50 Cent Leaves Shady/Interscope, Releases "Funeral"
It doesn't seem like a big thing, a major artist leaving his record deal after more than a decade relationship. People grow, things change and circumstances often dictate changing where one does business. This is not the case for 50 Cent and his departure from Jimmy Iovine's behemoth Interscope Records. To be sure, 50 Cent is a dinosaur of sorts navigating a new, somewhat unfamiliar landscape. His 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin' broke sales records and firmly placed him amongst rap's elite. I may be wrong on this, but, at least for my adolescent self, Get Rich or Die Tryin' seemed to be the last major, MTV-fueled hip-hop album to really make a mark. Obviously, The College Dropout followed a year later, eventually pitting 'Ye and 50 against each other in a sales battle upon the releases of Graduation and Curtis in 2007, which 50 was beaten.
50 exiting the major label industry is a big deal. It leaves Eminem honestly as one of the last holdovers for the major label format that existed a decade ago, and that only because of his individual label, Shady, which 50 Cent was a part of. Back in 1999, with the advent of Napster, we saw the inklings of what the music industry would become, a business that is just now manifesting itself with Grammy award-winning acts not signed to a major and acts putting out free projects that reach the charts. 50's decision to release his next project, Animal Ambition through Caroline, a distributorship owned by Universal. Similar to the deal Macklemore & Ryan Lewis employed with The Heist, albeit with a lot more of a budget thanks to smart business moves by Fiddy over the years. “I have had great success to date with Shady/Aftermath/Interscope, and I’d like to thank Eminem and Dr. Dre for giving me an incredible opportunity,” 50 Cent said in a statement. “I’ve learned so much from them through the years. I am excited to enter this new era where I can carry out my creative vision.”
50 Cent's independent debut will begin on June 3 with Animal Ambition, an unexpected turn for fans who expected the long-teased project Street King Immortal. “I recorded so many album-quality songs that I’m going to put the Animal project out as my viral marketing plan and then [Street King] will come out after,” he explained at a recent press conference. “[Animal Ambition] is about prosperity ... ambition and prosperity.”
Check out the video for 50's new song "The Funeral," released today, below.
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[Mixtape] Justin Rose: "RoseWaVve Vol. 1"
Late last year we profiled New York City product Justin Rose as part of our First Look series. At the time, the 23-year-old producer was hard at work on his debut, while also finishing work on frequent collaborator Kris Kasanova's project. Today, we finally get the product of that hard work as Rose's follow up to last year's release, 22kt: The Instrumental Tape, RoseWaVve Vol. 1 hit the net today with a premier on his own website, Rsgldthewrld.com. The latest features Rose both producing on the back end of the tracks and gracing the songs with his own flow. Tearing down the wall between producer and rapper can be a tightrope job, but Rose does it admirably here. On "Fear and Loathing" Rose transitions between rhyming in a variety of cadences while also helping on the hook. Here he sounds like what I believe Chief Keef might have been had the lean and bad decisions not gotten to him, with a wavy feel to it. Kasanova links up with him on "On It (How 2 Make It In America)" for what is a kick back in itself. The production alone is something to take note of as well. "Moving Tho" is an airy alternative r&b beat that floats off with a dreamy guitar line. The waves are certainly present here and Rose's latest is not to be missed. "Party4Me" is a potential club banger with huge drums paired with a clever hook and interesting inverted guitar riffs, showing the project can straddle several situations.
As artists across the country are coming up with more talents at their disposal, Rose's latest project proves he can hang with the best of them in this stepping out from the boards. Hit the link below to get the free download for the project and keep an eye out for much more to come from Justin Rose.
[Video] Lucki Eck$: "Boomin"
The economy may not be doing well still, but Chicago's own Lucki Eck$, who popped up onto the national radar last year with his sinewy, shadowy rhymes calmly detailing how he served folks on the corner dropped a new video today to debut his fresh track, "Boomin" which details how he has invigorated himself with his own version of a stimulus package. The latest to emerge from Lucki's camp is a continuation of where we saw him last summer, in the dark, carefully detailing his stories of dealing while draped from head to toe in Jugrnaut. Lucki spent last year establishing his name on the back of his excellent breakthrough project, Alternative Trap, it'll be interesting to see where it goes from here. Check out the full video for "Boomin" streaming below.
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[Songs of the Day] 2/20/14 (Feat. Ashanti, Frank Ocean, Jagwar Ma & More)
Things were a little late on Thursday for releases over the Internet, but we got a resurgence from a familiar name, a re-hashing of a track, and some freshness from around the web. Taking us back to 2002 for a moment, Ashanti dropped a single from her upcoming album, BraveHeart, due out on March 14. The song is called "First Real Love" and features 'King of the Dance Hall" Beenie Man. Long Beach, Calif., product Vince Staples dropped "Nate" featuring James Fauntleroy while Blue Sky Black Death released a way late remix of Frank Ocean's track "Pyramids" off his last project, Channel Orange. Jagwar Ma also received a remix, this one by MssngNo for the track, "Uncertainty" and the consonant-heavy artist Nguzunguzu gave listeners a dance track to sleep to in "The Perfect Lullaby Vol. II". Check out all of the tracks, streaming below.
Track of the Day: Vince Staples: "Nate" (Feat. James Fauntleroy)
Ashanti: “First Real Love” (Feat. Beenie Man)
Vince Staples: “Nate” (Feat. James Fauntleroy)
Frank Ocean: “Pyramids” (Blue Sky Black Death Remix)
Jagwar Ma: “Uncertainty” (MssngNo Remix)
Nguzunguzu: “The Perfect Lullaby Vol. II”
[Video] Pharrell Talks New Album, 'Girls' with Zane Lowe
Pharrell has a knack for finding his way into the news cycle for all the right reasons. The baby-faced 40-year-old super-producer announced earlier this week that he had a new album expected, unveiling the title that was as simple as his epic day-long video for "Happy". It's no great revelation that Pharrell likely lives one of the most satisfying lives in America, and he stopped by BBC Radio 1 to chop it up with Zane Lowe and give the public a little glimpse into how his mind works, what the deal with the hat has been and what the plans are for Pharrell's first solo project. Check out the full video, streaming below.
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[Video] Scoolboy Q, Vic Mensa & Vado on 'RapFix Live'
Wednesday might as well have been "Come Up Day" over at the MTV RapFix studios in New York City. I say that because Sway, wearing a SaveMoney sweatshirt nonetheless, found himself flanked by two of the most aggressively progressive artists in hip-hop today in Vic Mensa and Schoolboy Q who were also joined by Cam'ron protege, Vado. The four men chopped it up between the couches with Sway, touching on what's come, what's gone and what's on the horizon. Schoolboy Q, whose album, Oxymoron is about ready to explode from anticipation leading up to the February 25 release date, showed up looking like he stole a page out of Pharrell's style book with a full brimmed hat capping off an ensemble that included a full-length grey trench coat and pink 'TDE' sweatshirt. Anything goes I guess when you're the 'Hood Pope'. Vic joined Schoolboy on the couch, rocking a matching sweatshirt to Sway's and giving the pink 'TDE' piece a run for its...money? Anyway, check out the full episode, streaming below courtesy of MTV.
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[Songs of the Day] 2/19/14 (Feat. Schoolboy Q, Major Lazer, Hudson Mohawke & More)
Wednesdays tend to be a bit slow for new music on the web, but we scoured our way through everything ot find some gems that hit airwaves today. Schoolboy Q teased his highly-anticipated debut album Oxymoron with the lead single, "Blind Threats" featuring none other than 'The Chef' himself, Raekwon. The Legion of Dudez got together to spin a remix of their hit single "Diamond Girl" by Blakkass Westley and Chandler London, with fellow LOD member Cadillac Duke dropping a verse on the updated version. We got a solid song from newcomer Joyner Lucas in "That's Okay", Hurt Everybody, the duo of Supa Bwe and Carl dropped "God Shit" and Major Lazer continued to keep fans salivating with another cut from his upcoming album, this time reviving Sean Paul for a cameo spot. GXNXVS gave Sway Clarke II's "I Don't Need Much" a remix, Cosby Sweater, a production duo out of Indiana released "Your Girlfriend's a Stoner" and "Bound 2" producer Hudson Mohawke gave listeners a new track with Olivier Daysoul in "Forever I".
Track of the Day: Schoolboy Q: "Blind Threats" (Feat. Raekwon)
Schoolboy Q: “Blind THreats” (Feat. Raekwon)
Blakkass Westley & Chandler London: "Diamond Girl Remix" (Feat. Cadillac Duke)
Joyner Lucas: “That’s Okay”
Hurt Everybody: “God Shit”
Major Lazer: "Come On To Me" (Feat. Sean Paul)
Sway Clarke II: "I Don't Need Much" (GXNXVS Remix)
Cosby Sweater: "Your Girlfriend's A Stoner"
Hudson Mohawke & Olivier Daysoul: "Forever I"
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[Video] Kelis: "Jerk Ribs"
Kelis has been somewhat quiet for awhile. Since marrying Nas, the "Milkshake" singer hasn't been heard from much, save for a string of well-received but commercially disappointing albums between 2009-2012, Kelis seemed to have faded into the background after a career that garnered her two Grammy nominations, 10 top ten UK singles and tours around the world. That is, until recently when she announced her first four U.S. shows in four years with the release of her video for "Jerk Ribs" off her album, Food due out April 22. The Le Cordon Bleu-certified chef, who also announced the unveiling of a cooking show on The Food Network, "Saucy and Sweet" which premiers February 26th at 8:30 EST, lives a slice of life piece in her latest visual offering as well, with cameras following her from here to there. Along with the SXSW sets announced, Kelis plans to make her presence known in Austin this year, as she will be manning her own food truck and cooking for fans and patrons of the festival on March 13 & 14. Follow her at @IamKelis for updates on where she'll show up!
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SXSW DATES
Wednesday, March 12 - NPR @ Stubbs
Thursday, March 13 - Filter @ Clive Bar
Friday March 14 - Hype Hotel @ 505 7th St