I’m startin to think that a few high-profile rappers tallied up bar tabs they can’t handle! All of a sudden, everybody is affiliating their star-style with a liquor brand. Well, everyone except 50 Cent who is a renowned health nut, hence the Vitamin Water deal. (Rumour has it 50 was buying cases of the elixirs before getting involved). Now, Sean “Diddy” Combs has signed on to a multi-year deal to develop the Ciroc vodka brand. This news follows recent news that Vybz Kartel will be the face of a new rum (called Vybz Rum and distributed by Pimp Juice) and Pharrell’s addition to the Hennessy whiskey team for the Flaunt Your Taste campaign. I guess high-grade liquor is the new Land Rover in the hip hop scene…. (So why is Jay-Z on Budweiser’s wagon?) ([More →])

The bear in Kanye’s new video reminds me of Mori Chack’s Gloomy Bear. Except this bear doesn’t end up slashing anyone with his razor sharp claws. And from the looks of things, it wasn’t easy! Maybe it’s because this bear was created by Takashi Murakami, who looks like he wouldn’t hurt anyone. Unless they didn’t like this video.

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Neptunes producer and hip hop artist Pharrell now represents Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. It’s part of the Hennessy “Flaunt Your Taste” campaign that suggests taste is the new bling in hip hop culture and Pharrell has stepped up to be the first musician to Flaunt what he’s got. The campaign will be seen in 7 internet spots, 3 tv commercials, and print ads in Vibe, Vanity Fair and GQ magazines. ([More →])