MOVIE ADAPTATION OF LORRAINE HANSBERRY'S "A RAISIN IN THE SUN," STARRING THE AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY CAST AND PRODUCED BY SONY PICTURES TELEVISION, WILL AIR AS AN "ABC PREMIERE EVENT," FEBRUARY 25, 2008, THE NIGHT AFTER THE NETWORK'S LIVE TELECAST OF THE 80th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS
Sean Combs stars and executive-produces his first movie starring Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, Sanaa Lathan and John Stamos. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, Producers of the Blockbuster Summer Film "Hairspray" and Executive Producers of the Oscar-Winning Best Picture " Chicago ," Bring "Raisin" to the small screen
The highly anticipated special three-hour television movie adaptation of "A Raisin in the Sun," based on the play that inspired a generation, will air as an "ABC Premiere Event" MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network, the night after ABC's live telecast of the 80th Annual Academy Awards.
Sean Combs, who reprises the role of Walter Lee, Jr., which brought him acclaim, stars along with the cast of the award-winning Broadway revival, who recreated their roles for the film, including Emmy and Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad, four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Tony Award nominee Sanaa Lathan, plus "ER" star John Stamos.
Executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, whose big screen movie musical "Hairspray" is one of the breakout hits of the summer, said of their latest event for television: "We are honored to have brought a new movie version of 'A Raisin in the Sun' to ABC, from Sony Pictures Television, to a new generation of viewers. We are humbled by our formidable cast and are very grateful to Steve McPherson for giving us the coveted slot on the night after the Oscars."
"A Raisin in the Sun" tells the story of a family living and struggling on Chicago 's South Side in the 1950s. A fiercely moving portrait of people whose hopes and dreams are constantly deferred, "A Raisin in the Sun" was the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. It premiered in 1959 with a cast that included Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeil, Diana Sands, Ruby Dee and Louis Gossett Jr. A Columbia Pictures feature with the same cast followed in 1961.
Phylicia Rashad won the Best Actress Tony Award for her role in "Raisin" -- becoming the first African American actress to ever win the Tony in this category. Audra McDonald won the Best Featured Actress Tony Award for her role in the play, and Sanaa Lathan was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress for her performance. Sean Combs appeared opposite Halle Berry in "Monster's Ball" and made his acting debut in the film "Made."
The ground-breaking drama portrays a brief period of time in the life of the Younger family as they anxiously await the arrival of a $10,000 life insurance check made out to Lena Younger (Phylicia Rashad, "The Cosby Show"), the family matriarch, from the estate of her late husband, Walter Lee. Everyone in the family has their own ideas about how they plan to use their new-found wealth and are eager for their new lives to start.
"A Raisin in the Sun" stars Sean Combs as Walter Lee, Jr., Phylicia Rashad as Lena Younger, Audra McDonald("ABC's Private Practice," HBO's "Wit,", ABC's "Annie," and the recent Broadway production of "110 in the Shade") as Ruth, Sanaa Lathan ("Out of Time," "Something New") as Beneatha , John Stamos (A&E's "Wedding Wars") as Mr. Lindner, Sean Patrick Thomas ("Barbershop 2: Back in Business") as George Murchison, David Oyelowo ("The Last King of Scotland") as Joseph Asagai, Bill Nunn ("Spider Man") as Bobo and Cephas Jones ("Law & Order") as Willy Harris.
The movie is executive-produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron's Storyline Entertainment, Sean Combs' Bad Boy World Wide Entertainment Group and Sony Pictures Television. The show's Broadway producers, Carl Rumbaugh, Susan Batson and David Binder, also serve as executive producers. Kenny Leon, who received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Director for his staging of the play on Broadway, makes his film debut with this movie; and Paris Qualles, writer of the critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated "Tuskeegee Airmen" and "The Rosa Parks Story," adapted Hansberry's play for the new movie event.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron produced "Hairspray," executive-produced the Oscar winning Best Picture "Chicago" and the Emmy-winning "Gypsy," "Cinderella," "Annie," "Serving in Silence" and "Life with Judy Garland." Their films have won six Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, eleven Emmy Awards and two Peabodys. For their work in television, their movies have amassed 66 Emmy nominations.
"A Raisin in the Sun" is a production of Storyline Entertainment and Bad Boy World Wide Entertainment Group in association with Sony Pictures Television.
dinsdag 21 augustus 2007
maandag 13 augustus 2007
YUNG JOC RETURNS WITH "HUSTLENOMICS"
YUNG JOC RETURNS WITH "HUSTLENOMICS";
RAPPER'S HUGELY ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE ALBUM
FEATURES URBAN SMASH, "COFFEE SHOP (FEAT GORILLA ZOE)";
GRAMMY-NOMINATED MC TO TOUR WITH "SCREAMFEST '07";
"HUSTLENOMICS" OFFICIALLY DROPS AUGUST 28TH
Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South recording artist Yung Joc is set to drop his eagerly awaited second album, "HUSTLENOMICS." The Grammy Award-nominated rapper's sophomore collection - which features the current hit single, "Coffee Shop (Feat. Gorilla Zoe)" - arrives in stores and online nationwide on Tuesday, August 28th.
Following up on the blockbuster success of last year's RIAA platinum-certified debut album, "NEW JOC CITY," "HUSTLENOMICS" confirms Joc's status as one of today's most ingenious and accomplished hip-hop artists. The album sees the 24-year-old MC collaborating with a who's-who of studio stars, including the Neptunes, Chris Flash, Cool & Dre, Jazze Pha, Kevin "Khao" Cates, Drumma Boy, Dee Jay Dana, and others. Along with the aforementioned Boyz N Da Hood member Gorilla Zoe, Joc is also joined by a series of special guests, including Russell "Block" Spencer, Diddy, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Trick Daddy, Bun B, Rick Ross, Jim Jones, Young Dro, and Pharrell.
"This album shows growth and maturity," says Joc. "I'm just expressing myself with different types of songs and different types of flows. A lot of cats think once you get on you get to make money, do shows, go to all the parties, and all this. There's a lot more to it than that."
"Coffee Shop (Feat. Gorilla Zoe)" is already shaping up as one of the season's biggest hip-hop hits. The track has bulleted into the top 30 at Urban radio outlets and into the top 20 on the Rap charts, while also scoring major airplay at Rhythmic-formatted stations.
The song's companion video - directed by Lenny Bass (Boyz N Da Hood, Field Mob, Nappy Roots) - is in the Top Ten on BET's 106 & Park countdown following its recent network debut via a special installment of Access Granted. The clip is also now in rotation at MTV2. In addition, the "Coffee Shop" ringtone is quickly making its way towards the top 40 on Nielsen Ringscan's "Top 200 Mastertones" chart.
In addition to its CD and digital release, "HUSTLENOMICS" will mark Bad Boy Records' first-ever release in the new MVI format. An MVI is a DVD that contains the full album, portable music files, video content, and interactive features. The PC/MAC-compatible package will include a bonus CD, a never-before-seen video interview with Joc, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, a making-the-video special for "Coffee Shop," digital extras (such as screen savers, buddy icons, and wallpapers), U-Myx and UrTone (which allow fans to create their own custom remix and ringtone of "Coffee Shop"), plus much more.
Yung Joc will herald the release of "HUSTLENOMICS" with a full-scale summer tour, joining the all-star bill for BET and Scream Star Entertainment's "Screamfest '07." The eagerly anticipated trek - which also features such superstars as T.I., Ciara, and T-Pain - kicked off last week in New Orleans, with dates running though a two-night-stand at Los Angeles' Gibson Amphitheatre on September 1st and 2nd (see attached itinerary).
What's more, Yung Joc has slated a number of major TV appearances for the week of the new album's release. Among the highlights will be visits to both BET's 106th & Park and MTV's TRL.
"Joc is the hardest working artist out here," says Block. "This is his dream and he's been ready to work hard at it since day one, way before I ever signed him. From the rhymes, to the tracks, to the videos, Joc has put a lot of himself in 'Hustlenomics' and his audience is going to feel that. This is a very special project for both of us."
In recent weeks, the ATL-based MC has made his presence known on TV via live performances on such high-profile network shows as ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live and NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Other recent TV spots include multiple appearances on BET, including Rap City, the annual BET Music Awards, and 106 & Park's "Scream Tour" Special.
Yung Joc - who is also featured on T-Pain's #1 hip-hop smash, "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin') - can be seen in a major national print ad campaign promoting the Rockport Company's "Established 1971" collection. The promotion sees Yung Joc appearing in a variety of high-profile magazines alongside such rising stars as actor Wood Harris, R&B artist Lyfe Jennings, and MTV personality Coltrane Curtis.
* * * * *
The release of "HUSTLENOMICS" follows Yung Joc's amazing 2006, a year which saw him rise up from the streets of College Park, Georgia to the platinum-certified heights of hip-hop stardom. Fueled by the massive hit single, "It's Goin' Down," the rapper's RIAA platinum-certified debut album, "NEW JOC CITY," exploded onto Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" and "Top Rap Albums" charts, entering in the #1 spot upon its June release.
"It's Goin' Down" proved to be a mainstream breakthrough for Yung Joc, moving quickly from underground sensation to the top of Billboard's "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" chart and the top 3 on Billboard's "Hot 100." In early 2007, the track received one of music's highest accolades - a Grammy Awards nomination as "Best Rap Song."
The street anthem's companion video also proved a blockbuster, topping the playlist at BET, which named "It's Going Down" as "Hip-Hop Track of the Year" at the inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards event. At MTV, the clip scored Big Ten rotation and was ranked as one of MTV2's "Top 100 Sucker Free Videos of 2006."
Furthermore, "It's Goin' Down" was an out-and-out triumph in the ringtone world. With over 5 million ringtones sold, Yung Joc was Warner Music Group's #1 mobile artist for 2006.
Yung Joc also reigned over the online world, spending much of summer 2006 as MySpace's #1 artist. He also became an in-demand live act, with concert appearances including a sold-out MySpace Secret Show in his native Atlanta, an SRO tour alongside Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I., and a top spot on the "Scream Tour 5," BET's hugely successful multi-artist arena trek. Other onstage highlights included a performance of "It's Goin' Down," during the main event ring walk at Don King's Gateway to Glory boxing event in St. Louis and an appearance on BET's annual 106 & Park New Year's Eve extravaganza.
As if all that weren't enough, Yung Joc made guest appearances on a number of the year's biggest tracks, including Danity Kane's top 10 smash, "Show Stopper," and Lil' Boosie's top 20 hip-hop hit, "Zoom."
# # #
www.myspace.com/yungjoc
www.block-ent/yungjoc
(TOUR ITINERARY ATTACHED)
YUNG JOC
ON TOUR 2007
All Dates w/ BET & Scream Star Entertainment presents "SCREAMFEST '07"
AUGUST
3 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
4 Houston, TX Toyota Center
9 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center at CSU
10 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
11 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Arena
12 Kansas City, MO Kemper Arena
16 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
17 Indianapolis, IN Indiana State Fairgrounds
18 Washington, DC Verizon Center
19 Hampton, VA Hampton Coliseum
21 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center
22 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
23 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Spectrum
24 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
25 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
26 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
29 Denver, CO Coors Amphitheatre
31 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
SEPTEMBER
1, 2 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
Hustlenomics Track Listing
1. Hustlenomics-Intro
2. Play Your Cards
3. Coffee Shop feat. Gorilla Zoe
4. Bottle Poppin'feat. Gorilla Zoe
5. Hell Yeah feat. Diddy
6. Cut Throat feat. Game, Jim Jones, and Block
7.Hustlemania (Skit)
8. I'm A G feat. Bun B & Young Dro
9. BYOB
10. Pak Man
11. Getting To Da Money feat. Mike Carlito
12. Brand New feat. Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross
13. Living the Life feat. SouthernGirl
14. Momma feat. Jazze Pha
15. Chevy Smile feat. Trick Daddy & Block & Jazze Pha
16. Hustlenomics
Bonus Track
Block Boy feat. Block
donderdag 9 augustus 2007
Gorilla Zoe's :Welcome To The Zoo
Gorilla Zoe's Debut album "Welcome To The Zoo" in stores September 25th!!!
"Hood Figga"
http://vsyndication.wmg.com/wmgdigividplayer/title_id_passing_03.html?bcpid=824272798&bctid=1113459242
“Welcome To the Zoo”
“King Kong ain’t got nothing on me!”—Denzel Washington as Alonzo in 2001’s Training Day
In Hollywood, playing Alonzo earned Denzel Washington an Academy Award for Best Actor. But in East Point, Georgia, being Alonzo Mathis didn’t earn Block Entertainment recording artist Gorilla Zoe any accolades, only obstacles.
Born and bred in Southwest Atlanta, Zoe came up like most adolescents in his neighborhood. Skating rinks, swimming pools and rap music were the gist of his existence while Bass music and popular West Coast Hip Hop acts like DJ Quik, NWA and Snoop Doggy Dogg supplied the soundtrack to his life.
“I was 10 or 11 around that time,” reflects Zoe, who to this day remembers his first attempt at rapping himself. “I hit record on the tape deck, plugged the mic into the stereo and tried to rap over a Too $hort instrumental.”
Now 25, Zoe is spitting over beats from Jazze Pha, Sha Money XL, Drumma Boy, Dee Jay Dana and Chris Flame for his solo debut Welcome To the Zoo.
In many ways, looking on Zoe’s life is akin to watching a film like Training Day or seeing an animal grow. Distracted by his surroundings, Zoe was kicked out of school before entering 10th grade and left home soon after. At 16, he enlisted in Job Corps and spent a year in Kentucky, picking up a culinary trade and hustling everything from cigarettes to Ramen noodles to keep some change in his pocket. Dissatisfied by the odd jobs and trouble life was offering him when he returned to Atlanta, Zoe decided to act on one of his first instincts, rapping. Welcome to the Zoo chronicles his life experiences from that point on, and shed lights on the lives of others like his.
“Back in the day, they called the city the concrete jungle because you can get ate up out there, but its more restricted now,” explains Zoe about the album’s title. “The whole world is watching. Its like people are amused by the ‘hood now, everybody knows about it now. All eyes are on our living situations. We’re living like we’re the damn zoo and we’re the animals being watched.”
Inspired by the reality-based music of The Dayton Family, South Circle, 8Ball & MJG, UGK and Outkast, Zoe began recording music professionally at age 18. Even though he sold all 5,000 copies of the CD he financed and pressed up himself, he was unimpressed with his own material and chose to act on his other instinct, hustling.
Zoe landed a job at Atlanta record store The Funk Shop and in two years he was overseeing its daily operations. In the process he saved enough money to build a recording studio in downtown Atlanta, next door to T.I.’s Grand Hustle and DJ Drama’s Apphilliates offices. Through the studio, he became acquainted local producer Chris Flame who gave Zoe beats to rap over. Flame passed some of their music to Block Entertainment founder Russell “Block” Spencer who sought him out immediately and signed him in March 2007.
Zoe, who is originally signed as a solo artist, made his national debut as the newest member of fearsome foursome Boyz N Da Hood on numerous mixtapes in 2007. Now, with the audience’s appetites whetted for Welcome To the Zoo, Zoe is poised to show the world that King Kong has nothing on him either.
Zoe spits truth serum on songs like the Sha Money XL-produced “Last Time I Checked” where he informs listeners that most of their favorite rappers live in Hollywood—because they’re actors. He also offers up advice on the Jazze Pha-laced “Locked Up Or Dead,” talking about the times he was supposed to end up the way the song title suggests.
With songs like the already certified banger “Hood Nigga” and features from the likes of Akon and Bobby Brown, Welcome to The Zoo will serve as a proper introduction to one of the most unique voices rap has ever heard.
“One of my favorite albums is Dr. Dre’s The Chronic,” admits Zoe. “That’s the kind of album I wanted to create. Something that can stand the test of time.”
Labels:
Boyz N Da Hood,
Denzel Washington,
DJ Quik,
Dr. Dre,
Gorilla Zoe,
NWA,
Outkast,
Snoop Doggy Dogg 8Ball MJG,
T.I.,
UGK
dinsdag 7 augustus 2007
Sean John Launches Women's Young Contemporary Sportswear Collection With G-III Apparel Group
Sean John, the clothing line founded by Sean "Diddy" Combs, will debut its new women's collection for Holiday 2007 with a production partner, G-III Apparel Group. The new Sean John Women's line is a juniors, urban collection with a contemporary edge. While focusing on denim pieces such as jeans, dresses and outerwear, the collection also includes colorful velour track suits, graphic tees, and flirty tops among other items. The price range for the products will be $59-89 for denim, knit tops from $44-59, tee shirts from $34-44, outerwear from $99-299, and active wear from $49-89. The initial collection for holiday will be sold in the Sean John Flagship store on Fifth Avenue , Macy's, Dillard's, Dr. Jay's, Man Alive and other retailers nationwide.
The collection will launch with the support of a dynamic advertising campaign photographed by Warwick Saint and featuring Bad Boy recording artist, Cassie, the newest addition to the Pussy Cat Dolls, Asia , and burgeoning actress Lauren London.
Sean "Diddy" Combs said, "From day to night, the new Sean John collection for women is glamorous and sexy with the style and swagger that customers have come to expect from our label."
According to Leslie Singer, President of Sean John Women's, "Our mission at Sean John is to create an affordable, lifestyle collection for the female consumer who desires innovative design and high quality. We are thrilled by the reception we have received from retailers and are looking forward to bringing this collection to market."
Sean John, a privately held company, was created by music icon and producer Sean "Diddy" Combs and made its fashion debut with a men's sportswear collection for the Spring 1999 season. In 2004 Sean "Diddy" Combs for Sean John was honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America as Men's Wear Designer of the Year. With annual retail sales in the United States of over $525 million, Sean John is sold in better department and specialty stores across the country as well as select retailers around the world. In 2004 Sean John signed a licensing agreement with Estée Lauder Companies to produce a signature men's fragrance that has achieved record success and is now launching a women's fragrance for the Fall of 2007.
-more-
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of outerwear and sportswear under licensed brands, its own brands and private retail labels. The Company has fashion licenses, among others, under the Calvin Klein, Sean John, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Guess?, Jones New York, Nine West, Ellen Tracy, House of Deréon, IZOD and Tommy Hilfiger labels, and sports licenses to produce branded sports apparel using the trademarks of the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Louisville Slugger, World Poker Tour and over 100 U.S. colleges and universities. Company-owned labels include, among others, Marvin Richards, G-III, Black Rivet, Siena Studio, Colebrook, G-III by Carl Banks, Winlit , NY 10018 and La Nouvelle Renaissance
donderdag 2 augustus 2007
Sean John Gives Women's Wear Another Try
Sean John Gives Women's Wear Another Try
The hip-hop mogul is in the news for his personal drama with ex-girlfriend Kim Porter, and his company Sean John has had difficulties in women's apparel in the past. But Combs is preparing several major launches in the women's category, beginning with the introduction of his fragrance with the Estée Lauder Cos., Unforgivable for Women, which will begin rolling out in October and is expected to top $45 million in the U.S. in its first year. Meanwhile, on the apparel end, Combs will introduce Sean John junior sportswear this coming holiday after a soft launch for spring.
Sean "Diddy" Combs
In apparel, it's a case of try, try again for Combs. The holiday introduction will be his second official attempt at launching a women's collection. His contemporary line, Sean by Sean Combs, closed in March 2006 after being at retail for less than a year. That collection only brought in $3.5 million in wholesale volume during its first six months on the selling floor. While that isn't considered bad for a new contemporary designer collection, it isn't the high volume Combs is used to seeing: at the time, he did $450 million at retail with Sean John men's and now brings in $500 million in retail volume.
"A lot of people in this business can't admit when they are not ready and I wasn't ready for the contemporary category," Combs said. "It was such an aggressive category and I got off to a good start, but I knew I was so far away from where I wanted to be based on my competition.
When I made the decision to close Sean by Sean Combs, what I wanted to do was take the time to gain the knowledge in contemporary. I think it was better for me to get out then and go back to it four years down the line, four years smarter.
"What I learned is that no matter how much hype there is surrounding a line, in women's you have to be up for the fight. I still plan to come back with that line in a couple of years. It was in great stores and I would rather leave those stores while I had a good relationship and be able to come back. I would rather do it that way than have them kick me out."
Looking to reach $100 million in wholesale volume within the first three years at retail, Combs said his women's addition has been carefully thought out and slated to launch at the same time as the women's fragrance.
"When you just start working with factories, you have to work out the kinks, which is why we did a soft launch for spring," he said. "We've had very good sell-throughs and based on the test, we've already received rave reviews on the denim. Usually it takes a few seasons to get the denim right."
He may not be ready to dive back into contemporary, but Combs, who will celebrate 10 years in business in 2008, is of course confident his new junior sportswear line, licensed to G-III Apparel Group Ltd., will be a hit. He said he is up for the challenge of entering a market where few women's urban brands have made it big, with the exception of Baby Phat and Rocawear. Combs constantly mentions he aspires to lead his business in the same way that Ralph Lauren has managed Polo, although he has a long way to go before he reaches Lauren status.
"The Sean John customer is the girl looking for more," he explained.
"She wants a look that takes her up a notch without trying too hard.
She wants a touch of luxe, a little glam, a splash of hot girl and, most importantly, she wants the style and swagger that comes with the Sean John lifestyle. Her hair is effortlessly glamorous. It's classic bombshell hair with a young urban spin. Her makeup is like a second skin that only seeks to highlight her best feature, her own beauty.
She hangs out in the cool spots, she's the most popular girl and often voted best dressed, her peers look to her as the trendsetter. She is the influencer."
The collection, which wholesales between $16 and $150, consists of a large range of denim jeans, sexy tops, down jackets, fur bomber jackets, velour sweat sets, logo tanks, dresses and skirts. Combs said details were a must - such as with the real rabbit fur on jackets, chain-detailed zipper pulls on the back pockets of a pair of jeans and embroidery on the back of a velour track jacket. The collection will be sold out of G-III's Sean John women's showroom at 512 Seventh Avenue. Combs said when thinking of the design of the line, he thought of style icons including Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, Kelis and Madonna.
"[These] are exactly the types of individuals that come to mind when thinking of Sean John," he said. "[They are] smart, confident and sexy. They all have swagger and that cannot be bought or sold."
To launch the line, Combs has created an ad campaign featuring three rising stars - Asia (the newest Pussycat Doll), Cassie (a Bad Boy recording artist) and Lauren London (an actress who was on the HBO series "Entourage"). Combs, of course, is also featured in the campaign, which was shot by Warwick Saint, the photographer who shot the advertising and promotional materials for "Charlie's Angels." The ads will appear in magazines such as Vibe, Giant, Complex and Seventeen.
"I wanted the campaign to be like Diddy's angels," he said. "And I think that Asia, Lauren and Cassie represent the Sean John girl in a perfect way."
It's been four years since his last fashion week show, but Combs promised a return to the runway in February, when he will showcase his men's and women's collections. While he still hasn't decided on the venue, he hasn't ruled out his old stomping ground of Cipriani on 42nd Street.
"We are planning a show for February to celebrate 10 years," he said.
And while not giving too many details, he predicted, "I'll be back and it will be big."
The hip-hop mogul is in the news for his personal drama with ex-girlfriend Kim Porter, and his company Sean John has had difficulties in women's apparel in the past. But Combs is preparing several major launches in the women's category, beginning with the introduction of his fragrance with the Estée Lauder Cos., Unforgivable for Women, which will begin rolling out in October and is expected to top $45 million in the U.S. in its first year. Meanwhile, on the apparel end, Combs will introduce Sean John junior sportswear this coming holiday after a soft launch for spring.
Sean "Diddy" Combs
In apparel, it's a case of try, try again for Combs. The holiday introduction will be his second official attempt at launching a women's collection. His contemporary line, Sean by Sean Combs, closed in March 2006 after being at retail for less than a year. That collection only brought in $3.5 million in wholesale volume during its first six months on the selling floor. While that isn't considered bad for a new contemporary designer collection, it isn't the high volume Combs is used to seeing: at the time, he did $450 million at retail with Sean John men's and now brings in $500 million in retail volume.
"A lot of people in this business can't admit when they are not ready and I wasn't ready for the contemporary category," Combs said. "It was such an aggressive category and I got off to a good start, but I knew I was so far away from where I wanted to be based on my competition.
When I made the decision to close Sean by Sean Combs, what I wanted to do was take the time to gain the knowledge in contemporary. I think it was better for me to get out then and go back to it four years down the line, four years smarter.
"What I learned is that no matter how much hype there is surrounding a line, in women's you have to be up for the fight. I still plan to come back with that line in a couple of years. It was in great stores and I would rather leave those stores while I had a good relationship and be able to come back. I would rather do it that way than have them kick me out."
Looking to reach $100 million in wholesale volume within the first three years at retail, Combs said his women's addition has been carefully thought out and slated to launch at the same time as the women's fragrance.
"When you just start working with factories, you have to work out the kinks, which is why we did a soft launch for spring," he said. "We've had very good sell-throughs and based on the test, we've already received rave reviews on the denim. Usually it takes a few seasons to get the denim right."
He may not be ready to dive back into contemporary, but Combs, who will celebrate 10 years in business in 2008, is of course confident his new junior sportswear line, licensed to G-III Apparel Group Ltd., will be a hit. He said he is up for the challenge of entering a market where few women's urban brands have made it big, with the exception of Baby Phat and Rocawear. Combs constantly mentions he aspires to lead his business in the same way that Ralph Lauren has managed Polo, although he has a long way to go before he reaches Lauren status.
"The Sean John customer is the girl looking for more," he explained.
"She wants a look that takes her up a notch without trying too hard.
She wants a touch of luxe, a little glam, a splash of hot girl and, most importantly, she wants the style and swagger that comes with the Sean John lifestyle. Her hair is effortlessly glamorous. It's classic bombshell hair with a young urban spin. Her makeup is like a second skin that only seeks to highlight her best feature, her own beauty.
She hangs out in the cool spots, she's the most popular girl and often voted best dressed, her peers look to her as the trendsetter. She is the influencer."
The collection, which wholesales between $16 and $150, consists of a large range of denim jeans, sexy tops, down jackets, fur bomber jackets, velour sweat sets, logo tanks, dresses and skirts. Combs said details were a must - such as with the real rabbit fur on jackets, chain-detailed zipper pulls on the back pockets of a pair of jeans and embroidery on the back of a velour track jacket. The collection will be sold out of G-III's Sean John women's showroom at 512 Seventh Avenue. Combs said when thinking of the design of the line, he thought of style icons including Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, Kelis and Madonna.
"[These] are exactly the types of individuals that come to mind when thinking of Sean John," he said. "[They are] smart, confident and sexy. They all have swagger and that cannot be bought or sold."
To launch the line, Combs has created an ad campaign featuring three rising stars - Asia (the newest Pussycat Doll), Cassie (a Bad Boy recording artist) and Lauren London (an actress who was on the HBO series "Entourage"). Combs, of course, is also featured in the campaign, which was shot by Warwick Saint, the photographer who shot the advertising and promotional materials for "Charlie's Angels." The ads will appear in magazines such as Vibe, Giant, Complex and Seventeen.
"I wanted the campaign to be like Diddy's angels," he said. "And I think that Asia, Lauren and Cassie represent the Sean John girl in a perfect way."
It's been four years since his last fashion week show, but Combs promised a return to the runway in February, when he will showcase his men's and women's collections. While he still hasn't decided on the venue, he hasn't ruled out his old stomping ground of Cipriani on 42nd Street.
"We are planning a show for February to celebrate 10 years," he said.
And while not giving too many details, he predicted, "I'll be back and it will be big."
Hustlenomics in stores 8.28
"Coffee Shop" Yung Joc Featuring Gorilla Zoe
Hustlenomics in stores 8.28
1. Hustlenomics-Intro
2. Play Your Cards
3. Coffee Shop feat. Gorilla Zoe
4. Bottle Poppin'feat. Gorilla Zoe
5. Hell Yeah feat. Diddy
6. Cut Throat feat. Game, Jim Jones, and Block
7.Hustlemania (Skit)
8. I'm A G feat. Bun B & Young Dro
9. BYOB
10. Pak Man
11. Getting To Da Money feat. Mike Carlito
12. Brand New feat. Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross
13. Living the Life feat. SouthernGirl
14. Momma feat. Jazze Pha
15. Chevy Smile feat. Trick Daddy & Block & Jazze Pha
16. Hustlenomics
Bonus Track
Block Boy feat. Block
Labels:
block,
Gorilla Zoe,
Hustlenomics,
jazze Pha,
Rick Ross,
Snoop Dogg,
trick daddy,
Yung Joc
B5 Don't Talk Just Listen in stores September 11th!
Don't Talk Just Listen in stores September 11th!
Hydrolics ft Bow Wow
http://vsyndication.wmg.com/wmgdigividplayer/title_id_passing_03.html?bcpid=824272798&bctid=1111162315
Hydrolics ft Bow Wowhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_xIX5Joprg
DaWayne "Bacon" Kearney
http://myspace.com/SMALLTOWNGENERAL
As one of the leading underground Hip-Hop artists in the Midwest, DaWayne "Bacon" Kearney at an early age had an insatiable interest in music. Dubbed Bacon by a childhood friend because of his sepia-colored skin, the artist and entrepreneur has music in his blood. "As a kid, I was always interested in music," says Bacon. The son of a band teacher, at a young age, Bacon dabbled with several band instruments before realizing playing instruments wasn't for him. After his dad turned him on to music, he was gone, leaving Bacon and his two sisters in the care of his mother.
Growing up in the Tommie Rose Gardens housing projects in Omaha, Neb., Bacon had a tough childhood. "You know, my mom was broke, we lived in the projects, was on public assistance, no cable, got food from the WIC program, no father figure, my mom always had different men around, it was hard," says Bacon. "But it made me strong though; it made me understand life at an early age."
Being exposed to R & B music by his mother and sisters, it was around 11 that Bacon first really became interested in rap music. "I just adapted more to rap, growing up and being in the streets I just realized that what R & B music was talking about I wasn't going through."
As his interest in the art form grew, so did his musical influences. "As a kid, when I was really young, I was always trying to learn how to write, rhyming words, trying to be like Flavor Flav, all of that," says Bacon. "Hearing all the old school niggas, Kid 'N Play, Heavy D, that is what made me want to start rapping. By the time I was 11 or 12, that rap shit was really in my head, that's what I felt."
After a brief stint in college, at 19, Bacon knew that he wanted to make music his career. "In college there were always parties, talent shows and I used to freestyle and stuff," "After tying for first place in a talent competition, I just knew I could do this stuff for real."
Writing his first song at 18, Bacon lists Tupac as one of his writing influences, but Master P influenced him to start his own record label. "Master P went out and made it happen, he's not the best rapper, but he can hustle," says Bacon. "Master P put a whole region on the map, everybody had his music and when he started blowing up, I knew I could do this for real."
Like the embattled artist Tupac, Bacon has also had his share of runs-ins with the law and violence. In and out of jail on gun and drug charges, in February of 2005, Bacon was stabbed multiple times and spent more than three days in intensive care. "That experience showed me that your homies aren't always your homies," says Bacon. "I know there is a God now; I know I am here for a reason."
In 1999, Bacon helped to start the group "Blood Sweat and Tears." Doing two mix tapes and two albums, the group disbanded in early 2007 and Bacon went solo. With three albums already under his belt and more than 100 songs already recorded, his highly anticipated solo release, "Long Road" drops on June 17 th 2007.
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