RSSAnatomy of a Gangster: Take ‘08
Past year’s resolutions have always focused on the same things.. Making more money, launching a business, being more positive, finding a mate, blowin’ up, and anything else you can think of.. But as I entered into 2008, I felt completely different.. I thought about the “gangsta” mentality.. I listened to the entertainers and athletes and people on TV talking about getting it and taking it to another level this year.. I heard it all.. It was cute.. But it was the same..
The time for change is here.. Dang I sound like a Barack campaign speech.. Everybody is struggling.. Rich, poor, young, old, Black, white, educated, straight stupid, greedy, ugly.. It really don’t matter.. One week you can be killin’ it, and the next you’re getting killed.. This year we have to keep that gangsta mentality.. when we get that off week, we change our focus.. We don’t have to dwell on it, we just need a few “woo-sahs”, a pack of nowalatas (y’all know that’s how we say it!), and a red pop.. get that in your system and blow that ish oooouuuuuuttttt.. after that moment, then focus on taking your moment back..
Bring in the new year like Hov did opening up his new spot in Vegas.. Create ways to enjoy what’s rightfully yours.. Do stuff you want to do.. Don’t worry about having to get up early on Tuesday morning to go to work.. Stay up late and watch Huey and Riley take over that 11:30PM slot on Monday.. It’s worth it.. When you get to work the next day and people ask you why you have bags under your eyes, speak to them in the voice of Riley.. “Do you know me? I’m carrying money in these bags!!” (on another note, if you get the chance, watch episodes of The Boondocks back to back and see if you don’t start talking and thinking like Huey and Riley!!)
Let’s keep our eyes out for some potential gangstas.. the ones I see are:
Hov:
The Vegas 40/40 was just the start.. 40/40 in Tokyo is coming, and many more as this brand continues to be viewed as the hip-hop spot.. Although he’s still President of Roc-a-fella Records, there is talk of him joining up with Apple.. I’m not sure what the Roc would be w/out him, but I’d be willing to watch how it would crumble..
Barack:
Dude just won the Iowa Caucus.. What more do I have to say? Just the thought of my grandparent being able to witness a Black President gives me a bit of a chill..
Oprah:
The real O(prah).G… I’ll stay watching her moves..
As my man C3 said, he’s positioned as the next Denzel.. but bigger.. he’s started to put more money into businesses such as Carol’s Daughter and even his own production company.. Watching his family take over movies, dude has a lot of power in Hollywood..
Last year she took over.. forget her music.. her philanthropic stuff was something we haven’t seen.. she stole the spotlight from Angelina Jolie and the work she has been doing.. but, now that you throw in a hit album with a #1 song, we could be seeing a lot of Ms. Keys this year..
LeBron James:
The most marketable player in the NBA, is also doing a lot in the business world.. from chillin’ with Warren Buffett, to building a village in China, dude is doing some things.. While we know he won’t be getting back to the NBA Championship any time soon (that was a fluke last year), he’s still killing the league.. I tip my hat to him.. on Fortune covers and SI.. I’m just sayin’..
Who else should we be targeting as potential gangstas in 2008?
12 Comments, Comment or Ping
Will
First off I want to say the website is dope! Its crazy how when you deal with power players their names alone makes the bottle float! With that being said, I don’t know if Q is a directly affiliated with the company or is just a writer but your shit is Superb! As well as Troublman (Big Ups). I say that to say I find it funny that you guys didn’t mention the Gangster on your team. Or so I hear? which is why i peeped the site. P its your year! From my mouth to God’s ear!!! U better let these dudes know who they f**ken wit.. And if you don’t know who I’m talking about. Sooner or later he will touch you with that Holy love. Its real in the Field!!! The worlds eyes will open when they see you on the list neck and neck with Hov… Respect
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ChiCity Star
Stephon Marbury put his name behind a pair of $15 basketball shoes that give underprivileged kids the chance to wear sneaks fit for the pros. At a mere $14.98, the price of the Starbury Ones is unprecedented!!!!! I mean come on now, there are homeless people walking the streets of Chicago who paid more for the paper bags they rubber-banded to their feet.
Big Ups to Stephon!!!!!
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Q.
thanks Will.. feedback like this keeps me going..
TROUBL means a lot to me, and I do consider myself part of the TROUBL team.. the dude you’re alluding to should definitely be on that list, but i wasn’t trying to put anyone on blast, but he should be nominated, because that dude has many dimensions/ways of TROUBL in him..
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Jo
I back tracked and read the rest of the series and it really made me understand a “Gangsta” state of mind! Keep them coming!
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Malia
TROUBLMan is one of my most favorite people on the planet!!!!
((don’t tell him I said that though, his head doesn’t need to get any bigger than it already is!!!))
He is going to be great leader and I am definitely here to support and respect him as he rises to that place of leadership! I try to understand his dreams for this site and see things from his perspective and I am constantly plugging the http://www.troublmedia.com EVERYWHERE I CAN!!!! This http is my signature on all outgoing email, as well as all my peeps who have really come through for me when I asked. THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! Latte, LoverofPeace, ChiCity Star, Felicia, Beautiful Mind….oh and thanks Yalonda for actually sending an email to all of your peeps on my behalf. This is not about me, it’s much greater than that! I even asked my stepdad to speak on it (a conservative republican)!!!!! LOL
TROUBLMan——–
I see you with new eyes, new appreciation, new love, new compassion, and new acceptance! ((BE PROUD OF YOURSELF!!!!))
*smile*
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Malia
You are quite welcome Malia!
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TROUBLMan
Thank you Malia. I really appreciate the love. That’s what TROUBL’s about–Love. They love I have for knowledge, for justice, for peace and for positive change (uh oh, there goes that word again).
Everybody doesn’t understand us. When they hear TROUBL they think trouble. Yeah we’re trouble to the powers that be. They don’t want us talking about this stuff. They don’t want us learning and teaching.
Malia you are definitely the life blood of the site. It’s funny because was was talking with my mom about you last night. I told her I want you to be a contributor. I want you to submit articles. I love your opinions and you’re definitely TROUBL.
I have your email, lets figure out what it’ll take to bring you on board. Again, Thanks for the love.
TROUBL is much bigger than me. The mission is to affect the world!And that’s Gangsta!!!
[Reply]
Malia
TROUBLMan —– Wow! I’m blushing, thank you!
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Malia
Q———– okay I thought I needed to add to the Gangsta list:
Serena Williams keeps the endorsements coming. Her Nike deal alone was worth $40 million dollars.
Usher came out with dual fragrances last year, He and She, somewhat uncreatively named, but what the hoooo. Even less creative was the development of a celebrity fragrance in the first place, which is becoming a common way to cash out for a celeb. In addition to this endorsement, which offered Usher some creative control, Usher appeared in the 2007 Macy’s television advertising campaign. That’s two endorsements in one year, and one that was his personal expression. Not bad, Usher, not bad!
Pharrell cashed in using his star power to extend what was first a creative sneaker endorsement into two popsicle-colored-street-chic clothing lines, and seems to be doing it well. By also repping for HP Computers in a television ad last year, Pharrell’s two endorsements and international appeal puts him on my list of favorites.
Queen Latifah has taken the fashion and beauty worlds to new realms of acceptance by creating a makeup line with CoverGirl that significantly expands the modern notion of “beautiful.” The CoverGirl Queen Collection invites women of color to enjoy their brown-skinned beauty. In addition, Latifah was the spokesperson for Curvation ladies underwear and Pizza Hut this year. While the last two endorsements may be less than super-impressive, that’s still three major deals, and one with a needed political message. All hail to the QUEEN!
Jay-Z has had a rather interesting year for endorsements. First off, Jay-Z continued his deal with Armand De Brignac to endorse their Ace Of Spade champagne in response to the Cristal champagne company attempting to publicly distance itself from its consumers in the hip hop community. Jay also did a heavily involved marketing campaign for Cherry Coke, and the HP laptop ad, which seemed ubiquitous this year. Not a bad year for Hov.
You guessed it. Rihanna made money off of umbrellas this year. Not only through that inescapable song, but also through an endorsement with Totes that enabled anyone in the world to buy their very own personal Rihanna umbrella, just in case you were tired of the song. Rihanna also received the Venus Breeze ‘Celebrity Legs of a Goddess’ award from Gillette, which insured her legs for $1,000,000. In addition, she became a CoverGirl spokesperson this year. For Rihanna, last year was very lucrative.
Derek Jeter has ongoing endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, Upper Deck sports collectables, Movado watches, and Ford that total in the tens of millions of dollars. This year he added a celebrity fragrance, Driven, to his roster. While not the most creative of moves, it does capitalize on his personal sex appeal, a new move for Derek. And with that list of companies, he didn’t have many directions to move in. Is a clothing line next?
Continuing the trend of rappers peddling liquor, Diddy has inked a revolutionary deal that some insiders believe can net him $100 million through a multi-year profit-sharing contract. In his deal with Ciroc vodka, Diddy will be responsible for marketing the brand and determining where it’s gonna be sold. Plus, Diddy’s Unforgivable Woman perfume came out this year ((smells deish, by the way)). Gotta make that paper, with all those kids! LOL…LOL…LOL…lemme stop!
Tiger Woods renewed his contract for another five years and reportedly $40 million. But the big whopper of a deal for Woods in 2007 was his $100 million dollar deal with Gatorade, which will go on for five more years. What he lacks in quantity of deals, Tiger Woods certainly makes up in bang per endorsement.
Beyonce may not have a single $100 million deal, but her list of endorsements in 2007 alone was staggering: American Express, her Samsung B’Phone, her Armani Diamonds perfume, her appearance in Disneyland’s ad campaign as Alice from ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ her Direct TV ad, and her continuing L’Oreal cosmetics contract. As the face of her own clothing lines run with her family, Dereon, and now Dereon Junior launched in 2007, Beyonce is everywhere and pulling in product-related cash from almost every commodity category. Her level of exposure, combined with the number, quality, and diversity of her endorsement deals makes Beyonce THE BYTCH!!!!!!!!! Watch out Kimora, you ain’t got NOTHIN on B!!!!!
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Q.
Malia, i like the additions..
with Usher, with the name of his fragrance he was going with the whole uSHEr and usHEr marketing, but it never really caught on and he never really said it enough.. just wanted to throw that out there..
love the addition of TROUBLman, and i’m glad he was nominated.. i know he’s a dude to watch for in 2008..
i’m going to add Tyrus Thomas of the Chicago Bulls to this list.. not known by many, but at just 21 years old, he’s launching a lot of things this coming year, but the biggest being the Tyrus Thomas Foundation which will provide a safe haven for at-risk youth.. he’ll be opening up a center down in Baton Rouge.. if the Bulls can get their act right, we might be seeing more of him on the court and dunking on people!
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Q.
Ice Cube:
uvntv.com is his new online venture, and i’d like to see where it goes.. looks like they’ll have its own programming, and you know with Cube Vision, he has enough scripts and stuff.. he’ll be producing a movie on the 1st Pee Wee football girl (she’s Black), and Fred Durst is directing it.. my fingers are crossed as 2 of my artists are in the final 3 for the lead role.. the script looks great, and will probably be Cube’s first serious film..
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Malia
Q——
AHA!!!!! That answers many questions, thanks for slice of information
Cube’s venture is another indication of the increased presence of hip-hop entrepreneurs taking the hustle from the block to the internet: “Hustlin’ aint dead, it just move to the web.” People like Dame Dash, Russell Simmons, T.I., and a few others are all pursuing online business ventures. But considering the recent success of companies like Youtube (sold for 1.65 Billion), Myspace (sold for 580 million), and Facebook (valued at 15 Billion), it’s no surprise. The internet has replaced the block as the spot for hustlers to pitch their products.
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SEE ALSO
♦ Q - Anatomy of a Gangster: United
January 29, 2008
♦ Q - Anatomy of a Gansta: Self-reflection
January 14, 2008
♦ TROUBLMan - Letter to the President
January 8, 2008
♦ Q - AOG: We Takin’ Over
June 4, 2008
♦ Q - AOG: Mid-year Watch
June 9, 2008