.3 million in compensatory damages and $6.8 million in punitive damages from TVT Records, the nation?s largest independent record label.

The jury decision marks the end of a two-year legal battle between Slip-N-Slide and TVT over TVT’s blocking of Slip-N-Slide’s release of rapper Pitbull’s album Welcome to the 305.

The dispute stemmed from claims that TVT acted inappropriately when they sent over 90 desist and cease letters addressed to Slip-N-Slide?s distributors and wholesale buyers.

In those letters, the New York-based label, which claimed to own the rights to Pitbull?s logo and trademark, expressed that the purchase of Welcome to the 305 would break its contractual and trademark rights it owns relating to the popular Miami rapper.

Pitbull was discovered by Jullian Andres Boothe, who recorded songs featured on Welcome to the 305 in 2001 and 2002, pursuant to a contract with the rapper.

Pitbull later released two albums through TVT, M.I.A.M.I. Money Is A Major Issue and El Mariel.

Boothe then brought Welcome to the 305 to Slip-N-Slide through his own company Rude Bwoy Entertainment for distribution.

Wednesday?s decision in the 11-day trial was summed up in three words by Slip-N-Slide CEO Ted Lucas as he told the Herald that ?God is Good?.

Bow Wow Gets Down To Business, Investing In NBA Team

March 9th, 2007 | By Administrator

Music may be Bow Wow?s present occupation, but the rapper is laying the groundwork for life beyond the mic with various business ventures.

Among those is Prestigious, a shoe store he co-owns with Atlanta radio personality Greg Street.

The store is the first taste of business success away from the music industry for Bow Wow, who plans on opening another sneaker store, franchising his first McDonald?s and sharing ownership of an NBA basketball team.

“I can?t say what team yet, but it?s definitely gonna go down with a certain NBA team,” Bow Wow told AllHipHop.com and hinted that news about the investment will be made public at the end of next month.

Those wondering if Bow Wow?s pursuit of acting has taken a backseat need not worry. The multi-tasking emcee is taking steps to make major moves on the big screen.

“I have a lot of stuff on the table,” Bow Wow said. “I want to do two movies this year and I definitely have the opportunity to do so. Be expecting two movies out of Bow Wow. Two big movies out of me. I guarantee one of these could possibly be, if I do this movie, could definitely be like an Oscar role or an Oscar movie for sure.”

With Blacks making strides at the recent Academy Awards, the opportunity seems right for the rapper to make an impression.

“Black Hollywood is definitely wide open and I?m just trying to really go ahead and take it over now,” Bow Wow shared. “I got the opportunity to do so. Why not?”

Despite the surge in extracurricular activities, Bow Wow is aware that his good fortune stems from what got him to the table.

The rapper, who is currently gearing up for a summer tour, will soon be heard alongside Mariah Carey on Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s forthcoming album Strength and Loyalty.

“Music has always been something that I love to do, but at the same time it?s opened up a lot of doors for myself to tap in to different markets,” said Bow Wow, who is anxious to get back into the studio to start work on the follow up to his most recent album, The Price Of Fame

“Luckily, these markets have been things that I?ve been dying to do and that I really want to do as far as movies and other business ventures, so life is great right now, I can?t complain at all,” Bow Wow said.

Jermaine Dupri To Be Honored During Soul Train Music Awards, ASCAP Awards

March 9th, 2007 | By Administrator

Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer Jermaine Dupri will be receiving top honors this year at the 21st Annual Soul Train Music Awards and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Awards.

Dupri will be recognized with the Quincy Jones Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Soul Train Awards, which will be held Mar. 10 in Pasadena, CA.

ASCAP will honor JD by awarding him with his sixth achievement as Songwriter of the Year during the 24th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards, which takes place April 18 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Dupri will share his Pop Songwriter of the Year honors with his prot?g? singer/songwriter, Johnta Austin.

Dupri, who was recently named head of Island Def Jam’s new Urban department, won Songwriter of the Year at the ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards in 2005 and 2006.

In related news, ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Team will present an executive roundtable titled “State of the Industry – Uncut, taking place Mar. 20 from 7-9 pm at Clark-Atlanta University’s Robert Woodruff Library Exhibition Hall.

The event will be moderated by Tremayne “Tre” Anchrum (Director, Creative Affairs, ASCAP) and will feature such music industry executives like Shakir Stewart (Sr. VP A&R, Island Def Jam Music Group) Chaka Zulu (Co-CEO of Disturbing Tha Peace Records), Chris Hicks (Sr. VP A&R Urban, Atlantic Records and Sr. VP
A&R/Head of Urban Music, Warner Chappell) and others discussing the state of the music industry.

The event is free to the public.