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« July 1, 2007 - July 7, 2007 | Main | July 15, 2007 - July 21, 2007 »
Don't Forget Your Potholderz...
Another nice promo for MF Doom's MM..Food from Rhymesayers Entertainment. I really like the process of displaying the product, similar to the Brother Ali Red, White & Blue Vinyl Release.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
MF Doom's MM..Food? Reissued w/Goodies
50 Cent - I Get Money
Finally the single and the video catch up to the marketing campaign. Dropping the names of all those dj crews in the displayed text is so smart. Talk about reaching the influencers.
I could say a lot about this video but it's a bit late. Suffice it to say that this is an excellent example of how 50 can snatch the game right back, as if out of thin air.
Feel the power of Lil Flip!
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Whose Numbers Does 50 Cent Need to Beat?
Roger Gastman - Los Angeles Graffiti
Mark Batty Publisher is releasing Los Angeles Graffiti compiled by Roger Gastman.
From the press release:
Compiled by Roger Gastman, author of Freight Train Graffiti and co-founder (with Shepard Fairey) of Swindle magazine, this colorful book benefits from Gastman¹s long-term, intimate involvement with L.A. graffiti writers. Recruiting friends, and graffiti legends, like SABER and RETNA, Los Angeles Graffiti documents the history of the unique, world-class graffiti scene that thrives in Los Angeles. In particular, the interview with L.A. graffiti luminary POWER breathes history into these photographs of work created by the famous, infamous, and anonymous.
Previous books I've seen from Mark Batty are very high quality and very much in the art book tradition.
Official Site:
Mark Batty Publisher
Although I've recently been using Compete to compare traffic to various websites, Henry Copeland's breakdown of Gawker's stats confusion reminds me that we can use Blogads public data to compare sites running Blogads and get much more accurate data than Compete, Alexa, Comscore or Nielsen/Netratings.
Unfortunately, since hiphopmusic.com doesn't run Blogads, my earlier comparison of Jay Smooth, Eskay and Bol can't be re-examined but we can compare the following:
Eskay at nahright.com - 242,084 pageviews a week
Bol at byroncrawford.com - 57,325 pageviews a week
That's a sizable difference and though they're both way ahead of ProHipHop, it's pretty clear who's the powerhouse and who's the fading star.
Hey, Rizoh at The Rap Up isn't doing so badly with 88,076 pageviews a week.
But that Eskay!
Hurricane Chris' A Bay Bay rises to no. 8 and T.I. follows with Big Things Poppin' (Do It) at no. 9 on the Hot 100 singles chart. T.I. also has this week's top debut on the Hot 100 with You Know What It Is featuring Wyclef Jean at no. 68.
Top 10 Singles on the Hot 100:
1. Rihanna - Umbrella
2. Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah
3. Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry
4. Shop Boyz - Party Like a Rockstar
5. T-Pain - Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') feat. Yung Joc
6. Timbaland - The Way I Are feat. Keri Hilson
7. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder
8. Hurricane Chris - A Bay Bay
9. T.I. - Big Things Poppin' (Do It)
10. T-Pain - Bartender feat. Akon
Updated Version of Diddy's Video Explanation
Yes, Diddy is looking for a personal assistant and you can apply via uploading a video at YouTube, 2 to 3 minutes long, presenting why you are the worker bee for the job.
Interestingly enough, Diddy says he really is looking for professionals and that this isn't exactly a contest, though it's staged like one. He has a need and he turns it into an opportunity to create content. Diddy is so with the times.
On the down side, Diddy clarifies the dynamic by stating that this is the job for you if "you would like me to personally yell at you on a daily basis."
Yeah, it's a truthful joke and the sad thing is, that really will be part of the draw for many folks. The desire for high level obedience to high level authority is one of the deep sicknesses of mankind. But at least his upfront nature makes it a consensual relationship of sorts.
Sounds like a great job!
Even better than being an Editorial Gerbil.
T.POPPS - DIDDY'S PERSONAL ASSISTANT
Hey, I thought this would be a real hazing and it became a good time with Diddy. Maybe I should audition. It looks like fun!
The video directs you to youtube.com/group/diddyassistant but it appears to be youtube.com/group/diddysassistant for video uploads and badboyonline.com for resumes.
So go work on your video, Mr. or Ms. "I look good and can move the world while paying attention to details and being yelled at by Diddy, the greatest human I have ever hoped to serve."
Update:
It looks like it is youtube.com/group/diddysassistant after all.
The above video is also updated and now includes the following mailing address:
att: Marilyn Van Alstyne
Human Resources
Bad Boy Entertainment
1710 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Good luck!
New Video Update:
Diddy Assistant Update
I'm all for off-the-cuff approaches but this is some haphazard, "figure it out as you go" stuff right here.
New resume contact but you'll have to do a video for this particular job:
Marilyn Van Alstin
resumes@badboy.com
212-381-1561
"I've got to sell how many albums?"
50 Cent talks a lot of smack about other artists' record sales to the point that he now must chart higher than other recent successes to be considered a success. Though he doesn't have to beat his previous numbers, since rap cd sales are on the decline, he does need to beat recent numbers by major stars and he does have to debut at no. 1 or he's a failure by his own standards.
For the moment, let's sidestep the issue of 50 Cent's abject failure in the singles arena.
Whose numbers do you think 50 Cent needs to beat to be considered a success in the terms by which he has defined success, i.e. overwhelming dominance of the marketplace?
First Week Sales from '06 & '07:
Jay-Z's Kingdom Come - 680,000
T.I.'s King - 522,000
T.I.'s T.I. vs. T.I.P. - 468,000
The Game's Doctor's Advocate - 358,000
Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead - 355,000
Young Jeezy's The Inspiration - 352,000
Ludacris' Release Therapy - 309,000
After talking about Jay-Z's album sales as being a disappointment [in a radio interview I once heard], I feel 50 Cent needs to beat 680,000 in his first week out to be a success in his own terms. I don't think he can do it.
T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P.
T.I. vs. T.I.P. tops the Billboard 200 album chart.
Top 10 Albums:
1. T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P.
2. Miley Cyrus - Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus
3. Kelly Clarkson - My December
4. Bon Jovi - Lost Highway
5. Velvet Revolver - Libertad
6. Kelly Rowland - Ms. Kelly
7. Brad Paisley - 5th Gear
8. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
9. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
10. White Stripes - Icky Thump
In good news for kids of all ages, Transformers: The Album debuts at no. 21.
PS - My apologies to Thai hip hop fans for running this cover. Some Americans find it appropriate to show you the bottoms of their shoes, though still as a sign of arrogant superiority, in this case in keeping with being the King of Hip Hop Everywhere [lol].
Baby Jamz Dance Mat
Beyonce's dad, Matthew Knowles, is launching a Baby Jamz hip hop rhythms toy line in a joint partnership between Music World Entertainment and Planet Toys.
In addition to a nursery rhymes over hip hop beats cd, featuring Beyonce's sis Solange, the following toys should appear in Walmart on July 26th:
Baby Jamz Cell Phone
Baby Jamz Dance Mat
Baby Jamz Key Chain
Baby Jamz Boom Box Shape Sorter
Baby Jamz Mix Master Chair
The press release describes each toy more thoroughly.
Related News:
Music World Entertainment Release New Children's Albums, "Kid's Rap Radio" And "Kids Rap Holiday" On December 5, 2006
The Kwik-E-Mart promotion with 7-Eleven has got to be the coolest promotion I've seen in quite a while. Much cooler than the idea of a Simpsons movie at this point in time.
It's fascinating to watch New York's current embrace of the South. Despite all the previous anguish and hand-wringing, cats follow the money.
The SMES Southeast Music & Entertainment Summit kicks off in Myrtle Beach on July 26th.
Leonardo Caprio may be planning a Live Earth for Hip Hop. To save the earth, not rap music.
Rawj shares Rap Club: Rule 1 and Rule 2.
Though big stars like Timbaland may feel it's ok to screw over club patrons, less successful artists should consider a different path given the decline of cd sales and hip hop albums.
Clothing company Sedgwick & Cedar is launching Sedgwick & Cedar Records as a division of Platinum Ice Records.
Forgot to link to these photos from NYOIL's record release party. Looks like fun!
Trailer for Know You Got Sole!
Via DrJays.
As 50 Cent struggles to get a winning single out, Interscope blocks the process of feeding the fans.
After explaining that one of those forgettable 50 Cent singles had leaked all over the web but Interscope reps chose to force him to take it down, Eskay suggests they check out The 20 Things You Must Know About Music Online, a free document that I've also directed people towards, and a kind gesture if you think about it.
Honestly, this is one of those times that I don't want the record companies to get it. After watching 50 Cent's trail of destruction, admittedly causing trouble mostly for New York, I'm very curious what happens if he doesn't hit his numbers after giving so many people, including Jay-Z, flack about not hitting their numbers.
It's a "hoist by their own petard" kind of thing.
Black Supaman
Black Supaman starring Master P goes straight to DVD on August 7th. Hip Hop Ruckus has an interview with Master P and Doug Benson about the flick.
The NAACP buries the N-word, ignoring the opportunity to freely distribute photos and video across the web, thus turning what could have been a great opportunity to package and spread their message worldwide in a form sympathetic to their cause rather than relying on mainstream media to package it for them.
What a weird situation. A widely hated word that was gradually being driven out of the white community is revived by black youth and artists.
For example, despite having come up with plenty of stupid reasons that it was ok to keep using it, my last close relative stopped using the N-word years ago cause his wife drew the line. I personally do not associate with white people that use the N-word in my presence and that's quite viable at this point in time.
I can't draw that line with black people because I would have to get out of hip hop. To be honest, it wasn't a term I heard regularly since my childhood until rap brought it back.
Yet, if you're going to mount a campaign against the N-word and you're not going to bother with intelligent usage of new forms of media, I have little sympathy for your efforts.
Here's the thing, many bloggers wrote about this event, often dismissing its relevance, who might have been happy to run a photo or video if it was readily available. When someone runs a photo that you've produced, your message often trumps their message, even when they're being critical.
Where are the YouTube clips? Where are the shots of Kurtis Blow? Where are the other rappers like Master P and Chamillionaire who've been making public statements about such issues?
If the NAACP had quickly posted footage from the event along with videotaped messages from folks like Master P and Cham, those clips would be everywhere by now, even on sites that were making fun. And that would not only promote the campaign but promote the NAACP at a time when its very relevance is being widely called into question.
Thanks to BET's upcoming show Hot Ghetto Mess, which is losing sponsors left and right, we can now leave Katrina behind and once again laugh at poor black people.
Of course, like so many people have told me over the years, "it's just a joke." No reason for anyone to be concerned. We're just holdin' up mirrors and stackin' dollars!
And, if you don't like it, you can hold an ineffective burial ceremony and call it a day after reminding people that "We Got To Do Better."
About the Show:
Hot Ghetto Mess
Update:
The Hollywood Reporter takes a look at the situation including the pullout of advertisers:
It is Viacom, BET and even [BET Chairman & CEO Debra] Lee that have been savaged in debates raging on blogs, podcasts and even the Web site's own forums. Leading the charge is What About Our Daughters, a little-known blog and audio podcast addressing depictions of black women in popular culture. In recent weeks, the site targeted advertisers that appeared on a BET.com Web page advertising "Mess", including AT&T Corp., DaimlerChrysler and Target. Two advertisers, State Farm and Home Depot, released statements acknowledging that they withdrew both TV and online spots as a result of the boycott threat.
What About Our Daughters - BET Programming Chief Unrepentant about “Hot Ghetto Mess” - "It's so doggone goood-!"
The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook Volume 1
H2Ed recently released The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook Volume 1 by Marcella Runell and Martha Diaz.
Twista's begun a promotional onslaught for his next album, Adrenaline Rush 2007, with a preview at 247HH and a NASCAR tie-in, said to be the first with a hip hop artist.
Steve Rifkind will help MediaREADY promote the "newly announced MediaREADY Blingplayer".
DrJays.com will provide exclusive online distribution of Ladies First, a women's clothing line from Vin Rock of Naughty by Nature.
Kelly Cole has released an audiobook on Making Money With Streetball. More info at $BMM.
Bling Software is providing a mobile application for the 40/40 Club called the Jay-Z 40/40 Club All Access Pass.
Microsoft is sponsoring Zune Live at the BBQ, a series of concerts featuring:
Common, David Banner, UGK, Mos Def, Bilal, Clipse, Collie Budz, E-40, Cham, and Large Professor
More info at Zune.net.
SanDisk and Guerilla Union are teaming up to offer mobile info and multimedia content related to the 2007 Rock the Bells concerts.
Dutch radio station Juize.fm is reporting that KRS-One's son Randy committed suicide.
I'm marking it rumor because I haven't found further coverage. Let's hope it doesn't pass out of the rumor category.
Via Pay.
Update:
I'm not getting any real confirmation of this and may pull the item in just a bit. I guess that really makes it a rumor but I thought the source was a bit stronger or I wouldn't have posted it.
Update 2:
The Megatron Don clarifies that this would be KRS-One's stepson. Not sure where he got the news.
Temporary Takedown:
I'm taking this off the site but it should still be available at the individual url until some confirmation or denial appears.
It's Official. Our condolences go out to friends and family:
Randy Hubbard Parker, KRS-One's Son, Dead At 23 In Apparent Suicide
Feedroll Pro headlines for ProHipHop, Hip Hop Press and Holla at a Scholar! will be going dead any day now.
I'm directly contacting everyone I can identify and will be more than happy to help you find an alternative.
Here are some possibilities:
Running ProHipHop or Hip Hop Press Headlines?
Promo for Cee-Rock "The Fury"'s Bringin' Da' Yowzah!!
This is a nice video promo for Cee-Rock "The Fury"'s Bringin' Da' Yowzah!! that was first released a couple of years back. Good example of how releasing embeddable videos can bring new life to older projects as well as support new ones.
I also like the single Kill Da Killin.
Geoff Williams recently interviewed me for an article at Entrepreneur.com that's been picked up by MSNBC.
Geoff focuses on the multiple streams of income and non-musical business activities of rappers including a couple of lesser known businessmen who've branched out and done well, Game Time Athletics' Big C and Sophist Productions' Reed Baker.
From an article at Entrepreneur.com, In the Groove:
Now SOHH.com is a vibrant urban media company boasting 2006 sales of more than $1.5 million.
That may actually refer to SOHH's parent company, 4Control Media, but it seems to be focused on SOHH.com.
Unfortunately for big media, those numbers are peanuts compared to what a major glossy mag does. Even if a strong offline media brand does well online, serious revenue shrinkage appears most likely. In fact, one might easily compare the current situation of major labels and major music magazines as they transition from bulky slow-moving operations to much leaner ones.
Most unfortunate, that means employees at such operations face more on-the-job pressure, including squeezing in blogging between one's current duties, as well as further layoffs.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Compete: AllHipHop vs SOHH vs XXL, Jay Smooth vs Eskay vs Bol
Music industry news from Hypebot:
An old school publishing deal with Michael Jackson has Sony BMG begging for relief.
Universal threatened to pull content from iTunes but so far seems to have settled for a month to month strategy that gives the major label group more flexibility to work with other download stores.
iTunes inched towards variable pricing with its new "Next Big Thing" $5.99/$6.99 download program.
All in one week notorious Russian download discounter AllOfMp3 was shut down and became Mp3Sparks and then morphed into an even more robust AllTunes.com.
Napster informed investors that sales growth would be hurt by iPhone sales. After critical comments in Hypebot, Napster responded with a clarification but still no real mp3 strategy.
WMG CEO Edgar Bronfman was questioned for 12 hours by the EU on possible insider trading when he was heading Universal.
Blog network b5media is launching a 30 blog strong music network including two new offerings from Hypebot and Skyline Music's Bruce Houghton. OurDigitalMusic.com focuses on helping consumers through the digital music maze and TheDailyRockDose.com which offers daily inspirational quotes pulled from song lyrics.
See ProHipHop's Hypebot Industry News category for past roundups.
Beastie Boys - The Mix-Up
It was pop/rock time last week in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart as the Beastie Boys' The Mix-Up debuted at no. 15. The album is garage band/instrumental and some people think that's a good thing.
Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200:
1. Miley Cyrus - Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus
2. Kelly Clarkson - My December
3. Bon Jovi - Lost Highway
4. White Stripes - Icky Thump
5. Brad Paisley - 5th Gear
6. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
7. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
8. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
9. Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
10. Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long
Videos from The Mix-Up at VidRap:
Beastie Boys - The Gala Event
Beastie Boys - Off The Grid
Beastie Boys - The Rat Cage
Timbaland's disco hit The Way I Are joined the top 10 on the Hot 100 singles chart last week rising from no. 18 to no. 6.
Top 10 Singles on the Hot 100:
1. Rihanna - Umbrella
2. Shop Boyz - Party Like a Rockstar
3. Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah
4. Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry
5. T-Pain - Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') feat. Yung Joc
6. Timbaland - The Way I Are feat. Keri Hilson
7. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder
8. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
9. Justin Timberlake - Summer Love
10. Amy Winehouse - Rehab
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