Naomi Sharon arrived on the scene in 2019, and immediately drew comparisons to Sade. Not only in terms of her production choices and lovesick subject matter, but her sultry vocals. “Breeze” and “The Moon” were chilled-out singles that split the difference between pop and R&B. Sharon hasn’t broken through the way that peers like Jorja Smith and Snoh Aalegra have, but she drew lots of attention on social media recently. It wasn’t to discuss her music so much as her label situation. Despite not being considered a household name, Sharon is signed to one of the biggest artists in the world: Drake.
Not only is Naomi Sharon the first female artist signed to OVO Sound, she’s the only one. She’s the first lady of the label, as evidenced by her debut album, Obsidian. The thing that caught most fans off guard was the fact that Drake has rarely discussed Sharon or her music publicly. He signed her to the label in 2023 but the two have never collaborated. For an artist like Drake, who has a track record of working with singers in Sharon’s style, this was odd.
Fans took to the Instagram comment section to voice their confusion over Drake’s decision to promote artists outside of his label. “Why would he promote [Sexxy] Red and not his own artist,” one user asked. Another accused Drake of always putting his own music first, and failing to do the legwork to make sure his OVO artists get the exposure they need to pop. “If y’all learned nothing Drake don’t do the foot work for his artist,” they reasoned. “He makes them get it out the mud and uses them for his own albums and needs.”
Naomi Sharon talked about working with OVO during an interview with NME. She noted that they have a very “easy going” atmosphere in the studio, but that she had to request a goal so that she knew what to aim for in terms of song amount and due date. “I was like, ‘No, I need a goal,’” she said. “I was planning to go to Toronto for three weeks to record a little bit… We ended up in the studio making a song every day, which is very special.” While the working process may have been tricky, Sharon did state that her label boss has been helpful as a mentor. “Drake is one example of being an icon and doing the right things with music,” she told Clash. “He gives good advice.”
Hopefully this recent attention will lead to Sharon and Drake linking up on a song.
Larry Jackson is a prominent figure in the music industry, albeit in the background of what hits the screens and streaming apps. His career trajectory and recent ventures have positioned him as a key player in shaping the future of music distribution and artist management. This was also meant to remain in the background. However, thanks to a Joe Budden Podcast episode, the public have begun to wonder a little bit more about Larry Jackson and his music company, gamma.
Larry Jackson’s career is marked by significant contributions to the music industry, particularly during his tenure at Apple Music. As the former Global Creative Director of the music streaming app, Jackson was instrumental in curating exclusive content and fostering relationships with top-tier artists. Specifically, he was a top exec at Apple Music just around the time it became the dominant streaming service it is today. One of the ways he was successful in transforming Apple Music into a major streaming hub was by enlisting Drake and Taylor Swift for Apple Music’s advertising campaigns. He also helped negotiate the major deal that allowed Apple Music an exclusive window to stream Drake’s 2016 album, Views. However, Swift would later challenge Apple’s royalty policies during the launch of the music service, and this led to Apple agreeing to provide full royalties to rights holders throughout its free trial period.
Jackson had also held roles at RCA, J Records, and Interscope in the past. However, it was his time at Apple that built his extensive network. Today, he can boast of close ties with several music industry giants. These include Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and of course, Drake. As a radio savant, Jackson also pioneered many artists and celebrities curating and hosting their own shows. This includes Nicki Minaj’s Queen Radio, Virgil Abloh’s Televised Radio, Kendall Jenner’s ZaZa World Radio, and Lil Wayne’s Young Money Radio.
In 2023, Larry Jackson launched a new company named Gamma, a modern media and technology enterprise. Gamma’s co-founders are Jackson and former Interscope CFO, Ike Youssef. The company’s LinkedIn describes it as “a modern media and technology enterprise designed to revolutionize how artist-entrepreneurs create, distribute, and monetize their content.” Interestingly, the company also receives financial backing from larger entities like Eldridge Industries, A24, and even Apple.
The company offers creative and business services across all artistic and commercial touchpoints. These include: content creation, distribution, and direct-to-consumer products. Gamma’s roster also boasts influential creators like Usher, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, and French Montana. Altogether, the company’s capabilities claim to oversee over 10,000 releases monthly through its distribution platform, Vydia. Gamma also has a stake in the Death Row Records catalog.
The Theory Behind Drake And Larry Jackson’s Relationship
Joe Budden Podcast might have actually cracked the code on why the rappers are really mad at Drake. IT GETS DEEP pic.twitter.com/nYnp5oy1Sr
Drake’s relationship with Larry Jackson dates back to their collaboration at Apple Music, where Jackson signed deals for exclusive content, including Drake’s OVO Sound Radio. This partnership likely led to the two developing a closer relationship. Drake even referenced Jackson in his lyrics on “Family Feud” with Lil Wayne, which allegedly motivated Jackson to start Gamma. Therefore, it’s not far-fetched that this relationship may have sparked a desire for a deeper involvement in the business side of music for Drake. This is why Joe Budden’s comments haven’t gone unnoticed. As the ongoing rap battle between Drake and his counterparts continues, Budden alluded to Drake’s likely co-ownership of Gamma fueling conflicts with other rappers who have released music through the company. These include Rick Ross, and French Montana.
Is Corporate Drake The Real Enemy?
Drake has a history of supporting emerging artists. Now, Budden’s speculations have led many to believe that Drake’s endorsements are not just acts of mentorship, but strategic business moves. This implies that Drake also receives hefty financial benefits from promoting rising artists. The theory also gains traction considering Drake’s business acumen and previous ventures in the music industry. Nowadays, the lines between “support,” and “investment” are becoming more blurred as time goes by. Nonetheless, if Drake does own a part of Gamma, it could explain the tension with other artists like Rick Ross.
Both Rick Ross and Kendrick Lamar have been openly involved in the recent rap beef with Drake. On “Push Ups,” his diss track against Kendrick and everyone else gunning for him, Drake demands him to “Drop & Give Me 50,” and makes more references to a number of his past failed business deals. Joe Budden suggests these bars allude to Drake’s alleged stake in Lamar’s work. Meanwhile, on Rick Ross’ “Champagne Moments,” Ross accuses Drake of sending a cease-and-desist letter to French Montana due to an issue with a song called “Splash Brothers.” The track was initially supposed to feature both Drake and Ross, but his verse was ultimately scrapped from French Montana’s album and replaced with Lil Wayne.
There is no concrete evidence to confirm Drake’s ownership of Gamma. However, Larry Jackson disclosed that Drake did send the cease-and-desist, but he believed it was a joke at the time. Nonetheless, Drake’s support for younger artists could simply be a gesture of goodwill, a way to give back to an industry that has brought him immense success. Without solid proof, the ownership theory remains speculative at best and Rick Ross previously shut down these rumors.
Larry Jackson got married in June 2023 to Stephanie Shepherd, a former assistant to Kim Kardashian, and co-founder of the non-profit Future Earth. The pair met while Jackson worked as Kanye West’s manager during the rapper’s The Life Of Pablo tour. The wedding featured guests like Justin and Hailey Bieber, Naomi Campbell, Clive Davis, Kris Jenner, and the Kardashians. Shepherd has also pursued acting and modeling. The event also included performances by Swizz Beats, Timbaland and the attendance of music industry moguls.
Following a cease-and-desist letter issued to Drake, the Canadian superstar has removed the “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss track directed at Kendrick Lamar. Originally posted on Instagram, the single used an AI-generated Tupac voice to provoke Lamar.
According to Billboard, the estate threatened to sue and stated the voice was “a flagrant violation” and “blatant use” of Pac’s legacy.
The message was delivered via a cease-and-desist letter filed by Howard King, requesting Drake pull the song within 24 hours or face all of the estate’s “legal remedies.”
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” King wrote in the letter. “Not only is the record a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use.”
Additionally, the letter reads, “The unauthorized, equally dismaying use of Tupac’s voice against Kendrick Lamar, a good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately, compounds the insult.”
Last Friday (April 19) on Instagram, Drake dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
Upon pressing play, you will hear something you wouldn’t expect: Tupac’s voice. The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stand up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.
AI Tupac raps: Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot We need an undebated West Coast victory, man Call him a bitch for me Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you
AI Snoop added: ‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?
After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk: The first one really only took me an hour or two The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve
Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through
He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”
Former Death Row head Suge Knight doesn’t like Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss to Kendrick Lamar. Not because it attacked Lamar but because it put 2Pac and Snoop’s voices together on the song.
Speaking on his Collect Call with Suge Knight podcast from Breakbeat Media, Suge said, “Putting him on a song and dissing Kendrick for everybody entertainment–that ain’t how it go.”
He added, “Then putting him on a song with Snoop, who was a part of his downfall and exit, ain’t ever a good look. Pac was a king on that chessboard. He never was a pawn, so he can’t make him be a pawn now.”
Eminem is back. The Detroit legend announced that he’ll be releasing his anticipated comeback album, The Death of Slim Shady, this summer. He couldn’t have picked a better time to do so, given that hip-hop has experienced a commercial resurgence in 2024. Part of the reason for this resurgence is the feud between Drake and seemingly every other popular artist in the genre. Metro Boomin is one of the artists who started this feud, and he recently announced that he’d love to collaborate with Slim Shady.
Metro took to X (formerly Twitter) after Eminem released the teaser for his new album. The producer didn’t mince words. “Somebody please tell Eminem I’m tryna lock in,” he wrote next to three lock emojis. Metro has been one of the prolific artists in the genre for a decade, so it makes sense that he’d want to experiment. Metro has praised the Detroit rapper multiple times in the past. He hyped up Shady’s 2011 BET cypher on X (back when it just Twitter). He also workshopped a “dream” album with Em in mind during a thread in January.
Metro Boomin said he wanted to create an album featuring all the rap stars of the early 2000s. A user asked who he want to work with most, and he named Eminem as one of his top picks. Those who have followed Metro’s career should not be taken aback by his fandom. While his beats sounds worlds apart from Eminem’s, the producer loves Em and Dr. Dre’s work on 2001. He told GQ that they the album was the inspiration for his own Heroes & Villains release. “You can still make great songs with [artists], but as a producer, it’s like, what are you bringing,” he noted. “You’ve got to bring new artists. That’s a big part of your duty.”
Metro Boomin may be in luck. Eminem has broadened his musical palette in recent years, as evidenced by Kamikaze. The 2018 album saw the veteran emcee switch up his usual beat makers for contemporary producers like Tay Keith, Ronny J and Mike Will Made It. It was eventually certified platinum, so the tweak worked. Eminem hasn’t divulged how far along he is on his upcoming album, but most hip-hop fans would at least be curious to hear what he sounds like over a bombastic Metro instrumental.
Future wasn’t going to stay silent forever. Future and Metro Boomin were the ones who turned the rest of the hip-hop industry against Drake by releasing the pointedly titled albums WE DON’T LIKE YOU and WE STILL DON’T LIKE YOU. They clearly have a problem with the 6 God, and they teamed up with every rap star who feels the same way to bomb on him. Future has been suspiciously quiet since the collab albums dropped, however, leading many to ask whether he was still in the battle. Fans got their answer on April 25.
Future linked up with Nardo Wick for the new single “Back to Back,” and you can guess where this is all going based on the title. The song isn’t as pointed as Drake’s 2015 diss, especially considering Wick’s general first verse. It’s only when Future hops on for a second verse that the purpose of “Back to Back” becomes clear. Pluto raps about “sliming out” an unnamed op and smashing a woman as soon as he met her. One of Drake’s recent hits was “Slime You Out” with SZA, and the feud between him and Future is rumored to be over a woman.
Future then uses the words “diss” and “back to back” in the same line. “Ain’t gon’ be no n**ga who dissin’ you, I’m spinnin’ back to back,” he spits. “Any n**ga save on the issue, I’m goin’ rat-a-tat (Brrt).” Future knows all eyes are on him in 2024, so there’s little to no chances these bars are coincidental. He wraps up the verse by threatening violence against his target. “Fifty bullets sittin’ in the clip, it got a n**ga arrogant. Murderers on murderers do murders, my natural habitat.”
Drake has been focused on battling Kendrick Lamar and generally ignoring others. It’ll be interesting to see if he takes time out to respond to Pluto’s latest subs.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new song, “Back to Back,” by Nardo Wick and Future? Do you think Future is really taking shots at Drake? Are his bars hard-hitting? Do you think Drizzy will respond? We want 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 on Nardo Wick and Future. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.
Quotable Lyrics:
Bro, I’m clever, vendettas, raw dope, it’s whatever (Let’s go up) I’m a rapper, but better, if I go, I go federal (Pluto) I pour up, I don’t measure, I smash soon I met her (Oh) I leveled up, my bread up, I’m fed up, it’s pressure It’s gang-gang, you can’t hang, we slimin’ out whoever I keep it on, get stepped on, in Maison Margiela
Fat Joe is an industry legend. He’s been around for decades, beefed with some of the best rappers of all time, and lived to tell the tale. He knows a thing or two about beef protocol, which makes his remarks on the Drake versus Kendrick Lamar battle all the more insightful. The “Lean Back” rapper got on IG Live to discuss Drake’s AI-generated diss, and determine whether Lamar still has a fighting chance to win the battle. He had a mixed opinion on the former, but he made his stance clear on the latter. As far as he’s concerned, K. Dot has already lost.
Fat Joe made it clear that he doesn’t prefer one artist over the over in the battle. “I got no horse in this game,” he asserted. “I wish they would all get along.” He did, however, make it clear that he feels Drake came out on top. He pointed to the fact that Drake rattled off two diss tracks in the span of two weeks, while Lamar has failed to put out a proper response. “I don’t think Kendrick’s cooking up,” he admitted. “It didn’t take him three-four weeks. I think that’s over.” Joe’s comments are not unique among hip-hop insiders. Many are waiting on Lamar to come back, and fear that he won’t complete the battle that he effectively started with “Like That.”
Drake’s second diss, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” has been another major talking point. The rapper was forced to take the song down after 2Pac’s estate threatened legal action. The estate claimed that the 6 God’s antics were a “blatant abuse” of the late rapper’s legacy. Fat Joe was much more complimentive of what Drake did, and even went as far as to say it pushed the boundaries for rap beef. “I thought it was creative,” he noted. “Using the AI 2Pac, pushing the envelope.” Joe may be displaying a bit of bias in this instance, however.
The New York rapper bumped heads with 2Pac at the height of the West Coast-East Coast beef in the 1990s. During an interview with Cam Capone News, Joe went as far as to claim that he made a collab “diss” album with The Notorious B.I.G. The latter died before it could be completed. “We made a bunch of songs,” he recalled. “But it was like really disrespectful and hateful and so [Biggie] died and ‘Pac died. They might have burnt them sh*ts, to be honest with you, ’cause you know, it was distasteful after the fact.” Joe’s experience lends credence to his desire to see Drake and Lamar smooth things over.
On Wednesday, April 24, Billboard reported that the Shakur estate was “threatening to sue Drake” for “Taylor Made Freestyle” because it used AI to generate Tupac’s voice. Billboard relayed the estate felt it was “‘a flagrant violation’ of the law and a ‘blatant abuse’ of his legacy.”
“In a Wednesday cease-and-desist letter obtained exclusively by Billboard, litigator Howard King told Drake that he must confirm that he will pull down his ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’ in less than 24 hours or the estate would ‘pursue all of its legal remedies’ against him,” Billboard reported.
So, it’s probably not a coincidence that Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” posts have disappeared from his social media accounts as of Thursday evening, April 25.
Tupac’s estate has hit Drake with a cease and desist for using his voice on “Taylor Made”. He has 24 hours to take it down.
“…a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use.” pic.twitter.com/SrLBuqyvD2
Drake has officially removed “Taylor Made Freestyle” from all social media platforms.
The diss track featured AI vocals from 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. It was taken down shortly after 2Pac’s estate threatened to sue the OVO boss for unapproved likeness. pic.twitter.com/dCW7FhyliD
“Taylor Made Freestyle” also featured AI-generated vocals from Snoop Dogg, who responded as you’d expect Snoop Dogg to respond to such nonsense.
“They did what?” Snoop said in a video posted to his Instagram. “When? How? Are you sure?” He sighed, showed his Death Row Records jacket, wished everyone a good night, laughed, and added, “Everybody calling my phone, blowing me up. What the f*ck? What happened? What’s going on? I’m going back to bed. Goodnight.”
Drake knew he was playing with fire when he dropped “Taylor Made Freestyle” on Instagram. The rapper decided to use the AI-generated voices of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg to troll his current opponent, Kendrick Lamar, and it worked. The diss went viral and fans debated its use of AI, but 2Pac’s estate made it clear they did not like what they heard. 2Pac’s brother criticized Drake for his decision, and the late rapper’s estate threatened to take legal action against Drizzy if he didn’t take it down. It looks like he obliged.
2Pac’s estate issued a statement to Billboard on April 24. They decried the use of the rapper’s voice and called it a “blatant abuse” of his legacy. The estate also claimed Drake’s antics were a “flagrant violation” of the law, and vowed to get it taken it down one way or another. The same day the statement dropped, a cease and desist letter was reportedly sent to Drake and his legal team. According to Billboard, “litigator Howard King told Drake that he must confirm that he will pull down his ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’ in less than 24 hours or the estate would ‘pursue all of its legal remedies’ against him’.”
Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” Is No Longer On Instagram
Tupac’s estate has hit Drake with a cease and desist for using his voice on “Taylor Made”. He has 24 hours to take it down.
“…a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use.” pic.twitter.com/SrLBuqyvD2
Drake has not addressed the situation with 2Pac’s estate, but he did take “Taylor Made Freestyle” down from Instagram on April 25. The track is no longer available to listen to in a legal capacity, since it wasn’t uploaded to any streaming platforms. “Taylor Made Freestyle” was the subject of intense scrutiny from music publications in the week it was available. Rolling Stone issued a lengthy oped in which the author claimed that Drake “made himself look bad.” The author also claimed that Drizzy’s use of AI set a very dangerous precedent for the music industry writ large.
Drake’s had a complicated history with 2Pac. His Apple Music bio relates an anecdote in which he saw a sign that read “Less Drake, More 2Pac” in 2011. Drake reportedly bought the sign and used it to motivate himself as a rapper. He also made tipped his hat to Makaveli on the 2016 track “4PM In Calabasas.” The 6 God dropped bars about blurring the lines between singing and rapping, and uses ‘Pac as a reference point. “Mike never tried to rap like Pac, Pac never tried to sing like Mike,” he notes. “Those my dad’s words to me when I asked him how to make it in life.”
This latest incident is only going to further the notion that 2Pac and Drake are on different planets, musically speaking. Drake isn’t trying to be the new ‘Pac, though. He’s trying to use the rapper to bait Kendrick Lamar into battle. Only time will tell if “Taylor Made Freestyle” did the trick.
It’s been over a month since arguably the most popular beef in the current Hip Hop landscape started. On March 22, Kendrick Lamar shook things up when he took shots at Drake and J. Cole on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” Since then, many other artists have had their go at Drizzy. But Drake’s more than held his own, firing back some shots of his own.
On April 15, a supposed diss track from Lamar was leaked onto the internet. However, soon after, an artist named Sy the Rapper claimed that he made the track using AI. While many listeners still doubt his claim because of how authentic the track sounds, he has stood by his claim. As expected, the drama surrounding the AI track has made many listeners curious about who Sy the Rapper is. Here’s what we know about him right now.
Before he allegedly released the infamous diss track, Sy the Rapper was largely unknown in mainstream circles. As a result, not much is known about his background. However, a few publications, including Complex, which recently interviewed him, have revealed that he is 23. During that conversation, Sy also shared that he is from Los Angeles and has always loved music. “I wrote my first rap when I was 10. It was about donuts and Lakers,” he said. He grew up hungry to explore his talent, and it seems it may pay off.
What Does Sy The Rapper Do?
Further, Sy the Rapper may be an artist, but he is also a producer and allegedly made the beat of the viral AI diss track. As seen on his Spotify page, he has been releasing music since 2019. His earliest release on streaming platforms is “Zonin,” which dropped in June 2019.
Since then, he has released several singles, as well as two albums: Abstract (2019) and Sore Winner (2021). The 23-year-old is also quite active on TikTok, where he currently has over 13k followers. On Instagram, he has 33k followers. Per his Instagram bio, he runs @qualityimageproductions and @new_wave_media, secondary accounts where he offers media services. In addition, he also runs @innercitykings_qweens and @dripskoolcustoms, both centered on fashion.
How Sy The Rapper Allegedly Made The Kendrick Lamar Diss Track
Although many still doubt that Sy the Rapper actually made the song, he seems to have evidence supporting his claim. During his interview with Complex, he spoke about the process of making the track, from its lyrics to the beat. “I just had to place myself in Kendrick’s shoes, and it didn’t seem like Kendrick would come out swinging for the kill, considering that the [Drake] song was a ‘leaked’ track,” he said. “So, I was thinking more so in the mindset of, ‘If I’m Kendrick, I wouldn’t want to show my hand too early, since this song has been leaked and it’s not an official drop, so I can’t just come out swinging. I’ve got to come out with sort of a warning shot.’”
When asked about his background in AI, Sy the Rapper said he started researching about it after an AI-generated Drake track went viral in April 2023. According to Sy the Rapper, he was intrigued by this and decided to try it out. “With AI, the entry-level is very simple, and it’s not super complex to use. The complex part comes in how you record because you kind of have to mimic the artist and mimic their voice and cadence,” he said. He also shared that he wrote the track in “an hour or two” and recorded it in his voice memo. As seen in the editor’s note at the end of the interview, Sy the Rapper sent videos of the isolated stems of the song to Complex. This was to serve as proof that he did make the song.
Last week, Drake posted several images of a music industry executive and business investor named Anthony Saleh, as a means to troll Kendrick Lamar. After Drake dissed Kendrick with tracks such as “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle,” the 37-year-old Canadian artist shared images of Saleh with captions like “Is today the day?” and “Are we getting in our bag or nah??” Reports quickly clarified that Anthony Saleh is Kendrick Lamar’s manager, as initially revealed by Hits Daily Double in 2021, proving that Drake was attempting to use these images to hurry a response from people in Kendrick’s social and artistic circle.
But what do we know about Anthony Saleh? Despite his connections to several high-profile clients in the rap world, the industry insider actively maintains a low-key presence on social media platforms and rarely appears in public. He has locked down his X (formerly Twitter) account, meaning only a select few can access Saleh’s social media. In a way, it seems like Saleh is the perfect match for Kendrick Lamar, as Kendrick has a known aversion to sharing private details of his life with the public, outside of music of course. So, let’s take a look at Anthony Saleh’s business track record, and see what we can find out.
LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 25: (L-R) 12amRun Co-Owners entertainment manager Anthony Saleh, rapper Nas, Nick Sakai and Dee Murthy pose for photos during the 12amRun shoe store opening at The LINQ on April 25, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bryan Steffy/WireImage)
Kendrick Lamar isn’t the only big name in rap connected to Anthony Saleh. According to a write-up in Complex, Saleh is the CEO of Emagen Entertainment Group, which reps such notable acts as Nas, Alina Baraz, Col3trane, and Devault. Saleh previously worked with Future and assisted him in the release of his back-to-back number 1 records, Future and Hndrxx. Given that Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” from We Don’t Trust You kicked off the ongoing “rap civil war,” it seems clear that Drake is well aware of Anthony Saleh’s ties to Future.
Emagen’s site no longer lists Future as a client, though Anthony Saleh has multiple business holdings outside of the management firm such as a general partner role, WndrCo., a holding company that has invested in companies like MixCloud. Kendrick does not appear on the Emagen Entertainment Group roster, despite his ongoing relationship with Saleh. Kendrick and the executive officially linked up only 10 weeks before the “Humble” rapper released his latest LP, Mr. Morale And The Big Steppers, which served as his final project on the Top Dawg Entertainment label.
Saleh Had Multiple Ventures & Investments Before Emagen
Lisbon , Portugal – 2 November 2022; Anthony Saleh, Partner, WndrCo, on Venture stage during day one of Web Summit 2022 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile for Web Summit via Getty Images)
Before Anthony Saleh took on the role of CEO at Emagen, he served as an executive vice president at Atom Factory for two years. He also joined the technology investment firm WndrCo as a partner in 2016, investing in multiple startups within the music and tech world. Since Anthony Saleh joined the firm, WndrCo has gone on to fund ventures such as Audioshake, Dapper Labs, Tracklib, and others.
Before catching public strays from Drake in the Kendrick Lamar beef, Anthony Saleh earned recognition as Nas’s silent partner, assisting the Illmatic MC in managing his finances and executive producing some of his hit records. According to a 2016 profile in Forbes, Saleh first started working with Nas at the age of 23, and the pair have made a wide array of lucrative investments together since then. The biggest bag for the pair came in the form of their joint venture QueensBridge Venture Partners, which took in more than $40 million on cryptocurrency investments on platforms like Coinbase.
