Tag Archives: konvict

T-Pain Opens Up About His Journey To Stardom On ‘Behind The Music’ [FULL EPISODE]

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The Cinderella story is real, especially in the music industry. T-Pain is one of those with a rags-to-riches story. He shared his story of trial and triumph on an episode of VH1′s Behind The Music . Born Faheem Rasheed Najm, …

T-Pain Opens Up About His Journey To Stardom On ‘Behind The Music’ [FULL EPISODE]

Common Reveals Warner Bros. CEO Invited Him To Label

Lyor Cohen approached rapper, who departed Universal Music in 2009. By Alvin Blanco Common Photo: Chris Weeks/ Getty Images Last week, Chicago rapper Common revealed that he is taking his rhyme talents to Warner Bros. Records . Surprisingly, the “Universal Mind Control” rapper tells MTV News that he had been a free agent since December 2009, when he departed from his longtime Universal Music recording home. The rapper and actor, currently shooting an AMC television series called “Hell on Wheels” that will premiere in the fall, released his last album, Universal Mind Control, in December 2008. The album was met with mixed reviews and didn’t reach the same gold sales of his previous two projects, the critically acclaimed Be and Finding Forever . But a certain record executive didn’t lose faith in the veteran rap lyricist. “Point blank, I got a call from [Warner CEO] Lyor Cohen,” Common told MTV News. “He was like, ‘Look, man, I know who you are. I always told you, you was one of my favorite MCs, and I really meant that.’ “I felt the sincerity in what he was saying. He didn’t tell me, ‘We’re going to do this, do that.’ He was more like, ‘I know how we can do your record, and I want to work this. I want this to be on my roster.’ ” The Warner music chairman knows a thing or two about talent. Through the years, “the check writer” has had a hand in the careers of star MCs such as Run-DMC, LL Cool J and Jay-Z. Before getting the call from Cohen, Common had been toying with the idea of going the indie-label route to release his music. “I felt like, man, it would be good because it’s so much … we do have a lot going on,” Common explained. “I am doing these acting projects. I do have my foundation. I do have a daughter and a life, too. So it’s all these things I want to take care of, I felt like I didn’t want to have an independent label that I felt like you gotta be there for everything, every decision. I’d rather have a team that’s already in place that’s really confident in what I’m doing.” Although G.O.O.D. Music recently inked a worldwide label agreement with Island Def Jam Music Group, Common is still affiliated with Kanye West’s label. “It’s still G.O.O.D. Music all day and night,” he said. Common’s ninth album, The Dreamer, The Believer, is due out in November. What do you think of Common’s decision to sign with Warner Bros. Records? Sound off below! Related Artists Common

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Common Reveals Warner Bros. CEO Invited Him To Label

CyHi The Prynce Says Kanye, Akon Pledged To ‘Enhance’ His Music

‘It’s just like Shady and Aftermath,’ MC says of being signed to G.O.O.D. Music, Konvict and Def Jam. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway CyHi the Prynce Photo: MTV News If you want to get technical, Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music deal with Def Jam puts Atlanta rapper CyHi the Prynce back where he’s been throughout his career. And that makes him all the more confident that big-label status won’t change his music. “Def Jam is like family, for real,” he said on “RapFix Live” this week. His history with the label began back when CyHi was part of a Georgia rap group called Hoodlum that was signed to Def Jam through Jazzy Pha’s Sho’Nuff imprint. After the group split a couple of years later and CyHi embarked on a solo career, his relationship with a pair of execs kept him in the family. “When I went solo, I came back and revisited the situation, due to my relationship with L.A. Reid and my relationship with Bu Thiam,” CyHi told MTV News. At the time, Reid was Island Def Jam’s chairman and Thiam, Akon’s younger brother, was (and still is) an A&R at the label. CyHi was signed to Akon’s Konvict Music imprint in 2009. And then last year, Kanye West caught wind of his talents and recruited him to join his Grammy Family. “I’ve been at Def Jam all my life; it’s just, you know, the big heads put it all together,” CyHi explained of the new relationship with Kanye’s group and the label. “By G.O.O.D. Music actually getting their label deal there, and I’m already there, it just solidifies me more, [increasing] the possibility of an album coming soon.” As for how Konvict and G.O.O.D. Music interact on his behalf, and split any due proceeds, CyHi offered an analogy for the joint venture: “It’s just like Shady and Aftermath. It’s just like G-Unit and Aftermath. It’s the same thing. I’m not a stingy guy. My thing ain’t to get rich. … Their check is a joint venture. That’s between Konvict and G.O.O.D. Music. They going to split that, then I just do me.” The “Royal Flush” rapper was also adamant that both Konvict and G.O.O.D. Music only have his best interest at heart and that the plan is to augment his talent, not switch up his style. “When you self-made and you do it yourself, they all come to complement what you have done,” CyHi said. “I got with ‘Ye, I been like this. They was like, ‘I don’t want to change nothing about you; I just want to enhance it.’ Same with [Konvict], ‘We just want to enhance.’ It’s a great relationship with everybody. My team is what really makes me who I am. Teamwork makes dreams work.” Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With CyHi The Prynce Related Artists Prynce Cy Hi Kanye West Konvict

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CyHi The Prynce Says Kanye, Akon Pledged To ‘Enhance’ His Music

Ashlee Simpson-Wentz Wants Heather Locklear Back On ‘Melrose Place’

‘Of course everyone would love for her to come back,’ actress/singer says of show’s original drama queen. By Jocelyn Vena Ashlee Simpson Photo: Jonathan Goldner/MTV News We’ve all heard that Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is headlining the CW’s revamped “Melrose Place,” but what everyone really wants to know is if prime time’s ultimate bad girl, Heather Locklear, will be getting back in the Melrose pool anytime soon. “That’s the big question, but none of us know if she’s going to come back or not,” Simpson-Wentz told MTV News about the new show, which premieres Tuesday.

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Ashlee Simpson-Wentz Wants Heather Locklear Back On ‘Melrose Place’

French Montana Wants A Piece Of Akon’s Success

Rapper hopes to follow fellow Konvict Records signees Lady Gaga, T-Pain. By Shaheem Reid French Montana Photo: MTV News Young French, or French Montana as he’s now known, is ready for the big time

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French Montana Wants A Piece Of Akon’s Success