Rakim x Zoo York: Seventh Seal Skateboard Deck

Rakim + Zoo York + Dean Nicastro = Skateboard Deck

RAKIM COLLABORATION WITH ZOO YORK:

"This classic, limited edition skateboard deck features graphics designed by Rakim, Zoo York and NYC artist Dean Nicastro and will come packaged with the new The Seventh Seal CD. It will be available to collectors and fans in December 2009 at select retail outlets, www.zooyork.com, www.rakim.com, and through online promotions guided by the Cornerstone team."

Official Sites: Zoo York ~ Rakim

Available on iTunes: Rakim

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Rakim: The Seventh Seal Album Cover Variations

Tech N9ne: Ruffian Skull Earphones by SUBJEKT

Tech N9ne Limited Edition Ruffian Skull Earphones

Tech N9ne shows off his branded limited edition Ruffian Skull Earphones by SUBJEKT.

SUBJEKT Ruffian Skull Earphones - Black Nickel

Here's the basic earphones with skulls.

Ruffian Skull Limited Edition Tech N9ne Series Earphones

And here's the Tech N9ne Series.

Official Site: SUBJEKT

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Tech N9ne: K.O.D. Album Art
Tech N9ne: Leave Me Alone Music Video
Tech N9ne: Red Nose Music Video
Tech N9ne: Strictly Strange DVD

Michael Jackson Merch from Canceled Concerts

Though Michael Jackson's planned "50-date "This is It" residency at the O2 Arena in London" is not to be, MTV's Gil Kaufman takes a look at the merch that is now available and reports the O2 concert promoter's claim that:

"nearly 50 percent of the one million fans who've responded to the company's ticket refund offer have opted to receive the Jackson-approved commemorative ticket instead of their money back."

Must be some tickets! You can find the concert merch here.

Of course, there's all sorts of stuff coming out but it's interesting to consider the fate of merch that is created for a concert series that will never exist.  I'm assuming that will actually make it more valuable from a lot of different angles including both personal responses and collectibility issues.

Pipe Dreams: Potluck Album Art, Merch, Promo Contest

Pipe Dreams - Potluck

Pipe Dreams' Potluck was released February 10th on Suburban Noize.

Potluck T-Shirts

Special promotional touches include the above tees and the Stoner B*tch contest and video.

More merch, promo items, tour schedule [w/Kottonmouth Kingz] and contest details at Pipe Dreams' MySpace page.

Virtual Greats Rep Snoop Dogg Dobermans in Cyberspace

Virtual Greats, the "first company to create a platform to bring high-value, copyrighted material into virtual worlds and social networks", has been getting some press this year including mention of their representation of Snoop Dogg products in virtual worlds.

From coverage in the Wall Street Journal back in September to a recent piece in the New York Times:

"Snoop Dogg’s manager, Constance Schwartz, said she did not have a clue about virtual worlds when Virtual Greats approached her this year, so she and her team spent a week exploring Gaia Online."

"After seeing that many teenagers were spending their time and allowances there, Ms. Schwartz explained the concept to Snoop Dogg. She said it was an easy sell...His only requirement was that all of the goods be 'true to himself,' down to the hair braids, house slippers and plates of Roscoe’s chicken and waffles he regularly eats in Los Angeles."

It's unclear whether or not the house slippers are currently available in digital form but Virtual Greats founder Reuben Steiger says that Snoop Dogg dobermans are easily outperforming generics:

"Reuben Steiger...told me the kids are shelling out 8 times more, per pair, for Snoop Dogg Dobermans versus the exact same Dobermans, sans the Snoop Dogg association. Granted, we’re talking about $3 here. But an 800% premium for the branded product over the generic product reminds us why we call it brand equity, and why we spend so much time and money trying to bolster it."

Kanye West Action Figure Sneak Peek

253 Hip Hop has a sneak peek of the upcoming Kanye West Action Figure.

Via Blogs is Watching.

Unboxing Live: Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones

Unboxing Live - Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones

Here's some unpackaging porn from Unboxing Live whose Executive Producer Andru Edwards examines the packaging and contents for the Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones from Monster Cable.

It knocks me out that they're making videos focused on unboxing gear.

Monetization Side Note:
Checking out Andru's faded Crush shirt made me realize that they might have a serious tee shirt placement opportunity.

Via Crate Kings.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Reviews: Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones
Hip Hop @ CES: Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones

Over at Hip Hop Press:
Highly Anticipated "Beats by Dr. Dre" High Definition Headphones
Exclusively Available at Apple and Best Buy

MIMS Launches Zazzle Store, Wins Ringtone Award

MIMS has launched a merch shack at Zazzle.  I'd boost a product with a picture but Zazzle frowns on that kind of thing.

In other news of MIMS, This Is Why I'm Hot won Ringtone of the Year at ASCAP'S 21ST Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.

Biggie Smalls Action Figure Based on Juicy Video

Yes, there's a new Biggie Small action figure available from Mezco Toyz with an outfit based on the Juicy video.

WoooHah has a photo and info.

Real Talk NY has a tradeshow video.

Snoop Dogg: Snoopermarkets Grocery Stores, Rich & Infamous Clothing, Pet Care Products

In the midst of a discussion with Snoop Dogg about his current musical activities, Shaheem Reid drops a great nugget for ProHipHop:
"In 2008, Snoop wants to introduce a new clothing line called 'Rich and Infamous,' a brand of pet-care products and a chain of grocery stores called 'Snoopermarkets.'"

If he's planning to launch a line of pet-care products, then I'm guessing that his dog toys and apparel must be doing ok.

I'm getting the feeling that those folks who thought Snoop Dogg was overextended when he launched the pet line are missing the magic of Snoop though I admit to having questions of my own from time to time.

Key problem with Snoopermarkets concept:
Isn't Snoop gang affiliated?  Can I hear you say DRIVE BY?

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Hip Hop Handcuffs: Paul Wall's Iced Out Cuffs, Snoop Dogg's Vinyl Petcuffs

Marketing & Merch: Soulja Boy's Yahhh! T-shirts

Soulja Boy Yahhh! T

Soulja Boy brings the marketing and merchandising pain with Yahhh! t-shirts for women and men.

Via Wooohah!.

Related Soulja Boy Marketing Coverage:
YET ANOTHER REASON WHY SOULJA BOY IS A GENIUS
Soulja Boy: Hear 'Em Out

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Yahhh! Soulja Boy to Rule '08

Commercial for the Ghostface Killah Doll

Ghostface Killah Doll Commercial

Via WoooHah!

Little Brother On Tour: Marketing & Merchandising

Little Brother Tour Bus

Little Brother is on tour supporting their newly released album Getback and Vibes and Stuff got to enjoy their performance in Toronto.

More importantly for our purposes Del focuses on the business aspects regarding marketing and merchandising as well as pointing out that these guys are great showmen.

I saw them in Austin years ago without 9th Wonder and Phonte and Pooh totally killed it.  They're very much entertainers with a generous quality onstage in sharp contrast to some of the begrudging nonsense that is so easy to find at rap shows.

Join The Getback Army

Del points out that the Little Brother Getback shirts also now state "On the road with Zune".

While browsing Little Brother's MySpace page for promotional graphics I found myself enjoying pics of the Getback Army in the photos section.  That graphic really catches the eye and their fanbase looks pretty cool too.  It's a simple yet strong example of putting your fans at the center.

Hip Hop Handcuffs: Paul Wall's Iced Out Cuffs, Snoop Dogg's Vinyl Petcuffs

Iced Out Cuff Bracelets from Grills by Paul Wall

Paul Wall debuts iced out handcuffs and they come with their own backstory:
Paul Wall and his partner Jamie Kennedy fashioned exclusive Iced Out Cuff Bracelets in support of recent celebrities incarcerated such as Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Nicole Richie, Snoop Dog and many others, "My boy Jamie Kennedy came up with the idea because a lot of celebrities kept going to jail." -Paul Wall

Snoop Dogg Pets Vinyl Handcuffs with Rope

What are these petcuffs for exactly?

Official Sites:
Grills by Paul Wall
Snoop Dogg Pet Products

Marley's Exodus Released as Limited Edition USB Stick [and on vinyl, too, he whispered]

Bob Marley's Exodus in a USB Memory Stick Edition

Though Bob Marley's Exodus is not a hip hop album, its upcoming release in limited edition USB stick mode is quite relevant to merchandising in a digital age:
4000 limited edition reusable USB Memory Sticks feature not only the 10 original songs on Exodus but also audio and video content, including three video tracks recorded at London's Rainbow Theatre in June 1977.

Other merchandise available for the album's 30th anniversary include a commemorative CD, limited edition CD/DVD with concert footage, a commemorative book and a t-shirt based on the Exodus tour t-shirt.

In the digital age you've got to make the hard copy very special and this is a good example of creating a whole line of merchandise for an album's anniversary with a variety of special touches.

However, there's one aspect I haven't mentioned and didn't even catch until writing up the list of merch.  The original album will be released on vinyl!  I think that's as cool, if not cooler, than the USB stick, which is pretty darn cool, especially in the dog tag format.

As usual, I enjoy coaching from the bleachers, so let me point out that a campaign emphasizing the simultaneous release of Exodus in both a USB and a vinyl edition would be an even stronger pr hook.

Official Merch Outlet:
Bob Marley