Fresh off his European tour with Drake, J. Cole blew up the spotlight at his 26th birthday at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City on Saturday night. The Roc Nation rapper held court with a drink in hand, while friends toasted the birthday boy. Cole’s long-awaited debut is expected to be released this spring, and will include production from No I.D., Danja, and Brian Kidd, as well as possible collaborations with Miguel and Jay-Z. (more…)
The rich just keep on getting richer! A star is about to be reborn. Following reports that Will Smith was rebooting the 1982 musical film Annie starring his daughter Willow and featuring music from Jay-Z, the remake is official, with the announcement that Smith’s OverbrookEntertainment is partnering with Jay-Z to develop and produce major motion pictures, beginning with Annie. (more…)
Let’s just get the record the straight here, I can simply tell with the lack of press releases coming out about J.Cole that there is something not right at Roc Nation HQ! When you’re signed to Roc Nation, Jay-Z may only be a phone call away, but J. Cole is not ready to make that call just yet. The Roc Nation rapper is still looking for the perfect record for his boss to jump on. – or so they say!
While they’ve worked together on “A Star Is Born” from Jay’s Blueprint 3 album, Cole has yet to find the right collaboration for his debut. “I haven’t found the song that we wanna do yet, but there was one that almost happened, that he was about to write to,” he tells us. “I didn’t even write to it. I just gave him the beat like, ‘Yo, I think you would sound good on this.’ I’m glad nothing really happened because a few months later I realized that’s not the one.” There have been other contenders, including one on his newest mixtape Friday Night Lights. “There was this one record we were gonna do. Even the song ‘Enchanted’ off the mixtape, that’s a song that when I first did it, I heard Jay-Z. I’m thinkin’ like, ‘Man, is this gonna be the song?’” he says. “But I’m really particular and picky, just by the way I move and handle my announcements and everything. I’m really calculated.”
Let’s just hope J.Cole is given his time to shine, I mean just adding him on a Drake tour wont expose him the record sales he’ll need… I smell a Rihanna collaboration (don’t ask me why…I just do!) (more…)
Jay-Z has topped the Billboard charts and Forbes list of wealthiest musicians, and now he finds himself atop a new chart. The rapper-turned-author’s first book Decoded has landed on The New York Times Best Sellers list. And how can we forget the compilation album being released by previous label Def Jam sitting around #6 on the album charts.
Sean Carter’s memoir Decoded debuts at No. 3 on the Hardcover Nonfiction edition of The New York Times Best Sellers list for the week of December 5. The top two spots are occupied by former President George W. Bush’s autobiography Decision Points and Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken.
The book, which provides insight into Jay-Z’s lyrics and life, has seen brisk sales since its release earlier this month. It was included on Oprah’s coveted “Favorite Things” show and is currently in the top 10 sellers on Amazon.com.
Entertainment Weekly gave Decoded an A-, calling it “Shawn Carter’s most honest airing of the experiences he drew on to create the mythic figure of Jay-Z,” while The New York Timessays “Decoded gives the reader a harrowing portrait of the rough worlds Jay-Z navigated in his youth, while at the same time deconstructing his lyrics.” – As part of TheMoMoShow.com’s 10,000th tweet give away you could win a copy of the hard back! (more…)
Jay-Z welcomed the newest addition to the Roc Nation family, Jay Electronica, at New York City’s The Box on Friday night. Beyoncé got down to the sounds of the much-buzzed-about rapper, as her husband threw up the diamond in the balcony. Other industry heavyweights experienced “The Turn” as the Roc Nation boss made the news official at the magical event.
Jay-Z has one (final) word (for now) on wife Beyoncé’s possible pregnancy: No.
“I really sit back and wonder when people are going to stop,” he said on Howard Stern’s radio show Monday, when asked about the rumors by the show’s co-host Robin Quivers. “The day that happens, I don’t think Newsday is going to know before my grandmother.”
The rapper, who is notorious for keeping mum on his personal life, added, “Everyone knows I’m married, I just don’t discuss it because it’s a part of my life that I’d rather keep private.” – Of course Jay! There are also rumours of Beyonce moving to Roc Nation also! (more…)
Everyone wants a piece of the Barbie. Nicki Minaj attracted a massive crowd outside of Mansion in Miami this week. Wearing a flashy rock on her finger, the pink-haired raptress was mobbed by fans and autograph seekers as she exited the nightclub following a paid gig.
But with her unprecedented success comes more haters, including those within the industry. “These girls aren’t mad at me. They’re mad at themselves,” she told YRB magazine of her peers. “[It’s] jealousy, insecurity, and being broke. When you haven’t capitalized and you see I’m about to capitalize on this shit like it’s never been done before, then you’re mad at yourself.”
Nicki Minaj stopped by San Francisco’s KMEL 106.1 for a quickchat. The pink lady spoke about which song of hers she can’t wait to hear on the radio, touring for the next two years, still feeling underground despite her success (“I really don’t feel mainstream yet”), being flown out to perform with Jay-Z and Kanye at Yankee Stadium, and signing boobs for her Barbz. “I do feel like this is a rock star era,” said Nicki. Her album “Pink Friday” is scheduled to hit stores November the 22nd, and is planning to rival some big names on the album chart that week.
Nicki Minaj has also been booked for a short tour of the UK, although there is no official announcement about any of her promo tour internal sources have said planning is definitely under way! (more…)
Drake got loose off the Goose at his 24th birthday bash over the weekend. Grey Goose Vodka hosted an intimate soiree for October’s Very Own where he was honored as a Grey Goose Rising Icon. Guests including Ashanti, Edward Norton, Birdman, Dallas Austin, LeBron James, Alex Rodriguez, and more celebrated the night with Grey Goose La Poire signature cocktails at the newly opened Arkadia at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
When Drake and Jay-Z collaborated on “Light Up,” the two traded matching rhymes about brushing off haters — Drizzy from the vantage point of an upstart MC and Hov as the veteran with a list of accomplishments longer than Lil Wayne‘s hair.
Now that Drake has scored a #1 album and loads of endorsement deals, would he consider a sequel? Well, he told us News he would record another song with Jay-Z, but not that song in particular. “I probably wouldn’t title it ‘Light Up 2,’ but there could definitely be potential for a record where me and Jay just spit about life,” Drake told us. “I look forward to making that. I don’t think I’m ready to do it yet, though. If me and Jay do another record … I just want it to be a song. I don’t necessarily want it to be a life/time marker. I would love to do a song with Jay that hits radio. (more…)
Rihanna is throwing up the Roc. The pop superstar has parted ways with her longtime manager and has signed a management deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
“[I'm] so excited to take this next step in my career,” Rihanna told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday. She had previously been managed by Marc Jordan of Rebel One Management, who was with her from the start of her career.
Plans are underway to launch a new company called Rihanna Entertainment that will “merge all of her businesses, including music, film, fragrance, fashion, and book ventures.”
Jay-Z signed Rihanna to Def Jam in 2005 and collaborated with her on “Umbrella” as well as his 2009 hit “Run This Town.” She will release her fifth album Loud on November 16.
And if you ask me, BIG MISTAKE!!! If Rihanna leaves Island Def Jam she’d loser all her clever formulated career moves, under Roc Nation not only would she leaved her tailored marketing team but also the Rihanna look! Roc Nation clearly wouldn’t be able to work with pop…look at the Sugababes! (more…)
Jay-Z didn’t have to squash the baby rumors because his mother-in-law did it for him. While Tina Knowles was on“Ellen,” her son-in-law was in Miami launching his Decodedbook search experience with Bing. His not-pregnant wife Beyoncé and Venus Williams lounged poolside at the Delano Hotel in South Beach while Jay hosted the cocktail reception.
He explained how his partnership with the search engine works. “It’s almost like I’m trying to simplify the process, almost like a preview of the book,” said the music mogul. “We put all these pages out into the world to be found [and] through Bing search engine you bring it all back together and you can read the book. For participating in it, you get these prizes.” Jay then took guests over to the pool. “Lights!” he commanded before words from Decoded appeared in the water to everyone’s amusement.
In other news, Jay Z/Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records will be releasing a new greatest hits package for their former president, Jay-Z next month! That project will be called “The Hits Collection Vol.#1“)Although there have been previous Jay-Z hit compilations from Capitol Records (Owner of Priority Records which originally distributed Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records) this will without a doubt be the most comprehensive collection of his singles, since he spent the majority of his career under the Def Jam umbrella. (more…)
You know, at times I just really give up with this story and the title does pretty much give it away, but I can now confirm I will only ever believe Beyonce has/will be having a child until that kid graduates from high school and puts out a record!
Beyoncé and Jay-Z may be dodging rumors that they’re expecting a baby, but that didn’t stop them from having a lavish lunch this afternoon. The pair was spotted at The Setai restaurant in Miami, where Hov will hold a cocktail reception for his book Decoded tonight at the Delano Hotel in South Beach. Jay, dressed in a button-down white shirt, was snapped walking to the lunch spot, while his smiling wife shaded herself as she nibbled on the tasty cuisine.
All seems well for Beyonce, who is preparing some new material to impact radio soon, closer sources says that promotional CDs were sent to major radio stations this month and an official press release will soon follow… and yes, maybe a baby…! Keep it locked for updates on the Beyonce project and her much waited “pregnancy” (more…)