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New York, NY, August 17, 2008 –(PR.com)– Some proclaimed hip-hop dead but others beg to differ. Advertising agency SpikeDDB announced a strategic partnership with grassroots hip-hop social network Goldmic.com today. As the debate over the current state of hip-hop blazes, die-hard fans and aspiring artists have turned to Goldmic.com. Riding the Web 2.0 craze and relying exclusively on word of mouth, Goldmic.com has become the new online destination where aspiring hip-hop artists promote their own beats and mix tapes, battle other MCs, upload their videos, and perpetuate the spirit of original hip-hop.
“As a long time advocate of urban culture, I fully understand the global influence hip-hop has had over the past few decades,” says Spike Lee, President and CEO, SpikeDDB. “Goldmic.com’s fearless passion for staying true to the roots of hip-hop makes them an ideal partner for us and those brands who want to ignite passion in consumers.”
“We’re looking at raw creativity here. Its user-generated content allows Goldmic.com to remain 100% unfiltered and provides marketers the opportunity to tap into the quintessential authenticity of urban youth.” says David Lemoine, Managing Partner of Goldmic.com. “We keep editorial control at its minimal, our members run the show. We like to think of Goldmic.com as an open field where tomorrow’s hip-hop talents can flourish.”
“At SpikeDDB, we’re committed to engaging customers on behalf of our clients and are always looking for new and innovative ways to touch the consumer,” adds Joel Johnson, Managing Director, SpikeDDB. “With Goldmic.com we can help brands create valuable and effective connections with a very influential audience.”
X-Dash is a semi-pro rapper from Kansas City. He has already released two albums and opened for renowned artists. He was among the first to join Goldmic.com when he realized that creating a profile was much more efficient than distributing mix tapes in the street. The social network also caught the attention of hip-hop veterans. A founding father of break dancing in the mid-1970s with The Rock Steady Crew and Electric Boogaloos, Bronx native Mr. Wiggles is among those who consider Goldmic.com a promising online venue for urban artists.
“Goldmic.com has emerged organically as the pre-eminent global online community for aspiring hip-hop artist competing for peer recognition, because we empower the hip-hop community” says Lemoine. “At this point, the stage is set for incredible growth and increased interest from advertisers. Goldmic.com boasts 82% of its members fitting the much coveted 18-34 year old demographic. We are a gold mine for brands seeking to connect with this influential consumer group”.
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Aug
rip slyme / tales
New York, NY (PRWEB) August 13, 2008 — After publicly voicing his concerns about not receiving credit for his contribution to Kanye West’s hugely popular “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, Sierra Leone-born, US-based hip-hop artist Chosan has finally resolved his dispute with producer/artist Kanye West and his management team. The parties have resolved the issue for an undisclosed amount and full credit, making Chosan one of the very few African hip-hop artists to be platinum certified for his work.
In September of 2007, after much soul searching, Chosan made his concerns known about not being credited for his vocal contributions to one of Kanye West’s most socially responsible projects. No newcomer to the music scene Chosan is not a stranger to the inner workings of the music industry. However, this mistake struck particularly close to home. Regarding the project, Chosan says “I was thrilled when I got the call from Kanye himself to work on the ‘Diamonds from Sierra Leone’ project. I was proud to give my knowledge and talent to speak on the topic of Blood Diamonds. This was a situation that affected me personally as I still have many family members living in Sierra Leone.” In late 2007 Chosan brought his case to light when he partnered up with producer Lord Itill to release an open letter song titled “Kanye, Tell Me Somethin”. While some labeled the track a “diss song”, Chosan maintains that those who listen to the words of the song will truly understand the message he was trying to communicate.
Almost a year later, Chosan has finally settled his dispute with Kanye and his management at Island Def Jam. About the conflict Chosan says, “I’m happy with the outcome of this situation and appreciate that Kanye and Island Def Jam have resolved this issue. I wish them the best. I took a stand for what was right, and for what I was owed, nothing more, nothing less. Those that know me and my story know that I am prepared to go to world’s end to fight for what I believe is right. I would like to thank and credit my Lawyer Brian Mencher esq., for his hard work and commitment on this case. To my friends, family, peers and fans, that really got what was going on, thank you.”
Chosan continues to make music that speaks to his community. He recently joined Grammy Award winners Angelique Kidjo, Soweto Gospel Choir, and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-stars in a tribute album paying homage to Bono and U2. On the album titled “In the Name of Love: Africa celebrates U2″, U2’s famous song “Desire” gets an African hip-hop twist with Chosan lending vocals as part of the African Underground Allstars.
