Yung Joc Signs New Recording Deal!

Southern rapper Yung Joc has reportedly signed a new recording contract. He had been without a recording home following his departure from Bad Boy last year, but he is now setting up shop with Polo Grounds/RCA Music Group. Joc also scored a production deal that will allow him to discover and develop new talent through Battery/Jive Records.

“It is my pleasure and honor to announce my affiliation and new partnership with Polo Grounds/RCA Music Group and Battery/Jive Records,” said Joc in a statement. “Now I can actually work and not wonder if I’m going to be held back from building my own brand as well as the Swagg Team brand. I’m very excited to work with this team.”

In regards to the label’s newest artist, Bryan Leach, President of Polo Grounds, said: “Joc is a triple threat. As an artist, executive, and personality, he is now entering a higher phase of his career and I’m happy to play a part in it. I feel with Pitbull, Yo Gotti, and now Yung Joc, Polo Grounds has an amazing front line of smart, talented, hungry artists that will continue to show why it’s still all about making hit records and outworking everyone else.”

Joc is currently hard at work on his forthcoming third studio album, which as of now is titled Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood. The LP is scheduled to be released later this year.

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Martin ups the ante on singing career!

With his college life as a finance major winding down, Chris Martin is upping the ante on his singing career with an album for the Japanese market and a tour of Africa on the immediate horizon this summer.

The album is due later this month about the same time Martin will complete his tenure as a student at the University of Technology, as he makes the transition from full-time student to full-time singer/entertainer.

blessing in disguise

"This is a blessing in disguise, it just came out of nowhere," he said of the one-album deal with Japan's Rockers Island label. "They expressed an interest and it comes up in the middle of May."

He revealed that the album will be comprised mainly his pre-existing songs as well as a few new ones.

"They'll be roughly about six new songs, but mostly songs that made me popular," he said. The album will be released exclusively in Japan and the release will be followed by a tour to promote it. He leaves for that tour in August and the trip will include shows, meet-and-greet sessions, "everything to try to strengthen the album and break out into the market fully," he said.

The past four years have been challenging for the young singer, having to balance school and a burgeoning singing career, but he believes it was a worthwhile investment now that he is weeks away from graduating. "I can't wait. I am looking forward to it," he said. "I see school as a very big investment in my life. Barring that I don't fail anything, I am finished. It's something that I would encourage everybody to do because if I can do it anybody can."

Now that he is in the final stages of study, what is the most revealing thing he has learnt about finance? "It hard," he said, laughing. "Everything in finance is related, you can't swat because you have linking terms, so you have to use past knowledge, but the most fascinating thing is how you can make your money work for you."

That phase of his life virtually behind him, Martin is now focussed on making the money that he intends to make work for him.

"With school out of the way, hopefully, we have a lot more time on our hands now to just deal with the music, and I am looking forward to it," he said. "I think I have always been doing good music but what we want to do now is break into various markets, different markets; the Spanish market, the African market, breaking into Europe the real, real way, the Japanese market, which we are doing now."

"We're trying to make music for everyone," he continued. "Just trying to step outside the boundaries of just trying to be comfortable, be uncomfortable, explore."

Nairobi, Africa, comes up later this summer but, before that, Martin flies to Germany in June to shoot the music video for To the Top, the song he did with Gentleman, and which the latter is to release as a single soon. The song also features on Gentleman's album Diversity, which was released on April 9.

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Diddy Denies Managing Rick Ross & Nicki Minaj!

Hip-Hip mogul Diddy has come forward and straightened out recent rumors that say he is managing the careers of rappers Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj. Taking to UStream, Diddy denied the reports, and downplayed his involvement in the both, Ross and Minaj’s careers.

“For the record, as I said before, don’t believe the rumors,” he said. “I cannot, you know, I have not made no announcement yet. Don’t believe no rumors about anything y’all hear. Me and Nick, we just cool. I like her style. Rick Ross, it’s my brother. There’s no management announcements or none of that…It’s alright for people to know each other and have an admiration towards each other and maybe pick each other’s brains for advice.”

Rumors surrounding Diddy and Minaj started almost immediately after the femcee fired her former manager, Debra Antney of Mizay Entertainment, late last month. Ross insinuated during a past interview with MTV News that he had some upcoming announcements to make involving new business moves while talking about his relationship with Diddy, leading some to believe that he too was going to be working with the Bad Boy label head.

Even though he laid these speculations to rest, new ones are sure to arise soon, as in the video footage, Diddy also said: “I will be making some big announcements in a couple of weeks on some things, though.”

check out the UStream session:


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Sizzla sets up base in Africa - Artiste says I'm here to stay ... Zimbabwe is home!

Rastafarian artiste Sizzla Kalonji seems to be setting up a base in Zimbabwe, Africa, having opened a studio in the country.

In a recent article published in Zimbabwe's Sunday Mail newspaper, the singer, born Miguel Collins, told the newspaper that he is here to stay.

According to the article, Kalonji's work permit has been issued by the Zimbabwe's Department of Immigration, making him the biggest name in International music to relocate to Zimbabwe. The singjay is currently in Trinidad and Tobago performing at a number of shows.

He reportedly told The Sunday Mail that he had made up his mind to work from Africa saying, "Zimbabwe is home. I have received tremendous welcome."He added, "In Zimbabwe we have already started recording. I am also looking into areas Judgement Yard can invest in for the upliftment of Zimbabwean youths."

The newspaper reported that among Sizzla's investments are a farm he has been allocated by the Government in Chegutu, on which he plans to set up agro-industries for youths under his Jamaican social responsibility banner, Judgement Yard.

In a previous interview with THE STAR, Sizzla's publicist Olimatta Taal cleared up rumours published in an overseas newspaper which claimed that the artiste had fled from Jamaica to live in Zimbabwe because of gun and murder related charges.

The article in the overseas publication stated, "Mugabe offers Jamaican artiste farm for ZANU-PF public relations", which was published in The Zimdiaspora on Monday, claimed that Sizzla "is on the run from Jamaican authorities for gun related and robbery cases in Kingston and is preparing to set up base in Zimbabwe after he was offered a farm. Indications are that he will not be returning to his native Jamaica where he is under investigation for several violent crimes which include armed robbery and murder."

irresponsible journalism

It continued, "Zanu PF is allocating a farm to Sizzla so that the Jamaican star would do international public relations for the former ruling party whose fortunes are fast waning following its drubbing at the March 2008 harmonised elections by the Movement for Democratic Change."

However, Taal has dismissed the claims and labelled the article as irresponsible journalism. She said that Sizzla was given land for his two performances in Zimbabwe for the country's 30th independence celebration. But the land, she said, was in no way related to politics.

"The allocation of the farmland does not have any relation to any political party. Instead of giving him cash (for the performances) they gave him land. Although they want to discredit and criminalise him, it is very honourable that he would take land instead of cash," she said, noting that the land received is for the Rastafarian community.

The Sunday Mail article also claims that Kalonji is understood to have made inquiries into the local textile industry, expressing strong interest in a clothing factory that will manufacture Rastafarian and African regalia and directly create hundreds of jobs for unemployed youths. Sizzla's commercial concerns will be run along similar lines as his Jamaican enterprise, Judgement Yard in August Town, Jamaica.

According to the story, Sizzla is now in the process of importing high-tech sound equipment for a studio whose doors he has already opened in Borrowdale, in the northern outskirts of Harare. He is currently working with Zimbabwe's reggae artistes, such as Ras I and Transit Crew to put together his debut album from Zimbabwe.

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Ludacris Reveals Secret To His Musical Success!

Disturbing Tha Peace CEO/rapper Ludacris recently revealed his secret for being able to maintain his longevity in the game. Unlike other artist, Ludacris’s versatile tracks have all shown his personality, adding humor to the mixture while creating songs which is very important says the rapper.

“Humor in hip-hop is important to me because I feel like I like to laugh and I love watching comedies so of course it comes through in my music.”

Ludacris’s witty and cleaver lyrics along with his ability to let all the different sides of his personality prevail through his music has given him much recognition by his peers. Over the years, he has released albums that contained feel good songs, motivational songs, and seductive songs. Most recently he dropped an album titled Battle Of The Sexes which was just that as he opened up the door for female artists to contribute verses throughout the album.

“The one thing that I feel separates me from a lot of people is balancing so much and showing you so many different sides of myself whether you always have the serious side and you have the funny side and you have the story telling side so I just try to reinvent and be as creative as possible and talk about things that I haven't necessarily talked about and continue surprising people and not being so redundant.”

In other news, Ludacris will appear on R&B singer Ciara’s first single titled Ride from her upcoming album Basic Instinct.

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Cashflow has big dreams for the future!

What started out as a hobby in 2001 has grown into a full-fledged production house for Cashflow Records.

Located in Cooreville Gardens, Cashflow Records has produced memorable songs throughout their years in the music business.

Consisting of Paul 'DJ Neil' Mitchell Jr, his brother Ernesto 'DJ X' Mitchell and Damion 'Mexican' Roy, as well as new members Kevin Slaughter and Mark Hize, Cashflow has big dreams for the future.

musical background

DJ Neil and DJ X are from a strong musical background, having been taught to play a number of instruments by their father Paul 'Father P' Mitchell. Their inborn love for music and 'Father P's tutelage set the stage for things to come.

DJ Neil told THE STAR recently, "Cashflow started out back in 2001 as a hobby. We were just doing mixed tapes at first like 'Unleash', until in 2005 we started production professionally."

Cashflow started off with rhythms such as 'Womba' with RDX, D' Angel, Delly Ranx, Mr Peppa and others, moving on to a one-drop rhythm called 'Guilty'. 'Guilty' earned the crew their first major credit, getting two hit songs in Japan including Souljah's (Konshens and his brother Delus) Pon Di Corner and Iwan's Can't Stop Reggae Music.

Other rhythms followed like 'Teardrops' and a major single with Winner from Konshens. However, it was last year's 'Better Life' rhythm that DJ Neil credited as the production crew's biggest break thus far. 'Better Life' spawned the hits like Life We Living from Vybz Kartel and The Realest Song from Konshens. Other songs soon followed including Weh Yuh Know Bout Mi from Kartel, featuring Indu.

In addition to producing, Cashflow also plays across the island. DJ Neil is the resident deejay for CVM's Hitlist, and also plays on Hot 102 while DJ X plays on jamvibes.com.

Cashflow followed up the 'Better Life' rhythm with the 'Glory' rhythm and has two dancehall rhythms ready to be released for the summer. DJ Neil said. "We have a crossover ting bout our work and we try to keep it mixed wid a little dancehall, stick to our roots of dancehall and reggae."

For the summer Cashflow will be releasing the 'Pleasure' rhythm which features Konshens, Delus, Darrio, Christopher Martin, Gyptian and Ce'Cile. There is 'The Employer' rhythm, featuring Ryno di Stinger, Lisa Hyper, the Gully Squad, ZJ Liquid and Milk.

For the future, the crew hopes to cross over on an international level, bringing its sound to the world.

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Diddy Lands Exclusive Distribution Deal With Macy's!

Sean “Diddy” Combs has announced that his Sean John line will be exclusively distributed by Macy’s, the nation’s biggest department store chain.

According to Combs, Sean John will be sold at over 400 Macy’s, with the line being rolled out to all stores over the next year.

During a press conference, Combs said that Sean John has done over $1 billion dollars in business with Macy’s “and we plan to do a couple billion more,” Combs said.

"I got my start at Macy's when I was 16, selling shirts and ties," Combs told The New York Post. "To come full circle like this is a dream come true."

Macy’s will build exclusive Sean John shops at key Macy’s locations across the country, with Sean John retaining creative control over all display designs.

In addition to Sean John, Macy’s also distributes Tommy Hilfiger, Diesel, Martha Stewart, Ellen Tracy and others.

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RICHIE LOOPS SHOOTS MY CUPP VIDEO!

New singing sensation, Richie Loops recently shot the music video for his hot new summer sound track My Cupp.

The video, which takes the format of a major house party hosted by Richie loops, was shot in the upscale community of Cherry Gardens with major support from the Big Yard family and fans on set.

The video, the video also features recording artiste Ishawna, Chris Martin, D-Major, Ice-Man and other industry players as well as top dance groups such as Card Unit, contestants in this year’s Dancing Dynamites.

The video is set to be released soon.

Loops on set














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