Apparently Jermaine Dupri has become the go-to guy when it comes to talking about bloggin and beats with the mainstream audience. Not only was he on a news panel about blogging and Twittering for CNN but here is video of him as a key panelist at the annual Blog World Expo. At least get Eskay or the Rap Radar folks in there next time. Via: MakingtheMogul
Are you a fan of Jermaine Dupri’s blog Global 14? Did you know he had a blog?
Lil Jon x The Official Soundboard. After the big time success of T-Pain’s iPhone app it was only a matter of time before we saw this. Lil Jon has officially launched his own iPhone app called “The Official Soundboard” which basically just plays famous Lil Jon soundbites.
Press a specific phrase on the app (as shown from the screen shot above) and you get Lil Jon’s trademark voice. The sounds include the 17 phrases shown in the screen shot. Not bad considering it’s only $0.99 and at least it could be mildly entertaining for a few minutes. The app is currently available on iTunes.
CNN gave a special report about the power of social media and networking with a panel of “experts” including Jermaine Dupri. Of course JD spent most of the interview Twittering on his cellphone. Classic.
Alicia Keys x AK Worldwide. In this interview with the Associated Press, Alicia Keys talks strictly business as she announced the launch of her business company AK Worldwide (not to be mistaken with Prestige Worldwide…bonus points for those who know what I’m talkin bout). Under AK Worldwide Keys will be launching her own jewelry line called The Barber’s Daughters which includes inspiring messages engraved in each piece as shown below. The other part of AK Worldwide will be Keys’ first venture into the online space with the launch of IAMSUPERWOMAN.COM. The site will focus on bringing positive messages to the blogosphere.
“I felt there’s a missing piece in the blog world that allows you to have a really, inspiring positive experience. We don’t have to tear each other down to have a good time… It really calls out to all those brilliant, amazing, fantastic women every day that are doing their thing and need kind of a community to support each other.”
The site will be launched December 1st with her next album. Pretty safe to say it’s going to be heavy on the whole “woman power” angle. With the launch of AK Worldwide though it’s clear Keys is thinking beyond the music and finally beginning to see establish herself as a brand. She also still maintains her film production company with Disney called Big Pita, Little Pita Productions. See pics of Alicia Keys’ jewelry collection after the jump. Via: RapRadar
Kid Cudi x Hip Hop All Star. Cudi lends a helping hand to promote the Hip Hop All Star iPhone app which is a DJ pad scratch based game but with some serious backers including DJ Green Lantern. The app is now available on the iTunes store.
We all know basketball players want to be rappers and rappers want to be basketball players but this is getting a little crazy. Carmelo Anthony has just launched a social networking site that sounds VERY similar to an existing hip-hop artist’s social networking site.
Yea…Melo has named his new website ThisIsMelo.com which is not to be confused with ThisIs50.com but the actual site is pretty different. If only there was some more creativity behind the name…something like MeloManAce.com or MeloDrama.com Via: The RapUp
Surprised the folks at Twitter didn’t try and get Diddy to do this…wait they did. They just couldn’t afford to pay Diddy enough to do it. Well Fabolous has just revealed (over Twitter of course) that he has been filming for a reality TV show the past couple of days which will take viewers into the day-in-the-life of a busy of a busy entertainer. Some how though Twitter will be involved as Fab claims they are “onboard” for the show.
No word yet on the name of the show or who it is currently being shopped out to. Having Twitter onboard might seem like a gimmick but it adds credibility and separates it from the rest of the countless hip-hop reality shows that have yet to find a TV network to pick it up. Check Fab’s Twitter messages after the jump…..
Love him or hate him Dame Dash always keeps popping up in the latest hip-hop business news for his new ventures. Once a hustler…always a hustler. Personally, WoooHa feels Dame Dash still has plenty to offer the hip-hop world as we await his Blac Roc project and new film with Mos Def. Unfortunately WoooHa has exclusively learned that Dame’s biggest internet project to date, BlockSavvy.com is now dead.
If Wayne is king of the mix tape, then MC Hammer is king of Twitter and Facebook. Think that might be a stretch? Well of all the celebs and artists who use social media (including Diddy and his millions of Twitter followers), it was MC Hammer who was invited to speak at Harvard University as part of the Gravity Summit which focuses on educating entrepreneurs and marketing experts of how to make the most use of social media outlets.
At the recent conference Hammer stated ““I’m both an entrepreneur and a brand. Being in the center of my universe is important to me. That’s what Twitter lets me do…I want to get out in front of the conversation.’’
Hammer has recently resurrected his career where he previously lost millions in bad investments and declared bankruptcy. But with his recent resurgence in popularity on sites like Twitter and his hit A&E reality show, the Hammer brand is looking stronger than ever. Well maybe not gold parachute pants strong…but he’s still in a pretty good place now.
Diddy x Twitter. We ALL know Diddy loves him some Twitter (or at least his assistants forced to post on his account do). His celeb status and constant pushing of his IAMDIDDY Twitter account have been worth millions in free publicity for the internet site and his over 1.7 million followers are further proof of that.
So according to recent leaked documents from Twitter Corporate, the company actually was working on a plan to hire Diddy as a company advisor with an equity deal “in exchange for help on crafting an entertainment and marketing strategy in April.” The deal of course never went through as Diddy felt the deal was undervalued for his services. And so there you have it. Imagine how Diddy-ized Twitter would have become if the deal DID go through…you suddenly would be forced to add Cassie Ventura as a friend in order to access your account.
In this spoof video Common plays the role of Ethan Hawke in Training Day while Christopher Mintz-Plasse (AKA McLovin) plays the role of badass Alonzo. No idea why this video was made but it’s pretty amusing. Common sure loves the spoof videos these days.
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
Ladies and gentlemen of the WoooHa World…as our site continues to gain traffic, readers and credibility (we have recently shown up everywhere from Rolling Stone to Gizmodo) the time has come for us to expand. Usually when the words “expand” and “expansion” comes up we think of that 10th member of the Wu-Tang Clan (Cappawho?) or The Memphis Grizzlies…two things we want to erase from our minds.
Fortunately for us and you, our loyal readers, we are bringing on one of the best and brightest up-and- coming hip-hop marketing minds around to help us find that hip-hop marketing/business info. that you guys come to expect from us.
Edwin St. Fort, Diddy’s former marketing & advertising intern at Blue Flame Marketing (Diddy’s marketing company) brings a fresh new take at the industry having seen first hand the Diddy x Ciroc deal come to life along with keeping up with the newest trends in hip-hop in regards to business and advertising.
Edwin will be contributing on a regular basis so please welcome him aboard! In the meantime, Yeti and crew will still be plugging away as we get set for the next phase of WoooHa world domination. Ok…but yea we got some things planned in the near future so continue to look out in the next coming weeks or so. Until then…thanks to all our loyal WoooHa Warriors out there and keep the tips, comments and info. rolling in! We appreciate it all!
Thanks,
Scott Yeti and the WoooHa Team
Twitter continues to be the go-to method for hip-hop stars around the globe to announce their latest contests, exclusives, etc. Now The Game is going this route as he has just announced a contest for a new rap group he is forming called The Goon Squad. Let’s hear it straight from him:
“IM STARTIN A WORLDWIDE SEARCH 4 THE DOPEST MCS MALE & FEMALE 2 FORM MY NEW GROUP ‘THE GOON SQUAD,’” today (July 15th).
“SEND ALL MUSIC 2 MYGOONSQUAD@GMAIL.COMThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it RT
DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE 3 PHOTOS OF YOURSELF & YOUR BEST RECORD OR FREESTYLE. YOU GOT 1 SHOT ! ALL DEMOS & MUSIC WILL BE LISTENED TO “ONCE.”
“ARE YOU READY TO BE A GOON ??? IF SO, FOLLOW @THAGOONSQUAD & GET READY CUZ YOU ONLY GET “ONE SHOT” !!!! LOCK THE F%^& IN & RETWEET THIS…& FOR EVERYONE THAT SENDS MUSIC TO MYGOONSQUAD@GMAIL.COM
Yea you get the picture. So wanna be a goon with The Game? You know what to do. Twitter about it. Via: Drew Reports
IT’s FRIDAY!!!
-What the hell does Pharrell have on his feet? (BrokenCool)
-Justin Timberlake in running to play the Green Lantern (SlashFilm)
-Ghostface Killah to save music with Soul album (The Rap Up)
-Hertz Rental to rent out Lotus speedsters (Luxist)
-Mike Shinoda’s new art exhibit in Los Angeles (Hypebeast)
Subscribe
