News: Jay-Z's Roc Nation Looks To Motown For Biz Model

Written by Cyrus Langhorne
Fri, 22 May 2009 15:40:00
After Jay-Z confirmed reports of ending business ties with Def Jam Records this week, the rapper's
Roc Nation company is now reportedly set to follow Motown's iconic business model.
While Jigga has yet to confirm his next plan of action for the company, information revolving around Roc Nation has begun to emerge.

 As Roc Nation, Jay-Z'snew home under the Live Nation umbrella, takes shape, the hip-hop superstar
has reportedly bought back the last remaining record on his IDJ deal for what some say is a whopping $5
 million. Will Roc Nation employ a traditional distribution channel or take the LP direct to retail? Roc Nation
 handles a sizable roster of emerging producers and songwriters, who can be plugged into recording projects in
various combinations on a full-service basis. According to those in the know, Jay Brown, Roc Nation's creative
 mastermind, envisions the company as ultimately bypassing outside entities altogether and doing everything in-house,
signing acts, making records and distributing them in whatever way they see fit; a setup modeled on
 Berry Gordy's original Motown. (Hits Daily Double)
Jay confirmed reports regarding his Def Jam buy-out Thursday (May 21) afternoon.
"I can honestly say, working with Doug Morris and LA Reid has been a unique and fulfilling experience and I respect
them immensely," Jay said in an interview. "I've been in the family for almost my entire career. Doug and I spoke directly
and had one of the most unique 'negotiations' ever. Doug won the toss but, we both won in the end...I thank him for allowing
me to be a completely independent artist. Not every artist can say they own or are given the opportunity to own all of
their music." (Rap Radar)
Gordy is most known for being the founder of Motown Records.
Gordy did what many people of his time believed could never be done: he brought Black music into millions of White
Americans' homes, helping both Black artists and their culture gain acceptance, and opening the door for a multitude of
sucessful Black record executives and producers. Though the music of Motown was not as
raw or edgy as other R&B labels, such as Chess and Stax, the songs that were written, produced, and released from
"Hitsville USA" comprise some of the most enduring, sophisticated and popular music of our time. Influential artists such
as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Smokey Robinson were all discovered and their
talents fostered by Berry Gordy. (All Music)
The rap mogul launched Roc Nation around Apirl 2008.
Jay-Z is on the verge of closing a $150 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation that includes every aspect the
rapper?s future touring and recordings. As part of the partnership, Jay-Z will also launch an entertainment venture called
Roc Nation. This will finance future start-up ventures by Jay-Z including his own label, music publishing, and artist
consulting and managing. (New York Times)

News: Judge Urges Coolio To Take The Plea Bargain

Written by Cyrus Langhorne
Fri, 22 May 2009 14:15:00
Grammy-winning rapper Artis "Coolio" Ivey appeared in court today (May 22) on drug possession charges stemming
from an arrest earlier this year.

The rapper-turned-actor's case was reportedly moved to next month.
The case involving Coolio was extended until June 26 in a Los Angeles court Friday. At Friday's court session, which
 lasted about 20 minutes, the judge told the rapper he should strongly consider a plea bargain. The rapper did not wear
his Sunday best for the proceeding, clad in a multi-colored sport coat, jeans and tennis shoes, with his trademark crazy
hair. RadarOnline.com has learned he was accompanied by his girlfriend and six supporters. (Radar Online)
He recently pleaded his innocence in an interview earlier this month.
"Everybody got a family member or a friend that's into something that you can't control those types of situations," Coolio
explained. "I just happened to get caught up in the scene...It was just a situation I had no control of, something was in my
bag and I didn't even know it was in my bag. They could have did DNA and all kinds of stuff to find out if it was mine but
they didn't. They just got the bag and assumed it was mine...If you do bring drugs to the airport, you don't put 'em in your
bag you put 'em in your pocket. I used to smoke marijuana and I traveled with it for years, never put it in my bag. I always
had it in my pocket. I'm not dumb like that but you know...That was some bullsh*t. The unfortuante thing about this is when
my name is cleared, more people are not gonna hear about it than heard about it. That's life in the city, that's life of a celebrity.
My family and friends know it's not me. God knows it's not me. In essence I don't give a f*ck." (TMZ)
His drug case also forced Coolio to cancel an Australian tour in early spring.
Coolio's Oz tour canceled after drug charge. The rapper has been forced to cancel his Australian tour after the
Grammy-winning emcee was charged with drug possession. A spokeswoman for Coolio's Australian tour says the
pending charges mean he will be unable to travel Down Under. He was due to kick off his tour in Melbourne, before
heading to Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast. It is unclear whether the shows will be re-scheduled. (ABC News)
His publicized arrest took place at Los Angeles International Airport.
The Grammy-winning performer, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey, was taken into custody at the airport on Friday
after authorities said they found the drug and a crack pipe in his luggage. The battery charge was included because
the performer grabbed an airport screener's arm to prevent the search of his luggage, said Jane
Robison, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney. He faces a maximum sentence of three
years in state prison if convicted and is scheduled to appear in court on April 3. (Reuters)

News: Jim Jones Calls On Cam'ron For Dipset Comeback, "I Love Reunions"

Written by Cyrus Langhorne
Fri, 22 May 2009 12:15:00
On the heels of Cam'ron's album being released, Jim Jones has again sparked talks of a Dipset reunion with Cam'ron.

Speaking on the strength of Dipset, Jones broke down the possibility of re-linking with Killa.
"We possess the hottest thing in hip hop that hasn't happened yet and everybody knows it," Jones said in an
interview. "We d*mn near could be one of the reasons to make hip hop a lucrative thing again and that being the
Diplomats. If we put it back together. There's a 50 percent chance because I'm in. Smell me? And that's a high
percentile. Ya dig? Sh*t, we all in [including Juelz Santana]...I'm telling you there's a 50 percent possibility it can
happen. Ya dig? Let's keep it at that. I love reunions." (Vibe Magazine)
Cam recently said his hiatus with Jones and Santana was more of a family-like situation.
"Me and Jim really haven't been speaking for the past two, three years," Cam explained. "I mean at the end of the
day, we like brothers going through a little not-speaking thing. At the end of the day I ain't got no harsh feelings towards
anybody. We all grew up in the same neighborhood, we all been together but just right now Cam gotta focus on
Cam...They're doing very well right now, I'm about to be back in business doing what I do. Everybody would still be
winning...We had problems before the 50 Cent thing but when you get on stage with somebody I'm going up against,
then it becomes public...I want Juelz to do good, I want him to proceed with his career." (106 & Park)
Santana has said he would be willing to record songs with Cam in the future.
"I'm still opened to doing Diplomat projects with Cam," he revealed in an interview. "At the end of the day, deep down
inside, Cam can't say anything...That's why the only thing he can do is stress the fact and say things like, 'We all made
money, and I gave Juelz his shot.' Okay, that's cool...That's like saying Un Rivera] gave you your shot, Mase gave you
your shot, and you wound up dissing Mase; right? Mase gave you your shot, then he sh*tted on n*ggas, so you dissed
him." (iHipHop)
Cam 's long-awaited return to the hip-hop spotlight came with his album Crime Pays which dropped last week.
Dipset's Cam'ron leads the urban pack this week as Crime Pays lands at No. 3 on the charts losing the top spot to
Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown which sold 214,900 albums. According to Nielsen Soundscan, after seven
days in stores, Killa's comeback album has sold 43,100 copies. (Sales Wrap)

News: The Clipse Move Past The Neptunes, "People Wanted To Hear Us On Other Production"

Written by Cyrus Langhorne
Fri, 22 May 2009 10:57:40
The Clipse 's Pusha T recently spoke on the duos upcoming album Till The Casket Drops and why they are moving
past their signature Neptunes production.
Having helped the rap duo on their first two projects, Pusha T said it was a matter of growth which forced them to also
seek beats from elsewhere.
"I think that this album was just about growth and catering to the fans," he said in an interview. "I think that a lot of people
 wanted to hear us on other production. I think that was the biggest thing. I think people love the Clipse but [we'd] always
hear, 'Yo, we wanna hear y'all on such and such and so and so.' And it's a growing point for the Clipse. It was like, 'D*mn,
 let's venture out and make every part of this album an event.' There's a couple features on the album that aren't just
family-oriented. We worked with different producers. Everything just needs to be different and eventful...I think the
record with Cam'ron is going to be amazing. 'Popular Demand' was produced by The Neptunes. With Cam, that's just
gonna be incredible, causing that street hysteria." (Vibe Magazine)
Pusha T previously hinted at what producers would likely appear on the new album.
"We working on the new album right now, Till The Casket Drops, dropping '09, Clipse classic," Pusha T said in an interview.
 "By far it's going to be the best Clipse album yet...As of right now we're working with a whole multitude of producers right
now, we ain't got all the features in place yet but we got Sean C & LV, we got The Neptunes of course, we get Shawty
Redd. We got The Justice League, we got DJ Khalil...We try not to repeat ourselves sonically, we always try to raise
the bar when it comes to the music. Lyrically, you know what you're gonna get from The Clipse. 100 percent street
sh*t." (Straight Spittas DVD)
Def Jamco-founder Rick Rubin has reportedly also stepped up to produce tracks.
Legendary producer Rick Rubin has been working on tracks for the Clipse's long-awaited third album this month, the rap
 duo's camp tells EW. Rubin, who signed the Clipse to Columbia Records shortly after taking over as the label's
co-chairman in 2007, has completed one tune with them so far in a Malibu
studio; they plan to work with him on one to two more in the coming weeks. (Entertainment Weekly)
While details are still scarce, a few project notes have leaked online.
The album's first single, "Kinda Like a Big Deal," is produced by DJ Khalil and features Kanye West. Pusha T was
tight-lipped when asked about the collaboration earlier this year, but said it was something to look for: "Hey, man, it's
just one of them joints." The duo hope to release 'Til the Casket Drops late this summer. (MTV News)
Till The Casket Drops is reportedly set to drop this summer.