Jaden Smith Drops "SYRE: The Electric Album" On Instagram

Jaden Smith has returned with a follow-up to 2017’s SYRE, the aptly titled SYRE: The Electric Album. The 20-year-old revealed the project via Instagram on Sunday night (July 8) — his birthday — in a series of videos.

The cover art features two photos — one of a white fence and a “trail” sign and one with what looks like Smith’s foot stepping on top of several guitar pedals, which presumably represent the “electric” element of the project.

SYRE: The Electric Album

A post shared by Jaden Smith (@c.syresmith) on Jul 8, 2018 at 4:20pm PDT

Each of the five clips features a reworking of some of the songs found on SYRE, including “ICON?,” “Lost Boy,” “Ninety,” “Fallen” and “B.”

Listen to them below. 

Lost Boy ELECTRIC

A post shared by Jaden Smith (@c.syresmith) on Jul 8, 2018 at 4:20pm PDT

NINETY ELECTRIC

A post shared by Jaden Smith (@c.syresmith) on Jul 8, 2018 at 4:21pm PDT

“Young Love Dies Young” FALLEN ELECTRIC.

A post shared by Jaden Smith (@c.syresmith) on Jul 8, 2018 at 4:22pm PDT

I Am Not An ICON? ELECTRIC

A post shared by Jaden Smith (@c.syresmith) on Jul 8, 2018 at 4:23pm PDT

B ELECTRIC

A post shared by Jaden Smith (@c.syresmith) on Jul 8, 2018 at 4:24pm PDT

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47581/title.jaden-smith-drops-syre-the-electric-album-on-instagram

XXXTENTACION Reportedly Signed $10M Deal Before His Death

A new report has revealed XXXTENTACION inked an eight-figure deal prior to his death.

According to The New York Times, the late rapper signed a $10 million deal with EMPIRE for his third studio album. The Times cited three unnamed sources who were briefed on the terms for the figure.

EMPIRE founder Ghazi Shami didn’t confirm the $10 million amount but did speak to The Times about his dealings with X. Shami recalled the slain artist was surprised about EMPIRE’s level of interest in him due to the decline of X’s streaming numbers following his brief ban from Spotify’s curated playlists.

“Are you sure you want to sign me, even when my streams are down?” X asked, according to Shami.

“I said, ‘I believe in you; I don’t believe in playlists,’” Shami said. “‘Playlists are nice. You are a musical phenomenon.’”

The Times’ report also says X’s third album may not be released until October due to a clause in his last record contract with Capitol Music Group’s Caroline Records, which is part of the Universal Music Group.

A spokesman for Universal and EMPIRE’s founder said there haven’t been discussions about working together on the posthumous release.

X was killed in a Florida shooting on June 18. He was 20 years old.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47576/title.xxxtentacion-reportedly-signed-10m-deal-before-his-death

Jermaine Dupri Says His Debut "Life In 1472" Is His Favorite So So Def Album

In the latest installment of Soulful Sundays, HipHopDX’s Editor-In-Chief Trent Clark chats with legendary Hip Hop mogul Jermaine Dupri at Comfort LA in downtown Los Angeles.

“There aren’t a lot of labels that did it like this and [have the opportunity to] do it like this,” JD says when asked about the recent 25th anniversary campaign for his iconic So So Def imprint. “Any label that comes after this should want to be in the spotlight and move the way we moved … we set that tone.”

To complement the compilation album Jermaine Dupri Presents… So So Def 25, which dropped on June 25, JD revealed an upcoming tour called Cultural Curren$y. The concert series will feature some of the biggest names in the label’s history.

“Everybody is going on the tour … 10 artists of my own, that are So So Def … and they all platinum artists, by the way,” JD notes.

Tickets available starting July 14! #SSD25

A post shared by Jermaine Dupri (@jermainedupri) on Jul 3, 2018 at 9:46pm PDT

When asked by Clark about the moment he knew So So Def had its own identity, Dupri explained it was during the rollout of the So So Def Bass All-Stars compilation.

“It was the time when Atlanta and So So Def let the world know that we were molded together … we weren’t just a label in the town,” he says. “Where the culture was going and what the people [in Atlanta] wanted to listen to was what this label was about.”

He also discussed the project as it related to cultural currency, noting he didn’t realize the actual impact of the album until many years later.

“People still tell me that they used to listen to So So Bass All-Stars,” he says. “I didn’t realize that I was giving people the soundtracks to their lives.”

JD’s success was far from overnight, and as he broke it down to Clark, he had a rough time getting his first group, Xscape, to the plateau they all initially envisioned.

“They were accepted, but never they weren’t treated special … they were just singers,” he says, noting the particularly frustrating time he had getting them through the door.

“We never got to that level where we wanted to be … or maybe we did, but we were so focused on it not happening from the first album,” he adds, recalling that initial obstacles served as the catalyst to their ultimate success. “We just focused in on making the best music every time, to prove something to ourselves and hopefully others.”

When asked to choose his favorite So So Def album, he was quick to point his debut, 1999’s Life in 1472.

“It’s the first time that a producer had an opportunity to do all the records I did and break artists on a full compilation,” he quips. “People weren’t doing that at the time. That’s the one I had the most fun doing. They knew Jermaine Dupri the producer but not the artist, so there wasn’t any expectations.”

When asked what he envisions for the future of the label, the “Rap Game” host says, “[So So Def] is going to be to the kids what Def Jam was to me coming up.”

Check out the full episode of Soulful Sundays above.

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47577/title.jermaine-dupri-says-his-debut-life-in-1472-is-his-favorite-so-so-def-album

ReTcH Drops "After The Verdict" Mixtape

After serving time behind bars and getting released in October 2017, ReTcH has returned with a new mixtape titled After The Verdict.

ReTcH’s latest tape features 10 tracks and is produced entirely by Grimm Doza. Roc Marciano, Dave East and Tsu Surf make guest appearances on the project.

Check out ReTcH’s After The Verdict stream, cover art and tracklist below.

Retch mixtapeRetch mixtape

1. Dubs Losses f. Roc Marciano
2. Walk Through
3. Party Over
4. High End
5. Made It Out f. Tsu Surf
6. Late Night
7. Paranoia f. Dave East
8. Throwin’ Sets Down
9. Daily Serving
10. Slop Trays

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47578/title.retch-drops-after-the-verdict-mixtape

JAY-Z & Beyoncé’s "APESHIT" Video Inspires Tour At The Louvre

Paris, France – JAY-Z and Beyoncé took over The Louvre in Paris for their “APESHIT” video. Subsequently, the EVERYTHING IS LOVE visual has inspired a museum tour.

According to Artnet News, The Louvre is offering a 90-minute self-guided tour dedicated to the 17 paintings and sculptures featured in the video, including the Portrait D’une Négresse (Portrait of a Black Woman), Great Sphnix of Tanis, Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa.

It’s unclear how much Mr. and Mrs. Carter doled out to reserve the famous French art museum for the video. Last month, Vulture reported that private access to The Louvre can cost $17,500 a day and special access isn’t exactly granted to just anyone.

“Beyoncé and JAY-Z visited The Louvre four times in the last ten years,” a spokesperson for The Louvre told the publication. “During their last visit in May 2018, they explained their idea of filming. The deadlines were very tight but the Louvre was quickly convinced because the synopsis showed a real attachment to the museum and its beloved artworks.”

The Carters are currently overseas in the middle of their On The Run II Tour, which heads to the United States on July 25. 

Article source: http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47565/title.jay-z-beyonces-apeshit-video-inspires-tour-at-the-louvre