As you may all already know, Carmelo Anthony is officially a New York Knicks player. When I got the phone call that it was official I was beyond myself. I was so excited and proud of the great news. I’m a bit upset that I didn’t make it to his first official game as a Knicks, due to being out of town but I will sure make it to a game real soon. I can’t wait!!
In other news, according to to his wife, the former MTV VJ La La Vazquez, Carmelo Anthony makes delicious lobster tails. This kitchen intimacy was revealed Wednesday at halftime of Melo’s Knicks debut, in a courtside television interview.
Carmelo Anthony is hugged by his wife La La and his son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony, at a news conference to introduce him as one of the newest members of the Knicks.
“He’s an excellent cook,” Vazquez said of her husband, who finally and mercifully arrived in New York this past week after months of overwrought drama. Standing aloft a pair of striking six-inch Louboutins in Knicks blue, the Brooklyn-born Vazquez beamed as she recalled the news of the mega trade. “Baby, we’re coming home,” she said her husband told her.
Since this is New York, the conversation quickly pivoted to real estate. Vazquez, who will be starring in her own VH1reality show—La La’s Full Court Life—said she’d already been flooded with leads.
“I have at least 200 referrals right now,” she said.
It was a charming moment of Anthony family diplomacy, and not the first. Earlier that night, Knicks owner James Dolan almost managed to undermine Anthony‘s feel-good introductory press conference with a ramble attacking rumors of his continued collaboration with ex-general manager and coach Isiah Thomas.
After a gracious nod to the departed players the Knicks dealt to acquire Anthony, Dolan defended his relationship with current GM Donnie Walsh and said, “I will say this very directly: While Isiah Thomas is a friend of mine, a very good friend of mine…”
“Dada!” Carmelo‘s son, Kiyan, whispered loudly, interrupting the man who is set to pay his father a $65 million, three-year contract extension. Anthony, seated on stage next to Dolan in an orange headband and Knicks sweats, cracked up, as did many in the crowd.
The tension had been sufficiently punctured. This would not be a night of finger-pointing and recriminations. Even after Dolan continued, he was soon back smiling with his new star.
The enthusiasm of the Anthonys melted the complicated feelings of the deal—at least briefly. On Wednesday night, this was not a forced-hand acquisition of a superstar eager for a maximum contract with his desired team.
This was a gooey homecoming.
Later, before a rowdy Garden crowd, the Knicks would pluck the violin some more with a video that burnished Anthony‘s Red Hook roots and his toddler-aged worship of Bernard King (Baltimore—where Anthony was raised, became a school hoops legend and built a youth center that bears his name—wasn’t mentioned). Diddy‘s spare anthem with Skylar Grey, “Coming Home,” tinkled in the background.
Anthony is thrilled to be here and stay here. (The long term is not so certain across the river in New Jersey, which pulled off its own major deal on Tuesday, acquiring Utah All-Star guardDeron Williams.) In Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire the Knicks have two stars in their twenties enamored of a franchise that hasn’t won a title since 1973. They buy into the mythology, the bombast, the center-of-the-universe-ness that LeBron James so obviously did not.
The thing is, they also have to play basketball, and right now they have to do it on a depleted team. On Wednesday, despite 27 points from Carmelo and 21 from veteran add-on Chauncey Billups, the Knicks treaded water against the dreadful Milwaukee Bucks before finally winning, 114-108.
The Big Debut is out of the way. But there is so much else in the path—Boston, Miami, Chicago; the lack of a dynamic center; the steep learning curve of new players trying to adjust to unfamiliar coaching and tendencies. This is what Carmelo Anthony wanted and why he turned a pair of franchises upside down. It won’t be as easy to fix as lobster tails.
Jay-Z and Kanye West are working on a full album together.
The pair previously announced they were to collaborate for an EP called ‘Watch the Throne’, but Kanye has since revealed this will now become an album.
He told MTV:
“We’re putting out a whole album now. We had done five songs so far, but then a few of them kind of were out there – and I put them on my album. Sorry, Jay!”
Although Kanye used some of their initial ideas for his forthcoming ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ album – including the track “Monster”, a version of which featuring Jay-Z has been released – he added the pair have set a date to record again, and he doesn’t expect Jay to have any problems coming up with lyrics.
He added:
“We’re going to the South of France at the end of this month just to record new ideas. We’ll probably be done with the album in like a day or whatever. If you think about it, it’s really easy for Jay: He only has to think of, like, 10 verses!”
Kanye has a long association with Jay, working with the star as a producer on his breakthrough album ‘The Blueprint’ in 2001.
Jay-Z to Stump for Obama Again in 2012
During the 2008 presidential election, Jay-Z made it known that he was rooting for now-President Barack Obama. The rap superstar appeared at campaign rallies with Obama and even sang his praises during (typically sold-out) shows.
Jay-Z hasn’t been involved in the upcoming mid-term elections, but that doesn’t mean he’s done with politics. While speaking with the New York Post, Deputy White House Press Secretary William Burton made it sound like the Obama camp is expecting Jay-Z to help out in 2012.
Burton joked about the rapper taking over a key economic post before admitting his appeal to the Democratic party.
“In all seriousness, keep in mind he was pretty active during the 2008 election, so I don’t think it’d surprise anyone that he would be involved again,” Burton said. “But it’s a little premature.”
I’m A Business, Man! Jay-Z’s 10 Smartest Business Decisions According to Vibe Magazine
Guess who’s bizzack? Less than a month before the release of “Decoded”, a book that breaks down the meanings behind many of his most complicated lyrics, Jay-Z is proving once again why he landed atop of the Forbes “Hip-Hop Cash Kings” list late last summer.
Last week, Hov teamed up with Microsoft‘s search engine Bing to launch an advertisement campaign that will see pages from his upcoming book plastered to billboards throughout the country as well as surfaces like the bottom of a pool and the top of a pool table. Jay-Z fans are encouraged to use Bing to find and locate these pages, and the first fan that locates all of them and “decodes” them properly will win a chance
to catch a Jay-Z concert in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve.
It’s already proven to be an incredibly deft business move by Jay-Z. The promotion has given the book a ton of free press and a good chance of moving off bookshelves quickly on Nov. 16.
In honor of Hov‘s latest deal, VIBE looks back at 10 of his smartest business decisions. If you’ve ever wondered how he managed to take his life from Marcy to Madison Square, look no further.
“I think the list is a bit bogus. Nothing against VIBE by all means they are a great magazine. I just feel the list could have been put together more for his Business/Investment ventures, rather than what kind of champagne he prefers, but that’s just me.”
Here’s one from wikipedia.org:
Jay-Z has also established himself as an entrepreneur like his fellow hip hop moguls and friends, Russell Simmons, Dr. Dre and Sean “Diddy” Combs, who also have business holdings such as record companies and clothing lines. In an interview, he stated that “my brands are an extension of me. They’re close to me. It’s not like running GM, where there’s no emotional attachment.” He is the founder of the urban clothing brand Rocawear along with Damon Dash. Rocawear has clothing lines and accessories for men, women and children. The line was taken over by Jay-Z in early 2006 following a falling out with Dash. In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group, for $204 million. Jay-Z will retain his stake in the company and will continue to oversee the marketing, licensing and product development.He also co-owns The 40/40 Club, an upscale sports bar that started in New York City and has since expanded to Atlantic City and Chicago. In 2008, the 40/40 club in Las Vegas was closed down and bought back by the hotel after attendance steadily declined. Future plans will see 40/40 Clubs in Tokyo and Singapore. In 2005, Jay-Z became an investor in Carol’s Daughter, a line of beauty products, including products for hair, skin, and hands, as well as fragrances.
Jay-Z serves as co-brand director for Budweiser Select and collaborates with the company on strategic marketing programs and creative ad development. He provides direction on brand programs and ads that appear on TV, radio, print, and high-profile events. He is a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team paying a reported $4.5 million for his share. He is interested in relocating the team to Brooklyn. In October 2005, he was reported in English media as considering buying a stake of Arsenal F.C., an English soccer team. He has also invested in a real estate development venture called J Hotels which recently acquired a $66 million mid-block parcel in Chelsea, New York. Jay-Z and his partners are contemplating constructing a high-end hotel or an art gallery building on the newly acquired site which has the potential to go up about twelve stories. Through his company Gain Global Investments Network LLC, had an interest estimated between 2 and 7% in the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) consortium which in January 2010 was awarded a contract to operate a 4,500 slot machine racino at the Aqueduct Race Track. Jay-Z became interested in the project after New York Governor David Paterson who awarded the contract said there had to be an affirmative action component to the ownership. Jay-Z initially approached Steve Wynn who was also bidding on the contract. On March 9, 2010, Jay-Z and Flake withdrew from the project and Paterson recused himself from further involvement.
Jay-Z’s Interview With The Wall Street Journal
Here are excerpts from an interview from The Wall Street Journal with Jay-Z in his office.
WSJ: This book puts a frame around your career. When did you really start thinking about how you wanted to present your legacy?
Jay-Z: You think about legacy before you even start. When a kid is practicing on the basketball court, it’s “5-4-3-2-1 and the crowd goes crazy!”
As you start realizing your dreams and it’s tangible, you think about it in a real way. But I think that emotion happens from the beginning, from record one.
The legacy, I think about that as I make the music, all the time. How can I make the best album of all time? You always fail. But every time I go up to bat, I’m thinking how can I make an album better than “Thriller.”
WSJ: I’ve talked to some of your friends who say that when you guys make personal career decisions, you’re taking into account how the decisions will move hip-hop culture forward overall. Can you give me an example?
Jay-Z: For us, this is the music that saved a generation. So there’s a big responsibility for those who it saved to make sure that thing is intact for the next generation. We’re the first generation that really took advantage of it, starting with Puff [Daddy] and Master P, guys who really made a name and became successful as entrepreneurs.
Even more than that, when you’re under attack so much as a genre [as hip hop is], you’re forced to come together. But probably the last time we really came together on something was working for Obama, lending our voice and the people we had toward that campaign. Whether he does a great job or not is almost secondary to what it did for the dreams and the hopes of an entire race. Just based on that alone, it’s a success, the biggest we’ve had. Period. To date. It’s Martin Luther King’s dream realized. Tangible. In the flesh. You can shake his hand.
WSJ: What would you change about hip-hop if you could?
Jay-Z: We have to find our way back to true emotion. This is going to sound so sappy, but love is the only thing that stands the test of time. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was all about love. Andre 3000, “The Love Below.” Even NWA, at its core, that was about love for a neighborhood.
We’re chasing a lot of sounds now, but I’m not hearing anyone’s real voice. The emotion of where you are in your life. The mortgage scandal. People losing their jobs. I want to hear about that.
WSJ: What’s the most important decision you made along the way to help keep your career in your own hands?
Jay-Z: We got lucky. In the beginning we couldn’t get a deal. We had to work our own records in the beginning. It gave us a different way to negotiate when we came to the table. Most people get excited and take the first deal they’re offered. We had a little bit of success already, so we were stubborn enough to think that we could really do it at that point. They offered us a deal and we asked for a co-venture. That pretty much ensured that we’d have control from the beginning, from album one.
WSJ: You don’t hand out awards. Are there other things you say no to automatically?
Jay-Z: That doesn’t have anything to do with building the myth. I’m just uncomfortable speaking. I can do a stadium show for two hours and I’m in my comfort zone. But if you look at any of my acceptance speeches they’re maybe seven seconds. I want to get off the stage.
Check out a video below of an exclusive Amazon.com interview with Jay-Z about his book “Decoded”
Jay drops some book knowledge in this exclusive interview for Amazon.com. He gives more detail about what we can expect from “Decoded” when it hits stores on November 16th.
Nicki Minaj doesn’t even have an album out yet, but she was one of the biggest winners at the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards, which were taped on Saturday, October 2 in Atlanta for an upcoming broadcast. The Young Money rapper took home Rookie of the Year, People’s Champ, and Made You Look (style) awards,MTV News reports.
Fitted to kill in a black dominatrix-like outfit, NYC-ish blond bob hairdo, pink nails and lipstick, Minaj grabbed her awards and “ran.” Minaj made sure to thank her “Barbies” as she accepted the award for “Favorite By Fans.”
“Last year, I was here in anticipation of the cypher,” she told the crowd, referring to the artist rap freestyles that run in between the award presentations and performances. “Now I’m here in anticipation of my debut. [‘Pink Friday’, set for release November 23.]
“I’m paving the way for girls,” she continued. “I wanna thank all the girls of hip-hop.”
Jay-Z, who was not in attendance at the awards, was also able to bag three awards. Tied Minaj’s award total, taking home trophies in the categories of Perfect Combo (Alicia Keys duet “Empire State of Mind”), CD of the Year, and Best Live Performer. Other awards went to Rick Ross(Club Banger of the Year and Track of the Year for producer Lex Luger, both for “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)”), Salt-N-Pepa(I Am Hip-Hop), Diddy (Hustler), Swizz Beatz(Producer of the Year), and DJ Khaled(Best DJ).
Now let me remind you, the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards kicked off on quite the high note as Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, and Diddy opened with “B.M.F.,” one of the year’s biggest hits. To the surprise of those in the audience Ross‘ set then segued into an unexpected performance from MC Hammer, who danced frantically with a group of dancers as he performed ‘2 Legit 2 Quit.’
The 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards welcomed a number of newcomer’s including Alabama’s own Yelawolf who performed alongside Big Boi for their hit song “You Ain’t No DJ.”
“I feel overwhelmed, you know, coming out with Big Boi from OutKast and doing our record. I never thought it would lead to here, but I’m taking it in. I’m happy and I’m honored to be a part of it,” Yelawolf explained to The BoomBox.
The Hip-Hop Awards cypher’s proved yet again to be one of the highlights of the show with a number of artists taking part in this Hip-Hop Awards staple. Kanye West gave folks a taste of G.O.O.D. Music with a cypher that featured verses from himself, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, and Cyhi Da Prynce.Ice Cube and Rev. Run kept it all in the family with a cypher that consisted of performances from Diggy Simmons, JoJo Simmons, OMG, and Doughboy.
More images from the performances below and after the cut.
This year’s 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards, hosted by Mike Epps, will air Oct. 12 at 8 P.M. on BET. Will you be tuning in? Which award categories are you most looking forward to seeing televised?
Diddy, Lil Wayne, and Justin Timberlake rock sunglasses at night on “Shades,” the latest leak from his oft-delayed album ‘Last Train to Paris’. Formerly released with tags, this version sees the Bad Boy mogul switching roles with J.T., with Puff singing through Auto-Tune and the former *NSYNC-er spitting a hushed rap verse.
Diddy’s far superior single, the sweet and melodic “Loving You No More” featuring Drake, hit iTunes today. Go pick that up instead of replaying this jumble of inconsistent beats.
Check the dark, electronic club tune below, and look for the Train’s arrival this December.
LISTEN: Diddy feat. Lil’ Wayne & Justin Timberlake – “Shades”
“Angels (Remix)” by Dirty Money featuring Rick Ross was released digitally back in February and can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon.com, among other outlets.
Music video by Diddy – Dirty Money and Rick Ross performing Angels (Remix)
Diddy and the fam are covering VIBE’s Aug/Sept JUICE Issue!
In the cover story titled “Table For One,” written by Editor-In-Chief, Jermaine Hall, Hip-Hop’s most affluent playboy shares his thoughts on regrettable interviews, Lil Kim vs. Nicki Minaj, regaining respect and more.
Here’s an excerpt from the interview…
Dr. Dre said that the last beat that floored him was “All About the Benjamins.” How does that make you feel?
It’s humbling. I was in the studio with Dre the other day. He started working on a record for me. Watching him as a producer is watching greatness. We had a lot of similar traits. It was like looking in the mirror. He would ask questions like, “How you feel about this?” People don’t really understand true producers want to know how you feel about things. We are some of the most observant people on the planet.
What happened during the Martin Bashir interview on Nightline?
There were times in the interview when I had to give him an ultimatum. The questions weren’t being handled the right way. In hindsight, when I saw him I shouldn’t had done the interview because I know the style of interview that he does . . . The whole thing about giving a Maybach to my son, that’s really like a racist question. You don’t ask White people what they buy their kids. And they buy ‘em Porsches and convertible Bentleys and it ain’t no question. It’s really a racist question and put things back in perspective with money and the way that people still look at you. And I’m not saying that consciously he’s a racist. But he probably don’t even realize that he would not ask Steve Jobs that. He would be like Steve Jobs has that money and that’s the gift his kid is supposed to get.
Are the comments from Lil’ Kim about Nicki disheartening?
When I heard her say what she said, it didn’t really affect me. I didn’t get mad at her or anything like that. I knew how she felt. I ain’t agree with it. But also I know the motivation. I know that people say, “Oh, he’s trying to get a new Lil’ Kim.” I guess people will see in time. Yeah, Nicki’s had flavored wigs on, but besides that it ain’t even the same approach to the writing.
Pick up the 15th JUICE ISSUE for more on his interview, on stands August 16th.
That’s right, you heard correctly. According to our friends at MediaTakeOut, it’s official! Swizz Beatz and the beautiful Alicia Keys are getting married this weekend! They are finally making it official after over seven months of engagement. The festivities will be held on a 200 ft. yacht they have chartered for the wedding’s pre-party. Guests will be whisked away in Miami, and then taken to the Caribbean for the romantic official wedding. Some celebrity guests include Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Beyonce’, Diddy, Tyra Banks, Mary J Blige and many more.
This will be the wedding of the year…a grand spectacle magnificence.
It’s here! Check out the hot new video from Diddy – Dirty Money, the latest project from Sean “Diddy” Combs in which he is joined by singer/songwriter Kalenna and former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard.
Rappers Rick Ross and T.I. also are featured on the track from Diddy – Dirty Money’s debut album‘Last Train To Paris’. The video was directed by Hype Williams, the talent behind such videos as Jay-Z‘s “Big Pimpin'” and Kanye West‘s “Gold Digger.”
After numerous obstacles, Diddy‘s long awaited ‘Last Train to Paris’ will finally hit stores June 29th.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Nicki Minaj — together have sparked the rumors of dating! Diddy was spotted outside of Guys and Dolls Nightclub in West Hollywood on Monday night holding hands with an unidentified female. As recently reported, Diddy has apparently become the new business manager of recording artist Nicki Minaj. Well, it seems that these photos of Diddy spotted with Nicki Minaj has some people thinking they’re dating, since his arm was spotted around her… hmmm.
If you look closely he’s holding her hand too! Lol…Diddy doesn’t even hold his own girlfriend Cassie’s hand in public. Strange & Suspicious?!
Well, this rumor seems to be just that — a rumor. But, who knows?!! Only time will tell.
Forbes‘ annual list of Hip-Hop’s Cash Kings for this year has been unveiled, and it witnesses music mogul Jay-Z on the very top spot. Over the past 12 months, between June 2008 and June 2009, he has been pulling in an estimated $35 million, an amount which is $47 million less than his earnings in 2008.
Last year’s winner, 50 Cent, drops to the 4th place. He is reported taking in $20 million, down from $150 million a year ago. The earnings are said coming from his Vitamin Water deal, G-Unit clothing line and numerous licensing deals.
In between Jay-Z and 50 there are P. Diddy and Kanye West, who secure the 2nd and 3rd slots respectively. P. Diddy rakes in $30 million over the past year from his expanding business that includes a brand of premium vodka and his Sean John clothing line. Kanye, meanwhile, earns a total of $25 million, thanks to his multi-platinum album “808’s & Heartbreak” and his sold-out Glow in the Dark Tour.
“Despite the economy, hip-hop is just as powerful as it’s ever been in the endorsement and licensing world,” says Ryan Schinman, chief of Platinum Rye, the world’s largest buyer of music and talent for corporations when commenting on Forbes’ Hip-Hop’s Cash Kings 2009 list. “Tween stars and rock legends are very reliable, but the impact of hip-hop on pop-culture and fashion continues to lead the charge.”
The music mogul’s earnings over the past 12 months, between June 2008 and June 2009, are listed as much as 35 million dollars.
JNEL & J. Magazine 