On the Rise: J. Cole

J. Cole is definitely on his way to stardom. Of all of rap’s newcomers, J. Cole has to be in the best position. He spent a few years on his grind in Fayetteville, NC, before getting the call that he could not deny.

In preparation for his new label, Roc Nation, Jay-Z went on the search for new artists. The first artist that was signed to the label was J. Cole. Since that time, the rapper has been on the ride of his life.

When Jay-Z released his latest album, The Blueprint 3, he featured J. Cole on “A Star is Born.” On the song, Jay-Z mentions the rise to fame from his former collaborators, friends, and enemies, alike. For the third verse, J. Cole was handling things.

Clearly, J. Cole is a gifted lyricist. He delivers the best guest verse on the entire album. Also, his mixtapes are nothing to laugh at, either. In a matter of months, J. Cole has gone from a gifted rapper from the South to Jay-Z’s protege. Next, the face of Roc Nation and rap music.

Kanye West to release New Album Before Year’s End

While Kanye West has been thinking about taking a break from music, he has still been hard at work on a new album. During his promotion of his 2008 album, 808s and Heartbreak, West said that his fifth album will be released during the summer of 2009.

No album from Kanye West came during the summer of 2009. This led to speculation about West and his new album. For the most part, Kanye has been quiet about the album, but the VMAs would have been the perfect chance for him to release a new single.

The only thing notable that happened to Kanye West at the VMAs was him telling Taylor Swift that Beyonce was more deserving of her award. No new single from Kanye West was premiered during the VMAs, instead he was escorted out.

After his award show outburst, Kanye West told Jay Leno that he was thinking about taking a break from music. His former label-mate, Memphis Bleek, explained that Kanye has been working for five years straight, non-stop, so he deserves a break.

88-Keys was recently talking about Kanye West’s new album. He said that the new album “BANGS.” Not too much information on a new Kanye album was given, but it was known that he was working on a new album.

Kanye West has said, repeatedly, that he will release a new album in 2009. With that said, more details should emerge in the coming months. The album may give Kanye West the boost that he needs and he may reconsider leaving the music business.

Young Buck disses Eminem on New Track

Barely a month after Young Buck reached out to G-Unit in hopes of reconciliation, he has now dissed Eminem on a new track, “If I Have To.” G-Unit member, Tony Yayo forgave Buck and left The Game hanging because of his mood swings.

Apparently, Young Buck is having these same mood swings. He seemed like the most loyal member at G-Unit and G-Unit Records only weeks before he was booted from the group.

Ever since the spring of 2008, Young Buck has been feuding with 50 Cent. Unlike his actions with The Game, 50 kicked him out of the group, but kept him on the label. Actually, Buck is the only artist on G-Unit Records that is still signed to Interscope Records.

It is unclear what happened behind the scenes, maybe Buck wanted off of the label and Eminem convinced 50 to leave him on the label. But, Young Buck opens the song with the line “Eminem, we comin’ for a**.” This may all be a plot from Young Buck to be dropped from Interscope Records.

Currently, Eminem is gearing up for Relapse 2 and Young Buck has no set release date with his forever upcoming album.

Rakim is working with Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Maino, and Styles P on “Seventh Seal”

It has been some time now that Rakim has spent in preparation for his album, The Seventh Seal. He signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment in 2000 and began working on the album.

Initially, The Seventh Seal was expected to be released sometime in 2002 as Oh, My God. That was the year that Rakim appeared on label-mate, Truth Hurts’, single “Addictive.” The song was a top ten hit and it helped introduce Rakim to a younger generation.

After her album Rakim’s album was supposed to come, but Aftermath signed 50 Cent. Unexpectedly, 50 Cent’s career took off and Dr. Dre chose to focus on working with him instead of Rakim. After 50 Cent took over in 2003, Rakim left the label.

For the past six years, he has been independently working on The Seventh Seal. The year is 2009, ten years after his last release. Rakim is preparing his climb to the top, once again. For his upcoming album, he has been working with a slew of artists, including his own daughter.

The big-name appearances on this album will be coming from veterans, Jadakiss, Styles P, and Busta Rhymes. Other appearances will be made by newcomer, Maino. Rakim’s third solo effort, The Seventh Seal, will be released on November 17, 2009.

Will Cam’ron release another Album this Year?

Cam’ron made his big comeback earlier this year. After a three-year hiatus, Cam’ron’s music has the hip hop world buzzing once again. When he was promoting his album, Crime Pays, he mentioned another album that would be released this year.

It has been some time since Cam’ron has discussed new music, but he has a lot of album-worthy tracks that are floating around. He could easily take the most popular tracks and make them into another album. Plus, Cam’ron is always in the studio and he is trying to help his new crew find exposure.

This year, Cam’ron finally reunited with Mase after ten years of feuding. Since their reconciliation, the two have recorded a great number of tracks together. It is quite possible that one of these tracks will be used for a new Cam’ron album.

He has enough unreleased new music to put together a great album rather fast. The question is, will it happen?

Method Man confirms Raekwon/Ghostface Album

There have been rumors circulating for months about a collaboration album between Method Man, Ghostface, and Raekwon. The album was supposed to be held under wraps, but the speculation became too much.

Recently, Wu-Tang leader, Method Man confirmed that there is indeed a collaboration album coming together between the three. Method Man said that Raekwon’s album was first, then Ghostface’s will be next, then the collaboration album will drop, and his album will be next.

Raekwon also talked coyly about a possible collaboration album between the two emcees. When he was asked about an album coming out from the three rappers, he responded saying that would be beautiful. He said that before a project can be developed, he wants him and the other rappers to have full-fledged ownership.

It is unclear who owns the rights to the project, or what label this album would be released on. Raekwon and Ghostface have a relationship with Bad Boy Records and both are more than interested in signing with the label.

Its Official, Diddy has left Warner, Bad Boy will Stay

During the past few weeks, Sean “Diddy” Combs has been involved in many rumors concerning his album and his label. It seems that every rapper in the game is trying to sign with Bad Boy Records, but Diddy has left the label that he founded.

He had an exclusive deal with Warner Bros. through Atlantic Records, but he has had several differences with Atlantic Records during his time with the label. As a result, Diddy has packed his individual bags and moved on to Interscope Records to release his album, Last Train to Paris.

Despite the fact that Diddy is leaving Atlantic Records for Interscope, Bad Boy Records will remain as an imprint under Atlantic. Diddy is no longer a recording artist for Bad Boy; his album will be released straight through Interscope. He will remain President and CEO of the label, though.

Eve shuts down “Fetish” line

For seven years, Eve has run a clothing line, Fetish. Her line never quite caught on and has been re-launched three times. While Eve said that the third time is a charm and her favorite number is three, she is not waiting around for a third time.

When she launched her clothing line, she began starring in her own UPN sitcom. On the show, she played the role of a fashion designer. She had planned to take a more active role within the clothing line, but she has decided to end the project, entirely.

The economy is improving, but it is still in pretty bad shape. With no label deal supporting her, Eve is on her own and she does not need a money-losing venture holding her down. As a result, she has ended the clothing line after seven years of no success.

LL Cool J and Memphis Bleek boycott Def Jam

With VH1 gearing up to celebrate the 25 year history of Def Jam, two of their former artists, LL Cool J and Memphis Bleek will not be taking part in the excitement. The show has yet to air, but taped earlier this week, with the highlight being a reconciliation between Ja Rule and DMX.

LL Cool J was the first artist signed to Def Jam. All of his thirteen albums were released on the label. Without LL Cool J, the label would have never risen to the heights that it did. In the late 1980s until the early 1990s, LL was the biggest rapper on the planet. As a result, Def Jam became the biggest hip hop label on the planet.

The reign that LL Cool J had over rap ended in 1995 and the label went into a dramatic slump. Def Jam was sold to Universal in the same year and reorganization took place. When this happened, Irv Gotti was signed on as an A&R. He helped Jay-Z secure a deal with Def Jam for his Roc-A-Fella Records and got DMX signed to the label, also. The two went on to have successful releases on the label.

Roc-A-Fella Records helped to revive Def Jam behind the efforts of Jay-Z. One of his artists was Memphis Bleek. He was poised to become the next big thing on the label, but things never worked out right for him. Still, he always sells a consistent 400,000 to 800,000 copies. On a label like Def Jam, that is not enough. As a result, Memphis Bleek was never properly promoted by the label.

When the 2000s arrived, LL Cool J was overshadowed at Def Jam by Jay-Z, DMX, Ja Rule, and Ludacris, along with many other artists. His albums were never promoted the way that other albums were. In 2004, Jay-Z became the CEO of Def Jam and he chose to release a solo album from himself, rather than a planned LL Cool J release.

In 2007, Jay-Z stepped down, but LL was still disappointed with the new direction of the label. As a result, he left after his 2008 release, Exit 13. Memphis Bleek also left the label, but earlier this year because he was never properly promoted. While LL Cool J has an acting role on “NCIS: Los Angeles,” Memphis Bleek is signed with a new label and will be releasing a new album in November.

Both artists have spoken out against the label and neither appeared at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors.

Mobb Deep is still signed to G-Unit Records

Despite all of the rumors of a silent feud between Mobb Deep and G-Unit Records, Havoc recently spoke on the situation. He said that the duo, which consists of him and Prodigy, is still signed to G-Unit Records.

Even though the label has lost such acts as Olivia and M.O.P. since Mobb Deep signed with the label, they remain. Havoc recently released a solo song, “Letter to P,” dedicated to his partner in crime, Prodigy. While he has no solo album in the works, Mobb Deep does.

The next album from the group has yet to be titled, but it will be released sometime next year on G-Unit Records. Earlier this year, a compilation album from Mobb Deep, entitled, The Safe Is Cracked; was released.

Mobb Deep is no longer signed to Interscope Records; they are now distributed through Siccness Records. Still, their album will be released on G-Unit and Siccness Records.