50 Cent in Macy’s during his Power by 50 cologne tour in Atlanta. Has anyone took a sniff of the new fragrnace? Can it compete with Diddy’s I Am King?

• 50 Cent launches mall tour for his new cologne
• 50 Cent “Power by 50″ cologne print ad
• Diddy’s newest “I Am King” cologne ad
• Diddy’s new I Am King/Queen fragrance marketing plans
• 50 Cent interview about his “Power” cologne

Born To Use Mics: Reading Nas’s  Illmatic analyzes one of the most influential albums in hip hop history, authors Michael Eric Dyson, Sohail Daulatzai  and others reflect upon and engage on one of the most incisive sets of songs ever laid down on wax. So if any of the lyrics went over your head read the book  to get a better understanding.

Props: RealTalkNY

• Famed author writes book on Nas “Illmatic” album lyrics
• PICS: Kanye West’s other new book “Through the Wire”
• Jay-Z to sign multi-million dollar book deal
• VIDEO: Karrine Steffans Ridiculed By News Reporter
• Eminem finally talks about his new book “The Way I Am”

Here is the album art to Rihanna’s single “Wait Your Turn.” Move that right arm woman! It’s clear with all the other art and photos for her upcoming release that Rihanna wants to tell the world she is all grown up, dangerous and means business.

• MUSIC VIDEO: Rihanna – “Wait Your Turn”
• Rihanna partners with Nokia for “Rated R” album
• Rihanna in talks to remake “The Bodyguard”
• VIDEO: Rihanna new album teaser video
• Rihanna has Cover Girl contract re-evaluated

Lil Wayne x The Carter. After a series of clips from the film we finally have the full-length trailer for the upcoming straight-to-DVD Lil Wayne documentary “The Carter.” Film hasn’t been without its controversy but is receiving its fair amount of buzz. Movie will be available starting November 17th.

• VIDEO: New Lil Wayne “The Carter” documentary teaser
• Video: New trailer to Beyonce’s “Cadillac Records”
• “Fast & Furious” marketing sticks with Soulja Boy’s “Crank That”
• Video: Lil Wayne doc coming to Sundance Film Festival
• Movie Trailer: “The Spirit”

Eminem x Shady Talez. We have just learned that Eminem is confirmed to star in a 3D horror movie called Shady Talez. It will be the first starring role for Eminem since 8 Mile. We also got the drop that the production, writer and plot are all confirmed. The movie was actually an idea brought up Violator Management (Chris Lighty and Mona Scott) early last year but Eminem was not attached at the time. Since then, Eminem has been brought on board and will actually play multiple roles throughout the movie which will be distributed in 3D.

Slim will produce and star in the movie which will be a nod to classic horror genre flicks but with an urban edge. The writer of the Underworld franchises is on board as well as Dallas Jackson, writer of the upcoming Last Dragon remake. Shady Talez is also being turned into limited run comic book series due out in 2010 under the Marvel Icons imprint.

Been a long time since anyone has seen Shady on the big screen (cameos don’t count) but this looks to be an interesting project. Hopefully it gets the right production value and budget to make this a legit movie and not some Direct-To-Video fodder for Blockbuster.

• Eminem x The Punisher comic book now out
• Run DMC biopic coming to the big screen
• Sony readies “Men in Black 3″ with Will Smith
• Will Smith rumored to play Captain America
• WORD ON THE STREET: Eminem back in movie biz

Clipse x Play Cloths. Clipse continues to bring the heat with their Play Cloths clothing line. Sticking to a marketing and release strategy similar to Pharrell’s BBC/Ice Cream line, Clipse have been able to build up a strong street wear fan base with Play Cloths. They continue with the new 2009 Holiday Collection. Via: Hypebeast

• Clipse release Play Cloths varsity sweater collection
• Clipse talk Play Cloths clothing line in new interview
• PICS: Clipse’s Summer 2009 Play Cloths collection is heat
• Clipse officially release Spring 09 Play Cloths collection
• First look at Clipse’s new Play Cloths Spring 2009 line

50 Cent continues to take the marketing background he’s learned making and promoting movies to his album release strategy. As reported, 50’s album release of “Before I Self Destruct” will also contain a movie of the same name.

In true Hollywood (although it took place in New York) fashion, 50 threw a premiere for the movie yesterday. Even if his album doesn’t end up moving units I still give him major ups for doing something different with his marketing strategy. Well…it also shows how bad 50 wants to be a full blown movie star. Via: RR

• Malibu rapper Shwayze with Verizon deal
• Snoop Dogg makes mini-movie for “Malice in Wonderland”
• T.I. to make a movie about himself
• VIDEO: Trailer to Denzel Washington’s action flick “Book of Eli”
• VIDEO: The making of Jay-Z’s “Blueprint 3″ cover

Dr. Dre x Apple. Dre and Jobs. Now that’s a team that is going to be tough to beat. Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre headphones are gaining a serious partner in Apple and their over 200 retail stores across the country. Apple will be selling and promoting the Beats by Dre headphones in their retail environment and online store stocking the exclusive white color version, the traditional black and the Monster Beats in-ear sets as well.

Meanwhile Jimmy Iovine has created himself a nice residual income from the Monster x Beats by Dre line and partnership with other Interscope artists including Lady Gaga’s Heart Beats line and Diddy’s upcoming Diddy Beats headphone line.

• Dr. Dre introduces the Lady Gaga “Heartbeats” headphones
• Diddy launches “Diddy Beats” headphones with Interscope & Dre
• Dr. Dre talks about how Beats headphones came to be
• LeBron James pushes Dr. Dre headphones in NBA ad
• Dr. Dre releases new “Beats by Dre: Tour” edition headphones

Rihanna bears tells all in her first public interview since the CB Incident. Diane Sawyer gets the exclusive which aired yesterday. Could it be coincidence that Rihanna decides to finally speak out just as her new album is about to drop? We think not…instead the label (and RiRi) is getting some major free publicity right before the album launch.

• VIDEO: CoverGirl goes back to Rihanna ad two days after trial
• Rihanna partners with Nokia for “Rated R” album
• VIDEO: Rihanna new album teaser video
• Exclusive Q-Tip “The Renaissance” tee
• Previews of Rihanna x Chris Brown MTV special

Master P x Better Black Television. Been awhile since I heard any update on Master P’s venture into launching his Better Black Television (BBTV) network but AHH has the inside scoop on the latest. While most would consider BBTV a direct competitor to BET, Master P insists he didn’t create as a response to BET.

“I don’t think it’s a response, but it fills a void…it’s going to show people where the future is going because a lot of us don’t want to die gangbangers in the hood. Some of us do want to get older and be around to raise their kids.”

Reason for the lack of news in regards to BBTV is because Master P has been busy ironing out the regulatory issues with creating a television network, establishing his programming and even gathering together a group of high powered board of directors which includes Denzel Washington, NAACP executive director Vicangelo Bullock, Hip-Hop founder Kool Herc, cable industry veteran Professor Sal Martino, and real estate mogul Curtis Oakes.

BBTV is set to launch in 2010. If Percy can really pull this off he will beat the rest of the hip-hop mogul posse (Diddy, Kanye, 50, Jay-Z, etc) in being the first to have his own TV network. Check the website for more details.

• Master P set to launch “Better Black TV” cable network
• Video: Master P & Romeo’s trailer to “The Pig People”
• Video: “Notorious” casting process
• Video: Nelly receives custom Ford Flex at SEMA
• Master P launches plus-size women’s fashion line “Miller Peaches”

50 continues his aggressive online video push for his upcoming “Before I Self Destruct” album. Here is the latest mini-movie contained in the new music video to “Stretch.” Love what 50 is doing with these videos.

• Video: Ludacris’ official “Theater of Mind” album commercial
• Kanye West hires Spike Jonze for mini-movie
• Snoop Dogg makes mini-movie for “Malice in Wonderland”
• Video: 50 Cent partners with Jam Master Jay documentary
• 50 Cent’s new album to include Jam Master Jay documentary

Dayam I wish this was a real movie. Love the freakin’ Wu. Don’t forget to watch Part I. Here’s hoping Part III doesn’t end up with RZA’s head in a box.

• Xzibit taking acting career to next level
• Video: Inside look at production design of “Notorious”
• 50 Cent Twitter ghostwriter goes public
• Beyonce’s “Obsessed” #1 at the Box Office
• Eminem finally talks about his new book “The Way I Am”

The media mogul talks with Nightline about the ups and downs of being really rich…and really famous. Seriously though folks, good interview to see the many entrepreneurial moves of the 50 Cent empire. Via: SmartenUpNas

• VIDEO: RZA collaborates with Supreme streetwear brand
• VIDEO: 50 Cent talks about his new movie “Twelve”
• Jay-Z & Alicia Keys to perform “Empire State of Mind” at World Series
• VIDEO: 50 Cent interview on set of movie “Twelve”
• WoooHa, Inc.’s “5 Steps To Becoming A Hip-Hop Mogul”

Rihanna x Nokia. We keep saying it…and it keeps happening. As label promotional dollars get smaller and smaller but big time artists continue to be a huge part of pop culture we will continue to see more deals like this. Rihanna and Nokia have officially announced a partnership for the upcoming release of her album “Rated R.”

“I am so excited to partner up with Nokia,” said Rihanna in a statement. “They are doing some really revolutionary things with this album, enabling me to reach more fans than ever before.”

Rihanna will perform in an unidentified London location on Nov. 16, which will be filmed for free streaming via www.nokia.com/rihanna. You can also download Nokia and Rihanna branded apps and an exclusive version of the album with a bonus track, “Wait Your Turn,” in certain global territories.

The deal is a part of a new overall partnership with Nokia and Island Def Jam Music Group so there will be more collaborations like this in the near future. Via: Billboard

• VIDEO: Rihanna on “Good Morning America” clip
• Def Jam to Advertise on Mariah Carey’s CD Booklets
• Mos Def to sell current album on t-shirts
• Soulja Boy with new iPhone music re-mix software app
• Lil Wayne teams with AT&T for new album launch

Lupe Fiasco x RSVP Gallery. Always the fashion guru, Lupe Fiasco has teamed with Chicago clothing store RSVP Gallery for a unique collaboration. The center of it will be an art piece red Goyard box designed by Lupe that will feature his fashion and design projects.

Red Box’s first installation features t-shirts co-designed by Fiasco and mysterious punk band, Japanese Cartoon. All items in the box including the t-shirts are available for purchase exclusively at RSVP Gallery. Via: HypeBeast

• Lupe Fiasco designs another pair of Converse sneakers
• Lupe Fiasco’s Fall of Rome Nike Air Force 1’s
• VIDEO: Lupe Fiasco x Hewlett Packard laptop commercial
• Lupe Fiasco song “Solar Midnite” used in “Twilight: New Moon”
• Lupe Fiasco teams up w/ Greedy Genius for sneaker design