Tag: Roc nation

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Jay-Z Joins Group of Investors Looking To Open NYC Casino

JAY-Z AND HIS TEAM-GETTY

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z is looking to expand his business portfolio, and like any good businessman this time it includes gambling. SL Green and Caesars Entertainment have reportedly welcomed one of New York’s finest as a new partner in their potential casino in New York City’s Time Square.

The group of investors are bringing the Brooklyn-born rapper and his Roc Nation, Realty Check, on to be in charge of entertainment programming for several properties in Times Square. SLG, NYC’s largest commercial landlord, has interests in these properties to be a total of more than four million square feet. The location is supposed to be 1515 Broadway.

Anne Wermiel/NY Post

 

The hoped-for casino is set to be called Caesars Palace Times Square. The property will be eight floors in the over 50-story tower between West 43rd and 44th. This will include restaurants, entertainment, and a hotel created in the building above.

Threats to the Business Venture

However, there is concern about the casino threatening local theater sales, but SL Green trusts it will support the industry. In addition, these three will have to compete with a few other investor groups anticipated to submit proposals for the “boutique”-size casino.

Jay-Z said in a statement, “New York is the epicenter of culture. We have the opportunity to create a destination at the heart of the true crossroads of the world… My partnership with SL Green and Caesars has all the promise and commitment to economic opportunity, growth, and enrichment for the community and everyone that visits the Empire State…”

Hov: Hip-Hop Billionaire

The hip-hop billionaire has earned his respect as a businessman entering deals with TIDAL, LVMH, JetSmart, Roc-A-Fella Records, and the list goes on. He has also invested in art and real estate with his superstar wife, Beyoncé, over the years. Carter shows that you can turn one dollar into one million dollars.

JAY-Z
The Come Up Show / CC by 2.0

 

While the casino plans take place, Jay-Z is also dealing with a legal battle over financial transparency between him and Bacardi. As for this opportunity, New York will issue a formal request for a proposal for the casino next month. Then the panel will pass some responses to a state siting committee. Finally, they will hopefully choose one location in the five boroughs before next year.

Written By: Vhannah | Instagram: vhannahmontana

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FM Interviews Trending

FM Interviews: HDBeenDope On Performing At BET, Working With Roc Nation, And Shocking People

HDBeenDope Interview BET, Roc Nation, Shock
HDBeenDope. Image source: Darrius Jones for XXL.

The latest BET Awards brought some loud names together. Prominent Hip-Hop veterans came to receive their honors; some even had historic reunions happening right on stage.

Meanwhile, many artists also held performances, including HDBeenDope. The “BYRD” rapper was a special guest at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards ceremony.

Performing At The BET Awards Ceremony

When I asked HD about his performance experience, he reassured me it was “fire.”

“It was dope to get the platform from BET,” the artist continued. “To utilize that and bring people into the world while also shining a light on Hip-Hop legends. Things like that.”

The past fall has generally been very productive for HDBeenDope. He released multiple singles, simultaneously working on the “What Can They Say?” project, which is also coming out this October.

“That’s going to be the one that is very special. It’s a turning point,” HD described his upcoming project. “We are going to make sure the world understands that too. So I’m excited for people to get it.”

“The best way for me to explain [“What Can They Say?”] to you is: this is level-up music. My whole mantra is ‘L.A.B.B.’ Learn and become better. Every day you’re going to learn something, whether it’s the most simple things or the most complex thing, you’re going to learn something every day. So the idea is learning something and then using that to make yourself better. Otherwise, you’re not using the things you’re learning, and there’s no real point in learning them. So it’s like, ‘let me take the things I’m learning and see how I can apply them and make myself a better person.’ And all that is just committing to evolution.

So the music you got to hear is somebody with the total commitment to evolution, you know what I mean? Fully committed to leveling up. And I feel like we’re all trying to this figure out, ‘how do I get to this next place?’ We all got something more significant than where we’re at in our mind, and we’re just trying to figure out how to get there. So that’s what this music embodies.”

Working With Roc Nation

On top of various musical releases, HDBeenDope has recently signed with Roc Nation. This business deal also seems to work out great for the artist and the record label.

“I feel like the main focus for me is being a legacy artist,” HD shared. “An artist that actually can stand the test of time. And that’s precisely what Roc Nation is also focused on building. So it’s a cool little marriage.”

Shocking People

With his recent and upcoming musical and career accomplishments, HDBeenDope thinks he’s “in a good position to shock a lot of people.”

“We have some incredible things on the way, and I’m excited for people to get it in the way that we’re going to deliver [those incredible things]. I think there’s an understanding for most people that’s been on the journey with me. They expect a particular trajectory, and I feel like many other people might just be spectating and expecting a specific course. Still, I know where we’re going, and it’s just very different than anybody could expect. It’s bigger than that, so it’s going to shock people.”

However, it’s about growing as an artist and shaping the world. Though with a sparkle of “shock.”

HDBeenDope’s Message

“Essentially, it’s just ‘learn and become better,'” HD explained. “Just promoting that, a whole [artistic] space where people are committed to evolution. And as long as you’re committed to that, you have space because there’s process and growth. Do you know what I’m saying? It’s not just A-to-B or one-to-ten type shit, you know what I mean? It’s one to seven, back to five, back to two, up to eight. There’s a process in that. So we just promote, allowing people committed to that process to go through it.”

“My name is HDBeenDope,” the artist concluded, explaining his artistic message. “The “BeenDope” comes from that understanding. Like, that’s a reminder for me. Before anybody wanted to talk to me about music or hear any songs, sing lyrics back, or anything like that, I had to believe it. You feel me? So that’s what I want everybody else to understand, is it all starts with belief. Whatever you’re trying to do, it begins with you.”

The interview is brought by Nikita Serdiuk | IG: @nikitasrdk | Twitter: @nktserdiuk

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Cherry Juice Jail Tales Trending

Casanova Thanks Chris Brown For Support Following His Guilty Plea

Casanova
Image Source: Getty Images

 Casanova has been behind bars since 2020. Yesterday, he plead guilty to crimes related to his RICO case.  Fourteen members including Casanova plead guilty for drugs, robberies, and possession of guns.  There are records of criminal activity from New York to Florida.

Casanova Crimes

The feds named him leader of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation Bloods Gang.

“Like 12 of his co-defendants, Caswell Senior, an accomplished recording artist and performer, now stands convicted of playing a leadership role in Gorilla Stone.”, says U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

Casanova was involved in a shooting in Florida 2020.  The shooting was over a gambling dispute. In 2018, he was involved in a robbery in New York.  Casanova is facing a maximum of 60 years in prison.  It seems like not too many people have reached out to Casanova.  He posted on Instagram that Chris Brown was the only one to show love.

 

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Hov to the Rescue?

The Roc Nation rapper says Jay-Z has done more than enough to help him out.  Apparently, fans want to see Hov more involved in his artist’s case.  Casanova took to Twitter to stop asking about Jay-Z’s involvement.

RICO

Casanova has been dealing with his RICO case for almost two years!  Just recently, Young Thug and Gunna have been the latest rappers to be arrested on RICO charges.  Fulton County arrested Young Thug on Monday. On Tuesday, Gunna turned himself in.  The Fulton County district attorney accused Young Thug of being the founder and leader of the gang.  The 80-page report includes over 20 people.  Some of Young Thug’s charges include theft by receiving stolen property and terroristic threats.

“It does not matter what your notoriety is, what your fame is, if you come to Fulton County, Georgia, and you commit crimes, … you are going to become a target and a focus of this district attorney’s office, and we are going to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” says Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

While this may be a lot to deal with, we hope for the best possible outcome.

Check out this retrospective article where west coast legend Ice-T warns young rappers of potential dangers in the OG rap game.

Written By: Brandon Simmons

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FM Legal Updates

Damon Dash Invites Jay-Z and Biggs To ‘Talk Like Men’ Over Their ‘Reasonable Doubt’ Legal Dispute

damon

Fellow Roc-A-Fella co-founders Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke are suing Damon Dash over an alleged NFT auction of Hov’s 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. 

Even though the auction did not occur, the lawsuit is still ongoing. The rumors Dash and his former business partners were in settlement talks were discredited after Dash denied them on Instagram earlier this week.

He also asked JAY-Z and Biggs to ditch the lawyers so that they could talk privately. Further proving his point, he wrote on Friday (Mar. 18): “Like I said, I don’t have to ask to sell what I own.. #AskTheJudge #StayTuned @dashnftgallery and let’s be clear, it’s #jayz and @biggsburke that are suing me.”

“My offer still stands, let’s get in a room like the old days and sit and talk like men. I don’t need a lawyer to talk for me.. I can’t believe this sh*t, I feel like I’m in the twilight zone.”

In June 2021, Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records‘ attorney Alex Spiro filed a suit against Damon Dash, alleging the Hip Hop mogul attempted to auction the NFT without authorization. Dash denied the story, explaining that he was simply trying to sell his entire one-third stake in Roc-A-Fella.

If Jay-Z and Kareem had Contacted Damon first, the Outcome Might Have Been Different

Therefore, Dash countersued, alleging JAY-Z transferred streaming rights to S. Carter Enterprises LLC without Roc-A-Fella’s permission. Dash seeks at least $1 million in damages, claiming unjust enrichment, breach of fiduciary duty, replevin, and conversion.

Damon Dash’s relationships with JAY-Z and co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke go way back to the 1990s. Dash isn’t happy with the results of avoiding a simple call. Furthermore, Dash explained why he thinks the lawsuit is “corny” and “embarrassing” in a rare HipHopDX interview.

“If there’s an issue, just call me. Why do I have to hear it? Why do I have to get sued?” Dash added he had “no idea” why JAY-Z and Biggs didn’t reach out directly, saying, “It’s corny and I think it’s embarrassing. And now I’m in a fight I don’t want to be in when I’m doing other shit. All I want to do with is sell my interests and do what I got to do.”

Written by Nikiya Biggs

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Damon Dash and Jay-Z Possibly Calling A Truce

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Team Roc Applies Pressure on Kansas City Police With Fiery Open Letter

Jay Z
Jay Z

NY rapper Jay-Z and his own label The Roc Nation filed a lawsuit against the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department last year and hasn’t let up yet.

Jay-Z Takes On The Kansas Police

The Department of Justice within the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, also known as the KCKPD, has been under a large amount of scrutiny for sweeping misconduct under the rug. This alleged misconduct includes excessive force, corruption, and sexual assault. Back in September, Jay sued the KCKPD for “refusing to produce documents pertaining to any steps that the City has taken in response to those complaints, including any investigations or disciplinary proceedings initiated as a result of the complaints.” Alex Spiro spoke to ABCNews about the lawsuit swiftly after it was filed.

“The government has attempted to block our access to those files, and so we’re suing to see what they don’t want us to see.”

In response to Jay-Z’s lawsuit, Kansas Police quickly made their own statement to ABCNews.. “KORA does not require the disclosure of personnel records and criminal investigation records, for example, without specific circumstances. In response, Roc Nation has filed a 28-page petition stating there is a special interest in disclosing all records so the public can seek justice. Once the petition has been thoroughly reviewed, the Unified Government will follow up by filing a response.” Nancy Chartrand, public information officer of the KCKPD, said.

Holding them accountable

The KCKPD has had quite the list of accusations alone in the past few years. In 2019, a black female officer sued the Unified Government of Wyandotte County for “rampant” race and gender discrimination. That same year two Wyandotte officers were charged with mistreatment of an inmate. In 2020 a KCKPD officer faced charges of sex crimes involving a minor. These are just a few examples of the incidents in the lawsuit.

Read the full letter below:

Fast forward to the present day, Jay-Z and Team Roc, the charitable/philanthropist branch of Roc Nation, is still putting the heat on the Kansas police. The philanthropic team penned an open letter earlier today (Jan. 18). The letter reads: “TEAM Roc and the Midwest Innocence Project demand that the Department of Justice (DOJ) intensify its investigations into vast claims of corruption, coercion, rape, and murder committed or facilitated by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department (KCKPD).”

In conjunction with the Midwest Innocence Project and the FBI, Team Roc expressed their concerns for a deeper investigation.

“Until this office does convict several police officers and hopefully gain the cooperation of some of these police officers, the situation in Kansas City, Kansas, will only deteriorate.”

In combination with the open letter, Team Roc subsequently released a video featuring families of the victims telling their stories.

You can watch the emotional video below:

“If they didn’t do what he said to do, he would take them to jail. Now you know that’s power,” said Gloria Calvin, a family member of murdered Kansas City woman Rose Calvin.

Currently, the Department Of Justice at the KCKPD has yet to respond. However, it’s clear Jay-Z, and Team Roc isn’t letting up on their efforts to seek justice from Kansas Police.

RELATED STORIES:

Jay Z Says No One Can See Him In A “Verzuz” Battle

Alicia Keys “Never Truly Knew” That Lil Mama Crashed Her and Jay-Z’s 2009 MTV Performance

 

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Jay-Z Says His Album, ‘In My Lifetime Vol 1’, “Haunts Me”

Jay Z in 2021
Source: Getty

Jay-Z is at the peak of his G.O.A.T status, so what is the talk regarding his album, In My Lifetime: Vol. 1? Questlove, drummer of the elite hip-hop group “The Roots”, brought on the stately topic . Questlove incited that the album contained some of his “best moments.”

https://twitter.com/JamaalBowmanNY/status/1482792438225903623?s=20

In My Lifetime: Vol. 1

 

inmylifetimevol1jayz
Source: Discogs

In My Lifetime: Vol. 1 is Jay-Z’s second studio album. Released in 1997, the album features timeless songs by one of the greatest artists. Introduced as a “much more personal” album, Jay shared that it was a more detailed and more in depth body of work. He let on his approach to enlisting different producers than the ones on his first album, Reasonable Doubt. With producers like Teddy Riley, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Stevie J, this album was one he was increasingly proud of. Enjoy this clip of Hov’s sit-down with MTV.

Jay-Z ranks his own albums

Hov commemorated his 44th birthday (Dec. 4, 2013), by ranking his albums on Life+Times, titling it, “The Scoreboard.” The album of topic surprisingly came in at No. 7.

1. Reasonable Doubt (Classic)
2. The Blueprint (Classic)
3. The Black Album (Classic)
4. Vol. 2 (Classic)
5. American Gangster (4 1/2, cohesive)
6. Magna Carta (Fuckwit, Tom Ford, Oceans, Beach, On the Run, Grail)
7. Vol. 1 (Sunshine kills this album…fuck… Streets, Where I’m from, You Must Love Me…)

The considerably undervalued album peaked at No. 3. Spin magazine called it Jay-Z’s “forgotten Masterpiece” following the list circulating.

Mr. Carter shared “Street Is Watching” was the first song he made. Watch the video which is available on YouTube.

His claims to putting out his last album has been a reoccurring theme dating back to his first album release. However we have gotten music from Hov even recently in 2021. Currently, he is the most Grammy nominated artist of all time. His extended discography has even landed him in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He gives truth to the saying, “you are your own worst critic.”

Want more Jay-Z? Check out Hov and his Roc Nation team here.

Written by Antoinette Ford

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Reuben Vincent Signs With Roc Nation

Jay-Z recently signed North Carolina rapper and producer Reuben Vincent to his Roc Nation roster.

The label confirmed the signing on Saturday through an announcement on Instagram. In the video, Vincent, the 9th Wonder protégé, shares that he dreamed about signing with Jay when he was a child.

“I remember being a kid like five or ten years old watching Fade to Black on TV seeing Hov sell out Madison Square Garden. And then, man, I remember getting on the bus, and my friends asked me, ‘If you could ever sign a deal with somebody, who would it be?’ And my first answer was Roc Nation.”

After joining Roc Nation, Vincent took to Twitter to share the news.

“Signing to Roc Nation is a dream come true…I’m honestly still soaking it all in. 4ever grateful and thankful. Now it’s time to do what I said I set out to do in this game. Hov, you got you one.”

As expected, many fans congratulated the rapper on his signing. 

Reuben Vincent and Jamla Records

Vincent released two projects with 9th Wonder’s Jamla Records. Myers Park dropped in 2017, and Boy Meets Worlds came out in 2020.

The rapper shares a few similarities to another 9th Wonder mentee, Rapsody. The two are North Carolina natives who signed with Roc Nation through Jamla Records.

In 2020, DJBooth interviewed Vincent, and he spoke about his joining with 9th Wonder when he was thirteen years old.

“I connected with 9th in 2014, actually. I put out a mixtape called IDOL.ESCENT under the name E$AU, which is my middle name. I recorded it in my room, in my closet. I remember somebody had tweeted 9th,” he said.

For more hip-hop news, check us out at @FMHipHop: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.

Written by Anthony Jamal Bicy | Instagram | Twitter

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Meek Mill To Rowdy Rebel On Label Money Woes: “Drop Mixtapes!”

Record labels can be notoriously difficult to do business with. Whether it’s a change in the contract, disagreements over royalties, or simply a bad match, arrangements can turn into minefields quickly. Take a look at Rowdy Rebel. He’s in the middle of one as we speak. And surprise, surprise- it comes down to money.

Last Thursday (December 16), the Brooklyn rapper called out the hand that feeds. Rebel gave Epic Records a few choice words in an Instagram post and no uncertain terms.

“I’m not dropping no more music until @epicrecords pay me. I haven’t received not one check For (sic) all the music I put out since 2014. I been patient but enough is enough.”

Not many of us can disagree that seven years without a paycheck is a bit inconvenient. Moreover, since being released from prison, Rebel has put in some serious time in the studio. A few weeks back, he and British rapper Giggs released their joint single, “Differences.” Last week, Rebel worked with rappers Doe Boy and 42 Dugg on the single “Ain’t My Fault.” Still, his record label woes remain. Not to worry, though. Meek Mill has advice for him.

Meek Mill on Making Mixtapes

Calling out a major label like Epic is big news, and news travels fast. The very same day that Rebel spilled the tea on Epic, Mill came up with a great idea. Indeed, it’s elementary: make some mixtapes.

There is a good point here. Record labels have a nigh impossible time controlling when artists release mixtapes. To be sure, the artist can drop it whenever they please. Even better, the mixtape money comes through streams, merchandise, and touring- all things the record company might not be able to touch.

Mill should know what works, considering his own label issues. In short, Mill declared “war” on Dream Chasers Records, a joint venture of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. And surprise, surprise (again), it came down to not getting paid. That war, at the time of writing, is still ongoing.

Garrett C. Owen

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Midwest Innocence Project Gets $1 Million Donation Thanks To Jay-Z’s Team Roc

Jay Z

The Midwest Innocence Project received a 1 million dollar donation thanks to Jay-Z’s Team Roc. The organization devotes itself to fighting for the acquittal, pardon, and release of wrongfully convicted individuals in the Midwest area. It was established in 2001 by the University of Missouri under the Kansas City School of Law. 

They operate in five states, namely Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. The Midwest Innocence Project is an independent non-profit which relies on volunteers and donations to facilitate its projects.

Midwest Innocence Project Teams Up With Team Roc

The donation comes a couple of weeks after Team Roc filed a petition against the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. Team Roc is a division under Hip Hop and business mogul Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, responsible for his philanthropic work. Moreover, Team Roc’s mission is to “effect positive change” in the face of injustices.  The 28-page file features a request for the release of all investigative files and records to the public.

However, this is just the latest request, filed in the Wyandotte County Court. Indeed, it comes from the department’s history of misconduct allegations. Additionally, The Midwest Innocence Project recently took out a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post with the help of Team Roc. In addition to this, they urged Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta to take action against the involved parties.

But the team did not stop there. Team Roc also reported that the police officers tampered with evidence and soliciting sexual favors from victims. The petition also referenced past incidents, including one in which a Black female officer in the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department filed a lawsuit for alleged gender and race discrimination.

Today in the @washingtonpost:

 

 

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Written By: Sheila Maina

Twitter: @nazlin_sheila

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#FMSpotlight: Bobby Fishscale – “Role Models” (Watch)

Bobby Fishscale dropped a new music video, “Role Models.” Ben Marc’s clip is a message on the challenges Black and Brown teenagers encounter with no role models around them.

The emotional and powerful video, “Role Models,” sends a simple yet profound message. One statistical fact in the “Role Models” ending also makes that message as straightforward as possible.

“We didn’t have any role models and no one to look up to, but we were still able to make nothing out of something,” Fishscale explained.

“Being a role model is extremely important because where we come from, we don’t have a lot of people to look up to,” Kalan.FrFr. added. “It means so much to me to show kids you can be whatever you want to be. You just gotta chase your dreams.” 

Bobby Fishscale’s Road to Success

“No Role Models” followed up recent Bobby’s work “Make it Snow.” The video’s title is pretty self-explanatory; Bobby enjoys the pleasures of rich life and “makes it snow” while the actual snow is falling from the sky.

Bobby’s productivity certainly pays off. He now has over 15M global streams. Bobby is also currently working with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation music label, which seems to work out great for both parties. Bobby also recently attended at the 40/40 club’s 18th anniversary alongside the likes of JAY-Z, Lil Uzi Vert, Megan Thee Stallion, Meek Mill, Remy Ma, Pusha T, and many more. 

The Florida-based artist also gives success back to his community. He unexpectedly appeared at his former school, spoke with the 8th-grade class, and donated goodie bags to help them start the new school year with enough resources. Mayor of Fishscale’s hometown Quincy, Ronte R. Harris, also gave Bobby the Key to the City over the summer for achievements in the recording industry. 

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Written by Nikita Serdiuk. | Twitter: @nktserdiuk