Sha Money XL Departs Post At Def Jam And Signs To Epic Records
Sha Money XL, one of the architects of the G Unit movement, has signed on as an executive vice president of urban A&R at Epic Records. He had served as senior vice president of A&R at Island Def Jam for three years.
“As I embark on this new Epic journey,” Sha Money said in a statement, “I have a great vision for what the new record industry should be like, the music, the experience and lifestyle.”
While at Def Jam, Sha Money XL worked worked with 2 Chainz and Big K.R.I.T., among others. He also served as president of G Unit Records and was 50 Cent’s long-time manager and producer.
“Sha Money has time and again proven to be a cultural leader and has my complete support in ushering in the next generation of Hip Hop stars,” Epic chairman and CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid said in a statement.
Epic Records’ roster includes Andre 3000, Casey Veggies, Future, Ca$h Out and Ciara, among others.
Snoop Lion off hook of paying $546,000 in debt
Snoop Lion (also known as Snoop Dogg) owes the Internal Revenue Service $546,270.29.
According to documents retrieved by TMZ, the Reincarnated rapper turned reggae artist owes money for two separate years: 2009 ($101,952.44) and 2011 ($444,317.85).
Tax issues aren’t a new thing to the West Coast veteran. Back in 2008, he reportedly owed over $476,000 in back taxes to the IRS but the issue was resolved quickly after the lien was brought to his attention.
Currently, Snoop Dogg is promoting his new album/movie entitled Reincarnated, which explains the Doggfather’s transformation from gangster rapper into a person who is now embracing the Rastafarian faith.
(February 16)
UPDATE: TMZ.com has reported that Snoop Lion has paid $546,000 in tax lien. The Long Beach, California emcee is now reportedly off the hook.
Chris Brown Fined For His Own Artwork On His Home
Chris Brown loves graffiti. His neighbors in the Hollywood Hills don’t appear to share his appreciate for the art form.
The R&B artist has been fined $376 for unpermitted and excessive signage after he posted a mural on a retaining wall outside of his house. The images are of monster-like creators, which are reportedly scaring children in the area. “There are lots of babies, lots of children, and they’re literally frightened,” Patti Negri, president of the Hollywood Dell Civic Assn told the Los Angeles Times. “It’s like devils on the wall — big scary eyes and big scary teeth, and just the whole vibe is not what we’re used to.”
Chief Keef To Pay Child Support ordered by Court
Chicago, Illinois rapper Chief Keef has had a busy week. It was announced last week that the Glory Boyz Entertainment/Interscope Records artist has partnered with Gucci Mane to form 1017 Glo Gang. Additionally, Keef is previewing Beats By Keef Headphones, which are currently in development.
Along the way, a judge has ordered Keef to pay child support on his two year-old son. TMZ reports that courts estimate that the 17 year-old Keef pulls in $13,000 a month, yielding him to pay $2,600 of that to his child’s mother. Additionally, Keef will need to hand over $10,400 in back-pay.
Dame Dash Says He’s Deep In Debt Also Close To Losing His Home
The once very rich Dame Dash is now fighting to keep a roof over his head, losing more than just power in the rap industry.
According to NY Daily News, Dash claims that his mounting debt has once again reached the footsteps of his home and faces imminent eviction from a rented mansion in suburban Carmel, New York.
In a 5-page report Dash filed on Tuesday the former Roc-A-Fella Records head claims, “I am currently several months behind in paying my personal bills,” he wrote. “For instance, I am currently over $100,000 behind in rent for the only home in which I live and at risk of being evicted.”
Dame Dash lost a pair of multimillion-dollar Tribeca lofts to foreclosure in 2010, which included $7.3 million left on massive mortgages.
A 2004 split with his former wife Rachel Roy smacked Dash with a $20 million windfall and eventually left the 42-year-old facing hard financial times.
Court records also show that Dash lost numerous lawsuits filed by landlords, fashion designer Charlotte Ronson and a celebrity bodyguard firm.
According to Dash’s court filing, he faces possible criminal prosecution for not paying his New Jersey taxes. Documents show Dash also owes more than $2 million in state taxes to New York, and he admits to owing federal income taxes as well.
Eazy-E Planned To Kill Suge Knight, Word From Ruthless Records Co-founder Jerry Heller
According to Ruthless Records co-founder Jerry Heller, Eazy-E wanted to kill Suge Knight. Heller recently revealed this in a radio interview, claiming that Eazy wanted to kill Knight and that he feels he “should have let him” do it.
In an interview with Prezident Bejda of The Murder Master Music Show, Heller explained how this conversation took place.
“Eazy said, ‘You know this guy Suge Knight?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He says, ‘Well, I’m gonna kill him!’ He said, ‘This guy is gonna be a problem and I think I should kill him.’ I said, ‘Let me think this thing through. First of all, we’re doing $10 million a month with six employees. We don’t even have a typewriter in the office. We’re the most successful start-up record company in the history of the music business and you want to kill this guy? That just doesn’t make any sense to me.’”
Heller then explained that he regrets talking Eazy out of it.
“You know something? I should have let him kill him. You know? I would have done the world a favor. He would have done it for sure by himself. He always rolled by himself and he was fearless…I think that he was going to go do it. I took him seriously.”
“He was right and I was wrong,” he later added. “I shouldn’t have talked him out of it. Ruthless would probably still be around. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube would probably still be with Ruthless. It would have been an empire.”
The RIAA Incorporates Digital Streams Into Its Gold & Platinum Program
With the introduction of on-demand music services that include Spotify, Rhapsody, and YouTube, music streams have gradually become an integral part of the way in which music is listened to and shared. Thanks to the popularity of streaming music, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has just announced the integration of music streams to its Gold & Platinum Program.
Thanks to the newly-announced change, a total of 56 songs received inaugural certifications this week. Among the nearly 60 songs were Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie,” Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie,” and Ca$h Out “Cashin’ Out.”
“Including music streaming in Gold & Platinum awards marks the continued evolution of the industry’s premier program for recognizing artistic achievement, and it reflects the wide spectrum of ways consumers enjoy music from their favorite bands,” said Cary Sherman, Chairman & CEO, RIAA in a statement. “The music business, along with its incredible array of digital service partners, is offering fans more access to music than ever before. We’re thrilled that our awards will now more fully recognize artists’ commercial success today.”
Launched in the late ‘50s, the RIAA’s Gold & Platinum program was created “to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure the commercial success of a sound recording.”
T.I. thinks on adding Yo Gotti, Kirko Bangz, Jeremih To Hustle Gang
T.I.’s Hustle Gang is making a splash this week with their G.D.O.D. mixtape. The Grand Hustle Records collective led by T.I. features longtime label stars B.o.B., Young Dro and Big Kuntry King, as well as newer acts to the label, Shad Da God, Travi$ Scott and Houston, Texas veteran Trae Tha Truth. While no longer a Grand Hustle artist, Iggy Azalea appeared on one song, “Chasin’ Me,” along with other non-label acts such as Juicy J, Young Jeezy and David Banner.
In a new interview with Hood Rich Radio, T.I. revealed that he’s open to expanding Hustle Gang further. “I got my eyes on a couple cats, I’m going at them,” T.I. said when asked about the status of the collective. He began with a former TVT Records artist-turned-charting act at Polo Grounds/RCA Records from Memphis, Tennessee. “One, very familiar to everyone, go’ by the name of Yo Gotti. We may be able to work together.” He next highlighted a longtime artist in Snoop Lion’s camp. “Another cat by the name of Problem, out in the West Coast.” He also spotlighted two more major label acts that walk the line between singing and rapping. “I been talking to Jeremih, try’na see how he can involve himself with this Hustle [Gang]. I’ve been talking to Kirko [Bangz] too.” Jeremih and Kirko Bangz are signed to Def Jam Records and Atlantic/Warner Bros. Records, respectively.
Treach Tweeted Saying Vin Rock Has Been “Fired” From Naughty By Nature
Naughty By Nature’s Treach is saying that Vin Rock is “officially fired” from the Grammy Award-winning group. This took place in a Twitter update posted Monday evening.
Treach’s Twitter post was followed by another, both taking shots at Vin.
Vinnie later responded with an Instagram image, which he also posted on the Naughty By Nature Twitter account. The photograph featured a quote and image from Native American icon Sitting Bull. The quote can be read below, followed by the image Vin posted on Instagram.
“Warriors are not what you what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others.” Read the rest of this entry »
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