Rakim’s Long Awaited Album July 14 2009
“The Seventh Seal,” the long-anticipated album by rap legend Rakim, is slated for release in the fall, Billboard has learned exclusively. The project’s first single, “Holy Are You,” will drop July 28.
The album is being released on Rakim’s Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment, headed by industry veterans Ron Kyle and Lennie Petze. In turn, Tuscan Villa is entered in a joint venture pact with SMC Recordings whose principals are Ralph Tashjian and Will Bronson. Handling distribution for Rakim’s album is Fontana/Universal Music Group. The rapper is managed by Matthew Kemp.
The rapper signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath label in 2001. Featured on the 2002 top 10 R&B single “Addictive” by Aftermath labelmate Truth Hurts, Rakim later parted ways with Dre and Aftermath and his album was never released. Rakim – best known as one-half of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim – has not released a new studio album save for 2008′s mostly live set, “The Archive: Live, Lost & Found,” which included four previously unreleased songs.
The rapper tells Billboard the new album is fueled by consciousness and spirituality:
BB: What’s the story behind the title, “The Seventh Seal”?RAKIM: The seals are from the Bible- Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity: all have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to recreate the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them.
When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I’ve always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times.
BB: Does this album contain any material from the unreleased album you did with Dr. Dre or is it all new music?
RAKIM: No, that’s locked down in the lab for now. This is me live from New York City, everything brand new.
BB: Who produced the album? Are there any guest features?
RAKIM: I’m going to keep that cat in the bag for one more minute. But you’ll see names you know and names you don’t recognize yet but will after this drops. We’ve got our New York dudes on there, but we reached out to everybody. We have some features too; special cats in the right places but not everywhere.
BB: Are you concerned at all about reaching the new generation of hip-hop fans who aren’t necessarily familiar with your music?
RAKIM: I don’t accept that the new generation is looking for anything different than what we’ve always been looking for. Depending on the moment, they want bangers that make them crack their neck, they want tracks that put them in a zone where they can sit back and chill. The ladies want something that makes them feel sexy and loved. And everyone wants something that makes them think a little bit-at least sometimes. Every generation wants that real hip-hop. And I’ve always been able to bring that.
BB: Is there a chance that you and Dr. Dre may work together again in the future?
RAKIM: No doubt if the project and the timing are right. He’s got his thing going on and I got mine. But I know our camps will look for ways to mix things up.
“The Artist / SMC Recordings Phenom, The Jacka, Boasts Outstanding Billboard Debut
Rising Bay Area Rapper Debuts in Top 10 of Billboard’s National Rap Charts” June 25 2009
San Francisco, CA, June 24, 2009 – This week, The Jacka, a new artist on SMC Recordings, has seen the debut of his album Tear Gas reach amazing heights on the Billboard charts. He debuts at #8 on the Rap Charts, #12 on the R&B Charts, #23 on the Indie Charts and even landing #94 on the Billboard Top 200, putting him in the company of some of the music industry’s biggest stars.
Jacka racked up big sales in several important markets across the country. Additionally, Jacka was #1 at three key Northern California retailers, including Rasputins, Amoeba, and Streetlight records. On iTunes, Jacka’s album jumped from #70 to #5 in a matter of just 12 hours, landing him next to Eminem.
Not only is Tear Gas collecting chart positions, it’s accumulating critical praise. XXL Magazine said “the discs duality and Jacka’s penchant for both prose and pop that, in the end, make Tear Gas the best of both worlds.”
“Jacka’s In-Store @ Rasputin Berkeley, CA” June 17 2009
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KILLER MIKE “UNDERGROUND ATLANTA” June 9 2009
After participating in MTV’s signature series, My Block: Atlanta and taking the historical photo – “Great Day in Atlanta” with most of the cities’ hip hop talent present, Mike decided he needed to connect all these artists together again and feature them on one album. The idea of Underground Atlanta was born.Atlanta is known for its hyped underground music scene and its diverse sound that includes Crunk, Snap & Pop and Trap Music. Mike enlisted a notable group of artists, some who are originators of this music, to be featured on the album. They include: Gucci Mane, OJ da Juice Man, Pastor Troy, Princess of Crime Mob, Yung Ralph, Big Kuntry King, Young Dro, T.I., Stat Quo, Bobby Creekwater, Da Bill Collector, Dem Getaway Boyz with appearances from fellow Southern rappers SL Jones, Scar and Juvenille. The album also boasts an appearance from UGK, who obviously aren’t from the Atlanta Underground but appear on a star studded remix that fans will glady give Mike a pass on. Most of the tracks on the album were produced by DMG Music Group (B-Don, Leno and Young Ced). Mike wants his fans to have as much fun listening to the album as he had making it, “This is an Atlanta record!!! There is not just one type of Atlanta artist featured. This record is the ATL experience, welcome to Atlanta baby 4 REAL!”
Underground Atlanta precedes Killer Mike’s as-yet-untitled Grand Hustle debut, which he is currently recording. Mike sees this album as a way to give back to the Atlanta hip hop scene that gave birth to him and made him the artist he is today. Be on the lookout for Underground Atlanta in June on Grindtime Official/ SMC/ Fontana.
THE JACKA “TEAR GAS” June 9 2009t
San Francisco, CA – 06.16.09, a day marked with symbolism and remembrance for one of the greatest Hip Hop icons, the birthday of Tupac Shakur, will also serve as breaking ground for one of the most anticipated rap albums on the West Coast. Following last years successful underground release of The Street Album, which debuted at #91 on Billboard Top 100 – the Jacka will debut his 3rdsolo album entitledTear Gas(Artist Records/SMC) this summer.2008 was an exceptional year for the Jacka that included a #1 single on Bay Area radio stations and an Ozone Award. This was just a preview of what was to come in 2009, the Jacka is ready to take over the nation with his biggest release to date. Tear Gas is being dubbed as this year’s blockbuster album, featuring a host of Hip Hop favorites from coast to coast. Appearances include Freeway, Paul Wall, Cormega, E-40, Devin the Dude, and Mistah F.A.B., with Production from 12 different producers including RobLo, Traxamillion, and Bedrock to create a feel all his own. The first single Glamorous Lifestyle, with its commanding horns, Jacka’s signature melodic flow and cult favorite Andre Nickatina is nothing short of stellar. Other highlighted tracks include the album’s opener, Summer, the Mistah F.A.B assisted Callin’ Me Back and They Don’t Know featuring Freeway.
The hype surrounding this project has created a lane to put the Jacka at the top of the industry spotlight. XXL.com joins in on the Jacka excitement, “He’s ambitious on his tracks and brings you into his world to make you feel his mood just like 50 in his hey-day.” – Infamous O. Will Bronson, VP of A&R-SMC Recordings, chimes in, “Jacka is one of the most important artists to our region right now. The anticipation for Tear Gas is three years in the making and if I can say one thing to those who have been waiting- the hype is real. He delivered the album you’ve been waiting for.
Jacka agrees, “It’s my best work so far for hella different reasons. If you’re into good music and like to tune all the way in, Tear Gas is one of the dopest, if not THE dopest shit to come out.” As the West Coast eagerly awaits this release, the chaos has already caused industry warnings – it’s about to blow.