Why Trina Wasn’t Included In This Years BET Awards Nominations

May 23, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  
From Stephen Hill himself:
“Much to my dismay, we had a total of four artists who submitted videos during the eligibility period (April 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011),” he explained. “We had four women submit videos where they were the leads, not as a feature but as a lead: Nicki Minaj, Diamond, Cymphonique and Lola Monroe. Since we usually have five people who are eligible in the category and we only had four people… it’s kind of easy math. The Lola Monroe video features Trina, but as feature that doesn’t make you eligible for a piece of work under your own name.”
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Jimmy Henchmen Speaks On Federal Arrest Warrant

May 23, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  

As stated to XXL. Previously: Jimmy Henchman In Trouble With The Feds….Again
 
“With the Name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful I have decided to break my silence to address slanderous media once and for all. Firstly, I want to apologize to every music artist and executive I’ve worked with. In addition, I apologize to my family and friends who have had to endure this horrible situation.

The events over the past week, to say the least, have caught me off guard. Although I have been aware of an investigation-taking place over the last four years, I was never informed that an arrest warrant had been issued in my name. I first learned about that warrant through the media when the news was released last week.

 
Read the rest after the jump.

The purpose of this statement is not to assert some kind of grandiose conspiracy theory, but I will state some facts. These prosecutors have already begun my trial through the media and I’m releasing this statement in order to set the record straight. I just want a fair trial. I came up from nothing and made some mistakes early in my life of which I have already served time. Since then I have worked hard to establish my career in the music industry only to be targeted by these opportunistic prosecutors with a personal vendetta against me.

I would like to expose the two prosecutors spearheading this slanderous and trumped up case against me. The first, prosecutor Todd Kaminsky, is a 33-year-old White hip-hop head that if he weren’t a lawyer he would probably be a member of the Beastie Boys. Second, Carolyn Porkony, who failed in convicting the Murder Inc. Irv Gotti brothers on trumped up charges of money laundering. Both have a personal stake in pursuing me and will stop at nothing to bring down an innocent man.

I have endured slanderous media for quite some time. Last year, in their frustration, they employed Chuck Phillips and the Daily News to write baseless stories in the media saying I was a snitch (but never mentioned or produced one person I ‘snitched’ on) to hopefully get people to start cooperating with their bogus investigation. Chuck Phillips started a campaign against me and wrote dozens of letters to inmates serving considerable time in federal prison begging them to cooperate. When those tactics didn’t work, they subpoenaed every person that knew me or worked with me in the music industry, including my accountants, lawyers, secretary, etc.

What compels me to expose this is that I know if I don’t I will not get a fair trial. Todd Kaminsky is hanging his hat on this case and has gone beyond his office to make sure he sensationalizes this to propel himself to some high-end law firm or political office. This is obvious from the deals he has already given his ‘witnesses’ to testify against me. Henry “Black” Butler, a known rolling 60’s gang member, and wife Leah Daniels who are Kaminsky’s star ‘witnesses’ were arrested with drugs and machine guns in Los Angeles. Butler was promised five years and his wife got her case dismissed in exchange for implicating me in their operation. I know nothing of Butler’s criminal activities and was never involved with him concerning those criminal activities. I just know him as a self-proclaimed gangbanger who told jokes all the time and worked for Loud Records in the 90’s. They leaked all this false information about me to the media and left out the truth that Henry Butler denied my involvement until he was promised a reduced sentence of five years if he included me in his operations. There’s absolutely no evidence that supports my involvement in any of this, yet I have been implicated with someone I have no associations with. Through our own investigations, we have compiled a lot of information that proves the prosecutors are overly zealous and aggressive, not to mention unconstitutional. They gave witnesses immunity and have gone as far as to threaten individuals with indictments if they didn’t talk to them about me and corroborate their tales. For instance, Ali “Zo” Adam, whose serving 18 years was offered a lesser sentence and the witness protection program if he testified against me. He refused saying he couldn’t live with the lie but admitted he was tempted by the offer. Many were tempted with the prospect of freedom and hence a case with no evidence was born against me. THIS IS NOT JUSTICE.

Khalil Abdullah’s indictment was leaked in the media as well. I never saw my name on that indictment, and I don’t know what I have to do with whatever he’s been indicted for. Up to now I don’t know what I may be charged with or what crime I’ve committed. For the last 10 years I’ve dedicated myself to servicing the music community but because of my so-called ‘checkered past’, I’ve become an easy target for prosecutors Todd Kaminsky and Carolyn Porkony, not to mention fiction writers like Chuck Phillips and his Daily News cohorts.

If the government is relying on informants like Winston “Winnie” Harris, a convicted drug dealer and Jamaican deportee, who came to me and motioned via hand signal that he was forced to wear a wire and begged me to skip town or Dexter Isaac who is serving life in prison plus 30 years then I’m sure I will not be offered a fair trial. Where’s the real proof that I have committed these crimes? I just want my fair trial and to not be railroaded as they so eagerly want to do.

A fair trial is afforded by the constitution and witnesses should be forthright without pressure or duress. That’s all I want and I’ll turn myself in today.

Again, I apologize to my peers, artists and family for being subjected to all of this.

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Big L Central

May 23, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  
How the hell did I miss this? Spotted on 2dopeboyz:
Dealing with posthumous albums from a legendary artist is a shaky subject most times because you really don’t know the motives behind the person / group who is distributing the product. Judging by what history tells, us, the majority of the time it’s simply to make a quick buck, which is a little unsettling considering that this could potentially tarnish said artist’s legacy. While I don’t exactly know what the motives were behind L’s second posthumous album, Return of the Devil’s Son, I do know that I was very upset to find out that at least 95% of that “album” which claimed to have unreleased and / or unheard material was quite the polar opposite; instead, they covered this up by “cleverly” renaming some of the songs.
So I’m sure you could imagine my hesitations when I heard L’s brother, Donald Phinazee was putting out yet another album titled Danger Zone. I did a little research and downloaded a copy before I let my fingers do the shopping and I’m glad I did. While most of the material really can’t be considered “unreleased” per say, I can say that they did a pretty good job at restoring them. Some of these joints I’ve had a chance to hear, although in really shitty sound quality. It’s definitely recommended if you’re an L fan or a 90s purist, and can be pre-ordered now at Amazon with a May 31st release date. Here are two songs from the LP: Work pt. 2 is obviously a Gang Starr song with a Big L verse, and the 8 Iz Enuff (Demo Version) was previously available on Herb McGruff’s The Demo EP if you had eighty-five fucking dollars to spend on it. Fuck outta here! The demo version featured a different Buckwild beat with the same line up of MCs: Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddha Bless, Big Twan, Killa Kam, Trooper J, & Mike Boogie.
Gangstarr – Work Part 2 (Feat. Big L)
Big L – 8 Iz Enuff (Demo Version) (Feat. Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddha Bless, Big Twan, Killa Kam, Trooper J, & Mike Boogie)
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Apple seals streaming music deals with Sony and Warner, report says

May 21, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  



Fresh on the heels of a report that Apple has sealed a deal with EMI Music Group, Bloomberg reported Thursday night that the company has also inked an agreement with Sony Music and Warner Music.

Citing sources “with knowledge of the deals,” the report said that the agreements give Apple a green light to move forward with a music service that lets users store content on Apple’s servers and access it from the Web.

Unlike the music services from Google and Amazon, Apple customers won’t have to upload their music to the cloud.

The company is also said to be close to finishing a deal with the largest music label, Universal Music Group, and the report speculates Apple may be able to unveil the service at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

S/O WaPo

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Stephen Hill On BET Awards Backlash

May 21, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  

The BET Awards nominations were announced earlier this week and some folks was not happy about the nods.. Bet.com interviewed President of Music Programming and Specials, Stephen Hill to provide some insight. Below is a breakdown on some of the hot button issues. The Awards air June 26th.

On Trina’s snub for Best Female Rapper


Okay, that was because Trina didn’t submit a video that was in during the eligibility period. Let me back up. To be eligible, here’s what you have to have: a video that’s submitted and then first played on BET…between April 1 of one year and March 30 of the next year. So for this eligibility period it would be April 1 of 2010 to March 30 of 2011. She did not release a video to us in that time. “Million Dollar Girl” came in March. I think it was March 12 or so of 2010. And so she was in last year’s nominees for that.


On Nicki Minaj’s Imminent Win For Best Female Rapper


Here’s what I think: We have this category as an aspirational category. Right now, there are very few women who put out hip hop videos…If there’s no nominees, we’re gonna keep this category in the show because one day down the line it’s going to be filled just like the men.



Really? Even if there are no nominees?
Yeah.


On J.Cole’s Best New Artist Nomination


Specifically for J. Cole, whoever had their first video under their name given to us in a year period, it’s eligible for New Artist. Remember Nicki was up for new artist last year. Her album wasn’t out either.


On Chris Brown’s Nomination for Best Actor


My thought on that is as follows: We assembled the Academy. We try to make it as varied as possible. But when the Academy comes back with their results—again, it’s not any of our individual shows—that’s the decision we’ve made, to trust the Academy. When they come back with a decision, we stick by that decision.


So the people really do get a voice in these awards.
It’s only the people’s voice. I want to be very clear. It’s not like, “Oh, we like four of them but we wanna stick Chris Brown in as an actor.” That’s who they voted for. Between music industry folk, bloggers, writers and fans, Chris Brown was nominated for an acting awards.


Removing Book Of Eli For Best Movie


Okay, so in some of our passion, we don’t always get it right. The Book of Eli is now no longer in the Best Movie category. We had an enthusiastic Denzel Washington fan who threw The Book of Eli into the possibles for Movie of the Year. And there are so many Denzel Washington fans and Hughes Brothers fans out there that they voted it as one of the nominations. The problem was that that it didn’t come out during the eligibility period. So we’ve removed it from the nomination.

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B.G. In Serious Trouble Over Gun Charge

May 20, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  
From NOLA:
Christopher Dorsey, 30, who raps under the moniker B.G. or Baby Gangsta, was charged in a three-count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm and conspiracy to obstruct justice, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office.
Dorsey, of St. Rose, was arrested with two other men in November 2009 for allegedly possessing three weapons, along with loaded magazines and two extended clips, while driving in eastern New Orleans. Police said two of the three guns had been previously reported stolen.
Dorsey, a convicted felon, allegedly conspired with two other men to get an associate, who was inside the vehicle, to claim ownership of the guns, according federal prosecutors. Dorsey allegedly pushed Demounde Pollard, 19, to sign a false affidavit that said Dorsey did not possess the guns.
Both Pollard and Jerod Fedison, 29, have pleaded guilty in federal court on related charges.
If found guilty, Dorsey faces up to 10 years in prison, according to Letten’s office.
Dorsey has been rapping for more than 15 years. He grew up in Uptown, and was member of the Hot Boys ensemble, which boasts such big names as Lil Wayne, Juvenile and Young Turk.
Amid the mounting legal troubles, Dorsey released a well-received rap album, “Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood, ” in December 2009 on Atlantic Records.
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Macho Man Randy Savage, Dead At Age 58: Wrestling Legend, Fashion Icon

May 20, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  

“Macho Man” Randy Savage died on Friday morning when he suffered a heart attack while driving in Tampa, Florida, causing him to lose control of his car and crash. He was 58 years old. (source: TMZ)

Sad day for all my wrestling fan friends, and also for everyone who grew up in the 80’s watching in wonderment at the pop culture phenomenon of the World Wrestling Federation. Macho Man Randy Savage was show stealer, with his insane cowboy gear, love drama with Miss Elizabeth, “Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh,” and more.

Screen shot 2011-05-20 at 1.01.14 PM

s/o Miss Info…..

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Austin’s Rowdy Electronics and BKE Present the Beat Thang, Debuting Exclusively at Best Buy

May 20, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  

Beat Thang from Rowdy BKE on Vimeo.

“We wanted everyone to be able to produce music the same way we do,” says Dallas Austin of the idea behind the Beat Thang. The Grammy-winning producer-songwriter-“keyboard fanatic” and owner of Atlanta-based Rowdy Electronics is introducing this groundbreaking mobile music-making machine through a joint venture with Nashville‘s BKE (Beat Kangz Electronics.) The Beat Thang will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy July 17, 2011 as a limited edition with a suggested retail price of $1,500.

Dallas Austin is the man behind multiplatinum hits by the likes of Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, TLC, Madonna, Pink and Gwen Stefani. At Austin’s level, producing music the same way he does means access to a library of 3,000+ original sounds (live drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, strings, horns, Latin and African percussion); hundreds of beats, patterns and loops; 65 digital effects (EQ, compression, reverb, delay, filter, chopped, screwed, reverse record); sampling; waveform editing; and mixing and mastering functionality, among other marvels.

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Hov x D.C.P.D. ???? Yeah that one…….

May 19, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  

Jay-Z, In Investigation

Jay-Z is one of several celebrities being named in an internal investigation conducted by the Washington, D.C. Police Department. The investigation centers on celebs who have received police escorts from Washington, D.C. officers. Troubled actor Charlie Sheen and Microsoft head Bill Gates are also among the celebrities named.

Authorities are looking to put a stop to the escorts, which are a violation of department protocol.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has said that the escorts are only meant for top officials and dignitaries. “It’s president, vice president, visiting heads of state, mayor and others if there’s a public safety issue,” the chief said.

There are conflicting reports from the Police Department, which could lead to a hearing–which DC Council member Phil Mendelson is considering.

S/O HHB

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Alicia Keys – Songs In A Minor (10th Anniversary Edition) (Artwork & Tracklisting)

May 18, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  

Wow, can’t quite believe it’s been 10 years. We’re getting old. Tracklisting and download link after the jump.
A decade after making her debut, Alicia Keys is reminiscing on the album that propelled her to stardom. The Grammy-winning songstress will release Deluxe and Collector’s 10th Anniversary editions of her breakthrough songs in A minor, which has sold over 11 million copies worldwide.

Available in a 2-CD Deluxe Edition and a 2-CD/1-DVD Collector’s Edition, the 10th Anniversary sets feature songs in A minor era bonus tracks, demos, live performances, and more.

The two-disc Deluxe Edition will include the original songs in A minor in its entirety along with a second disc featuring two previously unreleased songs: the funky blues demo for “If I Was Your Woman” and an early version of “Typewriter,” recorded in Alicia’s Harlem apartment in 1997. The second disc also includes “A Woman’s Worth (Remix)” featuring Nas, the mixtape version of “Juiciest,” “Fallin’” from the Ali soundtrack, and “Butterflyz (The Drumline Mix).”

The three-disc 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition contains the complete original album plus a second CD with the previously unreleased tracks “Ghetto Man” featuring Poet muMs da Schemer, “I Won’t (Crazy World)” (an original song from Alicia’s first demo), and “Girlfriend (KrucialKeys Sista Girl Mix – The U.K. Video Remix Edit).”

To commemorate the milestone, Alicia will perform songs from the album at New York’s Beacon Theatre on June 30 for the “Piano & I: A One Night Only Event with Alicia Keys.”

songs in A minor – 10th Anniversary (Deluxe Edition):

Disc 1 – Original Album
1. Piano & I
2. Girlfriend
3. How Come You Don’t Call Me
4. Fallin’
5. Troubles
6. Rock Wit U
7. A Woman’s Worth
8. Jane Doe
9. Goodbye
10. The Life
11. Mr. Man (duet with Jimmy Cozier)
12. Never Felt This Way (interlude)
13. Butterflyz
14. Why Do I Feel So Sad
15. Caged Bird
16. Lovin U

Disc 2
1. A Woman’s Worth (Remix) featuring Nas
2. Juiciest (Mixtape Version)
3. If I Were Your Woman (Funky Blues Demo)*
4. Fallin’ (Ali Soundtrack Version)
5. Typewriter (From the songs in A minor vault)*
6. Butterflyz (The Drumline Mix)
Enhanced CD features “A Harlem Love Story” (“Fallin’”/“A Woman’s Worth”): The story behind the inspiration for these two videos, featuring new narration by Alicia Keys.
* previously unreleased

songs in A minor – 10th Anniversary (Collector’s Edition):

Disc 1 – Original Album
1. Piano & I
2. Girlfriend
3. How Come You Don’t Call Me
4. Fallin’
5. Troubles
6. Rock Wit U
7. A Woman’s Worth
8. Jane Doe
9. Goodbye
10. The Life
11. Mr. Man (duet with Jimmy Cozier)
12. Never Felt This Way (interlude)
13. Butterflyz
14. Why Do I Feel So Sad
15. Caged Bird
16. Lovin U

Disc 2
1. A Woman’s Worth (Remix) featuring Nas
2. Juiciest (Mixtape Version)
3. If I Were Your Woman (Funky Blues Demo)*
4. Ghetto Man featuring Poet muMs da Schemer*
5. Fallin’ (Ali Soundtrack Version)
6. Typewriter (From the songs in A minor vault)*
7. Butterflyz (The Drumline Mix)
8. I Won’t (Crazy World) (From the songs in A minor vault)
9. Girlfriend (KrucialKeys Sista Girl Mix – The U.K. Video Remix Edit)
10. I Got a Little Something (Live In Seattle)*
11. Piano Mashup (Live In Seattle)*
12. Light My Fire (Live In Seattle)*
* previously unreleased

Disc 3 – Bonus DVD
songs in A minor documentary
“A Harlem Love Story” video
“Girlfriend” promotional video
“How Come You Don’t Call Me” promotional video

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Keyshia Cole vs. Lil’ Kim

May 18, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  
Lil Kim Fires Back:
U got that right. We are not friends. The same way U take friendship seriously i take loyalty serious. The whole world has seen me extend my hand to u over and over again. Only someone who’s trying to build a sincere relationship does shows 4 free & supports. u did not pay me a dime 4 none of that. That warrants some type of loyalty and respect.

Friend or no friend i would have never let anybody disrespect u on my record but i can’t expect everyone to be as real as i am.At the end of the day karma is as real as i am and it’s coming to get u. oh wait…if it hasnt got u already…My love & loyalty to u got u a hit, ur friendship with ur friend got u a flop. looks like u need to choose ur friends more wisely dont u think? #teamlilkim LEGGGGOOOO.

Loyalty and respect has nothing to do with friendship…BOOM. Loyalty and respect is about returning a kindness. Have you ever came out and supported me at my shows? i dont think so. Yes it was a good look for me but it was a great look for u. At the end of the day it was a hit on YOUR album. Sticking 2 the situation. Again I would have never let anyone disrespect U on my song. That’s loyalty & respect. End of story.
Keyshia Comes back
Kim that was a gr8 look 4 I coming out of jail just as it was a gr8 look for missy to have produced it. all I’m saying is don’t have everyone thinking I was disloyal as a “friends” cause we were never that and u know it. No disrespect.
Props: RR


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Pete Rock x Smif-N-Wessun – Monumental (Artwork & Tracklisting)

May 18, 2011 JUKEBOXDC Staff News No Comments  
Drops 6/28. Tracklisting after the jump.

01 Monumental f. Tyler Woods & Pete Rock
02 Prevail f. Raekwon
03 That’s Hard f. Sean Price & Styles P
04 Top of the World f. Memphis Bleek
05 Feel Me f. Rock & Bun B
06 Roses f. Freeway
07 Fire
08 This One f. Top Dog & Jahdan Blakkamoore
09 Do It f. Hurricane G
10 Nighttime f. Pete Rock & Buckshot
11 (I’m a) Stand Up Guy f. Black Rob
12 Time To Say
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