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Will.i.am Joins Uproxx Studios As Partner And Investor, Which Is A Result Of An Acquisition Of Uproxx, HipHopDX, And More From WMG

Will.i.am is immersing himself further in the media landscape. According to a press release, he has joined Jarret Myer and Rich Antoniello in forming Uproxx Studios. It is described as a brand solutions studio led by influential leaders in media and music who will consider culture and push it forward. The new entity has been established following the acquisition of Uproxx, HipHopDX, Dime Magazine, and other major media assets from Warner Music Group (WMG), such as the exclusive license to represent its YouTube content. Looking ahead, Uproxx Studios and WMG will remain in collaboration to guarantee seamless execution for their partners. Antoniello, partner and executive chairman of Uproxx Studios as well as founder and ex-CEO of Complex Network, commented, “This is a game-changer. We’re merging the agility and freedom of an independent entity with the reach and resources of a major music label. This is the recipe for groundbreaking content and unparalleled brand experiences.” Uproxx...

Samantha Dorisca

Apr 25, 2024

Multi-hyphenate Tyler The Creator Has Built An Estimated $30M Fortune, But His Inner Circle Is A Key Piece To His Success — ‘I Only Surround Myself With People Who Dream’

Disruptors, in the evolutionary sense of the word, are people who have abandoned the status quo. They thrive in their differences and are typically unbothered by the societal boundaries designed to box them in. There are countless examples of these people in the world, but one clear example is Tyler, the Creator. Evidenced by his stage name, Tyler Gregory Okonma is a California native and award-winning producer and musical artist. He burst onto the scene co-founding the Hip-Hop collective Odd Future and releasing his debut mixtape 2009, titled “Bastard.” However, it was in 2011 when he released his first studio album, “Goblin,” that he started getting noticed. Reflecting, he acknowledged his musical growth and was honest about his work then. In a conversation on the “Rap Radar Podcast,” Tyler was pretty candid that while his lead single, “Yonkers,” is still one of his favorites, the album itself was not his favorite body of work. “Bro, ‘Goblin’ is f-cking terrible, but I still love...

Josh Rodgers

Apr 22, 2024

Birdman Says He Still Maintains Full Ownership Of His Masters — 'I Never Allowed None Of The Labels To Own Anything'

Cash Money Records Founder Birdman experienced several losses by the age of 16, and he was determined to steer clear of any losses in the music business. Birdman, born Bryan Christopher Williams, started the label in 1991 alongside his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams, according to BET. They were able to gain traction and had the support of independent distributors such as Gonzales Music and SouthWest Distribution, XXL Magazine reports. Building popularity in the South, the label caught the attention of Universal Records and signed a deal with the company on May 10, 1997, per a Max Volume Media interview Birdman gave. He later discussed the deal during an interview on the “Wilde Ride!” podcast, revealing that he was looking to retain ownership of his music due to his upbringing. “I felt like I lost everything already. I lost my family,” he explained on the podcast. “Nothing can repay me for what I already lost. I lost my mama, my daddy, my brother, my sister… I lived a hell of a life...

Samantha Dorisca

Apr 19, 2024

Rapper Xzibit Opens A Marijuana Dispensary After Creating A Podcast To Remove The Stigma In The Cannabis Industry

He made his mark in rap, now Xzibit is looking to do the same in a new industry. The “Get Your Walk On” artist, born Alvin Nathaniel Joiner, will be scaling his interest in the cannabis industry. In 2023, he launched the “Lasagna Ganja” podcast in collaboration with co-host Tammy “The Cannabis Cutie” Pettigrew, CNN reports. The purpose of the podcast was to remove the stigma associated with cannabis use and to educate listeners. When speaking on the overarching goal of stewarding these conversations, he said in an interview on “Beyond the Red Carpet with Ny MaGee,” “I’ve seen the music industry go from millions to a billion-dollar industry. And I’ve also seen cannabis, you know, take on the same journey that maybe alcohol did after prohibition. And the misinformation that can lead us to continue to be left out of things is something that I want to combat. So when I say us, I mean people of color, people who have been incarcerated for cannabis, and now as it turns into this...

Samantha Dorisca

Apr 16, 2024

Rapper Behind For Viral TikTok Song '90mh' Ordered To Pay Sony Music Over $800K

A TikTok rapper will be going against Sony Music Entertainment in court. According to Billboard, 20-year-old rapper Dantreal Clark-Rainbolt, more commonly known as Trefuego, had a viral hit on TikTok thanks to his release of “90mh.” The songs was featured in at least 155,000 videos on the platform. Additionally, it has been streamed a minimum of 100 million times on Spotify. The outlet also reported he has garnered significant earnings from the song’s popularity, with estimates reaching almost $700,000. However, it appears the rapper won’t be able to roll in the dough for much longer. He is now in troubled water for utilizing a copyright sample from Toshifumi Hinata’s 1986 song “Reflections,” according to Rolling Stone. “Trefuego brazenly sought to ride the coattails of Hinata’s creativity and popularity without regard to the United States copyright laws or the rights of plaintiffs,” Sony’s attorneys wrote per Billboard. “He used and copied plaintiffs’ work without so much as...

Samantha Dorisca

Apr 15, 2024

Metro Boomin Went From Being A Morehouse College Student To A Grammy-Nominated Music Producer With An Estimated $45M Net Worth

The production tagline on Metro Boomin’s beats, “If Young Metro don’t trust you, I’m gone shoot you,” is more than a cultural statement — it’s rooted in the long-time friendship and business partnership he has with Atlanta, GA, rapper Future. Emerging from St. Louis, MO, Metro Boomin, born Leland Tyler Wayne, has carved his name in the annals of Hip-Hop history. His talent and ingenuity have propelled him to the forefront of the industry, with his production credits and collaborative acclaim spanning chart-topping songs with Drake, Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, and The Weeknd, among others. It’s About More Than Rap For Metro Boomin While Metro Boomin’s catalog is predominantly rooted in Rap and Hip-Hop, his music is a testament to his diverse range of influences. From the Pop icons that shaped his early musical journey to the eerie soundscapes of horror movies, his unique blend of inspirations is a fascinating insight into his creative process. “Michael Jackson. He was always...

Josh Rodgers

Apr 12, 2024

The Beyoncé Effect Reportedly Leads Levi's Stock To Rise By 20%

Music fans are not the only ones feeling the impact of Beyoncé’s influence. On March 29, 2024, the Houston, TX-born songstress released her country-influenced album “Cowboy Carter.” According to Billboard, her eighth album debuted at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 407,000 equivalent album units. Additionally, the album reached the top spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, a first for a Black woman to accomplish. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) The Beyoncé effect is evident not only on the music charts but in business, too. Her 27-track album includes the single “Levii’s Jeans,” featuring music artist Post Malone. As reported by CBS News, Levi Strauss & Co., the clothing company that actually invented denim jeans, saw a rise in its stocks by 20%, nearly one week after the song’s release. The moment also drove sales to increase for its denim skirts and pants. “Beyoncé’s influence has been all organic and is clearly...

Samantha Dorisca

Apr 9, 2024

How Ludacris Earned His 'Biggest Check' Ever After Failing To Ink A Record Deal Early In His Career — 'Nobody Really Stepped All The Way Up'

Not signing to a record label was the stepping stone for Ludacris to invest in his artistry. Ludacris, who in his early days worked at an Atlanta, GA, radio station and became known as DJ Chris Lova Lova, would eventually catch the attention of record labels and producer Timbaland, scoring a feature on the single, “Fat Rabbit.” During a podcast interview with “Drink Champs,” Ludacris noted the attention he began to receive from record labels after that. Still, it did not translate into landing his own deal. This pushed him to dive into his pockets to release his debut album “Incognegro” in 1999. “I’ve had my moments with each of those entities, but I never signed with them,” Ludacris said. “Even with Timbaland, there was a time when I was about to get signed to Timbaland because of my first record before ‘What’s Your Fantasy.’ I was on his album, and I had a song called ‘Fat Rabbit,’ which ended up being on ‘Back for the First Time.’ So again, I went through all of these processes,...

Samantha Dorisca

Feb 8, 2024

K. Michelle Says She Has 'Made More Money' From Her Endorsement Deal With Jack Daniel's Than With 'Any Music'

Despite K. Michelle being a force within the realm of R&B, she has earned her biggest bucks from outside the music business.

Samantha Dorisca

Sep 15, 2023

Timbaland Will No Longer Release Controversial AI-Generated Notorious B.I.G. Track Without Estate's Permission

Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence is here to stay and Timbaland appears to be one of the frontrunners embracing the technology.

Samantha Dorisca

May 16, 2023

Babyface On The Horrors Of Record Deals And Times Where The Label Got Half: 'If You Wanna Get A Deal, Then That's What It Is'

Babyface’s talents have been a force to be reckoned with since he graced the music world with his presence 36 years ago.

Samantha Dorisca

Oct 24, 2022

Chamillionaire Once Hired Jay-Z's Auditor Who Later Discovered His Label Hid $600K From Him

While navigating the music industry, one thing Chamillionaire was sure to hold on to was his integrity.

Ngozi Nwanji

Oct 24, 2022

SoundCloud's Head Of Marketing, Artist Relations Maurice Slade Talks Leaking J. Cole's 'Born Sinner' To Get It To The Top Of The Charts

Some individuals rely on a stacked resume to prove why they are worthy of a position. However, for Maurice Slade, his love for music has overshadowed the value of any bullet point. Slade was recently appointed as SoundCloud’s Head of Marketing, Artist Relations, where he will cultivate the artist-to-fan relationship. Of course, he is well positioned for this role as he previously played a hand in the branding and marketing strategies for Hip-Hop artists Travis Scott and 21 Savage while working under Epic Records.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Maurice Slade (@squarebiz)

Samantha Dorisca

Oct 4, 2022