ProHipHop: Hip Hop Marketing & Business News

Born in the Bronx to Feature Joe Conzo's Photography

Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip-Hop

A book of photographs featuring the early days of hip hop in the Bronx is set for a November 9th release:
Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop was edited by Johan Kugelberg, features photographs by Joe Conzo, a foreword by Afrika Bambaataa, original flyer art by Buddy Esquire, and a detailed timeline by Jeff Chang (author of the critically acclaimed Can't Stop, Won't Stop).

The photo's contained in the tome come from Bronx bred Joe Conzo, who is regarded as "Hip Hop's first photographer." Conzo's photos span from 1977-1982...Additional art comes courtesy of flyers created by Buddy Esquire, who drew up various 1-sheets advertising early hip-hop shows between 1978-1985.

The book also features a number of essays as penned by such hip-hop legends as GrandMaster Caz, JDL, Joe Conzo, Mare 139, GrandWizzard Theodore, LA Sunshine and Jorge "Fabel" Pabon...The embossed hardcover edition will also contain a dust cover that unfolds to reveal a poster: "The Hip Hop Map of the Bronx" by Joe Conzo and Tony Tone.

Available from Amazon:
Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip-Hop

Post-Curtis & Graduation: 50 Cent Unhappy, Kanye West Unhappy

I was just scanning the news and thinking about what a couple of babies these guys are.  A sore loser and an ungrateful winner.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
It's Official: Kanye West Massacres 50 Cent in Soundscan Showdown

BET: Hip Hop Award Nominees, HIP HOP vs. AMERICA, Black College Tour

Here's a complete list of nominees for the BET Hip Hop Awards 2007 to be shot in Atlanta on Saturday, October 13 and televised on Wednesday, October 17.

Official Site: Hip Hop Awards 2007

BET is also planning a 3-part HIP HOP vs. AMERICA special premiering September 25th:
Honest, Candid Town Hall Meeting Features Voices Across the Full Spectrum of Opinion Including Nelly, T.I., Chuck D, MC Lyte, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Reverend Al Sharpton, Stanley Crouch, Cornel West, Mike Jones, Master P, Kim Osorio, Dr. Ben Chavis, Judge Mablean Ephraim and Karrine Steffans

The BET Black College Tour of historically black colleges and universities began September 7th and runs through November 9th:
Together with its key marketing partners, BET will bring a day of entertainment, games, contests, product samples and consumer information exclusively for college students, hosted by popular BET on-air personalities Terrence, Rocsi, Lamorne, Alesha Renee, and Q-45, and featuring dynamic live performances from various Universal Records artists, including Swizz Beatz, Mya, David Banner, Q-Tip, Kia Shine and more...

Students will have an opportunity to participate in a singing contest sponsored by the upcoming Sony Pictures' Screen Gems release, "This Christmas," showcase their talent in the Playstation Video Skillz Challenge and obtain important health information at the Gardasil tent. As in previous years, the BET Black College Tour has a hefty lineup of sponsor- related events, which also include the McDonald's poetry contest, Pepsi Flow freestyle rap battle, U.S. Air Force 2-on-2 basketball competition, Verizon Wireless 3-point basketball shootout and free concerts by popular and up-and- coming Universal Records artists.

Official Site: BET Black College Tour

New Eminem Album to Save Hip Hop

Man, now that Kanye is the King of New York, there's not much to get excited about in hip hop.  Hey, wait!

"Eminem is hard at work on his first studio album in three years."!!!

Long Live Hip Hop!

Now whose numbers does he need to beat?

Soulja Boy & Kanye West Top Singles Chart Again

Soulja Boy's Crank That (Soulja Boy) and Kanye West's Stronger top the Hot 100 singles chart for the second week in a row.

Top 10 Singles on the Hot 100:

1. Soulja Boy - Crank That (Soulja Boy)
2. Kanye West - Stronger
3. Fergie - Big Girls Don't Cry
4. Timbaland - The Way I Are feat. Keri Hilson
5. T-Pain - Bartender feat. Akon
6. Nickleback - Rock Star
7. Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah
8. Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girls
9. Plies - Shawty feat. T-Pain
10. Keyshia Cole - Let It Go feat. Missy Elliott & Lil Kim

Clyde Smith Marks 5 Years of Hip Hop Blogging

That's right.  I started hip hop blogging five years ago today.

Yay me!

SoundScan Building Chart Puts Kanye West On Top

People have been drawing from all sorts of data to show that Kanye's beating 50 but this was the first I'd heard of SoundScan's Building Charts:

SoundScan's recently launched Building Charts post unweighted tracking-week sales from eight leading accounts through close of Tuesday each Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET, and sales through Thursday each Friday afternoon...

[Tuesday's] SoundScan Building Chart indicates first-day sales of 437,000 for West's "Graduation," 310,000 for 50 Cent's "Curtis" and 107,000 for Chesney's "Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates."...

Retailers now contributing data to the Building Charts include Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Borders, Circuit City, iTunes, Target, Anderson Merchandisers and Handleman Co. The last two mentioned are rackjobbers that place music into mass merchants, including WalMart's stores. More retailers will be added to that panel in the near future.

50 Cent: "I Don't Want To Do It Anymore"

50 Cent Interview on September 11th

Though he doesn't exactly say it's over 50 Cent certainly wasn't too happy in this interview last night before a Springfield, MA concert on September 11th when he seems likely to have already received early sales figures.  Kanye West would have been the same way if the situation were reversed but this really is the most shook I've seen 50 Cent in an interview to date.

The heavy downer lines are dropped at the end.  I think he'll perk up but he's in shock at the moment.

Note that this journalist had the chance of a lifetime but dropped the ball by not being able to go off script and pursue the opportunity.  Learn to freestyle.  It's a basic element of hip hop journalism.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
It's Official: Kanye West Massacres 50 Cent in Soundscan Showdown
Kanye West to Outsell 50 Cent & Kenny Chesney
50 Cent Blames Curtis Failure on Interscope

MTV Bans Extended Unforgivable by Sean John Ad for Cute Undies Not Self-Indulgence

Unforgivable For Women by Sean John [Cinematic Mix]

According to Blogger A this Unforgivable For Women by Sean John commercial was "too racy" for MTV.  Be that as it may, I concur with Blogger A, it's a long commercial.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Sex & Race: Sean John's Unforgivable Ad Campaign

Urbanology Magazine Covers: Point Blank, Jully Black, Belly, DL Incognito

Point Blank

Toronto's Urbanology Magazine is celebrating Canadian artists with four separate artist covers.

Jully Black

The four covers feature Point Blank, Jully Black, Belly and DL Incognito.

Belly

Most of my Canadian hip hop news used to come from Del F. Cowie at Vibes and Stuff who really should be encouraged to get back to blogging.

DL Incognito

Official Site:
Urbanology Magazine

50 Cent Blames Curtis Failure on Interscope

50 Cent blames disappointing sales of Curtis on Interscope Records.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
It's Official: Kanye West Massacres 50 Cent in Soundscan Showdown
Kanye West to Outsell 50 Cent & Kenny Chesney

Agencies: Soul Pitch Media, PrGirlAngel, Viva La Rock, Celebrity Nightlife Publicity, aLine media

Soul Pitch Media has signed Mixcast.tv as a client.

A new Ft. Lauderdale-based agency called PrGirlAngel recently launched with a focus on Urban and Caribbean musicians.

Viva La Rock, a "cutting-edge experiential marketing and creative resource agency for entertainment companies and youth-driven brands", also recently launched connecting bands and brands such as Heineken and Gym Class Heroes.

Warren G signed as a client with Celebrity Nightlife Publicity.

aLine media Public Relations has been retained to market will.i.am's i.am Antik Collection.

Snoop Dogg Contributes Exotic Erotic Fee to Healing Circle

Snoop Dogg Contributes to The Healing Circle

[Photo L to R: JT The Bigga Figga, Sheila Burton, Mattie Scott, Snoop Dogg and Judy Hughes.]

Snoop Dogg has contributed his $45,000 performance deposit for a scheduled appearance at the Exotic Erotic Ball to The Healing Circle:
Snoop Dogg will perform live at a benefit concert at the Cow Palace on Friday evening, October 26, 2007, during the hours of the Exotic Erotic Expo. The Ball's initial $45,000 deposit for Snoop's services was committed to The Healing Circle in a personal presentation made by Snoop on August 12, 2007.

Additional funds for the Healing Circle will be raised when Snoop Dogg performs live on Friday, and then returns Saturday night at the Ball, where he will join Tera Patrick and Danny Bonaduce as judges of the Ball's World Famous Costume Contests.

Also from the release:
The primary mission of The Healing Circle Soul Support Group is to promote sharing, healing, education, and action for survivors of homicide and victims of inner city violence.

Kevin Liles Dr., Starbury Giveback Day, Hip-Hop Helpers

blackgivesback has photos of a recent street renaming ceremony in Baltimore honoring Kevin Liles for his "philanthropic efforts" plus pics of Starbury Giveback Day in East Meadow, NY.

For a list of hip hop related philanthropical organizations see Hip-Hop Helpers.

Photos: Kanye West, 50 Cent & Jay-Z on BET's 106 & Park

Kanye West & 50 Cent on BET's 106 & Park

Posting these photos could be considered a cynical ploy to capitalize on a non-event.

Kanye West & Jay-Z on BET's 106 & Park

I feel a bit dirty for doing so.

106 & Park Hosts Terrence & Rocsi, Kanye West & 50 Cent

Yet I don't want to feel left out or get left behind.

[Photos courtesy PRNewsFoto/BET Networks]

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Kanye West to Outsell 50 Cent & Kenny Chesney
50 Cent Blames Curtis Failure on Interscope

Hip Hop Removed from Top 10 to Prepare for Great Day

In honor of the upcoming official tallies of the week of sales including the most important day ever for hip hop since it died, the Billboard 200 album chart has cleared the top 10 of all hip hop albums.

Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200:

1. Soundtrack - High School Musical 2
2. Fergie - The Dutchess
3. Miley Cyrus - Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus
4. Casting Crowns - The Altar and the Door
5. Chiodos - Bone Palace Ballet
6. Soundtrack - Hairspray
7. NOW! That's What I Call Music 25
8. Nickelback - All the Right Reasons
9. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
10. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight

VIBE Mega Music Issue Eviscerated

Idolator's Anono Critic slices and dices VIBE's Mega Music issue.

The operation was a success but the patient died on the table.

Hip Hop Bloggers on the Dying Folk Art of Buying a CD

It's not quite standing in line for the iPhone but some hip hop bloggers did in fact go out and buy a cd or two yesterday.

Status Ain't Hood has a rather odd opener about his choice to buy Kanye West's Graduation that explores the psychological aspects of his decision making process.

Altrap.com had a pro-Fiddy, I mean, 50 Experience.

CD buying: a dying capitalist folk art.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Kanye West to Outsell 50 Cent & Kenny Chesney

Kanye West to Outsell 50 Cent & Kenny Chesney

According to multiple sources compiled by Nah Right, Kanye West is set to ether both 50 Cent and Kenny Chesney.

Yay or something!

Guess 50 Cent's sales van in the street did not outperform as hoped.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
It's Official: Kanye West Massacres 50 Cent in Soundscan Showdown
50 Cent Blames Curtis Failure on Interscope
Hip Hop Bloggers on the Dying Folk Art of Buying a CD

DTP/Ludacris Celebrity Chick Look-a-Like Contest

Celebrity Chick Look-a-Like Contest

DTP Records and Photobucket Host Online Celebrity Look-a-Like Contest:
Photobucket...today launched a "Celebrity Chick" Look-a-Like contest in conjunction with Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP) Records to promote the music label's latest single, "Celebrity Chick." Starting on September 10, participants are encouraged to log-in to their Photobucket accounts and submit photos and / or videos of themselves, indicating what female celebrity they think they look like. The winner will be selected based on creativity, originality and resemblance to the "celebrity chick" they've imitated.

The winning look-a-like will receive a spot in the Photobucket / "Celebrity Chick" "remix" fan music video. The grand-prize winner will also receive a Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP) Records prize pack including t-shirts, posters and an autographed CD...

The contest will run on http://celebritychick.photobucket.com from September 10 to October 1, 2007 and the "Celebrity Chick" winner will be announced the week of October 8th.

Official Site:
Celebrity Chick Look-a-Like Contest
Photos of Entrants

Truly Compelling Reasons to Twitter, Seriously

Still looking for compelling reasons to twitter?

- You can use Twitter for making the liner notes of your life.

- You can control your level of involvement.

- Quick, to the point, and you don't have to be in front of a computer to participate in a social network or actively blog.

So why aren't you twittering yet?

Related:
Stalk Jay Smooth and Q Tip via Twitter.

RZA's Chamber of Fear, Madlib in Newsweek, Buck 65 on Piracy, MF Doom MIA?

Behind the scenes with RZA for Chamber of Fear, the Lebron James/Nike commercial.

Madlib makes Newsweek!

Buck 65 on the personal and professional effects of piracy.

Is that really MF Doom behind that mask?

Souljaboytellem.com: Soulja Boy's Dot Com Marketing

Promo for Soulja Boy's Souljaboytellem.com Due Oct. 2nd

Radio Kills loves the marketing approach for Souljaboytellem.com, Soulja Boy's upcoming debut album [Patty]:
Props to Interscope for living on the edge and naming his actual physical album souljaboytellem.com. Hats off to interscope for making a ballsy move and placing there bets on his official website. They bypassed pushing the single on radio and went straight for where it counts these days. The Internet!

They just did a major overhaul on his official site (www.souljaboytellem.com) and made a mini myspace to embrace Soulja's nationwide Superman sensation. Type in Soulja Boy in You Tube – you'll know what I mean. Fans up the yin yang are doing the Superman dance to his single "Crank That".

Radio Kills hates the marketing approach [Jay]:
This kind of short-sided marketing is exactly what has put record label's like Interscope in disarray...

Naming your CD after your website is blatant marketing in the face of the consumer. Its so obvious its repulsive. People want to be marketed to but they do not want to feel like they are being marketed to...Naming a cd after a website lets the listener know the artist is purely commercial, in a consumers mind the "artist" has sold out completely therefore loosing all credibility. There is no future for this artist past me writing about how sad this effort is.

ProHipHop's Quick Take:
It's a lame title for an album but it won't really hurt them when all is said and done.  Soulja Boy's online focus will pay off both in short term sales and in long term presence and the title will promote the official site.  I just don't think fans of this kind of music are going to stress on the dot com approach.

And the dance craze is as good as it gets for marketng purposes.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Top Singles: Crank That (Soulja Boy) & Kanye West's Stronger

Industry: Lefsetz on Rubin, Hip Hop Joins Columbia

Lefsetz has issues with the idea that Rick Rubin can save the industry, big issues.

Hip Hop, the executive not the art form per se, has joined Columbia as part of a Rubin initiative.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Rick Rubin to Save Columbia Records? No, the Whole Industry!

Biz Deals: Raekwon/Aftermath, JR Writer/Babygrande

unkut.com: Inside the Raekwon/Aftermath deal.

JR Writer signs with Babygrande Records.

Biz News: 40/40 Club Las Vegas, Music Videos, Eddie Griffin Booted, Ghostwriting

Jay-Z to open a 40/40 Club in Las Vegas.

Music video budgets meet the YouTube aesthetic.

Eddie Griffin's use of the N-word got him kicked off the stage at a Black Enterprise event.

Ghostwriting, a recurring theme in an art form haunted by authenticity.  Ooo-eee-oooh!!!

Commercial for Chamillionaire's Ultimate Victory

60 Second Ultimate Victory Commercial

This is a surprisingly thoughtful commercial for Chamillionaire's Ultimate Victory due September 18th.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Chamillionaire Offers Ultimate Victory Plaque to Fans

"Arrogant Marketing Ploys": Kanye vs 50 on 9/11

33jones opens up regarding hip hop and 9/11:
All of this is my way of saying that, while I'm well aware of the impending release of what are proclaimed to be the biggest hip hop albums of the year...I can't say that I'm the least bit interested in either of them. I don't think I'd be all that excited about the prospect of seventeen more tracks from the lyrical mastermind behind Ayo Technology regardless of its release date, but under different circumstances I'd probably be running out to buy Kanye's album.

As it is, though, I can't get past what has to be one of the most arrogant marketing ploys by any artist (let alone two). And I'm aware of how ridiculous it would be to expect low key promotions from either Kanye or 50 Cent - they wouldn't be what they are today if it wasn't for their almost cartoonish levels of arrogance. Yet to build their promotions around "Hip Hop's 9/11," as if their album releases were an event somehow comparable to this tragedy, is something I just can't get behind.

At Hip Hop Logic:
Hip Hop Bloggers on 9/11

Commercial for Common's Finding Forever

Finding Forever Commercial

Here's a commercial I missed for Common's Finding Forever featuring Kanye West as hypeman.

Bloggers United In Hatred of Ringles

Most of the bloggers that had something to say about Ringles seem to think they're a bad idea:
Each ringle is expected to contain three songs -- one hit and maybe one remix and an older track -- and one ringtone, on a CD with a slip-sleeve cover.

The Boy Genius Report
Universal Music NOT pulling out of iTunes. Their answer? A RINGLE!

The Megatron Don
Ringtone Rappers...that crap’ll (really) never survive.

MissInfo.tv
Ringles...not a nutritious snack

RADIOKILLS
Delicious Ringles for me

TechCrunch
Record Industry Proves Again How Much They’ve Lost The Plot

The ProHipHop Thinktank Sez:
Let's see how it does in the marketplace.  I can think of too many reasons for and against to call this one though I think they'll have to work pretty hard to make it work.

Complete List of 2007 MTV VMA Winners

Just in case you needed a complete list of winners of the MTV Video Music Awards plus an overview of the event.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
MTV VMA's at the Palms, Gift Bag, Sponsor Booths

David LaChappelle's MTV VMA Photos: Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, Kanye West, Foo Fighters, Chris Brown

Kanye West Brings Murakami to the [American] Masses

Hypebot: EMI, Japanese Downloads Slip, Apple, MySpace Critique, Music Store News, RapHappy, Help Looney Tunes

Music industry news from Hypebot:

This week EMI ousted long time head Eric Nicoli, but new owners Terra Fima have plans to cut further.

The Japanese paid download market is softening. Is this the start of a worldwide trend?

Apple is aggressively fighting off the competition with bigger hard drives and WiFi on some iPod models, lower iPhone prices and a new over the air music store including free access at all Starbucks.

What MySpace can learn from Google and how it could change the new music business. (more) Be sure to read the comments section.

Amazon appears to be a week or two away from finally opening its mp3-only download store.

Rhapsody has created an MP3 Directory to make it easier to find DRM-free product in its download store.

Sony is shutting down its Connect online music store.

mtvU and Cisco's Digital Incubator name finalists in college web 2.0 contest including RapHappy.

Indie music community is joining together to help LI, NY retailer Looney Tunes which was devastated in a fire last week.  Get involved!

See ProHipHop's Hypebot Industry News category for past roundups.

As Lil' Mo Said: HSAN's Nuggets of Financial Wisdom f/Anthony Hamilton, Rocsi & Jim Jones

I could have gone to Saturday's HSAN Financial Empowerment Summit in Greensboro, NC but I just couldn't make the time.  So I was ecstatic to discover these nuggets of wisdom from a regional news site:

As Lil' Mo said, "Everybody wants to make it rain, but they never have something saved up for a rainy day."

Singer Anthony Hamilton admitted he'd just been to the mall and bought "sparkly Nikes" - but he pointed out, he got them on sale.

Wow, somebody ought to put out a book!

Take 2:
More from "Little Mo":
"Stop watching these videos and thinking that's everybody's lifestyle," said Little Mo." "It's all smoke and mirrors, so, the best way I say is everybody has to have a good plan and a good foundation."

106 & Park's Rocsi shared:
"Them shoes you see in the windows are not as important as that light bill you've got to pay next month," Rocsi, co-host of the Black Entertainment Television show "106 & Park," told the women in the audience.

Yet:
The stars also acknowledged that, like the audience, they like expensive things.  [Jim] Jones, a rapper and businessman, told the laughing crowd, "I buy the hottest cars that come out."

I'm actually slightly regretting not going.  I get such a strong sense of famous people boasting about their wealth and then talking down to the audience as if they were children that I just want to verify or move beyond that perception.

Boycott Hip Hop: Save the Industry, Free the Jena 6

It's feeling kind of hardcore all of a sudden.  Two leading hip hop bloggers call for boycotts of hip hop music on the same day for totally different but quite reasonable reasons.

Jay Smooth says we must not buy Kanye West's Graduation or 50 Cent's Curtis in order to break the music industry's crack-like dependence on hit sales.

Rizoh says:
Bottom line: I won’t buy another rap CD until I see more rappers take an active stand on the Jena 6 issue.

I'm down on all counts but I'm particularly interested in aiding the Jena 6 since I feel like even individual support can be felt quite strongly at this moment.  Besides, the realities of the marketplace will sort things out for the music industry soon enough.

Kanye West Brings Murakami to the [American] Masses

Detail of Murakami Art in Kanye West's VMA Suite

As part of MTV's VMA festivities Kanye West took over the Palms' Hugh Hefner suite adding art by Takashi Murakami [pics by mtvjames]:
Kanye Suite 1 ~ Kanye Suite 2 ~ Kanye Suite 3

Kanye West - Graduation

Lots of folks in the States first heard about Takashi Murakami when graphics for Kanye West's Graduation hit the web.  However Murakami has crossed over from the gallery setting to commercial art settings and back in so many ways that you never know who's already a fan.

Takashi Murakami - Superflat

I first found out about Murakami through his writing and curatorial work beginning with the Superflat exhibition.  Murakami is a serious heavyweight in high art who has also chosen to work in popular realms.  His edited volume, Little Boy: The Arts of Japan's Exploding Subculture, does an incredible job of making the connections between Japan's high art and pop culture avant-gardes.

Murakami/Louis Vuitton Scarf on Ebay

One big point of introduction to the West has been Murakami's work for Louis Vuitton.

Superflat Monogram - Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton

The video above is probably Murakami's coolest work for Vuitton and a piece that merges art and commercial interests quite nicely.

Murakami Light Switch Cover on Ebay

I'm particularly fond of this Murakami light switch cover.  It's a really nice blend of old school surrealism and kawaii.

Kanye West at Kaikai Kiki

Kanye West visits the Kaikai Kiki studio.

Wired:
The Two Faces of Takashi Murakami

Official Site:
Kaikai Kiki

Update:
Edie Cohen checks out the art in Kanye West's LA home:
In the living room beyond, Vuitton darling Murakami is introduced via a canvas almost 6 feet square. Sure, the black and white skulls on the blood-red background appear macabre on first view. But gaze closely at those eyes. Their lighthearted flower motif is a Murakami trademark—and it shows up again in the playful pillows spread out in the office below.

"In the past year and a half, I've been stepping up my relationship with Murakami," West says. Involvement goes far beyond the music video. Those fortunate to have attended West's 30th-birthday bash—at Vuitton's New York flagship—should have framed the invitation. Yes, it was a Murakami. West is currently designing a mega-bling medallion with. . .Murakami again. And Murakami is responsible for the covers of all the singles on West's album Graduation, slated for release September 11.