Lil Wayne's latest album I Am Not a Human Being II hit store shelves this week and early sales projections are in.
Hits Daily Double is projecting the CD to sell between 190-210K in it's opening week. Probably not the kind of week YMCMB was hoping for considering the features list that includes Drake, Future, 2 Chainz, Trina, Nicki Minaj, Big Sean and Cory Gunz.
Final numbers will be in next week. We'll update you when those come in.
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While he works on his Def Jam debut album Trinidad James still has music to promote from the mixtape that put him on the map, Don't Be S.A.F.E. Check out Trinidad's official video for "Females Welcomed."
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MTV's RapFix Live has a nice guest list today. Waka Flocka Flame, Schoolboy Q and Big K.R.I.T. are all chopping it up with Sway. Hopefully we'll get a couple of freestyles at the end of the show.
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Kanye West will be releasing a new single soon and it could be controversial to some. Reports are coming in that the title of it is "I Am A God." A source withing West's camp confirmed the news to HuffPost Entertainment.
The title supposedly references Psalm 82.
I said, “You are gods,And all of you are children of the Most High.
But you shall die like men,
And fall like one of the princes.”
G.O.O.D. Music artist Malik Yusef also confirmed the title on Twitter while responding to Team Kanye Chicago.
HuffPost Entertainment's source made it clear that West was not calling himself God.
"We would never be so presumptuous or sacrilegious to call ourselves the supreme being," the source said.
What's your opinion of the song's reported title?
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Forbes annual list of Hip Hop's Wealthiest Artists has just been released. The top five names are very accustomed to being in Forbes. They all are CEO's of various companies. Some have endorsement deals and other revenue streams that have helped them achieve their lofty status.
Methodology
In order to complete our Forbes Five list, we followed the same procedures we use to calculate our list of the world’s billionaires: looking at past earnings, valuing current holdings, leafing through financial documents and talking to analysts, attorneys, managers, other industry players and even some of the moguls themselves to find the nitty-gritty details.
Lets take a look at the top 5 and how they have achieved their success.
5. 50 Cent - $125 million
Rounding out the list is Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson at $125 million. He’s another master of brand building: The bulk of his fortune came from heavy sales of his music, merchandise, video games and books in the wake of his smash debut Get Rich or Die Tryin’—and particularly from his payout for the sale of his stake in VitaminWater parent Glacéau to Coca-Cola in 2007.
Now he’s trying to replicate that feat with companies like SMS Audio, his answer to Dr. Dre’s Beats, and SK Energy, which has its sights set on category leader 5-Hour Energy. When informed that his net worth would be estimated at a little over $100 million this year, 50 Cent said simply, “That’s cool.” After being asked to elaborate, though, he changed his tune slightly.
“Oh, you want me to tell you an exact number?” he said with a grin. “I’ve got way more.”
If his new ventures continue to grow, 50 Cent’s number on this list should begin to reflect that belief as soon as next year.
4. Birdman - $150 million
The New Orleans native cofounded Cash Money Records two decades ago with his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams (Birdman’s net worth would be well over $200 million if his ownership in the label wasn’t shared).
Cash Money continues to flourish, with a roster that includes Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne. Birdman is still looking for ways to diversify, launching the YMCMB clothing line and GT Vodka.
3. Dr. Dre $350 million
The legendary superproducer owes his fortune mostly to the success of his Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, which he cofounded with record executive Jimmy Iovine in 2008.
After selling 51% of the company to handset maker HTC for $300 million in August 2011, Dre and his partners bought back half of the half they sold—and their investment continues to soar in value with a whopping 65% market share of the premium headphone market.
2. Jay-Z - $475 million
Still rolling in cash from megadeals like his $204 million Rocawear sale in 2007 and his $150 million pact with Live Nation the following year, Jay-Z’s net worth has continued to grow in tandem with his Roc Nation label and management outfit (according to one insider, the rapper owns the company outright and merely shares profits with Live Nation).
He also boasts smaller stakes in Carol’s Daughter, the Brooklyn Nets—and, more significantly, the Barclays Center itself—as well as new partnerships with the likes of Duracell and Bacardi’s D’ussé Cognac.
1. Diddy - $580 million
The artist formerly known as Puff Daddy ranks No. 1 on this year’s Forbes Five list of hip-hop’s wealthiest artists with an estimated net worth of $580 million. The bulk of the Bad Boy Records founder’s wealth comes from non-musical ventures, namely his deal with Diageo’s Ciroc.
The Ciroc agreement entitles Diddy to eight-figure annual payouts and a nine-figure windfall of the brand is ever sold—and Ciroc’s value has never been higher.
Source: Forbes
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Robin Thicke has just released a very entertaining music video for his song "Blurred Lines" featuring Pharrell Williams and T.I. The clip features plenty of nice looking women in various stages on undress.
The single is available now on iTunes
Watch the video HERE.
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Papoose stopped by Hot 97 to talk about his just released debut album, The Nacirema Dream. Topics also included Remy Ma's 2014 release from prison, haters, critics and his opinion on fellow Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z.
"I respect his hustle. His business mind is incredible, but I'm not crazy about him as an artist," Pap said, speaking on Jay-z. "I'm into lyricists, extreme lyricism. He's alright."
What do you think of Pap's comments? Do you consider Hov to be a great lyricist?
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Gucci Mane has been arrested for assaulting a soldier recently at Harlem Nights nightclub in Atlanta.
As we previously reported, a 32-year old Army veteran identified as James Leonard Lettley, told police that he approached a security guard at the club to ask if he could get a picture with the rapper. Lettley claims that Gucci then hit him in the head with a champagne bottle causing a wound that required 10 stitches to close.
An arrest warrant was issued for Gucci, real name Radric Davis. He was arrested this morning and taken to the Fulton County Jail according to WSBTV.
Gucci is charged with aggravated assault. He is scheduled to appear in court this morning.
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Trav is back with a new music video off of his stellar mixtape, P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens). This latest clip if for the song "F*cking Tonight." Directed by Chaaz Williams.
Download P.U.S.H. from Datpiff.
After the successful release of the "Check out Melodee" mixtape (May 2012), "My Tape Deck" is MC Melodee & Cookin Soul's first official album together. This album, which will be released April 1st on Jakarta Records, is a 90's inspired hiphop album. Hitting BoomBap drums are complimented by warm basslines & tastefully picked and skillfully chopped samples, while Melodee proves that she is not just a dope female MC, no, she’s a dope MC. PERIOD.
Featuring on the album are 90's hiphop legends Bootie Brown / Pharcyde, Amsterdams talented up and coming star Feliciana, and the smoothest voice in the rapgame Fiend (International Jones of Jet Life Recordings).
"My Tape Deck" Release Date: 1st of April on Jakarta Records
PRE-ORDER IT NOW HERE and already download the 1st single “Aint My Style”
PRE-ORDER ITUNES HERE
PRE-ORDER VINYL HERE
Mobb Deep super producer/rapper Havoc will be releasing his third solo album titled 13 on May 7th. He just unveiled the artwork for the project. Check that out up top.
**UPDATE** April 3rd
Havoc has released the official tracklist for the album. He's secured features from Styles P, Raekwon, Lloyd Banks, Twista, Royce Da 5'9 and more.
Tracklist:
1. Gone
2. Favorite Rap Stars feat. Styles P & Raekwon
3. Life We Chose feat. Lloyd Banks
4. Colder Days feat. Masspike Miles
5. Get Busy
6. Eyes Open feat. Twista
7. Tell Me To My Face feat. Royce Da 59
8. This World feat. Masspike Miles
9. Already Tomorrow
10. Hear Dat
11. Gettin Mines
12. Long Road (Outro)
13. Can’t Sleep
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50 Cent is out in Germany promoting his movie All Things Fall Apart, which will hit theaters there on March 28th. He stopped by TV Total to discuss the project, how he lost 55 pounds to accurately play the role of a cancer patient and why the film was so important to him.
Fif also discusses Street King Immortal, SMS Promotions and gives a brief performance of "P.I.M.P."
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XXL has rolled out it's 2013 Freshman Class. Their choices will be heavily scrutinzed by hip hop fans. Some choices will be universally praised, while others will be questioned.
Two Black Hippy members (Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q) made the list. And Chief Keef was chosen as the 11th Freshman in a class that usually only has 10.
XXL promises to reveal why Keef was added soon. Check out the full list and let us know what you think.
XXL Freshman Class 2013
Schoolboy Q
Trinidad Jame$
Joey Bada$$
Ab-Soul
Logic
Action Bronson
Kirko Bangz
Travi$ Scott
Dizzy Wright – 10 Spot People’s Champion Winner
Angel Haze
Chief Keef – “The 11th Freshman”
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Kid Cudi is already out promoting his upcoming album, Indicud. Yesterday the G.O.O.D. Music artist made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live to perform the songs "Immortal," "Just what I Am" and an a cappela version of "Mad Solar."
Indicud will be released on April 23rd.
"Immortal"
"Just What I Am"
"Mad Solar"
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50 Cent and French Montana have put aside their brief conflict according to French. In a new interview with DJ Whoo Kid, French said that he and 50 have actually been making music together.
"Everything's straight, we been making music," French said of his situation with G-Unit's CEO. "It's good for hip hop."
No word on what project their collaboration will surface on at this point, but we'll keep you updated.
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Is Brick Squad crumbling right before our eyes?
Less than two weeks ago Gucci Mane announced via Twitter that he was dropping Waka Flocka Flame from his 1017 Brick Squad roster, and put his services up for sale.
Waka didn't wait long to respond.
The following day there were reports that Gucci had been hacked. All appeared to be back to normal until last night's Dipset reunion show where Waka made an appearance.
While performing the song "848" Waka changed the lyrics from "free my brother Gucci and my n*gga Boosie" to “f*ck that n*gga Gucci/free my nigga Boosie.”
A Gucci response may or may not be coming. He's currently wanted by the Atlanta Police Department for allegedly hitting a soldier over the head with a champagne bottle at a local club.
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New York Giants player Shaun Rogers learned a hard lesson about picking up strangers and taking them home for the night.
The 34-year old defensive end was partying at Miami Beach's Club Liv inside the Fontainebleau Hotel Monday when he and a group of friends met a woman. Rogers took the female back to his room at the Fontainebleau around 7 in the morning. He told police he put his jewelry in the hotel safe and continued to party with the woman until he fell asleep.
When he woke up around noon, the woman was gone and he couldn't get into the room's safe.
Hotel security was able to pry open the safe, only to discover all of the jewelry was missing.
Among the items Rogers said were stolen were: diamond earrings worth $100,000; two wristwatches worth a combined $160,000; a gold necklace with gold pendant worth $50,000; gold bracelets worth $60,000; and a diamond Cuban necklace with a gold pendant worth $70,000 according to CBS Miami.
Miami Beach Police are now looking for the woman.
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There was never any doubt that Justin Timberlake's first album since 2006 would sell well. But with record sales trending downward it was hard to predict first week numbers.
The final numbers are in and according to HDD, Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience has sold 980,622 copies in it's 1st week to easily claim the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart.
That number not only beats all previous projections, but the disc even surpassed his 2006 album FutureSex/LoveSounds'' opening week sales by nearly 300,000 copies. FutureSex/LoveSounds went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide which bodes well for The 20/20 Experience.
The closest competitor to the monster sales from JT this week is Kacey Musgraves' Same Trailer, Different Park, which sold 42,125 copies.
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Eleven years after the release of her last album, Eve is stepping back into the game. Lip Lock will arrive in stores on May 14th. The Philly rapper don't expect her to try and reinvent herself on the album.
"I don't want people to take [Lip Lock] too seriously," she told Billboard recently. "I'm not trying to relive any moments of my life. I'm in a new place in my life. I'm almost a new artist. It's a fun record."
Peep the Gabe Saporta-assisted lead single "Make it Out this Town" below.
**UPDATE** April 5th
Eve has released the tracklist for the album. Guests on the album include Chrisette Michele, Pusha T, Gabe Saporta, Propain and Dawn Richard.
Tracklist:
1. EVE
2. She Bad Bad
3. Make It Out This Town (Feat. Gabe Saporta)
4. All Night (Feat. Propain)
5. Keep Me From You (Feat. Dawn Richard)
6. Mama in the Kitchen
7. Zero Below
8. Forgive Me
9. Never Gone (Feat. Chrisette Michele)
10. Grind or Die
11. She Bad Bad (Remix) (Feat. Pusha T)
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The first single from Taurus Scott's self-titled debut on Hellfyre Club. Shot on a Red Scarlet by Dark Energy Media, this video showcases the nexus where Taurus Scott's G-Unit/YMCMB affiliations meet his Electronic/Dubstep/Trap Low End Theory creations.
Taurus Scott drops April 23rd via iTunes and digital retailers everywhere!
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