Jay Z
OK so back to it after recharging my batteries last week with this weeks Daily Rap. Jay Z sees his Blue Print 3 album release brought forwards, Max B gets a 75 year sentence, Kevin Liles leaves Warner and Raekwon secures a smash with Only Built for Cuban Linx 2.
Jay Z Brought Forward
The release of his eleventh studio album has been brought forward after the highly anticipated Blue Print 3 leaked to the internet last week.
The album which has received mixed reviews was leaked online last week was to become available on September 11th, the 10th anniversary of the first BP album but label bosses opted to bring the album forward to September 8th.
No comment was made by Jay Z or Roc Nation on the leak or the change in release date.
Former Dipset Member gets 75 Years
Max B, born Charley Wingate, was sentenced to 75 years in prison last week for his involvement in a murder and robbery at a New Jersey hotel in 2006.
The rapper and his co-defendant Kevin Leerman were found guilty of shooting businessman David Taylor after the former girlfriend of Max B, Gina Conway testified against them in court earlier this year.
She was also sentenced to 18 years behind bars for her involvement in the plot which resulted in the murder of Taylor.
Kevin Liles Departs Warner
Long time executive Kevin Liles who started out his career under the guidance of Lyor Cohen and Russell Simmons at Def Jam in the early nineties has stepped down from his position at Warner Music Group.
Liles who moved over to take on the role of Executive Vice President in 2004 is happy to be moving on "In the past couple weeks I've made one of the most important decisions of my life - to depart the Warner Music Group in order to focus more on new entrepreneurial endeavors in talent management, entertainment, media and my personal philanthropic and political passions,” he said in a press release.
Kevin Liles released his Make It Happen book in 2005 and teamed up with the likes of Jay Z and Mary J Blige in encouraging America’s youth to take to the polls last year to vote.
Raekwon Cooks up a Feast
With his album being released on the same day as Jay Z’s BP3, nothing looks like it will deter Wu Tang member Raekwon in celebrating the release of his highly acclaimed Only Built for Cuban Linx 2 project tomorrow.
The rapper who has been working on the project for the last three years will be holding a star studded release party hosted by Sean Combs which will see performances not only by Raekwon himself but Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes and Wu Tang cohorts Method Man and Ghostface Killah.
Raekwon born, Corey Woods, teamed up with the crème de la crème of A list producers on the follow up to his 1995 Only Built for Cuban Linx album. Production was left in the capable hands of Dr. Dre, Pete Rock, Marley Marl, Erick Sermon, J Dilla and the Alchemist plus many more.
Melanie Cornish