Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Eye Candy of The Day
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Forbes Predicts Who Will Hip-Hop's First Billionaire Be
Forbes magazine predicts five artists to watch that are way on their way to being billionaires: Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, Bryan “Birdman” Williams, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. All five already boast nine-figure fortunes.
“I think Young Money Cash Money would be the first billion-dollar brand in hip-hop,” said Birdman referring to his record label. “We strong and growing every day as a brand and fast. Within the next few years we will be billionaires.”
But Forbes states that Diddy is the closest, with an estimated net worth of $500 million. He’s taken to calling himself “Ciroc Obama,” and with good reason: his vodka deal with beverage giant Diageo could soon land him in some very exclusive company. Diddy receives an annual cut of profits and a big chunk of cash if Ciroc is ever sold. With the spirit’s value speeding toward $1 billion—on top of stakes in clothing lines Sean John and Enyce, marketing firm Blue Flame and record label Bad Boy—Diddy may be beat buddy Jay-Z to the Forbes 400.
Jay-Z, however, is close behind with an estimated fortune of $450 million. Beyoncé’s husband sold his Rocawear clothing label for $204 million in 2007 and signed 10-year $150 million Live Nation deal in 2008.
He still holds stakes in a wide range of businesses including the soon-t0-be Brooklyn Nets, the 40/40 Club chain, ad firm Translation, cosmetics company Carol’s Daughter and other ventures. His lyrical boasts (“I’m like really half a billie”) appear accurate, at least if you round up.
Perhaps more than any other hip-hop artist, Dr. Dre’s financial star has been on the rise this year. The bulk of his $250 million fortune comes from Beats Electronics, the headphone maker Dr. Dre founded with Interscope chief Jimmy Iovine in 2008.
In early August, handset maker HTC paid $300 million to buy a 51% stake in Beats. Sources say Iovine and Dre each owned a third of the company before the deal; FORBES estimates that Dre will take home $85 million after taxes. The agreement also values his remaining stake at $100 million, which could increase rapidly as the company continues to expand.
Unlike the somewhat reclusive Dr. Dre, Birdman makes no secret about his billion dollar dreams. The New Orleans-born rapper-turned-mogul co-founded Cash Money Records with brother Ronald two decades ago and inked a very favorable $30 million distribution deal with Universal in 1998.
The label’s value has soared with the success of rappers Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne, all of whom made this year’s Hip-Hop Cash Kings list, bringing his total net worth to an estimated $110 million (he insists he’s worth more).
50 Cent rounds out the “Forbes Five” at $100 million. After receiving nine figures for his Vitaminwater stake in 2007, 50 spent freely on cars and renovations to mansion formerly owned by Mike Tyson.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Ray J Apologizes
Ray J called into Power 105’s The Breakfast Club to discuss a recent altercation with Fabolous that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The beef originated with Loso making some jokes on Twitter (“Nigga Ray J doin a concert in his living room,” “Nah but Floyd Mayweather saying we havin a concert in my living room & the camera cuts to Ray J singing ‘One Wish’ on the piano had me in tears!!”).
Ray apologized to his fans for the altercation with fabolous on Twitter to tell fans he's sorry for yesterday's outburst.
J. Cole's Debut Leaks & He Addresses It
J. Cole’s debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story is slated to hit stores on September 27th, but an advance leak has already hit the Internet. Speaking with VIBE.com’s Mikey Fresh at his NYC listening party last week, the Roc Nation rapper explained that it’s all part of the game and doesn’t worry him.
“I feel blessed. There’s been worse leaks than that so I understand it’s a part of the game, I always understood that. As long as people hear it together, it’s cool,” he said. “And I just know that the people who are going to buy it were going to buy it anyways. The people who weren’t probably weren’t, anyways. If anything, the leak will reach out to more people who might be like ‘ah man, let’s go get this.' So you know, it's kind of like promotion these days—if you got a good album. If you don't have a good album—they'll just trash you.”
Cole, whose album goes on pre-sale on iTunes today, is more excited about the fact that his debut will finally hit stores.
“I’m just excited. Of course I’ve got some nerves. It’s only natural to have nerves, but I’m really more excited and proud. I can’t believe I’m actually going to have a CD that’s in stores. I got a long way to go in the game, but that’s definitely a day where I’ll be able to pat myself on the back - which I don’t do often.”
50 Cent Says New Album To Drop In November
Although 50 Cent's souring relationship with his record label Interscope may have seemingly railroaded the release of his latest album, 50 says that hasn't kept him from recording. Now, Fiddy says that his next as-of-yet untitled project is nearly completed and features production from his mentor Dr. Dre.
BET.com caught up with the G-Unit general at the 10th anniversary issue release party of Smooth Magazine to discuss the status of his long-awaited release. The Queens rapper says that he's nearly finished recording the project and that fans can expect to see his latest effort on shelves this November, complete with two beats from Dr. Dre.
“It’s good man, I’m done, actually - I just got to go through the mixing process,” he said. “It’s just the system and everybody being on deck at the same time to move at the same pace. When I have a conversation about something I expect it to happen like right after we talk about it.”
As previously reported, 50 Cent was involved in a heated dispute with his long-time label Interscope Records over the handling of the album's promotion.
Monday, 19 September 2011
Thursday, 15 September 2011
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