SUPER PRODUCERS PLAY*N*SKILLZ INK RECORD LABEL DEAL WITH SRC/UNIVERSAL RECORDS FOR G4 MUZIK.
The new deal will allow Play*N*Skillz to sign and develop new talent starting with G4 Muzik’s new artist Inertia. Two-time GRAMMY award winning producers and recording artists, Play*N*Skillz have announced that they have signed a record label deal with SRC/Universal Records for their own label imprint, G4 Muzik. The deal will allow the dynamic duo the opportunity to sign, develop and market artists with distribution through SRC/Universal Records.
Super Producer Polow da Don And Friends Give Back For The Thanksgiving Holiday At Greenbriar Mall In Atlanta, Georgia On November 24, 2009.
Atlanta, GA (November 9, 2009) – Super producer Polow da Don and music executive Mia A. Welsh announce the date of the third annual Thanksgiving Carnival presented by Zone 4, Incorporated and Foundation F.O.C.U.S. on November 24, 2009.
For the third consecutive year, Polow and his music label, Zone 4, Inc., will be giving away over 500 turkeys as well as accepting submissions for his “Free Rent For A Year” contest which relieves an individual or family from paying their rent or mortgage for an entire year based on hardships they are currently facing. With the assistance of sponsors including: BMI, Publix, The Lowman Group (Athlete’s Foot, Supreme and FAME) and Kroger, Polow is equipped to make someone’s dream a reality.
They may have earned their New York cred—and become, in the process, Yanks fans to boot—but Rag & Bone’s David Neville and Marcus Wainwright are English boys at heart. “There is a kind of anonymity being here that I really relish,” says Neville, who described his childhood as “classic English boarding school” at a dinner on native soil last night. “When we first landed in America, we wound up in the Midwest, where people would ask us to speak just so they could hear our accents. We certainly don’t get that here in London.”
The 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards once again stepped up its game this year by bringing out some heavy hitters to grace the illustrious Atlanta Civic Center stage with unexpected appearances by some of the biggest names in hip hop today.
As Hip Hop Enquirer’s staff consisting of Dasha Ware, Director of Marketing and sometime videographer and celebrity photographer to the stars Donna Permell ascended on this year’s red carpet to capture one of the best experiences in hop unfold while I was running around trying to snatch up a few exclusive interviews from some of hip hop’s finest.
Frankie from the Frankie & Neffe show was one of the first to arrive and she once again grabbed the headlines by crying on the carpet when asked whether or not her superstar daughter Keyshia Cole was “looking out for her” and she was quick to set the record straight by explaining that it was her daughter who was responsible for her own reality show success. Of course Clifford “TI” Harris didn’t attend this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards on October 10 because he is currently serving short prison stint with the feds. However, the rapper managed to take home two awards at this year’s event. He won best Hip-Hop Collaboration for his duet with Rihanna in single “Live Your Life” and was honored with Album of the Year for his latest studio installment of “Paper Trail”
Since T.I. was absent, his fiancee Tameka “Tiny” Cottle came onto the stage to accept the two trophies on his behalf. She also read a letter written by the King in which he stated. “Although I’m not there with you all, I’m there in spirit,” Tameka read. “My road to redemption is almost over. … Thanks for the support.”
OJ Da Juiceman
Nicki Minaj
Gucci Mane
Nipsey Hu$tle
Trina
Stayed tuned for behind the scenes videos and additional images from this year’s Bet Hip Hop Awards, shout out to my team at HHE for getting all the exclusives and celebrity drops.
Hip Hop Enquirer had an opportunity to catch up with Def Jam Record’s Vice President & CEO of Konvict Muzik Abou “Bu” Thiam who is responsible for some of the biggest successes that came through the Konvict brand. Most know Bu as rap superstar Akon’s baby brother but what they may have not known was that he was responsible for discovering one of the biggest names in hip hop all while staying behind the scenes. His roster of talent and successes has since reached epic proportions in the music industry. As we sat down with him in a one on one exclusive, we learned that this young mogul has really put in some hard work to earn his stripes in the game of music.
HHE: Share with our readers about how you got into the music game?
Bu Thiam: Well basically like every young kid growing up me and my brothers were into the wrong things and because my father was a real big jazz musician we were exposed to music very early in our lives. My mother felt like we were getting into too much trouble while we lived in New Jersey so she moved us to Atlanta. Around that time I had met up with a kid by the name of Little Zane and he also was interested in music so his career jumped off and I ended up becoming his hype man. While I was doing this, I was able to learn how things went in the music business and I was also able to gain contacts.
HHE: Was there any other groups you worked with after you stopped being the Hype man for Little Zane?
Bu Thiam: Yeah, I was working with Da Razkalz Cru and actually two of the members are now signed to Konvict Records. I was also a hype man for Loon who at the time was signed to Bad Boy Records. I realized that I could do this sh*t on my own instead of working for the next man.
HHE: Tell me how that situation came about?
Bu Thiam: Well as I said I was with the Cru and my man Dolla (RIP) and SAS were with that group but Dolla and Scrap actually got their label imprint deal through Konvict/The Gang.
HHE: Now I hear you were responsible for bringing one of the hottest acts to Konvict Entertainment, please tell me how that came about.
Bu Thiam: Well you’re referring to T-Pain and yes he was someone who I brought to the label. I caught some flack at first when I signed him because people weren’t really feeling his sound but that obviously proved to change. Now everyone is copying his style. What was funny is one day someone had called me up and said “Yo, I liked T-Pain’s new single and said Bartender and they said Sexual Seduction ref erring to Snoop’s new joint which was produced by Shawty Redd, big shout out to Shawty Redd and shout out to Snoop!
HHE: Tell me about some of the acts on your artist roster?
Bu Thiam: Well I just got my label situation under Universal, SRC (Steve Rifken) and Sylvia Rhone. They offered me an office up in New York City but I didn’t want it, I wanted to be in the street with the people verses trying to run things from the boardroom. I just signed my lil man SAS to Konvict and we are about to drop some heat. He’s about to kill the whole 106 & Park circuit.
HHE: How much input do you have on your brother Akon’s music?
Bu Thiam: After he does an album he’ll call me say “Bu, what single you think I should release?” He knows that I have my ear to the street and he respects my opinion.
HHE: Did you find it difficult for people to take you serious being that you are young executive in this business?
Bu Thiam: The fact that I broke T-Pain in the business people take what I do very seriously plus I started in the business very early.
Editor’s note: This interview was conducted before the passing of Roderick Anthony Burton, II. Who was professionally known as Dolla. At press time, HHE was told that his label is in plans of releasing his much-anticipated solo project. We want his family to know that he will be missed by the hip hop community and his fans around the world.
An A-list of stars descended upon Atlanta this evening to honor a select few who has paved the way for some of today’s musical performers. The evening was hosted by academy award winning movie stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Special honors were given to R & B’s legends Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson. There was definitely no shortage of talent at this year’s Soul Train Awards show. The event was attended by: Brian McKnight, Keith Sweat, Chrisette Michelle, Tommy Davidson (who was disguised as Bootsy Collins),
Rev. Al Sharpton’s former wife Kathy Jordan and their daughter Dominique Sharpton were arrested in Manhattan on Friday night, according to the Associated Press. Attorney Michael Hardy says, Jordan and Sharpton were arrested when a dispute broke out after they were pulled over for running a red light.
VH1and Def Jam Records should be a shame of themselves for trying to honor hip-hop and the 25 year Anniversary of Def Jam without including the first female signed to Def Jam. In this one-on-one interview with the first lady signed to Def Ram Records, Nikki D lets off steam about the mishap and has some choice words for Nicki Minaj.
Hip-hop fans’ heartbreak: One of the greatest dynasties in rap history, Roc-A-Fella, is having its dirty laundry thrown onto the street by the Broad Street Bully. Beanie Sigel is giving the world a very sobering take on his split from Jay-Z in a song called “What You Talkin Bout (I Ain’t Your Average Cat).”
The Celebrity, The Singer, The Mother Upscale Magazine, BET Networks, and Hennessy Black celebrate with a red carpet celebration – honoring Monica for gracing the Holiday issue of Upscale Magazine and the preview for her new reality series “Still Standing” premiering on BET Tuesday, October, 27th. Bocado Restaurant located off of Howell Mill Road opened their doors for this momentous affair. Monica’s Still Standing preview brought out Bryan Michael Cox, Mychael Knight, Actress- Kaira Akita, Jagged Edge, and many more of Atlanta’s music community that has been with Monica since her beginnings. Special thanks to Hennessy Black, Dubose Ent., Upscale Magazine, The Starfire Group, The Hip Hop Enquirer, The Garner Circle PR and BET Networks.
Recently Rahiem Shabazz and Snoop Dawg shared a special moment over at Snoop Dogg’s listening session in Atlanta to get his views on the state of hip hop to hating on rappers like Soulja Boy. Didn’t know men held hands like that but whatever.
1990’s R & B group sensation TLC which consists of Rozonda Thomas (Chilli) and Tionne Watkins (TBoz) recently performed at the Madalay Bay in Las Vegas for Justin Timberlake’s benefit concert for Shriners Hospital for Children.
They may have earned their New York cred—and become, in the process, Yanks fans to boot—but Rag & Bone’s David Neville and Marcus Wainwright are English boys at heart. “There is a kind of anonymity being here that I really relish,” says Neville, who described his childhood as “classic English boarding school” at a dinner on native soil last night. “When we first landed in America, we wound up in the Midwest, where people would ask us to speak just so they could hear our accents. We certainly don’t get that here in London.” 
