A$AP Ferg is everywhere, but ain’t nothin’ new. It’s been that way for years. His non-stop hustle has resulted in tremendous growth and he’s now bigger than ever. Ferg is borrowing a page from the Busta Rhymes playbook, staying on top by guest performing on every hot stage imaginable. He’s pretty much the best stage feature going. He has high energy, songs that slap, and a great attitude. Whether he’s lighting up the NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena or lifting up IG with his bursts of self-help positivity and female empowerment, Ferg is a force.Still, he isn’t losing sight of what he came here to do: consistently drop fire records. His latest, “Pups” ft. A$AP Rocky, samples one of my all-time favorite tracks, DMX’s 1998 classic, “Get At Me Dog.” A$AP Ferg has also connected with Redline Bikes for “A Collaboration Of Two True Originals.” The collection is comprised of limited-edition RL 275 bikes and a matching line of original merch. Ferg unveiled the bike during his set at Something In The Water Festival and it’s been making noise since. It hit retailers last week at the affordable-for-a-fly-bike price point of $799 USD. It feels like this collaboration has been covered by every major culture outlet, from Hypebeast to MTV’s TRL. That’s the power of a smart partnership. Have you ever seen a bike get this much traction? Pun entirely intended. The next stop on the A$AP Ferg world domination tour is the BET Experience which takes place in downtown Los Angeles this week, culminating in their big awards show on Sunday night. Nue is honored to partner with BET for a CRWN episode on Friday night. Our guest? None other than Ferg himself. The beauty of CRWN is that it’s a platform that allows an artist to tell their long-form story in front of a devoted audience while also scaling the reach of that content with massive impressions. The host of the show and our partner in the franchise, Elliott Wilson, really knows how to get the most out of these conversations with his eloquent interview style & fierce artistic integrity. If you want to check out CRWN live, come through Friday (6/21) at 6pm at the Los Angeles Convention Center! You can RSVP by downloading the #BETX '19 app. Otherwise, catch it on BET properties and VOD for a long while after. This will be my first BET Awards weekend. Let’s kick it...
BEATS
Why a DJ Khaled ‘Monster Lawsuit’ Is the Best Thing That Could Happen to BillboardThere’s something oddly satisfying about witnessing Tyler, the Creator topping DJ Khaled for the number one ranking on the latest Billboard 200. But as stunning an upset as it appears, DJ Khaled and his merry band of rap superstars probably got robbed. (Digital Music News)
Why Are So Many Music Festivals Total Disasters?It’s not just Fyre Festival — festival season regularly overlaps with scam season, and even the best-laid plans are just betting millions of dollars on weather. (Vox)
The Best Music Podcasts in 2019 There are a number of popular genres in the podcasts market: true crime, comedy, sports, politics and technology among them. But music is also a thriving genre, with a variety of sub-formats exploring songs, artists and the culture around music. (Music Ally)
Frank Ocean Screwing His Label was a Win for MusicAt some point or another, most artists have been exploited by big corporate arts establishments. Exploitation almost comes with the creative territory, but hopefully not for much longer. We’ve already made great strides in independence, with game changers like Chance The Rapper, Frank Ocean, and Jay-Z. (Afro Punk)
Your Kids’ Toys are about to Get a Hip-Hop MakeoverMass Appeal is launching its new brand MAJR, aimed at elevating your kids’ toy and apparel game, as well as spreading hip-hop culture. (Fast Company)
What Stem’s Upheaval Reveals about Music Distribution’s New “Middle Tier”It’s no longer appropriate to talk about the music business simply as a hard binary between the mainstream and the long tail.
(Medium)
Ariana Grande Didn’t Cancel Her Atlanta Concert — But She Did Donate the Proceeds to Planned ParenthoodAfter facing a growing petition to cancel her Atlanta concert, Ariana Grande has chosen to fight Georgia’s anti-abortion laws. The singer is donating proceeds from last Saturday’s concert in Atlanta to Planned Parenthood. (Digital Music News)
Music Credits Database Jaxsta Launches Public BetaMusic credits database Jaxta announced its launch in open beta. Founded in 2015 by Jacqui Louez Schoorl and Louis Schoorl, Jaxsta is a source of official credit information for artists, producers and other members of the music community. (HypeBot)
DJ Khaled vs. Billboard May Be a Breaking Point in the Merch-Bundle Chart WarsTwo weeks after Billboard gave the week’s title to Tyler’s Igor over Khaled’s Father of Asahd, Khaled is rumored to be planning a lawsuit against the magazine on the premise that he was robbed of a No. 1 album. (Vulture)
A List of Artists Whose Masters Were Lost In the 2008 Universal Studios FireThe ripples are just being felt from Jody Rosen’s bombshell New York Times Magazine exposé on the Universal Studios fire of 2008. The losses felt by Universal Music Group were staggering — not to mention the broader music community. Yet nobody knew about the horrific losses, including affected artists, their managers, or their estates. That wasn’t by accident. (Digital Music News)
BYTES
On this week’s episode of Business of HYPE with Jeff Staple, FILA’s VP of Heritage & Trend Louis Colon details their unique approach to marketing and how the brand’s comeback is here to stay.
In his Capitol Records prime, Mims grabbed onto the reigns of his own industry and career with his breakout "This Is Why I'm Hot" smash hit. But as the realities of the rap game set in, he pivoted to a new direction in the tech world.
Download the BETX '19 App to stay in the know on everything surrounding the BET Experience. Register for BET Fan Fest, and get updates and details about the exciting music and entertainment festival.
This first volume incorporates hip hop and rap to successfully work as a hype song for the recently championed NBA team, the Toronto Raptors.
Defying convention and boundaries, Time For Three stands at the busy intersection of Americana, modern pop, and classical music. Check out their new single, Joy.
This week's newsletter was carefully curated by the Nue Agency staff and our editor Rachel Meisner If you think we missed something this week or have any suggestions/comments for next week's newsletter, let us know!