10. Ciara vs. Jive Records

Following countless delays, Ciara decided she had had enough of the setbacks Jive placed in front of her. She took to her Facebook page to complain about the label’s lack of promotion. Ciara stated she had to pay to promote her single, “Gimme Dat,” out of her own pocket. Jive’s lack of faith in the Atlanta singer/songwriter led her to request for their contract to be terminated. A few weeks later, Ciara’s name disappeared from Jive’s roster of talent and her website, Ciarasworld.com, had been shut down. The virtual erasing of Ciara’s ties with Jive led many to speculate she had been dropped. After all, those rumors were floating around before Ciara decided to blast them on her Facebook page. Inquiring minds are still searching for details concerning the deterioration of their relationship.

9. Jill Scott vs. Hidden Beach Recordings

Our soul sista, Jill Scott has had a seemingly controversy free. Our love affair with Jill almost came to a screeching halt earlier this year when she and Hidden Beach Recordings were embroiled in a nasty lawsuit. The label’s head honcho claimed the neo-soul singer stopped recording for the company before her six album deal had expired. Scott countersued citing Steve McKeever, the label head, cost her millions in profits. Before the situation could get out of hand, the two came to an agreement. Jill was allowed to leave and signed a deal with Warner Brothers Records, which distributed her fourth effort. Hidden Beach will release a 10 song project entitled “Just Before Dawn: Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1.” Why can’t cooler heads prevail in all of these situations?

8. The Clipse vs. Jive Records

In 2003, One of the casualties of the merger between BMG and Sony Music Entertainment was The Clipse. Signed to Pharrell’s Star Trak imprint, the Virginia rap duo was legally forced to stay on Jive when Star Trak moved its distribution deal over to Interscope. Jive, known more for having success with pop acts, allowed The Clipse to finish working on their second album without having any intention of delivering it to the public. Tensions between the group and the label mounted until Malice and Pusha T asked for a formal release. When Jive denied their request, The Clipse took the issue to court. As litigation took place, the duo started dropping the mixtape series, We Got It 4 Cheap. By the end of 2006, Jive relented by releasing Hell Hath No Fury, in conjunction with The Clipse’s Re-Up Records.

7. 112 vs. Bad Boy Records

People question how Diddy can be a label executive when he wants to be an artist himself. That has been the basis of quite a few artists leaving Bad Boy Records. 112 was one of the biggest male R&B groups in the late 90s and early 2000s. After having a hit album with Part III, the boys of 112 decided they were men and needed to take a stand. Slim, Q, Mike, and Daron felt Bad Boy no longer suited the mature adults they’d become. Despite all parties’ calling the decision amicable, many believed 112 signed with Def Soul for more creative control over future projects.  Being the legal gangster he is, Diddy worked out a deal to where 112 would be represented by both companies for the release of Pleasure & Pain. Amid rumors of internal strife, 112 parted ways in 2007 and Def Jam dropped them from their roster.

6. JoJo vs. Da Family Entertainment

In 2006, JoJo was at the top of her game. She had a Top 10 hit with “Too Little, Too Late” and was crafting tracks for her next album. By 2009, new songs hadn’t materialized. JoJo posted messages on her Myspace page informing her fans it was Da Family Entertainment who was holding up the new disc. Later that year, she filed a lawsuit against the boutique company. The singer alleged her label wouldn’t let her out of her contract or allow her in the studio to record new songs. An agreement was finally reached in January of 2010. JoJo’s future albums would be distributed through Interscope Records. If you’re wondering where the new album is, it’s slated to hit shelves this coming fall.

5. Consequence vs. G.O.O.D. Music

The beef between Kanye West and Consequence is a personal one that spilled over into business. When Kanye debuted in 2004, Consequence was there. He helped with lyrics and concepts for each of Kanye’s works, save My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. While the squabbles between the two remained under wraps for a moment, Consequence grew tired of playing a secondary role when he was promised a starring one. Cons has alleged he hasn’t received credit for the work he contributed to West’s albums. Another thorn in the side of this relationship is Consequence’s sophomore disc being delayed by Kanye and Q-Tip’s dragging of their feet. Consequence has left G.O.O.D. Music and created his own label called Band Camp. To add insult to injury, he changed the title of his next album from Cons TV to Get Even. I wonder who’s the target for that dagger.

4. Faith Evans vs. Bad Boy Records

As one of the flagship artists on Diddy’s label, Faith Evans wasn’t as big a name she should have been. Faith recorded some of the biggest R&B hits for  the company. the issue for her was the same issue 112 had with Sean Combs. She felt there was a conflict of interest. How could the person supposed to guide your career do their job effectively  when they were trying to be and artist themselves? After the moderate success that was the Faithfully album, Faith made history by becoming the first contemporary R&B singer contracted to Capitol Records.

3. The Lox vs. Bad Boy Records

When you talk about being out of place, The Lox signing with Bad Boy Records is prime example. The Lox found themselves fighting to be rid of the Bad Boy image. Shiny suits and big budgeted video didn’t fit the rugged outlook of the Yonkers rap trio. Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch wanted to work with Ruff Ryders label because they had a harder image which fit The Lox’s attitude. After venturing down all legal avenues to no avail, they took it to the streets. The group started a grassroots movement with t-shirts emblazoned with “Let The Lox Go.” Diddy relented, yet kept some of their money from their future earnings.

2. Michael Jackson vs. Sony Music

Michael Jackson’s last full length album he recorded was the 2001 disc, Invincible. Before its release, Jackson and Sony were at odds over the artist’s master recordings. Michael was supposed to receive the masters to all of his work in 2000. However, there were clauses in the agreement which made sure Jackson didn’t get his masters for another 20 years. MJ discovered the lawyer representing him in the matter also worked for Sony. After unearthing the shady practices of Sony Music, Michael sought an early exit from his contract. When Jackson informed the label he was leaving the company after Invincible was finished being promoted, Sony suspended all promotions for the project.

1. Prince vs. Warner Brothers Records

Prince has never been one to shy away from controversy–be it rocking chaps with the butt cut out on national television. One of the most attention grabbing moments in Prince’s career was when he etched ‘slave’ in his face when he began to feel Warner Brothers was stifling his creativity. When Warner Brothers wouldn’t let Prince out of his contract, he began dropping albums in rapid succession to fill the requirements of his deal. How’s that for there being more than one way to skin a cat?

Brooklyn Residents Remember Biggie Fourteen Years Later

WBW Honors: Booker T. Washington

WBW Honors: Medgar Evers

The song featured Biggie’s wife Faith Evans and labelmates 112 lamenting the loss of their loved one over a sample of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.”

“I’ll Be Missing You” was an instant success, debuting at number one on Billboard’s pop charts.

Bad Boy had a roster of artists most labels would die for including Mase, Total, Biggie, Faith Evans, Craig Mack,112, G-Dep, Black Rob and The Lox. Bad Boy sold over 65 million records with these artists alone!

And then there was The Roc! Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Amil, Beanie Siegel, Freeway, DJ Clue, and Cam’ron all threw up the signature “diamond.”

Bad Boy had Biggie while the Roc had Jay, both labels had one of the best rappers ever. Bad Boy has Diddy and Roc-a-fella had Dame Dash. Diddy coined the “shiny-suit” era and Dame changed fashion with Rocawear.

Both labels were trendsetters but who did it bigger and better?

Batting for Bad Boy:
Biggie – Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems

112 – Cupid

Mase – Tell Me What You Want

Faith Evans – You Used To love Me

Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear Remix

Total – Kissing You

The Lox – Money, Power, Respect

Batting For Roc-A-Fella:
Memphis Bleek – Do My

Jay-Z & Amil- Do It Again

Jay-Z & Amil- Can I Get A

Jay-z & Memphis Bleek- Hey Papi

Freeway – What We Do

Memphis Bleek – Is That Yo Chick?

Jay-Z & Amil – Jigga What, Jigga Who

We all love Jay-Z but in this case Diddy takes the cake with his Bad Boy hits.

THROWBACK :90′s Spring Time Hits

They shared many common traits, such as multi- platinum albums, support from super producers, (Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, Daryl Simmons) and too many members to remember their names. Nonetheless, these men were extremely talented. Their harmonies attracted panties like magnets, their love ballads were Valentine’s and Wedding Day staples, and their uptempo songs kept dance floors packed from coast to coast.

In our eyes all of these groups are special but for this particular argument, there can only be one winner. They shall be judged on four categories: Lead Singer, Panty Dropping Ability, Swag, and Dance Ballads

Category 1: Lead Singer

Brian Casey(J.E) Vs. Slim(112) Vs. Sisqo (Dru Hill):

This is hard because Brian’s voice is so strong, so manly and demanding, but Sisqo and Slim have a rare softness and higher tone to their voice. That breakdown at the end of Cupid (2:47) gave me slight goosebumps so he takes that one! As for their background vocals, Jagged Edge wins because every single one of those men can sing their a**es off!

Category 2: Panty Dropping Ability
Let’s break out the sex songs…
112

J.E

Dru Hill

Well for the most part everyone thought Sisqo had a little sugar in his tank so thinking about him and sex would be pointless, that leaves J.E and 112. 112 inches by Jagged Edge by a nose in this category. “Hot and Wet” was so bold and no holds barred!
Category 3: Swag
After reviewing all the videos, hands down Jagged Edge was very “swagtastic.” Their dances were laid back and they didn’t all match like their clothing was made from one garment.

Category 4: Dance Ballads
112

Jagged Edge

Dru Hill

Dru Hill had Jermaine Dupri behind their remix and because of that they slide by the other boys.

And the winners are: Jagged Edge! Who do you think deserves to win?

As former label mates in the ‘90′s with Bad Boy Records, R&B group 112 and Notorious B.I.G. spent a good amount of time together touring and recording in the studio. Collaborating on the hit singles “Only You” and “Sky’s the Limit,” it pained the four-man crew to see Biggie go at the peak of his career.

With B.I.G.’s legacy resurrecting through the new biographical movie, Notorious, former 112 member Michael Keith spoke to HipHopDX about one particular gesture from Biggie Smalls that has stayed in his memory to this day. “There was a show that B.I.G. and we were doing together, but because 112 was new to the game, the promoter wanted to reduce our show time. We weren’t happy to say the least,” Keith noted.

Frustrated, the group seemingly had no choice but to take the shorten performance slot, until Biggie stepped in. “We passed by B.I.G. on our way to the stage and told him how the promoter was trying to play us, and B.I.G. (who was the headliner) told the promoter that unless he gave us our regular show time he wasn’t going to perform, period! We got our time back and B.I.G. even preformed ‘Only You’ with us. That’s the kinda dude he was; he had a really big heart.”

Notorious is currently playing in movie theaters, while Keith’s self-titled solo disc is available in record stores now.

SOURCE: HipHopDX

Previously: ‘Slim (of 112) Goes Solo, Talks Bad Boy Then & Now’

Without naming names, Keith told EUR’s Lee Bailey that he and Marvin “Slim” Scandrick fell out with another member of the band over a mishandling of funds – which left either Quinnes Parker or Daron Jones as the alleged guilty party.

“I had to leave because I found out that a certain member of the group took my publishing check,” Keith told Bailey in October. “It was made clear that it was intended for myself and another member, Slim.”

During his interview on WVEE, Q directly addressed Mike’s accusation of theft.

“It comes down to something very simple,” he said. “As recently as last week we went to court about this very topic and I was exonerated.”

“All of the guys from 112 are like my brothers, and I have nothing but love for them,” he added. “I may not agree with what Mike is saying, but I respect his right to speak his mind.”

As for Mike’s statement that he left the group, Q said, “If 112 is broken up, its news to me. We have been doing shows over the last year; as recent as last weekend!”

Added Parker, “I agree with Mike on a lot of the things he says. This group is like a marriage, a family, and when there are problems in the family, you work together to try and resolve that. I wish that was something Mike would do.”

“112 is always forever. You know what I mean?,” says Slim who might want to consider a name change; one more appropriate for the grown man weight he’s picked up since the last 112 album in 2005. “There is no ill will between me and the guys, although I haven’t spoken to Mike in a while.”

Slim probably hasn’t spoken to founding member Michael Keith,  because according to several published reports, Keith is declaring that the group disbanded after one of the less famous members stole a publishing check from he and Slim. On this matter Slim started to mince words.

“As far as the brand 112, no one person can control that brand. Only all four members can disband the group. So since all four members aren’t disbanding the group, 112 will always stand.”

Slim, who says he never wanted to put out a solo album, did just that with the release of Love’s Crazy –via Asylym– a set independent of his band mates and the famous Bad Boy stable where he once released four platinum albums as a member of 112.

“On this new album, you won’t hear a bunch of I’m sorries, take me back, I messed up kinda of lyrics. You’re gonna hear more solutions than anything. That’s just not my take on love period. I’m more optimistic than that,” says Slim.

Although Slim does admit that listeners might get a few “flashes” of 112 on his new solo set, this new joint is all him.

In the few years since the last 112 CD, Slim says that he has been keeping busy building his company M3 Productions, performing and believe it or not watching “Making The Band.”

“I’ve watched the show. And you know, with us, we had a more family oriented relationship with Puff. There was 112, Biggie, Faith, The Lox, Total. We were like family. Puff didn’t have to babysit us,” Slim defends.

And on the subject of Day26 Slim admits, “I’ve met them,  they are a great bunch of guys, but are no comparison.”

Ouch!

Love’s Crazy which features appearances by Faith Evans, Ryan Leslie and Big Boi is in stores now.