Def Jam

Latest reports coming from independent sources claim that recently exiled rapper, Shyne is gearing to sign a very lucrative deal with Def Jam Records. This comes within months of the former MC signed to Bad Boy Entertainment has been set free from a ten stretch for letting off a gun in the infamous New York club involving hot items P Diddy and J-Lo in 1999.

Taken from [MissInfo TV]:
[ - Multiple sources have confirmed to me that Shyne Po has signed a 7-figure deal with Def Jam.

This ends a bidding war that had industry bigwigs vying for Shyne’s attention, flying to Belize, calling and courting, ever since the Brooklyn emcee was released from prison and deported to Belize back in October.

For Shyne to turn down hard-court pressure from Jimmy Iovine/Dr.Dre and others and instead join LA Reid back at his last known recording-residence actually seems like an inevitable move….because I’ve been hearing that Shyne has been pow-wowing with veteran manager Kyambo “HipHop” Joshua for a while now. Joshua and his HipHopSince1978 partners, Gee Roberson, also manage Lil Wayne, Drake, Young Jeezy and more. Meanwhile, my old friend Al Branch is both a partner in HipHopSince1978 and a high-level exec at Def Jam…see how that works? Synergy! Now there have been recent reports of new label-wide pressures, but with this team in place, Shyne is in good hands.

As for the logistics, the plan is for Shyne to work out of London, it’s a buzzing hip hop hub with all the necessary facilities. Oh, and about that first verse which appeared on an early DJ Khaled album leak (and is allegedly scratched from the final tracklisting)…I’m hearing that Shyne didn’t intend that verse to be his first look. After nearly a decade inside, he’s allowed a little time to figure out what direction he’ll take. -]

[SOURCE]

Photography: Jonathon Mannion

Taken from [XXLMag.com]
Lyor Cohen is about to pull a power move. “Is Method Man confirmed?” he asks a publicist. Cohen is inquiring about Meth’s participation in VH1’s Hip Hop Honors, which, this year, is dedicated to Def Jam. Method Man is not confirmed. “What’s Method Man’s number?” he demands in his clipped Israeli accent. Cohen is soon dialing the digits. It goes to voice mail.

“Tical, guess who this is?” It’s an album skit come to life.

Cohen, the former president of Island Def Jam, is working the phones because the label is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It’s also why he opened his Upper East Side townhouse to XXL on Rosh Hashanah for this momentous round table. For the first time ever, Cohen, his Def Jam co-founder, Russell Simmons, and former Def Jam president Kevin Liles will sit together and candidly reminisce (and argue) about hip-hop’s most storied record label.

It’s about to get bigger and deffer.

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Since the folding of Arista Records, OutKast's group and solo contracts have been retained at Jive/Sony. After speaking with EyeWeekly last night, rapper Big Boi says that may be ending this month.

“The lawyers just have to finish their lawyering,” Big Boi said of ending his seven year contract with Jive, after leaving LaFace/Artista after Stankonia in 2000, the same year Arista reconstructed to J Records, Interscope and Jive. There, he released the group effort Idlewild in 2006, after 2003's double-solo album project, Speakerboxxx/Love Below, both reaching multi-platinum status.

Since 2007 however, Big Boi's solo follow-up: Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty has remained shelved, despite single servicing and video production.

He told SOHH.com in June, "The push backs have just really been trying to get the situation together with the record label, and trying to learn a new system. There are some talks going on right now. I can't really release it right now. Probably within the next week or so, there will be a big announcement coming out and the album will be out this summer, believe it, it's done, it's it in the can and I'm very happy with it. We got to clearing it up."

According to EyeWeekly's story, Big Boi is set to to reunite with early mentor L.A. Reid, former co-founder of LaFace Records, now serving as Def Jam President.

Though not confirmed, it appears as Big Boi's album will go to Def Jam with him.

In the last year, The Clipse, UGK and Too Short have all ended contracts with Jive Records.

[SOURCE]

Def Jam Recordings has tapped Shakir Stewart as exec. VP. Promoted from his post as senior VP of A&R for Island Def Jam Music Group, Stewart succeeds former Def Jam president Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. In his new role, Stewart will retain his A&R responsibilities and report to IDJ chairman/CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid and to Steve Bartels, president and COO of the company on operational matters.

Promoted to IDJ's senior VP of A&R in 2006, Stewart had previously served as VP/A&R at Def Jam since 2004. His signings during that period include hip-hop stars Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. Prior to that, Stewart held various posts including senior VP/creative and GM of Hitco Music Publishing, member of the executive A&R team at Arista Records and A&R consultant with LaFace Records.

Jay-Z spent three years as Def Jam's president before stepping down in late 2007. He recently inked a 360-degree deal with Live Nation.

Article by Gail Mitchell, Billboard biz

It looks like Nigger will get to see the light of day after all. Barely a week after scrapping the controversial title to his 9th solo album, word is Nas is scheduled to team up with DJ Green Lantern to drop The Nigger Tape.

“I guess it shows you the power of Wal-Mart and Target,” Green told Rhapsody’s Play blog regarding Nas’ title switch. “If that was the case, it’s definitely scary because it kind of fucks with your artistic vision. But Nas and DJ Green Lantern are coming out with a mixtape called The Nigger Tape. Can’t nobody hold that back.”

The tape will feature exclusive tracks, remixes and outtakes, including an unreleased verse from Nas’s recently released “Be A Nigger Too,” Black President,” a cut initially slated to appear on Green’s Barack Obama mixtape and “Legendary,” the theme song to a forthcoming Mike Tyson documentary. A new version of “The Last Real Nigga Alive,” which originally appeared on God’s Son, is also expected to make the final cut.

As previously reported, Nas recently changed his album title. At press time, the CD was still untitled. The Queens lyricist initially announced that he’d be titling his next offering, Nigga during a New York performance at Nokia Theater last year. Having sparked discussions, the MC promptly changed the LP’s spelling to Nigger. Backed by Def Jam Records Chairman L.A. Reid and then-President Jay-Z, Nas stuck to his guns until retail stores concerns, among other things, grew overwhelming.

Article by Carl Chery [[Allhiphop.com]