(AllHipHop News) LL Cool J’s wife is jumping into the jewelry business with the launch of her own line, named Simone I Smith (SIS).  LL, who stars in the hit series NCIS: Los Angeles, has been married to his wife Simone for over 16-years.  The Simone I Smith line consists of high end earrings and is influenced by her Hip-Hop upbringing.  LL’s wife Simone Smith also grew up in Queens, New York, where she met her husband LL at the tender age of 17.

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(Black Enterprise) — Most may view Nicki Minaj as just another rapper/singer/performer; but the multi-faceted entertainer is much more than that, she’s a bankable brand that’s only just begun to blossom. In a few short years, Nicki has influenced trends through her music and unmistakable fashion sense, and her involvement in cosmetics, television, hair and even the floral industry (Nicki has exclusive pink collection bouquets available on flowers.com for Valentine’s Day) has helped spike sales and visibility for a number of ancillary brands. Whether her detractors like it or not, Ms. Minaj is a one-woman marketing guru. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at some of the brands the young starlet has—directly or indirectly—helped bolster by association.

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By Brittany Hutson

Nowadays, when music artists get the itch to step away from the industry and dive into the world of entrepreneurship, it’s pretty much no surprise that their first venture is a clothing line. But according to Kristin Bentz, retail analyst and president of Talented Blonde, LLC, “the era of the celeb-designer is close to being over, if not already. When the recession hit, so many rappers/actors/personalities rushed to get licensing deals. So now we are overrun at retail with the remnants of rappers past.”

We collaborated with Bentz to critique some of hip-hop’s hottest lines that are still memorable today, not only for their sales, but also for their massive appeal to consumers and demonstrated business savvy on the part of the artist; as well as some of hip-hop’s less memorable brands due to high pricing points, an absence of solid promotion and mismanagement.

Here are Bentz’s picks for fashion lines that have been leaders in the artist-designer arena:

Phat Farm

Russell Simmons was undoubtedly the pioneer of the celeb-designer phenomenon with the launch of Phat Farm in 1992, which combined the urban aesthetics of the streets and the preppy culture of the Ivy League for men. Successful lines such as Phat Farm are “established by tier one rapper/artists that truly have the star power and financial backing to hire superior management teams and designers, as well as [finance] multi-million dollar ad campaigns,” says Bentz. Another example the demonstrates Simmons’ business savvy and why the brand has lasted for nearly two decades was his decision to sell Phat Farm to the Kellwood Company in 2004 for $140 million. “Brands are sold to large publicly-held companies that know how to merchandise, manage and promote a brand much better than the celebs who own the company are able to.”

(Brand Makers News) – Just like doctors and lawyers have to study their craft, entrepreneurs have to also study– to learn what it takes to build a successful business. Thankfully there are tons of brilliant women and men who chose not to keep their business wisdom to themselves.

I’m convinced that my greatest strength, as an entrepreneur, is my ability to learn from the dynamic business leaders who came before me. Though I’m pretty good at navigating the different situations I find myself in, I’m glad to know that I don’t have to have all the answers. I just have to know where to get the advice I need to keep my business going strong. Listening to my business mentors helps me avoid the pitfalls that knock others down, so I’m happy to take time each day to seek their advice. The least I could do is share some of their powerful tips with you.

(Brand Maker News) — Recent news about Kimora Lee Simmon’s breakup from the Baby Phat brand she built, came as a shock to many. While several articles questioned the fate of Baby Phat, we found it more interesting to explore the fate of its founder and chief brand ambassador, Kimora Lee Simmons.

In assessing Kimora’s brand, it became clear that she started preparing for this breakup years ago. Not that she expected it to go down the way it did, and not that she wanted the breakup to happen at all. But, she was prepared for the worst case scenario that ultimately became her reality.

(Brandmaker News) – Breaking ground as one of the most successful African-American supermodels of all time, Tyra Banks has relied on more than just a pretty face to build her brand and secure a place in the media.

Millions of supermodels have taken that leisurely stroll down fashion runways. But not all of them become media tycoons. Who would have thought that a few trips down a catwalk wearing lingerie could catapult a model into supreme stardom? Such was the case for former Victoria’s Secret model, Tyra Banks.

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(Brand Makers News) – If you happen to be sitting in Starbuck’s reading this article, there is a good chance that the aroma-filled space you’re enjoying belongs to Magic Johnson.  Yes, that Magic Johnson, former L.A. Lakers point guard and one of the sports world’s most famous players. Basketball stars snatching up endorsement deals (or entering the rap game) seem to be par for the course these days.  But Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s success has taken a slightly different path. Who would have ever “thunk” that several years after leaving the basketball courts behind, the 6-foot-9 former NBA star would have the world at his fingertips?

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