Spoiler Alert: The music industry is suffering or something. There’s a rumor going around that album sales are down and labels are struggling for dough. Because of our tough economic climate, I’ve been really trying to go to the store and support labels and artists with my $9.99 when an album drops so I can keep the music business out of the soup kitchen. But when I read news like this, I realize that the supposed death of the music industry is A.) greatly exaggerated and B.) not at all my fault. Read the rest of this entry »

The future of the Hip-Hop music industry as we know it is in Drake’s hands. Maybe not from an artistic standpoint, but his buzz is just as big on the business side as well. Out of any of the upcoming artists — Top 10 Freshmen or not — Drake has become the one to watch.

Regardless of whether you think he’s the truth or not lyrically, he’s doing things that haven’t really been done in awhile. He’s secured Read the rest of this entry »

Obviously anything first seen in the New York Post’s Page Six has to be taken with a grain of salt. But this account on Jermaine Dupri’s ouster from Universal almost sounds plausible. Read the rest of this entry »

Just got word that Pacific Division signed with Universal yesterday, and man am I relieved.

About a week ago, rumor had it Pac Div were going to be the premier act to sign with Jermaine Dupri’s new TAG Records – a Procter and Gamble/Island Def Jam effort to meld product with product. When I mentioned the possibility of a contract on the table, Gottyâ„¢ said “I hope they signed with invisible ink.”

While a TAG Body Spray deal seems well intentioned for whoever ends up signing with them – what with the immediate money and spotlight shine JD has frequently alluded to – in my opinion, the Over/Under is bleak. JD inevitably pops up in his artists’ videos and adds a real weak-sauce glaze to the whole swag, not to mention instant association with the splashy Funkdafied or kiddy Lil’ Bow Wow. When is the last JD project you were really feeling? Because it was probably Kris Kross and you probably only liked them because they were your own age and the radio was fresh at the time. Read the rest of this entry »