Jay-Z Sean Combs, Eminem Grand Master Flash, LL Cool J

Jay Z sells Rocawear
Mogul/Rapper/President of Def Jam yesterday went a head and made history again by selling the clothing company he started back in the late 90's with then business partners Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs. Iconix Brand Group which owns companies such as Candies and Joe Boxer paid the mogul a staggering $204 million cash for control of the company.Jay Z will still be very involved in the company and will take on the role as Chief Creative Officer. Iconix expect Rocawear to generate $43 million in royalty revenues within the first year of its purchase.
Diddy in Deep Water
After an altercation in Los Angeles during Oscar weekend, Sean Combs has been sued for allegedly attacking the boyfriend of a female whom he was talking to in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel.Gerard Rechnitzer is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit after Combs is said to have punched him when he returned from the rest room to find his girlfriend surrounded by Combs and his entourage.Lawyers for Combs have put the suit down as "another example of an opportunist seeking to fabricate a lawsuit based on a flat-out lie to try to take advantage of Mr. Combs' celebrity status," and Diddy's lawyers believe that the prosecutor will stand no chance when the case is heard.
Eminem signs with Universal Music Publishing Group
The Detroit rapper who has amassed excessive fans and record sales throughout the world recently signed an exclusive worldwide administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group. "His success as a writer and producer for both his own records as well as other artists continues to grow. We are honored that Eminem and his representatives have chosen Universal Music Publishing Group as their new home."

The deal includes tracks that the rapper has contributed to 50 Cent's Massacre album and the recent Billboard Hit Smack That upon which he appears with Akon. Other tracks written which feature on the rappers individual projects will also be incorporated into the deal.

Hip-Hop to be finally inducted into The Rock Hall of Fame
Hip-Hop was birthed on the streets of the Bronx in NYC in the early 1970's and even though it has become a worldwide multi billion dollar industry, it has only just been recognized by The Rock Hall of Fame this year.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five will be the first Hip-Hop related act to be inducted to the establishment on March 12 in New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The award will be presented to Grandmaster Flash who is still very active in Hip-Hop by Jay Z.

LL Cool J gets paid for licking his lips

Famed rapper LL Cool J whose legendary trademark has been licking his lips is now expected to be the new poster boy for Chapstick. His management company Violator, based in New York are hoping to encourage him and other artists on their roster such as 50 Cent and Missy Elliot to penetrate different markets through endorsements.

Recent examples of how Hip-Hop has become a viable marketing tool would be the deal between rapper Jay Z and Hewlett Packard or even 50 Cent and Vitamin Water.

Melanie J Cornish