Indie 500 Helps Black Indie Artists
There are few handouts granted to independent artists. So Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli and producer 9th Wonder are formally joining forces to empower Black musicians who are creating without major-label support. The three underground kings have united their companies—Talib’s Javotti Media, 9th’s Jamla Records and Monch’s W.A.R. Media—to create Indie 500, a collective boosting purist, feel-good hip-hop (à la Native Tongues or Rawkus) and supporting astute music business moves.
“[The] sharing of information… it’s empowering, it’s beautiful,” Pharoahe Monch told Okayplayer. “It’s important to inspire younger generations to not only rap, but to start companies and corporations.” Talib describes Indie 500 as anyone with an independent spirit, adding: “It’s important for us as artists that we value the art, and we raise the value of art. So we state that we’re independent, that we’re Black-owned, we’re stating that we have value and you need to pay attention to us.”
Jay Z and Beyoncé Buck Breakup Rumors by Renewing Their Vows
What a year for Mr. and Mrs. Carter. From an epic international tour to an elevator scuffle with Solange and the resulting rumors that the two were on the run in opposite directions, Jay Z and Beyoncé have been through it in 2014. But any issues seem to be smoothed out, as People reports that the two music icons have renewed their marital vows. “They did have major problems,” a source reportedly told People. “But they worked it out and they’ve renewed their vows.” Thank Beysus. Now the power couple has more time to work on that rumor we’re actually hoping comes true—a collaborative album (which, by the way, People’s source also confirmed).
50 Cent Signs On for Cyndi Lauper’s LGBT Youth Homelessness Benefit Concert
For all of his antics and ruthless mentality regarding confrontation, 50 Cent has a heart. And the rapper/mogul is showing it by lending his support to the Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays fourth-annual benefit concert, which is raising money to spread awareness for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth who are homeless. Co-hosted by Rosie O’Donnell and Orange Is the New Black’s Laverne Cox, the concert, which is in its fourth year, also features Salt-N-Pepa and The Dixie Chicks’s Natalie Maines. (50’s participation may have some sentimental reasons behind it: on The Game’s 2005 single “Hate It or Love It” he rapped, “Coming up I was confused, my mommy kissing a girl.”) The show goes down on December 6 at New York City’s Beacon Theatre.
