by Danitha Jones

Emerging hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang, consisting of rapper Chiddy and producer Xaphoon, are set to digitally release The Preview on October 12th. The eight-track album is the prequel to the group’s debut album, The Swelly Life.

“The main purpose of this release is to give our fans some new music while we finish recording our debut album, The Swelly Life. It’s called The Preview because it gives listeners a glimpse of what’s to come on The Swelly Life,” Xaphoon explains.

The former Drexel University students gained popularity in 2008 with the release of their debut mixtape, The Swelly Express. After signing with Parlaphone/Virgin Records, Chiddy Bang experienced success via the release of the MGMT (“Kids”) sampled single “Opposite Of Adults.”

Recorded over the last six months, The Preview contains co-production from Pharell (“The Good Life”) and a feature from Q-Tip (“Here We Go”).

The Swelly Life is set for release in early 2011.

Tracklisting as follows:

The Good Life (co-produced by Pharrell)

Truth

Opposite Of Adults

Here We Go (ft Q-Tip)

All Things Go

Nothing On We

Bad Boy (ft Darwin Deez)

Old Ways

It has been confirmed by various media outlets that Jermaine Dupri has exited his executive position as the president of Urban Music at Island Records, subsidiary label of Island Def Jam. 

The Atlanta producer was appointed the Island Def Jam position back in February 2007, just after stepping down from his position as president of Urban Music at Virgin Records in October 2006.

In his role at Island Records, Dupri oversaw the label’s urban music operations and reported directly to label chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Steve Bartels, president of Island Music and COO of the Island Def Jam Music Group.

During Dupri’s tenure at Island Records, he oversaw the releases of Jagged Edge’s “Baby Makin’ Project,” and his girlfriend, Janet Jackson’s “Discipline,” considered a commercial disappointment by selling only 428,000 copies. Jackson left Island Records in September 2008.

Another venture Dupri managed at the label was Tag Records, a partnership between Island Def Jam and Procter and Gamble’s TAG brand. Formed in April 2008, the project intended to create a new marketing module that allowed for new talent, like So So Def/Tag artist Q, to be cross-promoted with TAG Body sprays through print, television, radio and digital advertising.

At the present time there is no word of how Dupri’s departure will affect the So So Def/Tag partnership.