Although Ron Artest has been generally belittled for putting his rap ambitions ahead of the Pacers, University of Michigan’s Brent Petway has found a way to build his rep in rap while supporting his team.
November 19, 2004
Responding to the Recording Industry’s Take on Consumer Rights
In an interesting take on the consumer’s musical ownership rights, James Gaskin discusses the ramifications of considering cd purchasing as a form of music licensing.
November 19, 2004
Hip Hop “Talent Agent” Charged With Child Rape
Charles Green, of Manhattan based Hip Hop Modeling and Talent, has been charged with rape, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child for alleged casting couch encounters with a 14-year old.
November 19, 2004
Doing For Cognac What FUBU Did For Fashion
Although this press release came out last week, I wanted to mention the announcement that Carnivo Unlimited is the first African American owned company to import cognac to the U.S. However, their initial product, to be released in February, will be a cognac, vodka and fruit juice mixture similar to Hpnotiq. Their release reveals refreshing honesty and a “ride or die” attitude combined with the excellent phrase, “doing for Cognac what FUBU did for fashion.”
November 19, 2004
Using Hip Hop Business to Teach Math
The Maxine Mimms Academy, a new community program for students suspended or expelled from Tacoma, WA middle schools, uses hip hop to reach kids who spend seven hours a day in the program as an alternative to staying at home. For example, hip hop business plays a role in math class where students might discuss “percentages by breaking down a $1 million contract into studio time, music video production, marketing and other music production expenses.”
November 19, 2004
Branding News at BusinessWeek Online
BusinessWeek Online looks at personal branding by independent consultants including Josh Taekman, who helped launch the marketing division of Bad Boy Records. BW also has a Special Report on Internet advertising that includes a relevant piece on the rising use of branding ads on the Internet.
November 19, 2004
Jon B. Shares Personal Experiences in the Music Industry
EUR’s Lee Bailey interviews R&B singer Jon B. who discusses, not just his new album, but his path through the difficulties of the music industry.
November 19, 2004
Black Family Channel Premieres Include Hip Hop
With the upcoming launch of eight new series on the Black Family Channel, President and CEO of Productions Robert Townsend has included hip hop in the mix with the following new shows, and I quote:
• “Barbershop Critics:” Up and coming comedians to deliver a humorous spin to what’s hot in movies, music and pop culture.
• “Souled Out:” It’s fiery conversation about the lyrical content in today’s music. The show will examine the suggestive language, and subliminal messages depicted in all genres of music videos.
• “Spoken:” “Apollo” Legend, Jessica Care Moore hosts the nation’s most prolific poets, spoken word artists and lyricists as they deliver eclectic verses of rhymes, rhythm and rap.
November 19, 2004
Swagger and Thumbplay Partner for Jay-Z Tour
Recently launched Swagger Wireless partnered with newly launched content and services provider Thumbplay to produce the Holla at Ya Boyz campaign for the Jay-Z and Friends tour, formerly the R. Kelly/Jay-Z Best of Both Worlds tour. The unique campaign allows concert attendees to send wireless text messages to large video screens for 99 cents a message. If you attend the Jay-Z tour and have comments about how it worked in practice, please let me know at: prohiphop(at)netweed(dot)com.
Swagger Wireless was founded by Briant Briggs, CEO, and Loreal Coppedge in September. Biggs has music management affiliations with Roc-a-Fella Records, while Coppedge manages recording engineers and producers, most of whom are involved with hip hop. Thumbplay developed the text to screen application.
November 19, 2004
Mobile Content Download Predictions
MocoNews.net highlights two research reports predicting the increasing importance of mobile content downloads to the mobile industry requiring further relationships with content providers.
