CBS just sent us over this one minute clip of Diddy, ahem, I mean Sean Combs, in his guest appearance where he plays defense attorney Derek Powell caught in a criminal investigation case that only CSI can solve. Is Diddy’s character good or bad? Well that’s what CSI is trying to solve. Check out the clip below. The full episode airs this Monday Feb 9th on CBS.

Back in December Jimmy Fallon, host of the upcoming NBC’s “The Late Night Show” officially introduced his new house band The Roots. NBC just sent us over this new clip of Jimmy rocking out with the group. Check it out…looks like “The Late Night” show is going to have a whole new feel to it.

Hopefully once we get out of this recession I can finally start reporting some good hip-hop business news. Fresh off our report that LL Cool J’s clothing brand is almost done with, here comes another downer. So back in November 2008, XXL reported that Lil Wayne’s Halo Champagne brand was going to be postponed.

Well now we have more information from Halo’s original distributor, Milestone Brands, that Lil Wayne has indefinitely postponed the release of Halo Champagne due to the struggling economy. According to our sources, Lil Wayne and Milestone were ready to launch the champagne line after a couple of delays but wisely decided to hold off until the timing was better. Smart move if you ask me. Any experienced business person knows market entry timing is essential to success. Instead Wayne can now focus on being a rock star.

Here is a look at the Halo Champagne packaging. We will be waiting for this one…hopefully it comes in Codeine and Jolly Rancher flavor.

I was really doubting this movie until I saw the trailer. Looks like this one could actually be pretty entertaining. Mos Def plays Eric, a shipping delivery man who accidentally mixes up a very special delivery. Mos most recently played Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records alongside Beyonce and will be starring with Erykah Badu in the upcoming indie film Bobby Zero. Here is the official Next Day Air movie poster released by Summit Entertainment. Movie hits theaters May 8, 2009.

I swear I’m not in this to break bad news. But just seems like that’s how it goes these days when sharing stuff about business. Yea WoooHa was the first to break it that Andre Benjamin’s Benjamin Bixby clothing line was failing, and now we got the tip off from our friends at Ad Age that LL’s Sears clothing line is about to kick the bucket as well.

Apparently, with the way the economy is these days, you can’t just attach a celeb name on a clothing line and expect it to sell. Hip-hop clothing lines are not the only ones suffering as numerous Hollywood celeb clothing lines are not selling either. As for LL, it’s been a pretty short ride considering Sears invested millions in advertising, merchandising and royalties to launch the clothing line just a short six months ago. Similar to what Barney’s was doing with the Bixby line, Sears is now selling the LL clothing line apparel for as much as 50% off to clear inventory and to make up for the 13% in year-over-year losses.

When asked about the rumors of LL’s clothing line going out of business, an official Sears spokesperson stated:

“At this point, we are still offering [the line] for fall back-to-school. We’re working on the assortments right now and might edit some things as we see what’s resonating.”

Hmmm that’s a pretty indirect response from a PR rep. Usually they flat out deny these types of things. Well hopefully the economy picks up soon, or maybe Obama can flash a couple mill to Sears for a bailout plan. At least we still have Sean John.

P.S. – If you lift this entry please do the right thing and source it back. I have noticed a certain couple urban clothing sites straight jacking my info w/o even a mention or link back. Etiquette people!

EA Sports and Madden Football really got the ball rolling for record label and video game company collaborations. Now we are seeing more artists actually launch singles through the video game platform. The Cool Kids launched an exclusive for NBA 2K9 with “2k Pennies” and now Busta Rhymes is taking it to the next level.

According to Kotaku, Busta will be using GTA’s new downloadable expansion pack, which includes hours of new game play, to help launch his upcoming album “Back on My B.S.” which releases March 34, 2009. As part of the deal with the publisher of GTA, Rock Star Games, Busta will debut his single “Conglomerate” which features Jeezy and Jadakiss on the expansion pack.

GTA Music Supervisor Ian Pavlovich states:

“It kind of shows the reach of video games to influence people to buy music. That’s why it’s important for people like Busta, when they have new material. He is pushing an album in this. … That’s part of the whole thing that we do that’s really important to us, is turning people on to new music. “

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out. Video games were the cream of the crop the past couple of years in regards to packaged entertainment (vs. DVDs, CDs, etc) but now has taken quite a beating from the Recession. Perhaps we will see more of these collabs as both the music and video game industries fight to survive. All I gotta say is “WOOOHA!”

The same day that 50 Cent was announced by Forbe’s Magazine as the second top earning African-American celeb (behind Oprah), Britain’s Daily Mirror revealed that 50 is planning to release a men’s skin care product line. This news just comes weeks after 50 officially announced he was coming with a dietary supplement line. The Daily Mirror stated the following about the alleged skin care line:

“50 prides himself on having a a ripped body… he’s on a health kick and barely touches alcohol. So his range will be for the guy who likes to be pampered.”

What’s next G-Unit Toothpaste? Move over Johnson & Johnson, we got Jackson & Jackson up in here. Of course this is a rumor until we get further confirmation, but if it’s true…then…remember you heard it here first! If it’s not true…then…well we got it from The Daily Mirror.

Not that I do this for praise or glory but it is nice to get some recognition especially from a blog “mentor.” And no, I didn’t even pay Clyde at ProHipHop to say this: