Madlib and Mac Miller Joint Album Release in Doubt Amid Lawsuit
Summary
The highly-anticipatedMadlibandMac Millerjoint album may not see a release after all.
A countersuit filed by the producer's former manager, Eothen 'Egon' Alapatt, claims that he produced the joint album for Madicine Show — the record label established by Alapatt and Madlib. However, Madlib supposedly 'unlawfully absconded with Madicine Show's property to wit' and established a 'new' company. The 'new' Madlib Invazion label 'promised' to release the joint album andMontanawithFreddie Gibbsand his ESGN company. Both records are 'obligated to deliver' to Sony Music.
Alapatt further alleges that Madlib is 'refusing to cooperate' to drop records, and had been releasing projects produced by Alapatt for Madicine Show. He also claims that Madlib released one of Miller's Madicine Show masters forTalib Kweli'sLiberation 2, as well as released one of theLiberation 2masters produced by Alapatt for theBlack StaralbumNo Fear of Time.
In November 2024,Madlib sued Alapattfor mismanagement of his record store and their joint venture. He accused the exec of engaging in 'rank self-dealing, concealing information from and repeatedly breaching his duties to Madlib,' as well as 'persistent and pervasive mismanagement' and 'abuse of his role' within the two entities and the producer's 'professional and business affairs.'
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Hypebeast
26-05-2025
- Hypebeast
Madlib and Mac Miller Joint Album Release in Doubt Amid Lawsuit
Summary The highly-anticipatedMadlibandMac Millerjoint album may not see a release after all. A countersuit filed by the producer's former manager, Eothen 'Egon' Alapatt, claims that he produced the joint album for Madicine Show — the record label established by Alapatt and Madlib. However, Madlib supposedly 'unlawfully absconded with Madicine Show's property to wit' and established a 'new' company. The 'new' Madlib Invazion label 'promised' to release the joint album andMontanawithFreddie Gibbsand his ESGN company. Both records are 'obligated to deliver' to Sony Music. Alapatt further alleges that Madlib is 'refusing to cooperate' to drop records, and had been releasing projects produced by Alapatt for Madicine Show. He also claims that Madlib released one of Miller's Madicine Show masters forTalib Kweli'sLiberation 2, as well as released one of theLiberation 2masters produced by Alapatt for theBlack StaralbumNo Fear of Time. In November 2024,Madlib sued Alapattfor mismanagement of his record store and their joint venture. He accused the exec of engaging in 'rank self-dealing, concealing information from and repeatedly breaching his duties to Madlib,' as well as 'persistent and pervasive mismanagement' and 'abuse of his role' within the two entities and the producer's 'professional and business affairs.'
Eater
21-05-2025
- Eater
Say Hello to the Bay Area's Most Smackable Bars That, Also, Slap
View as Map A few years ago, a wave of bars inspired by the famed Japanese hi-fi style listening lounges started hitting the Bay Area. And while there are still some spots in the region that operate closely to the Japanese model of hi-fi audio in a relaxed social environment that breeds conversation, it's the evolution of this concept that makes for some of the most intriguing and exciting destinations. Unsurprisingly, the Bay Area has taken the original idea of a listening bar and redefined it. Now, we have a vibrant set of establishments that are dedicated to pristine audio environments and cocktails, but have also found alluring ways to weave in food, diverse layouts, and in some cases, the personalities of owners and vinyl selectors. These are the go-to listening bars and restaurants in the Bay. Read More Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy. The first listening bar in the Bay is the truest to the Tokyo 'jazz kissa' lounge experience, where service to the music comes first, and it brings out the best conversations. Since 2019, Bar Shiru has been both a great jumping off point for a night in the heart of Uptown Oakland's entertainment district, and a singular destination for refined, precise, and comfortable vibes (yet unpretentious enough to order at the bar on weekdays). From Madlib's essential beat conductions to Freddie Hubbard's distinct trumpet tonalities, full albums play over the immaculate analog system (headlined by two LM-812 loudspeakers) that's nothing short of a work of art. Meanwhile, the house's signature Moonglow cocktail — an herbaceous and complex martini riff — nods to owners Daniel Garr and Shirin Raza's new speakeasy down the street at Gold Palm, another portal dedicated to sound. Next door to three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, you'll find chef Dominique Crenn's more accessible Bar Crenn. A massive wall of Crenn's records looms over the intimate hi-fi lounge, where seasonal cocktails brush up next to seafood-oriented bites like scallop crudo and oysters in an umami-focused drinks and bites experience. You can flip through the records and add some to the evening's queue, and don't be surprised if you end up talking vinyl with Chef Crenn herself, who's often hanging out and chatting with guests. For the ultimate visit, reserve one of ten spots for the Le Comptoir interactive tasting menu, a Michelin-starred offering served at the bartop. Make a reservation via Tock. The hallmark of a great listening bar is one that's so marvelously conducive to conversation that time just disappears. Moongate Lounge (above Chinatown scion Mister Jiu's) is one of those places. Sitting in red velvet booths, or underneath the glorious color-changing moongate skylight, tunes from Slum Village to Hiatus Kaiyote come thru cleanly, complementing a jujubee infused negroni or the 'Clear and Bright' cocktail with duck fat-washed rye and lapsang tea. Bar honcho Garrett Marks scours Chinatown markets and tea shops for ingredients that he and the excellent staff of mostly female bartenders mix up. Don't sleep on memorable snacks like a crab rangoon dip, Sichuan smoked olives, and one of the best prawn cocktails in town. Reservations are available via Tock. Co-owner Will Herrera used to run the Barbary Coast trail institution Old Ship Saloon, so he knows a thing or two about honoring downtown San Francisco's bar culture. 'We're here for an intentionally social environment, not a nightclub vibe,' he says of the nearly three-year-old Harlan Records, tucked down a cheeky alley. Open most days at 2 p.m. and closing late every day, it's hard to leave Harlan once you're sitting in a leather-bound chair, booth, or bar stool. A classic McIntosh receiver powers part of the system that Herrera says is still evolving. The striking cocktail list and loaded 'Duets' (shot and beer combo) offering are fun to explore in the afternoon, or while hearing curated records from prime local selectors at night. A custom record coffin greets you at Yokai's host station, playing records over a digital and analog system. Chef Marc Zimmerman's listening bar incorporates his signature live fire cooking with top-notch raw seafood, all sourced from NorCal and Japan. Jazz reigns supreme in a hip room very well-designed for masterful sound that fosters conversation (note the Godzilla painting on the far wall). The series of Roku gin and Haku vodka martinis is fantastic, and Yokai just might have the most comprehensive selection of Japanese whiskeys in the city. Like many places south of Gough Street, Phonobar is hard to find if you're not looking for it. There's a diverse range of seating in the low-slung ceiling front room highlighted by a greenhouse windowed alcove. Sipping cocktails and eating vegan bites from Om Sabor, you might not feel like you're in a listening bar until you settle into the cavernous, leather banquette-lined back room, where seating faces a raised DJ booth in the crown jewel atmosphere of the entire space. Here, vinyl selectors (like Rebirth Jazz every third Wednesday) dig into their crates for tunes 'til midnight over premium audio. Sign up for our newsletter. SF's newest addition to the listening bar circuit takes the concept to new heights, fully incorporating the element of food. Chef Parker Brown's Midwest-comfort menu includes a decadent burger with bone marrow and Tomales Farmstead Creamery goat cheese that nods to a pro move order at Chicago's storied Au Cheval, as well as a perfectly fried chicken cutlet with chickories, hazelnut, and zesty honey mustard that's delightfully bitter and sweet; both have many dashing pairings on La Ciccia's Paul Chung-curated wine list. Meanwhile, Brown's partner and co-owner, Caroline, helms the music component led by the first-ever Tub's Audio speakers installed in a U.S. restaurant. Suffice it to say, Side A sounds impeccable, both in the evening when Caroline (DJ Music Please) and illustrious selectors (King Most! Mophono!) are on the decks, as well as in late Mission mornings where house-made donuts and the Coffee Movement's drinks paint a convivial portrait of this spectacular space. Reservations are available on Resy. This San Jose lounge checks in with multiple McIntosh amps powering a sound system led by a sleek hi-fi wall of sound behind the DJ booth. A lively small space that's an oasis amidst clubbier First Street bars, Still O.G. has all of its cocktails on draft — at a reasonable $14 a pop at that! — that's so the noise from shakers doesn't disrupt the function. There's also Asian-leaning bites like chicken tsukune and king trumpet mushroom skewers, crab noodles, and even a smash burger. Peep behind the soundproof velvet curtain in the back to uncover the Alter Ego cocktail and bites speakeasy, a choice destination that recently hosted a bar pop-up night with SF's True Laurel. Reservations for Alter Ego can be found at OpenTable. © 2025 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Link copied to the clipboard. The first listening bar in the Bay is the truest to the Tokyo 'jazz kissa' lounge experience, where service to the music comes first, and it brings out the best conversations. Since 2019, Bar Shiru has been both a great jumping off point for a night in the heart of Uptown Oakland's entertainment district, and a singular destination for refined, precise, and comfortable vibes (yet unpretentious enough to order at the bar on weekdays). From Madlib's essential beat conductions to Freddie Hubbard's distinct trumpet tonalities, full albums play over the immaculate analog system (headlined by two LM-812 loudspeakers) that's nothing short of a work of art. Meanwhile, the house's signature Moonglow cocktail — an herbaceous and complex martini riff — nods to owners Daniel Garr and Shirin Raza's new speakeasy down the street at Gold Palm, another portal dedicated to sound. Open in Google Maps Foursquare Next door to three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn, you'll find chef Dominique Crenn's more accessible Bar Crenn. A massive wall of Crenn's records looms over the intimate hi-fi lounge, where seasonal cocktails brush up next to seafood-oriented bites like scallop crudo and oysters in an umami-focused drinks and bites experience. You can flip through the records and add some to the evening's queue, and don't be surprised if you end up talking vinyl with Chef Crenn herself, who's often hanging out and chatting with guests. For the ultimate visit, reserve one of ten spots for the Le Comptoir interactive tasting menu, a Michelin-starred offering served at the bartop. Make a reservation via Tock. Open in Google Maps Foursquare The hallmark of a great listening bar is one that's so marvelously conducive to conversation that time just disappears. Moongate Lounge (above Chinatown scion Mister Jiu's) is one of those places. Sitting in red velvet booths, or underneath the glorious color-changing moongate skylight, tunes from Slum Village to Hiatus Kaiyote come thru cleanly, complementing a jujubee infused negroni or the 'Clear and Bright' cocktail with duck fat-washed rye and lapsang tea. Bar honcho Garrett Marks scours Chinatown markets and tea shops for ingredients that he and the excellent staff of mostly female bartenders mix up. Don't sleep on memorable snacks like a crab rangoon dip, Sichuan smoked olives, and one of the best prawn cocktails in town. Reservations are available via Tock. Open in Google Maps Foursquare Co-owner Will Herrera used to run the Barbary Coast trail institution Old Ship Saloon, so he knows a thing or two about honoring downtown San Francisco's bar culture. 'We're here for an intentionally social environment, not a nightclub vibe,' he says of the nearly three-year-old Harlan Records, tucked down a cheeky alley. Open most days at 2 p.m. and closing late every day, it's hard to leave Harlan once you're sitting in a leather-bound chair, booth, or bar stool. A classic McIntosh receiver powers part of the system that Herrera says is still evolving. The striking cocktail list and loaded 'Duets' (shot and beer combo) offering are fun to explore in the afternoon, or while hearing curated records from prime local selectors at night. Open in Google Maps Foursquare A custom record coffin greets you at Yokai's host station, playing records over a digital and analog system. Chef Marc Zimmerman's listening bar incorporates his signature live fire cooking with top-notch raw seafood, all sourced from NorCal and Japan. Jazz reigns supreme in a hip room very well-designed for masterful sound that fosters conversation (note the Godzilla painting on the far wall). The series of Roku gin and Haku vodka martinis is fantastic, and Yokai just might have the most comprehensive selection of Japanese whiskeys in the city. Book with OpenTable Book with OpenTable Open in Google Maps Foursquare Like many places south of Gough Street, Phonobar is hard to find if you're not looking for it. There's a diverse range of seating in the low-slung ceiling front room highlighted by a greenhouse windowed alcove. Sipping cocktails and eating vegan bites from Om Sabor, you might not feel like you're in a listening bar until you settle into the cavernous, leather banquette-lined back room, where seating faces a raised DJ booth in the crown jewel atmosphere of the entire space. Here, vinyl selectors (like Rebirth Jazz every third Wednesday) dig into their crates for tunes 'til midnight over premium audio. Open in Google Maps Foursquare SF's newest addition to the listening bar circuit takes the concept to new heights, fully incorporating the element of food. Chef Parker Brown's Midwest-comfort menu includes a decadent burger with bone marrow and Tomales Farmstead Creamery goat cheese that nods to a pro move order at Chicago's storied Au Cheval, as well as a perfectly fried chicken cutlet with chickories, hazelnut, and zesty honey mustard that's delightfully bitter and sweet; both have many dashing pairings on La Ciccia's Paul Chung-curated wine list. Meanwhile, Brown's partner and co-owner, Caroline, helms the music component led by the first-ever Tub's Audio speakers installed in a U.S. restaurant. Suffice it to say, Side A sounds impeccable, both in the evening when Caroline (DJ Music Please) and illustrious selectors (King Most! Mophono!) are on the decks, as well as in late Mission mornings where house-made donuts and the Coffee Movement's drinks paint a convivial portrait of this spectacular space. Reservations are available on Resy. This San Jose lounge checks in with multiple McIntosh amps powering a sound system led by a sleek hi-fi wall of sound behind the DJ booth. A lively small space that's an oasis amidst clubbier First Street bars, Still O.G. has all of its cocktails on draft — at a reasonable $14 a pop at that! — that's so the noise from shakers doesn't disrupt the function. There's also Asian-leaning bites like chicken tsukune and king trumpet mushroom skewers, crab noodles, and even a smash burger. Peep behind the soundproof velvet curtain in the back to uncover the Alter Ego cocktail and bites speakeasy, a choice destination that recently hosted a bar pop-up night with SF's True Laurel. Reservations for Alter Ego can be found at OpenTable.
Business of Fashion
20-05-2025
- Business of Fashion
Can Gaming Go Glam?
In a bit of beauty industry news that could read like the result of a very niche Mad Lib: The actress Chloë Grace Moretz and the pop star Rina Sawayama have created a cyberpunk cosmetic line, called Godmode, catered toward female gamers. The label is the first to launch from Closer Brands, the incubator beneath the UK-based Closer Group, The Business of Beauty has learned. Godmode's first collection comprises five products, including a cool-toned highlighter called Genesis Glow that approximates the pallid blue light cast off by screens; it will debut in early June on a direct-to-consumer website. On Tuesday morning, the brand teased an 'unlock' code on its founders' Instagram channels as well as its own, and intends to keep the exact launch date a secret for now. The launch reflects a broader effort on behalf of the beauty and fashion industries to engage female gamers, a growing segment of the population aided by the pandemic. While plenty of beauty brands have collaborated with popular coed games like The Sims or Roblox, Godmode seeks to integrate the two worlds more fully, creating a cast of characters and a universe of lore through marketing and a makeup collection. Godmode, itself, is not an actual video game or affiliated with one. 'Female gamers are everywhere,' said Mark Loy, the founder and executive chairman of Closer Group and the founder of Spring Studios. 'But brands barely speak to them.' Gender parity in the gaming population has narrowed significantly in the past few decades; in the US about 53 percent of gamers identified as male, 46 percent as female and 1 percent as non-binary, according to a 2024 report from the Entertainment Software Association. When it comes to preferences, however, there are some distinctly gendered trends; while about half of men who game play 'live service' titles like Fortnite or Grand Theft Auto, nearly 70 percent of women prefer mobile games, according to a 2024 Deloitte survey. The brand's first drop, Genesis, includes the Genesis Glow Highlighter, which approximates the pallid blue glow of a screen's light. (Godmode) Godmode achieves a more unusual milestone in the beauty industry as the first brand of its era to be fronted by not one but two celebrities, though Loy is reluctant to use the c-word. 'It's important to us that it's not seen as a celebrity brand,' he said. With celebrities or without them, Godmode will need to create something more explorable, more tangible and more playable than gamified product drops paired with hyper-lush marketing imagery to gain and maintain credibility with its gamers. 'Rina and I have the ability to build a new world for beauty that isn't just, 'Oh, you like this product, buy this product,' right?' Moretz said. A Perfect Match The realm of video games, only a handful of decades old, has historically been a place where brands go to meet men: the cult bar arcade game Tapper was a branded effort from Anheiser-Busch, and brands like Mercedes-Benz have more recently sponsored esports leagues and made its S-Class available in Mario Kart. Fashion and beauty companies, by contrast, have only recently entered the category. In 2020, MAC Cosmetics gifted a batch of 12 makeup looks to users of The Sims, which has also offered paid expansion packs sponsored by H&M (in 2007) and Moschino (in 2019). Meanwhile, a number of brands including E.l.f. Cosmetics and Givenchy, and most recently the fragrance and flavors conglomerate Givaudan, have created minigames for Roblox, the online game with 90 million monthly average users. Givaudan's 'The Garden of Memories,' in which players help a cute woodland creature craft perfumes, has logged about 60,000 players since it launched in France in January. Many of these are attempts to hook young consumers, rather than consumers who game, which has required a carefully calibrated approach by Closer. Godmode crystallised in 2023, as the incubator sought out celebrity partners. Moretz and Sawayama were deemed a perfect match for the gaming-inspired brand — the former had expressed interest in working on a beauty label to her agents at CAA, while the latter is an ambassador for Playstation. The two met for the first time in New York when they convened to shoot promo photography. Co-founder Chloë Grace Moretz appears as Chroma, her Godmode alter ego, with makeup by Daniel Sallström. She is partial to the brand's Level Up Lip Liners. The uncommon dual-founder structure was not lost on the greater public when news broke earlier this month that Moretz and Sawayama were collaborating on a beauty line. A representative example, from X: 'I don't think I would have put them together, but hey, good for them!' The co-founders corral audiences from different fields of the entertainment industry, but are also passionate gamers themselves, they told The Business of Beauty. Sawayama is a fan of tycoon-style titles like Two Point Museum, while Moretz enjoys open-world roleplaying games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Final Fantasy XIV. 'Once I realised how much you can customise and go deep into this character lore and create your own story, it's just a whole different form of gameplay,' Moretz said. A promotional still from Godmode's launch film animated by the production company All of Us Here. (Godmode) Loy pointed out that the two are 'emotionally and financially invested' in Godmode, but declined to elaborate on the partnership structure. He also hinted at forthcoming collaborations that could see Godmode entrench itself in the world of gaming beyond a product that is 'rebranded with somebody's IP.' There will also be immersive spaces, similar to the ones Closer has designed for brands like Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu. For the brand's debut, the co-founders will reveal their Godmode alter egos, with the brand's product drops — beginning with 'Genesis' in the summer, and another planned for the fall — released as chapters of an intergalactic series. 'If you're not a gamer, it's hard to understand the fantasy,' Sawayama said. Sign up to The Business of Beauty newsletter, your complimentary, must-read source for the day's most important beauty and wellness news and analysis.
