Thursday, May 6, 2010

Damon Dash Resurrecting Roc-A-Fella!

Earlier this week, Damon Dash announced his plans to resurrect the label that he, Jay-Z, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke built. He will use Roc-A-Fella Records to release rapper Curren$y’s LP, Pilot Talk, on June 15 and from there he aims to push “a more positive movement.”

“I think we just having fun, really,” said Dash to MTV News. “[Curren$y] inspired me to dust off the chains. We brought ‘em out for kicks, just because we could. Then we was like, ‘F*ck it, let’s put it through Roc-A-Fella.’ It was really more something he wanted to do. Basically because we having such a good time, and the opportunity’s there, so we was like, ‘Why not?’”

Curren$y also chimed in on the reformation of the record label and said that he feels honored to be releasing his forthcoming album under the name.

“What that means, what that shows me, is that dude thinks as highly of me as I do him,” he said. “I know what’s behind that. We all know and the fans know what that represented at the height of it. The aesthetic of it.”

Jay-Z gained sole rights to the Roc-A-Fella name after the record label dissolved, but according to Dame, that ended when Jay left Def Jam.

“Def Jam or Universal brought the brand…Now that [Jay] doesn’t work for Def Jam anymore, he doesn’t have the right to use the name. So there’s no reason for us not to use it. It’s there and it’s a brand that’s not being used.”

The label has secured distribution through Def Jam, and according to reports, the release of Curren$y’s album, will be followed by Ski Beat’s 24 Hour Karate School mixtape. Dash also hinted at a possibility of signing the Diplomats back to the Roc now that the group has reunited.

COURTESY OF YORAPS.COM

Another remix to 'Hold Yuh' - MIMS lends voice to Gyptian's song!

Yet another American rapper has unofficially lent his vocals to Gyptian's popular Hold Yuh song. Rapper MIMS released his remix of the song on YouTube.com last week.

Last month, female rapper Nicki Minaj, who is from rapper Lil Wayne's Young Money Camp, added her vocals to the song, rapping in a Jamaicanesque accent. The remix was premiered by Funkmaster Flex on New York's Hot 97, getting thousands of views on YouTube.com. Now MIMS, who is known for songs such as Like This, has also added his own touch to the song, which has been steadily gaining in popularity locally and internationally.

On the remix, MIMS raps: "Look my God/ mi never know you grip so/tight up, mi love how yuh tick so/whether slow wine or calypso/mi sey she rock so and she dip so/she sey mi wrist glow just like a disco/a mi who dem guy waan squeeze like a pistol ... Big tune dis, tell di DJ fi pull it."

He continues: "Nuff pretty gal dem a ring off mi celly/so if you wanna roll/just ping off me BlackBerry/and I already told yuh/if yuh need a soldier/yuh know who to roll wid/I just wanna hold yuh."

This isn't the first time that MIMS has worked with local artistes, having released a remix for his hit single This Is Why I'm Hot,featuring Junior Reid and Cham. Since its release last week, MIMS has been promoting the single on his Twitter page, and on YouTube.com the remix, has got almost 8,000 views. The remix, which features Nicki Minaj, continues to do well on YouTube as well, getting over 300,000 views since its release in mid-April.

Hold Yuh was released two years ago and is produced by Ricky Blaze. The single has just started getting heavy rotation in the United States. On March 27, Hold Yuh debuted on the Billboard's Hot R&B charts at number 78 and has since peaked, at number 42. The song is also at number 9 on Billboard's Heatseeker Songs Chart, and number 1 on the Digital Reggae Songs Chart.

When THE STAR previously spoke to Gyptian, he was happy about the success of the song and was looking forward to the release of his next album, which is also titled Hold Yuh.

COURTESY OF THE JAMAICA STAR

CHECK OUT THE SONG:

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Gucci Mane Fires Managers; Launches New Label From Jail!

Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane has officially parted ways with his former management company Mizay Entertainment and booking agency Hitt Afta Hitt Enterprises.

Mizay Entertainment is helmed by Debra Antney, while promoter Johnnie Cabbell is the owner of Hitt After Hitt Enterprises.

Both companies and their respective owners are named in several federal lawsuits, claiming they booked Gucci Mane in several cities throughout the country, without disclosing that the rapper was heading to jail.

Gucci missed a string of dates over the past year, resulting in lawsuits against Mizay and Hitt After Hitt for failing to return hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in advanced payments.

Gucci has closed down his So Icey Entertainment imprint and is now the President and CEO of 1017 Brick Squad Records Inc.

The artists on the new label are Wacka Flocka Flame, OJ Da Juiceman, Bricksquad (Wacka, OJ and Gucci) and Gucci Mane himself.

"The rest of 2010 is going to be real major," Gucci Mane told AllHipHop.com in a statement today (May 4th). “I'm taking control of all of my business properties and keeping the focus on my career, my music and my artists. All the pieces to the puzzle are finally in place and once I get home it's Gucci time."

Gucci Mane also has a new management team to handle his career now that he has parted ways with Mizay Entertainment.

The rapper has entered into an exclusive management deal with First Avenue Management, while CAA will now handle the booking of his shows.

He also named David Bolno, Managing Director at Nigro, Karlin, Segal & Feldstein as his new his new business manager.

In April, Nicki Minaj abruptly fired Debbie Antney and Mizay Entertainment from managing her career.

Last week, Antney and Cabbell were named in another lawsuit in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania over a failed show in Pittsburgh last August.

COURTESY OF ALLHIPHOP.COM

Deejay L.A. Lewis says... 'I WON'T HAVE SEX FOR A YEAR'!

Deejay L.A. Lewis is planning not to have sex for a year.

The artiste, widely known for his graffiti in the Corporate Area, says that he will be taking time away from the bedroom to pursue his career on a more serious level.

Lewis claims that he started his no-sex campaign three weeks ago with the support of his girlfriend/ babymother who lives abroad. When THE STAR spoke to Lewis, he claimed to have had sexual intercourse for the last time before his abstinence stint in early April. For Lewis, he said his friends are also behind him to help him through the "rough times" and to stick to his "spiritual mission".

"I will be doing a whole heap of projects and mi just waan ease off the sex thing so I can focus on work. Mi need some time to miself. Yuh know, being an entertainer you always have females deh round, yah understand, but is time for me to penetrate a work and tek tings seriously," he said.

According to Lewis, he is viewed by the public as a comedic act and he wants to show that he can accomplish things on a more serious level. Also, Lewis said he hopes to be an example to teenage girls who are dropping out of school because they got pregnant.

He said, "Mi waan draw out the young kids mek dem see a entertainer sey he's gonna abstain for a year."

Lewis said that he made contact with the National Family Planning Board yesterday and wants to do some work with the organisation in high schools around the island.

Lewis said he chose a year to be abstinent because he wanted to set a good example and also because he wanted to challenge himself. As to how persons will know he hasn't had sex for the year he added, "This is L.A. Lewis. My life is always under the microscope. Every move mi mek people a know ... if mi bruck it, is me and God haffi talk 'bout it."

Some of the projects Lewis will be doing during his 'sex-free time' are his own dictionary with his created words such as 'sobolious', as well as an upcoming album. He is also focusing on his clash with deejay Mr G at The Settlement on June 12 at the Caymanas Polo Club.

COURTESY OF THE JAMAICA STAR

Usher, Drake, Nicki Minaj & Rick Ross To Participate in New York’s Summer Jam!

Hip-Hop’s superstars will all come together to perform at this year’s Summer Jam concert on June 6. The show, which is being hosted by New York radio station Hot 97, will be held at the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, and the performers were announced yesterday (May 3) morning.

Usher will headline the event with support from the likes of Trey Songz, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Ludacris, Fabolous, Juelz Santana, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek), and a soon to be released Gucci Mane.

More artists will be added to the list as the event date nears, and in typical Summer Jam fashion there will be some surprise guests.

Usher is currently riding high off of the success of his latest album, Raymond v. Raymond, which sold over 300,000 copies in its first week, and has spun the hit singles Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home), Lil Freak, and the international hit OMG.

Drake is scheduled to release his highly anticipated album, Thank Me Later, on June 15. His lead single Over was released earlier this year, and other tracks including Shut It Down featuring The-Dream, Miss Me, and the Kanye-produced Find Your Love have leaked onto the web most recently.

COURTESY OF YORAPS.COM

Aidonia and JOP kick off European tour!

Last Thursday, Jag One Production (JOP) recording artiste Aidonia, accompanied by label mate Suhverto and members of his management team, departed the island for Europe.

The savvy lyricist, who is now on a three-week tour titled 'Wi Sick', officially kicked off his campaign last Friday with a performance in Amsterdam where he rocked the thousands in attendance at a concert billed 'Aidonia Live On The Sands'.

On Sunday, the team departed for Bielefeld, Germany, and brought the house down with another explosive set as Aidonia and Suhverto reeled off the hits from the camp's catalogue to a packed house of non-English speakers.

Despite this being his first time on European soil, young gun Suhverto said, "So far, it has been a wonderful experience and an eye-opener to see how foreigners embrace our music, and the reception I received. I definitely intend to leave my mark here in Europe."

Now in Hamburg, Germany, the artistes will also perform in Rotterdam, Germany, Italy, Austria, Sweden, Norway, France, Switzerland and Spain before heading back to the Caribbean for a stint in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, and later head up north to Canada.

Locally, Deablo and new recruits, Chedda and Navino, represented for JOP as they left their mark on patrons at Campion College's Discreet, which was held on the school grounds, and St George's College's barbecue Starlight, held at the Police Officers' Club last Friday.

COURTESY OF THE JAMAICA STAR

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Young JA. based Video Director, Editor & Graphic Designer> Ruption DiBoss!

This 'artist' is changing the game with his unique touch of editing and video directing...check out some of his work below:

















Kamera Trick Riddim Medley


DREAM RIDDIM MEDLEY pt1


T'Nez - Same Yute/Turn Mi Life Around


you can also check out his website http://www.ruptiondesignstudios.com/

Diddy Hits Rikers To Visit Lil Wayne!

Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs hit Rikers Island earlier in the week to visit jailed rapper Lil Wayne.

According to the New York Daily News, Combs hopped the bus to Rikers to visit Lil Wayne on Wednesday (April 28th) at the Eric M. Taylor correctional facility.

Diddy, who was on a pre-approved list, met with Lil Wayne for about an hour at the prison.

Despite being incarcerated for the next eight months for gun possession, Lil Wayne continues to make headlines in the media.

Last week, Amelia Negron, a prison guard at Rikers Island, announced that she was filing a federal lawsuit against the Department of Corrections, after she was allegedly fired for spying on the rapper, while he was visiting a guest.

COURTESY OF ALLHIPHOP.COM