JAY-Z, STARGATE FORM LABEL September 27, 2008

Jay-Z and Norwegian songwriting/production duo Stargate have joined forces to form StarRoc, a new record label and publishing company under Jay-Z’s Roc Nation venture with Live Nation.      

       According to Billboard, “the focus is to find new talent and develop artists through mutually beneficial global partnerships which include music distribution, publishing, touring and merchandising.”

 

       Stargate (Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen) has produced several big hits for artists Jay-Z nurtured while president of Def Jam, including Rihanna and Ne-Yo. The duo is currently represented on the Hot 100 by Ne-Yo’s “Closer” (No. 7), Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” (No. 27) and Jennifer Hudson’s “Spotlight” (No. 41).      

       Stargate work will be heard on upcoming albums from Lindsay Lohan, Beyonce, Monica, R. Kelly and Keyshia Cole.       

       Meanwhile, Jay-Z’s new album, “Blueprint 3,” is expected before year’s end. It’s his last under contract for Def Jam before he begins recording for Live Nation.

KANYE WEST PLOTTING NEW CD BY YEAR’S END?: Management claims artist is seriously considering release of fourth album in coming months September 8, 2008

A new Kanye West album may be in stores by New Year’s Eve, according to Billboard magazine. The rapper’s management is said to be mulling over the prospect of releasing his fourth album for Def Jam by year’s end.

 

      In recent weeks, the artist has been performing a new track called “Love Lockdown,” which is rumored to be his first single and to be hitting iTunes in a matter of days.

 

      In past interviews, West has said his fourth album would be titled “Good Ass Job,” which follows the thread of his first three: “College Dropout,” “Late Registration” and “Graduation.” However, an official title has yet to be confirmed.

 

       West is currently producing tracks for Jay-Z’s upcoming album, “Blueprint III.”

BEYONCE FINALLY SHOWS OFF WEDDING RING: Plus, singer tells UK’s Marie Claire ‘I want to be iconic

Beyonce has worn her wedding ring in public for the first time ever. The $5 million, 18 carat flawless diamond by Lorraine Schwartz was photographed on the singer during the red carpet madness for Fashion Rocks at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.    

       The singer, who married rapper Jay-Z in April, took off the ring during a duet with Justin Timberlake, but slipped it back on when she donned a short, blonde wig to sing a tribute to blues singer Etta James, whom she portrays in the upcoming movie “Cadillac Records.”      

       Meanwhile, the singer was asked about her superstardom in the October issue of Marie Claire’s U.K. edition.        

       She said: “There is a time limit on being a pop star, yes. Being a legend, an icon? Absolutely not. I’m over being a pop star. I don’t wanna be a hot girl – I wanna be iconic.”       

       The artist also admitted that fame comes with its challenges: “There are responsibilities that come along with this life … trying to have a romantic meal without someone sneaking in to film the whole thing,” she said. “I have to work really hard and it’s fine because I like it, I love it, but it’s a lot of sacrifice.”       

       As for being a woman of color in Hollywood, Beyoncé says she hopes to be an inspiration to future generations of singers: “I think I’m opening doors for more black women, just like Halle Berry and Diana Ross opened doors for me.”

JAY-Z OPENS ONE CLUB, CLOSES ANOTHER: Mogul to perform at relaunch of Hollywood Palladium; shuts down Vegas 40/40 August 28, 2008

Jay-Z and a 12-piece band will perform at the historic Hollywood Palladium when the newly-renovated venue on Sunset Blvd. reopens its doors on Oct. 15, reports Billboard.

 

      The Palladium’s enhancements include an overhaul of the interior and exterior, a new dance floor, expanded concessions, upgraded restrooms and improvements to the stage infrastructure.

 

      The 4,000-capacity venue, which has been closed since last April, first opened in 1940 with a concert by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra featuring Frank Sinatra. Over the years it has hosted such acts as the Rolling Stones, James Brown, Led Zeppelin, the Who, the Police, Rod Stewart, Metallica, the Clash, the Pixies, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Public Enemy.

 

       “Just as Frank ushered in a golden era, I hope this opening will mark the beginning of a resurgence in generation-defining live music,” Jay-Z said in a statement.      

       Tickets for the Jay-Z concert go on sale Sept. 5 via livenation.com. Live Nation holds a long-term lease to operate, manage and exclusively book the Hollywood Palladium. Jay-Z is signed to a long-term, multi-rights deal with Live Nation.

 

      Meanwhile, Jay-Z’s troubled 40/40 Club in Las Vegas has finally expired.

 

      Less than nine months after its big New Year’s Eve opening, the venue located in the Palazzo has been sold for an undisclosed amount, reports E! Online.  The hotel is reportedly planning to convert the space into a sports bar.

 

       Among its myriad of problems, the club struggled to make its January 2008 opening after reportedly failing inspection. Disgruntled employees who were fired or resigned also complained to local media shortly after its opening.      

       The mogul, whose real name is Shawn Carter, still plans to open 40/40 Clubs in Chicago, Tokyo and Macau.

50 CENT REPLACES JAY-Z AS RICHEST RAPPER: Forbes announces new tally; Diddy, Kanye, Dr. Dre earn spots August 20, 2008

While Jay-Z topped Forbes.com’s inaugural Hip-Hop Cash Kings list of the top-earning people in the business last year, in 2008 he cedes the throne to Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who raked in $150 million over the past 12 months–almost twice what Jay-Z made.

 

      Fitty banked $100 million after taxes on one deal alone when his stake in VitaminWater’s parent, Glacéau, was bought by Coca-Cola as part of a $4.1 billion deal. The rapper’s business empire also includes the G-Unit clothing line and record label, plus films, videogames and platinum albums, including last year’s “Curtis.”

 

       Also in the works is a partnership with South African mining billionaire Partrice Motsepe that would bring the rapper an equity stake in the mine–and 50 Cent-branded platinum to the world.       

       For the second year in a row, Sean “Diddy” Combs finished third on the list with $35 million from his revenue streams, including his clothing line Sean John, record label Bad Boy, premium vodka Ciroc and two reality-TV shows.       

       Kanye West clocks in at No. 4 with $30 million, while Andre “Dr. Dre” Young earned $15 million last year – based solely on his catalog of hits spanning two decades.      

       Tupac, who died 10 years ago, also made about $15 million, according to Forbes.

 

       Click here to see the full list: http://www.forbes.com/media/2008/08/15/music-media-hiphop-biz-media-cz_zog_0818cashkings.html   

NEW VIDEO: JAY-Z- “JOCKING JAY-Z” (DOPE BOY FRESH) August 18, 2008

JAY-Z SELLING HALF OF VEGAS 40/40? Word has it that Sands Corp. is about to buy 50% stake in sports club for $44 mil August 15, 2008

The New York Post’s Page Six is reporting that Jay-Z is in talks with Las Vegas Sands Corp. – owners of the Venetian and the Palazzo – to sell them a 50 percent stake in his sports club, 40/40, for $44 million.

 

      If the rumor is true, the deal would make Vegas’ 40/40 the largest sports booking operation in existence, according to an expert unnamed by the Post, because “people can gamble both at the tables and on games.”

 

       “The Sands will also have the right to open 40/40 clubs in London and across Europe,” the insider added.

JAY-Z STILL WONT CONFIRM MARRIAGE: Latest non-answer comes in new issue of Vibe magazine; plus, rapper in NY’s ‘Summer Streets’ August 11, 2008

For Vibe magazine’s upcoming 15th anniversary issue, editors decided to pose 15 questions to Sean “Jay-Z” Carter – with No. 15 being, after Jay-Z had referred to Beyoncé as a “friend”: “You said your ‘friend,’ but this is your wife. Are you still not willing to confirm?”       

       “That’s ridiculous for me to confirm,” replies Jay-Z. “I don’t have … I’m gonna say, I think that was a ridiculous question. I just think it’s really a part of your life that you gotta keep to yourself.”      

       Jigga and Beyonce tied the knot in April, but neither spouse has spoken about the nuptials publicly, or even confirmed that a wedding took place.

 

       On the importance of keeping their private lives private, Jay-Z said: “You have to, or you’ll go insane in this type of business. You have to have something that’s sacred to you and the people around you.       

       “I shared so much of my life, my childhood, and my family, the death of my nephew with the world. I should have something to hold on to. You need something for your sanity … to say, Okay, I could chill out, and this is it.”       

       What Jay-Z does say is that he’s currently in a stable, committed relationship – which he considers “part of maturing, right? You have the right people around you, and if that person around you is your friend, then you just wanna carry it like that. You get to a point when you could let people into your circle, and that’s it.”

 

      In other Jay-Z news, the rap mogul teamed with New York’s mayor Michael Bloomberg to launch the Summer Streets program, an effort designed to transform local streets into recreation filled, car-free zones.

 

       Summer Streets was held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (August 9) on nearly seven miles of Manhattan streets, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park along Lafayette Street, 4th Avenue, Park Avenue and 72nd Street.

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