BET and Common Fight AIDS

With World Aids Day right around the corner on Dec. 1st, BET will present a rich selection of programs about HIV and AIDS, including a live 90 minute version of their Top 10 Countdown with special guest Common. Common is also featured in a set of PSAs, intended to encourage testing for HIV, from BET's parent company Viacom.

Verizon Wireless to Offer Ringback Tones

Verizon Wireless will soon rollout ringback tone offerings in Sacramento and Southern California with national implementation in 2005. Tones will be drawn from the catalogs of Warner Music Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment and will include rap and hip hop tones. However, as Brad Hill at The Digital Music Weblog notes, the service comes at a relatively high price at .99 per month plus 1.99 per one year lease on a single ringback tone.

Navio to Build TVT Records Online Store

Yesterday, Navio, the "rights-based" digital content service provider, announced an agreement with TVT Records to create an online store that will feature such content as "mastertone ringtones, polyphonic ringtones, mobile wallpaper, digital songs (in MP3 format) and digital albums". Hip hop artists at TVT Records include Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, The Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull. Their publishing arm, TVT Music, has rights to work by such artists as Ciara, Petey Pablo and Ja Rule.

Encore Tops US and UK Charts

With less than a week of sales, Eminem's newest album, Encore, is a US and UK chart topper for the week ending Nov. 14th.

Young Buck Inspires News Editors

As the police search for Young Buck, news editors are displaying their traditionally witty skills with multiple headlines referring to "Bad Vibes." Though I have yet to see anyone "Hunting for Young Buck," I do not expect to be disappointed. However, the ProHipHop award for best headline following a melee goes to azcentral.com for Hip-hopper punched at awards; puncher stabbed, stabber sought.

Petey Pablo Signs with Death Row?

EURWEB.com's Lee Bailey also mentions that Petey Pablo has apparently signed with Death Row Records. However, maybe he and Suge are just buddies. We await official confirmation.

Publicists Interfered With Reporters After VIBE Brawl

EURWEB.com's Lee Bailey discusses the violence at the VIBE Music Award's taping, including the attempt by publicists to halt questions to artists after the melee about the incident. Unfortunately, news of the brawl overshadowed the award winners.

Warner Music Group Goes Mobile with m-Qube

Warner Music Group has announced an agreement with m-Qube to create and deliver mobile content to the U.S. market. WMG hip hop artists include Lil Scrappy and Trillville.

Internship Offered by Russell Simmons

This year's valedictorian at Ballou High School in D.C. will receive a two week internship at Rush Communications and a meeting with Russell Simmons.  This is an interesting idea that will affect only a handful of students positioned for valedictorian rather than an inspiration for the many students who would be interested but have no chance at valedictorian status so late in the game.

Date Set for GTA: San Andreas Soundtrack Release

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and Interscope Records have announced a Dec. 7th release date for an 8 cd soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The 80+ tracks will feature 90s music from multiple genres and artists including Public Enemy.

Interview with Robert Tercek

MocoNews.net, an important source for ProHipHop, has an audio interview with Robert Tercek, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the (M)FORMA Group, a mobile entertainment publisher. Though not truly a hip hop business item, Tercek has a rich history in the entertainment field and discusses a variety of relevant issues for those interested in music on mobile platforms.

Snoop to Host Video Game Awards

Spike TV has announced nominees and performers for their 2nd annual Video Game Awards that will be broadcast live from Santa Monica on Dec. 14th. Snoop Dogg is set to host as well as to perform Riders on the Storm. Ludacris will also perform.

Sir Mix-A-Lot Ringtones

Sir Mix-A-Lot and Versaly Entertainment have announced an agreement to produce ringtones for the youth market. Versaly has also posted samples of Sir Mix-A-Lot ringtones.