Cash Money ready to support Paris Hilton’s sophomore album

Reported by the LA Times

[Paris Hilton] is plotting her return to music with the popular hip-hop label. With online commenters burning up Twitter wondering how it happened, Cash Money co-founder Bryan “Birdman” Williams said the deal was a no-brainer.

“She’s always supported us, and we’ve supported her. It was a friendship first,” Williams told Pop & Hiss. “She played us music, and I was taken aback. I was impressed by her music, and I didn’t know she could sing so well.”

Hilton broke the news to Showbiz 411 while in Cannes, France, that she had signed with the label to issue her sophomore record; Williams took to Twitter to confirm.

The heiress/former reality star/personality issued her self-titled debut at a time when the media just couldn’t get enough of her — back when she had multiple reality shows, books, apparel and whatever else she could brand — and it actually did well.

“Paris,” which had the aspiring singer cooing over fluffy pop numbers produced by hitmakers such as Fernando Garibay, Dr. Luke and Scott Storch, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, despite largely murky reviews. The album, issued through Warner Bros. Records, spawned the hit “Stars Are Blind.”

But listeners shouldn’t expect the heiress to dip into hip-hop just because of her new home.

“Its on the EDM side,” Williams said of the project. “I want to let her do what she wants as an artist. We’re going to support it.”

Hilton has been in the studio for more than a year working on the project. She has said in previous interviews that she’s worked with Snoop Dogg, LMFAO, Flo Rida and, unsurprisingly, Lil Wayne for the disc, which is being helmed by her best friend, Dutch house producer Afrojack.

Her relationship with Cash Money is beyond the new deal, Williams said. Hilton released an Afrojack-produced single with Weezy, “Last Night,” late last year, and she makes a cameo in a recently released video for Rich Gang, Williams’ new all-star rap collective.

Williams said that he expects her to drop the album’s first single soon and that she wants to release the album by summer. Hilton is doing a DJ residency — yes, she also DJs — this summer in Ibiza, Spain.

Until Hilton unleashes new music, she is launching her 17th perfume and will appear as herself in “The Bling Ring,” a film about the kids who burgled her and other tabloid stars out of cash, clothes and jewelry.

As for the criticism about Williams’ choice of signee? He’s not concerned.

“Controversy and all of that, it works for your benefit,” he said. “[Her Cash Money deal] being so talked about shows the strength of her popularity. I’m very excited. I’m very appreciative that she’s part of the team. She’s very talented, and a beautiful young woman.”

From: admin
Time: May 22, 2013, 10:07 pm

Looks like it’s finally happening!

From: K
Time: May 23, 2013, 12:23 am

HALLELUJAH

From: s
Time: May 23, 2013, 1:56 am

I’m still in a world of disbelief. I don’t want to get my hopes up again!

From: andrewstar
Time: May 23, 2013, 2:49 am

wow…its finally happening???

From: retrograde
Time: May 23, 2013, 3:49 am

Praise the gods! I’m starting to believe it’s really happening. After all, this is the first we’ve heard of her being signed to a label since 2006, and girl needs a label to get her butt moving. Fingers crossed for the queen’s return!

From: Oscar
Time: May 23, 2013, 4:20 pm

I do believe NOW’s the time, she never had a label before! The music is ready, she recorded everything last year with Afrojack, maybe they’ll just reelease everything or maybe record 2 or 3 new tracks, but that albums has been ready for a year now! I am a strong believer now that i’ll come out, I have a feeling, the other times, I never believed it.