ProHipHop

Pitbull Goes to the Movies

Sheets™ Energy Strips, “the new way to do energy,” will energize audiences in movie theaters across the country beginning September 30 with a new cinema advertising campaign in NCM Media Networks’ FirstLook pre-feature program.

Launching on the big screen with the brand’s funny, original “Take A Sheet™” creative campaign, Sheets™ will use the high-impact medium of cinema to premiere a new spot starring international recording artist Pitbull in an entertaining red carpet interview. Pitbull and his team spearhead the brand’s Hispanic marketing efforts, working together to create innovative advertising, marketing and promotional initiatives to reach Latino consumers worldwide.

The new Sheets™ Energy Strips cinema campaign is timed to support the brand’s expansion into leading national retailers including Walgreens, Wal-Mart, Duane Reade and GNC.

Unlike “energy drinks,” Sheets™ Energy Strips are distinctive because they are paper-thin, individually wrapped, dissolvable pocket-sized strips. When placed on your tongue, the strips begin to dissolve instantly and are easily swallowed and digested, delivering hours of energy. With multiple flavors, Sheets™ won’t spill or melt, have no calories, no carbohydrates, no sugar and require no water. Sheets™ uses proprietary technology that provides a breakthrough delivery system enabling consumers to get fast-acting energy – anytime, anywhere.

“Sheets™ is always looking for groundbreaking ways to elevate and distinguish itself from the traditional advertising campaigns,” said Warren Struhl, CEO of PureBrands, the owner of Sheets™ Energy Strips. “We are thrilled to partner with National CineMedia and have our Sheets™ ads reach consumers through a new and exciting channel.”

“There is no better place than the movies for Sheets™ Energy Strips to reach an engaged audience of active, on-the-go adults,” said Cliff Marks, president of sales and marketing with NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology. “It is especially energizing to be working together because NCM has not only become a marketing partner, but also a Sheets™ shareholder. I look forward to launching this innovative consumer packaged goods product and establishing a new national brand through the power of cinema.”

Monster Cable’s Clarity Boutique to Debut During BET Hip-Hop Awards Weekend

Monster Cable, known for its ability to create a better music listening experience, is proud to announce that Clarity Boutique will debut on Friday, September 30, 2011 in Atlanta, GA during the BET Hip-Hop Awards Weekend.

Clarity Boutique, an exclusive music matters day party experience and Bloggers Lounge will showcase new Monster Cable Product in addition to “In The Mix” award presentation honoring music executive Hen Roc, trendsetting DJs Big Tigger, DJ DEMP and DJ Dimepiece, who are also known for their charitable contributions.

This one of a kind, blue carpet event will be live broadcast on XXL’s UStream channel and will feature a special performance by Atlantic Records Artist B.o.B. Clarity Boutique will celebrate B.o.B’s BET Hip-Hop Award Nomination & the launch of his new single “Strange Clouds” featuring Lil Wayne.

Monster Cable, having worked with Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine to create the Beats by Dr. Dre™ headphone line, including the new Heartbeats by Lady Gaga headphones promises to provide BET Hip-Hop Award nominees, presenters and guests with a sneak peek at what’s next from Monster.

Monster Clarity Boutique is sponsored in part by Monster DJ, Hennessy, XXL, Black Celebrity Giving, E. Mason & Associates, Digiwaxx, Christina Clark Entertainment, GCPRO.com & Monster Cable Unique Squared Bus.

When
Friday, September 30, 2011
2pm – 7pm Event Time
2pm – 5pm Blue Carpet Arrivals & XXL Live Stream

Where
Museum Bar
181 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. SW
Atlanta, GA

Hip-Hop’s Deziak Signs Marketing Deal with Chocolate Maker

Deziak Licensing, a Yorba Linda-based branding and multi-media marketing firm, announced today that it has signed a marketing agreement with Jing & Co. to promote the company’s product line of chocolate energy superfoods. The product recently was showcased on an episode of the syndicated television show “The Doctors.”

“We are excited about branding Jing & Co’s chocolate UPCUPs and Cacao of the Now that lets you cheat on your diet,” said Emery Morrison, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Deziak Licensing. “It’s ok to cheat! You won’t feel guilty and it’s amazingly good for you.”

“It was very tantalizing to form an alliance with Jing & Co. to promote its UPCUPS & Cacao of the Now products, said Elgin Mack, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Deziak Licensing. “It allows us to help provide a healthy and enjoyable treat.”

UPCUP chocolate energy superfood has less than 100 calories and only two grams of sugar from Agave syrup. They allow chocolate lovers to enjoy their special sweet treat without sacrificing their diet goals.

Meanwhile the Cacao of the Now healthy hot chocolate product was featured on “The Doctors.” It is dairy free, only has 82 calories and is sweetened with only one gram of sugar from Agave syrup.

Deziak Licensing will promote the complete line of chocolate superfoods with the mission to expand the Southern California-based brand nationwide. The marketing firm will be using special events, music and fashion shows to promote the product to targeted consumers.

“As a formulator of innovative health products, I envisioned aligning with a magic marketing team for years,” said Andrew Saber, President of Jing & Co. “Our deal with Deziak feels like that kind of gut-level fit.”

Popular Hip-Hop Show, “Professor’s Picks” Joins New York’s # 1 On-Line Magazine

It’s only right that 2 forces designed to promote good music and erase the lines between the signed and un-signed join forces together to create a wining combination.

DJ Big Des AKA DJ Professor Hood known for his popular show “The Professors Picks” which airs on Crate Apes Radio” from 8pm to 10pm will also be airing his show on checkmatenewyork.com. On his show you will hear Classic Hip-Hop and R&B plus themes and tribute nights meant to take all the true hip hop heads down memory lane.

His classic blends of new school and old school artist makes him an instant delight satisfying all audiences that tune in! The show hosts a live chat section so that you are able to collaborate with others on line, and send your requests from 9-10. When asked about this new union Dj Big Des simply stated, “I’m looking forward to teaming up with checkmatenewyork.com and taking Crate Apes Radio to the next level!”

checkmatenewyork.com is known as “The Best Move in the City” this online magazine has everything from gossip, Entertainment News, Fashion, MP3′s Videos as well as exclusive VIP events and giveaways. “This show is the perfect platform to allow our subscribers to get heard all over the world as well as give our viewers a 1st hand chance to get free things such as tickets, trips and gifts just for tuning in”, says Nona Thomas COO of checkamtenewyork.com.

Artist looking to be interviewed or heard on this show should email [email protected] with the subject line “Crate Apes Radio” for considerations and tune in every Wednesday from 8pm to 10pm “you’ll never know what your gonna get!”

Graffiti Marketing: Mountain Dew, adidas


Mountain Dew “Green Label Art” Commercial

Here are a couple of graffiti related commercial from earlier in 2010 courtesy Beyond Urban Branding: “Mountain Dew Blends Graff and Skating for New Campaign.”


adidas Originals – Meet LA graffiti legend SLICK

Via Beyond Urban Branding: “Adidas Supports Graffiti Writers.”

Stomp The Yard: Homecoming DVD & Official Step Contest


Stomp The Yard Homecoming dvd cover art

Stomp The Yard: Homecoming

Stomp The Yard: Homecoming, also known as Stomp The Yard 2, is due on DVD September 21st:

In the countdown to a national step-off, rivalries at Truth University run red hot. The Theta Nus are counting on new pledge Chance Harris (Collins Pennie) to lead the team to victory. But he’s too caught up in his own problems to focus. At odds with his father, caught up in romantic troubles and targeted by a street gang for an unpaid debt, Chance must decide what is truly important and make the choices that will shape his life. Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming unites a powerful cast featuring Terrence J and Pooch Hall with a soundtrack packed with pulse-pounding tracks.

Hey, in the mood for a "Stomp the Yard: Homecoming" Official Step Contest?

The Stomp The Yard: Homecoming contest launches August 16 on www.BET.com/StompTheYard and invites participants to upload a two-minute video segment of their team (a maximum of eight people) performing a step routine. The producers of BET's "106&Park" will select two teams to fly to New York and perform their routine live on BET during "Wild Out Wednesday" on September 22. During the live broadcast, BET viewers will be encouraged to vote for their favorite group via text or online. The winning group will be announced at the end of the program on the live broadcast and will receive gift card valued at $5,000.

Official Site:
Stomp The Yard: Homecoming

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Stomp The Yard: Top Box Office, Promo Contests & Art

Over at Hip Hop Press:
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and BET Launch National "Stomp the Yard:
Homecoming" Official Step Contest

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

Lil’ Kim Shows O-Face for Launch of Three-O Vodka’s Purple


lil kim oface

Lil' Kim's Purple O-Face

Three-O Vodka has announced Lil' Kim's status as celebrity endorser of their new Purple vodka. Her "O-Face", shown above, will be featured in a national ad campaign and as part of in-store merchandising support:

"Three-O Purple is a dynamic blend of imported English Vodka and the wildly juicy taste of frozen crushed grapes. The launch of Purple will also mark a change in appearance for the brand, with a 360° packaging design, displaying lively purple stripes in a variety of shades around the frosted bottle. The vodka itself will also take on a purple hue, reflecting the vibrant essence of the new flavor."

I think Lil' Kim is an appropriate choice for such a vodka, especially given the popularity of purple products in the world of hip hop, as well as her own somewhat naughty reputation.

That said, given that "O-Face" emerged as the term of choice for the facial expression made while achieving orgasm (only a man could think in terms of presenting a single facial expression during such an experience but that's a separate discussion), I get the feeling Lil' Kim has been faking hers all along. Or else, she just won't give the goods up publicly even for Purple vodka.

Official Site:
Three Olives Vodka

Available on Amazon:
Lil' Kim

Funkmaster Flex to Promote US Marine Corps


Funkmaster Flex with Marines album cover art

Funkmaster Flex with Marines (PRNewsFoto/MTV2)

Funkmaster Flex is helping the US Marine Corps market to potential recruits using both his MTV2 show, Funk Flex Full Throttle, and his Custom Car and Bike Show Tour. The focus will be on a special episode in which a group of Marines will work with Funkmaster Flex on a custom auto that will then be displayed at the USMC recuitment booth on the car show tour.

I think that's a pretty good match and I would not be at all surprised if it was an incredibly excellent match. However, that is the worst graphic I think I've seen to date distributed through PR Newswire which is not cheap. I know times are tough but why would MTV2 put out something that makes them look like they're working on a shoestring? That's simply embarrassing.

Official Site:
Funk Flex

Available on Amazon:
Funkmaster Flex

Over at Hip Hop Press:
Funkmaster Flex Helps The United States Marine Corps Promote to Potential Recruits on "Funk Flex Full Throttle"
Funkmaster Flex Tricks Out Ford Fiesta for Upcoming 'Funk Flex Full Throttle' TV Show Episode
Flowmaster Mufflers and Funkmaster Flex to Create a TV, Radio and Event Trifecta of High Impact Media Campaigns
MTV2 RIDES OUT WITH THE KING OF HIP-HOP CAR CULTURE ON "FUNK FLEX FULL THROTTLE"

Cory Gunz in 1LOVE: The Bronx Video Series



Cory Gunz in 1LOVE: The Bronx

I like this series of well made, personal yet professional videos from Nike Sportswear:

Episode 3 features Cory Gunz, Bronx based rapper and Young Money Entertainment budding superstar, giving us a tour of NYC’s northernmost borough, and according to Cory “The Birthplace of Hip Hop.”

But why do they say the Bronx is the birthplace of hip hop “according to Cory”? Study up or get out of the game!

Over at Hip Hop Press:
1LOVE: Brooklyn w/ Theophilus London
NIKE SPORTSWEAR AND THE FADER PRESENT PITCH PERFECT