More From Music 2.0

Robert Spears follows up his first report with a second from the Music 2.0 Conference.

Deals of 2004: Kellwood Acquires Phat Fashions

Susan Kerth's look back at the process leading to Kellwood's acquisition of Phat Fashions reveals the complexities of a deal that might not have happened a few years before, when urban fashion was still treated as a fad rather than an enduring element in the fashion landscape. The especially interesting point is made that it was due to personal interactions with Russell Simmons that Kellwood execs became convinced that association with urban wear did not require association with "things Kellwood would want to avoid."

Sweatshop Labor Outlasts Opposition

An article regarding the outcome of seemingly successful student protests against the use of sweatshop labor for the production of school apparel, reveals the lack of follow through and accountablity enabling corporations to simply outwait consumer campaigns for social reform.

Purple Haze Sells

Rich Rock points to the strong early sales of Cam'Ron's new album Purple Haze as conflicting with Cam'Ron's recent claims of underpromotion from his former label Island Def Jam.

Bubba Sparxxx and Flavor Flav in Action

Nolan Strong summarizes recent hip hop news items including Bubba Sparxxx signing to Outkast's new Purple Label (distributed by Virgin) and Flavor Flav's plans to self fund his next album in order to avoid involvement with record labels.

ZLG Artists Winning Big

Zomba Label Group recently sent out a reminder that many of the names associated with the Grammys and the Billboard Awards are part of the extended fam.

Rap in the U.S. Military

Stars & Stripes' Seth Robson profiles enlisted hip hop artists involved with a small showcase at Camp Red Cloud in South Korea. He does a nice job of presenting the artists' perspectives on poetry and lyric writing as personal expression.

There are actually a large number of hip hop artists at U.S. military bases around the world and some of them hope to be big stars one day. I first encountered this phenomenon while working on NC Hip Hop Online, a directory of North Carolina rap musicians and hip hop artists. Scattered among them are enlistees from various NC bases, especially Ft. Bragg in Fayetteville aka Fayettenam.

Rap-A-Lot Resigns Scarface

Rap-A-Lot Records recently announced that they have reached a fresh agreement with Scarface to feature new releases in 2005. Distribution will come courtesy of a new deal with Warner Music Group/Asylum.

Arts Entrepreneurs Seeking Space in NY

The NY Times recently ran a piece on the New York real estate needs of entertainment entrepreneurs such as P. Diddy and Russell Simmons. Spurred by their clients' needs to conduct multiple projects out of the same property and the always intense New York real estate market, brokers sometimes find themselves pitching buildings that require a bit of imagination to recognize their potential.

Def On Demand Live

Simmons Lathan Media Group subsidiary Def On Demand and Clear Channel Entertainment Television have joined forces to coproduce Def On Demand Live, a series of 12 music and fashion related events per year for 2 years.  Content will be distributed via television, video on demand and dvd.

Idris Elba Leaves The Wire

With character Stringer Bell meeting an untimely end on The Wire, Idris Elba has more acting projects ahead, an ongoing informal dj gig plus periodic social encounters with the likes of P. Diddy.

David Simon, described as The Wire's "creator and mastermind" states that "one of the themes of the show is that raw, unencumbered capitalism is not good for anyone."

November U.S. Games Chart

U.S. games sales chart for November shows Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas at no. 2 with Need for Speed Underground 2 making a strong showing.

Jin, Adrienne and Mike

Ruff Ryder member Jin worked with Adrienne on a single, Hypnotic Love, for her upcoming MIG Records' release entitled Hypnotic. Jin also appeared in footage for the single's video, though he apparently does not share screen time with Mike Tyson, another guest on Adrienne's video.

Recent Biz News from AllHipHop.com

Cam'Ron is leaving Island Def Jam after being released from a contract requiring further albums.

Guru is putting things into place with a new label, 7 Grand, and a new album, Guru 7.0.

The Ubiquitous White Tee

Chrystal Price discusses the men's white t-shirt as a fashion staple recently given renewed meaning by Dem Franchize Boys:
"Step on the scene . . .
Whoever that you might see
I know they got a white tee."