Jim Jones & Styles P Planning Joint Koch Album

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
By: Michael Ivey

London swag met New York brag, as influential DJ Tim Westwood, joined by Styles P, Jim Jones and Todd “LL Cool J” Smith, recently co-hosted ‘The Miss Info Celebrity Drama Show.’

According to Miss Info, Styles and Jim Jones, both partners with indie powerhouse Koch Records, announced they are doing a joint album with the label/distributor. The two represent key elements in sustained, separate New York street-hop movements (D Block, Dipset) and members of both D Block and Dipset have expressed mutual respect for each other on record.

Styles P December 4 released his D Block/Koch album, ‘Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman,’ featuring Dipset affiliate Max B. Warner Bros. A&R director and Columbia Records partner Jim Jones has experienced three Diplomat/Koch campaigns, the last of which (‘Hustler’s P.O.M.E,’ 2006) was spearheaded by Jones’ national radio hit “Ballin.” He plans to release a Columbia debut in 2008. Styles’ ‘Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman’ debuted at #7 on Billboards’ “Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums.”

Todd “LL Cool J” Smith appeared on Info and Westwoods’ multi-national forum to discuss his own recent posse collab with Jim Jones, Lil Kim, KRS-One, and Method Man, called “The 5 Borough’s is Back.” Smith, after he releases a 50 Cent produced LP in ’08, is no longer contractually obligated to Def Jam Records, the label he, for more than two decades, helped mold into an industry leader.

The actor/rapper reportedly finagled a deal that gives him all of his masters, with 10% going to Def Jam. Smith’s illustrious career spawned enduring hits like “Radio,” “I Need Love” and “I’m Bad.” He has in the previous months made no bones about being uncomfortable with Jay-Z’s managerial skills at Def Jam.

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