Teaming up with Robert Greene, the author of the cult self-help book, “The 48 Laws Of Power”- a favorite of several prominent rappers – Jackson’s book urges readers to live without fear. The book also suggests using “intense realism” to “see things for what they are.” [Source]

Aoki and Ming…they are investments. He’s paying them 40K a month now but after their branding blows up and with those funds parlay into and trained in the best schools for business management, etc  they will flip that 40K for about 15 years into potentially a billion. That’s all I hear with that amount. 

People forget these kids already have their own clothing line, one of them is considering modeling and/or entertainment. And unlike most baby moms, she’s got her own thing. If their mother and father leave them their businesses, those kids will create a managable surplus and build the businesses and expansions to the lengths them might not have even considered.  Not to knock Diddy’s kids but Simmons kids seem to  do very well making their parents money…I mean look at Pastry.

Not to knock kids who get child support but for the fathers who pay, I’ll speak for you… Its more than likely they will never be millionaires or marry wealthy, thus not putting hella money back in your pocket.  Sorry so, paying, you’re more likely to not pay and the son turn pro. Then on top of it, most of those kids and the baby moms spend the money on nothing and then it comes with drama. No businesses, no investments nor mergers no trust nothing but cell phone bills and busted Jordan sneakers. See 50 Cent’s baby’s mother.

Donald Trump, Prince of Monaco, they all do it so lets stop acting brand new, cause Simmons are becoming legacy money.

With all the talk of green and new jobs, on thing never passed my mind. What if none of this works? What if there are no more jobs and the few we have, leaves a massive layoff trend even bigger than what we see in less than 3 months? (3 Months is my dramatic effect duration).

Over at the DMI Blog, Harry Moroz’s “Stimulating Modernization” discusses an overlooked factor, the unemployent benefit program. I even admit, looking at unemployment had never crossed my mind because, if we’re losing jobs, we’re doing something wrong.

“Along with funds to continue the extended unemployment benefits program and to increase the weekly unemployment benefit by about $25, the House stimulus bill includes $7 billion in incentives for states to modernize their unemployment insurance systems. Currently, as the National Employment Law Project quite thoroughly documents, state low-wage and part-time workers are often excluded from unemployment benefits. This results from eligibility criteria that exclude a worker’s most recent earnings (making it difficult for low-wage workers to accrue enough earnings to qualify for unemployment assistance if they are sacked) and that exclude unemployed part-time workers by requiring that they look for fulltime work.[Harry Moroz - DMI Blog]“

But in this day, its a necessary evil to point out the weak bureaucratic sectors of the government that’s never been tested for weakness, well besides the contracted org, FEMA. Its clear its time we be honest with what’s always been a lil broken. Remember the levy’s were a “lil” broken, and the SEC was a lil off about Madoff.

Prior to joining Sahara, from 2005 through 2008, Ms. Odum held various positions at VIBE Magazine, a leading urban culture publication with more than eight million readers around the world. During her time at VIBE Ms. Odum served as Associate Music Editor, penning cover stories on artists including Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and Ciara. Ms. Odum also served as a contributing writer of entertainment features, reviews, and interviews for the magazine.

From 2006, Ms. Odum was Entertainment and Online Editor of VIBE Vixen Magazine, a female-oriented multimedia offshoot of VIBE focusing on fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment. Prior to her years with VIBE, Ms. Odum served as Contributing Editor for Upscale Magazine, contributing writer for Fierce Magazine, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and a staff reporter for The Philadelphia Tribune and Pride of Syracuse.

As Editor-in-Chief of Honey Magazine Ms. Odum will be responsible for overseeing content, as well as building the Honey brand and providing a voice for Honey’s multicultural demographic. In addition, she will work to connect individuals that visit the honeymag.com website to the online social network at hivespot.com.

“I am thrilled to join the Sahara team at such a momentous time in the company’s history,” said Ms. Odum. “Honey Magazine was hugely important to me as a reader when it first debuted on newsstands in 1999, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of its resurrection as a new media entity for the twenty first century. My background and prior experience in the magazine industry and online media, particularly at publications with an urban culture focus, makes my transition to Honey Magazine a natural fit. Given the changes occurring in the print media landscape, and the new way readers are growing accustomed to consuming content, our goal is to deliver a unique and dynamic experience that meets the needs and interests of today’s multicultural female community.”

“Shanel brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the Sahara team and will play an integral role in building the Honey brand, which we plan to reflect across all aspects of our multimedia platform,” said Philmore Anderson IV, Chief Executive Officer of Sahara Media. “We now have the necessary team in place and are on track to execute the launch of Honeymag.com during first quarter 2009.”

About Sahara Media, Inc.

Located in New York City, Sahara Media, Inc. purchased the Honey Magazine trademark from Vanguard Media in 2005 after six successful years of newsstand growth amongst the 18-34 female multi-cultural market.

To date, Honey is the largest selling magazine in the 18-34 African American female demographic, having reached a readership of 1.5 million through Honey’s loyal consumer base, brand awareness, foundation of advertisers, and proven editorial formula.

Honey was the first magazine to feature the largest array of multi-cultural cover models from Beyoncé, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Gabrielle Union, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lil’ Kim, Boris Kodjoe, and LL Cool J, to Lisa Left Eye Lopez and Aaliyah.

Sahara Media, Inc.’s mission is to be a leader in supporting multi-cultural based platforms, which feature diverse lifestyle resources and career opportunities for the growing market. Honeymag.com is a member of several professional organizations, including NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment), WEEN (Women Entertainment Empowerment Network) and NAMIC (National Association of Minorities in Communications). For more information, visit www.honeymag.com or contact IRG.

“The issue is that they have asked for an exorbitant increase in their carriage fees and their network ratings are sagging,” he said. “Basically we’re trying to hold the line for our customer.”

Viacom said the increases would cost an extra 23 cents a month per subscriber _ which works out to $35.9 million more in total. It said that Americans spend a fifth of their TV time watching Viacom shows but its fees make up less than 2.5 percent of the Time Warner cable bill [Huff].

So, in Feb 2009 if you don’t have cable you can’t watch tv and if this doesn’t get settled you won’t get cable either? Its coming clearer and clearer, if you don’t have money, you just may not be able to watch tv. A possible gift for intelligence (or the internet) or a curse for advertisers.

In 50 fashion, its all about chopping you down to get the understanding that you’ll still be under his thumb. Unlike Diddy, his show runs more like a drug hustler format sans the shooting and possible arrest warrants.

Here is the show synapsis on MTV:

Now, 50 Cent’s looking to spread the love by handing over $100,000 of his hard-earned cash to someone he thinks will be the next big business mogul. But how’s he gonna find this person? Simple. He’s rounding up 14 of the country’s most ambitious young entrepreneurs who have a track record of being smart, savvy and successful at playing the game. Let the quest for The Money and the Power begin!
[MTV]

Check out the trailer now.

The show premieres on Nov. 6, Thursday at 10pm EST.

Sean “Diddy” Combs has acquired the Enyce brand from Liz Claiborne Inc.
While terms of the deal were not disclosed, sources said Combs’ company, Sean John, purchased the flailing urban label for $20 million. [WWD]

Just more proof, Sean John is a passion by nature, not hobby. Not only has the brand expanded, respectfully in the fashion world, the possible acquisition of Enyce could be a new branding turn for a possible stab at upscale streetwear. Enyce was a subtle competitor. Might as well not blur the line and flip Enyce into a mirror opposite of Sean John with the same high standards.

1. Avoid pro atheles. Despite their money, people forget, most are are rich for their athletic skills, not their business skills. If their agent didn’t set it up, don’t deal with them. Athletes are surrounded by scammers so, they feel, get you before you get me.

2. The business hoodrat party goer’s whole goal is to go to the club to network. If they never materialize any contacts after 2 weeks 3 days of partying, don’t deal with them. The last thing on their mind is legitimate business responsibility.

3. “This is wack, that is ghetto.” If they never have hard physical solutions behind their opinions, don’t deal with them. Negative people will cause power structure problems later down the line. These people usual plant the seed of doubt to hijack a situation. If they don’t succeed, they usually secretly enjoy contributing to or seeing people fail.

4. If someone uses words like hustler, entrepreneur, mogul or jack of all trades as their only form of business lingo, don’t deal with them. Real hustlers do, and rarely talk about it.

5. Be careful getting baited by someone’s seemingly famous connections. Join only if money advancements or personal promotion is for certain. These people usually try to hustle free services out of people through the sheer concept of a celeb possibly being involved. If these people are truly connected, a short meeting setup should not be a problem. If they can’t even get an agent contact, don’t deal with them.

6. I don’t care how potentially productive this person may be, don’t deal with drug users. That means, if they use weed, coke, and even pharmaceuticals. They are never reliable.

7. If an old person comes at you to not invest in your business but to start one, don’t deal with them. More than likely they’ve messed over everyone in their own generation and too lazy to self start.

8. Try your best to not end up borrowing from the local dope boy or street hustler. I’m sure you go way back but, if you see your business becoming the next google, or something where federal oversight may come into play, don’t deal with them.

9. Nobody can be your best friend that fast, so watch people who will try to pick your brain. if someone is talking best friend or partner after one week of just casually talking about your business, don’t deal with them. They’re looking for fame or at least a quick blueprint for success, courtesy of you.

10. If someone assumes, they are your only window to success, on some “If you want _______ you have to go through me.” Don’t deal with them. These people are usually powerless and need to simulate control. Successful people never have hang ups of directly referring people for potential success. Happy successful people are usually secure with their fortune and get enjoyment of good hard working people in the hood, getting theirs too.

BONUS: Excuses. Granted things happen to people but, if every time you work with this potential partner/customer, there is an excuse “list”…Don’t deal with them. Multiple excuses for one problem is pathetic and usually used for image conscious people to safe face. If they are that unlucky, its a matter of time before that bad luck starts rubbing off on their surroundings. If they’re lying? Your better off not messing with them anyways.

Are there exceptions to this…from my and others I know experience, noticing the signs in this list, make the real deals glow even brighter. Nothing is ever what is seems cause “If you really put me on, put yourself on then…”

Urban Magnate © 2008

I usually don’t sway for people’s choice in music and rarel ypost music but, since I’ve been traveling, Young Jeezy is on my for sure list.

“I put Marcy on The Map, I Put Brooklyn on my back…” – Jay-Z

I have to admit I like hearing people opening to putting people on. That’s the true meaning enterprise. Jeezy and Jay are known for putting people on. Very true…

Young Jeezy Feat. Jay-Z – Put On (Remix)

It appears him and such board members like Denzel Washington are in makes to do what I had suggested someone do with BET, get a hollywood roster to showcase a channel. Well, this channel called Better Black Television, a competitor for BET. I saw competition bring out the best in everyone so, perfect Percy.

THe shows angle is to be a more positive depiction of Black and Brown people…sounds like HHN Live to me but here is the thing. Its not “Positive” images we need to see about Black and Brown people, its smart television. Things to make the view intrigue and think cause most entertainment is not positive for any color. I mean to me, CSI is negative…its a whole show on someone getting killed! But, people who watch become engaged and think, no matter how delusional it may make neo slueths.

Either way, let the challenge begin…kick kick. I know one thing, if P. Miller wants to be taken seiously, he NEEDs more press pictures of him without his Hip Hop kit couture.