• 6 Lopsided Hip-Hop Beefs: Eminem, Cassidy, El-P Eviscerate Foes

    Meek Mill is trying to put this whole Drake beef behind him, as the latter emcee has won on every front—from diss tracks to social media—since the former decided it would be wise to accuse him of ghostwriting. We always here about the great rap rivalries—Biggie vs. Tupac, Jay vs. Nas—but we tend to forget about the emcees who get rolled over, just like what happened to Mill. We'll take the attention off of him for a while with this collection of one-sided bar-fights.
  • Big Pimpin' Finally Gets Trial Date

    Jay Z, Timbaland and other representatives of various music agencies will finally come to court to comment on one of the longest-running lawsuits in the United States, questioning the use of a sample in the single "Big Pimpin'." The emcee and the producer will comment at a trial scheduled to begin in October after more than 16 years of legal wrangling.
  • Prince Compares Record Contracts To Slavery, Defends TIDAL

    In a private meeting with 10 journalists at his Minneapolis studio on Saturday night, Prince discussed some of the hot topics on his mind in the music industry. No phones or recording devices where allowed in the studio at all, so only a few quotes managed to escape from the event, but the one that has stuck out the most was Prince's advice to young artists looking to grow. He urges them to not seek out a record contract, but instead stay independent and free because "record contracts are just like - I'm gonna say the word - slavery." "I would tell any young artist... don't sign," Prince continued. He also took the time to defend Jay Z & TIDAL, who he has just signed a deal with.
  • Biggest Contracts in Music History: Jay Z, Lil Wayne, Michael Jackson and More

    Stevie Wonder struck it rich 40 years ago on this day when he signed what was, at that point in history, the most lucrative music contract ever: $13 million for seven years and seven albums for Motown/Tamla Records. Granted, things have gotten bigger in the four decades since—both in terms of payouts and inflation rates. Here are the five biggest contracts signed in music history, not adjusted for inflation. Understand that many of these deals won't ever be surpassed due to the increasingly smaller likelihood that a performer or band will sign for such lengthy periods. Jay Z, Lil Wayne and more cash in.
  • Jay Z Made Taylor Swift and Kanye West Become Friends

    Taylor Swift has gone from calling Kanye West "Mean" to being buddies with the big-name rapper and producer. And six years after their big VMAs controversy, the world has Jay Z to thank for this new friendship.
  • Jay Z 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' Rereleased with Hidden Track Thanks to Jack White

    Jay Z's elaborate vinyl release of his 2013 album Magna Carta Holy Grail is finally seeing its release via Jack White's Third Man Records. In addition to the complex two-LP gatefold packaging, it's been revealed that the new version of Hova's 12th studio album comes complete with a previously unheard track, hidden in the record's packaging.
  • Jay Z/Nas, Tupac / Notorious B.I.G.: The Best Hip-Hop Diss Tracks Ever

    The hottest story in hip-hop for the last week has been Meek Mill's allegations that Drake uses a ghostwriter, and the Toronto rapper turned up the heat by releasing "Charged Up," a perceived diss track aimed at his accuser. Responses to Drake's release have been fairly positive, at least from fans (Mill himself hasn't responded to the track yet) but Drizzy has a while to go in terms of both attitude and wordplay if he wants to land on the list of the greatest diss tracks ever. Here are five examples, from the Nas/Jay Z beef to the Tupac Shakur/Notorious B.I.G. beef that set a high bar for vitriol.
  • Soundcloud Could Be in Financial Trouble as Major Label Deals Loom

    SoundCloud could be facing some dire financial consequences, including being "dangerously low on cash," according to reports from Digital Music News. although the company is valued at more than $700 million, two sources indicated to the publication that the digital music platform could be broke in four or five months if it doesn't secure additional funding.
  • Will Smith, Jay Z Executive Team Up To Produce Emmett Till HBO Miniseries

    Will Smith and Tidal owner Jay-Z have decided to collaborate once more for an HBO miniseries documenting the life and story surrounded Emmett Till, a teenager who died in 1955, sparking the civil rights movement. Writers are being sought out for the un-titled project expected to span six hours.
  • Eminem, Jay Z Have Larger Vocabulary Than Bob Dylan According to Study

    Rappers are known to be wordy individuals. In the past, studies have been done on rap lyrics, but now a new study has been released by lyric site Musixmatch about which artists, across all genres, have the largest vocabularies. The study concluded four rappers lead that list -- Eminem, Jay Z, Tupac and Kanye West -- taking the title away from Bob Dylan.
  • 'See You Again' Gains AC Airplay; More Charlie Puth, No Wiz Khalifa

    Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's "See You Again" may be done at the top of the Hot 100, but it's just now picking up steam on the Adult Contemporary charts. This may surprise conservative listeners everywhere, as hip-hop is about as welcome on AC radio as Iggy Azalea at the BET Awards. The trick? Getting soulful crooner Puth to release his own version of the song, minus Khalifa's headlining raps.
  • Beyoncé and Jay-Z Land Emmy Nomination for "On The Run"

    Jay-Z and Beyonce might just be adding another win to their long list of accomplishments. The multi-millionaire couple was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Special Class Program for their "On the Run" Tour special that aired on HBO.
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