“Beyonce has asked her representatives to persuade Disney to develop the show into a film vehicle for her. If this comes to pass, she would take on, in musical form, the part Whoopi Goldberg creates in the 1992 ‘Sister Act’ film, although the stage version moves the action from the West Coast to Philadelphia.”

The remake wouldn’t be scheduled until 2011. This could actually be a good move for Beyonce although Whoopi has one thing B has yet to develop….strong comedic timing. If anyone wants to argue with me on that then bring it. No…Obsessed was not a comedy. Via: DrewReports

• Video: Trailer to Jim Jones’ musical (not a joke)
• Kid Sister models for street wear company Married to the Mob
• L.A. hip-hop movement flick “This Is the Life” on DVD
• Jim Jones wants hip-hop to go Broadway and stage plays
• Album cover to “Cadillac Records” movie w/ Beyonce

When asked about working with Eminem, Apatow told MTV “I was scared to pitch jokes to him then I realized his songs are as nasty as anything that has ever been spoken. There is no way to offend him.” MTV also has the first pic shown here….

• Judd Apatow says Diddy is funny
• Eminem in Judd Apatow movie “Funny People”
• VIDEO: RZA in “Funny People” TV ads
• RZA gets movie role in Judd Apatow comedy “Funny People”
• Alicia Keys wants break from music to focus on acting career

Rumors have gone around from Tyrese, Ice Cube and recently Common was rumored to be a lock for the role. But now BlackFilm is reporting that The Game is intense talks with the filmmakers to take on the role of B.A. Since Common just took on his first leading role in the film Just Right, word is he might not have the time to take on the B.A. role as well.

This leaves The Game, who has a much smaller film resume but did star alongside Common in Street Kingsand definitely brings a tough rugged appeal that a modern day B.A. might have. It’s pretty obvious at this point that whoever gets the role, B.A. will most likely be a hip-hop artist so the filmmakers can capitolize and getting the urban demo to the theaters. Stay tuned for more…

• Upcoming Big Daddy Kane documentary sponsored by Scion
• WORD ON THE STREET: Common still IS NOT Green Lantern
• Common as B.A. Baracus in A-Team movie almost locked
• Common officially NOT the Green Lantern in Justice League movie
• Common lands first starring role in comedy “Just Right”

• Make your own Kanye West paper doll bear
• J. Dilla x Shepard Fairey limited edition print
• Beyonce’s new Samantha Thavasa ad is all legs
• The “Yeezy” fitted cap
• VIDEO: Adidas Run DMC beatboxing ad

“I’m trying to buy my magazine back now,” Quincy told EbonyJet.com in a Tuesday phone call. “They just messed my magazine all up, but I’m gonna get it back. You better believe it, I’m’a take it online because print and all that stuff is over.”

“We gotta get into the 21st century you know,” he added. “Print and all that stuff is over, we gotta remember that. The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Post Intelligencer. The Miami Herald. They’re over the same way as the record business. We have got to get into this century.”

We will keep you updated as to if Quincy will be able to do what he says here and save the online portion of VIBE. Nice to know an old-schooler in the game recognizes the importance of online. Hey Mr. Jones….there is another website you might want to buy. It’s called WoooHa.com.

• Video: Trailer to Jim Jones’ musical (not a joke)
• Notorious B.I.G. Vibe cover shoot recreated for movie
• New Sean John Spring/Summer 2009 ad campaign w/ Nelly
• Scratch: The Ultimate DJ video game
• Jim Jones is back but his Nostic clothing line is not

According to Luxist, the glove was consigned by its designer Ted Shell who went on the Victory Tour to protect and maintain the glove which is covered with bugle beads, Austrian crystal rhinestones and fitted with 50 small lights which were powered by a nine-volt battery in the cuff. After the tour Jackson gave Shell one of the gloves and kept the other. The current auction house estimates the value at $60,000 to $80,000, but it could sell for much more given MJ’s recent passing.

• Pics of Death Row Records items up for auction
• Russell Simmons celebrates Sponge Bob with $75K chain
• Exclusive preview of Clipse’s Play Cloths clothing line
• PICS: Beyonce’s Crystal Geyser Water ad campaign
• Alicia Keys & Jack White new James Bond song is here

• VIDEO: 50 Cent’s new video inspired by Phillips Electronics ad
• New Kidz in the Hall video is basically a 4 min. Reebok commercial
• 50 Cent dropped from movie after one week
• 50 Cent to release “Before I Self Destruct” movie w/ album
• Smell like 50 Cent with his new “Power by 50 Cent” Cologne

• Pics of Death Row Records items up for auction
• A look at the contestants in Ray J’s new VH1 reality show
• Dame Dash’s wife Rachel Roy might save the family
• Lupe Fiasco’s Fall of Rome Nike Air Force 1’s
• Video: Lupe Fiasco’s new “Fallacy of Rome” clothing line

• Queen Latifah to guest star in “Sesame Street”
• VIDEO: Official trailer to “Run’s House” Season 6
• Talib Kweli stars in animated “Blokhedz” show
• 50 Cent talks A-Rod, Plaxico, Kobe vs. LeBron on ESPN News
• Jimmy Fallon & The Roots “Slow Jam” the news

It is with a heavy heart that I share some tough news, VMG is closing down effective today, June 30th.

It’s been an 16 incredible years since VIBE’s inception. There are very few magazines with the richness of history and breadth of talented visionaries who created the powerful lens in which VIBE viewed and shaped urban music and culture.

Ever since I first set foot in this courageous company, I’ve regarded myself as incredibly fortunate to be be involved with this remarkable brand and group of individuals whose performance has never been nothing short of outstanding. We finished 2008 in an improved position versus the prior year, and accomplished so much, including:

    * Editorial Awards
    * Editorial transformation into content dept
    * New Ad accounts being broken
    * The Most Mag Launch
    * Award winning re-design
    * Profitable digital operation
    * VIBE.com growth and improvements and programs such as  Best Rapper Ever,  #1 Stan, etc
    * Mobile VIBE  launch
    * Micro-site development Mostmag.com to start off.       
    * V Sessions
    * Improved PR coverage

Unfortunately, over the last several months, a confluence of events has obviously posed VMG to exceedingly serious challenges.

    * The collapse of the capital markets has impacted us greatly.  Over the past several months, we have actively pursued investment resources while working intensively with our bank to find a solution. But the deal market right now remains very poor and at the end of the day, the lack of investment resources to restructure the huge debt on our small company has made this outcome become a reality.

    * The print advertising collapse hit VIBE hard, especially as key ad categories like automotive and fashion, which represented the bulk of our top 10 advertisers, have stopped advertising or gone out of business. It’s also unfortunate that in a recession many companies reduce the multi-cultural campaigns. These facts, coupled with the continuing decline of the music industry not to mention the newsstand wholesaler consolidation in early 2009 all negatively impacted our business in a significant way.

 * The relentless economic situation has depressed our growth initiatives on the digital front. To be clear, VMG has made significant improvement in this part of our business, but not at the accelerated pace required to offset the devastating effects of the most severe recession in our lifetime and the accompanying print losses.

I want to thank you all for your hard work and commitment, and for all of the adventures along the way. I’ll miss this place a lot, but I’ll miss you all and the magic you create.

Vibe will be remembered as a shockingly brilliant content company that everyone can be proud of and I look forward with great excitement to all of future endeavors you all pursue.

With great affection and respect –

Steve Aaron

former CEO of VIBE Media Group
On behalf the VIBE CONTENT staff (the best in this business), it is with great sadness, and with heads held high, that we leave the building today. We were assigning and editing a Michael Jackson tribute issue when we got the news. It’s a tragic week in overall, but as the doors of VIBE Media Group close, on the eve of the magazine’s sixteenth anniversary, it’s a sad day for music, for hip hop in particular, and for the millions of readers and users who have loved and who continue to love the VIBE brand. We thank you, we have served you with joy, pride and excellence, and we will miss you. —Danyel Smith

• Welcome to the new WoooHa, Inc.
• Video: Vibe photo shoot in new “Notorious” video diary
• Video: Soulja Boy Yums Shoe line TV ad
• 50 Cent launches dietary supplement business
• Lil Wayne’s Halo Champagne another victim of Recession

Our insiders say Diddy and team are currently focusing on the new mens and boys line first with the challenge of keeping ENYCE’s trademark style but with some new Diddy style as well. Purpose is for ENYCE to become another brand extension of Sean Combs, Co. which is Diddy’s official apparel company name but maintain a distinct style separate from Sean John.

The strategy makes sense as a way for Diddy’s empire to further expand. Check the exclusive new ENYCE logo here and it’s pretty obvious that Diddy wants the world to know who runs ENYCE now. Next phase is a complete website relaunch which we will have for you in the coming months.

NEW LOGO

OLD LOGO

• Diddy officially buys Enyce clothing line from Liz Claiborne
• Diddy’s new “I am the Black American Dream” tee
• More Christian Combs (AKA Little Diddy) Sean John ads
• Diddy is looking for the new face of Sean John
• Nelly is new Sean John Underwear Spokesmodel

• Chef Raekwon appearance for new t-shirt design
• Mos Def designs tee for UNDRCRWN
• Pharrell gets into laptop gear business
• Kanye West kills rumors that his clothing line will be sold at Wet Seal
• Fergie finally launches shoe line called Fergie Shoes

• Video: Ludacris’ official “Theater of Mind” album commercial
• Jay-Z’s new Artful Dodger fall collection now available
• Video: Lupe Fiasco’s new “Fallacy of Rome” clothing line
• Lupe Fiasco teams up w/ Greedy Genius for sneaker design
• VIDEO: Lupe talks about his clothing line Trilly & Truly

• Kanye’s entire Louis Vuitton shoe line pics
• VIDEO: Kanye West x Louis Vuitton video shoot
• Air Yeezy: Beyond the Hype video
• Nike Air Yeezys rumored at $310
• New shots of Nike Air Yeezys

There is no indication of when the beer deal will be struck, but it will most likely focus on pushing Guinness and Red Stripe further with the African-American beer drinker and the hip-hop/urban lifestyle consumers as well. Once we hear more you know we will have the full story. It makes sense for Diageo though as they firmly believe their investment in Diddy on the Ciroc deal has been worth it and hopefully Diddy can extend the brand equity of Guinness and Red Stripe in the same manner.

• Master P launches plus-size women’s fashion line “Miller Peaches”
• Diddy plays Sinatra in new Ciroc Vodka ad
• Ciroc Vodka website revamped by Diddy
• Ciroc’s new drink called “The Diddy”
• Liquor companies continue aggressive marketing with hip-hop industry

• Preview of Mos Def’s new UNDRCRWN clothing line
• Mos Def launches own clothing line
• State Property x Undrcrwn Tees
• Asher Roth’s updated UNDRCRWN “College” clothing line
• A look at the entire UNDRCRWN “Mos Def Collection”

• Raekwon teams with Crooks & Castles for exclusive book pack
• VIDEO: Raekwon does ad for Carlyle Motor Club
• Video: Wu-Tang x Fila TV ad with Wu-Tang kids
• Chef Raekwon appearance for new t-shirt design
• Video: The Game shows off his car collection