Jeezy, Missy E. & Method Man star in Adidas’ first TV ads

In honor of its 60th anniversary, long-time hip-hop supporters Adidas will be launching their first ever U.S. TV advertising campaign and have employed Young Jeezy, Method Man, DMC, Missy Elliott and even Russell Simmons to star in them. The ads will begin airing this week and also feature celebs such as Kevin Garnett and David Beckham mixed with the hip-hop stars. It’s nice to see Adidas stay close to their hip-hop ties after so many years since they teamed with Run D.M.C. back in the early 80’s.

The campaign will run a series of 30 and 60 second spots all focused around meeting together for a big pool party. My favorite is this K.G. vs. Jeezy spot.





Woooha!

Wale Partners Up With Levi’s Jeans

Despite not having a major record release, Wale has been able to secure major corporate promotional deals due to his “street” appeal that Wall Street companies crave for. His song “Breakdown” is featured on the Madden 2009 soundtrack and on the grassroots level, Wale has been involved with many streetwear lines including L-R-G as a spokesmodel. Wale’s biggest fashion deal though is his recent partnership with Levi’s Jeans.

The Levi’s partnership deal which of course was facilitated with the help of his new label Interscope Records, gives Wale major national exposure through a national print ad campaign (shown below) and is the featured artist in Levi’s interactive “Unbuttoned” online campaign which includes a download remix of “Breakdown” and other insider info. straight from Wale’s mouth. Check out the Wale’s dedicated Levi’s site here.

Diddy’s new I Am King/Queen fragrance marketing plans

Due to the success of his Forgivable fragrance, Diddy is set to launch a new line of cologne called “I Am King.” The new cologne is set for a December launch and will be supported by the above I Am King print ad campaign that will be featured in urban and lifestyle magazine along with an accompanying outdoor campaign. The print and TV campaign kicks off in September and will portray Combs as his typical mogul self which includes flying to exotic locations like Monaco and Saint-Tropez with models Bar Refaeli and Ana Paula, riding jet skis around the French Riviera, lounging aboard his yacht and gambling inside the Casino de Paris in Monte Carlo.

Diddy recently told Women’s Wear Daily “I Am King is a statement about all men. We are all descendants of royalty – and if we carry ourselves and respect ourselves in that manner and believe in ourselves, then we are all kings.”

Diddy also has released a Sean John line of tees that support the similar I Am King theme. These tees are currently available at online stores such as Dr. Jays. The I Am King cologne will have a similar distribution model to Forgivable and will be featured nation-wide exclusively at Macy’s department stores. Forgivable has racked in over $100 million globally from its current Macy’s deal. Diddy will follow up with a woman’s perfume called I Am Queen in 2009 and will also be supported with a full ad campaign and Sean John clothing.

Jay-Z/Rocawear “The Evolution” Ad Campaign

Super Bowl Ads Sneak Peak

From name-croaking frogs to a nimble nymphet flipping for Doritos, Super Bowl commercials are often the most memorable parts of America's most-watched game.

Sure, this year's tacklefest could be historic, with the New England Patriots becoming the NFL's first 19-0 team ever.

But at up to $2.7 million for one thirty-second spot, the financial stakes are even bigger for the ads -- which feature celebrities like Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Dale Earnhardt Jr. - than for football stars like Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Plaxico Burress.

Advertisers love the perennial showcase, televised this year Feb. 3 on Fox, because, unlike other shows, the ads are virtually "skip-proof."

Surprisingly, even though the game's just two days before the Super Tuesday primaries in 20-plus states, don't expect any expect candidates to air their differences.

Anheuser-Busch, though, will be back with seven ads, including some zany spots that link Bud Light to magic powers. Being able to breathe fire, though, doesn't make for the right kind of hot date, and x-ray vision proves to be an ability a woman might not want to have.

Bud Light also proves to the mother of invention. You didn't know the first wheel was devised by a caveman carting a heavy cooler to a party? In current times, a guy brainstorms a sneaky way to enjoy a bit of brewski at a wine-and-cheese.

Pepsi, creator of many memorable Super Bowl ads, is likely to tout its "power" beverage, Mountain Dew Amp Energy, purporting that it gives driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. the boost he needs to battle a gorilla or outrace a camel, according to Adweek.com.

Pepsi will also feature Justin Timberlake in a spot for Pepsi Stuff, a partnership with Amazon.com with music downloads and more, says Advertising Age (AdAge.com).

A Doritos contest invited musicians to "Crash the Super Bowl," by submitting songs, one of which will be a music video/ad. South Jersey's P. Oberoi is part of a rap group billed as Nivla & P. Oberoi that's one of the three finalists you can vote for (http://www.myspace.com/doritoscrashthesuperbowl).

Salesgenie.com, a sales-lead service from InfoUSA, is spending more than $5 million on three spots, president Mark Israelsen told Bloomberg news. Last year's red-sports-car ad prompted 25,000 signups, he said.

A Sunsilk shampoo ad featuring Marilyn Monroe, Shakira and Madonna, to air during the fourth quarter's two-minute warning, has already created a buzz in business circles. Unilever sidestepped the big ad agencies and used a Paris brand-planning boutique and a design shop that had never done TV before, according to AdAge.com, the Web site of Advertising Age.

A roundup of many spots can be found on AdAge.com. Some highlights:

Richard Simmons, Alice Cooper and a deer will present obstacles in ad for half-time show sponsor Bridgestone Firestone.

A funked-out worker endures spider attacks and more in one of two spots that Career Builder hopes will get more notice than last year's ads, which scored so low the agency was fired. (Wonder if any displaced execs turned to Monster.com.)

Sony Pictures will promo two flicks, Will Smith-starrer Hancock, about a street-bum superhero, and Adam Sandler yuckfest You Don't Mess With the Zohan.

Disney will promote its new Pixar film, Wall-E.

Alluding to The Godfather, Audi will peddle its zippy R8 sportster, which has a six-figure price tag.

Gatorade will reveal whose famous feet have been featured in ads for its new drink, G2.

And in the category of Last but Not Least: "Victoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima and a football," is all Advertising Age says about the lingerie line's ad.