After 12 years on Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records 50 Cent has parted ways with his label home in lieu of a distribution deal with Caroline/Capitol/UMG, the rap mogul announced Thursday (Feb. 20).

As it stands, 50 is technically a free agent.

A new label agreement means he and G-Unit are no longer tied to Eminem's and Dr. Dre's Shady/ Aftermath imprints, but there are no hard feelings between the parties.

"I have had great success to date with Shady/Aftermath/Interscope and I'd like to thank Eminem and Dr. Dre for giving me an incredible opportunity," 50 said in a statement to the Associated Press.

"I've learned so much from them through the years. I am excited to enter this new era where I can carry out my creative vision."

Em added some words of his own, stating that he is "grateful to have had a chance to play a part in 50's career," and credited the Queens MC with helping grow Shady Records.

"Shady simply would not be what it is without 50 Cent," noted Em.

"I've developed a great friendship with 50 over the years, and that's not going to change. We know 50 will have success in his new situation, and we remain supporters of both him and G-Unit."

50 has sold more than 30 million records on Interscope.

His departure comes after years of very public disagreements with the label, which is home to a host of other rappers including Kendrick Lamar , Game , Chief Keef and French Montana.

In Dec. 2011, 50 threatened to leave the label for delaying his fifth album.

"Ok I tried to be cool with my record company," he tweeted.

"I went to the meeting talk to everyone and s-feels like there [sic] moving in slow motion…I'm sorry to announce I will not be releasing a new album this year if we don't get on the same page."

Though the album never came out, 50's latest business venture will include a digital promotional push for his debut release on Caroline/Capitol/ UMG, Animal Ambition .

The project goes up for pre-order March 18, and will be marketed with weekly videos leading up to the drop date.

Charterhouse, organizers of the prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards and event giant in Ghana, is hitting Ghana again with another uniquely prestigious awards Scheme dubbed: Ghana Entertainment Awards .

Although earlier reports indicated the event was supposed to be launched at the plush, Villa Monticello on Saturday Night, February 22, 2014 at 7pm, George Quaye disclosed the event has been rescheduled to March.

Signing out of The Pundit show on Tuesday February 18, George disclosed a final date has not been set and official communication would be made available as soon as they deemed it necessary.

The scheme seeks to award all sectors of Ghana’s Arts and Entertainment Industry.

This is perceived by professionals in the industry as a step in the right direction considering its diverse scope.

The Ghana Entertainment Awards is an award scheme designed to award people in all the different sectors of the creative arts industry and shall reward excellence in music, movies, radio, TV, fashion, Arts writing, events, sports and many more.

Artiste manager and CEO of Bull Haus Entertainment, Lawrence Nana Asiama Hanson (Bulldog) has warned that he wouldn't hesitate to beat up any artiste he manages should the artiste look down on him.

According to Bulldog, as an artiste manager, he will accord him or her the needed respect in all matters and expects same from the artiste.

Speaking on Rhythmz A-Z on Joy FM Saturday, hosted by Nii Ayi Tagoe, the Bull House CEO stressed that he will physically attack the artiste should the artiste disrespect him.

"It is not a smooth journey and I've always been open with the artistes.

I face my problems but I don't have any artiste looking down on me, when you do that [I will beat you] and I will walk away after punching you," he said.

When Okraku Mantey, who was also a guess on the show, interjected that "so those of us who don't have body" what should they do?, Bulldog quickly advised that, "Then, this is not your field... go to the hospital."

"You are not cut out for this [then] you should be doing gospel music," he added.

Bulldog noted that it takes a lot guts to manage an artiste and if one is not prepared mentally and physically, they shouldn't venture.

Over the years, the Bull House CEO has managed several musicians including VIP, 5Five, Iwan, and Shatta Wale (Bandana), with some of the management contracts ending controversially.

Other panelists - Francis Doku, Nana Turkson, Ken Addy - on the show shared a common view that people should not rush into artiste management without having the needed understanding of the job.

They also urged that there should be a proper agreement between the two parties - the artiste and the manager - before the relationship starts.

Mavin Records artiste, Tiwa Savage, has been quizzed by the police for allegedly humiliating a policeman who apprehended her for violating some provisions of the Lagos state traffic laws.

Savage often referred to as Mavin First Lady, was said to have engaged a policeman who flagged her down for flouting traffic rules in front of Eko Hotels and Suites Victoria Island, on Saturday.

Savage who was recently signed a brand ambassador deal with Forte, allegedly came down from the vehicle she was riding in and confronted the policeman on duty who arrested her.

During the ensuing argument with the cop, Savage who was infuriated by the development was said to have angrily removed the cap of the policeman in a bid to get back at him.

The first African female PEPSI ambassador was reportedly whisked away to the Victoria Island Police Division, for daring to humiliate and assault the policeman.

When contacted, Group publicist for Mavin Records, Terfa Tilley-Gyado, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone.

He said the records label will be issuing a comprehensive statement stating the position of Tiwa Savage and the group on Monday.

“What would you like to know? We are planning to prepare an official statement; definitely not at this time.

The press release will be out on Monday for your Tuesday production.

“I don’t think it will be prudent to use the story until you have the official statement. That is just my own opinion. I think you should wait until you get the official statement,” he said.

Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, could not be reached for comments.

Her telephone rang out when contacted while a text message sent to her was not replied to as at press time.

The highly anticipated D-Black Ciroc Party happening on Saturday 22nd February at DND Lounge / Devino in Osu, is definitely gonna go by it's tag line 'Once in A Blue Moon' as D-Black is set to release the second music video in the set of teaser music videos leading up to his 'Son of God' Album's single releases.

The video for the infectious club banger 'Party Gbee' was shot in Johannesburg, South Africa by Gorilla Films and will be premiered at the D- Black Ciroc Party next week Saturday.

Don't miss out on this 'Once in A Blue Moon' Party hosted by D-Black, the ever sexy and voluptuous Peace Hyde and the man himself KOD with DJ Mic Smith, DJ Breezy and DJ Vision turning up all night long!!

Get your tickets at the gate of DND Lounge / Devino for 30 GHC and VIP 60 GHC.

Concerns about Ghana’s fastest rapper and award winning hip hop artiste, Sarkodie, being a braggart when it comes to his lyrics in recent times has been heeded to by the artiste who expresses guilt in response.

The rap smitten Sarkodie, accepted he was overly indicative of his successes through his lyrics with mentions of riches, cars, travels and women which he accused the nature of the work he does.

The BET Best International Act for Africa revealed on the KSM's TGIF Show that his work hovers around subjects which make up the lyrical content of songs he produces.

He said the period his fans complained about him bragging was when he actually took up the topic of riches while putting himself in the story.

“This is done everywhere and doesn’t mean I am better than others”, he told KSM assuring his fans to expect a different topic in his lyrics this year which would be mainly about his life as Sarkodie.

When asked about his desire for international fame, he said he has been studying the international hiphop terrain and hopes to fuse their beats to the domestic one so as to appeal to the market out there.

He added that he could attend international music events and take pictures with top stars but instead wants to concentrate on making his music better so that he would be looked out for wherever he is to be part of their events.

Source: Ismail Akwei

Drake announced his labelmate's news to New Orleans crowd.

The news was revealed in New Orleans on Friday night (February 14) when Drake brought the rapper onstage at a show at the House Of Blues
venue.

The Canadian star then told the crowd the fifth installment in his labelmate's 'Carter' album series would be released on May 15.

Recently, Young Money's Vice President of Promotion Mel Smith told a college newspaper that
the label was "very close to dropping the album" but wouldn't unveil the date of its release at the time as Lil Wayne wanted to "surprise people".

You can watch footage of Drake's announcement below.

Lil Wayne's last album in the 'Carter' series, 'Tha Carter IV', was released in 2011 and charted at Number Eight in the Official UK Albums Chart.

He was recently confirmed to feature on the forthcoming Young Money compilation, alongside Drake, Nicki Minaj and Christina Milian.

Nicki Minaj stepped into a wave of controversy for the art that accompanies her latest single, “Lookin A** N****.”

She posted it to her Instagram account, revealing that the artwork would include a photo of civil rights leader Malcolm X taken for Ebony magazine in 1964.

In the photo, X is holding a gun and peeking out the blinds of a window.

The uproar came after the meaning of Malcom X’s placement in the image was construed to refer to him as the titular object referred to, when Minaj’s apology detailed that she meant for X to be the person looking down on the type of gentlemen she would refer to as “Lookin A** N*****.”

Minaj addressed the controversy in a caption to her Instagram account accompanying a still image from the video for the same song.

After a period of massive voting by Fans of the African Dancehall King and Multiple Award winning Artiste; Samini, in a statement released by Blackcanadians.com, has been shortlisted in the final list of the Best Six Nominees- Best International Act for the 2014 Black Canadian Awards to be held on the 1st of March 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, Canada.

This feat is largely due to the commitment and overwhelming support of the fans of Samini and the HighGradeFamily community, who continue to repose trust in Samini and want him entrenched as a Legend in the books of DanceHall Music in Africa.

Fans are however encouraged to visit from the 13th of February at 11:59pm www.blackcanadianawards.com to vote massively for Samini to win the ultimate crown of Best International Act in the Black Canadian Awards when voting commences.

The Black Canadian Awards instituted by the Largest Black Canadian Community in Canada is to Honour Outstanding People who have contributed immensely in various facets of life in this period marking the Black History Month.

To the fans and the community of people who support Samini, The voting period for the Nominees starts on February 13, to February 26, 2014 at 11:59pm.

This friendly competition is fierce, so we expect a record level of public participation through the voting process and attendance and we encourage fans to vote massively from the 13th of February at 11:59pm when voting begins for Samini to win the ultimate crown of Best International Act.

After months of negotiations, Accra based radio station Pluzz 89.9fm has secured the rights from Merqury Republic to broadcast the second annual 2014 Ghana DJ Awards in real time to listeners across the globe for the first time on February 22.

Under the agreement, Pluzz FM secured a package to broadcast the Ghana DJ Awards, airing pre-event interviews, including the pre-event jam and backstage interviews on February 22 from the Ghana National Theatre.

The Ghana DJ Awards this year will feature unprecedented access for fans to the event, with Pluzz 89.9fm and Merqury Republic launching Ghana DJ Awards Live, which will look to bring music fans multiplatform access to all the VIP and backstage events leading up to and throughout the Ghana DJ Awards 2014.

The live broadcast will also go live well in advance of the main ceremony on Saturday February 22, offering fans to enjoy a massive build up to the event.

Ghana DJ Awards Live will begin on Saturday at 4pm on Pluzz 89.9fm as well as Pluzz899.comand will continue right through to the main event and beyond.

This year's Ghana DJ Awards will see about 23 awards presented across a huge range of categories, and Ghana DJ Awards Live broadcast on Pluzz 89.9fm will provide fans with a diverse range of access options including chances to win fantastic giveaways live on radio.

The 2014 Ghana DJ Awards Rhythm Nation hosted by Klint De Drunk comes off at the Ghana National Theatre on Saturday February 22 at 7pm.