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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > April > 18
Friday, April 18, 2008
If Akon’s Not Really A Heavyweight Ex-Con…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now that The Smoking Gun has reported that Atlanta rapper-singer-producer Akon apparently embellished his convict past, other questions arise, including:
Do you think Akon really trades on an image as a one-time head of a carjacking ring? Sure, his first major single was “Locked Up”, and he calls his record imprint Konvict Muzik, but isn’t he better known for more sex-minded tunes like “I Wanna Love You” and “Smack That”, or the relationship-centered hit “Don’t Matter”? And does it matter to you now if the Grammy nominee made up part of his past?
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Jermaine Dupri’s New Record Deal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The head of So So Def Records and the Island Urban division now apparently has yet another record label imprint to run.
That’s right, Atlanta’s Jermaine Dupri will serve a president of a new, New York-based, hip-hop record label called TAG Records; a partnership beween Island Def Jam Music Group and Proctor & Gamble’s TAG body sprays.
“Today, we make history in the music industry with TAG Records,” Dupri said in a statement, when the deal was announced. “This label is going to provide new artists with a chance of a lifetime. New artists will receive ten times the typical marketing support — a first in the industry. I’m hand selecting and molding these artists to make history in hip-hop.”
Dupri did help make history when So So Def artist Da Brat became the first female rapper to sell a million albums. Do you think he can mine new gold (or platinum) in hip-hop? Or are his strengths these days in pop (Mariah Carey) and R&B (Usher)?
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Dallas Austin in Athens Tonight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You probably know Dallas Austin, the TV producer — after Peachtree TV’s “Dallas Austin Presents Drumroll:SWD”.
There’s a good chance you know Dallas Austin, the film producer — after the success of his debut film “Drumline”.
And of course there is Dallas Austin, the music producer — Grammy-winning producer at that, who has worked with everyone from TLC to Madonna, Boyz II Men to Natalie Cole, and Aretha Franklin to Gwen Stefani.
But you really have to be steeped in Atlanta Music Scene history to know Dallas Austin, the performer. Yes, he was once a part of a group called the Highland Place Mobsters, which was signed to Atlanta’s LaFace Records.
And who knows — Austin just may revisit some of the material from their lone CD, “1746DCGA30035”, tonight when he and Novel, Colin Munroe, Sy Scott and other local talents join forces tonight in Athens’ legendary 40 Watt Club, for what is being billed as The Dallas Austin Experience.
The show marks one of the rare times Austin - a longtime behind-the-scenes player — actually takes the stage. Are you planning to head to Athens for the event? What’s your favorite Austin production — TLC’s “Unpretty”, perhaps? Or maybe Pink’s “Just Like A Pill”? And do you actually remember the Highland Place Mobsters?
