Jermaine Dupri... On Apple iTunes

More artists and producers are gonna take back control of how their art is sold because [Jay-Z’s] strategy has paid off. Maybe Hova coulda sold another 100,000 to 200,000 units by playing it iTunes’ way, but he still had the number one album last week. He STILL sold 425,000 units. Even more, he’s proven you can still sell an album without those guys.

Jay made everyone realize that iTunes taking what we give them and doing what they want with it isn’t the way it has to be. He put the light on and made other people realize, “Oh these guys are just selling our music, they ain’t making it.” If anything, WE made iTunes. It’s like how we spent $300,000 to $500,000 each on our videos and MTV and BET went ahead and built an entire video television industry off of our backs. We can’t let that happen again. These businesses exist solely because of our music. So if we as artists, producers and label executives stand up, those guys at Apple can either cooperate, or have nothing for people to buy and download on their iPods.

Apple thinks that’s never gonna happen. They think that we as the record industry will never stick together. But Universal sells one out of every three records. All it’ll take is for Warner Music to say, “You know what, I’m with you,” for us to shut ‘em down. No more iPods! They won’t have nothin’ to play on their players! We can take back the power if we’re willing to sacrifice some sales to make our point.

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News: The Clipse Sign to Colombia Records

Finally the Clipse are free from boy band heaven... Jive Records - It was obvious that things were not going well... Who would want to be in a label thats just using you for tax write off. Lets hope the Urban department over at Colombia do right by the Clipse. I hope Rick Ruben takes interest in them... Imagine that

This will mark the first time that a Clipse album will not be entirely produced by longtime friends and collaborators The Neptunes. Instead, they have plans to work with Timbaland, Danjahandz and Dame Grease. “I can honestly say that we were all friends before the music and will be friends to the end,” Malice told Billboard of his relationship with the Neptunes. “Everything is business. If we had our way, we would always be on Star Trak. But it’s what’s working for you and what’s not. We just want good energy, and Columbia has both the urgency and the muscle.” Check the rest of the Story @ XXL