(From Bad Boy Entertainment) Sean ``Puffy'' Combs has seen the future of hip hop, rock, pop and R&B--and it is FOREVER, as the title of the long-awaited second album by Puff Daddy proudly proclaims to his legions of fans across the universe. The album has been scheduled for August 24th release on Puffy's Bad Boy Records.
Clive Davis commented, ``This more than meets the very high expectations we all had for Puffy's second album. It's hot, unique, cutting edge, and best of all it's Puffy trailblazing, staying ahead of the pack and demonstrating once again that he's a musical leader who can't be pinned down, categorized or underestimated.''
``In my opinion the FOREVER album showcases Puff as a masterful artist and producer. His album is a showcase of many different rap music styles featuring the best rap artist of this time,'' says Bad Boy Entertainment's President, Andre Harrell.
FOREVER is full of Bad Boy hits that characterized No Way Out, its 7-times platinum predecessor of 1997 (which hit No. 1 in 18 countries around the world). The album collectively earned gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards in nearly two dozen territories worldwide on the strength of record setting singles ``I'll Be Missing You,'' ``Can't Nobody Hold Me Down,'' ``It's All About the Benjamins,'' and ``Victory.''
The new album boasts a world-class crew of guest contributors on the first single ``PE 2000.''(Click Here to listen) Puffy has produced three versions of ``PE 2000'': the hip hop original, a Spanish language edition (in which he raps en Espanol!), and a rock remix co-starring Chuck D. The single is set to be in-store after July 4th weekend.
The video for ``PE 2000'' was produced from a concept developed by Puffy and director Martin Weisz. The video is described as a trend-setting 32-camera shoot, as ``old school hip hop meets new millennium technology!'' Completely different videos (with different directors) will be produced for the Spanish version (to include footage from Puffy's appearance at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City) as well as the rock remix version.
In addition to ``PE 2000,'' the new album features a number of contributing artists and producers. Among the highlights:
The Source Award Show to Air August 20 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) on UPN
Spotlighting hip-hop music's most popular recording and performing artists, lyricists and producers, while also recognizing the genre's synergy with R&B and its impact on motion pictures, the nominations for ``The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards'' were announced Tuesday at the Peninsula Hotel in New York.
On hand to announce the nominees were hip-hop artist, producer and record-label founder Sean ``Puffy'' Combs; rap artist Queen Latifah; R&B star Mary J. Blige; fashion model Tyson Beckford; and Interscope Records executive Steve Stoute.
Nominations for ``The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards'' -- the first-ever network television awards show dedicated to the genre -- were determined by the editors of The Source magazine and are comprised of the leading hip-hop contributors from the previous year.
The winners, to be determined by consumers and a panel of influential radio DJs, will be announced in a star-studded awards show at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, August 18, subsequently airing as a special presentation Friday, August 20 (8-10 p.m., ET/PT) on UPN.
To be eligible for nomination, recorded material must have been released between April 1, 1998, and March 31, 1999.
The nominees are:
Artist of the Year, Solo Jay-Z (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) DMX (Def Jam) Master P (No Limit/Priority) Busta Rhymes (Elektra) Snoop Dogg (No Limit/Priority) Artist of the Year, Group Outkast (LaFace/Arista) The Roots (MCA/Universal) A Tribe Called Quest (Jive) Gang Starr (Noo Trybe/Virgin) Goodie Mob (LaFace/Arista) New Artist of the Year, Solo Big Pun (Loud/RCA) Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse/Columbia) Juvenile (Cash Money/Universal) Noreaga (Penalty/Tommy Boy) Eminem (Aftermath/Interscope) New Artist of the Year, Group Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz (Codeine/Columbia) Black Star (Rawkus) Flipmode Squad (Elektra) Harlem World (So So Def/Columbia) Black Eyed Peas (Interscope) Single of the Year "Can I Get A ..." -- Jay-Z w/Ja Rule & Amil (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) "Ha" -- Juvenile (Cash Money/Universal) "Still Not A Player" -- Big Pun w/Joe (Loud/RCA) "Whatcha Gonna Do" -- Jayo Felony w/DMX & Method Man (Def Jam) "It Ain't My Fault" -- Silkk The Shocker (No Limit/Priority) "Money Ain't A Thing" -- Jermaine Dupri w/Jay-Z (So So Def/Columbia) Album of the Year Jay-Z, Hard Knock Life (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) DMX, It's Dark and Hell is Hot (Def Jam) Outkast, Aquemini (LaFace/Arista) 8Ball, Lost (Suave House/Universal) Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse/Columbia) Master P, MP Da Last Don (No Limit/Priority) Lyricist of the Year Big Pun (Loud/RCA) DMX (Def Jam) Jay-Z (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam) Redman (Def Jam) Dre of Outkast (LaFace/Arista) Producer of the Year Swizz Beats Beats By The Pound Track Masters/L.E.S. DJ Premier DJ Scratch R&B Artist of the Year TLC (LaFace/Arista) R. Kelly (Jive) Mya (University/Interscope) Brandy (Atlantic) Dru Hill (Island) Video of the Year "I'll Bee Dat," Redman (Def Jam), director: Little X "What U See," Xzibit (Loud/RCA), director: Gregory Dark "Turn It Up," Busta Rhymes (Elektra), director: Paul Hunter "Is It You? (Deja vu)," Made Men w/ Master P (Restless), director: Dave Meyers "What's It Gonna Be," Busta Rhymes w/Janet Jackson (Elektra), director: Hype Williams Live Performer of the Year Outkast (LaFace/Arista) Busta Rhymes (Elektra) DMX (Def Jam) Method Man/Redman (Def Jam) The Roots (MCA/Universal) Movie of the Year Player's Club (New Line) I Got The Hook-Up (No Limit) Belly (Artisan) He Got Game (Touchstone) Honorees were also announced in three categories: Lifetime Achievement Award -- Russell Simmons Pioneer Award (three winners) -- Kool DJ Herc -- Afrika Bambaataa -- Grandmaster Flash The Source Sports Athlete of the Year Award -- Shaquille O'Neal
According to David Mays, publisher of The Source, ``We are proud to recognize so much talent within the hip-hop genre, which is not only the top-selling musical format in America but also the dominant sound of youth culture. The climate in hip-hop today is one of collaboration and appreciation across geographic lines.''
The Source, begun a decade ago as a simple one-page newsletter, is now the number one selling music magazine on America's newsstands. Among the brand's divisions and activities is The Source Youth Foundation.
Founded primarily to provide assistance and opportunities to the hip-hop community in the areas of education, sports and recreation, arts and entertainment, and entrepreneurial spirit, the Foundation is committed to help non-profit organizations that benefit youth, and to address some of the ills that many artists rap about in their songs.
``The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards'' is a production of Tall Pony Productions and Source Entertainment. David Mays, Anthony Eaton and Michael Elliot are the executive producers.
DATE
6/25 & 6/26 |
CITY
Los Angeles, CA |
VENUE
Universal Amphitheater |