Month: May 2022
Drake Reportedly Signed A New Deal With Universal Music Group For $400 Million
The biggest star in hip-hop just made the biggest move of his career. Variety reports that Drake has signed a new deal with Universal Music Group that could be worth up to $400 million. During a first-quarter earnings call, the company’s chairman Sir Lucian Grainge announced the deal, which is described as an “expansive, multi-faceted” endeavor “that encompasses recordings, publishing, merchandise, and visual media projects.” Drake had completed the deal in 2021 but it looks like he won’t be taking Russ’ advice anytime soon after re-upping for a “Lebron-sized” payday, which Variety’s sources say could reach that above-mentioned figure.
Drake’s signing follows the announcement of a similar deal by his Toronto compatriot The Weeknd (who may soon be going by just Abel). Earlier this year, it was reported that The Weeknd had also signed a similar expansion of his prior deal with Republic (a subsidiary of Universal) which would likewise cover “recorded music, publishing, merchandise, and video.” These deals have become quite popular, according to Variety, as a way for major labels to keep the industry’s biggest stars under their umbrellas as technological advances and cultural shifts have begun enticing more and more artists to strike out on their own outside the label system (i.e. Russ).
Even among those who haven’t commanded the sort of mind-boggling streaming success Drake has, bigger deals are keeping rappers like Lil Durk and Trippie Redd closer to home. Not for nothing, Trippie Redd’s label, TenThousand Projects, is also a subsidiary of Universal, while Durk’s imprint, Alamo, is under Sony. If the major labels are throwing around this kind of money (while buying up pieces of the various DSPs), it looks like their continued dominance over the music industry will remain assured for some time to come.
Black Star’s New Album “No Fear Of Time” Produced By Madlib Is Here
It’s been roughly a quarter of a century since Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) and Talib Kweli released their first album as Black Star. It’s often regarded as one of the greatest — if not the greatest — joint projects in hip-hop’s history but it’s evidently taken a minute for the two rappers to regroup and release their sophomore album as Black Star.
Bennett Raglin/WireImage/Getty Images
The two announced their new album, No Fear Of Time last month after heavily teasing its release over the past year. They debuted a handful of songs on their Luminary podcast with Dave Chappelle, The Midnight Miracle, which is expected to debut a second season this summer.
Black Star partnered with Luminary for the release of No Fear Of Time. The album debuted today on the network with 9 songs in total. Recorded “guerrilla-style in different hotel rooms,” the latest body of work from Bey and Talib is entirely produced by Madlib.
“With No Fear of Time, Black Star has crafted an important record and a different kind of record release, partnering with Luminary—a cultural label that is becoming home for the world’s most thoughtful artists,” Rishi Malhotra, CEO Of Luminary, said of the new project.
For now, the project is solely available on Luminary with a paid subscription. Make sure you check that out on Luminary and let us know if it was worth the wait.
Pusha T Admits He Hates Clipse’s “Til the Casket Drops”
Pusha T admitted that he “hates” Clipse’s third and final album, Til the Casket Drops, during an interview with Elliott Wilson for Tidal published on Tuesday. The comment comes after Pusha T and No Malice released Clipse’s debut album, Exclusive Audio Footage, onto streaming services, earlier this week.
“I hate it. I hate it. And when a song comes on, like ‘I’m Good,’ man, this was a little bit of a bop. Hate it,” he said.
Leigh Vogel / Getty Images
He continued: “Soon as I find myself bopping a little bit too much — ah, damn. And there’s another thing. Bro, Malice is telling you the whole time, he’s leaving. You hear it the whole way through the album. … The transition is happening, the album’s out, I’m touring and he comes and brings me a book and says, ‘Man, you probably should go read my book. But I think you should just go solo because I don’t want to do this.'”
Til the Casket Drops was released in 2009 and was the duo’s first LP not entirely produced by The Neptunes. The tracklist features appearances from Kanye West, Cam’ron, Pharrell, Yo Gotti, and more.
Shortly after the release of the project, Pusha T and No Malice announced they would be splitting up and focusing on their respective solo careers.
Later in the interview, Pusha T also discussed the making of Lord Willin’, Clipse’s 2002 breakthrough album.
“Man, I created most of Lord Willin’ at Babyface’s house,” he explained. “We were creating Lord Willin’ and Babyface wanted to work with the Neptunes. And they told him, no, they couldn’t work because they were finishing our album. And he was like, ‘No, no, no, no, no. I’m going to pay [recording costs] for the [Clipse] album. So I’ll pay for the Clipse to come. I’m going to fly you guys out here.’ … And it was Babyface. He got whatever type of compound he got. But Babyface walked around barefoot the whole time. I’m doing my street raps, he’s somewhere barefoot, beads and a vest with a guitar.”
Push’s newest comments on his work with Clipse come as fans have gained hope for a reunion between Push and No Malice. The two collaborated together on Nigo’s I Know Nigo! as well as Pusha T’s new album, It’s Almost Dry.
Check out Til The Casket Drops below.
[Via]
Kendrick Lamar Hints At “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” Being A Double Album
While details remain sparse regarding Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated upcoming album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, the renowned Compton rapper published a photo of two separate discs on his website, oklama.com, on Tuesday. Despite Lamar not providing any context to the picture, fans are now theorizing that the project will be a double-LP.
One of the CDs appears to have been marked with the word “Morale” while the other reads “Steppers.” Both discs have “master copy” written on them. In addition to the discs, Lamar can be seen holding a hardcover copy of a book bearing the same name as the album title.
Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images
Earlier this month, Lamar confirmed that Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers will be released on May 13.
“All factual information for this release will come directly from this source only,” he said at the time. “Appreciate your patience.”
The album will be Lamar’s first full-length effort since 2017’s Damn. While he hasn’t released a project of his own in the years since, he recently teamed up with his cousin, Baby Keem, for “Family Ties,” and “Range Brothers,” off of The Melodic Blue. He was honored with the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for “Family Ties.”
Lamar first announced the then-untitled project back in August 2021 with a statement on his website. In the post, he hinted at the themes of the project and revealed he’d be leaving Top Dawg Entertainment after the album’s release.
“As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood,” Lamar wrote at the time. “May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling. There’s beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I’ve prayed for you all.”
Check out Lamar’s latest teaser below.
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Yo Gotti Gifts Lehla Samia With $300,000 Pink Lamborghini Urus
Memphis rap mogul Yo Gotti signed his first R&B artist to his record label CMG, and he’s sending her out in style. Yo Gotti took to Instagram to announce the latest signee to his newly developed record company CMG Records. Lehla Samia is the first female R&B artist to be signed to Yo Gotti’s label […]
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Drake Signs ‘LeBron-Sized’ Deal with Universal Music Group
Drake is in a league of his own.
The rap superstar has signed what’s being called a “LeBron-sized” deal with Universal Music Group. According to Variety, the expansive, multi-faceted partnership includes recordings, publishing, merchandise, and visual media projects.
The announcement was made during Universal CEO Sir Lucian Grainge’s Q1 earnings call on Tuesday. The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Variety claims that it could be worth north of $400 million.
Drake remains one of UMG’s most bankable stars. His music reportedly brings in $50 million annually for the company. Since 2014, he has moved over 37 million album units and he is the first artist ever to surpass 50 billion combined streams on Spotify.
After Drake released Scorpion in 2018, he reportedly became a free agent, but UMG was able to renegotiate a new deal with its most successful artist.
“Drake benefits from a deep catalog that performs well,” said one industry source. “Also he became a free agent at a young age.”
Drake’s fellow Canadian The Weeknd recently extended his deal with UMG’s Republic Records. The long-term partnership includes global merchandising and branding, as well as future projects and releases.
Spotted: Wendy Williams Hits Met Gala After Party with Jason Lee
Jason Lee of Hollywood Unlocked was spotted with Wendy Williams at Cardi B’s Boom Boom Met Gala After-Party in New York City on Monday, May 2nd.
Wendy Williams was at the Standard Hotel in New York City for a Met Gala After-Party after being away from the public for over a year due to health difficulties.
“Wendy is better than ever and I’m confident she’s returning to TV,” said Jason Lee.
In February, TheJasmineBrand noted Fox Soul’s Al Reynolds speaking on a forthcoming multi-million dollar podcast deal for Williams, citing it as “word on the streets,” emphasizing the credibility of the murmurs by stating “these are the deep deep streets.”
He added, “Now, we know that Spotify gave Joe Rogan $100 million. Everybody know that you heard it first right here on ‘Fox Soul,’ that I think that Wendy Williams is up to something and that’s why she’s not posting or anything. I think this is a lead-up to a bigger announcement that we’re going to see coming down the pipe on her newfound home.”
In March, Jason Lee was hired as YE’s New Media Manager, placing the Hollywood Unlocked owner is now in charge of YE’s public image and broker deals.
The post Spotted: Wendy Williams Hits Met Gala After Party with Jason Lee appeared first on The Source.
Cardi B and Playboy Host ‘The Boom Boom After Party’ Following The Met Gala
Following fashion’s largest event of the year, the annual Met Gala, PLAYBOY, the globally renowned, iconic lifestyle brand, teamed up with Cardi B to co-host The Boom Boom After Party.
The after-party featured dancers dressed in the traditional Playboy Bunny costume, which was produced nearly seven decades ago and is now housed at The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in commemoration of the Met Gala 2022 theme “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” The initial outfits debuted at The Playboy Club in 1960, and were created by commissioned artists, including Zelda Wynn Valdes, a Black American fashion designer. Other art institutes across the country, notably the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, have more Playboy Bunny outfits. The Playboy Bunny outfit was the first service uniform to be registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office in the 1960s (USPTO).
Cardi B became the Playboy family’s first creative director in residence in December of 2021. Cardi’s responsibilities include artistic direction for co-branded fashion and sexual wellness merchandise collections, as well as digital editorial, experiential activations, and other projects. She’s also the Founding Creative Director and a founding member of CENTERFOLD, Playboy’s creator-led platform. In addition to Cardi B, party attendees included Billie Eilish, Awkwafina, Dove Cameron, Jared Leto, Sebastian Stan and Donatella Versace, among many others.
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Photo Recap: Chloe Bailey, Normani, Gunna, Kid Cudi & More Attend D’USSÉ Cognac Met Gala After Party
To close up the Met Gala’s annual star-studded evening, D’USSÉ Cognac threw an exclusive Met Gala after-party at Cipriani’s in New York.
Billie Eilish, Jared Leto, Normani, Chloe Bailey, Gunna, Kid Cudi, Winnie Harlow, Mark Ronson, Damson Idris (Snowfall), Terrence J, Christian Combs, NBA player Russell Westbrook, DJ and model Chantel Jeffries, among others, were seen toasting the night’s celebration of fashion and art with D’USSÉ custom cocktails and D’USSÉ XO.
Burna Boy and Saint JHN also gave a special electric performance to wrap out the event.
You can see images from the night below.
The post Photo Recap: Chloe Bailey, Normani, Gunna, Kid Cudi & More Attend D’USSÉ Cognac Met Gala After Party appeared first on The Source.