• Redman x Casio limited release G-Shock
• I WANT THAT: Pharrell’s gold-encrusted Casio G-Shock
• Jermaine Dupri Talk So So Def & Nu Pop Movement
• VIDEO: Kanye West‚Äôs G-Shock Performance at Cipriani
• Will.I.Am writing movie about a French sci-fi cartoon

According to the Chicago Tribune, Jacob was sentenced in June 2008 to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for lying to investigators looking into a multi-state drug ring. He was accused of conspiring to launder drug profits for the “BlackMafia Family,” a ring that operated out of the Detroit area from 1990 to 2005.

• 50 Cent’s “Family Day” Causes Feud
• Eminem’s NCAA Final Four “Love Letter to Detroit” video
• 50 Cent on episode of “Gossip Girl”?
• Dr. Dre partners with Best Buy for “Club Beats” retail space
• Diddy to guest appear in “CSI: Miami”

“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.

• VIBE set to relaunch next month with stronger online presence
• 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
• Scott Storch loses his house

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

• VIDEO: Snoop Dogg talks to Forbes about small business
• Def Jam to Advertise on Mariah Carey’s CD Booklets
• VIBE set to relaunch next month with stronger online presence
• Welcome to the new WoooHa, Inc.
• Snoop Dogg takes executive job at Priority Records

I don’t think Lupe Fiasco will be kick pushin’ to this deck anytime soon.

• VIDEO: Lupe Fiasco x Hewlett Packard laptop commercial
• Lupe Fiasco song “Solar Midnite” used in “Twilight: New Moon”
• Video: Lupe Fiasco’s new “Fallacy of Rome” clothing line
• Lupe Fiasco College Tour for The People Speak Documentary
• Lupe Fiasco teams with RSVP Gallery clothing store

If you are a true fan of the four elements of hip-hop then you have to check out one of the tightest books around simply called “Subway Art.” It’s the 25th Anniversary of the book which is still a huge part of the bombing culture to this day. Check out the video hyping up the anniversay of the book.

• Q-Tip to release new book called “Industry Rules”
• Nintendo promotes tagging with WiiSpray
• Wyclef signs book deal with Harper Collins
• City of New York won’t name subway station after Michael Jackson
• Jay-Z finalizes book deal; “Decoded” will reveal lyric secrets

Travis Barker x Famous Stars & Straps. Mr. Barker has cross over into the hip-hop world quite well. He was on a track with The Game and he’s currently working on a track with Busta Rhymes for the Transformers 2 movie soundtrack as well. But now Travis has really paid the ultimate homage to hip-hop with this limited edition fully functioning Famous Stars & Straps ghetto blaster. Cop it now for $250 from Dr. Jays and be as cool as these guys…or at least cooler than the kid in the jean jacket and yellow shirt.

• Lil Jon endorses Famous Stars & Straps clothing line
• Limited Edition Cool Kids x Famous Stars & Straps Tee
• Busta Rhymes & Travis Barker recording for “Transformers 2″
• Travis Barker and DJ AM recovering from plane crash
• The official RIP Ol Dirty Bastard varsity jacket

Format has a great interview with pro skater Stevie Williams who is the posterboy for skating and hip-hop. His deals with music include mixtapes, a website with Interscope Records and a series of MC tribute skatedecks to fallen MCs like Pac, Eazy-E and B.I.G. shown here designed by DGK.

• Jay-Z, Pharrell, others release limited Barack Obama tees
• Diddy leaves Bad Boy records jumps to Interscope
• Bun B, Scarface, BG to star in online quiz games
• Jermaine Dupri launches official TAG Records site
• Def Jam to Advertise on Mariah Carey’s CD Booklets