contract

Lupe Fiasco Alleges Lyor Cohen Tanked His Career After He Refused To Sign A 360 Deal

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Lupe Fiasco alleges that Lyor Cohen, the industry executive who has worked at Warner Music Group and Def Jam in addition to co-founding, 300 Entertainment, threatened to stop promoting his records if he refused to sign a 360 record deal. He recalled the alleged conversation during an appearance on Way Up With Angela Yee, last week. He says it occurred after the release of his second studio album, The Cool.

“I tell artists this because I think it’s important to let the artistic community know, this is what you’re really dealing with,” he began, as caught by VIBE. “I’m not making this up. I’m not gassing anything, and I’ll stand on this in the court of law. Lyor was like, ‘Yo if you don’t sign this 360 deal, we’re not promoting your records.’” He further alleged that Cohen told him: “Not only are we not promoting your records, we’re not promoting even the records that we give you.”

Read More: Lupe Fiasco’s “Kick, Push” Is The Perfect Song To Celebrate 18 Years Of “Food & Liquor”

Lupe Fiasco Performs During Hip Hop 50 Live Concert In N.Y.C.

US rapper Lupe Fiasco performs during the Hip Hop 50 Live concert, marking the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip hop, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City on August 11, 2023. A genre, a culture and a lifestyle all at once: hip hop has traveled from the block party to the billionaire’s club, soundtracked protest and celebration, and asserted seismic influence over the course of pop. The reigning music style evolved in rapid, anarchic ways, rocking the industry establishment that long resisted its power, and fully embodying the culture of youth even as it grew. This year hip hop turns 50, an anniversary that’s offered its elders, its fans, and the city that birthed it a milepost to reflect on its cultural weight. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite being willing to negotiate the terms of the 360 deal, it ended up falling through. “I didn’t sign, and my career was like ‘goodbye,’” he said. “My career ended at Lasers.” Fiasco dropped Lasers as his third studio album in 2011. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 after selling 200,000 copies in the first week. He’s since released a total of nine studio albums and none have charted as high.

Lupe Fiasco Discusses His Career

Check out Fiasco’s full comments on dealing with the business side of the music industry below. He dropped his ninth studio album, Samurai, back in June. Be on the lookout for further updates on Lupe Fiasco on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Lupe Fiasco Divulges On What Happened With His Kanye West & Pharrell Supergroup

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Stephen A Smith Wants More Money Than Dak Prescott With His Next ESPN Contract

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Stephen A Smith says that he deserves to be paid over $100 million by ESPN for his next contract and cited Dak Prescott’s deal with the Dallas Cowboys as evidence of his market value. While speaking with Chris Wallace for the latest episode of his Max series, Smith discussed his future with the company as he’s on the last year of his current deal.

“I’m not getting specific as it pertains to numbers, because only a fool discusses his own negotiations while negotiating,” Smith began. “So I’m not going to go that far. What I would say to you is, I would ask, respectfully, pay attention to the industry. See what people are getting paid. See how much money they’re making and what they’re bringing to the table. Look at look at their ratings, look at their revenue that they’re generating, and look at mine. And so we all want what the market bears. Dak Prescott just signed a contract for $240 million he’s making 60 million a year.”

Read More: Stephen A Smith Explains Why People Are Wrong About Shannon Sharpe IG Sex Scandal

Stephen A Smith Speaks During Invest Fest

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 25: Stephen A. Smith speaks onstage during Day 3 of the 2024 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center on August 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

When Wallace noted that Prescott is the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Smith retorted: “Who has won two playoff games in eight years, I’ve been number one for 12. I’m sorry, in our respective industries, I win and I’m fully aware of what I’m worth, and I will never apologize to that for anybody.” Prescott inked his massive four-year, $240 million extension back in September, just before the regular season started. The deal made him the highest-paid player in the league on a per-year basis.

Stephen A Smith Discusses His Future At ESPN

On his current deal, Smith reportedly earns about $12 million annually. Check out his full comments on his next contract below. Be on the lookout for further updates on Stephen A Smith on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Nicki Minaj Drags Stephen A Smith For Defending Jay-Z Amid Super Bowl Controversy

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Kim Kardashian Unveils Son Saint West’s “Extensive” YouTube Contract

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Social media gives fans around the world the opportunity to feel closer than ever to their favorite celebrities. While this certainly has the potential to be a positive thing, it can also go very wrong. For this reason, it’s no surprise that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s children have some pretty strict guidelines to follow when it comes to their online presence.

Recently, for example, Kim revealed that she allowed her 8-year-old son Saint to create a YouTube channel. In order to do so, however, she had him sign a lengthy contract. “Saint signed a solid contract for this YouTube channel,” the SKIMS founder wrote on her Instagram Story this week. “He better not breach [winking emoji].”

Read More: Saint West’s Latest Basketball Highlight Reel Might Just Prove He’s A Star In The Making

Kim Kardashian Has Saint Agree Not To Share Personal Family Information

Per the contract, Saint is not allowed to share any personal family information, can’t film while his sister North is recording music, or post content without getting it approved by an adult first. This appears to be a pretty simple and healthy set of rules, and hopefully, Saint will be able to stick to it without any issues. Instagram users in the Hollywood Unlocked comments section agree that this was a good way to teach the child about protecting his and his family members’ privacy on the internet. While this is particularly pertinent in his case, fans note that it’s important for all kids who are growing up with access to social media.

“I love this!!!” one commenter says. “This is really cute,” another writes. What do you think of Kim Kardashian having Saint West sign a contract before launching his YouTube channel? Are you surprised or not? Do you think this is a good way to teach him about protecting his privacy online? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Kim Kardashian Takes Saint West To A Chaotic Lakers Game

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Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Ink “Verzuz” Deal With Elon Musk & X

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Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have agreed on a deal to distribute Verzuz through Elon Musk’s platform, X (formerly Twitter). The two announced the move during an activation in Cannes, France on Wednesday, as caught by Billboard. Together, Beatz and Timbaland will maintain their full 100% ownership and creative control of their platform. They founded Verzuz during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Of the new deal, Beatz said in a press release: “We are beyond thrilled to have found the best partner for Verzuz. Not only are we excited to have Verzuz on X, we’re excited to help X build the biggest entertainment company in the world. I would like to thank Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Brett Weitz, Mitchell Smith and the entire X team for believing in the Verzuz vision. We can’t wait to get to work.” Timbaland added: “We are thrilled to partner with X, the most innovative platform globally. Our goal has always been to bring Verzuz to the world, which we can now do bigger than ever.”

Read More: Timbaland & Swizz Beatz Win Cultural Influence Award, “Verzuz” To Return: “We’re Gonna Come Back Strong”

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Speak During BET Hip Hop Awards

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 03: In this image released on October 10, 2023, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland are seen onstage during the BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 3, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/FilmMagic)

X CEO Linda Yaccarino continued: “X is so proud to partner with trailblazing creators, artists and entrepreneurs Swizz Beatz and Timbaland. Our platform stands at the forefront of innovation, and Verzuz defines the essence of an innovative content experience. As we continue to work with the most exciting voices to bring premium content to X, there is no better fit than this series. Together we will redefine how consumers engage with their favorite entertainment, one Verzuz at a time.”

“Verzuz” Partners With X

Beatz and Timbaland previously partnered on distribution with the platform, Triller. Be on the lookout for further updates on Verzuz on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Say They Still Own 100% Of “Verzuz”

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The Notorious B.I.G. Was Allegedly Preparing To Leave Diddy & Bad Boy Prior To His Death

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The Notorious B.I.G. was apparently preparing to leave Bad Boy Records and Diddy behind in the months preceding his tragic death in 1997, according to a new report from Rolling Stone. The outlet explained the situation as part of a broader investigation into Diddy, amid the numerous allegations the label’s founder is facing. Biggie’s lawyers were allegedly focused on getting back his publishing rights at the time.

“I will never give it up until I’m dead and my bones are crushed into powder,” Combs told the lawyers, according to The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, as noted by Rolling Stone. Hip-hop photographer Monqiue Bunn further confirmed the rumor, adding: “[Biggie] was absolutely about to leave Puff. I know for a fact [because] he told me that.” Another source told the outlet: “Everybody wanted to leave Puffy. Everybody leaves him.”

Read More: Diddy’s Legal Team Addresses Bombshell Rolling Stone Allegations

The Notorious B.I.G. & Diddy Perform Together

American rappers Notorious BIG (also known as Biggie Smalls, born Christopher Wallace, 1972 – 1997) (left) and Sean Combs (also known as Puff Daddy and P Diddy) perform onstage, Anaheim California, circa 1994. (Photo by Nitro/Getty Images)

Rolling Stone also uncovered a new allegation in their investigation which stems from Diddy’s time at Howard University. Citing a friend of his college girlfriend, they reported on an alleged incident outside of one of the dorm buildings. The friend claimed Diddy showed up “belligerent” and “screamed and hollered and acted a stone fool until she [the girlfriend] came downstairs.” When she did, Diddy allegedly used a belt to hit her “all over the place.” The outlet spoke with multiple other alleged witnesses of the incident as well.

Rolling Stone Covers New Allegations About Diddy

 
 
 
 
 
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In a response to Rolling Stone’s piece, Diddy’s lawyer, Jonathan Davis, said that his client, “cannot address every allegation picked up by the press from any source, no matter how unreliable.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Diddy on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Boosie Badazz Goes Off On Diddy For Hitting Cassie, Reveals Worst Part Of The Assault Video

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Caitlin Clark Extended Record-Shattering $5 Million Offer From Ice Cube’s BIG3: Details

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When you think of college basketball as a whole this year, Caitlin Clark is the name that immediately comes to mind. With her range unlimited both literally and figuratively, she is destined for greatness in the WNBA when she undoubtedly goes number one overall. For those wondering, the Indiana Fever hold that pick in the draft. The Iowa Hawkeye guard and her squad are in the midst of a quest to snatch the March Madness title. They are currently four games away, as they look to advance past the five-seeded Colorado Buffaloes in the Sweet 16 Saturday March 30. Everyone’s eyes are on Caitlin Clark, especially Ice Cube and the BIG3, according to TMZ Sports.

The competitive 3-on-3 basketball league has extended an outlandish offer to the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. Cube is willing to pay Clark $5 million to play a possible 10 games after the NCAA tournament. However, she does not have to forfeit her WNBA dream either. Apparently, only two of the Indiana Fever’s game would interfere with the BIG3 schedule too. Cube expressed that he wanted to keep this a secret, but he is also so excited about this possibility as he sees this as a win-win for women in sports and the BIG3.

Read More: Kodak Black & 6ix9ine Collab Sent Former’s Career On Downward Spiral, Boosie Badazz Says

Ice Cube Thinks Caitlin Clark Would Transform Basketball Even Beyond The BIG3

While this is a big deal on face value, what else makes this contract so massive for Caitlin? Well, the highest paid WNBA player last season was Erica Wheeler, making $242,000. There is a good chance she would earn more than that based on her talent. However, millions of dollars are most likely not going to happen unfortunately. Additionally, Clark would become the first female hooper in the BIG3. That alone could have a ripple effect for other talents at the collegiate or pro level. More is sure to come on this in the coming weeks, so stay tapped in with us going forward.

What are your thoughts on Caitlin Clark receiving $5 million to play in Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league? Should the Iowa Hawkeye star take the offer, why or why not? How much could this help future female athletes? Will they win the March Madness tournament? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Caitlin Clark, Ice Cube, and the BIG3. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the worlds of basketball and sports.

Read More: MF Doom & Madlib’s “Madvillainy” Receives RIAA Gold Certification 20 Years Later

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Kanye West Comments On Label Contracts Resurface After “Vultures 1” Success Independently

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Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s collab album Vultures did not come out in collaboration with a record label, and that means the artists earned a whole lot more cash than usual. Moreover, Billboard recently released a report on their estimated earnings from this release method, only partnering with distributor Label Engine to put the record out commercially. After its No. 1 debut on the Billlboard 200 chart, we can assume that they netted a lot of money from not having to split this with a label. As such, the outlet believes that they took home about $986,000 from this supposed series’ first installment.

Furthermore, this made them look back at Ye’s previous 2020 comments on label contracts. He advocated for artists to earn at least 80% of their music’s profits and full ownership of their copyright that they can lease out to labels and publishers for a limited time. Label Engine, Vultures‘ distributor, indicates that clients get 82.5% of revenue, something that Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign have plenty of leverage to raise in their favor. But the outlet thinks that this number (under the assumption that 5% of earnings went to the distributor) goes up when considering global streams and publishing.

Read More: Kanye West Reveals Yeezy Earnings Following DIY Super Bowl Ad

Kanye West Performing At Coachella 2019

Kanye West Vultures Earnings Independent Profit Hip Hop News
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: Kanye West performs Sunday Service during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 21, 2019 in Indio, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella)

Of course, these numbers hinge on streaming success and some additional sales for a slight boost. This situation is a big change from Kanye West’s old contracts, such as his 14% royalty rate for The College Dropout. In earlier contracts, he would’ve had to reach this commercial success seven times over to reach the same amount of profits Vultures netted. Sure, this is also only possible for someone of the Chicago rapper’s magnitude, plus Ty Dolla’s own success and that of their featured guests. As such, this is independent in the technical sense of the term; Ye is no indie darling on the industry hustle.

Also, we must consider all the money behind promotional, budgetary, and marketing benefits that partnering with labels provided in the past. Given the Yeezy creative’s antisemitic behavior, this extra push that his albums had to become mainstream cultural benchmarks isn’t there anymore. But add onto this clothing sales, and there’s been a lot of revenue to collect around Vultures, for better or worse. For more news and the latest updates on Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign, and Vultures, come back to HNHH.

Read More: Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign “Vultures 1” Review

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Troy Ave Claims He Rejected A $20 Million Label Offer: “I Said No Thanks”

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Troy Ave says he shot down a $20 million offer from a record label. He mentioned the bold business move in a post on Instagram, earlier this week. Captioning a photo of himself posing next to a Maserati and a Ferrari, he wrote: “Major label tried to offer me 20 Million … I said no thanx Im all white,” with a winking emoji. In a comment on the post, he added: “IT COST WAY MORE TO LIVE ON THE EAST COAST.”

Fans shared supportive messages in the comments section as well. One wrote: “2 of my top 5 favorite whips.” Another added: “Yo my boy please what ever you do just keep doing music [fire emojis]. I f*ck with you since I came home that song that chick ain’t yours is my sh*t and I love music f*ck with.”

Read More: Troy Ave Claims Jay-Z Recorded Kendrick Lamar “Control” Response

Troy Ave Poses With Benny The Butcher

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 12: Troy Ave and Benny the Butcher attend Tana Talk 4 Listening Party on March 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

The claim about the label offer comes after Ave made headlines, earlier this month, for threatening to fire off a diss track at Uncle Murda. The rapper had mentioned Ave in his annual “Rap Up 2023.” In response, Ave wrote on Instagram: “Damn do I gotta ‘WRAP this n***a UP.’” Regardless of the post, DJ Self of Power 105 revealed afterward that Ave doesn’t plan to release the response. “Troy Ave has expressed to me that he has a response to the response of Uncle Murda’s response, do that make sense?” he said. “Out of love and respect for Uncle Murda, he has decided not to drop the song. He said he recorded something because he’s an artist, and artists, you know, they pen [their] words down.” Check out Ave’s latest post on Instagram below.

Troy Ave Claims Label Offered Him $20 Million

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Troy Ave (@troyave)

In addition to his music career, Ave has been hosting The Facto Show podcast. Be on the lookout for further updates on the rapper on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Troy Ave Won’t Drop Uncle Murda Response Track Out Of “Love & Respect,” DJ Self Claims

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Zion Willimson’s Contract No Longer Guaranteed

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The final three years of Zion Williamson’s contract are no longer guaranteed due to the amount of time that Williamson has missed due to injury. Because Williamson missed more than 22 games last season, he triggered a clause in his contract that converted his 2025-28 salary from guaranteed to non-guaranteed. The main consequence of this is that the Pelicans can now waive Williamson without financial penalties after the 2024/25 season. However, Williamson can earn back his guaranteed status by appearing in enough games and hitting specific weigh-in checkpoints.

This season, Williamson is averaging 22 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists as the Pelicans have started 17-12 and currently hold the sixth seed in the West. However, Williamson has been hit with criticism on multiple occasions for seeming out of shape and having several poor performances. Williamson’s alleged ex, pornstar Moriah Mills, told Williamson to “get on the treadmill” and cut things like soda from his diet.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Claims Chefs Have Told Him Zion Williamson Will “Eat The Table”

Zion Williamson Cops To Poor IST Performance

One of the games for which Williamson has faced the most criticism is the Pelicans’ In-Season Tournament semifinal against the Lakers. “I got to be better. I got to be more aggressive, finding my shot. And I got to do more things to get my team going. I think I was too laid-back tonight, and I just can’t do that. And defensively I got to be better. I have a problem where I literally just try to hunt the best shot possible every time, but my teammates, they expect more from me. I expect more from myself. But I got to just trust my game. I just got to be more aggressive. I think if I’m more aggressive that energy will definitely carry over,” Williamson said after going 13/2/2 in the 44-point loss.

Shaq was especially critical of Williamson’s performance in the game. “Does not run hard — it’s not a diss, this is gonna be a lesson from one great big man to another guy that can be a great. Does not run hard. I had the same problem my first, second year — I thought I was running hard. Charles talks about this all the time, my talent’s gonna get me 20. When I start going to 20, 30, and 40, it’s because I started doing certain things. He doesn’t create easy points for himself. I saw a couple times when he had a couple times at the basket, he don’t seal, right? He doesn’t demand the ball … and he doesn’t have that look. He just doesn’t have that look. And he doesn’t rebound. He does not rebound,” Shaq said.

Read More: Zion Williamson Issues Response To Shaq & Charles Barkley

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Drake Kick Stream: Canadian Wants $1B Contract With Platform, Reacts To $0.20 Tip From Viewer

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At this point in his career, there’s little that Drake has to cross off his bucket list or prove to anyone else. Still, as he moves into his late 30s, the Toronto native has made it known that retirement isn’t on the horizon for him anytime soon. Even if he doesn’t follow up For All The Dogs with another LP for a minute, Drake is at least providing entertainment in other ways. Recently, he’s taken up streaming in tandem with Kick, sometimes recruiting Lil Yachty to join him for fun nights of gambling and laughter.

This weekend, the “Nice For What” artist was rolling solo while going live online, sipping on a pink drink in the tropics. “This is about you more than it is about me,” he said while sitting outside enjoying his beverage by the pool. “F**k Drake for the night. That’s what she said,” the father of one quips in the clip below. “No, but honestly tho, thank you for the $0.20 tip. I appreciate that, it’ll go to a good cause,” he promised the loyal viewer with a straight face.

Read More: Drake & Camila Cabello Have A Turks & Caicos Getaway On Jet Skis, Spark Dating Rumors

Drake Hopes to Grow His Fortune on Kick

“We’re giving away [a million] tonight. I want you guys to get rich, I want you to feel rich. I hope you get blessed tonight. We got people calling in on FaceTime. This is really about blessing the people for the holidays. Happy holidays to you all, whatever you celebrate. Going into the new year, I hope I can put some money into yuh pockets,” the multi-talent told viewers.

Afterward, Drake impressed himself by successfully navigating through the stream, telling the platform he wants a billion-dollar deal from them. “I’m available,” he teased before taking a hit of his hookah. Would you like to see Champagne Papi spend more time streaming on Kick? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Drake & Lil Yachty’s Bromance Continues As Canadian Urges Kick To Sign His Collaborator

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