Attention Musicians, Vocalist and Bands Coming Soon
Black Music America presents "BMA Idols!"
This could be your big break!
Shawty Lo
Click ► to Play
Audio of:
Dey Know
Already
a legend in Atlanta, Georgia, for his exploits as a street hustler,
Shawty Lo made his mark on the music industry as a founding member
of snap music pioneers, D4L. Although he was incarcerated when they
recorded their biggest hit, "Laffy Taffy," he proved his own
hitmaking prowess with street smashes like "I'm Da Man," and "Dey
Know." Building on his buzz, he released his solo debut, Units in
the City, in 2008.
Fat Joe
Click ► to Play
Audio of:
I won’t tell
you
Representing
for the South Bronx, D.I.T.C., Terror Squad, and Latinos worldwide,
Fat Joe has been blazing mics and putting in work since the early
1990s. One of the first Puerto Rican emcees to achieve mass success,
Joe debuted on wax in 1993 with his single "Flow Joe." The album
Represent dropped shortly thereafter, and showcased the hungry young
rapper's gritty street tales laid over quality production by the
likes of Lord Finesse, the Beatnuts, Diamond D, and Showbiz. 1995
saw the release of Jealous One's Envy, a slept-on classic if there
ever was one. Joey Crack's rhyme skills had evolved immensely and
his tracks were tighter than ever, with DJ Premier providing some
choice gems. The album also introduced listeners to a fiery lyricist
that Joe had taken under his wing, the one and only Big Punisher.
Fat Joe's success in the rap game has also led to other ventures. He
owns two clothing stores and a barber shop, and also rocks the
visual art (he used to be a serious graf writer) with his gear
company FJ 560. He released his third LP Don Cartagena in 1999, as
well as Terror Squad - The Album. In 2001, Fat Joe scored a hit with
"We Thuggin'," off his fourth solo record Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.).
Loyalty dropped in late 2002, followed by the second Terror Squad
album, True Story, which featured the mega-smash single "Lean Back."
In June 2005, Joe released his sixth solo effort, All or Nothing.
Though Joe was in the midst of a feud with popular rapper 50 Cent,
the album did not do well commercially. By the release of his
seventh album in 2006, Me. Myself and I, Fat Joe was in danger of
becoming a regional rapper: revered by fans of New York hip-hop, yet
largely ignored by those not living in the five Burroughs.
Lupe Fiasco
Click ► to Play
Audio of:
SuperStar
What makes Chicago's
Lupe Fiasco special isn't that he's the most talented rapper of his
generation, nor that he has a boyish charisma that jumps off his
records and has drawn the attention of Jay Z and Kanye West.
Technical acumen is not as important as your favorite indie emcee
would have you believe, and charisma can be manufactured. What's
special about Lupe is the honesty and clarity of his lyrics. He's a
war emcee: he raps about the war on terrorism, the war on drugs and
the war on the poor. "This has been brought to you by genocide,
sponsored by crack," Lupe declares. Over the course of his debut
drug dealers with tears rolling down their eyes man funeral
processions. Cops roll by laughing at the misery they've sworn to
police. The "game" is the "belly of the beast," the streets a "demon
in a dress with dollar signs in her eyes and semen on her breath."
There's "blasphemy for prayers," "Hennessey tears" and "hollow tips
for teeth." For Lupe, "Righteousness is a father teaching his kids/
That what's better than wealth is respect for yourself."
Hip Hop Channel News
Jermaine Dupri Heads New Label Launched By TAG
Island
Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) and Procter & Gamble's TAG
brand have announced the formation of a new hip-hop
record label, TAG Records. Hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri,
who will act as president of the New York-based venture,
will lead the new label.
Under the new deal, Dupri will set the creative vision
for the label and play an integral part in identifying
and developing its musical talent. Each of the label's
artists is said to be supported with a multi-million
dollar marketing effort, including television, print,
radio, digital and event marketing.
Kay
Gee Preparing to Re-launch Record Label
Naughty
By Nature's Kay Gee is preparing to re-launch his record label
Divine Mill under a new partnership with Merovingian Music and EMI.
The joint venture calls for Divine Mill to focus on artist equity
participation and a proper and controlled marketing approach, while
working with Caroline/EMI to distribute Divine Mill projects
worldwide.
Already
a legend in Atlanta, Georgia, for his exploits as a street hustler,
Shawty Lo made his mark on the music industry as a founding member
of snap music pioneers, D4L. Although he was incarcerated when they
recorded their biggest hit, "Laffy Taffy," he proved his own
hitmaking prowess with street smashes like "I'm Da Man," and "Dey
Know." Building on his buzz, he released his solo debut, Units in
the City, in 2008. 
Representing
for the South Bronx, D.I.T.C., Terror Squad, and Latinos worldwide,
Fat Joe has been blazing mics and putting in work since the early
1990s. One of the first Puerto Rican emcees to achieve mass success,
Joe debuted on wax in 1993 with his single "Flow Joe." The album
Represent dropped shortly thereafter, and showcased the hungry young
rapper's gritty street tales laid over quality production by the
likes of Lord Finesse, the Beatnuts, Diamond D, and Showbiz. 1995
saw the release of Jealous One's Envy, a slept-on classic if there
ever was one. Joey Crack's rhyme skills had evolved immensely and
his tracks were tighter than ever, with DJ Premier providing some
choice gems. The album also introduced listeners to a fiery lyricist
that Joe had taken under his wing, the one and only Big Punisher.
Fat Joe's success in the rap game has also led to other ventures. He
owns two clothing stores and a barber shop, and also rocks the
visual art (he used to be a serious graf writer) with his gear
company FJ 560. He released his third LP Don Cartagena in 1999, as
well as Terror Squad - The Album. In 2001, Fat Joe scored a hit with
"We Thuggin'," off his fourth solo record Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.).
Loyalty dropped in late 2002, followed by the second Terror Squad
album, True Story, which featured the mega-smash single "Lean Back."
In June 2005, Joe released his sixth solo effort, All or Nothing.
Though Joe was in the midst of a feud with popular rapper 50 Cent,
the album did not do well commercially. By the release of his
seventh album in 2006, Me. Myself and I, Fat Joe was in danger of
becoming a regional rapper: revered by fans of New York hip-hop, yet
largely ignored by those not living in the five Burroughs.
What makes Chicago's
Lupe Fiasco special isn't that he's the most talented rapper of his
generation, nor that he has a boyish charisma that jumps off his
records and has drawn the attention of Jay Z and Kanye West.
Technical acumen is not as important as your favorite indie emcee
would have you believe, and charisma can be manufactured. What's
special about Lupe is the honesty and clarity of his lyrics. He's a
war emcee: he raps about the war on terrorism, the war on drugs and
the war on the poor. "This has been brought to you by genocide,
sponsored by crack," Lupe declares. Over the course of his debut
drug dealers with tears rolling down their eyes man funeral
processions. Cops roll by laughing at the misery they've sworn to
police. The "game" is the "belly of the beast," the streets a "demon
in a dress with dollar signs in her eyes and semen on her breath."
There's "blasphemy for prayers," "Hennessey tears" and "hollow tips
for teeth." For Lupe, "Righteousness is a father teaching his kids/
That what's better than wealth is respect for yourself."
Island
Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) and Procter & Gamble's TAG
brand have announced the formation of a new hip-hop
record label, TAG Records. Hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri,
who will act as president of the New York-based venture,
will lead the new label.
Naughty
By Nature's Kay Gee is preparing to re-launch his record label
Divine Mill under a new partnership with Merovingian Music and EMI.
The joint venture calls for Divine Mill to focus on artist equity
participation and a proper and controlled marketing approach, while
working with Caroline/EMI to distribute Divine Mill projects
worldwide.
