Hype-man extraordinaire Sean “Diddy” Combs is being recognized for his brand savvy by CNBC’s "American Business" campaign. Fifteen interviews with some of America’s most influential CEO’s will air on the network. “I’m honored to be included in this group of America’s chief executives and top business leaders,” said Combs, CEO and founder of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group. “I’ve worked very hard to get where I am today and the testimonial showcases my philosophy on business.” Also included on the roster is Viacom's Sumner Redstone, BET founder Bob Johnson of RLJ Companies, and financial whiz and author Chris Gardner of Gardner Rich, whose book "The Pursuit of Happyness," became a hit movie starring Will Smith.  In one spot, Combs speaks on the musical culture that gave him an outlet for building brands in several different product genres. “You can’t underestimate people, you can’t put people in a box and that’s the strength and power of hip-hop.”

West Coast rapper Robert “Spice 1” Green, Jr. is in critical condition after being shot early Monday (Dec. 3) while in his Haywood, California hometown. Haywood Police Lieutenant Reid Lindblom told InsideBayArea.com that he was able to interview Green.  Green told him he was asleep in his car while parked outside of his parents home when a  man approached the vehicle and shot him in the chest. “He said he dozed off in his car,” Lindblom said. “He guessed he had been in his car for about 30 minutes.” No motive had been discovered at press time. “He is well respected in the rap community,” Green’s manager, Scott “Six” Bibiano said. “He is one of the icons, one of the fathers that started it in the Bay Area. Right now, we’re asking for everyone to keep Spice in their prayers.” Anyone with any information is encouraged to call the Hayward Police Department at 510-293-7000.

Duck Down Records continues to build their portfolio and artist roster. Rapper and Duck Down CEO Buckshot recently spoke with Canada’s ExclaimMagazine.com and revealed that in addition to their latest deal with ESPN (to produce tracks for the network’s coverage of men’s college basketball), they also have a deal with the History Channel and are launching Duck Down Television “We’re starting up Duck Down Television. It’s gonna have everybody you can imagine, as far as like, the struggles. It’s gonna be crazy. It’s gonna be interesting. We’re about to bring hip-hop to a whole new level," Buckshot said. Of new artist additions, he said, “We have Diamond D signed. We got KRS-One signed…We’re bringing everybody with us, man. One union, one nation.”

Rapper Tabi Bonney released his third video and directorial debut for “Syce It,” the lead single off his sophomore album, Dope Meets Fresh… Fresh Meets Superstar, tentatively out in February. “To me, its one of my favorite songs. It just expresses, I think, how the public feels,” he told AllHipHop.com. "Like I started out by saying: ‘I’m kinda like tired of the same thing/ kinda like bored with the same scene.’ Now I don’t know about you, but that’s how I feel – everything is just the same, most artists that are out feel like it’s a certain typical uniform: you gotta have a chain. That why people who say they are trendsetters and leaders are sick of the regular stuff. You need variety. I feel like I’m that person that’s gonna provide the variety of things.”