Heinz unveils the new “Dip & Squeeze” ketchup packet. If you live in the south and have visited a Chick-Fil-A lately you have noticed the new ketchup packets, shaped like an actual ketchup bottle. This is Heinz new to go ketchup packaging, made so you can either dip into the ketchup or squeeze it out like you did in the past with the old packets. The new packaging is designed to be less messy and also provides you with 3 times more ketchup than the traditional packets. I’ve been fortunate to test these things out, the good people at Heinz hit me off with a LOT of samples. So much in fact friends in Atlanta are starting to call me the Ketchup King! HA.

Look for the new “Dip & Squeeze” packets to hit more restaurants as well as grocery stores in the near future.

I’m actually currently working

What a week this has been already. My phone broke on sunday night and I’ve been out the matrix for the past few days… With that said, if your looking for me for the rest of the week you can find me in the BAY!!!

Headed to San Francisco to link up with my Red Bull Music Academy family. This is just a taste of what I’ll be getting into. Looking forward to seeing all my San Fran famalams, and hopefully I get the chance to ghost-ride somebodies whip. HA!

I’ll be sure to take some cool pics and hit you guys with a Blog update when I return.

Peeped this joint earlier today. A piece on CNN speaking about how hip-hop changed marketing in America. Interesting commentary on both sides. Even better they showed clips from the homies 4-Ize and Kaos’ video Hard to Quit the Rhyme. Thats a good look! Check the CNN video below..

And after that check the Ultra Beast video Hard to Quit the Rhyme if you havent already!

Foot Locker has been stepping up their marketing game lately launching their own Blog site called Foot Locker Unlocked. It’s the #1 place to see what’s new or will be released in foot locker locations. Also keeps you up to date on special midnight launches, has a gaming section, and of course you can order product directly from the site, if you don’t feel like traveling to a Foot Locker.

F.L. has been pushing this “Get Fresh Air” campaign pretty heavy for the past few weeks. The campaign promotes several newly released Nike Air shoes and features athletes Amar’e Stoudemire, DeSean Jackson and Chris Bosh. To create some music for the movement, Foot Locker enlisted Chicago duo The Cool Kids to do what they do best… “Get Fresh.” Check it out.

Earlier last week Red Bull announced that the 2011 Red Bull Music Academy will be taking place in Tokyo, Japan. The applications are now available online.

The RBMA is a world traveling workshop, and a platform for artists, musicians, producers, etc. of various genres around the world who shape our musical future. It’s a place to meet other artists from around the globe, learn, work on music, network, and hopefully become better at what you do. In a nutshell, it’s every motivated musicians wet dream!

If you are an musician, singer, emcee, DJ, producer, etc. I STRONGLY encourage you to apply for RBMA. It does not matter if your an artist who makes music from your bedroom for fun, or if you’re a Grammy nominated musician, anybody is eligible to apply.

So… how do you apply? Feel free to check out this video below to give so some more information on the application process. If your ready to go, head over to RedBullMusicAcademy.com where you can download and print the application.

Big Shouts to the homie Stanley Lumax who sent me over this Mountain Dew collaboration project with Jay Electronica.

Just wanted to share the latest project I’ve been working on. We had the pleasure of creating digital film for Mountain Dew Code Red with Jay Electronica in New Orleans. Take a look.

Recently I was involved with putting together a volunteer holiday event for the Nike Running Store at Lenox (ATL). I partnered up with Carver Boys & Girls Club in the Kirkwood neighborhood of East Atlanta. For two days myself and the Nike team got out into the community to kick it with the youth. We did a lil mentoring, played some games, and gave out some toys. We didn’t do it alone though, along with the amazing Boys & Girls Staff, Chris Tucker, Young Jeezy, and local Atlanta radio personality Ryan Cameron (V-103) also came out for the festivities.

Food for the event was catered by the Chris Tucker Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive impact in youth locally. The foundation was founded by Atlanta comedian/actor Chris Tucker, who grew up not too far from the Kirkwood neighborhood. It was a huge surprise to the teens when Chris Tucker arrived at the center wearing a Santa Claus hat, and started telling jokes to everyone’s amusement.

The kids were also shocked with Ryan Cameron showed up and brought Def Jam rapper Young Jeezy with him.

Nike Lenox Team Day One

Ryan Cameron, Young Jeezy, and Nike Lenox Team.

Kids of Carver Boys & Girls Club with Young Jeezy and Ryan Cameron and plenty of toys.

Chris Tucker – And You Know This Man!

Chris Tucker with Carver Boys & Girls Club Staff. Shouts to Mr. Terrell, Mrs. Pam, and Mrs.

Chris Tucker with the Nike Crew.

The partnership between Nike and the Boys and Girls Club organization is another example of how corporations and community organizations can work together to make a meaningful change in the community.

Recently at the Nike Store Lenox in ATL I had the chance to work on an event with the 411 Brand. Created by John Thomas in 1992, the 411 Brand fuses music, sports, and entertainment figures with education to teach kids the importance of proper decision making. Since the 90′s the 411 Brand has hosted sports camps (Basketball, Golf, etc.) in urban communities across the country, as well as conducted successful panels. The 411 brand has worked with major music artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Goodie Mob, LL Cool J, Usher, and many more over the years.

“The411 Brand Program was created for the sole purpose of bridging the gap between successful individuals and a generation striving to become successful. We currently live in a world where many young people measure success by the amount of material things you have. Although this could be an indication of your accomplishments, it is by no means what makes you successful. We believe that, success comes from setting a goal and completing the journey it takes to achieve that goal. Each of our programs are designed to provide an opportunity for young adults to hear some of the most amazing journeys by some of the most successful individuals in our world today.” – John Thomas

This past weekends event featured Eshe of Arrested Development, Lamman Rucker (Actor: Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married 1&2) and was hosted by Big Lez (Former host of BET’s Rap City / Choreographer).

I got a chance to speak to the kids ages (16-24) from local Boys & Girls Clubs, and Clark Atlanta University about Nike I.D. and came up with trivia questions to make sure the kids were being attentive. Later in the event we raffled off a Nike I.D. experience to one lucky winner.

Check out some pics from the event…

Me speaking to the youth about Nike I.D.

Big Lez hosting

Lamman Rucker and Big Lez

L to R: John Thomas, Eshe, Big Lez, Lamman Rucker

Growing up as big fan of BET’s Rap City in the 90′s it was an honor to meet Big Lez.