Dr. Dre with Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine has a partnership with Hewlett-Packard. HP will release premium priced laptops, headsets, and software featuring the “Beats by Dr.Dre” brand during this fall.

In an interview last week with CNET News, Iovine declined to discuss HP or any other company that may be involved. Iovine confirmed that he and Dr. Dre are part of a plan to reconstruct the entire “digital music ecosystem” from the sound file to the computer and culminating with high-end headsets.

But can high-quality audio persuade people to buy albums?

Island Def Jam Music Group discovered a new business model where it can integrat brands into artist’s CD booklets. Mariah Carey’s release of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel which is set for an September 29th release will include a 34 page co production with Elle magazine that includes lifestyle ads from Elizabeth Arden, Angel Champagne, Carmen Steffens, Le Metier de Beaute and the Bahamas Board of Tourism.

The label will be planning deals for artist such as Rihanna, Bon Jovi, Kanye West and others if this experiment goes well.

This is a great and innovative way to acquire capital to help with album budgets and help brands establish themselves in a different market.

The booklets were created for the first run of U.S. CDs (1 million) and the first 500,000 overseas, said Jeff Straughn, svp-strategic marketing for Island Def Jam Music Group. It will also be available in a digital format for those who buy music online. A condensed version of the Mariah mag, sans the 14 pages of CD-specific material, will be inserted into 500,000 subscription copies of Elle’s October issue, which arrives mid-September.

“The idea was really simple thinking: ‘We sell millions of records, so you should advertise with us,’” said  Antonio “L.A.” Reid, chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group, a unit of Universal Music Group. “My artists have substantial circulation—when you sell 2 million, 5 million, 8 million, that’s a lot of eyeballs. Most magazines aren’t as successful as those records.”

Artist been promoting brands for free through word of mouth in their song lyrics its about time they start selling brands ad space on their albums.

Source: BrandWeek

Props: RealTalkNY

Rocawear celebrated their 10th Anniversary with a party at their Rocawear showroom in New York City. Attendees included Rihanna, Kevin Lies, Spike Lee, Memphis Bleek and others.

Beginning August 10^th, 2009 visit Macy’s Herald Square, Rego Park, Kings Plaza, Gardem State Plaza and Cross Country in New York to be one of the first 500 consumers to make a Diesel Only The Brave purchase of 117.50 or more and receive TWO general admission tickets to this exclusive concert with Common to be held at Capitale on August 26, 20009.

A look at LeBron James new sneaker Air Max LeBron VII by Nike, which is set for released October 24th for a estimated $160. But besides that LeBron’s contract is about to be over so where would you rather see him in NY or Cleavland still?

Nas and Damian Marley talk about their album “Distant Relatives” on BET’s The Deal.

Ne-Yo will endorse Alfani’s men’s wear, Macy‚Äôs revealed today that it has signed a one year deal with the singer-songwriter.

Props: Rap-Up