Nas @ TAO Date: 24 May 2013 Time: 10 p.m. Get Directions Who’s Who: Nas Description Kick of Memorial Day Weekend with Nas at TAO Nightclub on Friday, May 24th. <—— CLICK FLYER FOR TICKETS

YO GOTTI AT CLUB PLAY Saturday May 25th — Memorial Day Weekend Yo Gotti at Club Play in Miami Beach. PURCHASE TICKETS <—— CLICK FLYER FOR TICKETS

T.I. AT RAIN Sunday May 26th — Memorial Day Weekend T.I. at RAIN Nightclub in Las Vegas. RSVP HERE <——CLICK FLYER FOR TICKETS

YOUNG JEEZY AT CLUB PLAY Sunday May 26th — Memorial Day Weekend Young Jeezy at Club Play in Miami Beach. CLICK FLYER FOR TICKETS

Big Sean Details Eminem Studio Session Big Sean says, “you gotta have a sense of what’s right and what’s wrong,” in regards to Rick Ross controversy. In late April, a photo of Detroit emcee’s Big Sean, Eminem, and Royce Da 5’9” surfaced online and consequently caused quite the stir on the internet. Details on the studio session have remained relatively scarce, but during a recent appearance on NiteCap With Peter Bailey, Big Sean spoke briefly on the session he deemed “historical.” The Motor City spitter didn’t comment on whether or not any recordings for his sophomore album Hall Of Famewere made, but did state that he talked to both Eminem and Royce for hours and was able to speak with the pair about the impact they’ve made for artists in Detroit. “It was crazy just coming from Detroit. We sat and talked for a couple of hours, even before we did anything musically. You know what I’m saying? So, I was just telling them how much—how crazy it is man coming from The D,” said Big Sean. “Them was the superstars. Them was the heroes in rap music. And they showed me that you can be worldwide. Cause it was always local heroes, but obviously one of the biggest rappers in the world is from Detroit. It was a big deal there. It was an honor man, straight up.” Big Sean, who partnered with Adidas last year, also spoke on Rick Ross’ controversial “U.O.E.N.O.” lyric and the rapper being dropped from Reebok following the public outcry to the song. “The content for this new album has been way more mature. People are gonna see as soon as you start putting the content out. I don’t think you should necessarily censor what you say if you feel like how you feel,” the rapper revealed. “I don’t think he ever censors what he says. He apologized for it. I don’t think he meant it how it came across…You gotta have a sense of what’s right and what’s wrong.” Video of Big Sean’s interview can be found below (via Los Angeles Leakers).

Will Smith Says “No Emancipation For The Smith Kids” UPDATE: Jaden and Will Smith appear on “Ellen” and discuss Jaden’s desire to be “emancipated.” Actor Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith have received both criticism and praise for their modern approach to raising their two children, Jaden and Willow Smith. During a recent interview with The Sun, Smith shared the details of the pair’s modern parenting techniques and even spoke on 14-year-old son Jaden wanting to be emancipated for his next birthday. “He says, ‘Dad, I want to be emancipated.’ I know if we do this, he can be an emancipated minor, because he really wants to have his own place, like ooh. That’s the backlash. On the other side, if kids just want to have command of their lives, I understand,” Smith explained. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jaden also hopes to make his mark in both Hollywood and in the world of Hip Hop. He’ll star alongside his dad in the upcoming film After Earth and on the music end he released his own mixtape titled The Cool Cafe: Cool Tape Vol. 1 just last year. The actor/rapper has also appeared on records with Justin Bieber and sister Willow Smith. During his conversation with The Sun, Smith also spoke on not punishing his children and shared that he and his wife instead ask that they explain why they believe there actions were right. “We generally don’t believe in punishment,” said Smith. “From the time Jaden was five or six we would sit him down, and all he has to do is be able to explain why what he did was the right thing for his life. I think it’s a much more difficult question to ask someone — ‘Why was that right?’ — than to try to show them why it was wrong. Nobody wants to be wrong, all parts of yourself fight like crazy to not be wrong. So I’ll say to Jaden, ‘Why was that the right thing to do for your life?’ and if he can explain why kicking his sister in the chest was the right thing to do, we can see to it that he understands that it wasn’t so smart.” There’s no word yet on if Jaden Smith will release any new music in the near future, but he can be seen in After Earth when it’s released in theaters on May 31. (May 14) UPDATE: Even though Jaden Smith has said he wanted to be emanicapted when he turns 15, the rapper-actor no longer seems interested in the idea of leaving his parents’ house. ”I’m not going anywhere,” Jaden says during an interivew with “Ellen,” which also featured Will Smith. “The thing that people don’t get is everything at his house is free.” 

Waka Flocka Flame To Host Anti-Violence Concert In Chicago Waka Flocka Flame joins forces with United In Peace Inc. to help curb shootings in Chicago. Waka Flocka Flame is slated to host a Chicago anti-violence concert, which will be held the first week of June at an undisclosed venue. The goal of the United In Peace INC. and Waka Flocka Flame concert is to help curb the shootings and murders that have taken place in Chi-Town during the last few years. “Senseless acts of violence [are] happening all over the world, but it starts with us acknowledging the acts now,” Waka Flocka Flame says in a press release. “Chicago is the first but not the last for me.” All proceeds from the anti-violence concert will be given to the United In Peace, INC. organization, which is helmed by Wallace “Gator” Bradley, a former gang enforcer and self-proclaimed urban translator. They are also planning to tour four Chicago-area high schools (Phillips, Du Sable, Fenger and Harper), Chicago State University and Washington Elementary School in Riverdale, Illinois in order to spread a message of peace. Waka Flocka Flame has been a spokesperson for other philanthropic causes, including PETA.

Lil Wayne’s Emmett Till Line Wasn’t Supposed To Be Released “Karate Chop” producer Metro Boomin says the controversial lyric was on an early version of the song ripped from Vimeo. Lil Wayne’s controversial line from Future’s “Karate Chop” remix was never supposed to be released. Producer Metro Boomin says the line about Emmett Till that cost Lil Wayne his Mountain Dew sponsorship was removed in what was supposed to be the final version of the song. “We didn’t even intend for it to come out like that,” Metro Boomin says during an interview with Vibe. “It was serious. I was like, ‘Honestly, it will be no good’ so we took the line out. But there was a music video…The whole reason the song came out prematurely is [because] it got leaked. I’m not even going to say his name. He had ripped the song off the video director’s…Uh, I guess the video director fell asleep uploading the video, to his Vimeo. He [the ripper] always checks the Vimeo for content and one day he lucked up on the fucking ‘Karate Chop’ video and he ripped the one with the Wayne verse and he put it out. On the mastered version, the final, that line wasn’t in there. He [the ripper] put it out and made everybody look like douchebags, but it wasn’t the plan.” Ultimately, Lil Wayne’s line remained on the remix. The YMCMB rapper rhymed on the song that, “I beat the pussy up, like Emmet Till.” Till was a Black Mississippi teenager was beaten and killed in 1955 after allegedly flirting with a White woman. The two White men accused of killing Till, who was visiting from Chicago, were later acquitted. Mountain Dew ended its relationship with Lil Wayne May 3 and Weezy was removed from a subsequent version of “Karate Chop” that featured Birdman, Rick Ross and French Montana.

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Jaden Smith, Son Of Will Smith, Hoping To Be Emancipated At Age 15 Will Smith speaks on modern parenting, says he and his wife don’t believe in punishing their children. Actor Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith have received both criticism and praise for their modern approach to raising their two children, Jaden and Willow Smith. During a recent interview with The Sun, Smith shared the details of the pair’s modern parenting techniques and even spoke on 14-year-old son Jaden wanting to be emancipated for his next birthday. “He says, ‘Dad, I want to be emancipated.’ I know if we do this, he can be an emancipated minor, because he really wants to have his own place, like ooh. That’s the backlash. On the other side, if kids just want to have command of their lives, I understand,” Smith explained. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jaden also hopes to make his mark in both Hollywood and in the world of Hip Hop. He’ll star alongside his dad in the upcoming film After Earth and on the music end he released his own mixtape titled The Cool Cafe: Cool Tape Vol. 1 just last year. The actor/rapper has also appeared on records with Justin Bieber and sister Willow Smith. During his conversation with The Sun, Smith also spoke on not punishing his children and shared that he and his wife instead ask that they explain why they believe there actions were right. “We generally don’t believe in punishment,” said Smith. “From the time Jaden was five or six we would sit him down, and all he has to do is be able to explain why what he did was the right thing for his life. I think it’s a much more difficult question to ask someone — ‘Why was that right?’ — than to try to show them why it was wrong. Nobody wants to be wrong, all parts of yourself fight like crazy to not be wrong. So I’ll say to Jaden, ‘Why was that the right thing to do for your life?’ and if he can explain why kicking his sister in the chest was the right thing to do, we can see to it that he understands that it wasn’t so smart.” There’s no word yet on if Jaden Smith will release any new music in the near future, but he can be seen in After Earth when it’s released in theaters on May 31.

Def Jam Records Names Shawn “Pecas” Costner Executive Vice President It’s a season of moves at Def Jam Records as a veteran executive within the company gets a major promotion. It’s been a busy 2013 at Def Jam Records. The Hip Hop mainstay witnessed the departure of Joie Manda in March, who left his post as label president to lead the Urban Music team at competitor, Interscope Records. Yesterday (May 13), Senior Vice President of A&R Sha Money XL announced his leaving for a similar spot at Epic Records. In the flurry of moves, today, Def Jam announced the promotion of Shawn “Pecas” Costner to label Executive Vice President. For the last three years, Pecas served as Senior VP at the label that is home to Kanye West, 2 Chainz and The Roots. “Def Jam [Records] is the greatest Hip Hop label in the world and it is an honor and a privilege to work with such incredible artists every day,” said Costner in a press statement. “I am appreciative of [Island Def Jam Records President] Steve Bartels for his leadership and his continued faith in me as we move the Def Jam brand into the future. With our talented staff, an unprecedented roster of superstars and an exciting crop of newcomers, we are poised to win big in 2013 and beyond.” A Def Jam staffer since 2005, the New York City-based Pecas previously worked at Elektra and Arista Records in the early 2000s.

Sha Money XL Leaves Executive Post At Def Jam, Signs To Epic Records The G Unit Records vet worked with 2 Chainz and Big K.R.I.T. at his former post. Sha Money XL, one of the architects of the G Unit movement, has signed on as an executive vice president of urban A&R at Epic Records. He had served as senior vice president of A&R at Island Def Jam for three years. “As I embark on this new Epic journey,” Sha Money said in a statement, “I have a great vision for what the new record industry should be like, the music, the experience and lifestyle.” While at Def Jam, Sha Money XL worked worked with 2 Chainz and Big K.R.I.T., among others. He also served as president of G Unit Records and was 50 Cent’s long-time manager and producer. “Sha Money has time and again proven to be a cultural leader and has my complete support in ushering in the next generation of Hip Hop stars,” Epic chairman and CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid said in a statement. Epic Records’ roster includes Andre 3000, Casey Veggies, Future, Ca$h Out and Ciara, among others.

T.I. Says Artists Need To Be “Mindful” Regarding Endorsements T.I. speaks from experience about dealing with “outside dollars.” T.I. knows controversy. The Atlanta rapper has had high-profile rivalries with Ludacris, Lil Flip and others, and has served several stints behind bars on a variety of charges. As an entertainment mogul who has also starred in several big budget films and has served as a celebrity pitchman for GM, Sean John and others, he also knows how negative press can cost artists sponsorship opportunities. “Endorsements come from corporations and corporations, that’s outside dollars,” T.I. said during an interview with SiriusXM’s Hoodrich Radio. “That means that’s money that you would not normally be making if you were not associated with this brand. So if you gone be associated with this brand, you gonna have to be associated with this brand and have them be associated with pride in whatever it is you do. So, it’s kinda like you’ve got to be mindful of things you say if you choose to take in money from outside sources.” T.I. lost his endorsement deal with GM’s Chevrolet in 2008 after he was convicted of felony gun charges after attempting to purchase firearms from an undercover federal agent. The rapper said he also lost numerous film and tour opportunities due to his status as a convicted felon. But T.I. isn’t alone. Several rappers have lost their sponsorship deals recently. Rick Ross lost his Reebok endorsement last month (April 11) after women’s rights groups blasted the rapper for his lyrics on Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.,” in which he rapped about having sex with a woman whom he had drugged and was unaware that the sex had taken place. Mountain Dew pulled an ad directed by Tyler, The Creator earlier this month (May 1) due to controversy surrounding the spot’s purported racist and misogynistic bent. The beverage company also dropped Lil Wayne this month (May 3) after the YMCMB rapper rhymed on a remix to Future’s “Karate Chop” that, “I beat the pussy up, like Emmet Till.” Till was a Black Mississippi teenager was beaten and killed in 1955 after allegedly flirting with a White woman. The two White men accused of killing Till, who was visiting from Chicago, were later acquitted. T.I. said that Wayne, in particular, didn’t mean any harm with his lyrics. “He was just kickin’ flav,” said T.I., who was on the air, in part, to promote the release of Grand Hustle’s Hustle Gang collective’s G.D.O.D.mixtape. ”You’ve really got to be in our life and of our lifestyle to understand.”