When I get emails about artists having upcoming press days, I always know certain artists & the interviews are going to produce some notable and ignorant quotes.

This week’s winner is…

Souljah Boy

Souljah Boy on staging a rap duel between him and Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA/Genius, who dissed Soulja Boy on a YouTube video:

I wouldn’t even rap against the Genius. I’d put up someone who was born in ’66 to go against the Genius so it can be a tie. He’s got like 50 years on me. I wouldn’t even associate with the Genius. [In the video] he was looking like I stole his money or something. He’s in Alaska. He’s cold. I just heard 50 Cent talking about the Genius saying he had an Impala his age. Well, that’s the Genius for you. [Laughs.] He has no choice. He got famous for five little minutes, but he had to sacrifice a relationship with Soulja Boy. Now it’s gone. I ain’t gonna be like “F the GZA” ‘cause I ain’t never met that dude. But he says, “F Soulja Boy” ‘cause he needed a buzz. Now he’s back in Alaska…Maybe the GZA need to make “Crank Dat GZA.” [Laughs.]

Soulja Responding To GZA [Rhapsody]

See Also – Soulja Boy Claims He’s The Hottest MC In the Game — Better Than Jay-Z, Kanye …[MTV]

Can You Dig It? Vol. 8 with Vin Roc of The Almighty 5th Platoon [Heavy In The Streets]

The Future According to Radiohead – How Radiohead ditched the record business and still topped the charts [Rolling Stone]

Catch Of The Day: Was Prince Right All Along? – He claimed he was a slave to the record companies, and started selling his records over the internet. Sounds familiar? [Guardian Unlimited]

As long as the major record companies controlled the industry, artists had to accept these conditions. But the majors’ grip on things has almost gone. For years they saw it coming but did little to change things. Now each week brings them more gloom. CD sales are down on last year, which were down on the year before, and the year before that. Sony and BMG amalgamated, but brought themselves little benefit in doing so. EMI and Warners tried to go the same route, but failed. So EMI was taken over by someone with no knowledge of the record industry. Guy Hands of Terra Firma fame promised to reinvent the whole business plan; he started by parting company with Radiohead.

But outside of the industry, who cares? Pop music has never sounded better or more vibrant, never been more easily available to the listener. The only people who are suffering are the people who brought it on themselves. The major record companies.

The Life and Crimes of The Music Biz – Simon Napier-Bell talks. [Guardian]