50 CENT LAUNCHES DYNAMIC PERFUME "POWER"!

Entertainment artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, 50 Cent, debuts his first fragrance, Power by fifty cent this month. Strong, masculine and powerful, the scent is composed of a tonic freshness built with green citrus fruity notes juxtaposed against a musky, woody background. The scent evokes both the grittiness of 50 Cent’s origins and the heady rush that accompanied his rise to power.

Power by fifty cent will be available exclusively at Macy’s stores nationwide, beginning on November 5th. In honor of the launch, 50 Cent will be making appearances at five select Macy's, starting in New York City’s Macy’s Herald Square. Consumers will have the chance to meet and take a picture with 50 Cent and be the first to purchase the new fragrance.

Photo: Lighthouse Beauty

Below is the schedule of his appearances:

Thursday, November 5th Herald Square, NYC 5:00–7:00pm
Saturday, November 7th Perimeter, Atlanta 12:00–2:00pm
Monday, November 9th State Street, Chicago 12:00–2:00 pm
Tuesday, November 10th Union Square, San Francisco 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, November 11th Lakeside, California 5:00– 7:00 pm

Here is what Kristin Larson of PEOPLE magazine has to say.......

"Looking buffer than ever, 50 Cent is gearing up to launch his newest men’s fragrance, Power by Fifty Cent — and he’s giving PEOPLE readers an exclusive sneak peek at the ultra-sexy new campaign. “For me, power isn’t just something you learn on the street or in the boardroom — it’s a way of life,” says the rags-to-riches multiplatinum star. So just what does Power smell like? The masculine fragrance mixes notes like lemon leaves, black pepper, coriander and nutmeg—which all adds up, according to 50, to a whiff of success. “I really wanted to bottle up the rush it gives you so my fans can make it a part of their lifestyle,” he explains in a release."

Power by Fifty Cent launches exclusively at Macy’s Nov. 5, with prices ranging from $50.50 (for a 1.7 oz. eau de toilette) to $68.50 (for a two-piece gift set of eau de toilette and after shave)

Thanks to Maggie Kinnealy of 50's PR firm for putting my bottle in the FEDEX mail. Can't wait to splash it on the boys. You know my sons are 23, 18 and 9. My baby KJ already wears Chanel for men. LOL! So now the teacher will smell something new.....

WHO ARE THE WORLD'S BEST PAID MUSIC STARS IN fORBES MAGAZINE?

If the perennial rumours about the death of the music business are true, nobody's told the Police. Or Beyoncé. Or Madonna.

Indeed, though there's no denying music's old business model has taken a massive hit in recent years—blame it on piracy, the Web or the advent of the recordable CD—there's still plenty of money to be made in the music industry.

In fact, the 10 stars on our list of the world's top-earning musicians raked in a combined US$500 million between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008, thanks in large part to lucrative tours, endorsement contracts and all-encompassing deals. (Hip-hop stars have been ranked separately.) Now see the list.

MCGANGSTA: BANKRUPT TONIGHT SHOW SIDEKICK ED MCMAHON IS NOW A RAPPER!

Ed McMahon has an unexpected new job title: rapper.

The 85-year-old former Tonight Show sidekick will star in two viral rap videos for FreeCreditReport.com, a financial website owned by credit bureau Experian. The videos feature McMahon wearing a tracksuit, being chauffeured around Los Angeles in a Cadillac Escalade golf cart and waxing lyrical about his very public financial troubles.

"I knew I could sing the blues, but I didn't know I could rap," McMahon said Wednesday.

The videos will appear online in October.

Charles Harris, FreeCreditReport.com's vice president of strategic marketing, said the company sought out McMahon to star in the humorous spots after seeing him openly discuss his finances on Larry King Live. Harris said McMahon represents "a man who is taking charge."

In the first video, McMahon — who once pitched the American Family Publishing sweepstakes — and a bodyguard are cruising through a neighborhood looking for sweepstakes winners to ask for some money back, but McMahon doesn't actually go through with it. In the second spot, McMahon dons a new suit after undergoing a financial and emotional makeover.

"When I retired, I was famous," McMahon raps in the video. "I had money and glory/I bought a house for 6 mill/I thought nothing could touch me/Until my credit went south, and debt started to crunch me/Next thing I know, instead of playing gin rummy, I was scrambling just to make ends meet/It wasn't funny."

After being joined by two scantily clad women, McMahon continues: "Got a bump from the media chumps, but that was temporary/Wife with bad credit was scary, so I got wise/I may have fallen, but I got back up/Now I'm back on the attack, like a ninja swinging nunchucks/I told the haters, 'Go on, take a hike'/It's my show now, and I can do what I like." Read more....

Ed, You go boy!

NELLY EXPANDS HIS BUSINESS EMPIRE.

Rapper NELLY is adding property developer to his already packed resume, after launching a new project in his hometown of St Louis, Missouri. The superstar already owns Vokal clothing for men and Applebottoms for women, as well as a range of energy drinks - and now he is venturing into the hospitality industry.

He tells TheBoomBox.com, "This development company that I have back home, I’ve purchased a city block in downtown St. Louis. I have an new sports bar called Skybox." But Nelly insists he's not quite ready to challenge hip-hop heavyweight and business mogul Jay-Z, who has a chain of 40/40 bars. The Hot in Herre star adds, "You know it’s not a 40/40, more like a 20/20 you know, but just tryin' to stay busy."

Did you see him last nite on Leno? I got a bit of it. My boy Akon looked like three's a crowd in there with his gal Ashanti grinding her bootey on him! LOL! That up there is Beyonce's new house under construction.

FLORIDA RAPPER BIG G RECORDS SOUND TRACK TO HIP-HOP LITERACY CAMPAIGN.

Florida rapper Big G has recorded the Hiphop and Books theme song. The song is called "I'm Not The Same." It's a very good track and I give it 5 stars!

Here is the download link: http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=789270&da=y

and check out the HIPHOP AND BOOKS site: http://www.hiphopandbooks.com

WHAT HAPPENED? ESTELLE'S U.S. SALES SUFFER AFTER ITUNES REMOVAL!!

British singer/rapper ESTELLE has suffered a massive blow to the U.S. sales of her hit single AMERICAN BOY, after record label executives removed her album SHINE from digital download service iTunes. The move by the star's bosses at Warner Music Group was aimed at forcing fans into record stores to purchase a CD version of the album - released earlier this year (08) - instead of individual songs. But American Boy has now slipped down the U.S. Billboard singles chart, falling from 11 to number 37 after her LP was made unavailable on the iTunes website.

The Kanye West-featured track, which topped the charts in both the U.S. and U.K. when it was released, has also taken a blow on the Billboard download chart, plummeting from number six to 59 in a matter of days. A Warner spokesman tells the Wall Street Journal the move was made as part of a broad range of strategies "uniquely tailored to each artist and their fanbase in an effort to optimise revenues and promote long-term artist development". Estelle's representative has yet to comment on the reports.

Bad move Warner! My fave record label too. I-Tunes have never sold a CD in their lives but are closing in on $8 billion in sales this Christmas. This digital download phenomenom is driving labels nuts but I personally feel they should have her album in both places. Estelle is performing here agin in October and I am trying to interview her this time as you know the other two times, my schedule clashed!.

SALE OF DEATH ROW RECORDS ON HOLD!!

LATEST: The sale of MARION 'SUGE' KNIGHT's Death Row Records has been put on hold - after the potential new owners failed to pay the remaining $22 million. Susan Berg's New York-incorporated Global Music Group Inc. purchased the failing firm at auction in June (08) - seeing off competition from music industry heavyweights Warner Music Group to pick up the company Knight founded in 1991. But in court documents filed in New York on Friday (22Aug08), it emerged Global Music Group Inc. has not paid the full amount for the company.

Global Music's bankruptcy lawyer Kathleen March insists the two companies continue to negotiate the sale, blaming the delay on recent press reports that they made the purchase unlawfully. Global Music bosses claim they will close the transaction within a few weeks with help from an unnamed publicly traded company to fund the $22 million it still owes for Death Row, reports the New York Post. Knight and Death Row filed for bankruptcy in April 2006, listing $137 million in debt and just $4.4 million in assets.

BOUT TIME: SNOOP DOGG MOVES INTO FASHION.

Rap superstar SNOOP DOGG is following in the footsteps of SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS and JAY-Z, by launching his own clothing line. The first Rich & Infamous designs will be shown off at this week's Magic fashion trade show in Las Vegas. Snoop plans to promote the line by plugging it in his songs and on merchandise, and showing it off on his reality TV show Snoop Dogg's Father Hood. He even plans to stage fashion shows at gigs on his forthcoming world tour, reports Daily Variety.

Start with some of that HOT Indian Tunic!

LUDACRIS AIMS TO GET BLACK KIDS INTO BASEBALL THROUGH RAP MUSIC.

Rapper LUDACRIS is crusading to get hip-hop fans into baseball. The Disturbing Tha Peace label boss has teamed up with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim star Torii Hunter to create a new online competition for budding rappers to create a theme song for the slugger. Hunter says, "Ludacris and I were sitting around and thinking of ways to get urban kids into baseball, and one was through music." Hunter will promote the initiative by stepping up to the plate at upcoming Angels baseball games as tracks submitted to the WeMix.com competition are played over stadium sound systems

HIP-HOP MOGUL JERMAINE DUPRI CLOSES RESTAURANT AND LEFT EMPLOYEES WITH BOUNCED CHECKS?

Jermaine Dupri’s Buckhead restaurant, Cafe Dupri, closed its doors for good last week. According to WSB-TV Atlanta, the restaurant’s employees were left without paychecks or jobs. Workers had complained for weeks about bounced checks and bank notices of insufficient funds.

Some employees came to work even after utilities were shut off recently. Jermaine Dupri’s mother, Tina Mauldin, told Channel 2 Actions News Atlanta the restaurant closing was a “business decision”. She also took a swipe at her former employees, saying maybe if the employees had worked harder, Cafe Dupri would still be open. Above is JD and his daughter Shaniah.

Listen to some employees tell their side of the story here.

Why is a business owner blaming the employees for the closing. I would have fired them and hired new ones and not close my eatery?

MASTER P STARTING A BETTER BLACK TV CHANNEL FOR BLACKS!

Percy Miller (formerly Master P) announces the launch of Better Black Television (BBTV) a family friendly network that will provide positive content for a black and brown culture that will appeal to all races with a goal to bring people of color a choice when turning on their television. The content on the channel will contain a wide arrangement from health and fitness, animation, financial planning, reality TV, sitcoms, dramas, movies, responsible hip-hop music and videos, politics, sports and entertainment news, educational children’s shows as well as teen and family programming.

Better Black Television is the brainchild and passion of some of the most diverse, powerful, celebrated entertainers, influentials and trendsetters from the Television, Film, Professional Sports, Corporate America and Music industries. These visionaries all share the common goal of enhancing the current television landscape for this highly coveted demographic currently monopolized by only a few significant providers, with fresh, innovative, uplifting and above all family-friendly entertainment.

Source: MSNBC

NELLY TO HAWK DIDDY'S MEN'S UNDERWEAR!

Rapper NELLY is to front a new advertising campaign for hip-hop mogul SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS' Sean John Underwear line. The Hot In Herre star will become the firm's first ever spokesmodel - and he is delighted to be associated with the brand. He tells AllHipHop.com, "I've been a big fan of Diddy and the Sean John clothing line for years. "So, when they asked me to work with them, it was a real honour. I hope my fans will enjoy this campaign as much as I did shooting it." And Combs is equally as pleased with the appointment: "I have known Nelly for many years and I really admire his work. To me, Nelly is the quintessential definition of the Sean John man. "He has the attitude, the swagger, and most of all the physique that our customers can both aspire and relate to. And let's be honest, all of the ladies out there are going to be thanking us for this campaign."

Phew! It's going to be HOT in there! LOL!

BRANDY AND DAUGHTER DO SKECHERS AD.

Singer Brandy and her 6-year-old daughter Sy’rai have teamed up with Sneaker brand Skechers for the ‘Nothing Compares to Family’ ad campaign. The ad campaign,which features other celebrity families, is slated to run in 2009.

ASHANTI'S TOURIST AMBASSADOR ROLE FOR NEW YORK COUNTY KICKS OFF.

Singer ASHANTI has a new gig - as a tourism chief in New York. The multi-talented 27-year-old has been made an ambassador for Nassau County on Long Island. She was presented with an orange blazer adorned with a tourism patch by County Executive Thomas Suozzi at a news conference at the Rockefeller Centre in Manhattan on Tuesday (22Jul08). The singer says it is "amazing" to be asked to "give something back to the community". The tourism campaign pitches Nassau as "The Island Next Door" and is targeted at visitors to the city.

Good for ma gurl Ashanti....Just like Beyonce does that one for the City of Houston.

NELLY'S PIMP JUICE HEADS TO FRANCE !

Rapper NELLY is expanding his line of energy drink Pimp Juice in the European market - launching the brand in France and Sweden. The Hot In Herre hitmaker and executives at manufacturer Fillmore Street Brewery released French Pimp Juice last week, with a party to celebrate the move at Le Bus Palladium in Paris. Pimp Juice makers are also in talks to partner with the French basketball leagues as its sponsor. And Fillmore Street Brewery president William Wooten is confident French Pimp Juice will be a hit with consumers.

He tells AllHipHop.com, "We expect much success in France due to its lively hip-hop scene and love of basketball. "French Pimp Juice is currently being offered in stores and in Paris with further distribution to occur in September to coincide with Nelly's next album release, Brass Knuckles." The brand has also hit store shelves in Sweden after Fillmore Street Brewery bosses secured a licensing deal in the Scandinavian country.

Now the hell how many people have pimp juice? I thought that was L'il Jon's drink! Vitamin H2O was 50's, then Alicia Keys and now Coca Cola. Money! Money Money!

NEW DEATH ROW OWNERS DENY UNLAWFUL PURCHASE.

LATEST: The new owners of rap mogul MARION 'SUGE' KNIGHT's Death Row Records have denied the company was purchased unlawfully. Susan Berg's Global Music Group purchased the failing firm for $25 million at auction last month (Jun08) - seeing off competition from music industry heavyweights Warner Music Group to pick up the company Knight founded in 1991. But venture capitalist Ron Goldberg - who had also prepared a bid for Death Row - has filed legal papers accusing Global Music Group president Anthony Marotta of conspiring with investors who were originally recruited by Goldberg and closing the deal without his knowledge.

However, lawyers acting on behalf of Global Music Group have denied the purchase of the company was mired in deceit. Roger Muse, of law firm of Muse Methany, tells AllHipHop.com, "Mr. Goldberg is not a principal of Global Music Group Inc, a New York corporation, nor does he have any ownership in that company or in its assets, including the Death Row assets subject to the company's court-approved bid. "Mr. Goldberg has apparently filed a Delaware corporation under the same name of my client; but of course anyone can file a corporation in any state under any name as long as the name is not then in use in that state by another corporation. Mr. Goldberg's claim that it is his Delaware Global Music Group was the 'true' bidder of the bankruptcy assets simply has no merit."

Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Hough Lend Hands To Wrigley's

Wrigley's, the confectioner maker, is turning to contemporary artists Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and Julianne Hough to remix its signature jingles. Each artist has redone one of Wrigley's gum jingles. Chris Brown will sing about Doublemint, Ne-Yo will do Big Red and Julianne Hough is paired with Juicy Fruit. While Brown and Ne-Yo are both urban artists, Hough is a country singer.

Wrigley's will host a concert in New York on July 29 to unveil the new jingles. Radio station Hot 97 is expected to give away tickets for the show as part of the promotion. An advertising campaign from New York's Translation Advertising, part of the IPG network, will launch on the day of the concert. Hints that Chris Brown would be partnering with Wrigley's were dropped earlier this year in his video "Forever" from his re-release, "Exclusive (The Forever Edition)." “In the beginning of the video he is chewing a piece of gum while singing…” and the chorus sings the line "double your pleasure, double your fun" the long time tag line for Doublemint.

EJCC TO LAUNCH "GREEN" CAMPAIGN WITH RAPPER COOLIO AND JAZZ SAXOPHONIST JAREZ.

Rapper COOLIO and Jazz Saxophonist, JAREZ, among artists signing on to help engage black youth in the climate change discussion

Rapper/ reality star Coolio and jazz saxophonist, Jarez are among artists recently enlisted as spokespersons for the Environmental Justice and Climate Change's (EJCC) campaign to educate students at Historically Black College and University's (HBCU) about the global warming crisis, EJCC director, Nia Robinson announced today.

"Our goal is to engage a diverse group of African American youth in the fight for climate justice," says Robinson. "Whether they're old school hip-hop fans, jazz enthusiasts, or among the neo-soul crew, we want them focused on climate change. EJCC is pleased to have Coolio and Jarez reaching out to their base to promote environmental sustainability."

The campaign will kickoff July 11, 2008 on "Just Environment," an EJCC sponsored urban talk radio program that will integrate diverse perspectives on environmental issues and underscore EJCC's campaign efforts. Broadcasting weekly at noon on WCLK 91.9, "The Jazz of the City," and live online at www.wclk.com , the the radio show will feature informative discussions of problems and solutions for healthy, sustainable lifestyles. The show is hosted by Na'Taki Osborne Jelks and the jazz stylings of Jarez, from his CD release "To the Top" will provide the musical signature for the show.

The EJCC HBCU Initiative - a partnership with former Vice President Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection's "We" campaign - will use unique voices to encourage black youth to engage in the climate change discussion. EJCC will train and organize students on black college campuses to promote the greening of university grounds, grow support for climate justice, and encourage HBCU presidents to sign on to a Presidents Climate Commitment.

"The effects of climate change fall disproportionately on people of color, Indigenous Peoples, and low-income communities," says Robinson. "Black college students must be on the frontlines educating their communities and contributing their voices to the policy debate."Good Job Coolio! Stay tuned for my interview with him about all his projects including the reality show on Oxygen Channel and also the online cooking show and cookbook.

JD LAUNCHES RECORD DEAL WITH PROCTER AND GAMBLE.

Music producer JERMAINE DUPRI has launched a new music label with an unlikely partner - pharmaceutical giant Procter & Gamble. Wait a minute? I am a pharmacist and hip-hop blogger as well as Publicist. What is going on here? While some are still trying to get record deals, we have one owned by a drug company. I better send my cough syrup lyrics to J.D.

Dupri - who has produced hits for Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, and longtime girlfriend Janet Jackson - he joins a wave of celebrities partnering with consumer goods companies in a bid to revive sleeping sales in the music industry. The mogul, who currently runs the urban music division of the Island Def Jam Music Group, will team up with Procter & Gamble in a joint venture called Tag Records. The label will sign and release albums by new hip-hop acts in a bid to find fresh talent. Dupri will serve as president of Tag Records while keeping his position at Island Def Jam.

He says, "I've never seen someone wanting to devote this much money to breaking new artists. Nobody in the music business has the marketing budget that I have." Rappers Kanye West, Nas, Rakim and KRS-One were nominated for a Grammy Award just last year (08) after releasing their collaborative hit Better Than I've Ever Been with sports brand Nike.

I took that photo with J.D in Atlanta after an interview.

IS JAY-Z BUYING SHARES IN THE YANKEES?

Hip-hop mogul SHAWN 'JAY-Z' CARTER is looking to expand his range of investments into the baseball world - he wants to own shares in the New York Yankees. The rap superstar already heads up an empire that includes the Roc-A-Fella Records music label, Rocawear clothing and Armadale vodka - in addition to being a shareholder in the New Jersey Nets basketball team. He has previously been linked to a deal with London soccer team Arsenal Football Club, and while Jay-Z admits the rumours were true, negotiations fell through in 2005. And now the star has a new sporting interest - he's in the midst of talks to buy shares in the Yankees.

He tells London's Time Out magazine, "I had invested in the Nets, and they (Arsenal bosses) asked me if I was interested in investing. But I get that from time to time. "Someone told me yesterday that someone else had a piece of the New York Yankees - 'We wanna talk to you, yadda yadda yadda.' I mean, I love the Yankees so I'm in the middle of following that through, but sometimes it comes to be nothing. "That (Arsenal) was one of the times it came to nothing."