Dr. Dre x Apple. Dre and Jobs. Now that’s a team that is going to be tough to beat. Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre headphones are gaining a serious partner in Apple and their over 200 retail stores across the country. Apple will be selling and promoting the Beats by Dre headphones in their retail environment and online store stocking the exclusive white color version, the traditional black and the Monster Beats in-ear sets as well.

Meanwhile Jimmy Iovine has created himself a nice residual income from the Monster x Beats by Dre line and partnership with other Interscope artists including Lady Gaga’s Heart Beats line and Diddy’s upcoming Diddy Beats headphone line.

Master P x Better Black Television. Been awhile since I heard any update on Master P’s venture into launching his Better Black Television (BBTV) network but AHH has the inside scoop on the latest. While most would consider BBTV a direct competitor to BET, Master P insists he didn’t create as a response to BET.

“I don’t think it’s a response, but it fills a void…it’s going to show people where the future is going because a lot of us don’t want to die gangbangers in the hood. Some of us do want to get older and be around to raise their kids.”

Reason for the lack of news in regards to BBTV is because Master P has been busy ironing out the regulatory issues with creating a television network, establishing his programming and even gathering together a group of high powered board of directors which includes Denzel Washington, NAACP executive director Vicangelo Bullock, Hip-Hop founder Kool Herc, cable industry veteran Professor Sal Martino, and real estate mogul Curtis Oakes.

BBTV is set to launch in 2010. If Percy can really pull this off he will beat the rest of the hip-hop mogul posse (Diddy, Kanye, 50, Jay-Z, etc) in being the first to have his own TV network. Check the website for more details.

The media mogul talks with Nightline about the ups and downs of being really rich…and really famous. Seriously though folks, good interview to see the many entrepreneurial moves of the 50 Cent empire. Via: SmartenUpNas

Rihanna x Nokia. We keep saying it…and it keeps happening. As label promotional dollars get smaller and smaller but big time artists continue to be a huge part of pop culture we will continue to see more deals like this. Rihanna and Nokia have officially announced a partnership for the upcoming release of her album “Rated R.”

“I am so excited to partner up with Nokia,” said Rihanna in a statement. “They are doing some really revolutionary things with this album, enabling me to reach more fans than ever before.”

Rihanna will perform in an unidentified London location on Nov. 16, which will be filmed for free streaming via www.nokia.com/rihanna. You can also download Nokia and Rihanna branded apps and an exclusive version of the album with a bonus track, “Wait Your Turn,” in certain global territories.

The deal is a part of a new overall partnership with Nokia and Island Def Jam Music Group so there will be more collaborations like this in the near future. Via: Billboard

RZA x Supreme. RZA has been busy this week on a collaboration with streetwear brand Supreme. In this interview he talks about his recent work, entrepreneurial endeavors and of course the all mighty philosophy of the Wu. Via: Format

Far East Movement x Chester French x LMFAO x Pepsi. Pepsi is urban right? It’s hip…it’s cool. Continuing with its urban marketing efforts, Pepsi has launched a user generated online campaign called “Ultimate Refresh.” Basically users can take video clips of artists such as LMFAO, Far East Movement and Chester French and mix them all up on Pepsi’s Digital Mixing player.

The user generated videos can then be uploaded on to UltimateRefresh.com which are then judged by Will.i.am, who will produce a final song and video incorporating his favorite user-generated content into a remixed version of LMFAO’s “La La La.” Video above is a sample of one of these “Ultimate Refresh” video mixes.

The new era of VIBE Magazine and VIBE.com is just around the corner. The new owners of the perennial hip-hop lifestyle magazine will officially kick off the new publication and online site December 8th starting with a cover featuring Chris Brown. The new direction will see the print magazine reduced from 10 issues per year to four but with a much stronger emphasis in the online sector.

“Here, Vibe.com is really the hub,” said Jermaine Hall, editor in chief of the new Vibe and Vibe.com. “That’s where everything needs to go back to. Whether it’s the magazine, or we decide to do some kind of TV programming down the line, everything needs to come back to Vibe.com.”

The new online direction seems the natural way to go as print publications, specifically in music, are trending towards a slow extinction. Vibe.com will be the flagship site of the new Vibe Lifestyle Network which will also service and function as a full ad network. Via: AdAge

Lady Gaga gives the real details as to why the Fame Kills tour with Kanye West was canceled. Something about her really intrigues me…but in the way mullet haircuts and Sam Cassell’s head shape intrigue me. Although Kanye will be losing out on the tour revenue and the high margin merchandise at least he still is making money from his Glow in the Dark tour.

This is one tour we never thought 50 Cent would ever do…shopping malls. Curtis will take part in a five city Macy’s mall tour starting this Thursday in New York to promote his new Power by 50 cologne. The scent is the first marketed and distributed by 50’s new cosmetics line Lighthouse Beauty and will be available exclusively at Macy’s. Schedule of the mall tour is below. And make sure to check out the rejected Power by 50 bottle designs as well.

11/5/2009 New York Macy’s Herald Square 5-7PM

11/7/09 Atlanta Macy’s Perimeter Mall 12-2PM

11/9/09 Chicago Macy’s State Street 12-2PM

11/10/09 San Francisco Macy’s Union Square 5-7PM

11/11/09 Los Angeles Macy’s Lakewood 5-7PM

Diddy x Ciroc. Diddy will officially be expanding his business role as current 50% equity partner of Ciroc Vodka with liquor company Diageo. Since Diddy’s partnership with the Vodka brand, Ciroc has seen sales increase from 60,000 cases in the first half of 2007 to 400,000 cases during the 2008-2009 period. As a result, Diddy and Ciroc are launching two new flavors of the Vodka line with Diddy maintaining complete creative control and a whopping 50% of all profits. Unlike the majority of artist endorsements where they get paid a flat fee, Diddy is a true equity partner with Ciroc.

We showed you a glimpse of the new Ciroc flavors, coconut and red berry, last week. Expect to see even more aggressive marketing using Diddy’s image and ideas for the new marketing campaign in the near future. People might hate on him these days but there is no denying Diddy is a true marketing hustler and the money keeps rolling in. Via: Bloomberg

DMX goes off on the royalty system used in the music industry. Although everything he is talking about has been a fairly standard system for years and years, he does bring up some good points from an artist perspective. Via: RealTalkNY

Footage of opening day for The Mary J. Blige Center For Women in Yonkers, NY. Mary J. Blige and her foundation FFAWN partners with Westchester Jewish Community Services to create a facility that nurtures the growth and development for women in that area.

Props: RapRadar via BossLady

50 Cent x The 50th Law. The BBC interviews 50 Cent during his “50th Law” book press tour. It gets pretty deep though as 50 covers everything from drug dealer intimidation tactics to his own dealings of growing from hood star to global star.

RZA x Tao of Wu. Aside from promoting his new book RZA also goes into more detail about ODB’s legacy. He seems to really be pushing ODB lately…as if he is setting it all up for some big announcement. Via: MWP

Mark Ronson x Gucci. If Louis Vuitton and Kanye West can do a shoe collaboration, well then so can Gucci and super producer Mark Ronson. Introducing the Gucci Ronson which includes some fancy packaging and a 12-inch vinyl record with tracks selected by Mark Ronson.

The sneakers will be available at “Flash” Gucci pop stores with the first debut at Crosby Street in New York City on October 23rd. The store will open to the public on October 24th and will stay open for 2 weeks. In December the temporary space will move to Miami to coincide with Art Basel Miami and Design Miami and in 2010 the pop-up store will come to London and Tokyo. More pics after the jump…

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