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 Double Mint, 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 eats a piece of gum 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."

TACO BELL CEO TELLS 50 : CHANGE YOUR NAME FOR A DAY AND YOU GET $10K FOR YOUR FAVOURITE CHARITY! NOW MR CENT IS PISSED and threatening LEGAL ACTION!

Yesterday Thursday 19th, I reported this story that the Rapper
50 CENT had been offered a $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice by a U.S. fast food firm - if he agrees to change his name for one day. The challenge, issued by Taco Bell, stipulates that 50, real name Curtis Jackson, must stop by one of the chain's restaurants and rap his order at the drive-thru window - using a new moniker: 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent. If he completes the deal, Taco Bell managers will feed everyone in that particular eatery for free, in addition to the charity donation.

Taco Bell President and CEO Greg Creed has written a letter to the star urging him to step up to the challenge, according to OK! magazine. The letter reads: "We know that you adopted the name 50 Cent years ago as a metaphor for change. We at Taco Bell are also huge advocates of change... "We encourage you to 'Think Outside the Bun' and hope you accept our offer." The In Da Club hitmaker has yet to respond to the offer.

Can he do it in Canada, cos we have him all weekend here. That will be a good story for me. I'm calling Taco Bell's offices now to ask AND to tell Mr CEO.....What about the 50 cent Tacos?

20/6/2008 LATEST: Rap superstar 50 CENT is outraged by fast food company Taco Bell's "sleazy" bid to land him for an advertising campaign, and is threatening legal action. The firm offered to make a $10,000 (£5,000) donation to a charity of 50 Cent's choice if he agreed to change his name for one day. They stipulated he must stop by one of the chain's restaurants and rap his order at the drive-thru window - using a new moniker: 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent.

But the star is not amused. A rep tells OK! magazine, "This is a sleazy and ill-conceived publicity stunt by Taco Bell's president, Greg Creed, whose disingenuous offer was leaked to the press before it was even presented to 50 Cent's agent yesterday." And 50 Cent himself warns, "When my legal team is finished with them, Taco Bell is going to have a new corporate slogan: 'We messed with the bull and got the horns!'

Bull 50? You said it right. That $10K is very small. I thought a few zeros were missing. Now you see why the Canadian media is jinxed for this weekend. We get no interviews!

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Soul Train has been SOLD!

Soul Train founder Don Cornelius has sold the million dollar empire he started in the 1970s. The businessman has passed the Soul Train reigns over to MadVision Entertainment Inc., a company with a focus on urban broadcasting. Most of you kids reading my blog probably don't know what Soul Train was. This was the TV show that started the world of music shows, videos and TRL's and MOD's (MuchMusic Canada's TRL)

Pharrell, Casablancas, Santogold Onboard With Converse.

Converse will launch a new music-focused ad campaign Tuesday (June 10) with the release of a track meant to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the brand. The song, "My Drive Thru," was produced by Pharrell Williams of NERD and features vocals by Julian Casablancas of the Strokes and Santogold. The track will initially be released online, and will serve as the music in upcoming TV ads, which will be released later this summer. A music video for the song is also slated for release sometime in the summer. The visual ads to accompany the campaign will feature the three artists that appear on the track, as well as a host of up and coming indie artists, including Kid Sister, Bradford Cox of Deerhuner, and MGMT. They are currently running in a number of magazines.

DIDDY EYES BECKHAM COLLABORATION.

Rap mogul-turned-designer SEAN 'DIDDY' COMBS is so impressed by DAVID BECKHAM'S style, he wants to collaborate with the soccer ace on a fashion line. The rapper and the sports star have become close friends in recent years, and Combs was even spotted partying into the early hours with Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria while visiting London last year (07). But Combs - who has his own Sean John clothing line - admits he would like to turn their friendship into a business collaboration and launch a fashion project together.

He says, "What a stylish guy. I'd love to do a fashion range with David Beckham. He's a good friend and is very kind. Us two together doing business would be amazing. "I heard he is doing a shoe range with (rapper) Snoop (Dogg). That's cool, but I would love to do fashion with David. I already have a fragrance and clothing line, but I'd love my next project to include him. Perhaps we could collaborate to do something for charity." Diddy sure knows how to move with the A-listers and is very impressed with them all!

GORGEOUS RAPPER Trina launches her CLOTHING LINE.

We saw this at Woohah.Com. Rapper Trina has officially launched her clothing line called Pink Diamond Couture. The line consists of high quality jeans with her signature logo on the back pocket and come in different styles and details such as leather, python and crystals. Trina said "I have always imagined a clothing line that was high quality that I could offer to my fans. I spent a lot of time creating handpicked details that are fresh, unique and one of a kind. The best part they look really expensive but are reasonable priced."

BUY ME A TEAM: We spotted Jigga at the NBA lottery.

UMBRELLAS AND PANTIES: Rihanna wants her own underwear collection!

Barbadian singer Rihanna has revealed that she might launch her own underwear collection. The 20-year-old singer wants to launch her own creation of underwear, after the success of her number one single hit summer (07) anthem Umbrella. "There might be a clothing line on the horizon, maybe underwear," Contactmusic quoted her as saying. It is something, according to the singer, which puts her under pressure to follow in the steps of other Hollywood stars and build her own brand.

However, the Barbados-born star wants to opt for a more seductive line of apparel from her fellow stars. The singer has been lending her name to brands in deals with cosmetics giant Clinique, retailer H+M and Secret deodorant.

Will Smith to build Private Academy-like School: “The New Village Academy Of Calabasas."

Rapper Will Smith is building a school and is investing $1 million in the construction and development of a private school near his Calabasas, California estate. “The academy will be run privately, and will include prekindergarten through grade 6.”

Michael Jackson prevents sale of Neverland!

Does he want it back? MICHAEL JACKSON has prevented a foreclosure sale on his Neverland Ranch after a loan on the property was sold to an investment firm. The California estate was reportedly scheduled to be sold off on 14 May (08) if Jackson failed to pay $24.5 million he owed in property taxes - but Colony Capital, a New York-based private equity group, stepped in to buy his loan. A statement from Jackson says the star is in discussions with Colony and its founder Tom Barrack Jr. "with regard to the ranch and other matters". The company is reported to be "very comfortable" holding the loan while it negotiates payment terms

DYNAMIC LADY: Mary J Blige co-launches a Foundation for the advancement of women.

Music executive Steve Stoute and Mary J. Blige launched their new organization FFAWN (Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now, Inc.) at a press conference at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, New York. FFAWN is dedicated towards inspiring women to reach their individual potential through scholarships, grants, and programs that foster strong self-esteem, career development and personal growth, while gaining the confidence and skills needed to achieve success.

HALF DOLLAR gets richer by signing memorabilia deal!

Hip-hop star 50 CENT is set to add to his burgeoning business empire after signing a deal to endorse branded memorabilia. The rapper, real name Curtis Jackson, is reported to have signed a deal with Steiner Sports, which will cover the clothes he wears in concert, autograph signings, movies and other 50-branded goods, reports the New York Post. And Jackson's new business partners hope the move will help the 50 Cent brand grow globally.

Robert Vazquez, of Steiner Sports, says, "He's an authentic guy who gets the business portion of his career. "We have access to (in-flight magazine) SkyMall, to Neiman-Marcus and to corporate clients that might not be familiar with 50 Cent."

Mo'Money: Jay-Z and Live Nation have finalized the deal!

JAY-Z has joined heavyweights MADONNA and U2 after signing a new mega-millions deal with concert promoters Live Nation. The rapper has landed 775,434 Live Nation shares, plus an option on an additional 500,000 after setting up a joint entertainment venture with Live Nation bosses. The Live Nation/Jay-Z deal began in December (07). News broke in The New York Times last month (Apr08).Live Nation will now promote all of Jay-Z's recording and performance ventures.

According to Billboard.com, Live Nation will contribute $5 million each year in overhead for five years and offer $25 million to finance Jay-Z's external acquisitions and investments, plus $10 million per album for a minimum of three albums. Jay-Z will also receive another $20 million for other rights, including publishing and licensing. Live Nation is already producing the current Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige tour in North America.

YUMMY PICTURE OF THE DAY: Ludacris finally opens his new restaurant in the ATL!

Ludacris opened up his restaurant Straits in ATL on Thursday. This guy just can't be touched. Go on boy! Can't wait to see him back here next week for resumption of his movie shoot. I wanna do a new interview. Luda has so many ventures going on.

Snoop Dogg Working On Children's Book Series.

While Feist, LL Cool J and Kimya Dawson are jumping on the Sesame Street bandwagon, Snoop Dogg is reaching out to kids in a different way. The Doggfather is working on a series of children's books called "Where's The Cheese" that's being illustrated by Snoop's cousin, Joe Cool. Even the main character is called what else.......L'il Cheese! LOL! There's his "Snooperman" action figure above. Talk about going from gangster to mainstreamer!

Rapper T.I loses General Motors endorsement deal!

You can guess why? With 1000 hours of community service to complete by next March, losing a lucrative endorsement deal may be the least of T.I.’s worries, but it’s a prime example of the shaky relationship between big business and artists with high profile legal problems. During a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tip revealed that Big Three automaker General Motors has ended its relationship with the rapper as a result of his federal weapons case. “Nah GM had to back up off of me,” the Grand Hustle CEO told reporter Sonia Murray when she asked about the deal. “There are films that I missed out on. Not speaking of, of course, shows. Tours. Tons of business. I’ve probably lost about $10 to $12 million dollars.”