ownership

Rappers Who Own Their Masters

by

One of the greatest business moves artists and rappers can make is owning their masters. This means they control where their music is licensed (in TV, film, and advertisements) and, as a result, reap the financial rewards. Record labels began taking ownership of artist’s masters in the 1950s. During the “golden age of vinyl,” they cornered the market. And yet, to this day, “…a label is still contractually owning the voices of people who spent their whole lives honing their craft and becoming great writers, vocalists, and superstars, ” said Chance the Rapper in an interview with Success. Many of today’s rappers were inspired by trailblazing artists like Ray Charles and Prince, who took control of their legacies by regaining their masters. Here’s a list of rappers who have been wise enough to gain ownership of their masters. 

21 Savage

In January 2017, fresh off the enormous success of his EP Savage Mode, 21 leveraged a deal with Epic Records.  He has a 70/30 split with the label. “I make more money off my album sales than I do off touring. For a lot of rappers, most of their money comes from touring,” he admitted on the podcast A Million Dollaz Worth of Game.  

The American Dream rapper says that his masters serve as generational wealth for his family. However, if the bag is long enough, he has no problem with handing them over. “But…if a m-thaf-cka come and say, ‘Aye…I got a billion for your masters,’ that m-thaf-cka’s gone,” he added.

Kanye West

“My children gonna own my masters…not your children, my children”. 

Kanye West is currently without a record label or a music publisher but has made one thing clear: he has no intention of selling his catalog. Just last year, West acquired his masters from the 2013 Yeezy album up to the present. Def Jam owns the copyright to his recordings up to sometime in the mid-2010s and distributed subsequent releases up to last year’s Donda album. But his actual deal with the label ended in 2021. Sony Publishing will continue to administer his work (such as Vultures ) per the terms of the deal for an unspecified time.

Billboard estimated the songs generate $13.25 million in publishing royalties annually. Sources said West earns $5 million from his share, valuing the catalog at roughly $175 million. In an effort to give artists the same autonomy, Kanye also tweeted in Sept 2020 that he would be giving all of his G.O.O.D. Music artists back the 50 percent share of their masters. He also proposed an eight-point plan that would revolutionize the music industry. Artists and rappers would receive master ownership, short-term deals, an 80/20 split of royalty payments in the artist’s favor, and transparency.

Jay-Z

Media mogul Jay-Z demanded control of his Def Jam masters when he became president of the label in 2004. The rapper’s masters would later revert back to him in 2014, with his publishing rights returned to him around the same time in a separate deal with EMI. As of 2021, his music catalog was worth $95 million. In an interview last year with CBS Morning’s with Gayle King, he revealed that he’s not interested in selling his musical repertoire. “I want my kids to see my work and if they decide to sell it, then it’s up to them.”

Chance The Rapper

Chance The Rapper has mentioned many times the huge impact owning his masters has made on his career. In 2016, Chance declined a record deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music, opting to stay independent. It paid off because he owns all his recording rights, publishing, and distribution. The rapper, who has a 50/50 royalty split, continues to influence rappers and emphasize being in control of one’s career. In 2022, he even helped iconic singer Anita Baker regain control of her master recordings after she asked fans to stop streaming her music.

Drake

In 2021, Drake received the largest deal in music history from Republic Records and Universal. The $400 million deal included recordings, publishing, merchandise, and visual media projects. Prior to the Scorpion rapper’s historic deal, Michael Jackson held the top spot as having the largest deal in music history. According to reports, $250 million went to his estate in 2010 from Sony Music.

LL Cool J

An OG in the game, LL Cool J has owned his masters for over 20 years. The Queens native has full authority over all 13 of his studio albums on Def Jam. In an interview with Million Dollaz Worth of Game, he revealed that being sampled by rappers like Rick Ross and The Notorious B.I.G. proves his legacy is cemented.

[via][via]

The post Rappers Who Own Their Masters appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Slim Thug Calls For Exclusive Black Ownership of Black Music

by

In a recent Instagram Live session, Houston rapper Slim Thug stirred up controversy with bold statements. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of the hip-hop industry. The artist discussed a contentious topic, asserting that Jewish people should not be owners of Black music. “Jewish people should own Drake — Drake is Jewish,” he said. “Jewish people should own Jewish music,” he said. “I don’t like that Jewish people own Black music, I don’t want Jewish people who are not a part of the culture to own the culture. I want only Black people to own Black music.” He went on to elaborate on his stance, advocating for exclusive Black ownership of Black music and urging a shift away from non-Black individuals holding the reins of the culture.

The rapper expressed a desire to reclaim control over the industry. He emphasized that only those who are deeply ingrained in the culture should be its custodians. “We need to take the culture back, he continued. “While these Black people broke, we need to own our music.” Slim Thug passionately declared. Slim Thug’s perspective, however, doesn’t stop at Black music. He expanded his argument to include other racial and ethnic categories. “It should be that for every race. If you Jewish, you should own Jewish music. If you white, you should own white music, country music,” he asserted. The rapper believes that this approach is not discriminatory but rather a call for equality in ownership across different musical genres.

Read More: Slim Thug Questions DJ Vlad’s Nationality In Explosive New Rant

Slim Thug Defends His Stance

While Slim Thug didn’t call out specific individuals, he expressed support for Dame Dash, a figure known for his confrontations with non-Black music executives during his tenure at Roc-A-Fella Records. Thug commended Dash for standing up against what he perceives as “culture vultures” in the industry. “We don’t want people culture vulturing us,” he says. “We going at all the culture vultures. That’s why tried to push Dame Dash to the side. Dame Dash was right — he was standing on business.”

The rapper’s perspective supports his call for ownership rights among ethnic groups. This undoubtedly sparks a discussion around cultural appropriation and representation. In fact, Slim Thug’s remarks add fuel to the ongoing debate about who should hold the keys to the kingdom of Black music. This isn’t the first time Thug has called out the topic of race. In fact, he went on a rant just last month about DJ Vlad and accused him of being a culture vulture. Let us know your thoughts on HNHH!

Read More: DJ Vlad Defends DJ Akademiks Amid Misogyny Accusations

The post Slim Thug Calls For Exclusive Black Ownership of Black Music appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

J. Cole Part of New Charlotte Hornets Ownership

by

After 13 years, Michael Jordan has sold the Charlotte Hornets. First reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, Jordan is finalizing a sale to an ownership group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall. The news comes amid rumors that the team is looking to swing a trade to bring 2019 first-overall pick Zion Williamson to Charlotte.

However, this could be the start of a new era in Charlotte. The Hornets have long been regarded as one of the NBA’s worst teams. Since Jordan assumed majority ownership in 2010, the team has had just three winning seasons and two playoff appearances. Last season, the team went 27-55 under head coach Steve Clifford. 2022-23 marked the first season of Clifford’s second stint with the team. Previously, Clifford had coached the Hornets between 2013 and 2018. However, the new ownership group also features a famous face from the music world.

J. Cole Joins Hornets Ownership

First reported by Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, North Carolina rapper J. Cole will hold a minority stake in the Charlotte Hornets once the sale is finalized. Cole was born in Frankfurt, Germany but raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. A lifelong sports fan, specifically basketball, Cole has made several headlines related to the NBA in recent months. Namely, Cole was behind the Miami Heat’s signing of Caleb Martin, a fellow North Carolinian who found himself in Cole’s gym after being cut by the Hornets. Martin later thanked Cole for the opportunity after the Miami Heat made the NBA Finals this season. Elsewhere, LSU star Flau’jae Johnson named Cole as her dream music collab.

Zillgitt also revealed that Eric Church was another member of the ownership group. Church, born in Granite Falls, North Carolina, is a country singer with six top-five charting albums. However, Cole’s love of basketball makes it no surprise that the musician would become part of the new-look Hornets. The final price of the sale has not yet been made public. However, Jordan bought majority ownership of the team in 2010 for $180 million. Do you think that the new ownership will turn the Hornets around? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports and music news here at HotNewHipHop.

[via]

The post J. Cole Part of New Charlotte Hornets Ownership appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Michael Jordan Finalizing Sale Of Charlotte Hornets

by

After retiring from the NBA, Michael Jordan went into sports ownership. In 2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the then-Charlotte Bobcats. Furthermore, Jordan assumed full control of basketball operations under the title of Manager Member of Basketball Operations. Jordan became the team’s majority owner in 2010. The team became the Hornets ahead of the 2014-15 season. It was a return to the name the team had formerly had before briefly relocating to New Orleans.

However, the Hornets have been one of the worst teams in the NBA since Jordan took over. Not that the Hornets were good before but Jordan has mismanaged the team, turning them into the laughingstock of the league. In his second full season of ownership, 2011-12, the Hornets won seven games. Additionally, the team has had just three winning seasons and two playoff appearances. Now, it looks as if a new era is beginning in Charlotte.

Jordan Sells The Hornets

Jordan has made it no secret that he is looking to part ways with the Hornets for some time. However, June 16 marked a major breakthrough on that front. ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that Jordan had finalized a deal to sell the team. The sale, which is for an as-yet undisclosed amount, will see an ownership group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall take the reins. Plotkin is a co-founder of the somewhat infamous venture capital firm Melvin Capital. Meanwhile, Schnall is co-president of the private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier, & Rice. Additionally, Schnall owns a minority stake in the Atlanta Hawks.

The news coincided with major rumors about the team’s immediate future. Marc Stein has reported that the Hornets are in talks with the New Orleans Pelicans about a major trade. The anchor of this deal will see 2019 first-overall pick Zion Williamson head to Charlotte in exchange for the second-overall pick in this year’s draft. Adding Williamson, who is an elite, MVP-caliber player when healthy, could be the immediate reverse of fortune that the Hornets desperately need. There are multiple developing stories happening in Charlotte and we’ll have updates on all of them here at HotNewHipHop.

[via]

The post Michael Jordan Finalizing Sale Of Charlotte Hornets appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Snoop Dogg Loses Bid To Own The Ottawa Senators

by

If you have been following hockey news as of late, then you probably know that Snoop Dogg has been attempting to purchase the Ottawa Senators. Overall, the Senators are a Canadian NHL team that has struggled in recent years. However, the team was recently put up for sale, and it has led to a bit of a bidding war. Los Angeles entrepreneur Neko Sparks was looking to purchase the team, and Snoop wanted in. This would have subsequently led to the first black ownership group in NHL history.

However, a lot of people have been interested in purchasing the team. For instance, even Ryan Reynolds had reportedly been looking into it. Although, he ended up backing out after a few weeks. That said, Snoop Dogg had shown a lot of interest in owning the team. Moreover, he planned to create youth hockey programs based around the Senators. Unfortunately, Snoop will not get to own the team. Instead, Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer has been given the keys to the franchise.

Snoop Dogg Tried His Best

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 18: Snoop Dogg attends the premiere Of FX’s “Dear Mama” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

According to TMZ, Andlauer paid a grand total of $1 billion for the team. Overall, this is a hefty amount when you consider how the Senators are in a small market. However, NHL team costs are on the rise, and this is an example of that. That said, the most expensive teams in the league remain the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers, and the Montreal Canadians. Either way, we’re sure Snoop is a little heartbroken over the decision. After all, this could have been an amazing opportunity.

Hopefully, another opportunity pops up for Snoop Dogg. After all, he has done some work with the Anaheim Ducks in the past. If they ever go up for sale, he should definitely consider another bid with Sparks at the helm. Let us know what you think about Snoop’s interest in hockey, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

[Via]

The post Snoop Dogg Loses Bid To Own The Ottawa Senators appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

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

by

Swizz Beatz and Timbaland say that they still own 100% of Verzuz, despite reports that the two sold a majority of the shares to Triller back in March 2021. The two spoke about the state of the series on Instagram Live, Saturday.

“Verzuz is still 100 percent Black-owned,” Swizz said on the broadcast. “50 percent on the top of your screen, and 50 percent on the bottom of your screen. In case you ain’t know. Word to Allah. Okay? It was built for the people, and it will stay with the people. And we love everybody.”

Read More: Swizz Beatz Gives Verzuz Update, Jermaine Dupri Confirms Diddy Match-Up

Swizz Beatz With Timbaland

MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 4: (L-R) Recording artists Swizz Beatz and Timbaland attend The Dean Collection X BACARDI Untameable House Party on December 4, 2015 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Bacardi)

As for the news of Triller purchasing majority ownership of the show, it stems from a report from Variety in 2021. The outlet stated that Triller Network acquired the platform while allowing Swizz Beatz and Timbaland to keep hold of some shares of the company and join the Triller management team. They also “allocated part of their equity stake to the 43 performers who’ve appeared on Verzuz to date to help oversee music and other company strategies.”

“There is no more disruptive and innovative brand in music today than Verzuz,” Bobby Sarnevesht, executive chairman and co-owner of Triller, said when announcing the acquisition. “Both Triller and Verzuz share the ‘artist first, music first’ vision. We view this acquisition as more of a partnership than an acquisition, as Swizz, Timbaland and the other 43 artists who are all becoming shareholders and partners in Triller Verzuz from this day forward become our voice.”

Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Discuss “Verzuz”

Things took a turn in September 2022, when The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Swizz and Timbaland settled a lawsuit they filed against Triller’s CEO, Ryan Kavanaugh. They claimed he failed to come through with the $28 million infusion of capital that he was supposed to provide with the acquisition. The outlet also confirmed Kavanaugh’s Proxima Media to be the current majority owner of Verzuz.

Read More: Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Settle “Verzuz” Lawsuit Against Triller

[Via]

Tyler Perry Vying For Ownership Of BET: Report

by

Director and producer Tyler Perry is in talks with Paramount Global to purchase a majority stake in its BET business. Back in 2000, Paramount (Viacom at the time) purchased the BET Network for 2.3 billion dollars. The entertainment mogul currently owns a minority stake in the company which includes BET and VH1. He produces much of the content on BET and the streaming service BET+, which he helped launch in 2019. So what does it mean if Tyler Perry owns BET?

Perry has a deep history with BET, which was the first cable network to cater to Black audiences. He has multiple shows on the network and its streaming service including, Sistas, The Oval, and the latest Zatima. With control over a widely distributed cable channel, ownership in the company would give him expansion into the media space. For Perry, the deal would solidify a digital imprint for his content.

Tyler Perry In Talks To Buy Majority Stake In BET

Additionally, Paramount would acquire the cash to spend on programming for Paramount+ and Pluto TV, its free ad-supported streaming service. Bryon Allen, The Weather Channel owner, is also in talks to purchase a majority stake in the company. A representative for the mogul reports that he is pursuing the acquisition of the network. The sources added that if a deal closes, Paramount expects to maintain a minority stake in the business, as well as a commercial relationship. Producers Kenya Barris and Rashida Jones are reportedly minority shareholders in BET Studios. BET Media Group is run by its CEO Scott Mills.

The Wall Street Journal reports that “The decision to consider selling a majority stake of the assets, which cater primarily to Black audiences, is part of [Paramount’s] effort to shore up resources to bolster its flagship Paramount+ streaming service and its advertiser-supported free streaming platform Pluto TV”. Earlier this year, Paramount announced a rebrand, combining Showtime with Paramount, merging the two into its streamer Paramount+. The move led to drastic leadership changes and layoffs company-wide. Let us know what you think of this, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from the entertainment world.