Field Mob: ‘We Aint Comedians’

October 1st, 2005 | By Administrator

Field Mob?s Smoke says people have mistaken their country mannerisms for comedy ? an erroneous assumption.

?We ain?t no f***in? comedians. They like to put us in that comedian [category], because we country [and] it?s taken a major toll on our career,? the Albany, Georgia native told AllHipHop.com. ?Like we were proud to be country [and] people know this in the back of their heads like they know Chris [Ludacris is] that n***a in the back of their heads.?

Nevertheless, Smoke said the group’s style, which debuted commercially in 2000, has been hijacked by some of their peers, who were not specifically named.

?I know I got kids [imitators] out there,? he said laughing. ?We started that country s**t in ?99 before n***s came out with their country grammar albums. We were screaming country before it was cool. They see us and it?s so massive, but they don?t want to see it.?

Although the group released a pair of acclaimed albums, 613: From Ashy to Classy (2000) and From Tha Roota To Tha Toota (2002), the crossover success somehow eluded them.

Smoke said the group intends to change that with their upcoming set, Light Poles and Pine Trees.

Smoke said location has also hindered their success as the Atlanta musical explosion somehow escaped him and partner Shawn Jay.

?If you look at Ray Charles, Ray Charles is from Albany, Georgia ? they ain?t even put it on TV. Why? Because Albany ain?t as metropolitan as Atlanta, New York or L.A.

“He?s not from a very popular place,? he continued. ?So they do it the same way in this rap s**t. ‘Oh, they ain?t from?[Atlanta].’?

Both of their previous albums came out under MCA Records, but Smoke would only state that the situation was a ?terrible deal.?

Under Disturbing Tha Peace/Geffen Records, Smoke said they would even market themselves slightly differently to accentuate their personas.

?Yeah, dark-skinned n***as are in. Them light-skinned n***as tried to come back, but I?m going to promote my black ass,? he said. ?Other than rapping, we got banging personalities.?

More seriously, Smoke explained that the group has high stakes with the expected November 29 release of Light Poles and Pine Trees.

?We trying to reestablish ourselves with our fans. We not trying to disappoint them,? he expounded. ?We gotta come with a great album and the album is great. For the new people, we trying to make a great first impression.?

The group has already released their single, “Friday Night,” and their third album features a high-powered supporting cast that includes Ciara, Bun B, Bobby Valentino, Jazze Pha, Bone Crusher and others.

Bun B. Teams With Dame Dash/Pro-Keds For Sneaker

October 1st, 2005 | By Administrator

Texas rap legend Bun B. has signed a sneaker deal with businessman Dame Dash to create a signature line of Pro-Keds sneakers.

The UGK star?s limited edition Pro-Ked sneaker is scheduled to drop in the near future.

“Dame Dash is giving me a limited edition Pro Ked and that’s just love from Dame,??? Bun B. told AllHipHop.com. ?Anytime Jay-Z or Dame or Biggs needed anything, I was there for them. I feel honored and respected.”

The shoe will compliment the Pro-Keds? State Property shoe line, which is promoted by Beanie Sigel. Pro-Keds was founded in 1949. The brand became popular in the Hip-Hop community in the 1970?s and 80?s.

In related news, Reebok has also agreed to highlight the Port Arthur, Texas MC to represent their throwback tennis shoe that will be featured in the NBA 2006 All-Star game.

?Reebok was like ?we’re doing a tie-in for the city of Houston and the All-Star game, we want to tie-in what we are doing with the city; we think that you would be the artist to use.? I was really flattered. They want to do a Houston shoe, something like with the old [NBA team] Rockets theme.???

With the announcement of his shoe deals, Bun B. continues his enjoy a successful and fruitful breakout year.

He has been featured on several smash singles including Webbie?s ?Give Me That,??? as well as Slim Thug?s ?I Ain?t Heard of That.???

This fall, Bun B will release his first solo album Trill which features an array of big name guests and producers including Mannie Fresh, Jazze Pha, and Lil’ Jon.

Trill is scheduled to drop October 18 on Rap-A-Lot/Asylum records.

Ludacris Lands Show On XM Satellite Radio

September 29th, 2005 | By Administrator

Ludacris, Atlanta?s Hip-Hop giant, announced today that he has signed on to host a weekly music show exclusively for XM Satellite Radio, the nation?s leading satellite radio service with more than 5 million subscribers.

?Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Ludacris? Open Mic??? will feature music hand-selected by the artist, including songs from Ludacris? vast personal music collection, as well as special guests and interviews with other artists.

Ludacris born Chris Bridges, is one of the most recognized names in popular music today and his new show is expected to increase his massive fan base.

?This is the beginning of a great partnership and I really look forward to growing with XM and their millions of subscribers,??? Ludacris said. ?XM Satellite Radio is affording me the opportunity to expose our audience to a wider variety of music and ideas.???

Starting his career as a popular DJ on Atlanta’s Hot 97, Ludacris has enjoyed enormous success since his major-label debut in 2000.

He has sold over 15 million records worldwide.

?The addition of Ludacris to the XM artist family is a testament to XM?s commitment to create the best original music programming available on satellite radio,??? states Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming for XM Satellite Radio. ?Ludacris? passion for and knowledge of music, along with his remarkable talent as an artist, are a natural fit with XM.???

The burgeoning actor, philanthropist and label executive has also extended his achievements far beyond the confines of his own albums.

?Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Ludacris? Open Mic??? weekly music show will debut in January 2006 on XM?s uncut hip-hop channel RAW (XM channel 66).

In related news, Ludacris will be featured on the October 6 episode of ?The Oprah Winfrey Show.???

Gucci Mane Assaulted In Prison, Label Offices Raided

September 21st, 2005 | By Administrator

Incarcerated rapper Radric “Gucci Mane” Davis reportedly suffered multiple injuries in a jailhouse attack the same day his record label, Big Cat Records was raided by an Atlanta, Georgia SWAT team.

Yesterday (Sept. 20), Davis was allegedly attacked in a Fulton County jail by a convicted murderer who reportedly had an issue with the Atlanta based rapper.

Davis sustained multiple injuries in the attack including having his teeth knocked out and several lacerations to the face.

The man that attacked Davis is currently sitting in solitary confinement.

Davis?s lawyer, Dennis Scheib, is trying to transfer the rapper to a safer prison while he awaits the start of his October 4th trial for aggravated assault.

Meanwhile in an effort to keep a watchful eye on the activities and business dealings of his label Big Cat Records, police raided the company?s Atlanta offices Tuesday afternoon (September 20) after receiving reports of a person armed with a gun was inside the building.

Atlanta SWAT team members descended on the Big Cat offices around 2:20 pm after receiving the anonymous tip.

Once on the scene, police and SWAT members began an immediate search of the premises.

After combing the building from top to bottom, police reported that they did not find anyone armed with a gun and there was no type of standoff situation.

This is the latest round of controversy that continues to swirl around Big Cat Records and Davis, their flagship artist.

Last month, Atlanta police executed a search warrant at the recording studio where Davis allegedly assaulted a promoter with a pool cue.

The rapper, known for his hit ?So Icy??? with friend-turned-foe Young Jeezy, was also arrested for allegedly assaulting a promoter while on his way to perform at Miami?s Club Warehouse nearly two months ago.

Davis has also been accused of the May shooting death of Henry Clark, who has been connected to Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy.

Clark?s body was found in the woods behind an elementary school outside of Atlanta with gunshot wounds.

An investigation revealed that Clark had been shot after barging into an apartment with several other men in an attempt to assault Davis at the height of his feud with Young Jeezy, which allegedly stemmed from ownership rights to the song “So Icy.”

Davis grabbed a pistol nearby and maintains that he fired the weapon after the men threatened his life verbally and physically. He maintains his innocence in that case and claims that he only acted in self-defense.

Davis was denied bond while awaiting trial to answer to the Atlanta aggravated assault charge and is currently sitting in isolation for his own protection at the Fulton County Jail.

T.I. Creates Theme Song For Nike ‘Battlegrounds’ Series

September 17th, 2005 | By Administrator

T.I., Hip-Hop’s self-proclaimed “King of the South,” has been tapped to create the theme song for the MTV2 and Nike basketball series ?Nike Battlegrounds: King of the Court.???

The Grand Hustle recording star recently recorded “Battlegrounds: King of the Court,” which will serve as the Nike Battlegrounds theme song. T.I. is also set to perform the theme song during the season finale as the worlds of music and basketball collide.

“Nike Battlegrounds: King of the Court” which airs on MTV2 is a weekly, popular basketball series that searches for the best hometown basketball players in Chicago and New York, creating two teams that will have an eventual face-off in the series finale in the ultimate showdown.

With hosting duties provided by NBA superstar LeBron James, ?Battlegrounds??? documents the lifestyle and stories behind some of the country’s most competitive and passionate basketball players and their raw, competitive desire to be the king of the court.

It has been a fruitful year for T.I. as he continues to make his mark in the Hip-Hop world.

His label imprint, Grand Hustle Entertainment, recently released the sizzling soundtrack to ?Hustle and Flow,??? the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award-winning Hip-Hop drama.

Also, in recent weeks, he personally raised funds for Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts when the platinum artist took to the airwaves on Atlanta’s V-103 FM for more than seven hours and raised over $263,000, with proceeds going to Mississippi-based producer/rapper David Banner’s Heal the Hood Foundation.

T.I.?s song “Battlegrounds: King of the Court,” can be heard on the series premiere of Nike Battlegrounds which debuts on MTV2 Sunday, September 18th at 8pm ET.

In addition, MTV2.com and MTV Overdrive will have all the Nike Battlegrounds episodes on demand immediately following their premiere on MTV2.

David Banner ‘Heals The Hood’ With Benefit Concerts

September 16th, 2005 | By Administrator

In an effort to support the Katrina Relief efforts, Mississippi native David Banner continues to spear-head support from his industry friends and has organized them for a series of star studded Hip-Hop benefit concerts in support of the Mississippi survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Banner?s “Heal The Hood??? Hurricane Relief Concert will be held in Atlanta at Philips Arena tomorrow (September 17) and is supported by many of David Banner’s music industry friends and radio’s powerhouse companies.

“The tragedy of Katrina has affected all of us, considerably the worst natural disaster in US history. I feel that we all must unite to help our fellow citizens in their time of need,??? Banner said. ?My vision for this concert is designed to meet the immediate needs of those who are underprivileged and have lost everything in areas that are looked over.”

The relief concert aims to generate proceeds to benefit Hurricane Katrina survivors in Mississippi.

Atlanta’s own Mayor Shirley Franklin stated, “Given the current crisis in the Gulf Coast, I am so pleased that so many of our local and regional urban radio stations have united with David Banner and a number of the nations acclaimed, Atlanta based celebrities to produce a benefit concert that will assist thousands of evacuees in Atlanta and many of the smaller cities that were devastated by Katrina.”

Hosted by Lil’ Jon, David Banner will be performing along with his celebrity friends including Nelly, T.I., 8Ball and MJG, Ali & Big Gipp, Boyz N Da Hood, Chopper and 112 with many more artists to be added.

Banner has also teamed up with Radio One, Clear Channel, Cumulus Media, Cox Radio and Infinity Broadcasting to volunteer efforts to solidify the concert’s success.

?Radio One is honored that David asked us to be a part of the ‘Heal the Hood,???? states Marsha Meadows, Vice President of Marketing for Radio One. ?David Banner is a dear friend to Radio One, we believe in him and his efforts. When Hurricane Katrina struck, we knew that he would be one of the first Hip-Hop artists to step up to help Hurricane Katrina victims because he is from Mississippi.???

Revenue generated and items collected from the “Heal the Hood” Hurricane Relief Concert will be donated to the hardest-hit states that need a great deal of aid, including communities in southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and New Orleans.

In related news, Banner will also be taking part in another Hurricane Katrina relief concert being held in New York?s Time Square on September 19.

Many of Hip-Hop?s elite has been confirmed to perform at the benefit concert scheduled for September 19 at B.B. King?s Blues Club including Memphis Bleek, Q-Tip, The Beatnuts, Styles P, The Last Poets and the X-Ecutioners.

For more information on concert show times or to make donations through the Heal the Hood Foundation, log on to www.healthehood.com for details.

David Banner?s highly anticipated album Certified hits stores on September 20.

Outkast’s Big Boi Honored For Cultural Impact

September 13th, 2005 | By Administrator

The King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation (KTCF) established in 1981 to research, collect, and present the African-American historical and cultural experience to the public, recently announced that Antwan (Big Boi) Patton will receive the Foundation’s 2005 Fine Arts Award.

The KTCF Awards is an annual banquet that recognizes people through out the community who have been consistent and stellar in their work to improve their surroundings in one of several areas: public service, fine arts, education, and historic preservation.

Previous award recipients have been: Leah Sears-Ward, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court; Jonathan Green, nationally known artist; Dr. Ysaye Barnwell of Sweet Honey and the Rock; Thurbert Baker, Georgia Attorney General; and Max Cleland, former Senator from Georgia.

“Patton has demonstrated with brilliant creativity and keen conscience his ability to communicate with a broad audience,” said KTCF Board Chairman Larry Chisolm in a statement. “His professionalism and devotion to his craft has set a higher standard for artisans and budding musicians not only in Georgia, but throughout the world.”

Big Boi will be be presented the 2005 Fine Arts Award by the Dean of the School of Media and Performing Arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Danny Filson.

The awards banquet is scheduled to be held on October 8th, 2005 at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah Georgia.

The program and presentations will begin on the evening of October 8th at 7:30 p.m., with a reception planned at 6:30 p.m. Individual tickets for the banquet are available for $75.00.

For more information contact the Beach Institute at 912-234-8000.

C-Murder Alive, Transferred To Angola Prison

September 9th, 2005 | By Administrator

Corey ?C-Murder/C-Miller??? Miller is alive and well AllHipHop.com has learned.

The rapper was incarcerated in a prison in Gretna, Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina struck on August 29. The hurricane produced the worst natural disaster in United States history.

?C is alive, he was shipped off to Angola,??? a source close to Miller told AllHipHop.com. ?He personally said he?s alive and doing OK.???

The Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is known as one of the roughest prisons in the country, housing the state?s most notorious and violent criminals.

In earlier published reports, Miller’s older brother, mogul Percy “Master P.” Miller stated that he didn?t know the whereabouts of his brother and his expressed concern for his safety.

Yesterday, officials started transferring almost 1,000 inmates out of flooded prisons. Some prisons were flooded so bad, inmates were forced to flee for their lives.

US Marshals took a batch of inmates to a federal prison in Florida and another load is slated to make the trip today (September 9).

In related news, Senators from Arkansas have introduced legislation that would require criminal background checks for all that have fled to the state after being displaced by the hurricane.

It is estimated that at least 1 million people have been displaced from Hurricane Katrina and have been forced to flee to other parts of the United States to take up refuge.

Producer/Executive Jermaine Dupri Talks Chart Success

September 1st, 2005 | By Administrator

Jermaine “JD” Dupri has more than enough reasons to crack a smile these days.

Currently, Dupri has four songs he has either produced and/or co-wrote in the Top Ten on Billboard’s Hot 100 and has the top three spots on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Dupri produced and co-wrote Mariah Carey’s smash single “We Belong Together,” which has spent the last 21 weeks on the Hot 100 Singles chart and is currently the song #1 in the country.

Carey is also sitting at #4 with her latest single ?Shake It Off.” Both of Carey’s singles are taken from her double platinum album The Emancipation Of Mimi.

Bow Wow?s Wanted album has brought forth the Dupri-produced songs ?Let Me Hold You??? featuring Omarion and ?Like You??? with Ciara occupy the #5 and #9 spots.

?I?m happy and I can’t really believe it,??? Dupri told AllHipHop.com. ?I always joked with the homies, saying if I ever got the 1 through 5 [spots on the chart] I would quit. As a producer and song writer that would be the ultimate high. For me to be the first to have 1 through 3 at the same time is crazy.???

Dupri is President of Urban Music at Virgin Records and has made noise with key signings such as SunN.Y., TWaters and Baltimore’s own Bossman.

Dupri’s latest release Jermaine Dupri Presents…Young Fly & Flashy: Vol I is out now.

Lil’ Jon Takes Home Top Honors At BMI Awards

August 27th, 2005 | By Administrator

Lil? Jon and R. Kelly took home top honors at the 2005 BMI Urban Awards, which took place last night (August 26) at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami, Florida.

Lil? Jon and R. Kelly were named Songwriters of the Year with four ?most performed song??? awards. The song ?Yeah??? featuring Usher was named Song of the Year.

The Atlanta bred rapper/producer also won the first Urban Ringtone Award for Petey Pablo?s hit song ?Freek-A-Leek.???

Kanye West won the award for Producer of the Year.

Charlie Wilson and The Gap Band were named BMI Icons for their “enduring influence on generations of music makers.”

EMI Music Publishing snagged the BMI Urban Publisher of the Year. Big Jon Platt, Executive Vice President, Urban Music, U.S. for EMI, accepted on behalf of the publisher.

For a complete list of 2005 BMI Urban Awards winners, please visit bmi.com/urban.