“Even by Kanye West standards, this is pushing it,” said a music industry source.

Uh-oh. It's pedal to the medal time with Yeezus set for release in 8 days. Reports the NY Post this morning (shouts FSD):

Kanye West is driving Island Def Jam executives “crazy” with last-minute changes, a new producer and legal issues over his new album, “Yeezus.”

Sources exclusively tell us that last week — just two weeks before the album drops — West brought in legendary producer Rick Rubin to help lay down additional tracks for the record, and Def Jam execs spent the week haggling over rights for a vocal he used on his song “Onsite.”

Page Six reported last week that after months spent in Paris recording, West was still working in the studio after early releases got mixed reviews.

We hear that Rubin, the co-founder of Def Jam Records, was brought in to help West finish the album. Rubin will be listed as executive producer, sources said.

Def Jam executives haggled over rights to West’s racy song “Onsite,” where the rapper samples an old vocal track from kids in a Chicago church choir. We hear lawyers last week had to track down the choir director and members of the Holy Name of Mary Church choir on the South Side of Chicago to get clearance for the vocals.

Def Jam label chiefs were so worried about whether they would get rights to the track, producers re-recorded the vocals with a different choir to be used in case they couldn’t nail down an agreement with the Holy Name crew in time.

Some interesting tidbits; some of which I'm skeptical about its 100% truth, but I'll take it for what it is. With Rick Rubin on board though, maybe that adds even more of a punch to Yeezus. Overall, I don't really look at this as a warning sign or anything like that. If anything, the more little details that leak, the more I'm intrigued. ICYMI late last night, be sure to watch Kanye West's latest rant, and premieres of new Yeezus tracks from the Governor's Ball.

UPDATE: Hudson Mohawke got in the premiere mode as well: previewing what may be called "Could've Been Somebody", which samples TNGHT's "R U Ready". Watch that below.

Rumors from the past couple of days have now been confirmed (via Billboard), as one of the fastest-rising artists at the moment, Trinidad James, has officially signed to Def Jam. The rumors that remain: the deal was worth $2 million. Whoa there!

My personal opinion: well, Trinidad is not near my preferred style of emcee - that of the super lyrical. And it is slightly concerning that people chant the "popped a molly" line in "All Gold Everything". So I don't see the appeal personally, but I see how his music fits certain niches right now. I'm interested to see how his career progresses from here, what do you guys think?

Official statement from Def Jam:

“We’re excited to welcome a young talent like Trinidad James to the Def Jam family. Def Jam prides itself as both a cornerstone of hip-hop’s rich tradition, and as a vital, forward-thinking label dedicated to breaking and nurturing emerging artists. Trinidad James represents the cutting-edge of what’s happening in the culture today. We are thrilled to have him at the label, and look forward to growing his already massive buzz.”

**Warning** Graphic violence above

Video shows Lil Reese kicking and punching a young woman

Once again a Chicago rapper has placed themselves in the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons. This time it’s not Chief Keef, but fellow Glory Boy Entertainment affiliate, and Def Jam recording artist Lil Reese who has brought a huge amount of negative attention his way. Lil Reese has come under immense fire after a viral video surfaced showing him punching, kicking, and beating a young woman.

Lil Reese made it clear it was him in the video by confirming it via twitter early Thursday morning. Reese blamed unnamed haters for releasing the video clip, which he claims to be “years old”, and that it is a clear attempt to discredit him and his success, “The haters tryna see a mf Dwn lol Dey gotta b broke and bored wanna upload some shit from years ago damn we winnin it’s 2 late….#3hunna”. That wasn’t all the Def Jam signee had to say, “Dis wat doin betta den da next mf bring small shit its nothin time 2 turn Uppp f--- it …..#3hunna”.

The hazy camera phone video shows the young rap star arguing with a young woman inside of what appears to be her home. She yells at Reese and his friends stating, “Who the f--- let them in here though”.

After a brief argument she continues to tell the young rapper to keep his hands to himself even exclaiming, “They didn’t stop making guns when they made yours”. From that point forward the altercation became physical. The two began to push and shove one another, until Reese pushed the young woman against a wall and begun to punch her wrathfully. Once the young lady fell to the floor Lil Reese proceeded to stomp her, whilst continuously raining down punches as her friends screamed for him to stop in the background. You can even hear some of Reese’s friends encouraging the beating.

Lil Reese recently released a mixtape entitled Don’t Like, with DJ Drama and Don Canon. Lil Reese even garnered a remix of his single Us, by Rick Ross in the same fashion Kanye West did with Chief Keef's hit single, Don’t Like. The song featured Lil Reese, Rick Ross, and Drake. It was released on Rick Ross’s Black Bar Mitzvah mixtape earlier this month.

Only time will tell as to how this will affect the career of Lil Reese. But Reese and GBE affiliate Chief Keef have made it clear that they have little regard as to what they do and what others think about their actions. One can only hope that these two young rappers begin to see what type of major consequences their actions can have, and how their acts can potentially shorten their careers……in ways more severe than others.

Music biz news comes in via the official press release announcing The-Dream's new position as the V.P. of A&R at Def Jam Records. He will be signing new talent to the label and producing tracks for the label's artists as well. Below: his quotable and an unrelated GIF of Ichiro's awesome swipe of home on a base-hit earlier tonight.

I am committed as I have been previously to bringing the power of belief in the artist back to the forefront. I share a unique view of an artist and as well as the business of music. I, with the help of many others, have ran a successful business for the last five years in the midst of the “Digital Change.” My concentration and effort will be to the artist to succeed in their dreams and goals. I’ve been a part of watching and participating in the success of many great women and men including Beyonce, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion to name a few. Music means more than just a download, it’s life to the culture and also the people who listen. This is a new exciting yet critical time for music – ‘You Meet Change with Change!’

For the fourth time in his career, Rick Ross has another gold plaque to hang on his wall. His fifth solo album, God Forgives, I Don't, released on July 31st has officially sold over 500k copies. Rozay, gives props to his label for the recent success.