50 Cent Talks Next Album, New G-Unit Members
April 09, 2010 12:28:00 AM CDT | by Slava Kuperstein
50 Cent recently took the time to discuss his upcoming plans with MTV News, including his upcoming album Black Magic.
"I don't believe in voodoo," said Fif, denying that the album has anything to do with the occult. "But it'll be very addictive. The first time you'll hear it, you'll remember the songs that's on there. It's designed for fun — for listening pleasure.
The G-Unit general says he hopes to release the album by the end of summer, and that he is in no rush to conclude the recording process. "If I don't feel it's ready by the end of the summer, I'll just jeep it."
50 also spoke about his summer tour, revealing that he would likely not be bringing G-Unit mainstays Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo with him. "Banks has momentum with the first single off his new album, 'Beamer, Benz or Bentley.' So he'll be out [on his own tour] with H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger For More 2). While he's doing that, it probably wouldn't make sense for Yayo to come with me because his record is almost done now — he should use that time to complete his record and release it shortly after. But I'll be running arund."
But while Banks and Yayo might not be joining him, 50 did explain that he is in the process of recruiting new members to the group, which has in the past included Young Buck, Olivia and The Game.
Interestingly enough, 50 listed Twilight sensation Robert Pattinson as a potential member. "He has a big enough following to be the frontline," laughed 50. "Twilight ain't no joke."
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11001/title.50-cent-talks-next-album-new-g-unit-members
News: Jeezy On "Thug Motivation 103" Album, "I Might Be Makaveli On This Sh*t"
Thursday, Apr 8, 2010 5:50PM
Written by Rosario Harper
Southern rapper Jeezy has shared his stance on the upcoming Thug Motivation 103 album and said he is prepared to express his views on the project without any regrets.
According to Jeezy, the project will allow him to speak freely.
"I might be Makaveli on this sh*t, like I just don't give a f*ck what I say...love me or hate me that's where I'm at. That's my whole mind state. And believe you, me, music is an expression of yourself," he said in an interview. "I'm d*mn sure about to express myself on this album so any of the things that I've been through that you might be judging me on or feeling like oh, he should do this or he shouldn't do that, I'ma let you know how I feel. But at the same time I'm definitely going to give you some of that sh*t that the streets going to love, the sh*t's going to stay in the club and [I'm also gonna give you] that get money music cause that's what I do best. I'm going in." (VIBE)
Jeezy recently talked about the Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur legacies.
"Pac and Big gone...They no more. Only thing you can hear is they voice, my n*gga, and you know what they voice telling me? You gotta keep it moving, man. F*ck the dumb sh*t...I'm four albums in. How many albums Big have, two? He ain't make it that far. So I'm already ahead of the game...I feel like the last Mohican dawg...I feel like the last man standing. I done seen it, I done done it. I done smelt it...I know what I am. But I know what I'm not about to become. I gotta stand for something, man. Who better." (BET's Sound Off)
With his Thug Motivation 103 coming soon, Jeezy recently promised to take over the summer music scene.
"But June, by the way," he said of the LP's release date. "That's what I'm thinking. If you the boss, you can talk like that. I'm thinking June. I wanna own the summer. If you coming out [with an album] in June, you might wanna think about that, bruh. TM103, I will be there...I'm just going in, basically handling my business. I gotta say what's on my mind. But I'm not here to sell you on no album. Like I said, June, you will be surprised, homie. That's real talk. I been working on this. I been back in the lab...I got you." (MTV)
The solo project will be overseen by Def Jam South president DJ Khaled.
"I make great music, I'm passionate, and I'm aware," Khaled explained about himself. "It's about making great music. And I'm working on Jeezy's new album called Thug Motivation 103. We got Ludacris coming out with Battle of the Sexes, and Juelz Santana is coming. 2010, Def Jam takeover, baby!" (All Hip Hop)
From SOHH.com
http://www.sohh.com/2010/04/jeezy_on_thug_motivation_103_album_i_mig.html
Big Boi Explains Andre 3000's Role On New Album
April 08, 2010 02:04:00 AM CDT | by Edwin Ortiz
While Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty is rapper Big Boi’s solo debut, the ATLien recently revealed Outkast will be properly represented on the new project.
In an interview with DJ Delz, Big Boi explained that Andre 3000 will be featured on three tracks. One of the records, “Royal Flush,” has already been available and is likewise produced by Andre. Another track, “Looking For You,” is produced by Boi-1da of “Best I Ever Had” fame. Excited about that new record, Big Boi stated, “That’s me and Stacks, two verses a piece back-to-back, just a lyrical manslaughter. Who better than the ‘Kast nigga? Nobody.”
Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty will be released on May 4 through Def Jam Records.
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10991/title.big-boi-explains-andre-3000s-role-on-new-album
Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/4/2010
April 07, 2010 11:04:00 AM CDT | by Allen Jacobs
There was more new Urban releases shaking up the charts than typically seen in 2010, last week. For starters, Usher's divorce ode, Raymond v. Raymond took the number one spot. The LaFace Records project cleared 330,000-plus units collectively as the Atlanta veteran sensation put his personal experiences over the last year to music. The work sold nearly 40,000 more units than the #2 spot holder, Justin Bieber and his My World 2.0.
Another R&B veteran, Erykah Badu, followed close behind. Entering the charts at #4, the Universal Motown "part two" in her New Amerykah series stirred controversy last week with her provocative "Window Seat" video shot in Badu's Dallas, Texas hometown. The acclaimed follow-up maintains her production roster Hip Hop-based luminaries such as 9th Wonder, Madlib, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, Georgia Anne Muldrow and the late J. Dilla.
After last week's strong showing, another '90s R&B alum, Monica, held #6 with her Still Standing. The J Records artist crossed the 250,000 mark, with an album that features production from Missy Elliott and Jim Jonsin. Monica's Atlanta neighbor Ludacris, who appears on Still Standing, also crossed the 250,000 mark Battle of the Sexes. The DTP/Def Jam release fell out of the Top 10 last week just barely, going to #11.
The Black Eyed Peas held the #10 spot with The E.N.D. The release is soon to turn a year old, having already found double-platinum domestic status for the veteran Interscope Records group.
* Please note: figures below approximated to nearest thousandth.
Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
1
Usher
Raymond v. Raymond
329,000
330,000
4
Erykah Badu
The New Amerykah Part Two
110,000
110,000
6
Monica
Still Standing
81,000
266,000
10
Black Eyed Peas
The E.N.D.
43,000
2,387,000
11
Ludacris
Battle of the Sexes
40,000
284,000
Four new Rap releases found their way to the charts last week. The highly-publicized Def Jam release of Wu-Tang Clan member trio Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Raekwon, Wu-Massacre, entered the charts at #12. Raekwon's first dealing with the famed New York imprint sold just under 40,000 units, with special packaging and production from RZA and Mathematics.
A west coast veteran, E-40 had three chart entries. After a career with Jive and more recently Reprise/Warner Brothers Records, the Vallejo, California slang-master went to EMI to distribute his companion albums, Revenue Retrievin' Day Shift and Night Shift. Released separately, both editions sold approximately 12,000 units. Additionally, in a double packaging, the Sick Wid It founder sold 5,000 more of each release, which feature numerous guests.
Neighbor to E-40, Sacramento's Brotha Lynch Hung returned for a second week of his Strange Music debut, Dinner and a Movie. After reports published on DX yesterday that the comeback album was under-bought by retailers, the veteran emcee cleared 10,000 units.
Lastly, led by Jedi Mind Tricks' Vinnie Paz, super-group Army of the Pharaohs charted with their third release, The Unholy Terror. With members including Apathy, Reef The Lost Cauze, Celph Titled and Esoteric, this release marked the group addition of former Canibus protege Journalist. Released through Babygrande Records/Enemy Soil, the AOTP album coincides with the group's ongoing tour with JMT.
Rank Artist Album This Week Est. Total
12
Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon
Wu-Massacre
38,000
38,000
47
E-40
Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift
12,000
12,000
49
E-40
Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift
12,000
12,000
179
Jedi Mind Tricks Present: Army of the Pharaohs
The Unholy Terror
3,200
3,200
184
Brotha Lynch Hung
Dinner and a Movie
3,100
11,000
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10988/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-4-4-2010
Dr. Dre Says "Under Pressure" In Two Weeks, "Detox" This Year
April 06, 2010 10:04:00 AM CDT | by Jake Paine
In their latest press stop, Interscope Records President and Chairman Jimmy Iovine and longtime flagship star Dr. Dre stopped by CNBC yesterday, after a Fenway Park stop on Sunday. Iovine, an executive with a heavy-hand in the careers of Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent spoke about the adaptation going on in the music industry right now. "We're heading towards a real interactive stage in music, I believe. I think the entire deejay revolution taught us something: that people want to be part of the music and program the music themselves. They don't want to be told what to play, and most importantly, [told] what to play next."
Between his line of headphones with Dr. Dre and the success of Interscope artist Lady Gaga, Iovine believes his business formulas have changed with the times. "I believe that with streaming on-demand, some software that we're building over at Beats [By Dre] which teaches young people how to interact with music and make their own playlist, and [with] some of the things we're doing with the [cellular] phone companies, I think we have a great future in the record industry. I think seeing the [success] of Lady Gaga shows you that the audience is out there," said the Los Angeles-based mogul.
Despite sales declines in recent Rap artist projects from 50 Cent and Game, Jimmy Iovine said his company is thriving. "We're doing very well at Interscope," who (with subsidiaries A&M and Geffen Records) saw platinum 2009 releases from Lady Gaga, Eminem and The Black Eyes "It's no longer making one hit song and having 12 attached to it. You need complete albums, complete thoughts." Jimmy pointed to his Glam Pop sensation, "Lady Gaga is a great example of this." The man also compared Dr. Dre's mastery of music to Michael Jordan with basketball and George Lucas with film.
As a follow-up, Dr. Dre, who's been professionally working in music for almost 30 years, was asked if his formulas have been altered. "It's pretty much the same for me: I'm just putting my all into what I'm doing. [Making sure] that it's something I'm going to be proud of, and of course not embarrass myself or anybody that I'm working with," said the Compton Rap icon.
Lastly, less than 24 hours after revealing the name of his Jay-Z assisted single from Detox, Dr. Dre revealed a timetable for his fans. "Hopefully we'll be releasing ['Under Pressure'] in the next two weeks or so. I'm definitely gonna be puttin' [Detox] out this year. Finally. I think everybody's gonna be happy with it," said Dre of the album that's been nearly a decade in-the-making.
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10980/title.dr-dre-says-under-pressure-in-two-weeks-detox-this-year
Jacob The Jeweler Heads To Halfway House
Monday, April 05, 2010 12:30 PM
By Roman Wolfe
(AllHipHop News) Jacob the Jeweler was transferred to a half-way house last week, after having a 2 ½ year prison term reduced by six months, for good behavior.
Jacob the Jeweler was extremely popular in Hip-Hop circles, counting rappers like Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z and 50 Cent, as clients, in addition to pop stars like Bono, Sir Elton John and Madonna, who also frequented his flagship Manhattan store.
Arabov, 44, ran afoul of the law in 2006, when he was indicted for helping members of the powerful Black Mafia Family (BMF) launder over $270 million in drug proceeds for the gang, which operated in almost every major city in the United States.
He was sentenced to the prison term for allegedly falsifying documents and lying to authorities about the ownership of $5 million dollars worth of jewelry seized from BMF co-head, Terry Flenory.
According to reports, Arabov’s sentence was reduced due to his work with charitable organizations.
Arabov will run his Jacob & Co. jewelry business during the day and return to a half-way house each evening.
From HipHopDX.com
http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/04/05/22160576.aspx
Erykah Badu Charged With Misdemeanor For Nude Performance In "Window Seat"
April 03, 2010 10:04:00 AM CDT | by Krysten Hughes
Recent controversy surrounding Erykah Badu's "Window Seat" music video has taken a turn for the worse. The neo soul singer now faces charges of disorderly conduct for baring it all during the March 13 video shoot in downtown Dallas.
During the performance, Badu walked along the sidewalk of the historic Dealey Plaza, shedding her clothes until she was nude. Filmed during the day where children and families were present, the artist continued to act out a death scene where a shot rang out, resulting in a fatal gunshot to the head at the same location where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
A witness, Ida Espinsoa, who was on location with her young daughter, came forward to police and gave a sworn statement. “She was exposed to a level of indecency that most children shouldn’t be exposed to,” according to Dallas’ Fox 4 News.
Dallas Police Sgt. Warren Mitchell held a press conference Friday announcing the charges against Badu. "Having a fact witness that was there is what let us file the charges," Mitchell said. "After much discussion, we feel that these charges best fit her conduct. She disrobed in a public place without regard to individuals and small children who were close by."
Earlier in the week, Badu spoke about the video to Dallas News online, commenting "It was a protest to awaken the term called 'groupthink'," she continued, "It's the recognition of a state of being for humans... and when I fall to the ground in the video, the word groupthink spills out of my head, because I was assassinated by groupthink."
Since being hit with misdemeanor, Badu updated her Twitter feed with "the garment of any leader is his people. when stripped of his people his message is lost. 1 DOLLAR FOR EVERY NEW AMERYKAH PRODUCT SOLD AT GOOD RECORDS TOMORROW WILL GO TOWARD MY BAIL MONEY. THANK YOU. (kidding)but im just saying. charged on good friday... return of the ankh."
"Window Seat" is the first single to be released from Badu's New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) which dropped March 30 on Universal Motown.
Badu will have the option to fight the charge of disorderly conduct or pay a fine of up to $500.
From HipHopDX.com
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10963/title.erykah-badu-charged-with-misdemeanor-for-nude-performance-in-window-seat
