Le Journal

Rostrum Pacific secured a $150 million financing deal from New York-based Crayhill Capital Management to fuel its catalog-acquisition ambitions. The parent company of indie powerhouse Rostrum Records announced the partnership Thursday, marking a major expansion of its strategy to become “the preeminent independent music company.” The financing comes from Crayhill Capital Management, a private credit specialist managing $2.9 billion in assets. Rostrum Pacific CEO Benjy Grinberg plans to use the funds to pursue catalog opportunities “of any scale” and integrate them into the company’s established ecosystem. Rostrum Records built its reputation by discovering and developing breakthrough Hip-Hop talent in Pittsburgh. Grinberg founded the label in 2003 and quickly established it as a launching pad for future superstars. The label signed Mac Miller in 2010 when he was just 18 years old, helping transform the young Pittsburgh rapper into a chart-topping artist whose debut album Blue Slide Park became the first independently distributed album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 since 1995. Wiz Khalifa became another Rostrum success story after joining the label in 2007. His breakthrough single “Black and Yellow” became a Pittsburgh anthem and launched him to mainstream stardom. Both artists helped establish Rostrum’s reputation for identifying raw talent and developing it into commercial success. The label expanded beyond its Pittsburgh roots over the years, eventually consolidating multiple businesses under the Rostrum Pacific umbrella in 2023. The company now operates Rostrum Records, Fat Beats, Cantora Records and digital distribution platform SpaceHeater. SpaceHeater launched last year as an AI-powered music distribution and analytics platform. The technology offers “unmatched transparency and accuracy” for tracking how artists’ music gets used to train AI models and determining fair compensation for AI-generated outputs. “Securing this funding reflects confidence in our value-creation strategy – one that leverages strategic partnerships and collaborative frameworks to drive high-value returns,” said Scott Margolin, Rostrum’s Chief Financial Officer, who led negotiations with Crayhill. “With this backing, we’re expanding our reach and deepening our commitment to ensure that music under our care gets heard,” Margolin added. “We’re focused on catalog we can actively grow – whether it’s assets we acquire or the catalog we’ve been building for more than 20 years.” Jihane Hassad, Director of TMT Investment Group at Crayhill, praised Rostrum’s “compelling in-house model that drives value creation and strategic growth.” Crayhill has invested over $500 million across its Technology, Media & Telecom strategy, including investments in music, film and TV libraries. The deal positions Rostrum Pacific to compete in the increasingly competitive music catalog acquisition market. Major labels and investment firms have poured billions into acquiring music rights as streaming revenues continue growing globally. Rostrum’s catalog, previously distributed by ADA, is now available exclusively through SpaceHeater. The December 11 announcement signals the company’s aggressive push to expand its music portfolio and establish itself as a major independent player in the evolving music industry landscape.

Cardi B triggered a massive MAGA backlash from Donald Trump supporters after declaring she might permanently leave America following Vice President JD Vance’s public endorsement of her rival Nicki Minaj. The Bronx rapper’s comments during an Instagram Live session from Saudi Arabia sent shockwaves through conservative social media circles. Cardi made her stunning announcement while performing at the Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh, directly responding to Vance’s tweet, “Nicki > Cardi,” which supported her longtime nemesis. “I’m starting not to like America,” Cardi B said during her live stream. “America makes me pay taxes. The Vice President is talking s### about me on Twitter. I don’t feel real appreciated in America. Y’all need to convince me to come back.” MAGA supporters immediately flooded social media with harsh responses to her threat. “Well, let me tell you, Cardi B is free to make her own choices, but if she doesn’t want to come back to the USA, that’s her loss! We’re focused on keeping America great and supporting our leaders like Vice President JD Vance. MAGA AmericaFirst,” one Trump supporter posted. Other MAGA followers were even more direct. “No body cares if cardi b ever came back to America,” another wrote. A third added, “So renounce your US citizenship and stay out there.” Cardi’s latest clash with MAGA represents just the newest chapter in her ongoing political battles with Trump supporters. She previously faced conservative backlash after endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and has repeatedly criticized Trump’s policies on immigration and social issues. The rapper has been particularly vocal about Trump’s immigration stance, recently slamming “poor people” who voted for the former president despite policies that could hurt millions of families. Cardi’s political activism has made her a frequent target of conservative criticism throughout both Trump administrations. During her Saudi Arabia broadcast, Cardi praised the kingdom’s strict legal system while taking shots at American politics. “I’m in Saudi Arabia and, so far, let me tell you about my experience. It’s very strict. They will put you under the jail,” she explained. “They ain’t playing around. You will go to prison. Mess around and you’ll find out. However, it’s very easy to follow the rules here.” The rapper particularly enjoyed the tax-free shopping experience. “The people over here is hip, honey,” Cardi said about her Saudi experience. “They are very polite. They don’t look at you like you’re poor. I like everything duty-free, tax-free, discount-free.” JD Vance’s unprecedented involvement in Hip-Hop beef marked the first time America’s second-highest elected official has publicly taken sides in rap rivalries. His endorsement followed Nicki Minaj’s “Vance > Rants” post on social media, signaling her growing support for the Trump administration. The political divide between the two rap queens has become increasingly apparent as Nicki Minaj embraces MAGA talking points. Just this week, Nicki Minaj launched a blistering attack on California Governor Gavin Newsom over his support for transgender children, claiming it marked “the end of the road” for his political career. Nicki Minaj’s anti-trans rant targeted Newsom’s policies protecting LGBTQ+ youth, with the rapper joining Elon Musk in criticizing the governor’s stance. Her comments sparked immediate backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates who accused her of promoting harmful rhetoric against vulnerable children. Nicki Minaj has increasingly aligned herself with MAGA influencers. She even headlined a Trump-backed conference aiming to stop violence against Christians in Nigeria. While Cardi considers relocating to Saudi Arabia, Nicki Minaj continues building bridges with Trump’s inner circle through her social media endorsements. 150-Character Excerpt:

Damon Dash is set to watch his film catalog hit the auction block in New York City on December 30, 2025, as two states scramble to collect millions from his $25 million bankruptcy case. A federal judge authorized the United States Marshals Service to sell copyrights tied to Poppington LLC, Dash’s media company, including titles like Honor Up, Too Honorable and Welcome to Blackrock. The court-approved auction follows years of litigation and mounting debts, including a $4 million defamation judgment awarded to filmmaker Josh Webber and Muddy Water Pictures. The films, including Honor Up, which is executive-produced by Kanye West and features Dash, Cam’ron, and Stacy Dash, are now part of a public sale ordered by Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger. The minimum bid is $300,000, but the final price could increase depending on interest. Damon Dash filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September, listing $25,073,520.58 in liabilities and just $4,350 in assets, according to court records reviewed by AllHipHop_._ His debts include $19 million in unpaid taxes, nearly $400,000 in back child and spousal support, and multiple civil judgments dating back more than a decade. The bankruptcy filing was intended to pause collection efforts, but the court ruled that assets already seized by the Marshals were not protected from sale, allowing the auction to proceed. Now, both New York and New Jersey have stepped in to claim what they can. The New Jersey Division of Taxation filed a secured claim for $3,996,830.62, backed by a statutory lien on all of Dash’s property and earning 10.75 percent interest. Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance filed a competing claim for $8,668,450.51 in unpaid income taxes. Both agencies submitted their claims before the auction, positioning themselves to collect first from any proceeds. Creditors like Webber also have the option to “credit bid” their judgments, meaning they can claim the film rights in exchange for the debt Damon Dash already owes them, potentially leaving little for other creditors. This isn’t Dash’s first court-ordered liquidation. In November 2024, he lost his one-third stake in Roc-A-Fella Records after failing to pay an $823,000 civil judgment to Webber over the film Dear Frank. That auction, held in Manhattan, drew a $1 million winning bid from an anonymous representative of the State of New York, which used the purchase to help recover part of the $8.7 million in back taxes Dash owed.

A medical scare briefly stopped the show at KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas when All-American Rejects frontman, Tyson Ritter, abruptly cut the band's finale mid-song to help a fan who collapsed in the crowd. TMZ has obtained video showing the band…