catalog

Ja Rule Would Sell His Catalog Under One Condition

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A lot of people are selling their music catalog these days in the rap game, and some deals are absolutely massive. For example, Metro Boomin sold a portion of his work in a $70 million deal, a high bar that other artists like Future also set. However, those kinds of deals aren’t for everyone, and Ja Rule in particular has some ground rules when it comes to potentially putting his records up for sale. While speaking to Bloomberg Business, the rapper expressed that he has been considering the sale. Still, there’s an important component to where he wants that sort of money to go in the long run.

“I’ve found out recently that my catalog is very lucrative,” Ja Rule remarked. “So I’ll be looking [to sell]. I’ve really been talking about doing a reversion deal where I would probably give up half my catalog and it would revert back to my family. I think it’s kinda hard to put a number on the value. Usually, the value of the music starts to go down as the artist starts to go away. The value of the music starts to depreciate.

Read More: Ja Rule Songs: Rapper’s Best Hits

Ja Rule Speaks On The Possibility Of A Catalog Sale

@bloombergbusiness

#Rapper and media mogul Ja Rule says he’s weighing. selling his #music catalogue. He sat down with Bloomberg’s Scarlet Fu and Romaine Bostick to discuss the value of music. #musictiktok #JaRuke #rap

♬ original sound – Bloomberg Business

“So it’s kinda weird but what’s happening now is right now we get less than a fraction of a cent for a stream, but that number is going up,” he went on. “It’s going up to about 15 percent. So with that happening, I think a lot of these companies are realizing the money that’s out there.” While he didn’t bring up a specific number, Ja Rule’s catalog must be worth quite the pretty penny. After all, beyond his established hip-hop legacy, he has eight Billboard Top 10 hits, three of those being No. 1 smashes, and two No. 1 albums.

Other prominent hip-hop figures have also sold their catalog, whether from the old guard, the new, or somewhere in between. Producer Zaytoven recently did so, as well as Chuck D selling a large part of Public Enemy’s work. For those less in tune with the industry, this might seem like a bizarre and almost detrimental move. Regardless, it sometimes ends up being the best financial move for artists to keep making their money, whereas others don’t see it happening anytime soon. For more updates and the latest news on Ja Rule, log back into HNHH.

Read More: Ja Rule & The Fyre Festival Scam

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Pop Smoke Has No More Music In The Vault, Rico Beats Confirms

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There is no more unreleased music from the late New York rapper Pop Smoke, according to producer/manager Rico Beats. Rico responded to a fan who wanted an update on when they can expect more posthumous music from Pop Smoke. The back-and-forth was shared on social media over the weekend.

“Who said he had music left,” Rico wrote back. “What else ya want pop died 3 years ago how much music ya think he did in one year? Y’all gotta be real.” From there, Rico claimed that Pop Smoke wouldn’t be happy with the posthumous music that’s available in his name. “If pop was a live he would not approved of 99 percent of the stuff they put out,” Rico said.

Pop Smoke At Paris Fashion Week

PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 15: Rapper Pop Smoke attend the Off-White Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 15, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images)

Pop Smoke’s estate has released two albums since his death in 2020. They dropped his debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, a few months after he was murdered during a home invasion. 50 Cent served as the executive producer on the project. A year later, they released Pop Smoke’s second and final studio album, Faith. Both projects featured a star-studded list of features that included Kanye West, Pusha T, Rick Ross, 42 Dugg, 21 Savage, The Neptunes, Bizzy Banks, Takeoff, Lil Tjay, Swae Lee, Future, Chris Brown, Dua Lipa, Pharrell, Kid Cudi, Quavo, Quavo, Lil Baby, DaBaby, Swae Lee, Future, and Kodak Black, among others.

This isn’t the first time that Pop Smoke’s associates have hinted at running out of unreleased music from the late artist. Following the release of Faith, his friend, Mike Dee, confirmed that they used almost all of his catalog to release that album. “I feel like, instead of dropping all thirty songs, I would have waited until now, till next year, that way his name will stay alive instead of just dropping it all at one time,” he said during an interview with Kalisha Perera at the time. “I’m guessing this is what he had left in the vault. Yeah.”

Rico Beats On Pop Smoke’s Posthumous Music

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Mannie Fresh Sells His Catalog To Reservoir Media

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Mannie Fresh has sold his music catalog to Reservoir Media for an undisclosed amount. The deal includes both publishing and recorded music rights. The iconic New Orleans artist discussed the decision during a recent interview with the outlet, Music Business Worldwide.

“It’s great to be joining up with Faith Newman and the entire Reservoir team. I’m grateful for their support, and I know they’ll take care of my music,” he said regarding the deal. Mannie has released two studio albums over the course of his career, including 2004’s The Mind of Mannie Fresh and 2009’s Return of the Ballin‘. Additionally, he appeared on many hit songs such as Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up,” Lil Wayne’s “Go DJ,” and more. He also worked with 2 Chainz, T-Pain, Big K.R.I.T., and Young Jeezy, among others. While at Cash Money Records, Mannie helped produce some of the label’s biggest hits.

Mannie Fresh In Louisiana In 2022

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 19: DJ Mannie Fresh performs during Shorty Gras at Mardi Gras World on February 19, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 2021 Mardi Gras parades were canceled in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

As of the end of 2022, Reservoir Media had spent $695 million on catalog acquisitions since its 2007 launch. “I was born and raised in Louisiana and witnessed Mannie’s meteoric rise from a local DJ in New Orleans to a globally acclaimed producer, writer, and performer who helped break some of the genre’s biggest talents,” said Rell Lafargue, Reservoir President and Chief Operating Officer. “It means a lot to me to continue to build Reservoir’s connection to creators like Mannie, who represents the highest caliber of contemporary music from New Orleans, and we’re pleased to be the new stewards of his hit music.”

Reservoir Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development Faith Newman also commented: “Mannie’s clever production cultivated a powerful moment for Southern hip-hop, and his distinctive sound helped pave the way for other producers for years to come. I have personally been a fan of his for decades, and it’s a pleasure to bring him into the Reservoir family.”

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Diddy In “No Rush” To Sell His Catalog, His Business Partner Says

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Despite many of his contemporaries selling off their music catalogs, Diddy is apparently in no rush to join them. According to Combs Enterprises President Tarik Brooks, Diddy plans to hold onto his music for the foreseeable future. Brooks discussed the music mogul’s financial plans during a recent interview with Trapital’s Dan Runcie.

“For us, we’re in no rush to get rid of a portfolio that could be a part of music’s evolution,” Brooks stated during the discussion. “Who knows how you think about those assets in the future?” Diddy’s catalog is one of the most iconic in the history of hip-hop. It features the work of numerous legendary artists including Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., Lil’ Kim, and many more.

Diddy At Cannes Film Festival

CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 22: Sean Combs attends the ‘Killing Them Softly’ Premiere during 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 22, 2012 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Brooks continued: “We have the benefit of being able to go slow and kinda take our time and basically run experiments at our own pace to figure out what we want to do. And so from that perspective, people have continually come through with offers, opportunities, and things. And we’ve purposely taken our time as we’ve thought about what Puff’s experience of music is gonna be over the next years as he climbs what he talks about as his second mountain.”

As for artists who have decided to sell either their entire catalog or portions of it, Metro Boomin, Zaytoven, Dr. Dre, Future, and Irv Gotti have all done so as of late. Diplo explained his decision to do so during an interview with TMZ, earlier this year. “It’s a great investment because when you stream music it just constantly goes,” he said. “So a record like ‘Lean On,’ one of my songs with Major Lazer, always has 400,000 streams. It’s always gonna generate capital so it’s a great investment.” Check out Tarik Brooks’ interview with Trapital below to see why Diddy is not joining the star-studded list.

Tarik Brooks’ Discussion With “Trapital”

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Snoop Dogg Lands Deal To Release New Albums & Distribute Death Row Catalog

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Snoop Dogg just struck a deal with former Apple executive Larry Jackson to release two new solo albums and distribute Death Row’s iconic catalog. Moreover, Jackson was Apple Music’s Global Creative Director, who’s gotten mentions from Kanye West, Drake, and many more. Recently, he started a new music company called gamma and partnered with a few other big names. In fact, gamma was behind the catalog’s availability on TikTok, following some removals from streaming services after years of shoddy artist payouts. Furthermore, Death Row’s discography contains classics like Snoop’s own Doggystyle, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, and Tupac’s All Eyez On Me.

To elaborate, gamma also has backing from A24, Todd Boehly’s Eldridge, and Apple themselves. Also, they reportedly have $1 billion in capital. Billboard described the company as “a one-stop-shop media company that creates, distributes, and markets content, from music to podcasts to films, offering resources and guidance to artists who want to build their brands and expand beyond music.” After the Long Beach MC’s ownership of Death Row, this is certainly an unclear but exciting step nonetheless. In addition, Billboard reported that the longtime partnership will revert rights back to the rapper after they “work together to enrich the value of the IP.”

Snoop Dogg’s New Deal: New Albums, Death Row Distribution, And More

Other artists that jumped onto Jackson’s new venture include Usher and Rick Ross. Furthermore, gamma aims to rival TikTok as a hub for music discovery and to create generational wealth and uplift culture for Black artists, making sure they can retain rights to their work. “It made sense for two Black men to come together to change the face of the industry,” Snoop expressed to Bloomberg concerning the team-up. “I didn’t want to partner with a regular company because they respect me and fear me so much, they wouldn’t wanna give me ideas.”

Perhaps one of these new Snoop albums will be Missionary, his previously announced collab with Dr. Dre. However, more exciting and potentially earth-shaking news surrounded the launch of gamma. Reportedly, Larry Jackson also reached out to Frank Ocean about his new company, according to Bloomberg. However, he didn’t say they were working on a specific project, so it’s just another dash of hope for one of the industry’s most elusive yet sought-after voices. Regardless, stick around on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Snoop Dogg and this new deal.

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De La Soul’s Entire Catalog Finally Available On All Streaming Platforms

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De La Soul just released their entire catalog on all streaming platforms and digital retailers, so their legendary work is now available for so many more people. Moreover, it’s been a long time coming, as the group fought hard to put their music into the digital world on their terms. Now, listeners can easily bump classics like 3 Feet High and Rising, Buhloone Mindstate, and De La Soul Is Dead. Furthermore, their incredibly creative sampling, indelibly influential lyricism, and game-changing artistry is sure to captivate even the youngest of hip-hop fans.

However, this news comes during a tough time for the group. Trugoy The Dove, who formed the trio alongside Posdnuos and Maseo, tragically passed away this year. Even with that cloud looming over their legacy, this is something that Pos believes will keep his memory alive. “We are excited to finally have our full back catalog available on all streaming platforms,” he stated. “At the same time, we are deeply saddened by the loss of our brother, Dave. His unique voice and talent will be missed, but his spirit will always live on through our music.”

De La Soul’s Catalog Finally Hits Streaming

Meanwhile, there were no shortage of tributes to Plug Two following the news of his loss. Whether from the old guard or new, hip-hop took a moment to recognize how important him and De La as a whole are to so many souls. With their music now bolstered by increased accessibility, their legacy is likely to only grow in profile and respect. After all, they redefined conventions in the genre as early as their formation in 1987. What’s more is that, in a time during which rap still built its blueprint, De La inspired millions to be creative and to trust themselves.

It’s that same sense of individualism and thinking outside the box that defined their career, not just their art. As Plugs One and Three fondly remembered Trugoy, they also acknowledged how he wanted the group to maintain its integrity. All in all, they ask that you listen to their music to honor The Dove and celebrate their legacy. Check out their debut album on Spotify above and come back to HNHH for the latest on De La Soul.
Long Live Trugoy The Dove.

Diplo Explains Recent Catalog Sale & What He Wants To Do With The Money

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Diplo says that there’s a growing trend for artists to sell their music catalogs because it’s more convenient to have the money upfront. That’s the reasoning he gave to explain his own decision to sell his Mad Decent Publishing catalog to Olivier Chastan‘s music rights and brand management company Iconoclast. When asked about the deal at LAX, Diplo revealed to TMZ what he intends to do with the money.

“It’s a great investment because when you stream music it just constantly goes. So a record like ‘Lean On,’ one of my songs with Major Lazer, always has 400,000 streams. It’s always gonna generate capital so it’s a great investment.” As for why keeping the catalog wouldn’t be a great investment for him, Diplo explained: “I don’t want to wait 20 years for it to reach the max. I just want money now so I can go do stuff with it.” As for what he wants to do with the money, he added that he wants to make a movie, invest in property, and more.

Diplo At The Grammys

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: Diplo attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Olivier Chastan explained Iconoclast’s decision to purchase Diplo’s catalog in a statement provided to Billboard. He described the body of work as “one of the most exciting and original catalogs where Brazilian Baile Funk and Angolan Kuduro mix with EDM and pop.”

“I first became aware of Mad Decent when Kevin Kusatsu and Diplo were working on the first Major Lazer album,” Chastan continued. “The sound was completely different, the songwriting utterly original and fresh-sounding, and the production uniquely creative. Our acquisition of the Mad Decent Publishing catalog illustrates our commitment to preserving and growing culturally significant art of any era including with artists that are shaping contemporary music.”

Diplo is far from the first artist to sell their catalog in recent years. Bruce Springsteen did so in 2021, bringing in $500 million in exchange. Justin Bieber also recently sold his catalog for $200 million while Dr. Dre sold a portion of his for just over $200 million.

Major Lazer’s “Lean On”

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Michael Jackson Estate Close To Finalizing $800M-$900M Deal For Singer’s Catalog: Report

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If there’s one catalog in the music industry that’s worth a billion, it’s Michael Jackson’s. Apparently, the late singer’s estate is working out a deal that would amount to at least $800M. Per Variety, Michael Jackson’s estate is in the middle of selling half of the interest in the singer’s catalog for $800M-$900. 

The details surrounding the sale aren’t clear, including the possible financial partner working with Sony Music on the acquisition. However, it’ll undoubtedly pay off big time. The sale possibly includes 50% of MJ’s publishing, revenue from recorded music, MJ: The Musical broadway show, and the upcoming biopic. However, others suggest other assets are involved in the sale. Still, Primary Wave Music reportedly owns Jackson’s stake in his publishing catalog. 

You could imagine that Michael Jackson’s catalog would be well worth the price tag attached to it, even for 50%. However, sources close to MJ’s estate told TMZ that they would never sell the catalog outright. The only way a 50/50 deal would work is if his estate retained 100% management and control. Still, working alongside Sony Music on the deal only makes sense. After all, that was Michael’s long-time label throughout his solo career.  

PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 31: Michael Jackson performs at the Super Bowl XXVII Halftime show at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Michael Jackson’s catalog is evidently in high demand to this day. 1982’s Thriller, for example, is one of the biggest-selling albums of all time and continues to do massive numbers to this day. That project alone is 30x platinum. 

The news comes on the heels of Lionsgate confirming a Michael Jackson biopic is in the works. With Jackson’s estate heavily involved, and his nephew Jaafar Jackson taking on the role of the pop star, the Antoine Fuqua-produced biopic will definitely rely on his biggest hits to convey the story accurately. 

At a time when many artists are selling their catalogs for millions of dollars, Michael Jackson’s catalog would undoubtedly top the list. We’ve witnessed legacy acts like Bruce Springsteen agree to the sale of their catalog for half a billion. Meanwhile, Justin Bieber sold his catalog for roughly $200M. Even Lil Wayne sold the Young Money catalog – Drake and Nicki Minaj’s recordings included – to Universal Music Group for $100M.

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Juice WRLD Estate Sells His Catalog

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Juice WRLD’s estate reportedly sold most of his catalog in a nine-figure deal, carried out quietly in early 2022. According to Billboard, independent music publisher and record label Opus Music Group now owns much of the late rapper’s material. Moreover, it includes 90% of his publishing rights, as well as the rights to 90% of his master recordings’ income. Not only did it include Juice WRLD’s released discography, but also hundreds of tracks that never saw the light of day. Juice released two albums, two posthumous albums, a collab tape with Future, a solo mixtape, and nine EPs.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 31: Juice Wrld performs at Made in America – Day 1 at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on August 31, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Arik Mazur/WireImage)

Furthermore, his label partners Interscope and Lil Bibby’s Grade A Productions kept their ownership of the “Lucid Dreams” star’s masters. Still, this deal raised eyebrows because of the secrecy surrounding its execution, as these reports just surfaced. However, the company that bought most of the publishing and income rights is apparently a fresh face in the industry. According to their website, Opus only represents two other artists. Moreover, these are pop and reggaetón stars Maluma from Colombia and Rauw Alejandro from Puerto Rico. Although they didn’t directly address the sale, they did speak to Billboard about the late artist in a statement. “To represent the body of work of Juice Wrld – whose cultural significance and generational influence can’t be overstated – is an honor and a responsibility,” they shared.

Meanwhile, this news comes months after Juice’s cousin criticized his ex-girlfriend and record label for allegedly “controlling” and “manipulating” the late rapper. While he didn’t specify which label, Juice signed to Lil Bibby’s imprint. Moreover, him and Interscope Records signed him in 2017 for $3 million. Regardless, Bibby organized the latest Juice WRLD Fest. It included performances form Trippie Redd, Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Tecca, G Herbo, and more.

Still, the late rapper’s legacy continues to live on and endure in the ears and hearts of millions. For example, he became the first artist to have four albums sell 500,000 copies each in a year, specifically 2022. Moreover, all four of his albums in his entire discography continued to dominate the charts. Let us know what you think of this sale in the comments and come back to HNHH for the latest on Juice WRLD.

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Justin Bieber Nearing Close In $200M Deal For Music Catalog

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More artists are selling the rights to their catalogs for exorbitant amounts. Justin Bieber is the latest to hop on this trend, and it seems like he could be cashing out on nearly a quarter million.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Biebs is closing in on what could be the biggest music rights acquisition in Hipgnosis Songs Capital’s history. The company reportedly placed a $200M bid on the Canadian singer’s catalog. The deal includes his entire discography — six albums, numerous singles, and several features.

Hipgnosis Songs Capital acquired some major catalogs over the past year. In May, the company dropped $100M to secure Justin Timberlake’s catalog including songs like “Cry Me A River.” Prior to that, Hipgnosis purchased Leonard Cohen’s catalog for an undisclosed amount.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 12: Justin Bieber visits the Wonderbrett dispensary on July 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Though there’s a lot of risk with purchasing artists’ catalogs, especially with younger music, Bieber’s older singles will certainly prove even more lucrative down the line.

Besides news about his catalog, Justin Bieber’s remained in headlines this week after calling out H&M. The clothing company began selling unofficial Bieber merch which he described as “trash.” The merch line included tote bags, phone accessories, and clothing with his likeness and lyrics. However, Bieber encouraged his loyal and dedicated following to boycott the collection.

“I didn’t approve any of the merch collection that they put up at H&M… all without my permission and approval. SMH I wouldn’t buy it if I were you,” he wrote on Instagram. “The H&M merch they made of me is trash and I didn’t approve it. Don’t buy it.”

Since then, the clothing retailer’s pulled all of their unofficial Bieber merch off of shelves. In a statement released to Forbes, the company reiterated that they “followed proper approval procedures.” However, they said that they won’t sell the items anymore “out of respect for the collaboration and Justin Bieber.”

Bieber has yet to respond but we’ll keep you posted if he does.