Our audio player now features "My Chevy" by Gorilla Zoe featuring Snoop Dogg and Russell "Block" Spencer. According to Spencer, in the video below, the track will be the first single from Zoe's upcoming "King Kong" album, set for an October 26 release. This follows "Get Off Me," the "set up single" for the album. For more on the release, check out our previous coverage.
Rapper Pitbull has added a verse to Dirty Money's "Hello Good Morning" and made his record label has made it available for download via his Planet Pit website. The verse opens a megamix that includes the remix verses by Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj as well as the original rap feature by T.I.
In the clip below, URB talks briefly with Janelle Monae about her background. The majority of the clip features performance footage of "Locked Inside."
In the clip below, Bad Boy songwriter Jack Knight discusses his role in "Duets: The Final Chapter" by The Notorious B.I.G., as well as his background and songwriting in general.
Med: Whats the recording process now like for Day 26 without Que? And I am not just talking about his personality but the actual recording records with 4 guys instead of 5?
Will: Of course its a lot different. Que knows that he has always been one of my favorite voices of the group. I always liked his tone and I thought he was a dope singer. But even though there is one voice missing there are a lot of good voices left and we are going to still have that Day 26 sound. This album you going to hear more of Big Mike I dont think he got enough shine in the first two joints he is really killing these records. We have a deep story line that we have been working on with Bryan Michael Cox. The album is coming out amazing we are coming out with a lot of impact records I think people are going to really respect the music this time. With us not being on TV this time it gives Dj, radio and everyone the opportunity to love the music versus what they thought about what went on the show.
On Twitter, Willie Taylor of Day26 announced that, after the next Day26 album is completed, he is going to do another mixtape. In the tweet, he asked for suggestions regarding which DJ should host the mixtape.
Last week, Liz Davis launched a blog at magnolialane-lizzyd.blogspot.com. In the first post, she announced that she will be managed by Johnny Wright, who was featured on "P. Diddy's StarMaker."
On Thursday, Thisis50 released an interview with Black Rob where Rob was very, very critical of Diddy. He indicated that he should have known better than to sign with Diddy, who mislead him about the release date of his album and used him.
He claimed that Diddy took G. Dep away from him (as an artist) and that their time together must have meant nothing to Diddy, because he didn't visit Rob while he was incarcerated.
Furthermore, he said that Diddy wasn't working with him on records. "He was just the last word. 'Good record. I like that. I want to get on that. That's a good record.' He's not in the studio 20 hours, 15 hours with me. Never. There wasn't no love over there. Dude's was just trying to use me."
You can watch the interview below. Pretty strong words.
This is the record that Diddy was talking about as the final, mastered version has been serviced to DJs. The final cut is titled "Loving You No More" and it features some additional vocals. You can listen to it in our audio player.
In July, I highlightedan upcoming line of shirts that would feature Cassie as part of a collaboration between photographer Estevan Oriol and Diamond Supply Co.
On Twitter, Diddy mentioned that the new (presumably next) Dirty Money single will feature Drake. In the message, Diddy implored DJs to call Interscope or Shawn Prez (who handles a lot of DJ-related promotions for Bad Boy) for "that new Diddy/Dirty Money mastered single with Drake."
In his Vibe Magazinecover story, according to HipHopDX, Diddy spoke on claims that he had mistreated artists on the Bad Boy roster.
"There's an off perception that needs to be addressed about me that I have ever robbed somebody or mistreated somebody," he said. "Or tried to be ruthless or whatever in this game. Like, all this year I've heard people say, 'Where's Carl Thomas, where's Black Rob, where's G. Dep? Where are these artists?' And for some reason they go ahead and equate that, 'cause those artists aren't with me, that I've done something wrong or malicious or conniving. It's something that I do have a problem with because they don't have no proof that I've ever done nothing like that."
"It's a misconception. Especially someone who's been brought up like me. I've been brought up to work hard for mine and never take from nobody. And to always try and help people. But people don't understand this game that we're in. You have a short life expectancy. It's rare to be a me, to be a Jay-Z, an LL, a Nas. That s*** is a rarity. That's not even one percent of the rappers. If you look at any artists that were on Ruff Ryders, where they at? If you look at any artist that was on Def Jam at the time we started, where they at? If you look at any artist that was on Roc-A-Fella, Jive, where they at? It's not like anything was wrong with them. It's just that you have a four, five-year average in this game. That's just something I wanted to address."
This is something I've been saying for a long time. This isn't a Bad Boy thing or a Diddy thing, it's a music industry thing. Diddy is just an easy target because he is a visible CEO that is a successful artist.
Diddy revealed on Twitter today that he and Aaliyah recorded a song in Trinidad that has not been released. "I wish I could find those tapes now," he wrote. "Damn."
Interestingly, when I interviewed engineer Axel Niehaus for my piece on the making of Diddy's "No Way Out" album, he mentioned that Aaliyah was down in Trinidad for 3 days while Diddy and a slew of producers, artists and engineers worked to record material that would later be released on "No Way Out" and other albums.
Wednesday marks 9 years since the untimely passing of the singer.
On August 15, Janelle Monae performed at the Outside Lands Festival. Rhapsody's Sam Chennault was there to interview her, talking about the album, androids and more.
Below, you can listen to the After Midnight Radio ReEDIT of Sahara's "Mine" featuring Mario Winans. The clip features an edited version of the music video for the single version, matching the vocals on this new mix.
On August 4, Diddy and producer/DJ Erick Morillo performed in Ibiza. Check out the clips below for some brief performances of "Hello Good Morning," "Mo Money Mo Problems" and Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York."
Earlier this month, music producers Erick Morillo and Eddie Thoneick released an electronic/house-infused remix to Dirty Money's "Hello Good Morning." You can listen to it on Morillo's MySpace.
The ceremony was August 13 and over on the Sean John blog, you can see photos of the inductees in their jackets, including Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, David Robinson and more.
On Sunday, Diddy/Dirty Money headlined Power 105.1's Power Live concert at the beach at Governor's Island in Manhattan, New York. Rick Ross was also on the bill and they brought out Red Cafe, too. Check out a clip below, care of Cavi Worldwide. It features partial performances of "Victory," "Love Come Down," "Angels (Remix)," "Money, Money, Money" and "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)." The Power 105.1 website has photos.
I have confirmed with an E1 Music representative that Gorilla Zoe is signed to E1 Music. It doesn't appear that the deal is part of something larger with Block Entertainment, and may instead be specific to Zoe.
As it stands now, Gorilla Zoe is signed to Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records/E1 Music/Block Entertainment. What the additional label means for his project is unclear at this time.
I'm late to the party on this, but yesterday Willie Taylor of Day26 tweeted a link to an article on I'm Not Jaded, reporting that Taylor's wife, Niyana, had given birth to a baby girl named Layla Marie on July 14. Congratulations to the Taylor family.
Check out the clip below for the music video for Rick Ross' "White Sand II." It features a big cameo from Diddy and a smaller one from Red Cafe. Diddy provides a drop for director Spiff TV at the end.
Singer Bertell has put his own spin on Trey Songz's "Bottoms Up" featuring Willie Taylor and Brian Angel of Day26. In the video's description on YouTube, a free download link is provided.
Here's the new movie trailer for the Diddy-featured "I'm Still Here: The Lost Year Of Joaquin Phoenix," which will take a look at the actor's foray into rap music. It is set for a September 10 release. At the 0:37 mark, Diddy is seen.
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today. After last week's impressive move up, Janelle Monae's "The ArchAndroid" holds firm.
Albums
The Billboard 200
122. "The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III" by Janelle Monae (down from 120).
Top Current Albums
114. "The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III" by Janelle Monae (unchanged).
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
23. "The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III" by Janelle Monae (up from 25).
The flier details some of the upcoming promotional push behind the release, mentioning that a music video for "Get Off Me," the "set up single" has been shot and will be served to the major video networks. On top of that, they plan to release several street videos. It includes a tentative track listing, as well. Check it out below.
1. "Get Off Me"
2. "Day Dreamer"
3. "Beat It"
4. "Mile High Club"
5. "Baddest Chick"
6. "Woop There It Is"
7. "F*** Wit Me"
8. "Cool"
9. "Fall Black"
10. "F*** U"
11. "Vampire"
Forbes only wrote one paragraph about Diddy, but they still managed to make a couple of odd or inaccurate statements. First, they indicated that the upcoming Dirty Money album "Last Train to Paris" had already been released, where it is really set for an October release.
Secondly, there was a bit of a stylistic inconsistency in how they referred to Diddy's entrepreneurial efforts, as compared to others on the list. Jay-Z "invested" in the 40/40 nightclub chain, Akon "has a range of business ventures," Dr. Dre has a "partnership" to create Beats by Dr. Dre, but Diddy "still shills Sean John clothing, Bad Boy Records, and more." Investment, venture, partnership... and shill.
"We letting Rob just do what he want to do right now," he said. "He feel like coming home, he can do that. He got his freedom to do what he want to do. It's all love. We there for him, to support him."
I've maintained coverage of Rob here, in order to let some of the dust settle. But, as time passes, it seems more and more likely that he is off of the label and even he has said that this is the case. As such, today Bad Boy Blog will cease coverage of him.
Of course, if any additional news should break regarding a return to Bad Boy, we'll have it here. In the mean time, as a fan, I wish Black Rob the best of luck in his future endeavors.
For the third consecutiveyear, Sean John will be designing the jackets given to the 2010 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame on August 13 in Springfield, MA.
According to the Sean John blog, for the first time ever, the jackets will be featured as part of a permanent exhibition at the museum.
The 2010 class includes the 1960 U.S. Men's Olympic team and the 1992 U.S. Men's Olympic team (known as the "Dream Team") as well as Dr. Jerry Buss, Cynthia Cooper, Bob Hurley, Sr., Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen and the posthumous inductions of Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson and Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira.
"We are so thrilled to be a part of this third installment with our involvement in the NBA," Diddy said, via press release. "This year the inductees are some of my favorite players and they are sure to go down in history. These are athletes that changed the sport forever. To be a part of two separate Dream Teams receiving homage for what they’ve offered the sport is just incredible. I idolized the 1960 Dream Team growing up and watched the 1992 Dream Team as a young adult and it’s an honor just to be in the same room let alone design them a collection of blazers."
On July 29, Jeremy Greene was in Springfield, MA for a performance and one of the records he performed was "How Fly is He," featuring Diddy (through vocals sampled from Dirty Money's "Hello Good Morning.") Check out some performance footage below, including a cameo by Clinton Sparks. "How Fly is He" can be seen in the second video.
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today. It's a great week for Janelle Monae: her album "The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III" makes a big jump on the relevant album charts while "Tightrope" debuts on the Hot Singles Sales chart.
Albums
The Billboard 200
120. "The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III" by Janelle Monae ("Pace Setter," up from 175).
Top Current Albums
114. "The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III" by Janelle Monae ("Pace Setter," up from 150).
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
25. "The ArchAndroid: Suites II and III" by Janelle Monae ("Pace Setter," up from 31).
Diddy's stepson Quincy Brown was on hand for the Dirty Money solo performance of "Hello Good Morning" at the Teen Choice Awards 2010. He took some video from the performance. Check it out below.
Diddy, Dirty Money, Sean John, Janelle Monae and "Get Him to the Greek" wracked up a total of 10 nominations in 9 categories, including two individual nods for Jonah Hill and Russell Brand.
Unfortunately, these 10 nominations resulted in no victories. Here is the breakdown, thanks to MTV News:
Category: "Choice Movie: Liplock"
Nominated: Russell Brand and Jonah Hill in "Get Him to the Greek"
Winner: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
Category: "Choice Movie: Hissy Fit"
Nominated: Sean Combs in "Get Him to the Greek"
Winner: Miley Cyrus in "The Last Song"
Category: "Choice Movie: Fight"
Nominated: Sean Combs vs. Russell Brand and Jonah Hill in "Get Him to the Greek"
Winner: Mia Wasikowska vs. the Jabberwocky in "Alice in Wonderland"
Category: "Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer"
Nominated: Sean Combs in "Get Him to the Greek"
Winner: Kellan Lutz in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
Producer Bangladesh told SOHH.com that he "just worked with Diddy the other day." It's unclear on what, but it may be for Dirty Money's upcoming "Last Train to Paris" album, now set for October.
After her performance on "So You Think You Can Dance," Janelle Monae chatted with Neon Limelight on the concept (or, rather, the tossing out of concepts) of her "Cold War" music video. Watch below.
Blue MOB is "an exclusive community of artists, engineers, producers, composers and DJs who are users and fans of Blue (Microphones)." Janelle Monae is one of them, and according to a press release, utilizes the company's Bottle series in the studio.
On Twitter, Aasim revealed that he'll be releasing a single featuring Dawn Richard. According to David Harraway, the record was produced by Aasim, but Tony Dofat was brought in to mix it and he "he added his skills to the beat."
Yesterday, Power 105.1's DJ Envypremiereda new singlefrom Red Cafe, titled "Money, Money, Money." On Twitter, Envy referred to it as the "1st single." The record features rap verses from Diddy and Fabolous.
The big one is Diddy's "It's All About the Benjamins (Remix)." But, Nas' "Hate Me Now" featuring Diddy and Yung Joc's "It's Goin' Down" have both been added, as has the Diddy-produced Mary J. Blige cut, "You’re All I Need/I’ll Be There For You."
Dawn Richard has now released the full record available as a free download via press release. It was produced by Rob Holladay and written by Richard and Da Internz.
In the series of clips below, DJ Scream interviews Russell "Block" Spencer of Block Entertainment. The most interesting part is in the second clip, where he talks about Yung Joc's departure from Bad Boy and gives his side of the matter.
This is Spencer's account of the events, and his side only (we have covered Joc's side in detail previously): Joc wanted to dissolve his relationship with his long time manager Rico Brooks. But, Spencer told Joc that that wasn't fair, given Brooks' investment in him as an artist, instead suggesting he bring another person in as Brooks would be open to sharing the duties and, he says, the money.
Allegedly, Joc was not satisfied with that proposal and, in return, Block pushed Joc's album back and released Gorilla Zoe's album in his spot. Joc went directly to Diddy (Block referred to this as going "behind his back"). When Diddy declined to get involved, Joc went to Lyor Cohen, who also declined.
Block also spoke on his relationship with Diddy and confirmed that Gorilla Zoe was still signed to Bad Boy through Atlantic.
Janelle Monae recently had a sit down interview and in-person performance with The Recording Academy (the people behind The GRAMMY Awards). Check out the clips below. In the first two, she performs "Sincerely, Jane" and "Smile." In the last three, she speaks about being nominated for a GRAMMY, her debut album and musical theatre.
In the video below, Russell "Block" Spencer announced that he's doing a six mixtape series - the first of which is "Braggin' Rights," which we mentioned in July.
Aasim's "Off the Shelf" mixtape, which we officially released here at Bad Boy Blog on June 28, received the listening party treatment in New York City on August 2 at Le Souk. Check out a couple of clips below.
Last night, Aasim released 11 tracks including "Manhattan Pu***." That track, when downloaded, was tagged as Aasim featuring Cassie. But, upon listening, I found that it didn't really sound like Cassie.
Edit: Upon listening to it, it doesn't really sound like Cassie on that record, despite it being labeled as featuring her. I'm trying to find out for sure.
Edit 2: Just confirmed with Aasim that it is not Cassie, now trying to find out who it is.
Overnight, Aasim released 11 new records, including songs featuring Cassie, Wize G and Keon. Check out the full list below, all linked to the page where you can download them for free.
But, at the event, no announcement was made, according to Access Hollywood. All that FOX Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice would say is that no one has signed a deal.
MTV released the nominees for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards today and Janelle Monae picked up a nomination for the "Tightrope" music video in the Best Choreography category. You can vote for her online.
The video was directed by Wendy Morgan with choreography by Janelle Monae and The Memphis Jookin Community.
The show will air on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9 PM ET on MTV.
At that time, I noted that you could buy it now on Beatport, but that if you waited until the official August 3 release date, you'd likely be able to pick it up for a lot less than the $24.90 price that that store was offering.
Today's the day and yes, you can! While Beatport has lowered to $19.90, Amazon.com is offering it for $7.99 (plus a $4.00 voucher for the Amazon On Demand video service) and ShockHound has it for $6.99.
Check out some free previews made available by the remix producers, the cover and the track listing for the release below.
A source told TVGuide.com's Stephen Battaglio that FOX and 19 Entertainment, the production company behind "American Idol," that a decision has been made regarding Simon Cowell's replacement on the show. Further, an announcement will be made during FOX's Television Critics Association summer press event on August 2.
Battaglio indicates that there could be multiple announcements made, even a complete overhaul of the judge lineup.
