T.I. Offered Executive Position at Atlantic

Atlanta, GA – Nowadays it seems like they are handing out executive positions to all the prominent rappers in the industry, Jay-Z set the pace by becoming President of Def Jam years prior, Jim Jones was just offered A&R position at Koch, now T.I. can add his name to a continuing list of growth with his own executive position. Despite legal situations that he concurred in the beginning of 2008, it seems like the Bankhead native has been keeping real busy. With the huge success of Paper Trail, CEO of his own Grand Hustle imprint, and the movie roles that he has been offered, T.I. can now add President of Atlantic Records to his list of accomplishments.

Earlier Thursday morning (February 5) it was announced that the once President of the Atlantic Group, Julie Greenwald, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer leaving the position open. TIP was then offered the position by the other execs at Atlantic, his label for the past 7 years. However before any decision was to be made on TIP’s part, he has a hefty schedule that will keep him occupied until the time when he has to turn himself in to serve his prison sentence. He recently spoke to Sway of MTV News concerning the abrupt news of his executive position offer at Atlantic.

These were his comments to Sway when questioned about the position:

“It’s among the realm of possibilities.”

He continues to omit that he has yet to make any decisive move as yet.

“Ah, man, when I [do] speak upon it, it will be fact. I think I have another obligation I have to take care of that may supersede that.”

At press time, T.I. is set to perform at the Grammy’s alongside the three that has made the certified hit ‘Swagger Like Us’ a hit. Jay-Z, T.I., Kanye West, and Lil Wayne will perform the track live for the first time. Along with that, he will appear in an upcoming reality series for MTV entitled ‘Road to Redemption’ set to air next week.

Legendary Etta James Has Harsh Words for Beyonce

Seattle, WA – The assumption would be of great commentary and stature after someone portrays your life and career in such a grand style, well this case the portrayal of legendary blues artist Etta James by Beyonce didn’t quite put a smile on Ms. James face. Apparently the warm remarks that she gave Ms. Beyonce earlier in the year before the release of ‘Cadillac Records’ was of genuine appraise, well recently those words were taken away by threats and hater comments.

It seems as though the infamous Etta James isn’t too fond of Beyonce and she definitely made her presence felt recently during a concert in Seattle. James left some lucid comments about Beyonce even going as far as stating that she would give B a literal beat down. Apparently the 71 year old singer wasn’t too pleased with the fact that B performed James’ signature track ‘At Last’ during the inauguration, while the Obamas danced at the Neighborhood Ball as a matter of fact. She even goes as far as to criticize our President.

According to TMZ, Etta James left some harsh comments about both Beyonce and Barack Obama because of something that occurred at his inauguration. These were her comments:

“You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears? Wait a minute, he ain’t my president. He might be yours; he ain’t my president. But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song, she’s going to get her ass whipped.

“The great Beyoncé,” She continued. “Like I said, she ain’t mine, I can’t stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol’ president day, gonna be singing my song that I’ve been singing forever.”

At press time, Beyonce nor her representatives have yet to respond to James’ as comments and threat. Keep posted to 24hourhiphop.com for more updated news as this is still in the developing stages.

Lil Wayne Portrays Confidence During an Interview with Katie Couric

New York, NY – There is no stopping Lil Wayne, the man, the artist has practically become an icon. Journalists have always said that Lil Wayne’s interviews are quite interesting as his answers normally express a different side of him. It’s evident that the Wayne we know is different amongst a one on one encounter. It seems as though he has conquered popular culture and has gotten the attention of basically everyone. Many people have recently found common interests in the acclaimed ‘Best Rapper Alive,’ as he becomes an icon amongst different people, you recently saw him on ESPN. His ‘Tha Carter III’ has sold over 3 million albums and has become the best album of 2008. Lil Wayne is set to perform at this year’s Grammy’s where he has been nominated for Album of the Year.

CBS News’ Katie Couric recently interviewed him in what was probably the most interesting one on one encounter for her. She asked him about his tattoos, his music, and where it all began for the Young Carter. Couric literally went deep in this interview as she got to know Wayne on a deeper level, as we got to know him on a different level as well. He omits an interesting quote when asked about smoking, he told Couric, ‘I’m a rapper and a gangster, I do what I want. I love to smoke.’ He gives confident answers to abrupt questions with insight and precision.

These were some of his comments:

“I believe that music is another form of news, music is another form of journalism to me soI have to cover all the areas on my album.”

“I am not an example for poeple on how to live their lives and never in my life have I ever said I am an example for people on how to live their lives. If you need an example for how to live then you just shouldn’t have been born.”

Check out the full interview with Katie Couric and Lil Wayne: