Check out the cakes Ricky is making yell ROZAY! Ross has had a fun birthday weekend partying it up in Miami and Atlanta. For this party in the A’s very own Mansion, he brought his boo thang Shateria Moragne-el along with him. There were rumors that he’d proposed to her in 2009, but we haven’t heard any confirmation. Looks like they’re still going strong though. Now take a look at the woman that’s making Ross a happy former parole officer. Courtesy of Prince Williams
DJ Scream, Future and Verse Simmonds team up with Atlanta MC, who tells Mixtape Daily, ‘I was put here to be great.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by FLX Rocko Photo: Prince Williams/ Getty Images Mixtape Daily: Main Pick Headliners : Rocko and DJ Scream Representing : Atlanta Mixtape : G.O.G. (Gift of Gab) Real Spit : Rocko got that gift of gab. The “Umma Do Me” rapper first made his name with his 2007 single and then went on to release his major-label debut, Self Made, a year later. There have been some hiccups along the way, but through it all the Atlanta rapper has remained one of his city’s most-beloved figures. The A1 Entertainment CEO has been instrumental in Future ‘s burgeoning career, but is still focused on his music as well. Need proof? Just check his latest, G.O.G. Throughout the mixtape, Rocko crafts bouncy tracks with hit potential, while at the same time sharing his real-life experiences. On “Balance,” Rocko teams with Verse Simmonds, and together they sing and rap about the tightrope walk they conduct when mixing business with their personal lives. The Zaytoven-produced “The Choice is Yours” is equally as enlightening. Rocko raps about moving from an illegal life to the legal music business. Future appears on “Take U Away,” “Squares Out Your Circle” and “Power of That P,” on which he and Rocko employ tons of alliteration, using the letter “p” to speak about the many ways in which power manifest. Over the course of 19 tracks, Rocko provides an even-keeled listen; with no noticeable dips, the DJ Scream-helmed mixtape bangs throughout. Then again, we expected nothing less. Joints to Check For
‘We like to let an artist be an artist and we support what they want to do,’ Cash Money Records boss MTV News. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Travis Laurendine Birdman Photo: Prince Williams/ FilmMagic Busta Rhymes made headlines when he inked with Birdman ‘s Cash Money Records last week, but don’t expect Baby to try and change up the Dungeon Dragon. Nope, the #1 Stunna wants Bussa Bus to just be himself. “Whatever they bring to the table, whatever their vision is, [my role is] just to back it up and let them be the artist that they want to be and we support what they want to do,” Birdman told MTV News of recent CMR recruits Busta and Mystikal. The new deal links Busta Rhymes’ Conglomerate label with Cash Money and Google Music . “It’s just amazing to see that they understood what Busta Rhymes means to the music, what Busta Rhymes means to the culture, what Busta Rhymes means to the embodiment of authentic hip-hop,” the fire-spitting MC told MTV News when we spoke to him last week. “We never was [the type] to try to tell no [artist] how to do music, that’s not what we’re about. We like to let an artist be an artist and we support what they want to do,” Birdman told us while out in New Orleans handing out Thanksgiving turkeys to the local community on Friday. Bus began his career in 1991 as one-fourth of the rap quartet Leaders of the New School, but after the group disbanded he kicked off his solo career in 1996. Now a 20-year rap vet, Busta is responsible for a number of solo hits, including “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check,” “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Touch It,” as well as scene-stealing cameos on A Tribe Called Quest’s 1992 posse-cut “Scenario” and, more recently, Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now.” Some skeptics have questioned how Rhymes, a New York veteran, will blend with Birdman’s Southern record label. Throughout the years, however, Busta has collaborated with the label’s flagship artist Lil Wayne on Weezy’s own Tha Carter III and IV, as well as Busta’s 2009 single “Respect My Conglomerate.” Bus also appears on YMCMB member Lil Twist’s new single “Turnt Up,” so chemistry shouldn’t be a question. Busta’s latest single, “Why Stop Now,” reunites the rap speed demon with Brown on a record that sounds like a continuation of this year’s “Look at Me Now.” What do you think of Busta signing to Cash Money? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists Busta Rhymes Birdman
Miguel and his banger girlfriend Nazanin Mandi were spotted getting cozy at Velvet Room in ATL this Sunday following his Grey Goose Rising Icon concert, which featured headliner Marsha Ambrosius as well. Keep clicking for my photos of the happy couple as well as some live performance shots of Miggy and Marsha. Photo Credit: Prince Williams/ATLpics.net
Apple co-founder was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. By Katie Byrne Steve Jobs Photo: Getty Images Apple announced Wednesday (October 5) that co-founder Steve Jobs had died at age 56. “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being,” read a statement posted on Apple.com . “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.” Jobs, who stepped down as Apple’s CEO in August, announced to his employees in 2004 that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. While he appeared to have successfully removed the cancerous tumor that same year, his health continued to deteriorate over the years and he took a medical leave of absence in January. President Obama, Nicki Minaj, Bill Gates and more remember Steve Jobs. When announcing his resignation, Jobs wrote in a statement to Apple’s board of directors, “I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s C.E.O., I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.” Jobs founded Apple with Steve Wozniak in 1976 before being fired from his own company in 1985. He later admitted that this seeming low point in his life was necessary for his evolution as a businessman and a person. “The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything,” he told Stanford graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. “It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.” His next move was purchasing the Graphics Group in 1986 — a little company that would later be renamed Pixar. After teaming up with Disney, the first film produced under the partnership was “Toy Story” in 1995, forever changing the path of big-screen animation. Remember Steve Jobs’ many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. Following that success, Jobs made a triumphant return in 1996 to the company he helped found when Apple bought his NeXT Computer company, and he became interim chief executive the next year. Apple’s profile was boosted significantly with the introduction of the iMac in 1998, and the hits kept coming for Jobs and Apple. The first iPod came in 2001, followed by the iTunes Store in 2003 — which just last year sold its 10 billionth song . The iPhone was next in 2007, and Apple revolutionized electronics once more with the release of the iPad last year. Steve Jobs almost singlehandedly brought the music industry into the future — here’s how. During that 2005 Stanford commencement speech, Jobs summed up his personal path to success and his impact on technology. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future,” he told the graduating class. “You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you ? Tell Us on Facebook.
‘A lot of people have been assuming that Jeezy’s been ripping us off,’ says A&B’s Tony McGuinness of ‘F.A.M.E.’ By Akshay Bhansali Young Jeezy Photo: Prince Williams/Getty Images Recently, Atlanta MC Young Jeezy put out his much-awaited Thug Motivation 103 album’s latest single, “F.A.M.E. (Fake Ass Muthaf—as Envy),” featuring closing bars by a back-in-the-game T.I. , online, and since then, the song has been viewed more than 160,000 times and has been heavily commented on. Ironically, the song, in which Jeezy and T.I. both call out hateration and envy, has been met with a smidge of criticism, though judging by the type of folks leaving the comments , it should come as no surprise. In fact, the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League-produced song is based around a 2005 trance-music classic, Above & Beyond vs. Andy Moor’s “Air for Life,” which features vocals by Carrie Skipper. In the comments section of the song online, trance-music purists both lament the hip-hop reworking of “Air” but also suggest the sample was used without permission, something Above & Beyond’s Tony McGuinness (the Above & Beyond trio also includes Jono Grant & Paavo Siljam
Song’s arrival could mean long-delayed album is on the way. By Alvin Blanco Young Jeezy Photo: Prince Williams/Getty Images Despite maintaining a low profile lately, Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy is still hard at work. On Tuesday (April 12), the Snowman released “Ballin’,” featuring Lil Wayne, the latest single from his repeatedly delayed fourth album TM 103. On Monday, Jeezy released a preview video that showed him in the studio working on the Lil Lody-produced track. The rapper is seen mixing the song while it plays in the background of the minute-long clip, which announced at the end that the full song would be available Monday at 1:03 p.m. “Ballin’ ” arrived as promised, available for download via Jeezy’s USDA2Day.com website. “Still ballin’ like a mother—-er, tell ’em that/ Three platinum chains to match my platinum plaques,” Jeezy raps over the rugged, bass-heavy beat at the start of the second verse. Weezy closes the song out with his third verse. Last year, Jeezy released “Lose My Mind,” featuring Plies, which was supposed to be the lead single from TM 103, the follow-up album to 2008’s The Recession. Another pair of singles — “All White Everything,” featuring Yo Gotti, and “Jizzle,” featuring Lil Jon — were also released, but the announced September 28 due date for the album came and went with no new record in stores or iTunes. “It took me damn near a year and some change to make this album,” Jeezy told MTV News. “Me and Shawty Redd went back to the … basics. We got in this n—a basement, I moved in with that n—a for three months to finish this album,” Jeezy said. “No nothing, no clubbing. Just straight grinding, all day and all night.” Besides getting his album ready for release, this past weekend Jeezy officially announced the signing of Gary, Indiana, rapper Freddie Gibbs to his CTE label . What do you think of the latest Jeezy song? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Young Jeezy
‘She’s really cool,’ teen sensation says about his rumored girlfriend. By Mawuse Ziegbe Justin Bieber attends the “Stuff Bieber’s Bus” press conference on Dec. 23 in Atlanta Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic ATLANTA — As the debate among teen girls rages on about whether Justin Bieber is dating his tourmate, Disney princess Selena Gomez, the megastar teen is confident about one thing: Gomez’s awesomeness. MTV News caught up with the 16-year-old sensation as he got the word out about his holiday toy-collecting campaign, “Stuff Bieber’s Bus,” in Atlanta on Thursday (December 23), and while he didn’t suggest that the two were more than friends, he did gush a little bit about the “Wizards of Waverly Place” actress. “She’s really cool,” Bieber said. “She’s an amazing person.” The “Baby” singer also commented about the nonstop fan frenzy and media mania that accompany any rumors about who the Biebs is or is not dating, and said that despite his outsize fame, he plans to keep his private life private. “I think that people are always gonna be interested in my personal life … but I gotta keep some things to myself,” he said of the constant buzz surrounding his relationship with Gomez. “I’m just having fun being a teenager.” Speculation that the fresh-faced duo are more than friends has ramped up ever since the two were spotted hanging out and getting pancakes arm-in-arm. However, Gomez has batted away rumors that she and the “Somebody to Love” crooner are anything more than buddies who occasionally enjoy getting a bite to eat. “It was pancakes. Who doesn’t like pancakes?” Gomez told MTV News earlier this month. Gomez has also talked about her “brotherly” relationship with Bieber , saying that she tries to keep an eye out for him as he continues to skyrocket toward megastardom. “I love Justin. When he first started to come over from Canada, his manager contacted me and he just said that he would like to meet me and he was just such a good kid,” she told MTV News in February. “And I feel like a big sister now, ’cause I want to protect him. So I’m always very cautious with him, but he is so talented and he’s so sweet, so that just started us wanting to work together. Now he’s just become one of my good friends.” What do you think of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez’s relationship? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos ‘Stuff Bieber’s Bus’ Press Conference Related Artists Justin Bieber Selena Gomez
‘Lil Jon was the extra spice to give it a different feel,’ he says of TM103 first single. By Jayson Rodriguez Young Jeezy Photo: Prince Williams/Getty Images Young Jeezy is set to release TM103 in September, and while the Atlanta rapper said he plans to step out of his usual box on the LP, for the first official single, “Jizzle,” he kept to his comfort zone. ” ‘Jizzle’ was my formula,” Jeezy told MTV News about the Lil Jon-featured track. “It’s like the music that I wanna hear when I’m in the club. I did that for my fans, before I even step out of my box, which I will for this album, as far as singles I wanted to do what I do. What comes to heart to me. And when I hear that [song], that’s Jeezy, that’s ‘Jizzle.’ Lil Jon was just the extra spice to give it a little different feel so it wouldn’t just be a Jeezy record. Jeezy is scheduled to deliver at least one mixtape before his album arrives: 1,000 Grams, Vol. 1, with DJ Scream, will drop online on Thursday. The first track from that collection, “Death B4 Dishonor,” arrived earlier this week and led to speculation the rapper was attacking labelmate Rick Ross in rhyme. On the song, Jeezy appears to be taking offense at Ross’ single “(B.M.F.) Blowin’ Money Fast,” on which the Miami rapper shouts out a notorious criminal organization that Jeezy has had some association with. While the lyrics appear to be directed at Ross, Jeezy spoke to MTV News on Tuesday and refuted the rumblings. “It’s not a dis,” Jizzle told us. “First of all, I’m not gonna get nothing out of dissing that guy. That’s one. What am I gonna get out of dissing him? I think sometimes people can read into things too deep. They trippin’, man. They crazy out there. Basically, if homie takes that as a dis, he’s insecure.” Are you excited to hear the rest of Jeezy’s mixtape this week? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Young Jeezy
