ProHipHop

Wiz Khalifa Rides High While Prodigy Rises From the Ashes for Alternate Urban Ink Covers

Urban Ink – the only tattoo magazine in the world that reps for the urban tattooed population – announced the release of their 20th issue. To celebrate #2-0, UI brought Wiz Khalifa back for a high-end photo spread replete with some baaad, tattooed vixens and a “black and yellow” Lambo. Wiz also took time in between shows to explain once and for all why he’s the King of Ink in the game. He also expressed his appreciation for his rise to the top of the charts and his future film project with his idol Snoop D-O-double G, among other NC-17-rated things.

On the flipside we find Mobb Deep’s Prodigy unleashing his inner ‘hood vampire’ as he prepares to sink his teeth back into the game after his three-and-a-half year stint. After examining P’s good vs. evil themed tattoo collection, UI decided to explore the inner battles between good and evil that exists inside us all – and more importantly inside Prodigy. In an eight-page spread – inspired by a fusion between comic books and horror films—with the help of special effects makeup artist, Jeremy Selenfriend, Prodigy evokes both the grimy and good spirits in him while discussing his very controversial book – My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy – his future projects and his telltale ink.

Other exciting features inside the already blazing hot issue include: Columbia recording artist and super producer, Sean Garrett; ATL’s Travis Porter and “Bad Girls Club” season six, knockout mami, Wilmarie Sena.

Urban Ink magazine has been hitting you with the hottest inked celebs in the entertainment industry, the most ill ink slingers and the hottest tattooed bods this side of the Atlantic since its debut four years ago; and to this day they continue to leave a mark in the competitive tattoo magazine market. Urban Ink is distributed across America as well as in Australia, Canada and the UK, and is available in most major chains including Walmart, Borders, Barnes & Nobles and 7-11.

Swizz Beatz Designs For Audemars Piguet

Hip-Hop producer/artist/rapper, Swizz Beatz, inked a deal with Swiss luxury watch giant, Audemars Piguet, where he’s appointed as new board member and designer.  Swizz shows off one of his designs with Audemars Piguet during “Sucker Free Countdown” hosted by DJ Envy on MTV2 this Sunday (October 3rd) at 11:00 PM.

“I went out to Geneva and met with Mr. Audemars himself,” Swizz Beatz stated. “Their designing the next ten years of AP (Audemars Piguet) and they want me to be on the board and design team.”

Swizz Beatz visited Audemars Piguet’s HQ in Geneva, took a tour of the manufacture and even took a 6-hour class to learn the intricacies of watch-making.  A long-time watch collector, Swizz said the class changed his attitude towards the watches.

“It [the class] was six hours and it was crazy dissecting and putting together the movement in the AP, which I have a total new respect more. Not just wearing it, but the tailor movement in that thing.”

Swizz Beatz is not the first name to do collaborations with the brand.  Rappers like Rick Ross and Jay-Z announced their own line with Audemars Piguet in 2005 with deals worth $50,000 – $100,000.

Rap Artist Game Launches Online Store: ThisizGame.com

Another hip hop mogul in the making, West Coast rap artist “Game” launches Online Store “ThisizGameStore.com” and partners up with Big Cartel.  Game also announces upcoming European Tour.

Game has teamed up with international clothing specialist, “G-Wear”, Worldwide online Promotion Specialists, “Global Entertainment Moguls” (G.E.M), HipHopDaily.co and online e-commerce solutions company “Big Cartel”.  The collection in his new Online Store covers a large range of fresh Hoodies, T-Shirts, Bandannas and many more.

The Online Store has an aviation theme, and will transport visitors upon the “ThisizGame Airways” as it caters to global customers.  Celebrities are reported to have come on board the flight, including Liverpool and Holland football striker Ryan Babel, current world champion boxer Amir Khan, video vixen Gloria Velez, actress Stacey Dash and Hip Hop producers Cool n Dre.

Price points for the collection vary, and classified in classes just like all airlines do with their seats.  There are three different classes, from economy to first class, each relating to the price and design of the items available, as the store strives to cater to everyone’s budget.

Game takes this ‘world domination’ seriously, as ThisizGameStore.com will also offer competitions worldwide and will not be restricted within the United States alone.  As part of their marketing strategy, ThisizGame Store will be working with Worldwide Radio Stations to bring its audience exciting competitions with amazing discounts, great gift prizes and giveaways.

As for his music career, The Game will be venturing on a new European Tour in November.  The tour will promote the ThisizGame online store and the rapper’s upcoming “TR.E.D Album”.

For more info contact:

[email protected]

Or Contact:

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Pics of T.I. With B.o.B & Swizz Beatz in Secret AXE Music Show


ti in performance

T.I. [Photo: Unilever/AXE]

T.I. was joined by B.o.B, Swizz Beats and Keri Hilson for an AXE Music 'One Night Only' secret show last night. No pics of Keri but B.o.B and Swizz Beats join T.I. below.


ti and bob in performance

T.I. & B.o.B [Photo: Unilever/AXE]

You can enter a sweepstakes to win tickets to future shows and even a "Rockstar Flyaway" package at AXE Music.


ti in performance

T.I. [Photo: Unilever/AXE]

T.I. is said to have performed tracks from his upcoming album King Uncaged.


ti swizz beatz in performance

T.I. & Swizz Beatz [Photo: Unilever/AXE]

T.I. is set to appear in the upcoming film Takers.


ti in performance

T.I. [Photo: Unilever/AXE]

Official Site:
AXE Music

Available on Amazon:
T.I.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
T.I.: King Uncaged [Album Art?, Promo Video]
Takers' Posters; Movie Starring Matt Dillon, Idris Elba, T.I. & Chris Brown
Opens August 27th

Over at Hip Hop Press:
T.I. Performs Secret Show With B.o.B., Keri Hilson and Swizz Beatz
to Kick Off AXE Music 'One Night Only' Concert Series

Big Boi x Converse = Boring Ass Shoes


Big Boi Converse hitop sneakers

Big Boi x Converse

So Big Boi "designs" a pair of Converse in honor of his recent release, Sir Lucious Left Foot, and the tongue seems to be the most interesting part.

Well, let's get his take on the shoes:



Converse – Big Boi Limited Edition Shoes

Ooh, timeless classics! I think the limited edition nature and the official cosign by Big Boi is the value here, certainly not the "design".

And given the ugly fur he wears in the video for Follow Us that doesn't match his clothes or the club and only vaguely relates to a line or two in the song, maybe his visual aesthetic isn't as developed as his musical aesthetic?

I'm not trying to hate here. I'd like to like these things but I'm currently just baffled. I mean, if I'm in Bankhead, checking for saucers or spaceships or classic cars, I'm not sure I'd be wearing these shoes.

Which makes me wonder.  Has Andre 3000 been dressing him up till now?

Available on Amazon:
Big Boi

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Big Boi: Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty [Album Art]
Big Boi: Follow Us ft. Vonnegutt [Music Video]
Big Boi on Time Out Chicago for Pitchfork Music Festival, Reminds Us
Of Jive's Incompetence

Over at Hip Hop Press:
CONVERSE ANNOUNCES LIMITED EDITION CHUCK TAYLOR ALL STAR SHOES
IN CELEBRATION OF BIG BOI'S DEF JAM DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE

Big Boi Joins 2010 Epicenter Festival Lineup

Fashion Show as Marketing: Frank151 & Scion Present 151 Pieces


Frank151 & Scion Present 151 Pieces

Frank151 & Scion Present 151 Pieces

Frank151 and Scion collaborated on 151 Pieces, an innovative approach to marketing with fashion involving both an event and a website:

"The show debuted at the Scion Installation LA gallery in Culver City, California. Frank selected a total of 151 pieces from the Spring / Summer lines of over 70 lifestyle labels represented in Scion's Retail Distribution Network including Opening Ceremony, After Midnight NYC, Vans, and Rogan, and paired them with sophisticated basics to achieve an effortless, wearable silhouette at the fore of Summer '10 trends."

The website has a more interactive approach than did the fashion show (though that raises interesting possibilities as well!). Visitors can create their own shows and buy stuff. Interesting content is included and a "special-edition 151 Pieces Frank Book Chapter" was also created.

The aspect involving Frank151 is pretty cool but I'm also impressed by Scion's Retail Distribution Network that is the kind of thing that only really works if one is committed to long-term building as Scion has been. Scion is also preparing to launch "Scion Partners, a new program where customers can register for a card that allows them to get discounts and deals on clothing, footwear and music at stores around the country–many of whom sell items featured in the 151 Pieces show."

Pretty interesting efforts none of which necessarily involve cars. Lots to consider here.

Official Site:
151 Pieces: A Summer 2010 Fashion Show

Fortune Talks With Skullcandy as Roc Nation Aviators Prepare to Launch

Mary Jo A. Pham has a Q&A with Skullcandy headphone creators for Fortune. Pham spoke with Skullcandy's Chief Merchandising Officer Dan Levine and President Jeremy Andrus on the eve of the release of Roc Nation Aviators.

Official Site:
Skullcandy

Over at Hip Hop Press:
Roc Nation + Skullcandy's First Joint Effort, the Roc Nation Aviator, Due in June
Scion and Skullcandy Sponsor DJ Hevan's Saturday Night, Connect to Boston's Party Crowd

NY Times on Full Figured Fashion Week

Full Figured Fashion Week gets a positive look in the NY Times. I'm seeing more such news lately for Hip Hop Press but clearly this is a deeply underserved market.

Pac-Man x Rocawear Collab: Good Idea? Jumping the Dead Shark?

I don't know if the Pac-Man x Rocawear Collab is a good idea or not. It's good for Pac-Man (however you want to spell it) in the same way Hello Kitty can absorb any cultural influence into its realm but for Rocawear?

From the press release:

This collaboration between Bandai Namco and Rocawear includes:

PAC-MAN being part of Rocawear's mobile, 18-wheeler Pop-Up shop. The Roc Pop-Up Shop will have various Bandai Namco games including PAC-MAN which will be able to be played by visitors to the truck. Limited edition PAC-MAN /Rocawear tees will also be sold on the truck…

PAC-MAN will also have its own channel on the Roc4Life website (www.roc4life.com) and throughout Roc4Life’s social media properties, which will feature various PAC-MAN 30th anniversary projects, interviews, etc. will be featured.

Is this a nostalgia play on Rocawear's part or are they getting desperate as their clothing line stagnates?

Janet Hansen: Giving Daft Punk, MIA and Kanye That Laser Look [Motherboard Interview]



Giving Daft Punk, MIA and Kanye That Laser Look

Great video on clothing/light artist Janet Hansen.

You can order her clothes or make your own!