Thu 9 Sep 2010
Yesterday, the internets were left scrambling after rumors surfaced that Jay-Z had signed Willow Smith to Roc Nation. Sure enough, this morning Hov, Willow and Jada appeared on Ryan Seacrest to confirm the signing. (Props B.Dot)
UPDATE: video footage from Ryan Seacrest’s show added above courtesy of Ryan himself.
Willow Smith, Jay-Z and Jada Pinkett Smith on Ryan Seacrest
“I heard the record first before I knew it was recorded by a nine year old. I knew it was a smash. Jay Brown said she was 9 and I said Whoa!… then he said she’s Will & Jada’s daughter and I said Whoa! Whoa! and it went from there. I met Willow out in Japan and the first thing she said was “I’m really nervous”. And I thought that maturity explained exactly how she was feeling. I knew right then she was a star.” – Jay-Z
New Music: Willow Smith “Whip My Hair”
September 9th, 2010 at 10:38 am
I think she’s talented but as a rule of thumb you shouldn’t be signed before you’ve hit puberty.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Nice pic for the roster Jay…
This lil girl got a bright future ahead of her.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Exactly! And Jay-z not god almighty so i can give a fuck who he cosigns. He was Def Jam president and look how that panned out.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:11 am
interesting so he’s finally signed rihanna’s replacement
September 9th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Sooo…then Michael Jackson shouldn’t have been signed then either…makes sense…
twitter.com/_Ace_X
September 9th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Oxymoronic statement by john macabee. Talented enough, but suddenly you want a pubescent age limit? Make up your mind. Not everybody hits puberty at the same time. Choosing to wait is the same as not acting. So in other words, shut your mouth.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:20 am
man ur talking to gurl who’s combination of parents probably beat her if she isn’t a successful entertainer! smh…so though i agree ur talking to the wrong ones!
on a another note…somewhere another starving artist who’s hot continues to get passed on while this trust fund baby gets the jayz green light!
cmon man really? did it have to be roc nation? why not disney records or fuck it have her mom n pop create a new indie label called WILLOW SMITH RECORDS!
September 9th, 2010 at 11:21 am
That really sounds like you’re hating macabee now if you joking thats cool but if not then you need to take that rule and thumb and shove em both…
In the words of puff daddy puffy P. Diddy “No Bitchassness!”
September 9th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Wow! I wonder what she sounds like. Too bad the links aren’t working at the moment. -_-
September 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am
I was thinking the same thing…lol
September 9th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Yeah, look how that turned out…
Ne-Yo
Rihanna
Young Jeezy
Rick Ross
You could argue Ross and Jeezy. Cuz those were Shakir Stewart’s signing but Hov gave them niggas a HUGE co-sign that def helped. Some of y’all should just stick to listening to music cuz you have no idea how this game works.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:46 am
…….Big names, Big potential, Big Risk. We’ll how this goes. At least you know she’ll get treated better then Teirra Maire was.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:49 am
she has talent and i wish her the best of luck. i dont think macabee is hating. he’s just looking at the struggles of past entertainers who started so young. Michael jackson had no life and was the loneliest man on the planet, he said he cried many times because he was so famous that he couldnt play with other kids. the entertainment industry is hard on kids. but willow has good parent who will probably protect her. jaden seems to be doing good and loving fame.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:58 am
How is that hating? I’m just saying being allowed to grow-up isn’t a bad thing.
September 9th, 2010 at 11:58 am
I’m sorry but these smith kids (besides trey) is doing way too much! I know they wanna follow in their parents footsteps but enjoy being a kid! Cus trust there is nothing like ur childhood! I’m 24 and I sit here wishing I could be a kid again. And besides she (willow) could play a young rihanna in her life story lol she obiviously is influenced by riri (style/hair).
September 9th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Giving her a few years to develop as a person would only help her art.
September 9th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
what a dumb kid…when i was nine, i was doing long division…..step your game up youngin’ lmao
September 9th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Just another one for the Illuminati to used and mislead the next generation of kids
September 9th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
“He was Def Jam president and look how that panned out.”
Pretty god damn good in retrospect. He signed some of the best talent. Convinced Nas to join the roster. Made superstars out of Ne-Yo and Rihanna, gave credibility to Jeezy and Rozay, created a “comeback” album called American Gangster. Used his new power to buy his final album from Doug Morris and parlayed his presidency into a new deal with Live Nation worth $150 million.
I’d say, he knows EXACTLY what he’s doing.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I wouldn’t be surprise if she flops,get drop,or even become a one hit wonder,still need growth and development mentally as well as musically,and I wouldn’t be sunrise if something strangle happen now that she is sign with roc nation,mason in disguise.
September 9th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Very noble of you, but from a business perspective, too short sighted. If Carter doesn’t sign her then another label will, so why lose out on such as obvious win?
September 9th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Some of you mfs, are miserable ass people and clearly aren’t happy in yall lives. Probably stuck in the projects somewhere, wondering where you went wrong in your life. How can you say some stuff about being a one hit wonder, and insinuating something bad is gonna happen to her. I bet yall don’t say that about Beiber, damn jigaboos. smh
September 9th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Stop with the hate because being sign to Roc Nation I think was a good choice. Her parents know the game/business very well, and they will be there to guide their daugther. Jay-z is a smart business man and he knows the game very well. If he didn’t sign her someone else would have and that don’t mean that it would have been a better choice. With the fact that her parents knows Jay-z I think was a big plus in helping her with her career. Think about all the young artist that start their career at a very young age (actors, actress,musicians) so what the problem with Willow starting her’s.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Trey is a G. I mean look at his name, dude probably lives in the attic smoking MAD weeed.
And I agree that maybe Willow shouldn’t be getting into music yet. Do some acting first maybe, or graduate high school, that way she has a solid base of supporting friends.I heard someone say before that the music industry is a bitch. HM, maybe they are sure she wont fail, but is that a good thing?(Michael Jackson’s life) I felt bad for MJ but then again, he did the right thing with his money. Willow…idk what would happen but lets just hope shes more Rihanna than Britney Spears.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I never learned long division…Im in my second year of college. Lucky me though I learned other ways.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Beiber is a G. I hear he shoots ninjas 24/7. He rolls with Rick Rawse and makes little girls bake cakes for Rawse. I hear he punched the Game in the face and Game cried and ran away.
Jigaboo? LMAO There were better words to put there man.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
you people dont understand the industry
this is great sign the smith name is brand and in pop music this will sale
people love will smith and will support his kids too
September 9th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
God blessed her with a talent let her use it.I do agree that there are plenty artist out there that are being looked over in this game.I said it before music has changed in a big way.For the worst there are some okay rapper’s out there but nothing like before.Hands down let keep this shit REAL!!!!!!!!!!
September 9th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@ChicaGo& Rice
WARNING!!!
PLEASE REMOVE MR.SHAWN CARTER PENIS OUT YOUR MOUTH!
I REPEAT
PLEASE REMOVE MR.SHAWN CARTER PENIS OUT YOUR MOUTH!
Seriously though it one thing having an opinion and replying from a point of view. But to throw a jab uncalled for jab come on? If you really want to break down his Def Jam presidency. He fucked up LL Cool J project. He completely ignored Joe Buddens.What about Dmx huh? Beanie Sigel recorded his worst album as Jay being the quote on quote “BOSS”
Now lets look at what Mr.Carter did for Young Jeezy shall we?
Didn’t Jeezy fall out while Jay was there with “The Recession” album?
To this date it was his worst selling album.
Enough with him lets look at Rihanna. She didn’t really get sizzling fuckin HOT until she exploited the Chris Brown situation. Jay tried everything to market her at first. Don’t get me wrong she did well. But then after the Chris Brown situation. She went from Dance hall reggae to reciting old cheesy pop tunes to america bad girl! Thank you Jay, thank you NOT!
Neyo … no comment cause i think he built himself.
Ross…Diddy made him look like a monster. Even after the C.O. scandal. That’s big especially for the fact that hip hop is breed to hate law enforcement. If Jay had to deal with that. Ross would have got dropped quicker than Tip dumped Alfamega for being a snitch.
I’m not taking nothing away from Jay-z as an artist. But when he has sat at the big boy desk. He has dropped the ball. Example…BLEEK,TRU LIFE, UNCLE MURDA! I’m done for now peace.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
chicago is right.
hes not on jayz’s dick, hes stating facts. sorry he hurt your feelings.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
you never learned long division and you’re in your second year of college. that speaks volumes.
#societyfail
September 9th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
that guy said look what he did at def jam… you guys have no idea how this biz does. I’m not the biggest jay0z fan, but his tenor as president at the label was actually good. Look back to 04-07 in music and tell me what label had the majority of the “Stars” and “hit records”…. Def Jam people. Do ya’ll research and the guy that said Rihanna did blow until the chris brown incident is clearly mislead. He biggest album to date Was Good Girl Gone Bad.. You know the one that had the biggest record of the last 5-10 years in music “Umbrella” on it.. The one Jay-Z was featured on. She hasn’t and proley wont out sale that record. It had 9 singles on it, 7 or so that hit the top 10. Those stats don’t come around that often…
But regardless that’s neither here nor there. This is about Willow Smith. Her Dad is the biggest movie star on the planet, and by the way has went diamond before as a recording artist mind you (thats 10 mill albums sold for you slow pokes). Will Smith could have did bizness with ANY record exec he chose to. So ask yall selves this… WHY did he choose to align lil willow smith with Jay-Z???
Men Lie, Women Lie… numbers dont.
September 9th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
that guy said look what he did at def jam… you guys have no idea how this biz goes. I’m not the biggest jay-z fan, but his tenor as president at the label was actually good, if not great. Look back to 04-07 in music and tell me what label had the majority of the “Stars” and “hit records”…. Def Jam people. Kanye, Rihanna, Ne-yo, Jeezy, Rick Ross, Jay-Z HIMSELF… How many other labels had 5 to 6 URBAN acts all at the same time doing those kinda numbers? Ima help ya out… NONE. Interscope had 1 – 50 Cent, Atlantic had 1- T.I., Sony semi had 1 in Nas. Where was EVERYONE else at urban?? Def jam people. And Jay was responsible for bringing ALL on them there in some shape form or fashion.
Do ya’ll research before you get online screaming. lol…. and the guy that said Rihanna didn’t blow until the chris brown incident is clearly mislead. Her biggest album to date was “Good Girl Gone Bad” from 2007.. You know… the one that had the biggest record of the last 5-10 years in music “Umbrella” on it.. The one Jay-Z was featured on. She hasn’t and proley wont out sale that album. Its sold like 5 mill or so world wide, It had 9 singles on it, 7 or so that hit the top 10. Those stats don’t come around that often… Her last album Rated R (chris brown saga) is only at albout 2 mill world wide. hence the usage of the words ONLY AT ABOUT… Smh, thats hard to do no days fro any artist.
But regardless that’s neither here nor there. This is about Willow Smith. Her Dad is the biggest movie star on the planet, and by the way Will has went diamond before as a recording artist mind you (thats 10 mill albums sold for you slow pokes). Will Smith could have did bizness with ANY record exec he chose to. So ask yall selves this… WHY did he choose to align lil willow smith with Jay-Z??? Yeah its a pretty easy decision for anyone with sense in this business…
Men Lie, Women Lie… numbers dont.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Willow is adorable and talented..she wants to sing,someone that can help her get to where she wants to be believes in her…i say,good for her. Do your thing,young lady..hope she sells millions of albums.
September 9th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
So am I you we to believe that Jay never met willow previously despite having business ventures with her parents on FELA and Carols daughter? Ok if this is the lie heis telling then I am going to pour hot oil and peanut butter in my ears. She is no MJ. Cute kid but admitting she doesnt do her school work is priceless. I have no respect for Jay. He is officially a sellout that does favors for people that dont need them.
September 10th, 2010 at 12:59 am
“have her mom n pop create a new indie label called WILLOW SMITH RECORDS!” <== This guy here. Ha,Ha,Ha!! Industry rule no. 4080…record company people are shady so, kids watch your back, cuz soulja boy smokes crack, I don't doubt it, look how he acts. Off to better things like a PUNK ROCK forum.
September 10th, 2010 at 1:04 am
Simply, BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Long division? O_o
I was more perplexed by the angles…acute at that, do that do that do do that that that. Hahahahaha. Thread is hilarious B.
September 10th, 2010 at 2:30 am
This is what I find crazy first off JAY-Z DID NOT DISCOVER AND SIGN RIHANNA THAT WAS LA REID HE JUST DID A FEW TRACKS ALL OF HIS FINDS WERE DUDS AND SECONDLY WHY WOULD YOU CALL AN 8YR OLD WHO HASNT EVEN HAD A GROWTH SPURT YET “LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON” SHIT MACALLY CALKIN WAS SPECIAL 2 UNTIL HE GOT OLDER AND WEIRD LOOKING!! BUT MICHAEL JACKSON COME ON JAZZ-O JR THAT A BIG FUCKING STATEMENT TO MAKE AT THIS POINT SO I GUESS THAT WOULD MAKE HIM QUINCY JONES? I HOPE KANYE AND BEYONCE CRAFT HER PROJECT BECAUSE JAZ-O JR BATTING 1-3 ON HIS LAST 4 RECORDS IN MY OPINION ALL THE LAST 4 BEEN ASS BUT THE LAST ONE HE STOLE RIHANNA SINGLE AND AN TRACK FROM MISS KEYS AND MADE IT A HIT OUTSIDE OF THOSE TWO WAS SOME GAY ASS ROCK TRACKS THAT HE DIDNT BOTHER TO SAMPLE HE JUST JACKED THE SONG AND ADDED VERSES 2 LOL THAT NIGGA AINT MUSIC!! BUT ITS SO CRAZY DUDE SO POLITICAL THAT HE GOTTA SIGN WILL SMITH KID HAHAH WHATS NEXT HE GONE SIGN APPLE? HAHAH
September 10th, 2010 at 4:38 am
Jay Z is the wost thing to ever happen to the rap game..the man is a user, money mad and at over 40, one will think he has more sense than he’s showing…
He enever convinced Nas to sign to def jam, yall shud get ya facts right ok??
September 10th, 2010 at 7:27 am
Um excuse me who invited you in to this debate? Jeez, you Jay-z groupies stick together don’t you?
Since you want to involve yourself alright then, here it goes.My wasn’t hurt at all. Sorry you was misinformed. I’m just annoyed by you little Hova groupies giving Jay-z all these props he wasn’t really done anything. He is like the popular cheerleader in high school. That gets everybody else to do what she wants and at the end she gets all the credit. Yall groupies need to ask yourself one question.
If Dame Dash would’ve never signed Kanye you think Jay would have?
Let Kanye tell it and he says this nigga Jay-z ignored him. Similar to what he did with Buddens. Anyways think what yall want. I hope Willow has a great career and Jay-z doesn’t ruin it like he did some many others.
LORD WHERE DAME DASH WHEN YOU NEED HIM!!!
September 10th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Nas signed right after the truce publicity stunt. It was alluded that Carter helped persuade Nas to join him on Def Jam at the behest of the Def Jam higher ups.
The higher ups at DJ wanted to sign Nas prior to “I declare war” stunt but they needed Jay-z to publicly squash the beef with Nas.
Sony and Def Jam didn’t want their negativity to effect sales.
September 10th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
EXACTLY!
These dudes know nothing about the music BUSINESS. They can have an opinion on the music but as far as the BUSINESS side it’s probably best to refrain from participation. They just make themselves look stupid.
No one was checking for LL, X, Sigel OR Joe Budden. At least not in mainstream America. Def Jam could’ve put the house behing those guys and their respective projects still would have flopped. And this is coming from someone who’s a fan of all those guys.
You talk about dickriders yet you allow your hatred for dude to cloud your judgement and blind you from the truth.
Everyone who was suppose to succeed under Jay-Z’s presidency succeeded. Everyone who didn’t were never going to. No matter who was running the company. It’s just an excuse rappers make.
They all came blame the label but is LL gonna take responsibility for that horrendous single with J. Lo?
Is X gonna take responsibility for his drug habit which consequently effected his preformance?
Is Joe Budden gonna take responsibility for the wackness that was “Gangster Party”? Which he admittingly says HE wanted to do. Not to mention the fact that Def Jam gave him a release date AND promoted said date but HE chose to sabotage. Then withheld any music there after cuz he wanted to be dropped?
And how does Jay-Z get blamed for Beanie Sigel’s worst album? It’s HIS fuckin album. He recorded that bullshit. It’s not like he would ever do Em numbers anyway. Talent doesn’t always ewual sales.
So in closing….
STFU!
September 10th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Oh and Rihanna had number 1 records prior to the Chris Brown situation.
The girl has been a crossover hit since her debut. She just reached new heights with “Good Girl Gone Bad” and album Jay-Z AND his man Ty Ty all had a hand in.
Stop going off perception and check the stats. I recall “SOS” and “Unfaithful” being pretty big records. Number 1 records to specify.
Niggas is foolish B.
September 11th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I can’t lie, I was thinking the same thing. I’ve read too many things about this dude, Jay-Z, and his “mission” too overlook this signing. I’m just surprised that Willow’s parents allowed her to be signed with Jay-Z. I guess they just don’t know.
I just pray to Jesus that she doesn’t get sucked into that twisted agenda. It warps and brainwashes today’s youth. Lord, open people’s eyes.
God bless.
September 11th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
yea do dat n go be a poser like half the punk rock fanbase!
bunch of winy fux who aint ever really been thru shit any street dude who call pain — complaining & “lashing out” lol…u probably one of the older ones to lol…so yea gtfoh…literally get off miss info blog n go n pose!
September 11th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
@Uptop Don WTF?! You must be a Soulja Boy fan. Sensitive. GROW A FUCKING SENSE OF HUMOR!! Because I actually was making light of your post. You misread a JOKE…by a B-GIRL! I was actually AGREEING with some of your statements about record companies and the direction of hip-hop lightheartedly. What does your “street pain” have to do Willow Smit and my fucking silly post and requoting a ATCQ Industry #4080 lyric on a blog, written by someone who calls themselves “Flinstone Vitamins?!!” Who gives a shit if you think I am a poseur or not. What are you basing that opinion from? The real issue is you misread my good natured reply to your post and read into it too fucking seriously…for that you need to log the fuck off and simply kill yourself. You keyboard-thugging with a girl and the wrong one too.
September 12th, 2010 at 12:53 am
Exactly! Music is business and Jay-Z is a business…Man. You got frustrated, depressed clowns on here jealous of a little girl, waiting for their turn for Roc Nation to sign them. When in reality they should look at Plan B…and that is getting a job. Not everyone is meant to be a signed artist.
November 24th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Willow, your mad cute but you are cuter without the gum!
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Hey, do you have a facebook fanpage?
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