HipHopWired Reports
DJ Drama will be among the participants in CNN's upcoming panel discussion, “Black Men In The Age Of President Obama.” The one-hour special – presented by CNN and Essence Magazine – premieres this tonight, Saturday, October 31st, at 10:00 PM ET, with additional airings slated throughout the weekend (check local listings).
“Black Men In The Age Of President Obama” is hosted by CNN's Don Lemon, with panelists to include Bishop Eddie Long, Steve Perry and Farrah Gray – a diverse roundtable from the worlds of faith, business, and academia.
ATL-based DJ Drama was invited to represent the perspective of the Hip-Hop community, as well as his own unique biracial point of view. The panel discussion – taped earlier this month at Morehouse College's King Chapel – marks next week's one-year anniversary of President Obama's historic election.
Meanwhile, DJ Drama continues work on his hugely anticipated new album, Gangsta Grillz: The Album Vol. 3. Drama is also in the lab putting together mixtapes with Wyclef Jean and Lil Wayne.
Read more…
Rap-Up Reports
Solange has parted ways with Interscope Geffen A&M after releasing one album on the label last year.
The 23-year-old singer announced the news on Twitter, revealing that she has chosen to go an independent route with her next project. “Although it’s been a wonderful journey & experience at Interscope Records, after truly recognizing what’s important to ME as an artist, I decided it was time for me to continue my path on a more independent platform,” she told her fans.
She thanked the Interscope executive team for their support, while looking toward the future. “I thank Ron [Fair] and Jimmy [Iovine] for believing in me as an artist and supporting my journey…and have nothing but respect for the Interscope family,” she tweeted. “I’m excited about continuing to dive in, experiment and creating music and art with no boundaries, fears or expectations. Gonna be fun folks.”
Solange’s Interscope release, SoL-AngeL and The Hadley St. Dreams, peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 when it was released in August 2008. The Motown-influenced effort spawned the singles “I Decided,” “Sandcastle Disco,” and “T.O.N.Y.”
She has been experimenting with a moody, electronic sound for her third as-yet-untitled album.
Read more…
For all the Graffiti Fiends, vandals, criminals and lunatics, the official IlladelStylez retail shop is on the way!! I'm not gonna bullshit and start talking about what we're gonna have, but you already know we stock the best shit to bomb with.....so.....keep your ears open for when the store is gonna be officially open and where it's gonna be located. Until then you can cop all your Graff supplies at ILLADELSTYLEZ.NET.
Read more…
ESPN Reports
LOS ANGELES -- Manny Pacquiao believes the biggest potential fight in boxing will never happen because Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants no part of him.
Pacquiao is training in Hollywood for his meeting with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, but the pound-for-pound champion spared a moment Thursday to evaluate his chances of fighting Mayweather, the unbeaten pay-per-view king. Although the matchup almost certainly would be a financial bonanza for both fighters, Pacquiao thinks fans shouldn't hold their breath.
"I don't think it's going to happen," Pacquiao said. "I'm sure he doesn't want to fight."
Mayweather has been circumspect about his plans for his next bout, saying only that he has never ducked anybody and would consider any opponent. In his comeback bout from a 21-month layoff, Mayweather demolished Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 in a fight that generated more than 1 million pay-per-view buys.
Mayweather's advisers claim they haven't ruled out a bout with Pacquiao, likely among the world's few fighters who could match Money's speed. But the Filipino champion has surprisingly strong opinions about why it won't happen.
"Boxing for him is like a business," Pacquiao said. "He doesn't care about the people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring, as long as the fight is finished and he gets [plenty of] money. ... I want people to be happy. You have a big responsibility as a boxer."
If Mayweather and Pacquiao don't make a deal, Sugar Shane Mosley has been outspoken in his desire to fight Mayweather, even calling him out in the ring moments after his victory over Marquez. Mosley is slated to meet welterweight champion Andre Berto in Las Vegas in January.
After arriving in California last Saturday, Pacquiao has been ramping up his training regimen this week while also battling jet lag that forced him to sleep for about 20 hours on Wednesday, wiping out a day of training. Because of tax issues, Pacquiao's camp began in Manila and moved to Hollywood later than trainer Freddie Roach usually prefers.
"I'm not worried about it, because he's always known how to block everything out," Roach said. "If anybody can do it, he can."
Pacquiao looked fairly sharp while sparring 11 rounds Thursday at Roach's Wild Card Gym in front of a small group of spectators including Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest and his father, Ron Sr., both avid boxing fans and Pacquiao admirers.
Pacquiao will spar 12 rounds on Saturday before gradually scaling back in preparation for his trip to Las Vegas to meet Cotto, the once-beaten welterweight champion whose combination of size and strength will be unlike anything the former flyweight champion has faced. Cotto is in camp in Tampa. Fla., before traveling to the West Coast next week.
"I consider this one of the hardest fights in my boxing career," Pacquiao said.
Read more…
Video After The JumpA 49-year-old Eau Claire,Wisconsin woman dialed 911 last Saturday to report a drunk driver. When the dispatcher asked if she was following the driver, she told him she was the driver. It's amazing some of the ridiculous things people do when intoxicated, lol.Read more…
The Harvard Crimson Reports
Harvard students will be able to watch the “The Wire” for class credit next year.
At a panel last night, stars of the HBO hit series joined Harvard professors in discussing the applications of the show—which depicts the struggles of urban life in Baltimore—in understanding and combating real urban social issues.
“‘The Wire’ has done more to enhance our understanding of the systemic urban inequality that constrains the lives of the poor than any published study” Sociology Professor William J. Wilson said.
African American studies chair Professor Evelyn B. Higginbotham said that there would be a new course in which Wilson will use “The Wire” as a case study for poverty in America.
“I’m going to do whatever I need to do to get into that class. I’m excited,” said Martin A. Kessler ’13.
Attendee Sarah V. Chace ’80, who is also a fan of the show, said she already uses “The Wire” as a case study in a class on community leadership she teaches at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven. She said she came to the event to hear more about how other academics and the actors view the role of “The Wire” in depicting urban life.
The show’s enthusiastic fan base contributed to the excitement surrounding the sold-out event, which was sponsored by the African American Studies Department and two local charitable organizations, the Boston Foundation and the Ella J. Baker House.
“It’s probably the best form of media I’ve ever seen, TV or film,” said Brian D. Goldstein ’04, who now studies at the Graduate School of Design.
Panelists encouraged audience members to internalize these harsh realities of the real world problems that the show depicts and actively work to solve them.
“Everything we’re doing to make the world a better place is really for our kids,” said actor Michael K. Williams, who played stick-up artist Omar Little on the show. “Our kids are dying in huge numbers. It’s the real wire.”
Sonja Sohn, who portrayed detective Kima Greggs, described the work of Rewired for Change, the non-profit she started with other cast members to help at-risk youth in the areas of Baltimore depicted in “The Wire.”
She encouraged audience members to make similar changes in the communities they learn about through “The Wire” and the new Harvard course.
“Become a part of these communities. These circumstances will not change if you do nothing,” Sohn said. “Get it moving. Get it popping. Get up off your butt and do something.”
Read more…
Video After The JumpRakim speaks with Nick Huff of Hard Knock TV about the creative differences that led to his departure from Dr Dre's Aftermath record label. Ra is upbeat in the interview, stating that he and Dre are still cool and he even recorded some vocals for the long awaited "Detox" project. As of now though, he's focused on his own label and album "The Seventh Seal"
Read more…
Shots Fired Man Down!! Beanie Sigel lights fire to Jay-Z's ass in on this track. Seems like everybody taking shots at Jigga these days but it's even worse when it comes from a former artist that knows him in and out.Download HereRead more…
AllHipHop Reports
A host of celebrities gathered in Manhattan today (October 30) to rally support for Love ‘N Haiti, a recycling project in Port-au-Prince that turns everyday trash into energy.
Rapper Tony Yayo, Melky Jean (Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and Wyclef Jean’s sister), actor Jamie Hector (“The Wire”), actress Daphnee Duplaix (“One Life to Live”) and Mona Scott-Young (Monami Entertainment) encouraged New Yorkers to vote online for the eco-friendly program to win an international grant sponsored by the BBC World News.
“Love ‘N Haiti has benefits that reach far beyond the shores of my native country,” Melky Jean told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “It’s an innovative way to help clean up our planet while addressing the issues of poverty, unemployment and crime. This is a movement that everyone – Haitian or not – needs to get behind.”
The Love ‘N Haiti initiative aims to gather support to win a global competition for a grant to continue the recycling project in Port-Au-Prince, which aid in decreasing deforestation, creating jobs and reducing incidence of floods.
Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons, Garcelle Beauvais, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Wyclef Jean are also among the supporters of the project, one of 12 finalists in the competition.
“I'm proud to be a part of this campaign, not only because it’s for my people, but because I care about our environment,” added Wyclef. “All it takes is one vote to make a difference. We need everyone to support Love ‘N Haiti.
Read more…
Audio After The JumpAllHipHop Reports
Beanie Sigel called into Philadelphia radio station 100.3 The Beat this morning (October 30), where he discussed a controversial new track in which he disses Jay-Z.
Sigel expresses his frustration with Jay-Z on the track, because of lines on Jay’s Blueprint 3, as well as the handling of Sigel’s career after a prison stint in 2004, as Roc-A-Fella Records was breaking up.
This morning, Philadelphia rapper called into Charlamagne Tha God’s Morning Show and explained his motivation for releasing the record in detail.
Sigel claimed that several lines on Jay-Z’s song “Already” were the catalyst for the shocking diss record in addition to this treatment at Power 99’s Powerhouse concert last weekend, which Jay-Z headlined.
Additionally, the “Broad Street Bully” revealed that he felt slighted for not being included on Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 album.
Sigel also reiterated his claims that Jigga abandoned Roc-A-Fella rap group State Property, which featured group members Freeway, Peedi Peedi, Oschino, Omillio Sparks, and the Young Gunz (Young Chris and Neef ).“Jay in another place and I understand that. He did what he did as far as signing people to Roc-A-Fella Records, you did that,” Sigel told Charlamagne Tha God. “But as far as the push that people coulda got that really could have did things, you didn’t do that. If you look at 50 Cent - no disrespect to the G-Unit, cause I love the way 50 Cent did with his dogs - but if you look at it, them dudes got more money and more bread than anybody in State Property. Because 50 made sure of that. 50 took his people on tour and paid them, not tell them it was a good look for them to be on tour.”
Sigel claimed that life on Roc-A-Fella Records was not glamour and glitz, despite State Property’s output for Roc-A-Fella.
Collectively, or individually the Philadelphia group released hit records like “Feel It In the Air” (Beanie Sigel), “Roc the Mic” (Freeway) and “Can‘t Stop, Won‘t Stop” (Young Gunz) in addition to starring in two State Property movies and a State Property clothing line, which was sold in major department stores.
“The clothing line and all that came about cause Dame did that. Dame gave me the clothing line. I got the Pro-Keds thing that came from a situation that I did, but then Dame back doored the sneak and gets with the licensee guy who licenses Rocawear and buys the license out the Pro-Keds, without me knowing it,” Sigel said. “So now I am not getting 50 % profit that I would be getting off every Pro-Ked sneaker sold with the SP logo on it like the original deal was... As a team player, why just wear the Pro-Keds when I can cross-market it and have my own sneaker? Then Dame stopped making Pro-Keds with the SP symbol on it.”
Beanie Sigel revealed that he has not had a conversation with Jay-Z in over two years and that Dame Dash’s reckless spending was the reason for Roc-A-Fella’s demise.
Short VersionExtended VersionRead more…
MTV UK Reports
Michael Jackson’s posthumous film This Is It has made a staggering $20.1 million world-wide on its first day of release.
The documentary, which follows MJ throughout the rehearsals of his ill-fated comeback tour, has also made around £1.2 million in the UK alone since its premiere on Tuesday night.
Steve Elzer from Sony Pictures has stated that the movie is a: "reaffirmation of the global appeal of Michael Jackson".
He also revealed the studio will submit the movie to the Academy Awards so it can be considered for the best picture category.
Director Kenny Ortega supported Elzer’s statement claiming Jacko’s last project ‘deserves’ to win an Oscar.
Meanwhile, the King of Pop’s father Joe Jackson has stated the legend is now worth more in death than when he was alive.
The Billie Jean singer, who died at the age of 50 in June, has entered the top five of Forbes magazine’s Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list.
Mr. Jackson told US show Extra: "He's worth more dead than when he was alive, but I'd rather have him alive,"
MJ’s father added: "I get emotional when I'm off to myself and I start thinking about things that we went through.”
It seems even in death, there is still controversy surrounding the singer as an alleged picture of Michael Jackson’s body during his autopsy is rumoured to have been ‘offered’ to the press.
Read more…
Video After The JumpAllHipHop Reports
Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow has released his first official statement of support for his estranged son Shyne (Jamal Barrow) since the rapper’s deportation return on Tuesday (October 27).
Shyne, who is the prime minister’s oldest child, had previously publicly stated that his son’s presence was “undesired” in Belize.
The rapper was also critical of his father in several songs and interviews, citing that the politician had done nothing to help him or his mother during their tenure in the United States.
After receiving Shyne earlier this week, Prime Minister Barrow expressed his hope that his son will recover from the physical and emotional scarring of a decade in prison.
“When I saw him yesterday I really was stunned,” Barrow explained to Belize’s 7 News. “You don’t go to jail for that period of time without it obviously exacting a huge toll on you but I really was shocked to see what it had physically done to him and clearly it will take some time for him to be able to recover from that experience. Not having gone through it myself, I don’t know whether anyone is ever able to recover.
“But it was wonderful to see that he is free at last and good to have him in Belize. Although he appeared physically frail, it was obvious that he is mentally as strong as ever and certainly kept talking to me about what his presence here at home could mean for this country, what opportunities he could cause us to be able to, [and] he could create for us.”
At press time, Shyne will be spending with weekend with his Belize family and awaiting the arrival of his legal advisor Professor Charles Ogletree.
Read more…
AllHipHop Reports
Young Jeezy has responded to former Boyz N Da Hood group member Jody Breeze, who recently released a diss track titled "Uptown" calling the CTE boss out.
Jody Breeze is a member of the gold-selling group Boyz N Da Hood, which hit big with their single "Dem Boyz."
The group originally featured Young Jeezy, Jody Breeze, Big Gee and Duke, but Jeezy left the group in 2005 to go solo and was later replaced by Atlanta rapper Gorilla Zoe.
Last month, Jody Breeze released a song and video for "Uptown," which takes a number of shots at Young Jeezy.
On the track, Jody Breeze calls Young Jeezy a fraud and questions the rapper’s alleged street ties.
"It could never be no situation, because little homie already know what it is with me," Young Jeezy stated today (October 29). "At the end of the day, I just take it for what it is. Ni***s f**ked up, ni***s talking reckless. If the ni**a wanna get signed and need some money, we’ll do that. But Jody knows what it is with me, I aint to be played with like that. I aint never disrespected the lil homie, I aint never brought his name out of my mouth of none of that bulls**t."
Simmering tension between the two almost flared last May in Atlanta, when a group of men affiliated with Young Jeezy approached Jody Breeze during a record release party for R&B singer Ciara.
The confrontation appears to have been the reason for Jody Breeze releasing "Uptown," which makes a number of disparaging comments about Young Jeezy.
"I see Jeezy across the club, I throw my hands up, I see this n***a looking at me," Jody Breeze stated in an interview. "He tried to act like he aint lookin at a n***a, like you aint just send these n***as over here. That’s some real hoe s**t."
Last week footage of CTE affiliate 2Eleven hit the Internet featuring the rapper dissing Jody Breeze in response to the "Uptown"
Today (October 29), Young Jeezy confirmed the incident at Ciara’s album release party took place, but denied that it would have turned into a confrontation.
"I’m a real n***a," Young Jeezy said of the confrontation in Atlanta. "I just tried to holla at the n***a. I sent the homies to tell the n***a to come over here and f**k with me drink a little bit, but I guess he took it the wrong way."
Young Jeezy is currently preparing to release his new album Thug Motivation 103, while Jody Breeze is prepping a new mixtape with DJ Scream.
Jody Breeze "Uptown Freestyle" (Young Jeezy Diss)USDA "CTE 4 Life" (Jody Breeze Diss)Read more…
TheWrapUp.com Reports
“This will definitely echo around the halls of Viacom in New York,” said Don Harris, executive VP of distribution for Paramount on Sunday, shortly after it was announced that “Paranormal Activity” would lead the weekend box office with $22 million.
Harris’ jubilation was understandable.
Set to further expand its run this weekend from 1,945 locations to around 2,400, and having grossed $65.1 million through Wednesday on a sub-$15,000 production budget, “Paranormal” has already exceeded the film it is most often compared to, “The Blair Witch Project,” as the most profitable movie of all time.
“Blair Witch’s” $248.6 million worldwide haul a decade ago – juxtaposed against its $60,000 production costs – represented an almost unthinkable 414,233 percent return on investment.
Doing the same basic ROI math on “Paranormal” (65.1 million minus 15,000 divided by 15,000 times 100) yields an equally unfathomable result of 433,900 percent.
Harris was perhaps as relieved as he was giddy Sunday that the distribution strategy for the film fulfilled the hype surrounding Paramount’s viral marketing campaign.
The little film picked up steam in late September when a social-media initiative helped it make an impressive $77,900 out of a dozen midnight shows.
Almost from the beginning, Harris said he and his team resisted industry pressure to roll the movie out wide faster.
Since Paramount had spent less than $10 million to create awareness for “Paranormal,” Harris believed that a slow, methodical roll-out would be better.
“Everybody else thought we should be going faster than we were,” he told TheWrap. “But I thought we were doing a pretty good job of seeding the ground as we went. I don’t know that we would have done a lot more last weekend if we would have added a bunch of runs then.”
Indeed, while increasing venues from 12 to 33 to 160 to 760 to last weekend’s 1,945, “Paranormal’s” platform expansion was even more gradual than that of “Blair Witch,” which went from 27 to more than 2,000 in a span of four weeks in the middle of the 1999 summer blockbuster season.
“Once we went to over 2,100 theaters, the existing locations started to take a big hit,” noted a distribution official who worked under the late Steve Rothenberg, the Artisan Entertainment distribution president who masterminded “Blair Witch’s” rollout strategy.
That’s true: “Blair Witch” didn’t start seeing declining box-office returns until its fourth week, when it rolled out to 2,142 North American theaters, dropping 16.6 percent from the previous end-of-July weekend, when it was in 1,101 locales.
“Once we rolled out to that many theaters, the craziness surrounding the movie -- people seeing it as more of an event than just a film -- began to die down,” the former Artisan official added.
For its part, “Paranormal” is finally expected to see its own week-to-week decline, with tracking projections for the coming weekend set at around $15 million.
Still, regardless of whether its spectacular run begins to ebb this weekend, given the recent cash situation at Paramount – the studio notably pushed back the premiere of its Martin Scorsese-directed “Shutter Island” from October to February because of a lack of promotional wherewithal in fiscal 2009 – “Paranormal” has already proven to be a game-changer.
“For Viacom, this movie is probably more important than one that does $300 million or $400 million,” Harris added.
“That’s not even mentioning all the free cash flow it’s going to generate.”
Read more…
Video After The Jump
West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg or "The Master Of Munchies" as Alexa Chung refers to him. Shows off his sense of humor and culinary skills in this interview. The Doggfather also talks about his new executive position at Priority Records and new cd "Malice In Wonderland" which drops December 8th.
NY Post Reports
After years of lavish spending that took him to the brink of bankruptcy, Marc Ecko has been forced to give up control of his own trademark.
Confirming a Sept. 22 report in The Post, the hip-hop clothing kingpin yesterday signed over a 51 percent interest in the Marc Ecko brand to Iconix, a New York company that owns a slew of fashion brands including Joe Boxer, Candie's, Rocawear and London Fog.
Scrambling to avoid yesterday's defeat and keep creditors at bay, Ecko this year had laid off workers and auctioned off his watch trademarks and Avirex brand.
Sources said Ecko is still struggling to lease out pieces of his luxurious 280,000- square-foot headquarters in Midtown, which houses everything from a recording studio to a basketball court.
Still, in an exclusive interview with The Post, the debt-ridden designer took it all in stride.
"I've had a crazy, wild ride. I've done a lot of things that have been naive," Ecko told The Post. "I'll take my lumps for a lot of things that, in retrospect, were a little indulgent. Life happens. I don't regret any of it."
Ecko likewise noted that, with creditors breathing down his neck for the past year, losing the title to his brand name yesterday wasn't such a big change.
"I've lived through a leveraged position," Ecko said. "I don't know whether, once you grow up your business like that, you have full control anymore anyway."
Under the terms of his deal with Iconix, Ecko is surrendering majority control of his trademark in exchange for $63.5 million in cash plus $90 million in financing for a newly formed joint venture.
Iconix, which will keep Ecko as chief creative officer for the joint venture, projects between $42 million and $44 million in yearly royalties.
While critics say the urban styles that fueled Ecko's growth have fallen out of fashion, Ecko said his designs are still evolving.
"Reports of my demise have been reported often and early," he said.
"Kids are not wearing big, baggy things with logos on them -- it just looks different now," added Iconix CEO Neil Cole, noting that Rocawear's sales are up recently. "I promise you these kids are not naked out there and they're not wearing my father's clothes."
Still, Marc Ecko's sales at Macy's, the brand's most important wholesale account, dropped by $18 million last year -- more than 10 percent. No improvement at Macy's is expected this year, Marc Ecko's longtime business partner, Seth Gerszberg, admitted.
On the bright side, comparable sales at Marc Ecko's overgrown retail chain are now up 7 percent from last year's steep declines that had fueled big losses. Helped by even deeper cost cuts this year, the brand expects to swing back to profitability.
Elsewhere, Gerszberg and Ecko bristled at reports that they've been squabbling through their recent business woes.
Asked if they planned to keep the basketball court at their offices despite the cost cuts, Gerzberg said he was trying.
"What do you care?" Ecko chimed in. "You gonna come down and shoot? You got game?"
Read more…
}