Friday, August 04, 2006

Loud, Magic, Sedgwick & Cedar

According to sources, SRC Records CEO Steve Rifkind is in negotiations to regain his best known brand name, Loud. Sources told AllHipHop.com that the mogul is planning a relaunch of the Loud brand, including a website and a mobile effort, Loud Mobile. Loud closed its doors in 2002 and Sony acquired the Loud name when it purchased the label from Rifkind, who launched a new label, SRC Records with Universal. Loud Records boasted a roster of numerous Hip-Hop acts, many of which are still recording today. Former artists on the label include Wu-Tang Clan, Xzibit, Mobb Deep, Big Pun, Tha Alkaholiks, Lil' Flip and others.
TVT Records has signed New Orleans rapper Awood "Magic" Johnson and the rapper is preparing his TVT debut, tentatively titled Before & After. Magic, who recorded for C-Murder's Tru Records and Master P.'s No Limit imprint, stated that
music industry politics and bad deals kept his music from reaching the masses. "With TVT Records behind me, I can finally make the mark on this industry I know I was meant to make," Magic said. "TVT's so strong in the South, and together we're gonna take it to the very bottom -- the Ninth Ward!" Magic's debut as a TVT recording artist will hit stores in 2007.
Hip-Hop clothing line Sedgwick and Cedar have announced they have secured World-wide rights to The Twins (Keith and Kevin) two pioneering B-Boys that helped revolutionize breakdancing. Originally known as The N***a Twins in the 1970's, the two have been labeled "founding fathers" of B-Boy culture. “We are inspired by the legendary style Keith & Kevin were well known for, which was a dramatic sense of fashion, including matching outfits, trench coats and often times sporting cigars in their routines,” commented
Ray Riccio, CEO of Sedgwick & Cedar. “They are the founding fathers of the B-Boy movement, one of the most artistic fusions of body and music ever created. It became so connected to the music that it became an essential element of hip hop culture.” Sedgwick & Cedar, which debuted in Spring 2005, features some of the most influential figures in Hip-Hop history that have lent their images and likeness to the clothing line. Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Caz, Melle Mel, Chief Rocker Busy Bee and Sha-Rock have all been tapped to represent and be part of Sedgwick & Cedar.