¡Mayday! Signs With Tech N9ne's Strange Music Label

Here at Hooked on That, we've always been supportive of master hip hop musicians ¡Mayday! so we are very happy to report of their signing to the biggest indie label around Tech N9ne's Strange Music. Congrats guys!

via XXL

The crew, which consists of Wreckoniz and BernBiz on vocals, Plex Luthor on guitar and keys, Gianni Cash on Bass and keys, L.T. Hopkins on Drums and Nonymous on percussion, have recorded with a handful of big acts like Cee-Lo Green and Devin the Dude and worked with Lil Wayne in the past. Their music also got placements on such popular TV shows as Entourage and Lincoln Heights.

The Runners Sign With Warner/Chappell Music To Worldwide Administration Agreement

via the press release

Warner/Chappell Music, the global music publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp., announced it has signed a worldwide administration agreement with The Runners, the hit production team comprised of Jermaine “Mayne” Jackson and Andrew “Dru Brett” Harr. As part of the agreement, Warner/Chappell will administer both Jackson’s and Harr’s interests in all of their future works and select catalog titles.

The Runners have built a solid reputation as a leading hip-hop production team and have also achieved critical and commercial successes in both Pop and R&B. They work across an expanding range of musical styles and collaborated on hit songs for a number of popular songwriters and producers, including Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, T.I., Trey Songz, Rick Ross, Usher, Chris Brown, Akon, Keyshia Cole, Fabolous, Ludacris and Mary J. Blige.

Mayne and Dru are extraordinarily talented songwriters who started out with great success in the hip-hop world. To see them expand the scope of that success into a broader range of musical genres like pop and R&B is especially exciting. We are proud to have them join the Warner/Chappell family and look forward to opening new doors for them.
- Scott Francis, President, Warner/Chappell Music, and Chairman and CEO, Warner/Chappell Music U.S.

We are excited about creating lots of smashes together.
- Jermaine “Mayne” Jackson

It is gratifying to be in business with a publishing company that has the resources and talent to allow us to have continued success.
- Andrew “Dru Brett” Harr

Tay Dizm 'Point Em Out' Mixtape

Nappy Boy artist Tay Dizm unleashes a dose of new music by offering his Point Em Out mixtape to y'all. A perfect mix of music to get your Summertime party moving. Take a listen.

Download, stream the mixtape here:
Tay Dizm - Point Em Out

Jim Jonsin On Working With Eminem, T.I. & B.o.B In A Us Weekly Interview

UsMagazine.com: What was your favorite part of working with Eminem?

Jim Jonsin: It was my first time working with him. What was my favorite part? I guess just creating and coming up with ideas and kind of getting to know him. It's kind of rare to be in a room with a guy like that. So being a fan at first was really cool, you know? It's one of those things where you go 'holy s--- I'm in here working with Eminem.' That is a big deal for someone like me. Just meeting him as a person was probably the coolest part. Working with him in the studio is pretty standard, you write songs, you record them, you put down ideas, make beats. It is all about kicking it with the person. He is a lot more serious than most artists I've worked with. He takes his business and craft and music very seriously. He is very detail-oriented, so it could be something like a mix of drums on a record, and he is going to be really crucial about how it sounds, and crucial about instrumentation, his lyrics, his delivery.

Us: Why does this album differ from Eminem's past ones?

JJ: Because he had me producing records on there. No, first off, that is actually a good point, he had other producers working on this album with him, and not only Dre. That was a huge part of it --different sounds, different ideas. Not taking anything [away] from Dre. because he's a genius, but this was a way for Eminem to grow and learn more from different people. I'm always learning, no matter who I work with I learn different things, and I think the same thing goes for Eminem. If you're working with new producers, you're seeing different angles, and different sounds being used, different motivation and things like that. I think that's what makes this album different. Also, maybe what he is going through in his life right now, [is] different than before.

Us: You said his work ethic was very serious, very detail-oriented...

JJ: He has a strong work ethic. I'm a father, he's a father, [and] he came in at a certain time, early in the afternoon and he planned to leave like [at] a job. He went in, he did his thing, and was out at a certain time to be with his kid and his family, which I admire. It's kind of hard [having a family] in this business, but if you can balance it, it's a really good thing.

Us: So right now you're in the process with working with B.O.B?

JJ: We're going to get started in another 30 days. We are working on ideas, I'm going to get in with him and whoever else is involved and start working on the album. I've been working with him for over three years, producing and writing for him. We're working on some new stuff and I think creatively B.O.B and I have had many firsts together. He's very talented. He is a Jack of all trades -- he plays guitar, keys, writes, raps, sings. I’m sure he'd pick up a saxophone if it called for it and try to play that.

Us: How is T.I.'s album coming along?

JJ: I have done two sessions with him. We've done three songs together now and we are working on other stuff.

Us: How would you sum up your goals for his album?

JJ: I think he is just trying to write some classic records. Some really good, solid songs. (source)

Vinny D - 'Summertime' (video)

Just as Summer is in full swing, Florida newcomer Vinny D pumps out something that the ladies and the gents will appreciate, the video track for 'Summertime.' Plenty of eye catchers in this one.

a mini-bio about Vinny D:

Vinny D is a 22-year-old Cuban-Italian, not only a recording artist, but a songwriter, engineer, and producer as well. On top of managing his career, Vinny has also managed to graduate with a stellar academic record at SAE in North Miami Beach with a degree in audio engineering and currently working for Nappy Boy Dj Lil Boy @ Dreamz Studio in Tallahassee, Fl and attending college. He has also worked at Poe Boy Ent.'s studio in Miami, Fl. Under major-label interest, after radio plays in the UK, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee and after winning the Producer’s Showcase at Full Sail University, Vinny is currently working on finding the right label /home to take his music to the masses.

¡MAYDAY! 'Stuck On An Island' Release Set For Release October 12th

via the press release

October 12 marks the latest release from Miami-based hip-hop collective ¡MAYDAY! entitled Stuck on an Island (¡MAYDAY! Music). Stuck on an Island is the follow-up to 2009’s teaser EP Technology, both of which blaze with an upbeat, tightly wound energy that keeps the listener grooving with its slick production and singing along with its ultra-catchy hooks. The album’s title pays homage to the trials and tribulations the band has faced trying to "escape" Miami. Producer/guitarist Plex Luthor explains: “Miami is paradise, but at the same time the geography has always made us feel like outsiders in the larger pond. We want to get our music to the masses, but sometimes the walls around the port of Miami make it difficult to break out. We want to make sure the world knows musicians from this city can compete culturally with the best of them.”

While Stuck on an Island is only ¡MAYDAY!’s second full-length album, the band has consistently turned out addictive urban alternative tracks that have permeated the local Miami music scene and beyond, grabbing the ear of hip-hip impresario Lil’ Wayne who used the group as his personal band in the videos “Get a Life,” “Da Da Da” and “On Fire.” ¡MAYDAY! also collaborated with Cee-Lo on the hit song "Groundhog Day" from their self-titled debut of which mtvU said, “Like Gorillaz covering Gnarls Barkley, the gospel funk-hop assault of the ¡MAYDAY! single “Groundhog Day” would be enough for most to base a career on.” The music video logged over 2 million hits on YouTube in its first two days and made the band a breakout success story, garnering attention from the New York Times, MTV and URB Magazine. They went on to share stages with Daft Punk, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Method Man, winning over audiences around the country with their high-octane live show.

The dynamic songs Stuck on an Island call to mind a who’s who of alt-hip-hop’s most cutting edge and creative stars like Gnarls Barkley, N*E*R*D or Lupe Fiasco. Tracks like “I’ll Be Gone,” “Picture Perfect,” “No 1’s Looking,” “Worse Case Scenario,” and “Make a Living” form the backbone of an album of diverse styles that always manages to surprise and never ceases to get your head bobbing and your body moving.

The stunning cover art for Stuck on an Island was rendered by Jeff Dekal with creative input from all the members of the band. Using several types of media to give the image a lifelike quality, the scene is meant to depict the band’s feeling of isolation, and the small details - the guitar inputs plugged into Plex Luthor’s arm, and the futuristic shades they all wear - highlight that the band’s distinctive style.

¡MAYDAY! is: guitarist/producer Plex Luthor, MCs Wrekonize (you might remember him from MTV Battles) and BernBiz, bassist/keyboardist Gianni Ca$h, drummer L.T. Hopkins and percussionist Nonymous

Track listing for Stuck on an Island:

01. I’ll Be Gone
02. Stuck on an Island ft. 7King
03. No 1’s Lookin
04. Lost Highway
05. Broads & Freqs
06. Transparent ft. Snave Nair
07. Freak Show
08. Smoke & Mirrors
09. On 2 Somethn ft. Jovi Rockwell
10. Worst Case Scenario ft. The Money Making Jam Boys

More info:
¡MAYDAY! website
¡MAYDAY! Myspace
¡MAYDAY! Twitter

DJ Nasty Hot 97 Summer Jam 2010 NYC Video Recap

Related:
Hot 97 Summer Jam 2010 Internet Round Up

Plies In-Store Album Signing East Point, GA Hosted By DJ Greg Street

Plies is making the rounds promoting Goon Affiliated. Seen here with Atlanta V-103's DJ Greg Street, Plies keeps it real with his fans at DTLR Urban Fashion East Point, GA on street date Tuesday, June 8.

BTW, based on first day sales of Plies' Goon Affiliated is projected to sell between 55-65K in his first week of sales according to Hits Daily Double.

Photos from the event:
Plies in-store DTLR Urban Fashion

Check out more Plies in-store signing events in your area:

June 10th
12PM to 2PM
Best Buy
5019 S. Cleveland Avenue
Ft Myers FL 33907
239 278-1298

6PM to 8PM
Best Buy
1725 N Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa FL 33607
813 874-8814

June 11
3PM to 5PM
Circuit City
1901 Okeechobee Blvd
West Palm Beach FL 33409
561 689-1300

7PM to 9PM
Brandsmart
4320 167th Street
Miami FL 33054
305 624-5400

June 12
3PM to 5PM
FYE
West Oaks Mall
9401 West Colonial Drive
Ocoee, FL 34761
407 292-8277

7pm to 9pm
CD Connection
1908 3rd St S
Jacksonville Beach, FL 33250
904 246-0550

June 13
6PM to 8PM
DBS Sounds
5658 Riverdale Road
College Park, GA 30349
770 997-5776

(source)

T-Pain: Russian Roulette - Road to Revolver Episode 3 & 4

T-Pain rEVOLVEr on Nappy Boy/Konvict/Jive/Zomba coming soon!

Previous:
T-Pain: Russian Roulette - Road to Revolver Episode 1 & 2 + Latest Single 'Kiss Her'

Plies - 'She's Got It Made' (video)

Plies 'She Got It Made' ft. Bei Major produced by Clinton Sparks & Kamau Georges

Plies Goon Affiliated on Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic Records arrives May 25.

T-Pain: Russian Roulette - Road to Revolver Episode 1 & 2 + Latest Single 'Kiss Her'

Download T-Pain's latest single 'Kiss Her' produced by Clinton Sparks & DJ Snake here:
Kiss Her

T-Pain - 'Reverse Cowgirl' Behind The Scenes Video Shoot

Photos:
Derrick G blog

DJ Khaled Gives The Shirt Off His Back Promoting 'Victory' Album In The Streets Of Orlando

DJ Khaled - 'Victory' on We The Best/E1 arrives in-stores tomorrow March 2.

Trina - Amazin' New Album Arrives May 4

via the press release

Miami, FL, United States (CNS) - The self-proclaimed "Diamond Princess" Trina has lined up the current princess of pop Lady Gaga among other artists for her upcoming collaboration-filled album. "Amazin'," Trina's fifth studio album, features guest spots from Gaga, Diddy, Keri Hilson, and others.

Diddy and Keri Hilson appear on the album's first single, "Million Dollar Girl," the Mario Winans and CP Hollywood-produced dance cut recently released to iTunes and currently heating up at radio stations across the country.

Lady Gaga penned and appears on the track "Hoes Fight" for the album, along with Kalenna of Dirty Money. The Jim Jonsin-produced track was leaked online early in January.

The album also features collaborations with Flo Rida on "White Girls," Trey Songz on "Showin' Out," and Monica on "I Want It All." Current guest rapper du jour Nicki Minaj also appears with Lady Saw on the track "Dang-A-Lang."

"Amazin'" hits stores on May 4th. It's Trina's first album since 2008's "Still Da Baddest," which featured the single "Single Again."

Read Rap-Up's exclusive preview of 'Amazin'' here:
Trina 'Amazin' Album Preview

Jay-Z BP-3 2010 Tour 1st Night BankAtlantic Center Sunrise, FL Concert Recap

(photo courtesy of Sayre Berman / Miami New Times)

As reported by Adrian Ruhi at the Miami Herald

Rarely do superstars Diddy, Beyonce Knowles and Alex Rodriguez experience what it's like to be on the other side of the big stage. But at the BankAtlantic Center Saturday (February 20), the three watched as Jay-Z kept a sold-out crowd on its feet for almost two hours.

The Sunrise, Fla. venue, renamed the Jay-Z Center for the first night of the rapper's nationwide BP3 Tour, pulsated with every bassline and guitar lick emitted from his 10-piece band, the Roc Boys.

The 40-year-old Brooklyn-bred mogul, born Shawn Carter, rose from under the stage to the brooding piano chords and rolling drum snares of Run This Town. As per the song's lyrics, Jay-Z and his band band wore ``all black everything.'' A New York Yankees fitted cap and Wayfarer sunglasses concealed the face of the rapper, who has tried to keep his personal life -- including his marriage to Beyonce -- as low-key as possible.

The show's staging was anything but subtle, though. The Grammy winner's backdrop was a giant screen shaped as New York City's skyline, with visuals reflecting the songs' music videos and lyrics.

Jay-Z's performance was worthy of his stature as an artist: He has the record for the most number one albums on the Billboard 200 charts, recently ousting Elvis Presley with his 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3, for which the tour is named after. Onstage, he commanded the band, the microphone and the audience.



The first half of the set was the strongest: He barreled through a mix of hits (99 Problems and I Just Wanna Love U), album cuts (Already Home and U Don't Know) and remixes to other artists' songs (Kanye West's Diamonds From Sierra Leone and Snoop Dogg's I Wanna Rock). He was assisted by long-time protege and sidekick Memphis Bleek for the early half, as well as up-and-coming singer Bridget Kelley. The latter, signed to Jay-Z's new Roc Nation label, provided vocals on the underrated 2001 soul jam, Heart of the City (Ain't No Love), and filled in for Alicia Keys on Empire State of Mind, the ode to New York City that was Jay-Z's first number one single as a solo artist on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

But the BP3 Tour wasn't without its flaws: Towards the end of the first half, he began losing his voice, and noticeably stopped to drink water. The three-piece horn section, crucial to songs like Show Me What You Got and D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune), was essentially muted.



The problems only continued as Atlanta-based rapper Young Jeezy emerged for Real As It Gets. Billed as a special guest of the tour, Jeezy should have been an opening act instead of a halftime sideshow for the vastly more talented and better performing Jay-Z. Whereas Jay clearly enunciated every word of every song, Jeezy rarely finished a line.



At 30 minutes, Jeezy's set was bloated and hampered the rhythm of the show (although it did give Jay an opportunity to rest his hoarse voice). Even with the Roc Boys doing a superb job of backing Jeezy for songs like Hard and Put On, it took Jay re-emerging for My President for the crowd to get back into pace.

Dirt Off Your Shoulder was preceded by a comical video clip of President Barack Obama quoting the song during a speech. As if to imply his dominance in hip-hop, Jay-Z instructed his DJ and studio engineer, Young Guru, to play more of his hits, which led to a brief medley of a dozen more songs he could have easily performed in his main set.

Between the crowd sing-along of Big Pimpin' and the show ending Encore, Jay-Z took time to acknowledge the audience.

``I'm not jaded, I appreciate every one of you being here,'' he said, as he removed his hat and sunglasses to reveal his face for the first time. He spent the next several minutes identifying individual fans and personally thanking them for supporting his career.

It was a surprisingly humble moment: One of the most successful -- and wealthy -- musicians of the modern era, showing his appreciation for the people that helped him get to this point in his career.

Earlier in the night, Virginia R&B singer Trey Songz and his five-piece band opened the show with a 35 minute set of hypersexual slow jams like I Invented Sex and Say Aah.

Photos:
Getty Images
Corbis Images
Film Magic
Wire Image
Miami New Times
WENN Photo 1
WENN Photo 2

More fan shot footage below.







(video courtesy of TheShayScene, bluefairy1971 & PressWrap)

Here is the setlist from the show:

Jay-Z set (first half)

Run This Town
Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) (Interlude)
On To The Next One
D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
U Don’t Know
99 Problems
Show Me What You Got
I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)
I Wanna Rock (Snoop Dogg remix)
Jigga My N****
Hovi Baby
N**** What, N**** Who (Originator 99)
Public Service Announcement
Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love) (featuring Bridget Kelly)
Dear Summer (Interlude)
Already Home
Empire State Of Mind (featuring Bridget Kelly)
Real As It Gets (featuring Young Jeezy)

Young Jeezy set:

Medley: (Get Ya Mind Right, Bottom Of The Map, Welcome Back, Dey Know [Remix], I’m Goin’ In, Who Dat, My Hood, Bang, Trap Star)
I Luv It
Go Crazy
Hard
Crazy World
Go Getta
Soul Survivor
Put On
My President (featuring Jay-Z)

Jay-Z set (second half)

Dirt Off Your Shoulder
Swagga Like Us
Thank You
Medley: (Fiesta [Remix], Excuse Me Miss, La-La-La [Excuse Me Miss Again], Venus vs. Mars, ‘03 Bonnie & Clyde, Ain’t No N****, The Best Of Me [Remix], Money Ain’t A Thang, Lucifer, Where I’m From, Some People Hate, Hate)
Can I Get A…
Big Pimpin’
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
Encore

(source - Miami Herald)

Jay-Z's BP3 2010 Tour dates:

Feb 22 Houston, TX - Toyota Center
Feb 23 Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Feb 25 New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
Feb 27 Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
Feb 28 Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Mar 02 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
Mar 03 Washington, DC - Verizon Center
Mar 05 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
Mar 06 East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
Mar 07 Norfolk, VA - Scope Arena
Mar 11 Boston, MA - TD Garden
Mar 12 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
Mar 14 Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
Mar 16 Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
Mar 18 Chicago, IL - United Center
Mar 19 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
Mar 20 Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
Mar 22 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
Mar 24 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
Mar 26 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center

Kelis 'Acapella' Live Debut Performance In Miami, FL

Kelis, best known for enjoying bringing the boys to the yard, was the guest star at Club LIV in Miami, FL Wednesday, February 10.

Kelis accompanied by DJ Skeet Skeet and a live drummer debuted her new song 'Acapella' produced by David Guetta from her up coming album 'Fleshtones.'

Photo links from the event here:
Rex Features
Star Trak Photos
NBC Miami

(video courtesy of appollomsays)

Nas & Goodie Mob Live In Miami, FL Concert Recap

Photo courtesy of Manny Hernandez / Miami New Times

As reported by Esther Park at the Miami New Times

Mayday!, Goodie Mob, and Nas at The Arsht Center Miami FL - Friday, February 5, 2010

The Arsht Center was definitely up late that Friday evening as the show was pushed back to a start time of 10:30 p.m. to accommodate the heavy-loaded BET Haiti benefit concert at the nearby AAA. Nevertheless, the crowd quickly staggered in and filled up the center's Knight Concert Hall, where they were greeted with a 20-minute opening set by local hip-hop supergroup MayDay. With an actual band set-up, Mayday truly gave a stellar performance as Plex took his beat-making skills to the keyboards, and MC Wrekonize and Bernie rhymed and sang their hearts out.

Immediately following Mayday's opening set, it was no surprise that clearly, a good portion of the audience came out just to see the next group in the flesh. Goodie Mob, the first hip-hop group to come out of Atlanta and to coin the phrase "Dirty South," has been in an unofficial hiatus for well over a decade. But finally, after much gossip and hip-hop pseudo-beef, this year marks the group's long-awaited reunion tour.



All four original members, Big Gipp, T-Mo, Khujo, and Cee-Lo Green (better known now as the other half of Gnarls Barkley) took the stage in full glory. The crowd went crazy as they performed an over-the-top, energy-filled 40-minute set filled with all their classics like "Soul Food," "Dirty South," "They Don't Dance No Mo", and of course, the era-specific 1995 hit "Cell Therapy." Laced throughout were also some entertaining segues like a 2 Live Crew tribute that got the crowd of more than a thousand screaming, "Heeeyyy, we want some pu******y!" Cee-Lo also did an emotional a cappella version of his Top 40 single with Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy," that had everyone singing along.



With such an intense set by such a legendary group, everyone was curious as to see how Nas was going to top this one. As the audience chanted "We want Nas," the concert hall's lights went black, only to illuminate DJ Green Lantern as he dropped the first beat . In walked the legend himself, proclaiming "Hip-hop is dead," before launching into the song of the same name. The banging guitar riff from the Will.I.Am-produced track shook the floor as Nas recited the lines that he'll "roll into every station and wreck the DJ!"



The ultimate lyricist then went straight into his classic songs from his debut album, Illmatic. From "New York State of Mind," to "Life's a Bitch," to "The World is Yours," every hip-hop head was seen mouthing each syllable, word for word. Midway into the Illmatic set, as Nas finished up "One Love," in walks Mr. One Love himself, Damian "Junior Gong" Marley. It was no surprise as these two have been working heavily on their joint album, Distant Relatives, that's set to drop next month.



The audience was blessed to hear two new singles off the album, "As We Enter" and "Only the Strong," both evoking great chemistry onstage. As Nas took a short breather, Damian took over and invited his older brother and mentor, Stephen Marley, to the stage. They in turn did a quickie version of Damian's hit single "The Mission" as well as his bumboclout money-maker "Welcome to Jamrock."



Then the brothers acknowledged the time, literally -- several minutes past midnight, it was now February 6 and their father's birthday. As Bob Marley's song "One Love" filtered through the hall, everyone shot up their lighters and the scent of sensimillia was inescapable. The Damian-Nas combo ended with their song "Road to Zion" that had everyone singing along the chorus: "Got to keep on walking on the road to Zion."



Back to just Nas again, it was time for more hits: "If I Ruled the World," "I Can," "Made You Look," "Hate Me Now," you name it, he rapped it. It was clear that his fans were out in full force; the room looked like a lyric-reciting army. And just like that, he was off. He thanked the crowd, thanked Miami, thanked Damian for coming through, thanked Goodie Mob for reuniting and, as Jay-Z would say, he was "onto the next one."

(video courtesy of Kris Martin, manolletes & itsjewels1)

Cool & Dre Interview

Urswurve caught up with the critically acclaimed production team Cool & Dre in the American Airlines Arena StarBox at the Heat vs Bobcats game in Miami. Dre talks about their work on Lil Wayne Rebirth album and upcoming Baby & Lil Wayne album Like Father Like Son 2.

Rick Ross Celebrates Birthday In Style At Yacht Party Mixer In Miami

Chad Ochocinco, BET’s Debra Lee, Spike Lee and Triple C’s were just a few of the guests on board the Venetian Lady yacht to celebrate Rick Ross’s birthday.

Photos here:
Wire Image
Exclusives Access - Teflon Don’s Birthday Mixer
Ozone - Rick Ross’s Birthday Party/Yacht Party in Miami

Jullian Boothe: Interview With Slip N Slide Records VP Of A & R

via PMP Worldwide

PMP: Talk about the distribution breakdown because you have certain artists that are signed to different major labels

Jullian Boothe: We have Trina, Mike Bless, Jagged Edge and my dude Duece Poppi all going through EMI now as part of a new deal we did with them. We picked EMI because they have worldwide distribution and we have a great deal with them so structure-wise it was more beneficial for us to go that route. We love our deal with Def Jam and we love our deal with Atlantic but financially now were moving toward the future of building Slip N Slide as a brand that can stand on its own two feet were we can do everything in-house. So I'm good with going that direction especially when it comes to the new artists we're signing now.

PMP: What do you feel are some of the biggest changes occurring in the urban music landscape going into the new decade?

Jullian Boothe: Right now you really have to build superstars there is no longer any space for mediocre artists that can only make one great song and that's it. Back in the days one-hit wonders, if handled correctly could really live off of that one record for years like Tone Loc and Sir Mix-A-Lot. They sold millions of copies so everybody 30 years old and up can still remember being 16, 17 years old hearing one record on the radio you love and then running right to the record store the day it came out to buy the album. Even if the album wasn't hot you had no choice but to purchase it to hear that one song you love. Those days are over now so if you come out now with a half-ass album you're not going to sell any albums.

The only people selling now are artists that are making classic albums and you can really count on your hand how many artists went platinum in 2009. You got Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Black Eyed Peas and a couple of others. Everybody else sold fewer than 500,000 copies which is crazy. The way Slip N Slide is structured we have to spend less in order to make a profit now. It's all about watching what you spend and really looking for an artist that can do everything. I'm looking for an artist that can act, sing, write and produce. If you can only sing that might not be enough because you can have a no #1 song and sell no units. So there has to be other avenues the artist can exploit in order to maximize the revenue potential.

PMP: What's your view on artists that can sell a couple of million digital singles but not go Gold or Platinum when it comes to album sales? Are the digital singles enough to consider the project a major success?

Jullian Boothe: It's enough if you're using the artist for that one song. The whole thing about the music industry is you want to build an act up to the point when they're on their 3rd, 4th and 5th album you (the label) don't have to spend as much because they're established now. When you have an established artist such as a Jay-Z for example his fans will go see him in concert regardless of whether he has a song out or not because you know his body of work. Everybody already knows who Jay-Z is. Now you may hear a new song which sold a million records but you're not going to see that artist in concert because you like the song but you barely know the artist name much less care about them enough to see them live. You will jam to it if you hear it on the radio but if they're in town why would I want to go see them, there's not enough appeal until you're exposed to a body of work from them over a period of time. The artist has to build a reputation of putting on a great show so people will feel they're missing out and put their money up to be a part of the experience

PMP: So the main objective is to blow the artist up without breaking the bank...

Jullian Boothe: Exactly!

PMP: Has this lead to you looking to work with newer talented writers and producers who can provide the same hit material but at the fraction of cost?

Jullian Boothe: I like working with new producers and writers because of the hunger they bring. I love to see new artists and producers blossom from not having a dollar in their pocket to becoming a millionaire off of one song. The new guys usually come harder than most of the established ones but there are a few vets that are willing to work with me no matter how big they are. I tell them 'look I can't afford to pay you $100,000 for a track anymore, its just not financially feasible' and they're still willing to be in 100% so that's a good situation.

If you check the new Trina and Jagged Edge projects you will see new faces pop up on the production side that I've been using. With Jagged Edge's new single (Tip of My Tongue) there is a new producer that nobody knows (Mad Skrews) but I love to give new guys a shot because most people wouldn't even take their phone call.

Read the full interview here:
PMP Worldwide - Jullian Boothe VP A&R/Slip-N-Slide Records