the.LIFE Files followed Cassie around from promotional events to the studio and they plan to release a full feature with an interview soon. Below, check out the teaser.
XXL just released their fifth annual "Freshman Class" cover for 2012 and it features not one, but two Bad Boy artists. Both Machine Gun Kelly and French Montana are included. Red Cafe will also be featured in the issue, though not as part of the "Freshman Class." Check out the cover below.
For his post-Academy Awards show, Jimmy Kimmel put together "Movie: The Movie," a star-studded trailer featuring all that people want in movies. Ciroc sponsored it with an ad in the traditional style of the promotional messages displayed before a film is played in a movie theater. Watch below.
According to Rick Ross, French Montana's debut album, "Excuse My French," is set for a July 17 release. Ross will executive produce the album with Diddy.
Speaking of I Dont Dance, how did your relationship with Machine Gun Kelly start?
Well, hes been a fan for a long time. He reached out because he wanted to do a song with me. Then, I saw one of his videos, and I was like, I like this kids energy. What made me gain an extra level of respect for him was when he came into the studio. He had his people and I had my people in the studio, so we kicked everybody out. It was just me and him, one on one, and we just vibed and talked for two hours before we even played one f****** beat.
You built that rapport.
Exactly. He felt the way I felt. You dont just want to walk in, drop a verse, and thats it. He knows. It was like, Lets kick it. Lets see where each of us is coming from. That way you know better how to work with a person.
He then went on to say that he doesn't necessarily listen to MGK's music, he just likes and respects him.
It's all-star weekend for the National Basketball Association. As part of the festivities, tonight's Sprite Slam Dunk Contest was held in Orlando. One of the participants was Chase Budinger, who teamed up with Diddy and jumped over the Bad Boy CEO to complete a dunk. Watch the clip on NBA.com and view the backboard photo.
"[The Weinstein Company Chief Operating Officer] David Glasser, who happens to be the coach of my son's Little League team, said, 'We got to do something special,'" Diddy told Pilon. "He called me and said: 'I've got something special. It's not for business or for money. It's for art.' I saw it and it just blew me away. You think it's going to be about football, but it's about life. I just related to it in so many ways. Usually documentaries take 45 minutes to get started, but within five minutes of this one, I was hooked."
Atlantic Records has released the full version of Estelle's "Do My Thing" for streaming. Check it out below. The song features Janelle Monae and will be included on the Estelle's new album, "All of Me", which will be out on February 28.
Speaking to Bossip, Dawn Richard revealed that she had been released from Bad Boy Records.
"Puff has been really great with being supportive of me starting a solo career and we have agreed to let me go from Bad Boy," she said. "I'm really grateful to him. He didn't have to do that. He could have been what they say that he would be and he's not at all."
"It's really not as big as what people make it," she continued, referencing claims that Diddy has mistreated artists. "He just gave me a business decision. We were very, very amicable about it and I'm very grateful for him for that. And that's all it is. Now, it's just about the music and I want to make him and them proud of believing in me enough to let me go to try it."
Watch the interview below, with Richard's portion starting at the 1:52 mark.
In an interview with Montreality, Machine Gun Kelly revealed that he will release the "Half Naked and Almost Famous" EP/DVD on March 20 in Best Buy stores and may release a book in the summer, titled "The Early Tour Days of Machine Gun Kelly," covering his early touring experiences.
"It's a s***load of photos, a lot of sex stories and stuff like that," he said. "It's cool. It talks about a lot of s*** from last year and the year before that. Just like the early s***."
"We were gonna go for spring, but then we have the EP coming out, so we were like 'f*** it, hold off' and maybe we'll do this summer," he told Montrality, when asked about the release date. "I don't know. I don't want to do too many things that require my fans to just ball out on s***. You know, we have merchandise. I don't want like everything new I came out with to where like fans are like 'damn, I just spent so and so money on this,' like then 'hey, new book $30 - ah, f*** man, I have to work two months.' But, f*** it, though. It's great content. You can't really put a price on great content. Everything's not for free, anyway. I don't want to rob the kids who don't give a f*** what it costs to get it and support it. So, maybe we'll do it this summer."
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today.
Singles
Heatseekers Songs
21. "Wild Boy" by Machine Gun Kelly (up from 25).
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
43. "Shot Caller" by French Montana (down from 41).
54. "Wild Boy" by Machine Gun Kelly (a new high, up from 68).
87. "Let it Go (Dope Boy)" by Red Cafe (down from 76).
96. "Everything's a Go" by French Montana (debut).
DMX appeared on Power 105's "Breakfast Club" this morning, hosted by DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamange Tha God.
During the interview, Angela Yee mentioned how Machine Gun Kelly had named DMX as a big inspiration. In turn, DMX said that he likes MGK and that they had a "great vibe in the studio" (here's some footage). And then Charlamange suggested that MGK is not the type of artist that DMX would usually collaborate with. Here's the exchange:
Charlamange: "Now, Machine Gun Kelly seems like somebody you would diss, like 'I'm not rocking with this dude.'"
DMX: "No. Why? I'm not into the diss for nothing type of s***. I don't do that. There has to be a reason, something that was done to me."
Charlamange: "Lyrically, I wouldn't think you would like Machine Gun Kelly. He's a nice guy."
DMX's new single, "I Don't Dance" featuring Machine Gun Kelly premiered on Power 105 today. Once I have a legitimate link for the song, I'll share it here.
According to Estelle's Twitter, Funkmaster Flex premiered her new "Thank You (Remix)" featuring French Montana and Busta Rhymes. You can listen to and download it below, care of Funkmaster Flex's website.
Cassie will be interviewed on Fuse tonight during the "Top 20 Countdown," starting at 11 PM ET. Watch her talk about the loss of Whitney Houston below.
When French Montana's "Shot Caller (Remix)" was first released back in November, Rick Ross' verse featured a sample of the Jackson 5's "It's Great to Be Here," which was also used underneath The Notorious B.I.G.'s verse on Diddy's "It's All About the Benjamins (Remix)."
The music video is out and the single has now been released digitally: French Montana's "Shot Caller (Remix)" is available on iTunes and Amazon.com. Check out the single cover below.
French Montana has released the music video for "Shot Caller (Remix)" featuring Diddy, Rick Ross and Charlie Rock. Directed by Colin Tilley, it features cameos from Cassie, Red Cafe, Ace Hood, DJ Khaled and more.
The remix was adjusted for the visual. On the original song, the beat switches when Rick Ross enters, just like it did for Biggie's verse on "It's All About the Benjamins (Remix)." In the video, this does not happen.
Diddy and Comcast officially announced announced the venture today, via pressreleases and a video featuring the Bad Boy CEO talking about the new network.
As previously reported, the March 2012 issue of XXL features The Notorious B.I.G. on it's cover for the magazine's tribute to the late rapper on the 15th anniversary of his passing.
MTV went behind the scenes at the music video shoot for French Montana's "Shot Caller (Remix)" music video shoot. Sway Calloway spoke to Montana, Diddy, Rick Ross and Charlie Rock. Watch below.
On this week's Billboard charts, released on Thursday, fun.'s collaboration with Janelle Monae, "We Are Young," catapulted from #41 to #3 on The Billboard Hot 100, the 100 most popular songs in the country, regardless of genre. Furthermore, they scored #1s on the Hot Digital Songs and Hot Digital Tracks charts.
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released on Thursday.
Singles
Heatseekers Songs
25. "Wild Boy" by Machine Gun Kelly (down from 14).
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
41. "Shot Caller" by French Montana (down from 39).
68. "Wild Boy" by Machine Gun Kelly (up from 70).
76. "Let it Go (Dope Boy)" by Red Cafe (a new high, up from 83).
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
41. "Shot Caller" by French Montana (down from 38).
66. "Wild Boy" by Machine Gun Kelly (up from 69).
75. "Let it Go (Dope Boy)" by Red Cafe (debut).
French Montana and Waka Flocka Flame have released the visual to "Black and White," off of their collaborative mixtape "Lock Out." The song features Chinx Drugz. Watch below.
According to Diamond Supply Co'sNicki Diamonds, the company will issue a limited edition Cassie shirt on Saturday. His tweet indicates that you'll be able to order online. He posted a photo of the shirt on Instagram.
Cassie has launchedcassiesuper.com, which features an aggregation of the singer's content shared via online social platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. It also features content shared by a handful of Cassie focused fan profiles.
Clinton Sparks has released his latest mixtape, "My Awesome Mixtape 2." It features two appearances from Diddy - both brief. The interlude "Mutate My Life" (alongside Sidney Samson, Rick Ross, Lil' Jon and Jokers Inc.) and the full length "Ain't Gon Stop Raining" (with Kaskade and Adam K).
During a recent appearance on the L.A. Leakers show, Los freestyled for over 10 minutes over an assortment of beats, including some classic Bad Boy beats. You can download it for free and watch the studio footage below.
It's Valentine's Day and Bad Boy and Cassie have wasted no time in releasing "King of Hearts." You can pick up the single on Amazon.com and iTunes and the music video on iTunes.
YouTube user AdamFleisher caught the moment below, as Wale brought out French Montana for an abbreviated "Shot Caller" during his show at Irving Plaza in New York City on February 10.
TMZ reports that Diddy was hospitalized this morning with an extreme migraine. He was treated and released. Better safe than sorry.
"Thanks for all the Twitter love!," he wrote on his Twitter profile. "I'm fine. I just had the craziest migraine. I'm just sleeping it off now. Thank you. Love y'all."
Diddy will receive executive producer credit on "Undefeated," an Academy Award nominated documentary which will see a limited release on February 17. Check out the trailer below.
Diddy, who was tasked with introducing Clive Davis at the veteran music executive's annual pre-GRAMMY party, took the opportunity to pay tribute to Whitney Houston, who passed away earlier that day.
On his Twitter account, Machine Gun Kelly told fans that they can expect a lot in 2012. To be more specific, you can expect new music, new videos, 2 tours, a DVD, an EP and his debut album.
The Weinstein Companyannounced that they have added Diddy as an executive producer on "Undefeated," a documentary about a football team in northern Memphis and the coach who "guides them through a rough, yet rewarding, football season."
The film has already been nominated for a 2012 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and will open in limited release on February 17.
Perhaps more importantly, Diddy will also serve as an executive producer on the planned feature film remake of "Undefeated."
"I am excited to partner with Harvey Weinstein on this incredible project," said Diddy. "'Undefeated' is a great American story with a lot of heart and soul. It had a profound effect on me and I couldn't get it out of my mind when I saw it. There is so much truth and so much hope in this film and I feel passionately that everyone who sees it will be inspired."
"There's a moment in 'Undefeated' when the coach tells the players, 'Football doesn't build character football reveals character.' I think that's one of the reasons football is so important to me. But, that line could just as easily apply to 'Undefeated' itself. In telling the story of a football team, this film says so much about individuals, about community and about our country. I'm so proud of 'Undefeated' and we feel very fortunate to have Sean on board to bring this story to audiences now and in the future."
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today. Machine Gun Kelly's "Invincible" makes some major inroads with a number of debuts while French Montana's "Shot Caller" gains.
Albums
The Billboard 200
130. "Greatest Hits" by The Notorious B.I.G. (re-entry).
Top Pop Catalog
25. "Greatest Hits" by The Notorious B.I.G. (re-entry).
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Catalog Albums
10. "Greatest Hits" by The Notorious B.I.G. (re-entry).
Capricorn Clark, Cassie's creative director, shared a photo of CD singles that she had received of Cassie's "King of Heart," giving us a good look at the cover for the single.
"I haven't made that announcement yet," he said. "That's something that kinda leaked in the press in this age of celebrity. When you're working on things, it kinda leaks in the press. When I have everything officially solidified, I'll be able to speak on it more. But, only thing I can say is, we're coming with a new energy, we're coming with something that people are going to want to tune in and see."
He went on to thank MTV and BET for "paving the way" and say that he doesn't believe he'll be competition with them. In addition, he credited MTV making him a global star. Watch below.
On Twitter, Diddy mentioned that Funkmaster Flex was premiering the new New York Giants inspired remix of French Montana's "Shot Caller," in honor of the team's victory in last night's Super Bowl. You can download it for free, with his tags, from Funkmaster Flex's website and below.
Chevrolet's Super Bowl commercial for the Sonic featured fun.'s "We Are Young," the band's collaboration with Janelle Monae. According to a comment left by the brand, the annotation at the 15 second mark is supposed to take you to a free download of the song. At this time, the link does not work. Watch the commercial below.
According to the Flickr profile of Blue Flame, Bad Boy's in-house marketing company, Ciroc will premiere a trio of new commercials on their YouTube channel during the Super Bowl tomorrow.
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today. Machine Gun Kelly's "Invincible" makes some major inroads with a number of debuts while French Montana's "Shot Caller" gains.
Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
24. "Shot Caller" by French Montana (debut).
Heatseekers Songs
12. "Wild Boy" by Machine Gun Kelly (down from 10).
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
46. "Shot Caller" by French Montana (a new high, up from 53).
62. "Wild Boy" by Machine Gun Kelly (a new high, up from 76).
89. "Let it Go (Dope Boy)" by Red Cafe (down from 88).
Mikey T The Movie Star has some behind the scenes footage from the music video shoot for French Montana's "Shot Caller (Remix)." Cassie and Wale were on set for the video. The song features guest verses from Diddy and Rick Ross. Check out the footage below.
According to their website, Day26 will premiere the new music video for "Made Love Lately" on tonight's episode of "106 & Park." The show starts at 6 PM ET on BET.
After a photo circulated on Twitter, featuring a green colored bottle of Ciroc purported to be a watermelon flavor, Diddy commented, confirming that it was a counterfeit flavor.
