SanDisk Sponsors Rock the Bells 2008 International Music Festival Series

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), a leader in flash memory, today announced its sponsorship of Guerilla Union's Rock the Bells™ 2008 international festival series. This summer concert sponsorship demonstrates SanDisk's commitment to two important marketing initiatives: an increased focus on music and urban markets and the company's Wake Up Your Phone™ campaign. SanDisk's Wake Up Your Phone campaign educates mobile phone users on how to capture and share their experiences while taking their music, video and digital pictures with them, by expanding the storage capacity of their mobile phones.

"Sponsorship of this leading international music event speaks to our commitment to reach consumers where our products can make the greatest difference for them," said Michael Romero, Vice President, Mobile Retail Business, SanDisk. The new SanDisk® Mobile Ultra™ line of memory cards makes the digital lifestyle more manageable by offering consumers enhanced ability to bring all types of digital content, especially music, with them wherever they go. These cards are truly the most convenient way for people to store, move and play such content using their mobile phones, so we're excited to marry our promotion of this high-performance, premium product with one of the summer's leading pop culture events."

Rock the Bells powered by SanDisk will take place from July through September in cities around the world, including Chicago, Toronto, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Amsterdam. The sponsorship program includes advertising promotions in the cities where the concerts are held, SMS campaigns, radio promotions and giveaways and a SanDisk VIP hospitality environment at concert venues. Within this setting, artists will experience elements of SanDisk's on-site activation and test drive some of SanDisk's new products. Additionally, concert-goers will have the opportunity to meet a SanDisk "SLOT ™ spotter," participate in a SanDisk interactive experience and win prizes.

About SanDisk® Mobile Ultra™

SanDisk Mobile Ultra premium flash memory cards for multimedia mobile phones will be promoted at the Rock the Bells powered by SanDisk venues. The message of the Wake Up Your Phone™ campaign is that these memory cards can add up to 8GB* of additional digital storage. Having a mobile memory card in one's phone results in a significant boost in storage capacity, making it possible for consumers to take up to 1000 songs, 1200 photos and 21 hours of video with them.** That's more than enough capacity to drive from San Francisco to New York without hearing the same song twice, fill six photo albums with images and watch both Star Wars trilogies and the Matrix trilogy, as examples.

The SanDisk Mobile Ultra microSD comes in capacities of 2GB, 4GB and 8GB, with suggested MSRPs of $34.99, $59.99 and $119.99, respectively. Also available is the SanDisk Mobile Ultra Memory Stick Micro M2™, designed for Sony Ericsson smart phones, in 2GB, 4 GB and 8GB capacities, with suggested MSRPs of $39.99, $69.99 and $129.99.

SanDisk Mobile Ultra memory cards are available at retail outlets starting this summer, including Sprint stores nationwide.

To learn more about SanDisk's Wake Up Your Phone™ initiative, designed to increase awareness for this and other global marketing efforts, as well as to provide overall mobile phone slot education, visit www.wakeupyourphone.com. For more information about SanDisk's mobile phone products, see www.sandisk.com/mobile.

Hype Press Update

T.I. Ready to Show His "PAPER TRAIL"

Hip-Hop Superstar Unveils Details of New Album; "No Matter What" Street Track Is Embraced by Radio & TV; First Official Single, "Whatever You Like," Hits Airwaves; "PAPER TRAIL" Drops in Stores and Online September 9th

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - July 18, 2008) - Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I. has unveiled further details of his much-anticipated new album, "PAPER TRAIL." The multiple Grammy Award-winning superstar will release the follow-up to 2007's RIAA platinum-certified "T.I. vs T.I.P." on September 9th.

"I just want everyone to know that it's coming out and that I'm going to answer a lot of questions in the music," the ATL-based rapper says of "PAPER TRAIL." "It's intense and insightful; it's gonna shake up the game and it's me at my best."

"PAPER TRAIL" has been heralded by the street track, "No Matter What," on which T.I. directly addresses his current life situation. The track -- produced by Danjahandz (Timbaland, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Danity Kane) -- has been building momentum organically, scoring major airplay at Urban and Rhythmic radio outlets nationwide. The song's companion video is now in "Medium" rotation at BET and in "Heavy" rotation on the network's "Rap City." At MTV, "No Matter What" is in rotation across the spectrum, including MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, and MTV Jams (where it was recently "Jam of the Week").

The album's first official single, "Whatever You Like," has just hit radio outlets nationwide. The song was produced by Jim Jonsin, whose many credits include Lil Wayne's current #1 smash, "Lollipop." In addition, "Swing Your Rag," a brand-new Swizz Beatz-produced track from "PAPER TRAIL," has just been added to the player on T.I.'s MySpace page, located at www.trapmuzik.com.

"PAPER TRAIL" is T.I. at his best -- melding emotive moments like the harrowing "My Life, Your Entertainment" with celebratory anthems such as the cocky "Turn My Beat Down." In addition to the aforementioned Danja and Swizz Beatz, the production roster includes such studio stars as DJ Toomp (Kanye West, Missy Elliot, Young Jeezy) and Drumma Boy (Paul Wall, Rick Ross, Yung Joc). The result is T.I.'s most potent and important LP to date.

The album follows T.I.'s two previous #1 blockbusters, 2007's "T.I. vs T.I.P." and 2006's RIAA platinum-certified "KING." With an unparalleled track record of hit singles -- including "Top Back," "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)," "Why You Wanna," and the Grammy Award-winning "What You Know" -- T.I. is without question one of hip-hop's greatest stars. In addition to his multiple Grammy Awards, T.I. has been the recipient of a wide variety of honors, including BET Awards, BET Hip-Hop Awards, and Billboard Music Awards.

An accomplished actor as well as a gifted rapper and live performer, T.I. has played acclaimed roles in the major motion pictures "ATL" and "American Gangster." He will be starring in the upcoming Screen Gems film entitled "Bone Deep." He will also make a cameo appearance on the new season of HBO's "Entourage."

Earlier this year, Tip found success in cyberspace, launching a social networking website called www.streetcred.com. Added to these endeavors is his much-anticipated clothing line Akoo, which will be in stores this fall.

In 2009, T.I. will be tackling television with an inspirational reality show airing on MTV. The yet-to-be-titled series will center on the rapper's life on probation in the year leading up to his impending year-long jail sentence.

Hype Press Update

WU-TANG LEGEND GZA/GENIUS ANNOUNCES LONG-AWAITED NEW ALBUM "PROTOOLS"--IN STORES

One of the most renowned and continually relevant hip-hop emcees of all time, GZA returns with his long awaited fifth solo album, "ProTools." An original member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, GZA has established himself as a perennial force in hip-hop over his 13+ year solo career. Recently, GZA's contributions have driven the phenomenal success of the 2008 Wu-Tang Clan reunion album "8 Diagrams" as well as two of independent hip-hop's recent flagship releases: Think Differently Music: "Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture" and the DJ Muggs/GZA collaboration "Grandmasters."

With an entrenched and rabidly loyal fan base, "ProTools" marks the long awaited return of one of hip-hop's most revered and respected emcees.

And just wait until you hear what he has to say!!! The album's first leak track, "Paper Plate," finds GZA going in hard at a Vitamin Water mogul on this ihiphop.com exclusive.

With "Paper Plate," GZA is in top form, a true veteran showcasing the incomparable style that has defined witty battle rap for the greater part of a decade.

Spitting 104 bars of straight heat, GZA cuts the legs out from under the G-Unit impresario, reminding us all how sweet beef on wax really sounds. Using metaphor and lyrical imagery (and without employing a single curse word), GZA gives it to us "burnt & crispy."

True heads stand up...The Genius has finally returned.

Hype Press Update

BRASH PR GOES PLATINUM...

Brash PR, urban lifestlye & entertainment public relations agency, recently landed the multicultural communications account for luxury mens belt company, Kale Miles. Brash will serve as the company's agency of record for multicultural communications, and will be responsible for celebrity product placement and media relations. The Kale Miles brand is notably known for housing the worlds most expensive belt. The belt, made of 8oz.s of pure platinum and leather from an undisclosed Italian tannery, retails at $18,000, and is exclusively sold by Los Angeles high- end retailer, Fred Segal, home to various haute couture. The Kale Miles collection was recently featured in NY MAGAZINE, GQ, TIME, MENS HEALTH, & HARPERS BAZAAR. Brash PR's managing partner, Tiffiany Vaughn, says " It is an honor to add the Kale Miles brand to our " Who Loves Us" client list. Brash is focused on aligning ourselves with timeless pieces of art, like Kale Miles. Our agency is proud to have our efforts to reach the pop-culture market recognized and appreciated by such a prestigous brand." Brash PR has yet to disclose what actors & celebrities that will be featured in the Kale Miles brand this fall, but promises those details will be unveiled after this summer's Magic Trade Show event held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company hints that the Kale Miles Sr. Designer is a huge LiL Wayne fan. Additional Kale Miles products and company information can be found online at www.kalemiles.com.

Hype Press Update

Toronto's Top Indie Hip-Hop Artist Kama aka Kamikaze Introduces American Rap Publication Don Diva Magazine To Canada

Kama, Toronto's premier rap artist and entrepreneur extraordinaire is partnering with Don Diva Magazine to bring this cutting-edge magazine about the "street culture" to Canada. Kama will be the sole distributor of Don Diva Magazine, which will be introduced to the Canadian market during the last week of the 2008 Toronto Caribana Carnival.

Kama, rap artist/entrepreneur and who founded Ezakimak, Inc. in 2000 which is now Ez-Mak Records & Entertainment is a community activist as well as an entertainer. His company has branched off into many components such as Ez-Mak Films, Ez-Mak TV, Ez-Gear, a web social community network and a non-profit organization called HoodNet Academy. "I am giving back to the community by demonstrating to our youth that there are other ways of accumulating wealth rather that through nefarious ways," say Kama. "The neighborhood kids look at me and see that I am from their community and I am making it large." Kama has had hit singles for the last eight years such as "Today," "Kamillion," "Messin' wit Me," and "Independence Day." "Kama's World," featuring American Hip-Hop legend Doug E. Fresh, became the largest commercial success for in Canada.

His latest single and video is "T.A.V. (I Wanna Make It)," which tells "our side" of the relationship with the T.A.V., a special anti-gang police unit in Toronto. The Man, The Myth, The Legend is a nearly completed documentary based upon the trials and tribulations of his life. Now Kama also has a partnership agreement with Don Diva magazine, which reports on the phenomenon of "street culture" to be their sole Canadian representative and is bringing it to the Canadian market. New York-based Don Diva senior editor Steve-O worked with Kama to help facilitate this groundbreaking deal. This publication with a circulation of 15,000 - 20,000 will be distributed through out Canada commencing August 2008.

Don Diva magazines, "The Original Street Bible," mission when it first published in 1999 was to provide a raw and uncut look into the social and legal issues that affect today's urbanite. From this embryonic publication, nine years later it has grown into a multimedia enterprise to include Web commerce, DVDs, mixtapes, books and apparel. Don Diva was the first magazine to recognize "Street Literature" and their authors. The publication has universal appeal and has gone global with a Don Diva UK edition and now a Canadian edition. It has a circulation of 15,000-20,000. And its core audience is urban adults 18-34.
Tiffany Chiles, editor and publisher, says that "to say that Don Diva glorifies the gangster life is absurd and our readers are sophisticated enough to understand that we are only relating another side of the "street life." "It is the magazine's obligation to enlighten our readers of the canyons of despair that awaits them if they decide to follow this lifestyle." Don Diva remains steadfast in its mission to provide a balanced awareness of the "street life." Don Diva has received accolades from a myriad of educators on their insight on the legal, political and health issues that affect minority and urban communities today.

Kama, the founder of Ez-Mak Records & Entertainment, and Don Diva magazine enthusiastically welcome the 2008 Toronto Caribana Carnival. This memorable carnival runs from June 15 will culminate the week of July 31 through August 4 with a gala wrap up that features excellent food, music and the Caribbean cultural experience. The first Don Diva Canada Magazine will be published in September. Throughout the festival, Don Diva will also be doing giveaways of the current issue, which features an exclusive interview with Kama.

Caribana, originally called the Trinidad Carnival, was created in 1967. Today, it attracts more than one million attendees. Included in the festival are the music, dance, food and costumes of Jamaica, Guyana, the Bahamas, Brazil and other Caribbean cultures. Now in its 41st year, Caribana Carnival is the largest Caribbean Carnival in North America. The Caribana has the largest parade in North America and there are thousands of masqueraders and colorful floats carrying live soca, calypso, steel bands, and reggae and salsa performers.

For Additional Information, Visit: http://www.ez-mak.com/.

Hype Press Update

HIP HOP GROWS UP, INC. ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH BRUCE GEORGE, CO-FOUNDER OF DEF POETRY JAM

HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc. is a non-profit dedicated to closing the gaps in education, between parents/guardians, youth, and educators. It is also formed to help youth better prioritize images and words they receive from entertainment and to enhance, greatly, the self-esteem within youth. Ultimately, HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc. is poised to recreate the village it takes to raise children.

HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc. will accomplish, the set, goals by pushing their iPositive Movement – a faction geared to improve the self-esteem and self-expression in youth and via their Change Experiences – a curriculum of educational gap solutions. HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc. is set to utilize the most positive influences from HIP HOP and other genres of entertainment to meet the needs of the mission and vision. "This is why partnerships with giants like Bruce George are pertinent to HIP HOP GROWS UP's success in helping us to make sure our youth know that education is necessary. Other nations of youth are light years ahead of our children in academia," as stated by HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc. Co-Founder, Ms. CeCe Morris.

Bruce George, Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam agreed to sign on to partnering with the non-profit because he is passionate about the mission of HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc., as it is his existing mission. George will form and operate the literary wing for HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc and is announcing that there will be youth poetry contests, slams, and the like. He is equally excited about the alliance as HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc.

" I'm most excited about my alliance with "Hip Hop Grows Up." We share a common mission towards reaching those youth that have been marginalized so in turn we can offer them outlets towards self-determination." -Bruce George, Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam

Hype Press Update

Death Row Owners Respond To $25 Million Lawsuit

After completing a $24 million dollar acquisition of Death Row Records, Global Music Group was hit with a $25 million dollar lawsuit from venture capitalist Ron Goldberg, who claimed to have been illegally cut out of the deal by his partners. In an exclusive statement to AllHipHop.com, the Global Music group disclosed their stance on the lawsuit and the details of the acquisition. “We represent Global Music Group, Inc, a New York Corporation which was the successful bidder at the auction of the assets of the bankruptcy estates of Death Row Records, Inc., and Marion Knight, Jr,” explained Roger Muse, a partner at the Beverly Hills business and entertainment law firm of Muse Methany. “My client and its principals put up all the money necessary to make the bid and were successfully present at the Bankruptcy auction to make that successful bid.” Muse also stated that Ron Goldberg was never a member of Global Music Group, or recruited investors for the company as he alleges in his lawsuit.

Hype News Updates

Soft-drink giant Coca-Cola has released a statement announcing a six-city, invitation only tour featuring Grammy award-winning artist Lupe Fiasco. The "Coca-Cola Refresh Your Flow Tour," which is aimed at teens ages 13-17, kicked off last night (July 17) at the Avalon in Hollywood. The tour will with hit Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington DC and New York City. Yolanda White, assistant VP of African American Marketing at Coca-Cola, expressed excitement about the unique concert experience Fiasco and Coca-Cola have planned for their young audiences. "Not only will each concert offer the teens an unforgettable musical experience, it will give each of them a taste of the Coke Side of Life-a moment in time that is refreshingly optimistic and uplifting," White said. Lupe Fiasco is also looking forward to the tour. “It’s a unique opportunity for me to bring a message of positivity and what it really means to be cool," Lupe revealed. "I hope it will be an unforgettable experience for every teen who attends."

Hype News Update
All Hip Hop

Shawty Lo Denies Chain Snatching Rumors

Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo is shooting down internet rumors of his involvement in an altercation at a club in his hometown over the weekend, in an exclusive statement issued to AllHipHop.com. Rumors appeared online on Wednesday (July 17) that Shawty Lo, born Carlos Walker, was assaulted at Club Crucial, a venue in Bankhead co-owned by rival T.I. According to rumors, Shawty Lo’s chain was stolen and the attack occurred to the soundtrack of T.I.’s “What Up,” a recently released track which appears to take aim at Shawty Lo. “A couple of dudes from my Bowen Homes hood got into it with some other dudes from Bowen Homes,” Shawty Lo explained to AllHipHop.com. “It really wasn’t nothing, just some Bowen Homes s**t. It wasn’t an altercation with me at all. I didn’t get touched, period. And this had nothing to do with T.I.” The D4L founder, who is currently on vacation in Florida with his family, said that he would address the situation in more detail with a new YouTube video, set to be posted today (July 18).

Hype Press Update

Exclusive: Rick Ross Denies Ex-Correctional Officer Claims

Rick Ross has charged that images depicting him as a young correctional officer are totally fabricated, the result of savvy graphic artists. He told AllHipHop.com exclusively, "My life is 100% real. These online hackers putting a picture of my face when I was a teenager in high school on other peoples' body. If this s**t was real don't you think they would have more specifics, like dates and everything?” Earlier, a single image was in circulation on the internet suggesting that Ross previously worked as a correctional officer at an unnamed jail or prison. The Miami-based rap artist, known for his gritty street rhymes, said envious people have conspired against him for his success and stature. “I'm in the entertainment business and a lot of people who like to hate because I'm on top of my game,” Ross told AllHipHop.com. “Like I said before my life is 100% real. I live by this die by this. Fake pictures are created by the fake, meant to entertain the fake."

Hype Press Update

Buckeey Breaks Silence On Sex Tape

Former Flavor of Love Season 2 and Charm School standout Buckeey has broken her silence about her leaked sex tape, which was distributed throughout the internet in June. In an exclusive interview, Buckeey, real name Shay Johnson, is steadfast in stating the tape’s distribution was done without her permission, and she had no intention of using it for publicity as some have claimed. “It troubled me to find out my intimate act of love was classified as a sex tape. I didn’t speak on it because I knew how tender the situation was between me and my partner,” Buckeey revealed to AllHipHop.com. “Once you become a personality on television you become the target of haters and I am no different, the release of the tape was done by a hater, stolen by a hater and is just another blatant case of b**chassness.”

Hype Press Update

Unyted Records artist Mel Buckley performs at Lee Bailey’s

Urban R&B singer Mel Buckley will be performing at Lee Bailey’s first annual EURweb Media Awards Show to be held Friday August 1, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center between 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the West Hall - 511AB. He will perform from his soon to be released debut on Unyted Records/Urban Eyes Media.

Mel Buckley is a native of Chicago and at 6’8” gravitated towards basketball as a young man growing up. He eventually played for Big East Contenders/University of Southern Florida and even played professionally overseas. His love for music became overwhelming at a point so Mel Buckley decided to change his focus to his music.

View full sizeMel Buckley met James Mark of Unyted Records, an independent label in Las Vegas, and together they are on a serious journey to make the next platinum selling album. Mel’s music paints a vivid picture and gives an intense storyline. His vocals are top quality and his performances captivating.

Some of the selections on the up-coming-album, some he will perform at the 2008 EURweb Media Awards, include “Sounds like a love song,” “Not too much,” “Take off” and “All I want is you.”

The EURweb Media Awards will be hosted20by radio personality Lee Bailey, comedian/actress Luenell and actress/singer LaRita Shelby. There will be a featured performance by Grammy nominated singer Shanice.

Awards for Most Out-Standing print media, electronic media, photographer, journalist, agency and most media friendly celebrity will be presented, as well as two special honors the EURweb Media Trailblazing Award will be given to national magazine publisher Jamie Foster-Brown/Sister2Sister Magazine and the EURweb Media Legend Award to celebrity photographer Bill Jones.

For more information on the EURweb Media Expo & Awards log onto www.eurweb.com/mediaawards and www.eurweb.com/mediaexpo.

Hype Press Update

We are back online!

Check out www.gethypeonline.com For More Updates and The Special Black Expo Edition #25 and Issue #26 featuring KD 'The Teen Spokeman' & N.E.R.D.