Hip-Hop Media Training

Justin Timberlake’s ‘Suit & Tie’ Video Inspired By 1960′s Style
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Thu, Feb 14, 2013 12:43 PM EST
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Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" video, released on Valentine's Day, plays like a excerpt from 1960s-themed films Ocean'11 and Dreamgirls. The short directed by David Fincher is shot in black and white. Timberlake, featured rapper Jay Z and other cast members are dressed in suits and ties. And the show venue hearkens the look and feel of the Motown era.

[Related: Justin Timberlake And Jay-Z Planning Stadium Tour]

The video compliments the song, a modernization of soul music from the '70s with JT's falsetto backed by trumpets, finger snaps and analog Moog synthesizer keys.
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J. Cole’s ‘Tears For ODB’: Anthem For ‘Forgotten Souls’
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Feb 13, 2013 7:44 PM EST
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(Frazer Harrison/ Getty)

J. Cole’s “Tears For ODB” from his new Truly Yours mixtape is more than just a tribute to the late Wu-Tang Clan member who died of a drug overdose in 2004. “Tears” is a nod to anyone struggling to make it.

The Roc Nation/Columbia artist raps about having a father on drugs and growing up with a single mother. But he acknowledges that his purpose as an MC transcends simply entertaining.

“I’m here for more than to just kick some witty metaphors,” he raps over the moody, piano and booming kick drum track. “Dog, these more the type of sh-t you spit to set off wars.”
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Big Hutch Explains ‘The Psychopathic Assassin’ Concept Album
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Feb 13, 2013 7:44 PM EST
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Yahoo! Music’s The Aftermath recently interviewed Big Hutch from the legendary west coast gangsta rap group Above The Law. The MC also known as Cold 187um discussed his new solo album, The Psychopathic Assassin, the loss of his longtime group member KMG, and collabs with the Insane Clown Posse.
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Ke$ha, Ludacris, B.o.B. To Play NBA All-Star Pregame
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Tue, Feb 12, 2013 8:37 AM EST
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(Jason LaVeris/WireImage)

Ke$ha, Ludacris and B.o.B. will perform at the Sprint NBA All-Star Pregame Concert on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the NBA All-Star Jam Session Sprint Arena in Houston.

Ludacris and B.o.B. will perform during the televised Sprint Pregame Concert that begins at 6 p.m. ET. Event headliner Ke$ha is scheduled to play at 7 p.m. ET during the TNT telecast.

John Legend will sing the National Anthem. Ne-Yo will perform during the introduction of the players, and Alicia Keys will provide the halftime set.

The mobile company will also host the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Sprint Arena at NBA All-Star Jam Session. Personalities from music, TV and film will join NBA legends and WNBA players for the game.

Nick Cannon will host the festivities on Saturday, Feb. 16 that will also feature Ellie Goulding, Phillip Phillips and Fall Out Boy. The latter will play their new single “My Songs Know What You Did In The Day (Light Em Up).”

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Former Music Exec Tackles Marriage In ‘The Divorce Counselor’ Short
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Fri, Feb 8, 2013 7:19 PM EST
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"The Divorce Counselor"Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [Entertainment] Business author Thembisa Mshaka, who has launched successful marketing campaigns for the likes of 50 Cent and Beyoncé, is venturing into the world of film, releasing her first short, The Divorce Counselor, at the 21st Annual Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
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Marques Houston Features Eddie Murphy’s Daughter In “Speechless” Video
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Fri, Feb 8, 2013 9:53 AM EST
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R&B star Marques Houston releases “Speechless,” his first video in two years.

In an exclusive video interview with Houston, he discusses the sexy falsetto ballad with background harmonies influenced by gospel a cappella group Take 6, featuring Eddie Murphy’s beautiful daughter Bria Murphy as his female lead, why the storyline plays out in reverse, and why he’s been away from music for so long.

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Joe Budden Explains Why He’s Mad On ‘Castles’
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Feb 6, 2013 7:01 PM EST
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Joe Budden (Getty)Joe Budden has earned a rep as a hot head, always at odds with someone whether video vixen Tahiry, members of the Wu Tang Clan, 2 Chainz, Fabolous, Consequence, etc.

But the New Jersey rapper offers some insight into things that irk him on “Castles” from his album No Love Lost, released Tuesday.

Budden talks betrayal on the somber, piano-driven ballad.

The Love & Hip Hop New York star expresses disappointment that some of the people close to him used him for his financial well being.

Budden starts the song with “My cash started shrinking” and explains how things fell apart.
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Master P On Beyonce Illuminati Rumors, Gives Advice To Chris Brown
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Feb 6, 2013 4:28 PM EST
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Master P, who recently dropped his Al Capone mixtape, talks hip-hop current events with Yahoo! Music’s The Aftermath, the best music discussion on the ‘net.
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Jermaine Dupri Said Split With Columbia Records Was Worst Part Of So So Def History
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Tue, Feb 5, 2013 9:08 PM EST
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Music Mogul Jermaine Dupri is celebrating the 20^th anniversary of his So So Def Recordings with a reunion concert in Atlanta on February 23. During a recent visit to Los Angeles, he stopped by Yahoo! to talk to The Aftermath about his history in the music business and plans for the event.

[Related: Kris Kross’ Mac Daddy Explains Why He Still Wears His Pants Backwards]

Dupri, whose roster has included the likes of Kris Kross, Da Brat, Bow Wow, Xscape and Anthony Hamilton, offered a couple revelations during the interview.

Why didn’t Xscape Members Tiny and Kandi Attend the reunion press conference?

We spoke to Tiny the morning before. I think she was in New York. I think Kandi was having her differences about being a part of this. She’s got differences with different members of Xscape and that’s something we got to work out, or they got to work out. I don’t know too much about that.
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Video Premiere: VaShawn Mitchell ‘Turning Around For Me’
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By Billy Johnson, Jr. | Hip-Hop Media Training – Mon, Feb 4, 2013 5:39 PM EST
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VaShawn Mitchell’s new single and video, “Turning Around For Me,” which he premieres with Yahoo! Music, is partly the result of a form of divine intervention.

Mitchell had been nervous about coming up with a follow up for his massive gospel hit “Nobody Greater,” that scored 11 Stellar Awards nominations, the most spins on gospel radio in 2011, and an invitation to perform with Fantasia at the 2012 Essence Festival. But he realized he needed to relax.

“I ended up getting stuck behind an accident on the expressway and God pretty much dropped in my spirit When you do things my way, things will turn around for you,” he explained to Yahoo! Music.
Read More »from Video Premiere: VaShawn Mitchell ‘Turning Around For Me’

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Justin Timberlake’s ‘Suit & Tie’ Video Inspired By 1960′s Style

J. Cole’s ‘Tears For ODB’: Anthem For ‘Forgotten Souls’

Big Hutch Explains ‘The Psychopathic Assassin’ Concept Album

Ke$ha, Ludacris, B.o.B. To Play NBA All-Star Pregame

Former Music Exec Tackles Marriage In ‘The Divorce Counselor’ Short

Marques Houston Features Eddie Murphy’s Daughter In “Speechless” Video

Joe Budden Explains Why He’s Mad On ‘Castles’

Master P On Beyonce Illuminati Rumors, Gives Advice To Chris Brown

Jermaine Dupri Said Split With Columbia Records Was Worst Part Of So So Def History

Video Premiere: VaShawn Mitchell ‘Turning Around For Me’

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