Snoop Dogg x Malice in Wonderland. Taking a page out of 50 Cent’s marketing playbook, Snoop Dogg is currently filming a mini-movie to accompany the release of his first Priority Records album “Malice in Wonderland.”

“One thing about me with my projects is I always have to give you a visual beyond the video because the video can only show you 4 minutes of what I am expressing,” Snoop explained. “I wanted to do a movie so people could really engulf my whole feeling of this record when I was making it. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it, and it’ll give you what you’re missing.”

If it’s anything like the Murder Was the Case mini-movie we are sold. The album hits stores on December 8, 2009 with each album including the accompanied mini-movie. No word yet on the plot or the title of the movie although we do know Snoop plays of all things…a hardcore gangster in it.

You can expect more and more artists to film these mini-movies and other “incentives” for consumers to purchase albums vs. illegally downloading. That is until the movie gets thrown up on the web.

Nicole Scherzinger x Love Never Dies. The title sounds like a James Bond movie…but no…it’s actually the sequel to the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera. Various sources report that Nicole Scherzinger has taken an official break from the Pussy Cat Dolls and will be taking a lead role in the upcoming musical.

Nicole is directly working with composer and creator Andrew Lloyd Weber and hope for a March 2010 opening in London followed by a November 2010 stint on Broadway. It’s a good move for Nicole who was going no where with the Pussy Cat Dolls (since they all hate her), and her solo career was going no where. To have a lead in Andrew Lloyd Weber production can give new life and energy to her career.

Slim Thug x The Daily Show. We just talked about the little on-air promo that Slim Thug has with “The Daily Show.” Now here is the music video to the recession themed track “Still a Boss” which made its debut earlier tonight.

Snoop Dogg x Brothers. Snoop Dogg recorded the theme song to the FOX sitcom “Brothers” which stars Michael Strahan. Snoop, Strahan and co-star Daryl “Chill” Mitchell all went in the studio to record and here is the resulting music video. Strahan raps angry…he could give DMX a run for his money. Snoop makes a guest appearance on the show tomorrow which will also have a guest appearance by T-Pain as well. Check the “making of” video after the jump.

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If you were given $75,000 what would you do with it? Some might put it in a low-yield savings account, maybe a college fund, down payment for a house…or if you are Pharrell…you buy a Hermes crocodile skin hoodie. Yes for $75,000. Here he is showing it off…if he wore that around with no body guard only a matter of time before someone snatches it. Via: Upscale Hype

T-Pain x Brothers. T-Pain makes his major network TV debut on an upcoming episode of the sitcom “Brothers” which stars former NY Giant Michael Strahan. The episode airs on Friday Oct 9th 8pm on FOX where T-Pain actually plays himself…but broke.  Here is the official storyline:

In the episode, Mike (Michael Strahan) and Chill (Daryl Mitchell) encounter a financially strapped T Pain at Trainor’s, the family’s restaurant.

Guess that means  no “BIG ASS CHAIN” for T-Pain as he results to selling stolen watches to make money. T-Pain previously appeared on a live-action version of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” where he played Frylock. Check out more pics from the “Brothers” episode after the jump. Via: CL

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Slim Thug x The Daily Show. Slim Thug has teamed up with “The Daily Show” for a nice joint promo piece. Starts with this  interview on “The Daily Show” about how the recession has hurt hip-hop. My favorite line from Mr. Slim  “there definitely isn’t as many video hoes as there used to be.” Check the entire interview…pretty funny stuff and good to see Slim Thug out here with a sense of humor. Next…”The Daily Show” helps Slim shoot a video on a budget. Via: The Smoking Section

If it worked for The Black Eyed Peas it can work for N.E.R.D. Regardless if you think BEP sold-out after bringing in Fergie…oh and the million and millions of dollars from corporate sponsorships…there is no denying that it was Fergie who helped make BEP much more accessible to America and Fortune 500 companies.

NERD hopes to play the same game but of course say it’s for the sake of the music as Pharrell officially introduced Toronto Native Rhea to the band. Pharrell stated the following about adding Rhea to the group.

“Musically, we’re just somewhere else [with her],” the producer said. “The music is now very 3-D. It’s something you have to hear. But you’ll see. We’re definitely somewhere else. I want to leave that impact moment for when you purchase your download and you purchase your CD. The music is very three-dimensional. We’re just really excited. We feel like N.E.R.D. has always been the punks of hip-hop and the outcasts of alternative music — just a little different. But this time, we’re taking no prisoners.”

It will be really interesting to see what NERD’s 3-D sound will be like. More commercially viable or sticking to their true alt-punk-hiphop roots?