Wale x Microsoft. Despite the fact that Zune continues to bleed money for Microsoft, the software giant can’t afford to let it go and continues to aggressively collaborate with the hip-hop community. The latest venture is Zune’s “On The Road WIth Wale” video shorts that we mentioned awhile back but now Zune has also released a limited edition Wale branded Zune player.

These players of course are not for sale but you can try your luck over at Eskay’s to win one now. But don’t worry…I’m sure Bill Gates has identified Drake as the next one to join the Zune army.

Wale x Microsoft Zune. Wale joins a growing number of artists who have been backing Microsoft’s “iPod killer” the Zune. Unfortunatley the results still have been pretty bad although Microsoft blames the economy (see full article). In this newest promo with Wale, Zune sponsors this 10-part series officially described as:

“On the Road with Wale” is a video podcast series chronicling the life and times of the artist known as WALE on tour, as he rocks shows across the country to promote his soon to be released debut album while trying not to go insane while cooped up on the bus. From show highlights, to interviews and guest appearances, to an epic X-Box battle with Young Chris, On The Road with Wale is a colorful montage of the rising star‚Äôs experiences while on his first major headlining tour.

Here is the first video compliments of Digiwaxx and you can download the weekly series at the official Zune website as well.

Kidz in the Hall x Reebok. Kidz in the Hall continue to be the “essence of cool” to Corporate America and back packer kids alike. They are endorsement partners with Microsoft Zune and now have teamed up with Reebok corporate for a major partnership. The Canton, Massachusetts based sneaker company will team up with The Kidz to help launch their Classic Remix Collection.

Kidz in the Hall will heavily promote the shoe collection which launches March 10th exclusively at Foot Locker. They have remixed the Special Ed hit “Got It Made” exclusively available to purchasers of the shoe collection and will be promoting the shoe line at various appearances and concerts. Check out pics of the Reebok Classic Remix Collection provided by Nice Kicks after the jump. Continue Reading…

We have been covering VERY closely the relationship that Bill Gates has formed with the hip-hop community though his Microsoft Zune marketing campaigns. While Steve Jobs and Apple have done relatively little with hip-hop promotions, Gates and the Zune have gone full force signing everyone from Continue Reading…

Keri Hilson joins a long list of hip-hop and R&B artists who are supporting the Bill Gates movement by signing promotional deals with the Zune MP3 player. Other artists in the Zune camp include Common, Bun B, Kidz In The Hall and EPMD. Click here to see how Zune has recently influenced hip-hop. This ad with Miss. Hilson is currently running on national TV and is her first official nation-wide promotional deal.

Microsoft Zune has been aggressively marketing to the hip-hop crowd in 2008 which includes partnerships with Common, Bun B and Kidz In the Hall to name a few. Now Zune has added EPMD to that list with a unique marketing campaign dubbed “The EPMD Project.”

According to the official site, “The EPMD Project” is described as the following:

“The EPMD Art Project”, a collection of premiere international artists creating works inspired by EPMD.  Works from each artist will be presented on canvases and prints and auctioned off at a record release event and a listening party.  In Los Angeles, EPMD will team with Zune at their Zune L.A. space, offering guests the first opportunity to hear the new album and bid on the exclusive artwork.

Check out a couple of the art pieces that went up for auction already. All are inspired by the original logo created by artist HAZE. Via: ProHipHop

What do you think of Zune’s campaign with EPMD and developing an art collection around an artist logo? Is the Souja Boy logo collection next? Vote it now!

His hometown of Chicago might not be showing him the love, but Redmond, WA home of Microsoft sure is. Microsoft has already partnered with Common on a Zune endorsement campaign and now Microsoft has called him up again to collaborate on something completley foreign to the software company…a clothing line.

Introducing “Software”…get it? The new clothing line collaboration between Common and Microsoft. In an effort to compete with Apple, Microsoft has aggressively been targeting a younger “cooler” demographic which started with the “I’m a PC” promo which showed celebs, including Pharrell using their PC. The Software clothing collection is also part of this market shift. The clothing line currently consists of nine t-shirts, three which were designed in collaboration with Common who utilized an old school 80’s feeling. Check out pics of some of the shirts and the launch party video which included a performance by Common and Biz Markie. The party was held last week in New York. Pics courtesy of Freshness Mag.

Bill Gates has enlisted Bun B, Common and now Kidz in the Hall to push the Microsoft Zune in an effort to take some of that market share away from Mr. Jobs and the iPod. The Kidz in the Hall have collaborated for an exclusive Zune player and will also be filming a series of podcasts available exclusively through the Zune Marketplace. Check out the custom Zune and trailer shown here.

Common pledged his allegiance to Microsoft and the accompanying paycheck when he signed a promotions deal with the Zune MP3 player. Now Common is featured with Afrika Bambaataa in this latest commercial that is now airing nationwide. Microsoft refuses to submit to the iPod without a fight. It could get nasty in the coming weeks towards the pivotal holiday season.

Microsoft has aggressively been trying to shed it’s old school image as it continues to fight Apple for computer and MP3 player market share. While Steve Jobs and Apple have done a fantastic job integrating the Apple line of products with popular and hip-hop culture, Bill Gates and co. have been a step behind. But according to Microsoft, things will change.

Microsoft has recently reached out to the hip-hop community including Pharrell for it’s “I’m a PC” ad campaign, Bun B as an official sponsor of the Zune, and now Common has joined the Microsoft gang and will promote the Zune with his upcoming album “Universal Mind Control” due out on December 9th. The Common/Microsoft partnership is already visible in Common’s recently released video to his single “Universal Mind Control” where a Zune is shown in the first couple seconds of the video.

In a recent interview with Ad Age, Common reveals why he decided to work with Microsoft and the Zune. “The Zune is something that I’ve been confident about associating myself with, because I think it’s got a fly presentation to it. It is truly about music lovers, for me,” Common stated. “I know that Microsoft has been around for 20 years, they established themselves in the mid-’80s, and since then they’ve progressed. Microsoft is classy, it’s a timeless brand, and it means something to the world, internationally, and I felt like that’s the direction of what I want Common to be, to be honest.”

Zune promo video with Common

Universal Mind Control video with Zune player in first 3 seconds

Microsoft continues to agressively push their Zune MP3 player to the hip-hop community this time through their exclusive “VH-1 Hip-Hop Honors” Zune player. According to HipHopDX, current Zune spokesperson Bun B was one of the first to get their hands on the exclusive player.

Zune even helped Bun B launch his last album. “The collaboration with Zune has been full force on both sides. They promote [II Trill], my music, my movement, as well as me being out on the road, helping to promote them. Fifteen years ago, when I started rappin’, I never thought any corporation would want to do business with two boys from Port Arthur, Texas. Now, you’re looking at Zune’s MP3 division, of the biggest corporations on the planet, it’s just a credit to hard work that Pimp C and I put forth.”

Pharrell was prominently featured in the recent Convese “Century” ads with artists such as Santogold and Julian Casablanca from The Strokes. It turns out though that the other two members of N.E.R.D., Chad and Shay were also featured in the extended ad campaign which included outdoor advertising shown here. N.E.R.D. aggressively worked with multiple street wear companies and promotional partners such as Zune for their recent album “Seeing Sounds” which is available now. Via: BBC Blog

Zune, still desparate to capture the urban demo from Apple, has teamed up with New Era and artists such as N.E.R.D. and Nelly in a multi-level promotional campaign. New Era will feature 5-7 min. webisodes of N.E.R.D. and Nelly in various activities such as designing an exclusive New Era hat or talking about the latest music they have on their Zune. These webisodes will be seen both on the New Era site and through Zune as well. In addition to the Webisodes, the artists will then design hats for New Era and Zune will then release custom players that feature the cap. N.E.R.D. and their single “Spaz” has already been featured on current Zune ads. Via: Billboard