NEW YORK – The grandson of mobster “Dapper Don” John Gotti is launching a music career and says his album will include a tribute to the late Gambino crime family head.
Carmine Agnello has dropped his given name and is recording a hip-pop album as Carmine Gotti.
The 24-year-old says he’s no longer the kid seen on the A&E reality show “Growing Up Gotti,” starring his mom, Victoria Gotti. He calls himself “matured” and “clean-cut.”
He says his memory of his grandfather is of someone who was always there for him and his family. John Gotti died in 2002 while serving a life sentence for murder and racketeering.
Carmine Gotti’s debut album is due out this summer. He also has cameo appearances in new videos for rappers Khia and Fat Joe.
It’s no secret that 4/20 is a day of celebration for many folks around the world who all share the same love for a certain recreation. Seeing as how marijuana and music go hand in hand, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some important events in music history that have occurred on this day that is held dear by so many.
1997 - Michael Jackson Statue
On this day in 1997 at the Grevin Musem of Was in Paris, Michael Jackson was honored with a wax likeness of himself. There is no documentation of Michael mistaking the statue for “the man in the mirror”, but it is not that unlikely considering the similar composition of their faces.
1951 - Birth of Luther Vandross
April 20th, 1951, Luther Vandross was born in New York City. ‘Nuff said.
2000 - Robert Plant Meets Mickey Mouse
The Led Zeppelin singer paid a visit to Disney’s Theater of the Stars in Orlando, Florida to have his handprints immortalized out in front of the theater. After spending a few hours of one-on-one time with Plant, Mickey Mouse was spotted climbing the Epcot Center ball and screaming something about protecting his giant egg*.
2002 - Surviving Members of Nirvana vs Courtney Love
Former Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic appeared in court to battle Courtney Love over who would retain ownership of the Nirvana recordings. The two then proceeded to ask the court to prove that Love was “mentally stable”. Among some of the colorful terms used to describe her by Grohl and Novoselic were “irrational”, “self-centered”, and “unpredictable”. Love then proceeded to make a pass at the judge in the middle of the court hearing and then vomited in his lap*.
1947 - Mark Voleman is Born
American singer and co-founder of one of the most memorable bands of the 60s, Mark Voleman was born on April 20th, 1947. He quickly gained worldwide fame when his band, The Turtles, released a little diddy called “So Happy Together” in 1967. Although we all knew he was a talented vocalist, many of us did not realize he looked so creepy:
Okay so maybe this isnt exactly “moshable” in the traditional sense.
Or maybe it’s extremely “moshable” in the traditional sense depending on your sense of the word traditional. Whether the classics for you were written by Mozart or McCartney, anyone can appreciate a natural knack for pure musical genius,
Something very cool happened last week in the world of Independent music. Last FM has launched their Artist Royalty Program. The self described “groundbreaking” program promises to pay royalties to unsigned artists.
Whether a Last FM listener chooses to stream music from a particular artist, or the song is randomly selected and recommended to listener by the Last FM engine, the artist will receive royalties.
Co-founder Martin Stiksel says, “The young musician making music in a bedroom studio has the same chance as the latest major label signing to use Last.fm to build an audience and get rewarded. The Artist Royalty Program is another revolutionary step towards helping musicians take control of their music — and, more importantly, make a living from it,”
Since announcing the launch of the program last january over 450,000 different tracks by unsigned artists have been uploaded into the Last FM library.
Ludacris is making history. He has signed a multi-million dollar deal with tele-com giant, AT & T, making him the first hip-hop act to sign to a US phone company for more than a million dollars.
AT&T plans to feature the rapper in online videos and television ad campaigns beginning next month.
When asked about the recent filming for the ad spots, Ludacris said:
“I had a lot a fun shooting this commercial…If you like the AT&T commercials you’ve seen then you’ll love this one.”
Hmm, I don’t really remember any recent AT&T commercials I’ve seen, Cris. I wonder what your recruiting letter from AT&T looked like before you signed:
Dear Ludacris,
If you like the million dollar checks you’ve seen, you’ll love these others we have for you.
Sincerely,
AT&T (your new best friends)
Ludacris is currently finalizing his 6th studio album titled “Theater Of Mind.” Expected to be released soon.
At the end of the day, I guess the AT&T money will keep you making music. Congrats for all those benjamins, Luda. I’m just glad Easy E died before he had a chance to go corporate.
Today may be the greatest day for any SP fan’s out there. Billy Corgan and the gang have recently announced the dates for the upcoming 20th anniversary tour.
The tour reportedly is to start in smaller venues in August, with “unique sets and songs” and then graduates to larger venues in November. (more…)
