Universal Music Dissolves Popular Island Def Jam Label (@DefJamRecords)

Island Def Jam, the iconic label that brought acts like Rihanna, Jay Z, Ne-Yo, Mariah Carey to the world and more, has dissolved after East Coast Label Group president and CEO Barry Weiss stepped down Tuesday.

According to Variety, the label will separate with the Motown label after moving to Los Angeles. Universal Music head Lucian Grainge believes that the label will hit the success that it had in the past by "re-establishing the label."

"At UMG, our labels are empowered to be entrepreneurial and take creative risks," he said. "By re-establishing Def Jam, Island and Motown as standalone labels within the UMG family. We're positioning them to recapture the uniqueness of their brands and serve artists with the singularity of vision, focus and creativity that was at the core of their original success."

Grange says that Weiss has done a great job leading Def Jam and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

"Barry is a terrific music executive who led our East Coast labels during a critical time of transition. I can't say enough about his contributions to our labels or to thank him enough."

Irv Gotti, who has voiced pushed for a presidency for Def Jam in the past, voiced his opinions about the recent change on his Instagram page.

"I been telling people that the powers that be. Don't care about Def Jam," he said."I feel like they will let that label just DIE! Take all the big artist on it. And work them still. But kill the LABEL! And to me. It's so f****d up. DEF JAM is the f*****g LIGHT OF HOPE for artist like Jay Z. DMX. Jeezy. Ja Rule. Nas. Fabulous. YG. It was a label created for the HIP HOP CULTURE!! But the people running the show now. Could care fucking less about our CULTURE. They are not Russell. Rick Rubin. Lyor. Kevin Liles or Jay Z. And they don't wanna put someone in there that will represent and hold down the fucking LOGO AND CULTURE the right way. Makes me physically sick. Def Jam means something to me. Means something to our CULTURE! And they don't give a f***!! Let me stop!! #ilovedefjam #ilovehiphopculture #youcannotstophiphip #f***yall"

Currently the label houses Jhene Aiko, August Alsina, YG, and 2 Chainz.

Source: variety.com

Florida Man Found Passed Out Behind the Wheel Clutching Burrito

A 36-year-old Deltona, Florida man was hauled in on misdemeanor DUI charges after police found him passed out drunk at a traffic light with a half-eaten Taco Bell burrito in his hand.

A witness started following Daniel Hernandez when he noticed him swerving in and out of traffic and briefly driving up onto a curb. The unnamed witness called police around 12:30 a.m. Monday after watching Hernandez sit through several light changes without moving.

When officers and paramedics arrived on the scene, they discovered Hernandez unconscious with his car running and his foot still on the brake.

"Fearing Hernandez would take his foot off the brake and potentially cause an accident at the intersection," officers beat on the windows and doors of Hernandez's 2002 Acura for about 10 minutes before finally deciding to smash a window.

No word on whether Hernandez was allowed to finish his burrito.

Source: uproxx.com

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Rihanna In Search of New Movie Role, Avoiding Tyler Perry Projects

Pascal Le Segretain / Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Rihanna is in search of her next movie role and starring in a Tyler Perry film isn’t on her to-do list.

According to Radar Online, the songstress, who landed a part in 2012′s ‘Battleship,’ is turning the other cheek when it comes to a role in one of Perry’s romantic comedies. Apparently Perry has been trying to meet with Rihanna for over a year to talk about building a film around her. However, action films are more her thing and she’d rather play the “tough girl.”

But why won’t the fashion-forward artist give the director the time of day to even discuss a potential offer? Before her death in 2012, Whitney Houston reportedly warned Rihanna to stay away from Tyler Perry movies because they feature “fading black stars, not rising ones,” a source confirmed. Houston thought highly of the Grammy Award-winning entertainer, enough to inform her that accepting an offer to be in one of his movies makes little sense.

“Rihanna so respected Whitney because in addition to being one of the biggest pop stars ever, she starred in hit movies such as ‘The Bodyguard,” the source said.

Tyler Perry is known for his ‘Madea’ string of films in addition to ‘Why Did I Get Married?’ and ‘For Colored Girls,’ in which Janet Jackson starred.

Before 2014 is over, Rihanna is reportedly “under a mandate” to begin filming a new movie.

What do you think? Should Rihanna take a role in a Tyler Perry movie or not? Sound off in the comments below.

Locksmith Recounts Past Abuse in 'Hardest Song Ever' Video

It takes a strong person to record a song like this, much less make it the lead single of your album. But it should come as no surprise that Locksmith would be the artist willing to be so brave and bold. ‘Hardest Song Ever’ relives painful memories, but also inspires hope for those who have gone through abuse.

“This is my personal account of abuse and its effect on my life. If my story can help any other person that is suffering, then I have truly accomplished something special.”

It is a powerful song and video as Locksmith’s verses are accompanied by people holding signs of encouragement for those who’ve been abused.

Locksmith sugarcoats nothing here as he raps, “And the memory, I suppressed it / depression is pressing, that’s what the stress did / I pushed away any woman I could connect with / that’s the s–t you do when you deal with being molested / infested with impatience, I started aching / hatred and deep guilt was the deadliest combination.”

Locksmith’s album ‘A Thousand Cuts’ will be released on April 15th and can be pre-ordered now on iTunes.

Family of NYC Mom Who Died From Discount Surgery Plans to Sue

The family of a Bronx woman is demanding answers after the 29-year-old died while undergoing discount plastic surgery in the Dominican Republic.

Beverly Brignoni, a single mother of one, flew to the capital city of Santo Domingo on Feb. 19 for a tummy tuck and liposuction at a clinic recommended by friends.

A day later, Dr. Guillermo Lorenzo walked out of the operating room at the Vista del Jardin clinic to inform Brignoni's boyfriend that the woman was dead.

"I'm still trying to understand it. I can't really comprehend that she's gone," said Lesley Martinez, 32, who traveled alongside his girlfriend to the DR.

"I was with her right up until she went into the surgery. We kissed goodbye, said we loved each other, and they wheeled her away," he said. "That was the last time I saw her."

Brignoni's godmother Bernadette Lamboy said the young mother spoke to surgeons in New York and the Dominican Republic before settling on Dr. Lorenzo.

He agreed to perform a tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast lift for $6,300. However, at the last minute Brignoni decided against the breast lift and they worked out a partial refund.

When Dr. Lorenzo met Mr. Martinez in the recovery room, he brought the worst possible news.

"He said he was so sorry, that she was gone, that he had lost her. He said she had an embolism and died."

The family has now hired a lawyer in the country and plans to sue both the clinic and the doctor.

Source: nydailynews.com