Six. Hundred. Million. Dollars.
That's how much Jay, the NBA, and developer Bruce Ratner are being served with in the latest episode of "Who Wants To Sue A Millionaire?" According to Radar Online: The plaintiff, Dr. Francois de Cassagnol, filed a pro se complaint with the Eastern District of the State of New York on December 9, 2013, asking for a juried trial over the matter — and $600 million in damages, at least. Indeed, documents submitted as evidence show that de Cassagnol filed applications in 2012 for “The Brooklyn Nets Entertainment Logo,” which was first used in the State of Louisiana back in 2003. He even claims that before the team moved to Brooklyn, he spoke with officials at the New Jersey Nets organization and the NBA who assured him that the team would not use the term “Brooklyn Nets,” but would most likely opt for “New York Nets.” Unfortunately, he claims, “It was pure mismanagement of the facts.” I can't really be mad at this for the most part. When Jay announced that he became a minority owner in the then-New Jersey Nets over a decade and vowed to bring the team to Brooklyn, the smartest person in the room would've snatched up the website, name, and everything in between before anybody else (in this case, that's what the good doctor did). That type of move/hustle happens more often than not, and more often than not corporations have no choice but to pony up the bucks to acquire them. But suing for about $600M? Yeah, good luck getting that much money in your pocket, Francois, not while the incoming commissioner has from David Stern aka the OG goon/t.I. of the Lig. "I wanna tell Blue that daddy got a gold sippy cup for you." - JAY Z
The 56th annual GRAMMY Awards went down tonight in Los Angeles. With performances by Beyonce & JAY Z, Lorde, Katy Perry & Juicy J, Robin Thicke,Kendrick Lamar & Imagine Dragons and others, the awards kept flowing. In the rap categories, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took home four our of their seven nominations; including a "Best Rap Album" victory over Kendrick Lamar, Drake, JAY Z and Kanye West. JAY Z won two with "Holy Grail" and the rest were shut out. Check the complete list of winners (for the categories we care about at least) below. Best Rap Performance Drake - "Started From the Bottom" Eminem - "Berzerk" Jay Z - "Tom Ford" Kendrick Lamar - "Swimming Pools (Drank)" Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Thrift Shop" Winner Best Rap Song A$AP Rocky - "F***in' Problems" f. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar Jay Z - "Holy Grail" f. Justin Timberlake Kanye West - "New Slaves" Drake - "Started From the Bottom" Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Thrift Shop" Winner Best Rap Album Drake - Nothing Was the Same Jay Z - Magna Carta...Holy Grail Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Kanye West - Yeezus Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist Winner Best Rap/Sung Collaboration J. Cole - "Power Trip" f. Miguel Jay Z - "Part II (On the Run)" f. Beyonce Kendrick Lamar - "Now or Never" f. Mary J. Blige Wiz Khalifa - "Remember You" f. The Weeknd Jay Z - "Holy Grail" f. Justin Timberlake Winner Best New Artist James Blake Kendrick Lamar Kacey Musgraves Ed Sheeran Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Winner Best R&B Performance Tamar Braxton - "Love & War" Anthony Hamilton - "Best of Me" Hiatus Kaiyote - "Nakamarra" f. Q-Tip Miguel - "How Many Drinks?" f. Kendrick Lamar Snarky Puppy with Lalah Hathaway - "Something" Winner Best R&B Song Anthony Hamilton - "Best of Me" Tamar Braxton - "Love and War" PJ Morton - "Only One" Fantasia - "Without Me" f. Missy Elliot and Kelly Rowland Justin Timberlake - "Pusher Love Girl" Winner Best Urban Contemporary Album Tamar Braxton - Love & War Fantasia - Side Effects of You Salaam Remi - One: In the Chamber Mack Wilds - New York: A Love Story Rihanna - Unapologetic Winner Best R&B Album Faith Evans - R&B Diva John Legend - Love in the Future Chrisette Michele - Better TGT - Three Kings Alicia Keys - Girl On Fire Winner Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Pink - "Just Give Me A Reason" Rihanna - "Stay" f. Mikky Ekko Robin Thicke - "Blurred Lines" f. T.I. & Pharrell Williams Justin Timberlake - "Suit & Tie" f. JAY Z Daft Punk - "Get Lucky" f. Pharrell Williams Winner Best Music Video Capital Cities - "Safe And Sound" JAY Z - "Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film" Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Can't Hold Us" Justin Timberlake - "Suit & Tie" f. JAY Z Winner Jack White - "I'm Shakin'" Song of the Year Pink - "Just Give Me A Reason" Bruno Mars - "Locked Out Of Heaven" Katy Perry - "Roar" Lorde - "Royals" Winner Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - "Same Love" f. Mary Lambert Album of the Year Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest Daft Punk - Random Access Memories Winner Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist Taylor Swift - Red Best Recording Package JAY Z - Magna Carta... Holy Grail Geneseo - Automatic Music Can Be Fun Metallica - Metallica Through The Never (Music From The Motion Picture) David Bowie - The Next Day Reckless Kelly - Long Night Moon Winner Chris Paul and Kendrick Lamar are two of the most the influential entertainers out of California so it is only expected that these two cross paths. For ESPN The Magazine’s recent The Music Issue, the two had a joint interview where they discuss Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse, branding tips from Jay Z and more. Ever since Lamar’s “Control” verse called out his peers to engage in competition it has been the topic of discussion of everyone from hip hop blogs to mainstream news outlets. Paul explained what his immediate reaction was to hearing the verse and even compared it to his own approach to basketball: When I heard that verse, I immediately texted him and told him how crazy it was.[Laughs] But like he said, competition is what keeps you going. When I played against Steve Nash the first time, the night before, I couldn’t sleep. He’d just won MVP, and I couldn’t wait to compete against him. Now, it’s funny, I’m nine years into the league, and there are so many great young point guards in our league. They’re coming for me like I was going for Nash. It’s competition — it’s why we do this. Lamar later stated that Top Dawg Entertainment was molded after Jay Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records in 2004, the year Dame Dash and Jay Z split. Paul explained later how his relationship with Jay Z changed his own views on branding: Well, I have a real relationship with Jay. I know him very well; we talk all the time. I know how smart and how knowledgeable he is. He educates me on various things. This is bigger than him just being Jay Z, the music artist. His mind is brilliant. Check out the full joint interview here Will Smith and Jay Z are on their third collaboration before they even released one song together. Today (January 22nd) it is being reported that Jay Z and Will Smith are once again working together as executive producers of an upcoming electronic music comedy show on HBO.
According to Variety, the half an hour comedy show, “Higher” is being developed by UK DJ phenom Calvin Harris and will be based on the inner workings of the electronic music scene. Harris, whom grossed $46 million last year, ranked higher than his executive producer, Jay Z. In addition to Smith and Jay Z, Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter, Tyran Smith, Miguel Melendez, Mark Gillespie and Dean Wilson and Harris himself are also executive producing the upcoming comedy. This would mark Jay Z’s first attempt at working with a television show. The roster of Young Money Entertainment is set to return with a new compilation album. Young Money: Rise Of An Empire, the follow-up to 2009′s We Are Young Money, will feature appearances by YM CEO Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, Gudda Gudda, Shanell, Lil Twist, Christina Milian, and the newest YMCMB signee Euro.
“This compilation is a very special release for the label. We Are Young Moneyhelped launch the careers of our first generation of acts with Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga,” states Young Money COO Cortez Bryant. “Even though we’ve been honored with accolades as a company, our hunger hasn’t diminished or dwindled. We’re hungrier than ever, and we’re still building. That goes hand-in-hand with the title Young Money: Rise Of An Empire. We’re not going anywhere. We don’t plan on stopping— ever. Our goal is the expansion of this empire with the next generation of kings and queens ruling.” Rise Of An Empire will include the lead single “We Alright” by Wayne, Euro, and Cash Money boss Birdman. Drake’s Hit-Boy produced track “Trophies” will be part of the collection as well. “This album is an excellent family effort and will be alighting radio airwaves across the globe,” says Birdman. “There’s nothing like it when the whole family gets together in the studio,” adds Wayne. “YMCMB is stronger than ever, and everybody was truly on fire. We’re all blessed to be a part of this incredible empire as it continues to thrive. I can’t wait for what’s next. Keep watching.” Young Money: Rise Of An Empire is scheduled for release March 11th via Young Money/Cash Money Records. Wale and media are two things that do not mesh well together. Whether it is the Maybach Music Group member’s issues with Complex magazine or his on-air argument with a basketball announcer during a NBA game, the DMV artist tends to find himself in combative situations with people who do not champion his music. And it is not just the professionals. Wale has had his fair share of blow ups with everyday critics on social media platforms as well.
The “Bad” rapper has been laying low on Twitter in recent months. He decided to explain his absence and address some of the criticism about his behavior and art by sharing an open letter on Tumblr. Read Wale’s letter below. Where have I been? Man, I been everywhere. Everyday trying to get a better understanding of myself and this crazy game I have given my life to. What I’ve come to grips with is the fact that I am not superhuman, BUT super human. I think our culture has made it almost a prerequisite to be “too cool” or “swagged out” carrying a “nothing can phase me” image. It’s to the point that the ones who show they care, get attacked the most. Who ever thought we’d see a day when somebody used the word “poetic” as an insult? I certainly never thought that. “I can’t fuck wit Wale ‘ol poetic ass.” Really? These are the same people who probably have every Pac album embedded in their head. But, I digress. I took an absence from Twitter because I started to care tooooo much. I still don’t know the root of what makes me care THAT much, but I’m quite sure it started by wanting to lead people in a direction that wasn’t as cliché as some of my peers. I’m no saint. I fuck with ratchet bitches. I say bitch. I bitch about things my damn self. But, I can honestly say, that I try to use my “human” traits as a means of relating to other humans. If I can bare my insecurities and flaws before you, maybe you won’t feel so insecure and flawed. There came a point where people went out of their way to remind me that I’m missin my mark. Albeit, I made myself a target to slander and criticism. I think it became a trend to fuck with anybody that cared about people’s opinion. I’m not one of those people who make music for material things. I strive to make music for a public that appreciates raw emotion. And I will continue to. I went through stages of frustration in my career with publications because of my own selfishness and sense of entitlement. I admit that. Nevertheless, I think if we calling a spade a spade, some media outlets be on they bullshit with me for reasons outside of music. But, my goal moving forward is to focus less on THEM and more on US. We all have goals and mine is simple. Empower the people. Empower MY fans and focus on MY fans and their energy . I don’t think it’s humanly possible for me to appease some of these outlets no matter what I create. It burns my soul to hear there’s no message tho. So knowin that I may have fell short of connecting with some of them, I’ve decided to use my energy on US. The guy with all the mixtapes. The guy who listens to every song twice because they know there’s things hidden in there. The girl who can’t wait to hear “Ambitious Girl 3” (Oh, it’s coming). The girl with the “Ambition” tattoo, who gets dressed to “Illest Bitch Alive” every morning . The ones who understood my frustration, hated my rant but understood it nevertheless . I may never be the biggest rapper in the world (still one of the best doe) but, I’ll be the most dedicated to my fans and it starts with this right here. This is rare. This is REAL. This is about us. This is about the music again. My ReRE -Dedication to greatness. What we got doesn’t happen often, nor with too many people. This is an rare occasion when a rare bond… Happens Everybluemoon -Folarin Ice Cube’s latest movie may have pulled in over $40 million at the box office last weekend, but the Hip Hop legend is not turning his back on his rapping roots just yet. The former N.W.A. member is working on his 10th studio album Everything’s Corrupt.
Cube recently appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show, and he gave some details about what direction his next LP will take. “I’m talking about corruption everywhere. I’m talking about a lot of youngsters moved away from the drink and the weed. They’re on them pills,” says Cube. “I talk about they got to get off them pills. There’s still a lot of stuff that needs to be talked about, need to be rapped about. Who best then Ice Cube to do it?” Cube also plans to cover topics like love and not just the “bad stuff in the world.” Just when I started to praise him for his recent-run of consistent music releases, including "Confident" with Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber goes and gets arrested. Obviously the Biebs isn't the smartest when it comes to who he's surrounding himself with as of late, and last night/early this morning the inevitable occurred.
According to CNN, Justin was charged with a D.U.I, resisting arrest and driving without a valid license after police witnessed him drag racing early Thursday morning in Miami Beach. More details on the arrest can be found below, as well as Bieber's mugshot for shits and giggles. He is set to appear before a Miami-Dade County judge Thursday through a video link from the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he is now an inmate, according to a jail official. His bond hearing will be from 1 to 1:30 p.m. ET, Miami-Dade corrections officials said. Bieber "made some statements that he had consumed some alcohol, and that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication," said Police Chief Raymond Martinez. A Miami Beach officer saw Bieber driving a yellow Lamborghini in a race against a red Ferrari in a residential area of Miami Beach, Martinez said. The cars were speeding at about 55 to 60 mph in a 30 mph zone, he said. |
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