Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 3-17-20

Entertainment
Tupac Estate, Soundgarden Pull Out Of Universal Music Fire Lawsuit
Jay-Z Pushes Back At Critics Of NFL Deal On New Jay Electronica Song ‘Flux Capacitor’
Many were stunned last sum- mer when Jay-Z unexpectedly announced that his Roc Nation company had struck an enter- tainment and social-awareness campaign with the NFL. After all, the rapper-mogul had harshly criticized the NFL over its treatment of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose controversial symbolic kneel- ing during the National An- them to protest racial inequality in the U. S. has es- sentially seen him drummed out of the league.
Jay was defensive about the partnership at a press con- ference with NFL commis- sioner Roger Goodell last August. When asked about Kaepernick, he said they’d spoken but declined to reveal details, instead deflecting, “I think that we forget that Colin’s whole thing was to bring attention to social injus- tice so in that case this is a suc- cess — this is the next thing. There’s two parts of protest: the protest, and then there’s a company or individual saying ‘I hear you, what do we do next?’ For me it’s about actionable items, what are we gonna do about it? We get stuck on Colin not having a job, you know what I’m saying? And this is more than that.
“I support any protest that’s effective,” he continued. “I’m into action, I’m into real work — I’m not into how it looks from the outside. If protesting on the field is the most effective way, then protest on the field. But if you
JAY-Z
have a vehicle that can inspire change and speak to the masses at the same time, it’s hard to steal the narrative away.”
Jay addressed criticism more directly on “Flux Capaci- tor,” a song on Jay Electron- ica’s album released today on which the Roc Nation founder makes a guest appearance. On it, he raps:
“Why would I sell out? I’m already rich, don’t make no sense/
Got more money than Goodell, a whole NFL bench/ Did it one-handed like
Odell, handcuffed to a jail/
I would’ve stayed on the side- line if they could’ve tackled that sh— themselves.”
He basically concludes that verse with a mild threat that, amusingly, incorporates Kanye West.
“You backstabbers gon’ turn me back to the old Jay/
He’s not who you wanna see, he’s not as sweet as the old Ye.”
The Tupac Estate and Soundgarden have pulled out of a lawsuit against Universal Music Group that was filed by five artists last year over dam- age the artists’ musical record- ings suffered in a 2008 fire that destroyed many assets in the company’s vaults.
While Universal’s archives
TUPAC
are suffered extensive damage in the fire, the company has disputed the details in the July 2019 New York Times report that first revealed the extent of the damage. The report esti- mated that around 500,000 masters by some of the great- est artists of the past century were destroyed.
Big Freedia Returns With 'Louder' EP
Bounce rapper Big Free- dia is back with a new EP ti- tled Louder. The project is the New Orleans-bred artist’s first release since 2018’s 3rd Ward Bounce EP.
The Queen of Bounce’s latest work is comprised of
BIG FREEDIA
five songs — including the title track “Louder,” which samples the 1990 Snap! sin- gle “The Power.”
Guests featured on the project include The Soul Rebels, Kesha, Icona Pop and Lil Aaron.
R. Kelly Hit With Sexual-Misconduct Charges From Two New Accusers
The Eastern District of New York on Friday filed a super- seding indictment against R. Kelly, who already faces multiple charges in three states, that includes addi- tional charges stemming from two accusers who have been newly added to the suit, according to Rolling Stone. The singer’s New York trial
begins on July 7.
In the indictment, ob-
tained by Rolling Stone, Kelly is accused of Mann Act violations (including trans- portation and coercion of a minor), “sexual exploitation of a child” and forced labor counts from two accusers, Jane Doe #5 and Jane Doe
R. KELLY #6.
15 Rappers To Receive First Platinum Plaques
With Latest ‘Dreamers III’ Certification
“Revenge Of The Dreamers III,” the latest installment of J.Cole’s Dreamville compila- tion series, is soon to be certi- fied platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Associa- tion of America) marking equivalent sales of over one million units. In July 2019, the star-studded set was certified gold and has since then re- ceived visual treatments for the tracks “Under The Sun” featuring J. Cole, DaBaby and Lute; “Sacrifices” featur- ing EarthGang, J. Cole, Smino and Saba; and “Sleep Deprived” by Lute, Omen, Mez and DaVionne.
Among the additional artists who appear on ROTDIII are Ari Lennox, T.I., 6lack, Vince Staples and Ty Dolla Sign — some of the top names
DREAMERS
in hip-hop — but also sharing the marquee are more than a dozen up-and-comers who will be receiving platinum plaques for the first time. They are: JID
Mez
Young Nudy Jace
Reese LaFlare Yung Baby Tate Baby Rose
Earthgang Mereba Lute Cozz GuapDad 4000 Omen Buddy Dreezy
PAGE 16 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020