Finebeats

Check this out…  A short clip from an interview with Jay-Z discussing his best selling book ‘Decoded’.

Jay talks about real Hip Hop lyracism and the deeper, thought provoking lyrics that many people overlook.

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Eminem Could Receive an Extra $30 Million in Royalties From F.B.T. Productions Lawsuit

F.B.T. Productions, the outfit accredited with discovering Eminem in 1995 and producing many of Em’s tracks filed a lawsuit back in 2007. The claim was that Aftermath did not have the right to distribute the music digitally to people such as Apple and other providers.

Universal Music Group (UMG) filed an appeal with the 9^th Circuit Court in 2010  after Eminem and F.B.T. Productions were awarded half of the royalties of digital downloads. The appeal was overruled and UMG took their case to the Supreme Court who refused to hear the appeal.

During an interview with the New York Times, Joel Martin explained:

“As of now it’s worth $17 million or $20 million, but on a future accounting basis, five or 10 years from now, it could easily be a $40 million to $50 million issue,”

This type of case raises many questions over how royalties are distributed and reinforces the fact that the music industry has and is still changing. Digital distribution has changed the music industry in so many ways, both from a positive and a negative perspective and the future of the industry is almost certainly intertwined with how the major labels choose to embrace the digital age.

Keep it Finebeats for the freshest Hip Hop News.

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E-40 Concert Shooter Sentenced to Life

The shooting took place after an E-40 concert in Colorado, 2009. The man responsible, 24 year old Terry Lamaire Gaines, shot dead a man in the car park shortly after the concert. The victim, 27 year old Michael Allen Davis was found dead in his car by the police outside of the venue.

 
Mr. Gaines was sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder and an additional ten years on three separate charges after police had to chase him down. These included Possession of a deadly weapon, possession of marijuana and leading police on a car chase.

 
This was not the first violent encounter following an E-40 concert. Only months earlier (December 2008) there was a shootout that left five people injured after a concert in Denver.

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Lupe Fiasco Ft Sway & Eric Turner - Break The Chain

“Break The Chain” is one of many explosive crowd moving songs taken from Lupe Fiasco’s US #1 Album “Lasers”.  The track features the incredible voice of Eric Turner (Tinnie Tempah “Written In The Stars”), alongside one of the UK’s leading Rapper/Lyricist “Sway” with production by none other than European super-producer iShi (Written In The Stars, Game Over).

Check out the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lY0p9P5T0c

 
You can follow all contributing artists on Twitter…..

@LupeFiasco

@Sway_Dcypha

@ericturners

@iSHi_2Stripes

 
Lupe Fiasco album Lasers is out now!

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Japan Benefit Album to Feature Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Other Artists

The benefit album is to be released digitally via Universal Music Group and artists have agreed to include their tracks without claiming royalties to show their support and to raise the largest amount possible for the people affected by the recent earthquakes and Tsunami.

A spokesperson for the Japanese Red Cross explained the reasons behind the digital release:

“We are doing it only digitally because it is faster, and this will be a worldwide release. The plan is to have it available later this week,”

The album will also feature music from artists such as Bon Jovi, U2, Justin Bieber and possibly Lady Gaga.

The album should be available for download later in the week and all proceeds will go straight to the Japan Red Cross.

We will update you on this story as soon as the album is released so please, if you can, download the album and help the people who have suffered through one of the worst natural disasters of our time.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Alleged Pistol Whipping by Slim Thug

It has been reported that Thugga, aided by an associate, robbed Clarence Evans mid business meeting back in March 2010.

Evans claims that a business meeting had been arranged at a residential location with Houston, Texas rapper Slim Thug and others. It is alleged that the assault with a pistol was carried out by Slim Thug himself and that he encouraged others at the scene to also attack Clarence Evans and steal his possessions.

Mr Evans is claiming for loss of wages, medical expenses, medication and other damages.

No statement has been released by Slim Thug as yet.

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Eminem’s Marshall Mathers Foundation Joins Forces with Chrysler Clothing Range to Give Back to Detroit

Since the Chrysler Super Bowl commercial “Born of Fire” featuring Eminem was aired, Chrysler have seen their “Imported from Detroit” T-Shirts consistently selling out via their website Chrysler.com.

Eminem has joined forces with Chrysler in a clothing partnership and it has been confirmed that a significant portion of the profits will be donated to the Marshall Mathers Foundation. As well as Em’s Foundation, various other Detroit support projects will receive donations to aid in future development. These include; Habitat for Humanity Detroit, the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Michigan and Think Detroit PAL.

Chrysler released a statement about their partnership:

“We hope that by partnering with these charitable organizations people will be encouraged to wear their ‘Imported from Detroit’ merchandise proudly knowing that a portion of the proceeds will go to programs and initiatives that contribute to the fundamental development of the children of Detroit and the communities in which they reside.”

The range is available in all sizes, with various colours to choose from. There are also plans to release several special edition T-Shirts and you can also get hold of bumper stickers with the “Imported from Detroit” slogan.

If you would like to buy a T-Shirt and support Detroit or simply wish to have a look then click here.

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Lupe Fiasco Tour Dates Announced

If you follow Lupe Fiasco on Twitter then you may have already heard the good news… New tour dates have been confirmed!

The tour is set to hit the road from the 27^th of March (2011) at the L.A. Convention Centre and a total of sixteen dates have been confirmed. Read the rest of this entry »

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Fdot1 - So Grimey EP (Out Monday 21st March 2011)

Born in Barbados and raised in NY, Toronto, Manchester (UK) and Harare (Zimbabwe). Fdot1 (or Flo as he is known to most) brings a melting pot of international experiences to his music.

Now based in London, Fdot1′s  style is influenced both musically and lyrically by his global  upbringing. You will hear a mix of American, West Indian and UK accents  in his flows and a fusion of Jamaican bashment, Bajan calypso and  Zimbabwean rhumba on top of a foundation which is firmly rooted in Hip  Hop.

Fdot1′s style is truly unique. Since returning to the UK Fdot1 has been the catalyst behind a number of the UK and Jamaica’s most prominent artists. Fdot1 has produced tracks for Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica,  Sizzla,  Fredi Kruga, Asher D (So Solid), Malarchi, Giggs and produced over 40  tracks for Durrty Goodz.

Fdot1 now comes out of the studio and into the spotlight with the  release of his EP “So Grimey”. The EP features 4 tracks all of varying  musical ‘flavas’, displaying his versatility as an rapper, lyricist,  singer, songwriter and producer. “So Grimey” is Grime/UK Hip Hop, “Put  it On Ya” a more soulful R&B feel, “Gal Ah Bawl” Bashment, and  “Fyaah..!!!” is a throwback to the traditional boom bap days of Hip  Hop.

Fdot1 has appeared on Ras Kwame’s 1Xtra show, winning his Home Grown  talent competition and been a regular on DJ 279′s Friday Night Flava on  Choice FM. Fdot1 has performed with Ms Dynamite, Hip Hop icons De La  Soul, Immortal Technique, Omarion, Lil Wayne and Malarchi. Fdot1 was  previously known as Floriginul and you can find his first studio album  “Part of Me” on iTunes. Fdot1′s next studio album “Money MusicK”, a  fusion of Hip Hop, Grime, Bashment and soulful R&B, is out 4th May  2011.

Fdot1 is a true musician and his culmination in styles definitely generates a fresh and unique sound. Here’s what Fdot1 had to say about his reasons for dropping the album:

“this album came about out of frustration with the current state of  the industry. Being in the studio and being given so many demos that  all  sounded the same, no depth, whether it be a singer or a rapper, in my opinion, it was the same song just by a different person. The lyrical  content either glorified violence, cash, cars and jewellery or sang  about broken hearts like there is nothing else to talk about. I just  stopped listening to music. Instead of complaining about it I decided to challenge myself creatively to show there are still artists out there  who are creative and not just a machine marching to a major label’s  drum. Money MusicK is an album full of good music and good vibes  proving  that you can make money without selling your soul. ”

“So Grimey” is available for pre-order on iTunes now and you can check out the offical video on YouTube.

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Stealf Official Track Review

- Stealf (Ft Joell Ortiz & Parv) – Stop Being Greedy

- Stealf (Ft. Jadakiss, Konny Kon & Deeze) – The Games at a Standstill.

The Hip Hop world is constantly subjected to the irritations that we call leaks, and when you are big news in the industry keeping such hot tracks under wraps is pretty difficult at the best of times as Stealf has just discovered with his latest offerings.

So, undeterred by such activities Finebeats.com has linked up with the pride of UK Production again to officially  review these two highly anticipated tracks, safe in the knowledge that being unfinished editions they are going to be like a fine wine and only get better from this point on…….

Stealf (Ft. Jadakiss, Konny Kon & Deeze) – The Games at a Standstill

The first track we listened to was “The Games at a Standstill”, and we were pretty excited to be reviewing this track earlier than anticipated, hoping that the leak of an un-mastered version wouldn’t show any fatal flaws… We shouldn’t have worried! … The track enters with an acapella speech to set off the mood and create an inspirational feel as the beat subtly builds up from behind the vocals and you are sucked straight into the first verse.

Deeze sets it off with his distinctive gruff flow and breezes through some easy listening bars over the minimalistic, ever evolving beat that builds and builds before stripping right back to compliment the second verse…

At this point, Konny Kon jumps in and ups the ante slightly with a more hyped and provocative style, bouncing off the beat nicely and setting it up for Jadakiss to jump in on the action with a no less than typical old school US flow, which reminded us of somewhat of the Old School Canibus freestyle rhythms, with a flawless punchy style. Overall we thought this track set the mood up nicely and can’t wait to hear it finished up on the album.

Stealf (Ft. Joell Ortiz & Parv) – Stop Being Greedy

This was the second track we listened to… and the third… and the fourth!!!! Once we had listened we just couldn’t get enough of this track.

The track begins with a gentle guitar riff and Parv introducing himself and Ortiz while promising a lyrical experience…… he doesn’t lie!

The beat drops straight into the hook as the kick drum punches a hole through your chest and the distorted guitar works the stomach! You literally will ‘feel’ this track on a good sub!

After an upbeat hook that nicely sets the mood of the oncoming track, Joell Ortiz jumps in with a monster of a verse which is not only expertly delivered but thought provoking, comical and raw, which when combined with the  metaphorical and flawless nature of his natural style , will have you with your jaws to the floor. After another dose of a well thought out and delivered hook, Parv jumps in and proves that the UK can hold their own in the company of such U.S talent and delivers two well presented and encapsulating verses to wrap up an absolute banger of a track.

The instruments bounce nicely off each other and keep you moving while complimenting the vocals well. This is obviously not a final master as the snare still sounds a bit lonely and there are some jagged edges yet to be smoothed over but this is quickly and easily forgotten as Stealf’s song writing ability shines through and the lyricism pulls you in and keeps you firmly hooked!

Two thumbs way way up for this one… we can’t get enough of it. Our only regret is that we have to wait for the final album version before we add it as our featured track!

Overall

Overall we take our hats off to Stealf for his vision and some awesome production work, but we might have to moan at Stealf for now leaving us hanging for the release of the album, of which we simply cannot wait to get our hands on!

Once again Stealf has stood up tall and sent a loud banging message to the UK that he is here to stay and that he will continue to smash the scene, capturing some of the hottest names in Hip Hop as the Stealf snowball gathers momentum on its path to smashing into the industry at full force.

Check out Stealf’s Website

Click Here to visit Stealf’s Official Website.

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