In an interview with Billboard, Rick Ross talked about how, in building his Maybach Music Group, he was inspired by earlier movements like Bad Boy Records.
"Building Maybach Music Group and building this empire, of course I was inspired by some of the earlier movements and earlier dudes that came along such as Cash Money, such as Bad Boy Records," he said.
"And to me, when I really think about the greatest era of hip-hop, those were the greatest eras to me; when I turned on my TV and saw Big and I saw Mase and I saw Junior M.A.F.I.A. and I saw The Lox. That was the most exciting era of hip-hop to me and when I looked at the No Limit era and saw that camaraderie that they had, that unity and that brotherhood that they shared. You know, I think it spilled over from music and me, being an artist that really loves to make music to the point where I would love to have 4 and 5 incredible artists that I could be on the phone with or in the studio with on a daily basis."
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today. Dirty Money's "Coming Home" and "Last Train to Paris" fall while "Your Love" stagnates.
Albums
The Billboard 200
191. "Last Train to Paris" by Dirty Money (down from 171).
Top Current Albums
150. "Last Train to Paris" by Dirty Money (down from 136).
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
27. "Last Train to Paris" by Dirty Money (down from 25).
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today. It's a good week for Dirty Money: "Last Train to Paris" gains, "Coming Home" holds firm and "Your Love" moves up. On top of that, "Coming Home" has been certified gold by the RIAA, in recognition of over 500,000 units sold.
"It's a revolution that's going on right now and it's a lot of artists that are going against the grain of record companies and radio and this is a different type of time. I think these cats have learned from us and they understand ownership. This generation that's doing it, is doing it well. I'm very proud of them for just taking a chance on themselves and believing in themselves. Odd Future's believing in themselves. Wiz Khalifa believed in himself. When nobody believes in you... that's what I represent, I represent that whole hustle. These guys aren't going to have to kiss that a** or play that political game and they doing what the f*** they want to do and I want them to keep doing what they want to do."
According to Rap Radar, the group has made their decision: they will sign a distribution deal with Red Distribution/Sony and form their own company, Odd Future Records.
Here are Bad Boy's positions on the most recent Billboard U.S. album and single charts, released today. Dirty Money's "Your Love" gains across the board. "Coming Home" sees small losses, but remains unchanged in a few categories and even makes a new debut on the Hot Dance Airplay chart, likely fueled by the Dirty South remix of the song.
The "Coming Home Tour" appears to have had an impact on the album charts, where "Greatest Hits" by The Notorious B.I.G. and "Last Train to Paris" by Dirty Money both gain.
Albums
The Billboard 200
177. "Greatest Hits" by The Notorious B.I.G. (re-entry).
190. "Last Train to Paris" by Dirty Money (re-entry).
Top Current Albums
150. "Last Train to Paris" by Dirty Money (up from 169).
For fans of Bad Boy, Diddy and The Notorious B.I.G., it looks like a book worth adding to your collection. Contained within is Prodigy's reflections on Bad Boy's interest in signing the group, Biggie and on the east/west coast beef. Of course, you have to keep in mind that this is one man's opinion and one man's memory.
Prodigy recounts how E-Money Bags, someone who associated with both Mobb Deep and 2Pac, told him that 2Pac knew that Biggie and Diddy had nothing to do with the Quad Studios shooting, which would leave him hospitalized with five gunshot wounds. He would later accuse both of being involved.
Bags, as Prodigy refers to him, told him that he explained to 2Pac who was behind the shooting, but that 2Pac wanted to use it to start controversy and, in Prodigy's words, "turn his gunshot wounds into a marketing and promotion scheme."
Cleveland rapper Machine Gun Kelly took to Twitter today to comment on rumors that he has signed a major label record deal.
The rumor that has gained momentum is that he has signed to Bad Boy. This is fueled by Diddy's repeated co-signing of him on Twitter and at the SXSW Music festival (watch the clip below). Music video production outfit The Topshelf Company, who has worked with Keri Hilson, Jason Derulo, Snoop Dogg and more, tweeted in March that he had recently signed to Bad Boy, without providing further details. In addition, music production marketplace PMP Worldwide, run by former Bad Boy Head of A&R Conrad Dimanche, listed a request for his project under the label "TBA (Interscope pending)."
So far, I have been unable to get anyone to go on the record on the story, which is why we haven't covered it yet. But, since MGK feels that it is worth commenting on, I wanted to at least pick up his remarks.
"Funny how I see all these comments about me being signed?," he said on Twitter today. "F****** must have mailed the check to the wrong house? LOL. Or maybe it's because I don't have a mailing address! I do appreciate the support but I'm just out here workin' now with EST. That's my family, that's my team. But, believe that when I do sign one day I will be the first to tell you. Not a label, not a blog. I'm doin' this for something bigger than me."
"I think we have the ability to be something great and really make an impact," he continued. "Not just in music, but on this generation. Rome wasn't built in a day, so it's gonna be a process but stick with me, we will be great.
