Swizz Beatz to Receive ASCAP Voice of the Culture Award

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is a voice of the future…

The 42-year-old half Puerto Rican recording artist, music producer and entrepreneur will receive the ASCAP Voice of the Culture award alongside Timbaland and D-Nice to kick off the 2021 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on June 22.

Following the presentation, the music creators will take part in a 2021 ASCAP Experience conversation, “Voices of the Culture: How Swizz Beatz, Timbaland & D-Nice United the World Through Music,” at 12:00 pm ET/ 9:00 am PT.

The virtual conversation will explore how Timbaland and Swizz Beatz’s virtual music battle series Verzuz and D-Nice’s Club Quarantine became tools for uplift within the Black music community and touchstones of empowerment during the pandemic.

To join the conversation, participants can RSVP at www.ascapexperience.com/schedule. They can also submit a question for the three creators before June 10.

Verzuz has featured such epic matchups as Gladys Knight vs. Patti LaBelle, Erykah Badu vs. Jill Scott, Earth, Wind & Fire vs. The Isley Brothers, and Snoop Dogg vs. DMX.

Club Quarantine attracted a virtual community of millions to Instagram Live for sets of funk, disco, hip-hop and R&B.

In addition to launching these popular events, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and D-Nice are accomplished music creators in their own right.

Grammy-winning songwriter-producer Swizz Beatz has been in the music and business worlds since he was 16. He began DJing and working at his uncle’s company, Ruff Ryders Entertainment, while still in high school. Within a short time, Swizz produced the company’s first hit, by DMX. More success followed as a producer and artist. As a producer, Swizz has worked with a diverse array of artists, including Jay-Z, Madonna, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Metallica.

The 2021 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards is a virtual celebration that takes place on social media from June 22-24. The event recognizes songwriters, composers and publishers behind the most performed R&B/hip-hop, rap and gospel songs of the past year. Friends and fans can join the online festivities as ASCAP shares photos, videos, acceptance speeches and more from some of its top songwriters and publishers, posted with the hashtag #ASCAPAwards to @ASCAPUrban on Instagram and @ASCAP on Twitter and Instagram.

The ASCAP Experience takes place twice a month on Wednesdays through the end of 2021. Songwriters, composers and music business professionals can join the ASCAP Experience community for access to conversations with songwriters and producers from across the musical spectrum, plus panels with top industry executives, song feedback, networking opportunities and more. The virtual sessions are free to attend and take place on a variety of platforms, including YouTube, Instagram and on the ASCAP Experience website.

Swizz Beatz to Face Off Against Timbaland in Verzuz Battle This Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is preparing for a showdown…

This Memorial Day weekend, the 42-year-old half Puerto Rican recording artist, music producer and entrepreneur and his Verzuz co-creator Timbaland will show off their producing skills as they face off in a battle once again for their hit web series.

The pair first dueled onstage in 2018 at the Hot 97 Summer Jam in East Rutherford, N.J., as part of a producer clash battle — long before Verzuz premiered virtually in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a post shared on the official Verzuz Instagram on Tuesday (May 25), the showdown was announced. “Did y’all guess who the rematch was going to be!? @THEREALSWIZZZ vs @TIMBALAND THIS SUNDAY LIVE from @LIVMIAMI Celebrating Memorial Day Weekend with our new #VERZUZLive .”

Beatz, né Kasseem Dean, 42, commented the post, “Let’s go then .” Timbaland, born Timothy Mosley, 49, wrote, “Alrite [sic] now .”

With Timbaland’s extensive history of producing megahits for fan-favorites including JAY-Z, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott, Kanye West, Aaliyah, Cher and Madonna, Beatz — who has produced for Eve, Diddy, Lil’ Wayne, The Weeknd, Drake, the late DMX, among many more — is in for a tough rematch.

Since its inception, Verzuz has featured friendly competitions between Monica and Brandy, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Alicia Keys and John Legend, and the late DMX, who faced off against Snoop Dogg in July. DMX, né Earl Simmons, died on April 9.

Tune in on Sunday (May 30) at 8 p.m. ET to catch the Verzuz battle between Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, streaming on Instagram Live via the VerzuzTV account or Triller. It will also air on TV via FITE.

https://twitter.com/verzuzonline/status/1397184322537345026

Cash Money Records Signs Luis Armando as First Artist in New Latin Division

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Armando is makin’ (cash) money moves…

Cash Money Records has officially announced the creation of a Latin music division with the launch of the Puerto Rican emerging artist.

Cash Money was founded by brothers Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams in 1992. The new Latin division is a joint venture with Taste Music Group and major label support from Republic Records and Universal Music Latin.

“Urban Latin music is taking a similar course as we saw with Hip Hop during the 80s and 90s as it grew, evolved and fought to be accepted in the mainstream,” says Slim.

“It’s not just reggaeton anymore, it’s now evolving its subgenres (such as Latin Trap) and making them popular culture. At Cash Money we saw all that from the start in Hip Hop and we’re excited to adapt our lessons in helping develop Latin talent that also stands grounded in the Hip Hop world from day 1. With the guidance of various long-time Latin music experts such as Carlos Rivas, who is Cash Money’s Latin A&R, as well as our counterparts at Republic and Universal Latin we’re excited to venture into this new space as a label.”

As one of Hip-Hop’s reputable record labels, Cash Money has been home to some of the industry’s biggest names including Drake, Lil’ Wayne, and Nicki Minaj. Now, the label believes it can transfer its know-how to the Latin market.

“Slim and Baby have the ability to spot talent like no other, they’ve proven that for many years,” Vernon Brown, Cash Money’s long-time attorney, and business manager, tells Billboard. “There’s a big confidence and commitment behind anything they touch. I think the ability to now bring Latin artists and see the merge is only going to be a positive result for any artist.”

Luis Armando, who was raised in Ohio, is the label’s first-ever recording Latin artist, making his debut with “Chica Mala” in collaboration with reggaeton veteran Ñengo Flow.

“We want our artists to be consistent, talented, and ready to work,” Slim says. “Someone who has that passion and drive and a vision of how great they want to be. If they’ve got that attitude, we’ll give it a shot. We believe in the new talents. Luis Armando is our first, but we’re excited to discover and help develop more talent as we move forward.”

The melodic urban fusions with tropical rhythms heard in “Chica Mala” puts Armando’s fresh musical proposal in the forefront.

Cardi B to Headline SoCal’s Rolling Loud Event

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is on a Roll(ing)…

Rolling Loud is invading downtown Los Angeles this holiday season, with the 26-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation among the big names taking the stage.

Rolling Loud will take over the Banc of California Stadium and Exposition Park on December 14 and 15, with Cardi B, Lil Wayne, Post Malone and Lil Uzi Vertwould serve as nightly headliners.

The two-day festival features a stacked lineup that should cater to a wide-ranging audience, including appearances from Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, Nipsey Hussle, Juice WRLD, Gunna, 21 Savage, Trippie Redd, Smokepurpp, Buddy and many more for day one.

Saturday’s attendees will be treated to sets from Young Thug, Kodak Black, Playboi Carti, Lil Yachty, Tyga, Saweetie, Lil Skies, Chief Keef, Mozzy and Blocboy JB, among others.

Tickets for the event can be purchased over at Rolling Loud’s website, with two-day general-admission passes starting at $199. VIP packages are also available for the SoCal festival.

Swizz Beatz Releases Video for His New Lil Wayne & Alicia Keys Collaboration “Pistol on My Side”

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Swizz Beatz is packin’ heat…

The 40-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hoprapper, DJ and record producer, whose real name is Kasseem Dean, has released the scorching video to “Pistol on My Side,” his collaboration with Lil Wayne and Beatz’s wife Alicia Keys.

Filmed at Lil Wayne’s skate park, Weezy is in full-force, thrashing doubters with his punchy delivery. “Pistol on my side, you don’t want that thing to scream at ya/ Laughin’ when you die, boy, my pistol a comedian (brr)/ Pistol on my side, now he lyin’ like the media/ Clips longer than encyclopedias, you’re readin’ ’em,” he raps.

While Beatz amplifies the track with his resounding ad-libs, Keys is found playing the piano in the flaming clip. As Wayne fires away the remaining bars from his loaded verse, Keys flips the track with her gloomy riffs, adding an exciting close to the fiery visual.

Not only did Swizz release his long-awaited video for “Pistol on My Side,” but he also announced the track list for his forthcoming album Poison.

Set to be released on November 2, Beatz enlisted Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Young Thug, Pusha T, The LOX and more for his first project in 11 years.

For the proverbial cherry on top, Beatz recruited J. Cole to serve as the project’s executive producer.

Cardi B Lands Four Singles in Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Chart

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B is the company of music royalty on the Billboard charts…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rap, who was 2017’s breakout star, joins Beyonce, aka Queen B, as the only two female artists to have four songs land in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart at the same time.

Cardi B

G-Eazy’s “No Limit,” featuring Cardi B, sits at number 2, Migos’ “Motorsport,” with Cardi B, follows at No. 4. “Bodak Yellow” sits at number 5, while her latest single “Bartier Cardi” is currently at No. 9.

Beyonce accomplished the feat in 2016 with songs from her Lemonade album. This included “Sorry,” “Formation,” “Hold Up,” and “6 inch,” featuring The Weekend.

The news of Cardi B’s recent Bey-sized accomplishment comes only a few months after rumors of a possible Cardi B-Beyonce collaboration.

Previously, Cardi B became the first female artist since Lauryn Hill, to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart, without a feature. She scored three songs in the top 10 simultaneously. To start the New Year, she was featured on the In Living Color themed, Bruno Mars’ “Finesse Remix,” which she’ll perform at the Grammys.

The two-time Grammy nominated artist, joins a list of other accomplished rappers to achieve the same feat in the past. This list includes Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent and 2 Chainz.

Cardi B Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs Airplay Chart

Posted on September 29, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Make that four radio charts at the top for Cardi B…

The 24-year-old part-Dominican American rapper, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, conquers another radio format as “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” rises 3-1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs airplay chart (dated October 7) with a 10 percent jump in plays for the week.

The newly crowned Billboard Hot 100 queen, the first Dominican artist to land a No. 1 on the chart, also leads R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for a second week, Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop for a fourth stint and Rap Airplay for a fifth frame.

The song is only the second tune by a woman this decade to lead all four radio charts simultaneously. Nicki Minaj’s “Truffle Butter,” featuring Drake & Lil Wayne, completed the trifecta in spring 2015.

Further, while topping the Hot 100, “Bodak Yellow” extends its reign on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart to four weeks, and dominates Hot Rap Songs to a sixth term.

Pitbull Lends Voice to Epic Remix of Kent Jones’ Hit Single “Don’t Mind”

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull doesn’t mind a hot collaboration…

The 35-year-old Cuban American rap superstar has joined voices with Lil Wayne for a remix for the ages.

The two superstars jumped on Kent Jones breakout single “Don’t Mind” for an incredible remix, according to Complex.

Pitbull and Lil Wayne add the perfect amount of flavor to this track.

“I’m surrounded by Carribean queens/I’m talkin’ Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Dominican things/I got Jamaicans and them Haitians […] I got them Trini’s and them Beijing’s and they all for me,” Pitbull raps.

Lil Wayne decided to switch it up and actually rap in French and DJ Khaled even joined in on the fun.

Rodriguez Raps Nostalgic on This Week’s Episode of “Lip Sync Battle”

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Rodriguez is grillin’ like a villain…

Rocking dreadlocks and wearing a grill, the 31-year-old Puerto Rican actress and Jane the Virgin star takes to the stage in this week’s episode of Lip Sync Battle with an inspired take on Lil Wayne‘s 2008 hit “A Milli.”

The Golden Globe winner is anything but G-rated as she shows off her rapping chops and hip thrusts on stage, much to the astonishment of co-host Chrissy Teigen.

Rodriguez’s faced off against Wilmer Valderrama and his nostalgia-provoking take on the Backstreet Boys‘ “Everbody (Backstreet’s Back).”

Catch Rodriguez and Valderrama on Lip Sync Battle this Thursday, May 12 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on Spike.

Carey Hires New PR Representation & Management Team

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey has new representation…

A day after the 45-year-old half Venezuelan singer and her longtime publicist Cindi Berger parted ways, Carey announced her new PR and management team.

Chris Chambers of the Chambers Group, who’s worked with Lil Wayne, Drake and many other artists over his long career, will her as her PR agent. Her fifth set of managers since 2013: TV producers Brian Sher and Stella Bulochnikov.

Carey’s new managers have worked together on several projects, most recently E!’s Christian Milian Turned Up and VH1’s T.I.’s Family Hustle and Tiny & Shekinah’s Weave Trip. Sher, who has worked as T.I.’s agent since 2004 and his co-manager since 2009, has been credited with helping to rebrand the rapper’s image via the television shows.

Sher began his career as a production assistant before beginning his career in ICM’s mailroom. He rose to the role of agent in 2000 and left in 2008 to form Category 5 Entertainment, where he begin working with T.I., Michael Vick (executive producing The Michael Vick Project for BET) and partnered with Kelsey Grammer in Grammnet NH.

Bulochnikov is a producer and writer who’s worked with Sher on Boss, T.I. & Tiny and Larry the Cable Guy’s Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza. She has a long history as a producer with Viacom shows dating back to 2001, including VH1 Divas, I Love the ‘80s and ‘90s, and several Paris Hilton Specials.

The moves come ahead of several big projects for the singer, who has stumbled in recent months with the poor sales of Me. I Am Mariah … The Elusive Chanteuse, the lowest-selling non-holiday studio album of her career and several wobbly live performances. On May 6, she begins a Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace, the same venue where Celine Dion will return on Aug. 27 after a year-long hiatus. Also expected later this year is a newly repackaged greatest-hits set called #1’s, the first release in her new deal with Epic Records, to accompany her Vegas show. She also has a Christmas movie on the horizon, according to Deadline.

Among other chart feats, Carey holds the record for total time spent at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, 79 weeks total, and also holds the record for longest-running Hot 100 No. 1 single (for 1995’s “One Sweet Day” with Boyz II Men, 16 weeks at No. 1), although she hasn’t had a Top 10 single since 2009’s “Obsessed.”

Carey had three management teams in 2013 alone, beginning with a Randy Jackson/Irving Azoff partnership, then Bruce Eskowitz of Red Light Management and then Jermaine Dupri, who produced some of her biggest hits including “We Belong Together.” Dupri gradually gave way to Kevin Liles, who semi-officially took the reins in August of 2014 but recently dropped out.

The news was first reported by Page Six and confirmed to Billboard by Chambers Group.

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