AMALGAM DIGITAL TO RELEASE JOE BUDDEN’S LONG AWAITED SOPHOMORE LP, PADDED ROOM, ON FEBUARY 24th 2009

Joe Budden’s self-titled debut album went gold in 2003, earning him a Grammy nomination for best male rap solo performance (“Pump It Up”). Despite his successful debut, Budden’s sophomore album sat on the shelves at Def Jam for nearly four years; a setback that most artists would not have survived; but most artists are not Joe Budden.

Despite numerous setbacks, Jump Off Joe Budden kept very busy during those years, besides years of legal wrangling and politicking very loudly for his release from Def Jam (which resulted in a very public feud with Def Jam’s then president Jay-Z) Joe was forced to rely on a then new and unproven method (Internet) to release music to his very loyal fan base and he did so by releasing the critically acclaimed and highly buzzed about “Mood Muzik” mixtape series; collaborating with artists such as Fabolous, Clinton Sparks and Joell Ortiz and in the process engaging in highly publicized feuds with The Game, Prodigy and Ransom.

After finally gaining his release from Def Jam in 2007, Budden immediately became an A-List free agent and was courted by a slew of major labels. Always one to go against the grain, Joe circumvented traditional thinking and used his forward thinking mentality to sign with then upstart Amalgam Digital; the booming independent label responsible for launching Hip-Hop’s first genre-specific digital retail store. The move initially raised some eyebrows with the Hip-Hop populous, but Joe’s foresight was the guiding force behind the move; as Joe’s proactive use of the Internet and the response his Mood Muzik mixtapes received online (going from Nahright.com to your neighborhood in a single click), foretold a massive shift in the commercial landscape (coupled with the dramatic decrease of physical CD sales) and Joe was ahead of the curve in realizing that the Internet would not only be the guiding force where the masses would listen and decide upon what music and artists they liked, but also would eventually support and purchase. Fast forward to 2008 and Joe’s move seems even more revolutionary, as there has been a dramatic decrease of physical CD sales and Joe’s recent “digital only” precursor (Halfway House which was only available on Amalgamdigital.com and was the first digital-only Hip-Hop release employing both traditional marketing methods—radio, video, commercial radio, advertising campaigns, etc) to Padded Room debuted on the “Hot 200” sales chart—as only a strictly digital release. Halfway House also featured a track from Joe’s super-group, Slaughterhouse, (which also includes Joell Ortiz, Royce 5’9 and Crooked I) and a track from that group “Slaughterhouse” was recently crowned as one of the “80 Best Songs” of 2008 by Vibe Magazine (Jan 2009 issue). Further, Amalgam Digital is now a rapidly ascending record label with established stars such as Joe Budden, Max B and Peedi Crakk on its rapidly expanding roster and the labels shirts are quickly becoming a fashion statement.

Throughout his trails and tribulations with Def Jam and sparring with Hip-Hop’s heavyweights, Joe Budden has largely reinvented himself without losing what endeared himself to fans; his deep thinking lyrical brilliance (can anyone forget Joe’s brilliant “Who” trilogy?). In fact, with his “Joe Budden TV” videos going viral and becoming a staple on blogs worldwide, Joe has to a large extent become Hip-Hop’s “peoples champion” as Joe’s personality and “every man” personality transcends and fans can undeniably relate to his daily life (could a reality series be far behind?).

Joe’s relentless grind culminates on 2-24-09 with the release of his official sophomore LP Padded Room (which has already received rave reviews from XXL, Spin and Smooth Magazines) and the LP’s lead-single “The Future” featuring former adversary The Game is already burning up the Internet and the duo will also be filming a video for the track shortly.

In addition, AmalgamDigital.com also plans to re-launch the website store with a new design, enhanced functionality and new features in unison with the same date of Padded Room’s release. To celebrate the release of Padded Room and the site’s re-launch, Joe budden his record label, Amalgam Digital are offering fans exclusive hidden bonus tracks when the Padded Room album is purchased in digital format direct from www.AmalgamDigital.com

“The Padded Room album is crazy. Go out and get it” – Joe Budden

Tracklisting and credits for Joe Budden’s Padded Room:

01.  Now I Lay (produced by Blastah Beatz)

02.  The Future f/ The Game (produced by Fyu-chur)

03.  If I Gotta Go (produced by the Klasixs)

04.  Don’t Make Me (produced by Blastah Beatz)

05.  Blood On The Wall (produced by Moss)

06.  In My Sleep (produced by Blastah Beatz)

07.  Exxxes (produced by the Klasixs)

08.  I Couldn’t Help It (produced by the Klasixs)

09.  Adrenaline (produced by Dub B)

10.  Happy Holidays (produced by Quan)

11.  Do Tell (produced by Blastah Beatz)

12.  Angel In My Life (produced by Blastah Beatz)

13.  Pray For Me (produced by Versatile & Dilemma)

Critically-Acclaimed Singer Anthony Hamilton Returns With New Album The Point Of It All In Stores

Critical Praise for Anthony Hamilton:

“One of the most important R&B artists of his generation” – Newsweek

“One of the music industry’s best-kept secrets.” – People Magazine

(December 16, 2008 – New York, NY) Seven-time Grammy-nominated recording artist Anthony Hamilton is gearing up for his third So So Def/Zomba album release The Point Of It All, set to arrive in stores today, December 16th. The release comes as the talented singer earns a “Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance” Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Al Green, on “You’ve Got The Love I Need.”

The Point Of It All contains a wide range of raw soul-infused music with Hamilton at the helm co-writing and co-producing on the album with his longtime collaborators, producer/songwriter Kelvin Wooten and Mark Batson. Wooten produced “Prayin’ For You/Superman,” the sultry ballad “Her Heart,” and the lead single “Cool” featuring David Banner, which is steadily climbing the Urban Adult and Urban Mainstream charts. Batson produced the powerful track “Soul’s on Fire” and “Fallin’ in Love.” Additional producers on the album include The Avila Brothers who produced the title track “The Point of It All” and Jack Splash who produced “Please Stay.”

Like his previous efforts, Hamilton’s new album is already receiving early rave reviews: The Wall Street Journal observes, “Mr. Hamilton’s new album features tight R&B productions, [and] vintage instruments…” and goes on to compare Anthony Hamilton to “the great vocalists who influenced his style, including Marvin Gaye and Al Green…” Entertainment Weekly adds, “The onetime barber and backup singer is a late bloomer steeped in the conversational soul of Bill Withers and Bobby Womack.”

Last year Anthony Hamilton made his big-screen debut performing in the Oscar-nominated movie, American Gangster. Hamilton has established a loyal following from his 2003 platinum-certified debut album Comin’ From Where I’m From, which spawned the hit “Charlene,” climbed to #3 on the R&B Albums chart and garnered three Grammy nominations, to his 2005 release, the gold-certified sophomore effort, Ain’t Nobody Worryin,’ which sparked the #1 hit “Can’t Let Go.” Hamilton, an all-around gifted artist, has collaborated with a wide range of his peers including: Buddy Guy, Al Green, Dr. Dre, Santana, Angie Stone, Young Jeezy, Nappy Roots, Musiq Soulchild and more.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=299162112&s=143441

Hamilton just completed his critically well-received “Playin’ It Cool” tour- check two of his shows:
http://vimeo.com/2403867

http://vimeo.com/2452240

GORILLA ZOE GETS “LOST” WITH LIL’ WAYNE !!

GORILLA ZOE GETS “LOST” WITH LIL’ WAYNE;

ATL-BASED RAPPER TO JOIN THE SUPERSTAR

ON HIS “I AM MUSIC” ARENA TOUR;

NEW SINGLE, “LOST,” BLOWING UP AT URBAN RADIO

IN ADVANCE OF EAGERLY AWAITED SECOND ALBUM;

“DON’T FEED DA ANIMALS” DROPS ON MARCH 17TH

Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South recording artist Gorilla Zoe has announced plans to join Lil’ Wayne on his hugely anticipated “I Am Music” arena tour.  The dates – which feature a multi-artist bill that also includes Gym Class Heroes, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole, and Keri Hilson – kicked off this Sunday, December 14th at Miami’s American Airlines Arena and is now travelling all over North America through mid-January (see attached itinerary).  Among the tour’s certain highlights will be a New Year’s Eve extravaganza at the Philips Arena in Zoe’s hometown of Atlanta.

Zoe is currently exploding at radio with his new single, “Lost.”  The track – which will be featured on the ATL-based rapper’s upcoming sophomore album, “DON’T FEED DA ANIMALS” – is now climbing the top 25 at Urban outlets nationwide after impacting as the #1 Most Added track at both Urban and Rhythmic.

In addition, the single’s companion video clip has been confirmed for “Heavy” rotation on BET’s daily hip hop show, The Deal.  The video is slated to premiere on The Deal on Tuesday, December 16th (check local listings).

“DON’T FEED DA ANIMALS” is without question one of 2009’s most hotly awaited new hip-hop releases.  The album – which follows last year’s smash debut, “WELCOME TO THE ZOO” – arrives in stores and online on March 17th.

Zoe firmly established himself as a truly original hip-hop voice via 2007’s top 10 rap smash, “Hood Figga,” not to mention his featured role on Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South labelmate Yung Joc’s hits, “Coffee Shop” and “Bottle Poppin’.”  As if that weren’t enough, he joined forces with superstar rap combo Boyz N Da Hood for their 2007 release, “BACK UP N DA CHEVY.”

Since then, Zoe has lent his distinctive style to a variety of hip-hop hits, including tracks by Cheri Dennis, Shawty Lo, and Rick Ross.

He has also appeared on a variety of mixtapes, including the just-released “FEEDING TIME,” available for free download at www.myspace.com/gorillazoe.