...can u say steak?









































Universal Music Group said on Monday that rap artist and hip-hop mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter is stepping down as president of its Def Jam Records unit, effective by the end of the year.
Carter, 38, has been president of the rap label since 2005, and has signed acts including R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo.
Universal said Carter, a top-selling rapper who performs as Jay-Z, will continue recording for its Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam label. But the company did not give a reason for his decision to quit the executive suite.
"Now it's time for me to take on new challenges," he said in a statement. "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy," he added.
Carter will focus on his expanding franchise of 40/40 Nightclubs over the next year and other businesses, according to a source familiar with his plans.
Carter regularly tops the lists of richest hip-hop moguls, and was No. 9 on Forbes' Celebrity 100, the annual roster of the world's most powerful -- and best paid -- celebrities, with an estimated compensation of $83 million.
Carter, who has said he was a street hustler growing up in the Marcy public housing project in a tough section of Brooklyn, New York, has sold millions of records and launched an array of media and fashion businesses.
Though known for his cutting-edge rap lyrics and rags-to-riches story, Carter often is mentioned in local gossip columns because of his romantic relationship with R&B singer Beyonce Knowles. Last week, he denied rumors that the couple had married in secret.
The rapper joined Def Jam as president to help turn around the fortunes of the then-struggling seminal rap label. His move to management followed his 2003 retirement from recording. His albums, including "Hard Knock Life" (1998), "The Blueprint" (2001) and his classic debut "Reasonable Doubt" (1996).
He returned to recording last year with the album "Kingdom Come" and this year followed up with an album inspired by the movie "American Gangster."
Def Jam's successes during his tenure as president, included Rihanna and Ne-Yo, who this month racked up 11 Grammy nominations between them.
"Jay made it clear to us that he feels the time has come to take on different challenges in his life. While we regret his decision to move on, we certainly respect it," said Antonio 'L.A.' Reid," chairman of Island Def Jam.
Universal Music, a unit of French media and telecommunications group Vivendi, is the world's largest music company with 30 percent of the worldwide market"UGK group member Chad "Pimp C" Butler was found dead in a hotel room this morning, according to reports.
Firefighters responded to a 911 call placed from the Mondrian Hotel on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California.
The rapper was found dead in his bed in a sixth floor hotel room.
Details are still emerging.
A representative of Pimp C confirmed his death and asked that, "Everyone please respect his family and those close to him at this time and refrain from rumors and innuendo."
"We mourn the unexpected loss of Chad," said Jive Records' President and CEO Barry Weiss in a statement. "He was truly a thoughtful and kind-hearted person. He will be remembered for his talent and profound influence as a pioneer in bringing southern rap to the forefront. He will be missed and our prayers remain with his family and Bun B. I've known Chad since he was 18, and we loved him dearly and he was a cherished member of the Jive family."
Pimp C was born in the Buena Vista section of Port Author, Texas.
His first rap group was formed in the late 1980’s called Mission Impossible with Mitchell Queen, Jalon Jackson and Bernard "Bun B." Freeman.
Queen and Jackson left and Pimp C and Bun B formed the legendary duo Underground Kingz (UGK).
UGK released their debut album The Southern Way in 1999, which led to a five album deal with Jive Records.
Pimp C made several notable cameo appearances as well, including Three 6 Mafia’s "Sippin on Some Sizzurp" and one of Jay-Z’s breakthrough singles, "Big Pimpin’."
In August, the group released their first album in five years and the album shot to the top of the Billboard Top 200 powered by the hit single "International Players Anthem" featuring Outkast.
In October, the single took home Best Collaboration honors at the BET Hip-Hop Awards."