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Press Releases

ATLANTIC RECORDS GROUP SUPERSTARS TEAM WITH GAP FOR HIP-HOP HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN; FLO RIDA, TREY SONGZ, AND JANELLE MONÁE ARE FEATURED IN MASSIVE “MERRY MIX IT” PROMOTION; STAR-STUDDED SPOT SET TO AIR IN CINEMAS AND ONLINE BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 13TH

ATLANTIC RECORDS GROUP SUPERSTARS TEAM WITH GAP FOR HIP-HOP HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN; FLO RIDA, TREY SONGZ, AND JANELLE MONÁE ARE FEATURED IN MASSIVE “MERRY MIX IT” PROMOTION; STAR-STUDDED SPOT SET TO AIR IN CINEMAS AND ONLINE BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER 13TH

Three of the Atlantic Records Group’s brightest stars are partnering with Gap for a major holiday marketing campaign. Poe Boy/Atlantic recording artist Flo Rida, Songbook Entertainment/Atlantic recording artist Trey Songz, and Bad Boy/Wondaland Arts Society recording artist Janelle Monáe were specifically selected to bring their unique brand of hip-hop cool to the international specialty retailer’s upcoming “Merry Mix It” campaign, slated to debut online, in Gap stores, and in movie theatres nationwide on November 13th.

With hip-hop artists commanding top endorsement dollars and in high demand by savvy brand marketers worldwide, Gap reached out to Flo Rida and Trey Songz to write and produce a street-smart rendition of a Christmas classic for its annual holiday promotion. The resulting “Jingle Bells” is now airing in Gap stores nationwide, with in-store video displays in select stores, set to begin on November 13th.

Gap will highlight “Jingle Bells” on its www.gap.com/merrymixit site, which offers fans and customers the opportunity to personalize the spot. Users can custom remix the commercial’s big beats and rambunctious rhymes and then send it to friends and family as a truly unique holiday greeting card.

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Poe Boy/Atlantic recording artist Flo Rida is among the year’s biggest hip-hop success stories, having exploded into the mainstream with his historic debut single, “Low (Feat. T-Pain).” The single – featured on Flo’s RIAA gold-certified debut album, “MAIL ON SUNDAY” – spent 10 extraordinary weeks atop Billboard’s “Hot 100” on its way to 4x platinum certification, , firmly establishing it as the #1 best-selling digital single of all time.

Among Flo Rida’s other achievements, “Low” made hip-hop history as the first-ever debut single from a rap artist to top the CHR/Top 40 radio chart, where he became only the fourth rap artist to hit #1 since 2005. The track’s ringtone has also proven a huge success, having recently received 4x-platinum certification from the RIAA for sales exceeding four million. Earlier this year, “Low” broke the record for the most consecutive weeks as the #1 ringtone in the country, with 13 weeks in the top spot on the Nielsen RingScan chart.

“MAIL ON SUNDAY” also includes two additional hits in the gold-certified “Elevator (Feat. Timbaland)” and “In The Ayer (Feat. will.i.am). The album sees Flo Rida teaming with some of today’s top hit makers, including The Runners, J.R. Rotem, and Atlanta’s DJ Montay, who produced “Low.” The Carol City, FL native also recruited a who’s who of A-list collaborators, among them Atlantic Records labelmate Trey Songz, Lil Wayne, Yung Joc, Sean Kingston, and Akon. Executive Producers of “MAIL ON SUNDAY” are E-Class and Mike Caren.

Flo Rida has received a stunning number of honors and award nominations, including prestigious nods from the American Music Awards, BET Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. What’s more, Flo has been showcased in a wide range of national publications, including a recent cover profile in XXL. Further features appeared in King, Vibe, Men’s Fitness, Blender, and Rolling Stone.

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Hailed by the late, great Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun as “among the most promising R&B artists we have had on Atlantic since we started the company 60 years ago,” Trey Songz first burst to the forefront of modern urban music in 2005 with his critically acclaimed debut, “I GOTTA MAKE IT.” In October 2007, Songz’ breakthrough second collection, “TREY DAY” made a stunning chart debut, entering Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” tally at #2, while also exploding onto the Billboard 200 at #11.

The album – which includes the #1 Urban Mainstream smash, “Can’t Help But Wait” – sees Songz teaming up with a stunning selection of studio superstars, including Songbook Entertainment founder Troy Taylor (Pretty Ricky, Tyrese), Stargate (R. Kelly, Ne-Yo, Rihanna), Danja (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), Bryan Michael Cox (Danity Kane, Mary J. Blige), the Runners (Young Jeezy, Trick Daddy) Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige), Dre & Vidal (Usher, Chris Brown), Bei Maejor (Bun B, Chris Brown), Eric Hudson (Omarion, Joe, John Legend), and the one-and-only R. Kelly. The album’s Executive Producers are Troy Taylor, Delante Murphy, and Kevin Liles. The Co-Executive Producer is Trey Songz.

A 2008 BET Award nominee for “Best Male R&B Artist,” Songz has been profiled in a variety of national publications, highlighted by cover features in Right On!, Floss, and Black Beat. Other magazine appearances include King, Sister 2 Sister, WordUp!, SBH, Blackmen, XXL Presents Hip-Hop Soul, Giant, Hype Hair, and Rap Fanatic.

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A charismatic singer, songwriter, producer, and performer, Janelle Monáe’s ground-breaking style crosses musical genres in a captivating postmodern merging of R&B, funk, and rock ‘n’ roll. Her recently released debut, “METROPOLIS: THE CHASE SUITE,” sees the Atlanta-based artist relaying the epic musical journey of her android alter ego, Cindi Mayweather, as she traverses a sci-fi inspired world of cybersoul. The album – executive produced by Diddy and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton – has received pervasive critical applause for its innovative, genre-blurring style and inventive lyrical approach.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Janelle is the kind of artist that changes the game,” says Bad Boy CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs. “She is a true visionary, with an original sound and a mesmerizing presence. I can’t wait to watch the future unfold for Janelle.”

“What I love about Janelle is that she has a magical ability to bring folks together,” declares Big Boi. “And she’s one of most inspiring performers ever.”

Monáe – who first garnered national attention for her collaborations with Big Boi on OutKast’s “IDLEWILD” – has been featured in a wide range of national publications, including Vogue, GQ, Giant, Rolling Stone, XXL, WWD, Bust, Essence, and Paste.

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Alicia Keys Press Releases

THE “WAIT” IS OVER FOR TREY SONGZ; “CAN’T HELP BUT WAIT” SHOOTS TO #1 AT URBAN MAINSTREAM; R&B’S PRINCE OF VIRGINIA LIGHTS IT UP AT RADIO AND TV, AS NEW HOLIDAY JAM DROPS AT THE iTUNES STORE

THE “WAIT” IS OVER FOR TREY SONGZ; “CAN’T HELP BUT WAIT” SHOOTS TO #1 AT URBAN MAINSTREAM; R&B’S PRINCE OF VIRGINIA LIGHTS IT UP AT RADIO AND TV, AS NEW HOLIDAY JAM DROPS AT THE iTUNES STORE

“Can’t Help But Wait,” the new single from Songbook Entertainment/Atlantic recording artist Trey Songz, has leapt to the top of the Urban Mainstream chart, beating out such superstars as Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, and Kayne West. The newly crowned #1 track is the second hit single taken from Trey’s breakthrough sophomore album, “TREY DAY,” released this past October.

Along with its amazing success at radio, “Can’t Help But Wait” is now poised to enter the top 10 on Billboard’s “Hot 100.” In addition, the track’s companion video – co-starring actor Jackie Long (ATL, Idlewild) – is currently in major rotation at BET, BETJ, MTV Jams, VH1 Soul, Music Choice, and Nickelodeon’s The N.

The Stargate-produced “Can’t Help But Wait” is also lighting things up online, with total streams at Trey’s MySpace page – www.myspace.com/treysongz — now exceeding 3 million. Furthermore, the “Can’t Help But Wait” video can now be viewed on over 45 different online sites, including AOLMusic.com, Alloy.com, XXLMag.com, and Trey’s own YouTube site, www.youtube.com/TreySongzVideos.

As if all that weren’t enough, an exclusive remix of “Can’t Help But Wait” featuring the one-and-only Plies will be included on the soundtrack to the eagerly anticipated Step Up 2 The Streets, arriving in theatres nationwide on February 14th.

Finally, Trey’s original holiday jam, “Keep Me Warm (On Christmas),” is now available via iTunes. The digital-only single – sure to become a seasonal favorite – was co-written by Songz and his longtime collaborator, Songbook Entertainment founder Troy Taylor (Pretty Ricky, Tyrese).

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“TREY DAY” made a stunning chart debut this fall, entering Billboard’s “Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums” tally at #2, while also exploding onto the Billboard 200 at #11. The album – which includes the hit single, “Wonder Woman” – sees Songz teaming up with a stunning selection of studio superstars, including Songbook Entertainment founder Troy Taylor (Pretty Ricky, Tyrese), Danja (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), Bryan Michael Cox (Danity Kane, Mary J. Blige), the Runners (Young Jeezy, Trick Daddy) Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige), Dre & Vidal (Usher, Chris Brown), Bei Maejor (Bun B, Chris Brown), Eric Hudson (Omarion, Joe, John Legend), and the one-and-only R. Kelly. Furthermore, “TREY DAY” includes guest shots by such hip-hop luminaries as Jim Jones and UGK’s Bun B, as well as A&R direction by former Dru Hill member, Tamir “Nokio” Ruffin. The album’s Executive Producers are Troy Taylor, Delante Murphy, and Kevin Liles. The Co-Executive Producer is Trey Songz.

The 22-year-old singer has celebrated “TREY DAY” with TV appearances throughout 2007, including live performances on BET’s 106 & Park and It’s Showtime At The Apollo, not to mention a featured spot on BET’s annual Rip The Runway extravaganza, modeling fashion created by some of today’s hottest designers. Trey – aka “the Prince of Virginia” – was also among the VA-based artists showcased on MTV2’s My Block, alongside such like-minded musicians as Timbaland, Pharell, and the Clipse.

What’s more, Songz has been profiled in a variety of national publications, highlighted by cover features in Right On!, Floss, and an upcoming issue of Black Beat. Other recent magazine appearances include Sister 2 Sister, WordUp!, SBH, Blackmen, XXL Presents Hip-Hop Soul, Giant, Hype Hair, and Rap Fanatic.

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Hailed by the late, great Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun as “among the most promising R&B artists we have had on Atlantic since we started the company 60 years ago,” Trey Songz first burst to the forefront of modern urban music in 2005 with his critically acclaimed debut, “I GOTTA MAKE IT.” The album featured the breakout single, “Gotta Make It,” featuring the one-and-only Twista, who then invited Songz to join him on his top 20 smash, “Girl Tonite.” Other high-profile collaborations followed for Trey, including featured appearances on tracks by a wide range of artists, spanning hip-hop heroes like Trick Daddy, Yung Joc, Paul Wall, Saigon, and Obie Trice; soca star Kevin Lyttle; and the sadly departed R&B/soul legend, Gerald Levert.