Pete Rock Premiers New Album, NY’s Finest, on Myspace

New York’s finest producer, Pete Rock, premiered his latest and long anticipated album, NY’s Finest, on Myspace.com today, nearly a week before the album becomes available in stores. NY’s Finest is Pete’s first album in four years and is produced almost entirely by Pete himself, with one track contributed by DJ Green Lantern. Guests include Jim Jones, Styles P and Sheek Louch, Redman, Little Brother, Raekwon, Masta Killa, Papoose, and more. The album hits stores on Tuesday, February 26th via Nature Sounds records. Verizon subscribers can download the album starting this week using their VCast music store, and ringtones are available by texting the SMS codes below on most mobile carriers.

Pete discussed the inspiration and motivation behind NY’s Finest in recent interviews. “To me real music is the key because what’s done from the heart and soul is so important,” Pete explained to All Hip Hop, a theme he touched on again with SixShot.com. “There’s a lot of the music today that sounds just effortless.  It doesn’t stick to you and ten years from now it’s not even a classic.” NY’s Finest draws its inspiration as much from Pete’s status as one of New York’s finest producers, a title he’s earned as the producer behind several of hip hop’s classic tracks, as it does from the city of New York itself. “It’s an inspirational town, so you can’t help but to catch the feeling and do what you gotta do,” Pete commented in Bump Hip Hop.
Pete Rock will be making a string of promotional appearances including LA’s Fat Beats, New York’s Hot 97, NY’s Power 105 morning show, and performances at FYE Jersey City and New York’s Highline Ballroom.

Pete Rock appearances:

Wednesday, Feb 20 – Pete Rock on Sirius Satellite Radio (5:00 PM EST)
Thursday, Feb 21 – Cue Bar – Baltimore, MD (11:00 PM)
Friday, Feb 22 – Fat Beats LA – Los Angeles, CA (8:00 PM)
Saturday, Feb 23 – Mezzanine – San Francisco, CA (8:00 PM)
Sunday, Feb 24 – Pete Rock Live on NY’s Hot 97 (6:00 PM)
Monday, Feb 25 – Pete Rock on Sirius Satellite Radio (6:00 PM EST)
Tuesday, Feb 26 – Pete Rock in-store at FYE Records – Jersey City, NJ (6:00 PM)
Wednesday, Feb 27 – New York’s Power 105 Morning Show (9:00 AM EST)
Wednesday, Feb 27 – All the Right, Queens, NY (4:00 PM)
Wednesday, Feb 27 – Pete Rock on Sirius Satellite Radio (9:00 PM EST)
Thursday, Feb 28 – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY (8:00 PM)
Friday, Feb 29 – Pete Rock on Sirius Satellite Radio (11:00 PM)
Saturday, March 1 – Cop Shop Records – Smithtown, NY (8:00 PM)
Friday, March 7 – The Turntable Club – Baltimore, MD (8:00 PM)

Listen to NY’s Finest:

http://www.myspace.com/peterock
Listen to Pete Rock’s “We Roll” from NY’s Finest (Nature Sounds)
http://dev.theorchard.com/jaclyn/mp3/peterock_weroll.mp3
Listen to Pete Rock’s “Till I Retire” from NY’s Finest (Nature Sounds)
http://dev.theorchard.com/jaclyn/mp3/peterock_tilliretire.mp3

Listen to Pete Rock’s “914” featuring Sheek Louch (Nature Sounds)
http://dev.theorchard.com/jaclyn/mp3/peterock_914_featsheeklouch.mp3
 

Buy “We Roll” featuring Jim Jones
iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=270210979&s=143441
eMusic:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Pete-Rock-We-Roll-Till-I-Retire-MP3-Download/11130971.html
Rhapsody:
http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69185
Napster:
http://free.napster.com/view/album/index.html?id=12700021
Visit Pete Rock online:

http://www.myspace.com/peterock   

Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival Announces 2008 Dates

Brooklyn Bodega, The Room Service Group and Seven Heads Entertainment announce 2008 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival dates February 20, 2008
Brooklyn, NY – After their phenomenal success in 2007 organizers of the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival are expanding the Festival programming for 2008. The Festival is expanding within Brooklyn as well as nation wide. “Producing a Festival in the community is fundamentally different than going to 100 acres in the desert or Randall’s Island,” writes Festival Chair Wes Jackson. “Most homeowners are not thrilled to have 20,000 people outside their window and we understand that. We don’t want that either. Our mission is to create a powerful yet intimate event that can live within the Planet of Brooklyn. So we decided to go deeper into Brooklyn and spread that energy across the borough. To Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Bed Stuy, Downtown and DUMBO.”

In addition, themes that were touched on in 2007 are being given their own space and time in 2008. Last year Brooklyn Bodega partnered with powerHouse Books to help celebrate the anniversary of Wild Style. This year that concept is being rolled into a four week outdoor film series. Screenings will celebrate the legacy of Hip-Hop cinema as well as introduce audiences to some of the fine independent filmmakers in Brooklyn.

The Funk and Soul element of past festivals is also being rolled into a separate day. “We have believed that Hip-Hop is soul, funk, jazz and R&B. Acts from Maya Azucena to El Michels Affair have been crowd favorites since 2005. So we decided to give them their own time to shine,” added Jackson.

The main Festival day will still feature the best of old school, new school, and local acts. Although artists announcement are forthcoming organizers are very excited about the legends and young lions they are looking to bring back to Brooklyn.

The most exiting wrinkle to 2008 is the BHF Tour. After the Brooklyn dates the lineup will hit the road spreading love the Brooklyn way. The BHF Tour it set to hit Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, Raleigh, D.C., and Philadelphia with more dates to be added. “Brooklyn holds a mythical place in Hip-Hop culture. The Brooklyn energy is what inspires us year in and year out. We want to bring that to fans across the country. With the tour we are viewing ourselves as cultural ambassadors.”

Please check www.brooklynbodega.com for news, artist confirmations, and more.

Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival 2008 dates:

June 21st – Nasty Funk and Hot Buttered Soul
A celebration of Hip-Hop’s roots. Featuring the best crate diggers in the game as well as the finest in Neo- Soul

June 13th, 20th, 27th and July 11th – The BHF Film series
Sit out in the park and watch the finest in Hip-Hop cinema. The films the Academy snuffed. We’re talking ‘Juice’, ‘Beat Street’ and ‘New Jack City.’ As well as the finest offerings from Brooklyn’s own indie filmmakers

July 12th – The main Festival Date
The Kings and Queens of Brooklyn return home supported by the next wave from Brooklyn and beyond. In addition the early part of the day will be dedicated to community enrichment and health issues affecting our community including childhood obesity

July 15th to Aug 1st – BHF Tour ‘08
The July 12th lineup will the road. Bringing that BK energy to Chicago, SF, LA, Austin, ATL and more.

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Brooklyn Bodega is best known for producing the annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. The creative collective of writers, illustrators, graphic designers, and filmmakers also work with various brands to help realize the brands’ creative vision. They also maintain a blog/destination site at www.brooklynbodega.com

RSG is the marketing agency of The Room Service Group. RSG works with a diverse array of brands from apparel to gaming to wireless to music. Their reputation for building and executing innovative strategies is unmatched.

Brooklyn Bodega info@brooklynbodega.com

FLYCELL AND ISLAND DEF JAM PARTNER TO CREATE DEDICATED MOBILE CONTENT SERVICE

Flycell, Inc., a leading mobile and online media and entertainment company, and Island Def Jam Music Group have announced an exclusive and pioneering agreement to create IDJ Mobile, a first-of-its-kind, label-centric mobile subscription service. IDJ Mobile will offer fans exclusive online and mobile content like ringtones, graphics, games and text services, as well as label news, artist mobile blogs and sweepstakes for prizes such as VIP backstage passes to concerts.

IDJ Mobile launched today with chart-topping superstar Kanye West as the flagship artist.

“Flycell continues to break the mold in developing innovative new business models and engaging entertainment experiences both mobile and online,” said Alberto Montesi, CEO of Flycell. “Our partnership with Island Def Jam represents an evolution from the traditional off-deck service and brings fans closer to the music and artists they love.”

Under the deal, Flycell will power IDJ Mobile with its state of the art mobile billing and content delivery platform, and promote the service by leveraging and expanding Island Def Jam’s online and mobile presence. Island Def Jam will provide exclusive artist content and ongoing marketing and promotional support online and offline.

“This deal is a great example of Island Def Jam’s strategy to create new and exciting customer experiences and revenue streams in the mobile and online space through partnerships with innovative companies. We look forward to delivering exclusive mobile content by the world-class artists on our roster, starting with Kanye West,” said Christian Jorg, Senior Vice President of New Media and Commerce at Island Def Jam.

IDJ Mobile will be available to Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Virgin Mobile, Boost, Alltel, Cellular One, Metro PCS and Suncom subscribers. Added Adrian Rubio, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Flycell, “Kanye West is without a doubt one of the most important and influential artists of recent years and we are thrilled to have him as the launching act for IDJ Mobile. Like no other before, this service delivers exclusive content and a truly engaging cross-platform experience that goes beyond ringtones to deliver real value to fans.”

About IDJ

The Island Def Jam Music Group is home to a multi-cultural and diverse family of artists and has fast become one of the most successful labels in the industry. It is comprised of Island Records and Def Jam Recordings, and is in partnerships with Disturbing Tha Peace and Slip N Slide. The roster boasts an array of talented artists including Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson,  Kanye West, Fall Out Boy, The Killers, The-Dream, Melissa Etheridge, Jay-Z, LL Cool J, NAS, Bon Jovi, Ludacris, Lionel Richie, Rihanna, Hoobastank, Sum 41, Rick Ross , Young Jeezy and Ne-Yo.

About Flycell Inc.

New York-headquartered Flycell, launched in 2004 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acotel Group (MIL: ACO), is a leading mobile and online media and entertainment destination. Flycell empowers digital lifestyles by delivering personalized “Content on the Fly” to Web and mobile phone users across all U.S. wireless carriers. The company partners with media companies and mobile network operators globally, who utilize Flycell’s cutting-edge multimedia applications and services. Through its Flycell Productions unit, the company also develops and produces digital entertainment for distribution over multiple media platforms, including mobile and online. For more information concerning Flycell visit http://www.flycell.com/.

Urban Network Gears Up for Annual Entertainment-Marketing Summit

Premiering with its first issue back in February of 1988, the Los Angeles-based Urban Network Magazine, is celebrating its 20^th Anniversary. Originally, launched as a trade publication, servicing the Urban radio, music retail and record company landscapes, Urban Network has expanded its brand both as a print magazine and integrated website to target the consumer and music/entertainment industry enthusiast.

The Urban Network is once again proud to announce its return to the Newport Beach Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach, California—the site of the 18^th Annual Urban Network Entertainment-Marketing Summit. This year’s conference, March 26-29, 2008, promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The Summit will feature an array of seminars discussing such issues as the Music Industry’s New Business Models, the State of Urban Radio, Operating a Successful Independent Label, Effectively Marketing Your Music Thru Social Networks, Radio Alternatives for the Indie Artist (i.e. Cable, Satellite and Internet), and a New Media Digital Panel & Breakout Sessions. Starbucks Entertainment president, Kenneth Lombard, is signed on to be a keynote speaker.

The Urban Network Entertainment-Marketing Summit will continue its tradition of celebrating the genre of Gospel Music on Thursday, March 27, including some of the best independent and inspirational talent on the scene.

Ruthless Records, EMI-Capitol Music Group, Warner Elektra Atlantic Distribution and SESAC are hosting showcases throughout the four-day event—highlighting many of their respective top recording artists and songwriters.

The Hip-Hop community will take part in a Hip-Hop Laws of Success panel and Mix-show DJ seminar on Friday, March 28—while indie and unsigned artists will perform at the Annual Independent Music Festival, Saturday, March 29—capping off with an Urban Network 20^th Anniversary Gala & Awards celebration Saturday evening, honoring the Dynamic Duos of Music: producer/songwriters Gamble& Huff, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and brothers Brian & Eddie Holland.

 “To be around for 20 years—especially in today’s unpredictable marketplace—is a milestone to be celebrated, “says Miller London, Urban Network’s President & CEO. “We at the Urban Network are very grateful to the industry and to those who have given their ongoing support; and, we look forward to you all joining us for our Summit in Newport Beach. I suggest you register for your Hotel rooms as well as your Conference registration, immediately; as we have a lot of great surprises in store at this year’s Summit. This is an event you certainly won’t want to miss.”

For more information, an updated schedule of events, panelists, speakers, performers at the Urban Network Entertainment-Marketing Summit, and registration, continue to visit www.urbannetwork.com

Press/Sponsorship inquiries: David Mitchell  dmitchell@urbannetwork.com                                                                  Sponsorship inquiries: Arthur Mitchell    amitchell@urbannetwork.com