(AllHipHop News) Hit producer/singer Pharrell Williams dished out advice to attendees at the 2010 MIDEM convention, the world’s largest music industry conference, which takes place annually in Cannes, France. During his keynote, Williams spoke on the future of the music industry with Cornerstone Promotions’ CEO, Rob Stone. Afterwards, he was quizzed by the BBC about how artists can go about building a career, despite the fact that piracy is running rampant, in addition to music sales falling another 30% globally in 2009. “I would probably build a site, a home for my music, a destination where people could come and see me and what I do and what I’m thinking about,” Williams stated. “Then I’d probably assemble a team of kids that would go and bug the hell out of advertising agencies and marketing companies to use my music.” Williams also revealed that he had no problem with file sharing. “I think it’s cool that people test it out. I think that’s a good thing. How would you know what something tastes like if they didn’t allow you to test it?”
T.I.’s wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and Lil Wayne’s former flame Antonia “Toya” Carter have announced a second season of their reality show, Tiny & Toya. The second season premieres in April and goes deeper into the lives of the two best friends, as they balance motherhood, fame and their new businesses. Both women’s extended families are featured in the season. While Tiny helps care for her father who has Alzheimer’s, Toya “confronts” her mother Anita with “tough love,” as she fights a drug addiction. The new season of the show will premiere on BET on April 13.
Public Enemy front man Chuck D. has been tapped to give a keynote speech at The Ina E. Gordy Honors College at Mississippi University for Women on February 11. Chuck D. is slated to give a lecture titled “Race, Rap and Reality,” which will focus on the development and evolution of Hip-Hop music over the past 30 years, from a party medium to making social commentary and change. This Thursday (January 28), Dr. Thomas Velek, director of the college, will deliver his own lecture titled “Chuck D., Public Enemy and the Beginning of Modern Day Hip Hop,” in anticipation of Chuck D.’s February speaking engagement.
