Soulja Boy Signs Deal With Yums Shoes
Atlanta rap star Soulja Boy Tell’em is elevating his success with a newly signed sneaker and apparel contract with Collipark Music/Interscope Records and Yums Shoes.
Under the multi-year agreement, Soulja Boy Tell’em will work with Yums’ designers to create his own signature shoe with Yums’ Block Star line of sneakers, which feature graffiti art on the soles of each colorfully crafted shoe.
"It clearly demonstrates how music and fashion blend together." said Yums Shoes CEO JP McDade. "The shoes and clothing line allow the wearer to express his or her personality, because each shoe is an individual piece of art. Soulja Boy Tell’em will be able to assist in designing shoes and apparel exactly the way he would want them to look. And with Interscope’s considerable marketing savvy, we expect this effort to be our biggest, most far-reaching yet."
The rapper’s business deal comes as amid the success of his Grammy award nominated single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)."
The song, which is featured on Soulja Boy Tell’em’s platinum-selling debut album souljaboytellem.com, has generated more than 3 million downloads of the song and ringtone to date.
“He built his own brand and we were lucky enough to work with him to take it to the next level,” said Steve Berman, Interscope/Geffen/A&M President of sales and marketing. “Soulja Boy Tell’em’s innate sense for what his fans want makes him the perfect artist to have a sneaker line…We’re excited to partner with him.”
Soulja Boy Tell’em fans can expect more from the rapper in the future, according to producer Mr. Collipark.
"We are very excited and have high expectations for this opportunity and future Soulja Boy Tell'em endeavors, including movies and television," Mr. Collipark said.
Lil Wayne Launches Halo Champagne
Lil Wayne has partnered with Milestone Brands and French grower Voirin-Jumeh, to create his own brand of champagne.
Halo Champagne, which Wayne introduced to the world in the video for his chart topping hit “Lollipop,” is set to launch later this year.
“I’m excited about this venture with Milestone Brands,” Lil Wayne told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “Champagne is for celebrating. There are so many different business opportunities…I want to take advantage of it all. I’m ready to put my foot in a new door.”
Halo Champagne consists of four distinctive sub-brands, each with its own flavor.
Halo Brut, contains various flavors and a citrus finish, with hints of lemon cream and roasted hazelnut.
Halo Brut Vintage features a classic, creamy consistency and a stronger mix of lemon blossoms and almonds.
Halo Rose, a combination of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, offers an aroma of pomegranate, crushed raspberries, and mint.
Finally, Halo Pinnacle is a fruity Chardonnay blend, capped off by hints of lime-tree flower and roasted hazelnuts.
Wayne’s French partner, Voirin-Jumeh is recognized as one of the finest makers of Chardonnay-based champagne.
The company, based in the Grand Cru Village of Cramant in Northeast France, has been known traditionally for artisanal champagne making.
In addition to his new title of “champagne maker,” Lil Wayne is putting the finishing touches on his first feature film appearance, alongside Forrest Whitaker and Isaiah Washington in Hurricane Season.
The story focuses on a high school basketball coach’s influence on a group of players in the post-Katrina New Orleans area.
The movie also stars Jackie Long, Taraji P. Henson, and Bow Wow.
Shady Records Issues Statement On Obie's Departure
Following the heavy circulation of Obie Trice's new single "The Giant" signaling the Detroit rapper's departure from his situation with Shady Records and it's parent company, Interscope, the brass at Shady issued a statement Monday (Jun 30) reaffirming its support of Trice's decision.
"Shady Records has agreed to allow Obie Trice to pursue his craft in a different forum free from the constraints of the current major label model," Eminem's long time partner and manager Paul Rosenberg told AllHipHop.com.
Sources on the web have erroneously reported that the new explanatory track released to the web on Sunday (Jun 29) included lyrics meant as a diss to his former label and Eminem, who added Trice to the label's roster in 2000.
At issue was the song's opening verse, on which Trice raps "Guess it was meant / for me to branch off from my Caucasian friend" and "Nope, no more 2nd place to Eminem / question if I was 2nd is the question to many men."
"Eminem will continue to support and work with Obie on many levels of his career," Rosenberg stated frankly. "He remains a close friend and member of the Shady family."
During his time as a Shady/Interscope artist, Obie Trice's two albums which were well received critically, established the artist as Eminem's heir apparent.
The first, 2003's Cheers, sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, while its follow-up Second Round's On Me found slightly less commercial support.
Akon/ Michael Jackson Collaboration, 'Hold My Hand,' Leaks
Akon wanted to be starting something with Michael Jackson — and apparently, that something involves holding hands.
A song that the two worked on for Akon's upcoming album has leaked to the Internet, and it's called "Hold My Hand." An earlier version of the track, without Jackson's contributing vocals, leaked in February, just as the pair's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" was officially released as the first single for the re-release of Thriller.
A mid-tempo ballad featuring strings at its beginning, "Hold My Hand" layers the singers' vocals over a drum machine and a twinkling piano melody as the pair trade off lyrics like "We're better off being together than being miserable alone" and "Nothing can come between us if you just hold my hand." Jackson's softer, more lilting vocal lines start the duet, but Akon soon becomes dominant, thanks to his distinctive phrasing.
Akon's label rep said that the singer's as-yet-untitled third album, due later this year, has not been completed, so there's no word on whether "Hold My Hand" will make the cut, and as such, there hasn't been any plan to release the song as a single.
Akon previously told MTV News that working with MJ was a dream come true, calling the King of Pop "incredible" and a "genius."
"Just to be in the same room [with him], I felt everything I wanted to accomplish in life has been achieved," Akon said. "That aura ... that's how incredible that aura is. We about to shake the world up, man. You know how you be with somebody and you can't even explain [the feeling]? I used to sit and think, 'How does somebody sell so many records and dominate a whole business genre to a point [where] nobody can't be a part of that without associating with you?' The way he thinks ... some artists think regional, some think national, I was thinking international. He thinks planets. It's on another level."
LaBelle Reunion Set For September
Verve Records has set September 23rd as the release date for the highly-anticipated LaBelle reunion album. This will be the group’s first project since the 1976 LP Chameleon. LaBelle will throw down this Saturday, July 5, at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. The performance at the New Orleans Superdome will be the first full-on concert thaty Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash have given together since 1977!
DMX Reconnects With Grease
DMX has been getting more attention lately for his run-ins with the law than for his music. His most recent escapade was getting busted trying to buy cocaine and marijuana from an undercover cop in Miami. (Authorities say he offered an undercover officer $45 and asked for “30 Powder and 15 weed.”) Now, DMX’s camp is trying to get the rapper’s music career back on track. DMX’s manager and his label (Bodog Records) have contacted Dame Grease, the producer who created a bunch of hits for DMX back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Grease and DMX met over the weekend and started making plans for a new album.
The drug bust last Friday was DMX’s second arrest in Miami that week. On Monday, he was arrested for driving with an expired license. He’s also got legal trouble back home in Arizona where he’s facing trial on animal cruelty charges. He was also sued last week for reneging on a deal to endorse a company that makes clothing for dogs.
Prince Sues Over Remake CD!
Prince has sued a Norwegian record label for releasing an album of cover tunes without his permission. 50 artists recorded new versions of Prince jams last month in honor of Prince’s 50th birthday. The remakes are featured on an album called Shockadelica which has sold 5,000 copies and reached No. 8 on Norway’s music chart. The label behind the project, C+C Records, sent a copy of the compilation to Prince hoping he’d feel honored. Instead, Prince sent his lawyers after the company! There’s nothing wrong with recording somebody else’s music as long as you pay a license fee for each song. C+C Records didn’t do that.
Plies Announces Non Profit Organization
Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic recording artist Plies has announced details of his very own non-profit organization, Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions Foundation, Inc., as well as a scholarship program, the “Somebody Loves You” Scholarship Fund. This all comes as the Ft. Myers , Florida-bred rapper continues to ride the wave of success proven by his sophomore release, “DEFINITION OF REAL,” which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, selling 215,000 copies in its first week. In fact, the album’s first week sales gave Plies the highest selling first-week numbers in the history of Miami-based Slip-N-Slide Records.
Keeping in the tradition of Plies’ philanthropy, Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions will provide funding for legal representation and aid to needy individuals, specifically those who are incarcerated, with the goal of promoting a more functional, productive, and just community. The organization will also provide educational forums, classes, workshops, trainings, opportunities, and other charitable activities aimed at individuals in the community, in particular focusing on rehabilitation.
In addition, Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions will focus on promoting activities for youth and minorities, including education, mentorship, cultural experiences, and preventative measures aimed at combating incarceration in the Tampa and Ft. Myers , Florida areas.
The organization’s first effort will be the “Somebody Loves You” Scholarship Fund 2008 (named after the song “Somebody (Loves You) “from his current album), which is designed specifically for students attending an accredited college or university, who have a parent(s) that is presently incarcerated and who is financially disadvantaged. The scholarship is open to students who are currently enrolled or who will be entering school this fall. Two scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female in the amount of $5000 each.
According to a published Senate report in September of 2000, as many as 70 percent of children of incarcerated parents will become involved with the criminal justice system unless effective intervention strategies are set in place. Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions, Inc. hopes to inspire and encourage these at-risk youth to break the cycle of incarceration. Co-founder Plies comments, “We want to provide those who have been and continue to be affected by the negative impacts of the prison system with a sense of hope, and to let them know that they are not forgotten. No matter what adversities one may face in life, one thing remains true – and that is that somebody loves you.”
For more information on the organization and scholarship, as well as scholarship application details, visit www.pliesworld.com/somebodylovesyou.
In other Plies news, “Bust It Baby Part 2 (Feat. Ne-Yo),” the first single from “DEFINITION OF REAL,” continues to be another massive hip-hop hit for Plies. The track is ranked at #2 at Urban outlets nationwide this week. What’s more, “Bust It Baby Part 2” is turning out to be a pop mainstream summer sensation, coming in this week at #3 on Billboard’s “Hot 100 Airplay” ranking, as well as #8 on the overall “Hot 100.”
“Bust It Baby Part 2” is also continuing Plies’ incredible run of blockbuster ringtones. The single is currently #3 on Nielsen Ringscan’s “Top 200 Mastertones” ranking.
Plies recently shot the music video for his next single, “Please Excuse My Hands (Feat. Jamie Foxx and The-Dream),” which is slated to hit video outlets nationwide early next month.
For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.pliesworld.com, www.myspace.com/plies, and www.imeem.com/plies.
Kimora's Kids Get Big Phat Allowance
Russell Simmons is footing the bill to make sure it's not just his ex-wife who's living life in the fab lane.
E! News has obtained court documents filed by Kimora Lee Simmons which stipulate that her hip-hop mogul ex pay a minimum of $40,000 per month in child support for daughters Ming Lee and Aoki Lee.
The breakdown equals out to $20,000 per girl and is required until each reaches 19 and a half years old—keeping Simmons paying for Ming, 8, through 2019 and Aoki, 5, through 2022.
Per the court docs, the Baby Phat exec will retain sole legal custody of the girls, but allows for papa Simmons to have a say in any "professional endeavors" the girls pursue. In the past, the girls have been frequently featured in print ads for Kimora's lifestyle brand.
The documents also break down the couple's physical custody sharing, with Mother's Day and Father's Day to be spent with the holiday-observing parent and Simmons getting the girls for one week at Christmas and one month in the summer, including, as specifically requested by the mogul, the weekend of his annual Rush Philanthropic East Hampton Art for Life benefit.
As part of Simmons' "reasonable child visitation," he will also get one weekend with his daughters every two months and alternate spring breaks with Kimora.
Simmons is also required to have a nanny and security person, to be named by Kimora, on hand when the girls are in his custody.
The duo first separated in March 2006, and Kimora finally filed for divorce in March 2008, citing irreconcilable differences.
Wesley Snipes Asks for Shore Leave
Before his world shrinks to an 8-by-10 cell, Wesley Snipes would like to cross a few oceans.
The embattled actor has filed a request in federal court for permission to leave the country, first to London to sit in on the editing process for his new horror flick Gallowwalker, and then to Bangkok to film the action thriller Chasing the Dragon. Cameras are set to roll Sept. 8 and production is expected to last eight weeks.
According to the filing, Snipes' unavailability could jeopardize his "future livelihood as an actor," not to mention his ability to pay restitution for his crimes.
Snipes skated on charges of conspiracy and fraud but was convicted in February on three misdemeanor counts of failing to file tax returns on about $13.5 million in earnings. He was sentenced in April to three years in prison, but a Florida judge begrudgingly agreed last month to bail that will keep the Blade star a free man until his appeal has played out.
"Mr. Snipes will, of course, voluntarily return after his work on this film—as he has done each time he has been granted permission by this court," defense attorney Daniel Meachum wrote in Wednesday's filing, which was obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
His bold request shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, really. Before he stood trial, a judge gave Snipes the go-ahead to travel to Namibia (not for the birth of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, but to finish shooting Gallowwalker), South Korea and Vancouver.
Snoop Confirms Detox; Dre Producing Upcoming Album
Rapper Snoop Dogg recently left the recording studio, recording tracks for Dr. Dre's highly anticipated album, Detox.
"That record is real it's coming," Snoop Dogg said during an interview today (June 25) on Big Boy's Neighborhood. "You know me, I was starting to doubt it myself and then I went up in there and he played so much music for me it knocked my head off."
Snoop Dogg confirmed the fabled, decade-long project was finished and that the Doctor was selecting tracks for the album.
"I see what he got them waiting for, it's on and poppin," Snoop Dogg said. "He got records, he got heat."
Dr. Dre will also sit in the producer's seat for Snoop Dogg's upcoming album.
"Yea he's doing my next album. I got the title and everything," Snoop confirmed without revealing the album's title.
In related news, Snoop recently released a country-themed video for his single "My Medicine," which features a westernized Snoop alongside Willie Nelson, Julianne Hough, Brad Paisley and others.
The song is taken from Snoop Dogg's latest album Ego Trippin'.
Soul Stars Set For Heineken
Heineken USA has announced the star-studded lineup for the 2008 Heineken Red Star Soul concert series. Ashanti and Goapele will appear on the first show, set for August 6, in Los Angeles. That gig will be followed by concerts in other major cities featuring artists like Keyshia Cole, Lyfe Jennings, Musiq Soulchild, Dwele, Chrisette Michelle and Raheem DeVaughn. Local up-and-coming artists will also be featured in each city.
The schedule for the 2008 Heineken Red Star Soul concert series:
Los Angeles, Boulevard 3, 8/6 – Ashanti and Goapele
Dallas, Gilley's, 8/13 - Raheem DeVaughn and Bryan-Michael Cox
Atlanta, Opera, 8/20 - Lyfe Jennings and Bryan-Michael Cox
Chicago, House of Blues, 8/27 - Dwele and Chrisette Michelle
Detroit, Fillmore (formerly State Theater), 9/4 - Dwele and Estelle
Cleveland, House of Blues, 9/10 - Lyfe Jennings and Bilal
Washington, D.C., Ibiza, 9/17 - Raheem DeVaughn and Chrisette Michelle
Philadelphia, World Café Live, 9/24 - Musiq Soulchild and Estelle
New York, Mansion, 10/1 - Keyshia Cole and Raheem DeVaughn
Will Smith Wants To Play Barack
Will Smith would love to play Barack Obama in a movie, but he wants to wait until the Democratic Presidential nominee “writes the end of the story.” Will joked that he’s perfect for the role because he and Obama have the same ears. Will said, "That's the key. America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind. And America just loves the ears."
But even though he’d jump at the chance to portray Obama onscreen, Will’s not even thinking about running for political office in real life. He says, "Movie stars tend to have a little bit higher approval rating than politicians.”
The Game Says 50 Cent Beef Was Fake
Apparently, the hostility between The Game and 50 Cent was all for show. The Game held a listening party in L.A. recently for his upcoming album, LAX, and he told reporters, "I ain't got no beef with 50. All that [stuff] was on wax. I never shot at him, he never shot at me. Both of us done said a lot. But we're not Biggie and 'Pac. I appreciate the homey for helping me on my way up."
LAX was originally set to come out on June 24, then it was pushed back to July 22, delayed again to July 29 and how it will be released in August.
Suge Knight Sells Death Row
Death Row Records was auctioned off for $24 million yesterday. The new owner is Global Music Group president Susan Berg. The deal puts Berg in control of classic recordings by Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre – including 20 unreleased Tupac tracks. Koch Records and Warner Music Group had also expressed interest in buying the Death Row catalogue.
Suge Knight was forced to sell the Death Row catalogue after filing for bankruptcy in 2006. A year prior to that, a court ordered Suge to pay $107 million to his former partner, Lydia Harris, who sued him for a share of the company’s profits after she was forced out of the label.
DMX Loses House Over Dog Deal
DMX is about to lose his New York townhouse because he broke a contract with a company that makes clothing for dogs. DMX was ordered to pay $281,000 to the manufacturer after walking out on the deal in 2004. X hasn’t been able to come up with the money so he’s being forced to sell his Fifth Avenue townhouse to raise the cash. DMX was arrested in Miami this week for driving with a suspended license. Last month he arrested in Arizona for speeding, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
Ruben Studdard To Wed This Weekend
Ruben Studdard will marry his fiancée, Surata Zuri McCants, in a lavish wedding this Saturday in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Ruben will have 20 groomsmen, all decked out in black tuxedoes with black shirts and black vests. Ruben will wear a white vest and white bow tie. The wedding will take place at Canterbury United Methodist Church in the Mountainbrook neighborhood of Birmingham. Ruben and his bride obtained their marriage license on Monday.
Shaq Loses Badge Over Anti-Kobe Rap
Shaquille O’Neal has been fired as a special Sheriff’s deputy in Phoenix, Arizona because of his foul-mouthed freestyle against Kobe Bryant. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio appointed Shaq a special deputy in 2006; he even made Shaq a colonel in his ceremonial posse. But all of that’s over now because Shaq used profanity and the n-word while dissing Kobe Bryant onstage at a club on Sunday night. Sheriff Arpaio told the Associated Press yesterday, “I want his two badges back because if any one of my deputies did something like this, they’re fired. I don’t condone this type of racial conduct.”
Shaquille O’Neal seems to be fascinated with law enforcement. He was also given honorary cop status in Miami and L.A. when he played ball in those cities.
Stevie Wonder Plans Multiple Albums
Stevie Wonder’s got a lot of irons in the fire this summer. His 14-date Summer Night tour got underway this weekend and he’s working on two albums and considering a third. The first album, The Gospel Inspired By Lula, is an inspirational project dedicated to Stevie’s mother, who passed away two years ago. Stevie originally wanted to release the record in January of this year, to commemorate his late mom’s 77th birthday. But he wants to wait until the album is 100% correct. The second album Stevie Wonder is planning will be called Through the Eyes of Wonder and it’ll express how Stevie sees the world as a blind man. The third album is a proposed duet project with legendary jazz crooner Tony Bennett. They might remake some of Marvin Gaye’s songs and Quincy Jones might produce the whole thing. But the project is still just an idea at this point. Stevie told reporters, "I'm the last one to hear about it and the first one to agree. Definitely Tony and I talked about doing some stuff together and Quincy and I have always wanted to work together on a project. So if this is something that Quincy is doing and Tony and everyone has decided to kind of go in that direction ... obviously I'm a great fan of Tony Bennett and I've been since a little kid, you know, so I'm excited to be a part of it."
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