T.I. x Ford. Looks like T.I. lost a lot more than his freedom and studio time due to his recent stint in prison and home arrest. According to a recent report by Billboard, T.I. lost over $12 million in endorsement deals largely due to Ford dropping him as a sponsor. Looks like heavy artillery gun charges and the U.S. auto industry don’t mix as Ford was able to drop T.I. due to a “moral” clause in his contract. Apparently these “moral” clauses are all the rage with celebrity endorsement deals (ahem Tiger Woods) and their iffy off camera behavior. But of course it will be the hit singles that will cause people to forgive and forget.

“Sometimes, you could be just a couple of hits away from redemption,” says Camille Hackney, Atlantic’s senior VP brand partnerships and commercial licensing. “Success makes people forget.”

Things look good for T.I. on the future endorsement front though. He has served his due time, done community service, has another movie coming up and has vowed to be more of an example to the youth out there. If he does what he says, the companies will come running back to him as he is one of the few artists out there that maintains true cross over appeal.

T.I. x Twitter. Fans across the globe were going loco over the fact that T.I. officially opened a “verified account” @tip with Twitter shortly after serving his prison sentence. Even his girl Tiny was all about it. After Lil Wayne’s recent Twitter push and then news of this, we automatically speculated that something was going on here and that possibly the Twitter execs got their hands on T.I. as well. Turns out we were wrong…it’s not the Twitter execs pushing T.I. to have an account, it’s the label execs. At least they were open about it so we can make sure not to expect daily Tweets from T.I.’s life.

“He’s not into Twitter,” says his spokesman, “but it’s what we use to alert people.”

More like the label will use it to alert people. This just brings up an interesting point though on how effective Twitter really is as a marketing tool. Do people really care about T.I. updates via Twitter through the label? Imagine how much more effective his account would be if it was T.I. who doing the actual updating…at least get a ghost-Twitterer…hottest job in America right now. Via: Rap-Up

UPDATE: The fine PR folks at Akoo have just released the following statement in regards to the controversy surrounding this outdoor billboard ad:

“The AKOO brand has always aimed to inspire individualism and creativity. Our advertising campaign was not created to offend or insult anyone but to simply provoke dialogue and thought regarding male/female sexuality within urban culture,” the company said as it alluded to exposing more sides of the brand in future promotions. We hope that as more of the campaign is debuted, people will see the multifaceted personality of AKOO.”

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T.I. x Akoo. Hip-hop artists love to take it to the extreme when marketing their fashion lines. Diddy has pushed the envelop many times with his racy Sean John ads but has managed to get by. Now looks like it’s T.I. and his Akoo fashion line facing the heat.

Apparently their billboard ad in Newark is causing quite the controversy where it shows a woman on her knees pulling a guys’ jeans down. Controversy? What controversy? Peep the video for more. Via: RapRadar

T.I. x AKOO x Casio. Just in time for his release from jail/house arrest, T.I. and his AKOO Clothing line have partnered with Casio for the official AKOO G-Shock Chronograph. The watch is set to release in stores March 15th and is AKOO’s first step into accessories.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to collaborate with G-Shock. The AKOO edition is an extension to their consistent track record. We can’t wait for our AKOO family and customers to get their hands on it” stated AKOO prez Jason Geter.

The watch will be priced at $180 and is limited to 1,ooo pieces so make sure to get yours fast once they hit the streets. Check out the exclusive packaging the G-Shock comes with after the jump.

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T.I. x AKOO. Tip still might be serving his time but his clothing line AKOO is still moving forward as they ride the economic waves in hopes of expanding their fashion line. VIBE took a camera crew inside their offices to get some insight on future plans with the AKOO creative director. Via: Nah Right

T.I. x Chris Brown x Takers. After taking a look at the U.S. version of the Takers trailer (after the jump) which was released back in October of 2009, it’s obvious that T.I. and Chris Brown get some major credit and screen time alongside full-time actors like Paul Walker and Suck-Ass Vader Hayden Christensen. Easy to see that Screen Gems is using them to push “urban” but still have Walker and Christensen to broaden the appeal as well.

Now take a look at the new International trailer of Takers shown above. If you happen to be a T.I. or Chris Brown fan you will notice one thing…they are taken out. Sure you can hear T.I. in the voice over but the majority of shots of both of them from the U.S. trailer are completely taken out and their screen credits are completely gone.

Now before we all go screaming “RACIST!!!” remember that marketing is about appealing to your target demo and in regards to international appeal, T.I. and Chris Brown just are not as appealing as some white dudes who can’t act. That’s the sad part. Take a look though, compare and see for yourself. Once again…U.S. trailer shown after the jump….

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T.I. x Chris Brown x Takers. WoooHa has the exclusive first look pics of T.I., Chris Brown and the rest of the cast of the upcoming action crime thriller Takers (trailer here). Although we have received some backlash from the hardcore CB fans for not supporting this film we actually DO support it…but because of Mr. Clifford Harris who we respect as an actor and a musician. Check more pics after the jump…

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Yea we posted this trailer for Takers starring T.I. and Chris Brown as big time bank robbers back in September but now Sony has released the full HD version. You might notice on our site that Sony Screen Gems has already been aggressively marketing Takers online even though it still doesn’t hit theaters until February 26th, 2010. Expect more updates directly from Screen Gems to us here at WoooHa.

VH-1 focuses on the currently incarcerated T.I. and his rise to fame starting as a kid from Atlanta. The episode airs on October 8th. Check after the jump for another preview video as well…

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And now here is the official trailer. Yes with more Chris Brown and T.I. You will notice it’s mostly Clifford in the trailer though…

Yes Chris Brown fans…you can rejoice and prove Yeti wrong. Sony Screen Gems has just released the official movie poster to Takers and has decided to keep CB in the marketing material. Yes…so all five of you Chris Brown fans can rejoice. Don’t forget…movie also stars T.I. What do you think of the movie poster?

I’m sure some of you raced home to see the premiere episode of this. If you didn’t well here it is. See what Tiny is doing while her man T.I. is locked up and Toya is taking care of her son…whose dad is Lil Wayne. Note to BET…subtitles might be necessary for future episodes with them think accents. Here is the first episode in all its glory.

T.I. x AKOO. T.I. might be headed to the slammer soon but he definitely got his AKOO clothing line in order before hand. TIP has personally been involved in the design and layout of the new AKOO website which now features a full online store, look book, music videos and an upcoming blog. We have always been supporters including dropping the exclusive first look at his line before it launched. Check out the new AKOO site and see for yourself.

T.I. x Takers (AKA Bone Deep). Rap Radar recently did an interview with T.I. where he stars and produces in the upcoming action film Takers (formerly Bone Deep) which also stars Chris Brown. In the interview, Rap Radar asks T.I. directly to comment on our WoooHa story of CB being erased from the marketing in the movie. T.I. replies:

Nah man, that can‚Äôt be further from the truth. There‚Äôs no validity to that statement. I‚Äôm a producer on the movie and I ain‚Äôt put forth no sort of order or request man. And personally, it‚Äôs very, very premature to jump to such a conclusion given that none of these matters have been resolved. No one has been tried or convicted or nothing like that. I‚Äôm not going to jump to no conclusions. I‚Äôm not going to. I think that‚Äôs unfair ’cause that‚Äôs what people did with me, and I‚Äôm not going to do that.

Yeti says: All I have to say is that my sources were legit and my story ran when CB was in the total dog house, before he reconciled with Rihanna, and when the media was ripping him. So at that time I was told, yes they were talking about a Chris Brown contingency plan with the marketing. But now? Well now he’s in the studio recording songs with Rihanna, taking trips with her, etc. He’s safe again. So of course they are going to deny everything and say these talks never happened. That’s all. I’m done with this story now. And here is my plug for Screen Gems…Takers hits theaters Jan 8, 2010. Peace.

T.I. x Road to Redemption. MTV has released a couple of deleted scenes from T.I.’s current MTV show “Road to Redemption.” Both of these scenes were origianlly from tonight’s episode. Epsiode airs tonight on MTV at 9:30pm. Let me know what you guys think of the show so far. Check out the second deleted scene after the jump. Continue Reading…