Dr Dre exec producer of "The Marshall Mathers LP 2" and release date

UPDATE: Eminem drops a bomb on fans, announcing "Marshall Mathers LP 2" in less than three months. Rick Rubin and Dr. Dre work with Em.

Seconds ago, during tonight's 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, Beats By Dre released a commercial for Eminem's seventh studio album. Billed as MMLP2 in the brief commercial, the acoronym is believed to suggest Marshall Mathers LP 2, a sequel to Em's heralded sophomore major label album from 2000. According to the commercial MMLP2 will release on November 5, 2013.

Moreover, the commercial indicated that the effort would be executive produced by longtime mentor and Aftermath Entertainment backer Dr. Dre, as well as Def Jam Records co-founder and acclaimed producer Rick Rubin. Dre has executive produced Em's solo albums in the past, most recently 2010's Recovery.
For Rubin, this is the latest in a series of high-profile Hip Hop albums in 2013, beginning with a last minute involvement with Kanye West's Yeezus in June, Rubin was also on hand to work with Jay-Z on Magna Carta Holy Grail less than one month later.

2013 has been a major return to Hip Hop for Rubin, who produced seminal hits for the genre in the 1980s and early 1990s, ranging between LL Cool J and Run-DMC to Geto Boys. This will be his first work with Eminem.
On 2000's diamond-certified Marshall Mathers LP, Dr. Dre produced six of 19 songs, largely co-productions with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Mel-Man.

Eminem's first album in over three years, follows 14 months of promotion. This will be Em's seventh album with Dre's Aftermath label.

Eminem.com reports that "Berzerk," a single from MMLP2, will release on Tuesday (August 27). A snippet is available to listen to now.



source - http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25201/title.eminem-mmlp2-release-date-dr-dre-rick-rubin-to-executive-produce/

Beats by Dre looking to end HTC partnership

It has been reported in the Wall Street Journal today that Beats Electronics LLC are hoping to buy back shares from HTC, who currently own a 25% stake in the company. The company are known for their popular ‘Beats by Dr Dre’ headphones, as well as the in-built equalizer software featured on HTC’s smartphones in recent years. Beats have seen ‘explosive’ growth in sales over the past year, with revenue of $1 billion compared with $200 million in 2010.

Beats was co-founded by music industry veteran Jimmy Iovine (who is also CEO) and rapper/producer Andre Young (better known as Dr Dre), who together own 75% of the Beats Electronics. Just two years ago the pair sold a 50.1% stake in the company to HTC, before buying back 25% a year later for half the price.

After HTC gained a share in beats they began to incorporate its audio software into its smartphones, as well as bundling some models with Beats earphones. HTC further embedded their relationship with Beats by giving the company a $225 million loan last year.

Unfortunately for HTC, the intervening years have not proven fruitful for the company, with their share price having dropped by 90% since April 2011. HTC have failed to compete effectively with other smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung and Apple, despite being in second place in the market several years ago behind the iPhone manufacturers.

Earlier this year the company launched their new flagship phone, the HTC One, to rave reviews in the technology community. However, despite decent sales it has continued to under perform next to competitors such as Samsung’s Galaxy S 4.

HTC had sought to use the Beats software, headphones and branding to help them corner the youth market. However, differences in strategy have reportedly soured their relationship. Beats are also rumoured to be on the brink of expanding the company’s product line beyond headphones including speakers, car audio systems and even a streaming music service.

I have added a poll (look right) regarding this.  Please vote and also discuss below.

Source - http://thejournalist.ie/technology-2/technology-beats-by-dr-dre-looking-to-end-htc-partnership/

Jon Connor on Detox "It's not as mythical as people think."

Jon Connor talks time with six-time Grammy winner Dr. Dre and 'Detox'

FLINT, MI--Producer Dr. Dre has helped rap artists such as Eminem, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg become superstars, and recently, he's been hanging out with Flint's Jon Connor.

On July 18, days after he Connor performed with Lyric Da Queen at Lansing's Common Ground Music Festival, Connor's business partner Mateen Cleaves posted a photo of him, Connor and Dre on Twitter. In a phone call with Flint Journal, Connor spoke candidly about the experience.

"He was excited about the respect he had for my artistry. Dre is a very particular person. He knows what he wants to hear," Connor said. "...I made it through Dr. Dre's chopping block of potential. Just to know he sees something in me, or that he respects what I do, or has an appreciation for what I bring to hip-hop, is something I put on my mantle."

Connor went on tour with Xzibit, another California rapper and frequent Dr. Dre collaborator (and the host of MTV's "Pimp My Ride), last fall. The two built rapport after the tour, Connor said, and Xzibit "connected the dots" to Dr. Dre.

Dr. Dre is widely regarded as one the most important producers in the history of rap music. Between the mid-1980s and now, he has served as the key producer or mentor to several of the genre's most important acts: N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Eminem, 50 Cent, and most recently, Kendrick Lamar. As a solo artist, his albums "The Chronic" and "2001," which feature songs such as "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" and "Forgot About Dre," have sold more than 10 million copies.

These days, he is most popular for his wildly successful "Beats By Dre" line of headphones.

With so many years of success and experience, Connor said, Dre has plenty of advice to give--and Connor has been all-ears.

 "Any time I'm around him is constant growth for me. ... He's an inspirational person, he truly is. Anything and everything out his mouth is something to learn from," Connor said. "...It's constant learning in so many areas of life: how to be a better artist, to be a better producer, to be a better man, to be a better human."
Dr. Dre's alleged final album, "Detox," has developed a sort of mythical status because of years of release delays and limited output. Since Dre announced the title for the record in 2001, only two official singles have released: "Kush" featuring Akon and Snoop Dogg, and "I Need A Doctor," featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey. Otherwise, the Internet has seen several unfinished songs leak, with rappers such as T.I., Eminem and Ludacris performing lyrics they presumably wrote for Dre to perform.

Connor remained tight-lipped when answering questions about if he was contributing his talents "Detox."
"'Detox' is going to come out whenever it's ready for him to put it out," Connor said. "It's not as mythical as people think. I don't know what people think, but 'Detox' is definitely real."

Source- http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2013/08/jon_connor_talks_time_with_six.html