Mar 10, 2008 09:39 PM
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Troublemaking "gangsta" rapper Ice Cube made a video taking aim at white-collar wrongdoers like Enron and Halliburton, then promptly partnered with another white-collar, white-run wrongdoer, Microsoft, which has been punished for antitrust violations on two continents and has fomented a virtual army of haters. The business deal, which includes software for Ice Cube's new internet TV network, is quite a turn for a rapper who started out in the late 1980s with raps like "Fuck the Police" and "A Bitch is a Bitch" before moving on to albums in which he called white people "devils," Korean storekeepers "little chop suey ass[es]" and basically issued repeated calls for the overthrow of various levels of government. Of course, Ice Cube and Microsoft executives do share a certain disdain for U.S. law enforcement authorities. After the jump, the press release announcing Ice Cube's hard core partnership with "the Man" of the computing world and an excerpt from his new video, in which Ice Cube name-checks Allah and makes fun of corporate criminals like the one he just went into business with.
HIP HOP LEGEND ICE CUBE READIES FOR
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM “RAW FOOTAGE”
DUE ON JUNE 17TH
AWARD WINNING RAPPER PARTNERS WITH MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT TO BRING LIVE BROADCAST OF SxSW CONCERT PERFORMANCE TO FANS VIA UVNTV.COM
(March 10, 2008) Following a triumphant return to the mic after 6 years in 2006 with the critically acclaimed release of Laugh Now, Cry Later, which debuted at #2 on the R&B/Hip Hop sales chart and #4 on the Top 200 sales chart, making it the years highest selling independent release in hip hop, the Godfather of Gangsta Rap, Ice Cube is ready to take center stage once again with his ninth solo effort. The highly anticipated new album, titled Raw Footage will be released on June 17th courtesy of his own independent imprint, Lench Mob Records.
Raw Footage is expected to include guest features by artists such as Musiq Soulchild, Nas, Scarface and Dub C. The hip hop legend also collaborated with producers Maestro, Emile, DJ Crazy Toones, Fred Wreck, Palumbo Beats, and Teak “Da Beatsmith” Underdue and Dee Underdue to name a few.
Currently in the studio, putting the final touches on Raw Footage, Cube is also gearing up for his own headlining concert at this year’s South by Southwest (SxSW) festival in Austin, TX on March 15th at 8pm CST/9pm EST. Performing for an expected crowd of 20,000 plus fans, Cube will carry out crowd pleasing, classic material along with current hits, which includes the controversial, breakout record, “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” featured on his forthcoming new album.
For those not able to attend the free event, Cube has partnered up with Microsoft Corp. to live stream the performance exclusively on UVNTV.com utilizing their groundbreaking, Silverlight technology, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering richer user experiences on the Web. Co-created by Cube and hip hop legend DJ Pooh, UVNTV is the world’s first real-time streaming television network online, complete with individual channels broadcasting unique content, a TV channel guide and broadband social network.
"We are excited to partner with UVNTV.com and SxSW to bring this live concert into the homes of people globally, using our Silverlight technology which delivers the high-def experiences that Ice Cube's fans will love," said Rob Pulciani, Microsoft’s senior marketing manager. To download Silverlight and watch Cube perform live at SxSW, visit www.uvntv.com. For more information on obtaining tickets to the concert, visit www.sxsw.com.
About Ice Cube
Known to be one of the Most Important figures in rap history, Ice Cube began his career with the Notorious West Coast Gangsta Rap Group N.W.A two decades ago. At the height of the group’s success, Ice Cube broke away to start his own solo career. His initial release, “Amerikkka's Most Wanted” (Priority, 1990) sold over a million copies. His sophomore solo effort, "Death Certificate" (Priority, 1991), a concept album about the fall and rise of the black man, debuted at #1 on the R&B Album chart, #2 on the Top 200 album chart and went on to sell over two million copies. His impressive musical career also includes the multi-platinum success of both his double album “War and Peace,” and hit albums “Lethal Injection,” “Bootlegs & B-Sides,” “The Predator,” and the gold certified, independently released “Laugh Now, Cry Later.” Ice Cube has sold over 10 million albums to date.
About Lench Mob Records
Launched in 2005 by Ice Cube and his management company The Firm, Lench Mob Records is independently owned and operated by Ice Cube.
About UVNTV.com
Launched in early 2008 and co-created by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, UVNTV.com is the world’s first real time streaming television network online. UVNTV revolutionizes television with delivery via the internet utilizing Microsoft Corps’s groundbreaking Silverlight platform, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering richer user experiences on the Web. Through UVNTV’s patent pending database, UVNTV rivals cable and satellite television. Beyond real-time transmission (the first on the net) UVNTV’s channels are capable of full screen DVD quality resolution, Dolby surround sound and comes complete with a channel guide with video window. Over 2 years in the making, founded by entertainers for entertainers and fans alike, UVNTV is home to the next generation of filmmakers, music makers, and onscreen talent. UVNTV is more than Broadband Television; it is a Broadband Social Network.
About Silverlight™
Microsoft® Silverlight™ is a cross-browser, cross-platform technology for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web.
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Send an email to Ryan Tate, the author of this post, at ryan@gawker.com.
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