Yesterday, it was reported by Complex that former CEO of Warner Music Group and founder of 300 Entertainment, Lyor Cohen, would be leaving his current role with 300 Entertainment for the position of Global Head of Music with YouTube.

YouTube and it’s music team are in the midst of creating a similar music streaming service to Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music. Which is why Cohen’s transition from 300 Entertainment will be beginning sooner rather than later, and according to sources should conclude by December 2016.

Cohen’s outspoken personality, and reputation has made him into one of the most recognizable executives in the music industry. This is exactly what YouTube is after, considering the streaming platform and artists alike haven’t been on the best of terms in recent years.

Earlier this year, the RIAA released an article that did not hold YouTube in favorable light, and individually called them out for their “meager” revenue compensation to the music industry. While other streaming services such as Apple Music, Tidal and Spotify, have been engaged in heated competition over the last couple of years, in 2015 YouTube alone is responsible for 50% of music streamed. This undoubtedly makes YouTube the most used platform for streaming music in the world, and could make for one game-changer of a streaming service.

According to a letter written to YouTube’s music team, Cohen illustrates 3 points of focus for his new position:

First, helping the music community embrace the technological shifts we’re seeing in music today so we can help take the confusion and distrust out of the equation.

Second, building on the great work you all have done to help the music industry and creative community break new songs and artists to YouTube’s audience of over 1 billion fans. From building on the success of the YouTube Music app, to shining a light on emerging artists, I believe our potential to strengthen the industry is massive.

And third, I hope that together we can move towards a more collaborative relationship between the music industry and the technologies that are shaping the future of the business.

With the aggressive expansion of streaming services within the last decade, its no surprise YouTube wants a piece of the pie. What is surprising however, is that it has taken them this long. This could be a chance for YouTube to approach the platform differently from the competition and ultimately change the rigid and war-torn arena that is music subscription services.

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As we draw ever closer to the release of Young Thug‘s hotly anticipated Jeffery mixtape, 300 Entertainment chief Lyor Cohen recently dropped a bombshell. During a sit-down with Elliott Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller on their Rap Radar Podcast. Young Thug will be changing his name, the moniker the industry and fans alike have grown to know and love.

“Young Thug is not going to be Young Thug anymore. His new name is going to be ‘No My Name Is Jeffery.’ ‘No My Name Is Jeffery.’ That’s his new name.”

The hosts, obviously taken aback began to chuckle, but Cohen quickly emphasized how important this transition is, urging the pair to be supportive.

“Please, respect us to actually segue and utilize his name going forward, okay? Because it’s important…”

Young Thug has enjoyed a slew since earning his position in the mainstream spotlight. After inking a deal with Brick Squad 1017 and then signing a management deal with Cash Money. He eventually found a home at Lyor Cohen’s 300 Entertainment label in 2014 where he has since remained. Cohen also announced that they are currently filming a commercial for No My Name Is Jeffery, and that once it drops, everybody will understand what exactly it is that 300 Entertainment does. We look forward to its release.

All eyes will firmly be on No My Name Is Jeffery and the rest of the 300 crew. Listen to the entire interview here.

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We’ve all heard the stories of record labels and the ups and downs being contracted with one may cause.  Here and now BET network is taking us all behind the scenes of some of the greats.  Tonight, May 17th at 8:00 ET and 9:00 ET make sure to tune into the first part of the eight-episode-docs-series.  Uptown Records is the first up in the spotlight to dig into all the dirt, good and bad with a Part I and Part II episode of the journey.  Some of Hip Hop’s most iconic labels will be featured  in the eight-week series for one-hour long like, Grand Hustle, Loud Records, Slip-N-Slide, Terror Squad, Ruff Ryders, Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP), and Murder Inc.  

Founder, Andre Harrell will be among the industry insiders like, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and Guy’s Teddy Riley and Damion Hall giving they’re unique takes on Uptown’s success, legacy, and so much more.  We can expect to see some never-before-seen footage in an up close, first-person narrative kinda way.  The series is executive produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions and DTP co-founders Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Bridges’ manager Chaka Zulu, and Jeff Dixon.

“The dreams and visions; the successes and failures … we want young aspiring entrepreneurs to have a blueprint as to what really goes on in this business and understand how much work it takes,” says DTP’s Dixon of the inspiration behind the series. “We [as African-Americans] also want to document our own history, especially in this industry. This is like our natural resource. No one can tell these stories like us.”

According to Billboard, these are some of the other power players that will be “playing” in each episode of Inside the Label:

Uptown Records: Andre Harrell, Diddy, Jay Z, Mary J. Blige, Babyface, Teddy Riley, Damion Hall, Brett Ratner, Laurieann Gibson, Robin Thicke, Sanaa Lathan, Doug E. Fresh, Al B. Sure, Eddie F, Kim Porter, Father MC, Jeff Redd and Monifah.

Grand Hustle: T.I., Jason Geter, Young Dro, Kevin Liles, Lil Duval, Killer Mike, DJ Toomp and B.O.B.

Loud Records: Steve Rifkind, RZA, Xzibit and E-Swift.

Slip-N-Slide Records: Ted Lucas, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina and DJ Khaled.

Terror Squad: Fat Joe, DJ Khaled, Noreaga, Cool & Dre and Jesse Terrero.

Ruff Ryders: Joaquin Dean, Darren Dean, Chivon Dean, Swizz Beatz, Eve, The Lox, Irv Gotti, Drag On, DJ Clue, DJ Kool Herc, Lyor Cohen and Jimmy Iovine.

Disturbing Tha Peace: Ludacris, Chaka Zulu, Jeff Dixon, Chingy, Bobby Valentino, Shareefa, Lil Scrappy, Bangladesh, Lil Fate, I-20 and Poon Daddy.

Murder Inc.: Irv Gotti, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Jay-Z, Charlie Baltimore, Kevin Liles and Lyor Cohen.

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Even though the beat was only released a few days ago, Scott has already declared this as the first instrumental on his upcoming album. Scott recently tweeted “This actually The intro Tom My álbum” in reference to Mike Dean’s latest creation (see below). Judging from the prominent spelling and grammatical errors, its likely Scott was in the midst of turning up while hearing it for the first time.

Unfortunately, that’s about all we have at the moment. With no official album title or release date for Scott’s sophomore album, things still seem largely up in the air. However, Lyor Cohen of 300 Entertainment, has recently commented on the upcoming project, calling it a “classic.” This is now leading fans to suspect the project is most likely closer to completion than previously thought, and considering Travis Scott’s cryptic and alternative style, there’s a good chance we may have another surprise drop on our hands. Listen to the entire instrumental below.

@therealmikedean This actually The intro Tom My álbum https://t.co/nGUPOJvyrX

— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) April 20, 2016

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Crenshaw rep and current RESPECT. Magazine cover story, Nipsey Hussle stopped by Power 106’s The Cruz Show, where he got into everything from chopping it up with Jay-Z and Lyor Cohen to building his new four-room studio. During the interview, Nipsey describes his fans as some of the most hard-working, ambitious fans an artist could have, which isn’t all too surprising considering the fact that like-minded individuals tend to gravitate towards each other.

Nipsey also discusses getting major love from the East Coast, collaborating with Jonah Berger, author of the book Contagious (where got some of his boss marketing ideas from) and taking his time with his debut album, “Victory Lap.” Check it out below and be sure to get your tickets to Powerhouse 2015 if you’re in the L.A. area. The show will feature both veteran and emerging artists, such as Kanye West, Ludacris, Tech N9ne, Ty Dolla $ign, Logic and of course, Crenshaw’s finest, Nipsey Hussle.

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The Grammy Award winning producer Steve Morales, who has worked with talents like Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z, Birdman, Jeezy among others, is now making music exclusively at the brand new Amoe Studios in NYC.

More info and pics after the jump

Co-owned by Aja Patterson, one of Lyor Cohen assistants and M.O. an aspiring artist, Amoe features a fully digital studio with the newest SSL Matrix and the dope U87 microphone.

We all know how artists like to spend endless hours hibernating in the studio and Amoe’s most prominent feature is the comfort it offers, “it’s like being at a home studio without being home,” described Oliphant. It’s all about the vibe at Amoe and with a hanging flat screen tv, fireplace and artwork with views of New York City from above it’s hard to not feel at home the moment you walk through the door.

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Hip-Hop and Jews have always had a special relationship.

Most recently we’ve heard Kanye drop the name of one of our favorite Israeli’s Lyor Cohen in  Devil in a New Dress, watched Drake spill the details of his bar mitzvah in various interviews and read about Shyne, Diddy’s protege who recently converted, on the cover of The New York Times arts section (and on this very blog).

Well now it’s time you learn about Y-Love. Yitzchak Jordan converted to Judaism as a young man and got into the hip-hop game while studying Talmud (a central text of Jewish law written in the form of conversations between Rabbi’s) at his Yeshiva (Jewish school) in Israel. To help study and memorize the texts, Y-Love and his learning partner would rap the words back and forth. These important words of the Talmud were the dawn of a journey that would eventually lead Y-Love to wining the 2006 Jewish Music Award for Best Hip-Hop over the well known reggae artist Matisyahu.

Today, an album (This is Babylon) and EP (The Change) later, Y-Love has joined forces with Diwon a producer and DJ to tour around the globe spreading his message of unity and understanding to open-minded people all over the world. Y-Love raps in as many as 5 languages  including: Hebrew, Arabic, Latin, Aramaic and English.Y-Love’s latest inspiration comes from Nicki Minaj, the next big thing in female MCs, and as he flips through his rhyme book, her name is written on the top of almost every page.

Now its time for you to step out of the little box you previously thought of hip-hop and expand your mind. Y-Love is about change the way you view the world through his rap game and delicious lyricism. Maybe one day he’ll end up in Young Money with his biggest inspiration a fellow Jew…This is what happens when worlds collide.

To learn more about Y-Love click HERE.

You can also find him on MySpace and Facebook.

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