Archive for November 30, 2009

JAY-Z TALKS ABOUT HIS $1 BILLION COMPANY

Womens Wear Daily got a chance to talk with Shawn Carter on the upstarts of Rocawear, it’s growth, and the future of the brand. Many may think Hov isn’t as involved with the company as he once was, however the mogul still has big aspirations for Rocawear.

“Dame did a great job when he was here,” Carter said. “I just feel that I have a different way of running things, which I think is working out well. I let people make mistakes, and push them to be creative. I let a design team design. When they feel good about something they have created, it makes them want to do more. It makes them want to do their best. People are happy here. I’m not a controlling manager and I have a great team that makes me confident that things can run well when I’m on the road, and I’m proud of that.”

“So, in April 2007, he agreed to partner with Iconix Brand Group, which acquired the Rocawear brand for $204 million in cash. In the deal, Neil Cole, Iconix’s ceo, became Carter’s partner and in turn, Carter was going to help Cole with future Iconix deals.”

“I got to know Neil, and we now have the same mission: Our goal is to make Rocawear a $1 billion company,” he said. “It may take us more time than we would like since the economy is in the shape that it’s in, but I’m confident that we will get there.”

One of his biggest mistakes? “We really should have done some Rihanna Rocawear umbrellas when that song became a hit. We could have made a load of money on those. I’m still kicking myself.”

LAURYN HILL AND WYCLEF PERFORMING AT REGGAMUFFIN FESTIVAL!

Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill will appear on the same stage for separate performances during the Raggamuffin Music Festival, which will take place in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill will be co-headliners of the festival, which takes place at Rotorua International Stadium and also features headliners Shaggy, Julian Marley, Sly & Robbie, Sean Kingston and others.

The pair’s performance together comes amidst new reports that Wyclef Jean was hoping for a Fugee’s reunion.

“Some how, The Fugees is the soundtrack to everyone’s house,” Wyclef told DJBooth.net. “What I’m hoping is that this group really gets inspired by the new movement that I’m on right now.

“I’m hoping they’ll get inspired and be like, ‘Yo, let’s find Clef and let’s get this thing cracking.’ And it would be an honor to go in and make it a super album,” Clef said of reuniting with Hill and group member Pras Michele.

The announcement of Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill’s involvement in the Raggamuffin Festival is the singer’s first major outing since canceling a string of high profile dates in June of 2009.

Hill had been scheduled to headline the Stockholm Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Wyclef filled in for Hill on a number of the cancelled dates, which she canceled due to health reasons.

As members of The Fugees, Wyclef, Lauryn Hill and Pras Michele released two albums including 1996’s The Score, which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill will perform during the Raggamuffin Music Festival in Rotorua, New Zealand on January 23rd, 2010.

TREY SONGZ & JOE FIGHT?!

Illseed Intel

Aw man, what is going on? Joe Budden and Tahiry were the Hip-Hop King and Queen, you know, of the regular-types. But now, it looks like Tahiry is doing her own thing crazily. Right now, I have a rumor about here and Trey Songz in Montclair, NJ on Saturday. Here is how it went down, according to sources. First, they are saying Tahiry was escorted into the VIP of the club by security. Now, I heard she and Trey were chilling in the VIP most of the night. Now, when Trey was performing, it was a different story. Dude was wiling out! I heard he was pouring Champagne in girls mouths live on stage. One girl even plopped out her boobs for all to see! I heard he said something about, “What girls are going home with ‘Trigger’ (his alias name)?” But I HEARD at that moment he looked over at Tahiry, saying, “I’m going to have some amazing sex tonight.” For some reason, that disgusts me…not the Tahiry part. But, according to onlookers, Tahiry didn’t look comfortable after he said that part. ALAS, the night ended in a fight between Trey’s security and some patrons. I heard Trey’s team messed those dudes UP and the club was torn apart!

Now according to theybf, this whole fight started after singer Joe and his crew came in the place to be. All this tussling happened in the VIP. Here is another firsthand account of the fight part.

“R&B singer Joe came through Lounge 501 last night, but wasn’t a booked act. So naturally the club tried to accommodate him. Here’s the underlying drama, Joe was seated in Trey Songz section. Now Trey arrives and although everything appeared to be cool, Trey wasn’t that excited about Joe taking up his space. No one really wanted to let Joe know he had to move from that area (assuming because he had the gonnies with him). And Joe’s goons weren’t that excited about them being side eyed by Trey’s people! Joe’s goons got a lil roudy with Trey’s security and a small scuffle begin. And based on the looks of Joe’s camp they weren’t victorious. By this time, Joe’s people are being escorted out by Trey’s security looking a bit hurt, but the situation appears to be tamed. That’s when they turned back and attempted to finish what they started. Now Trey’s skinny ass gets involved and gets knocked down. And more so than Joe’s camp being involved, all the regular dudes were throwing punches and trying to get at him. They were trying to kick him and punch him. Eventually the situation was ceased and Joe’s camp left the building. In all the mayhem Trey and his camp left without a scratch. Joe’s camp on the other hand, not so much!”