After much preparation, the first HipHopSodaShop will open today in Tampa, FL with a celebratory performance by “The Human Beatbox” Doug E. Fresh. Hip-hop entrepreneur Andre Harrell will also be on site to host the healthy fast food restaurant’s official grand opening, signifying the beginning of a planned nationwide franchise. “It’s a privilege and an honor to have such Hip-Hop luminaries commit to our grand opening,” Dr. Benjamin Chavis, CEO of H3 Enterprises, the publicly traded parent company of HipHopSodaShop, said in a statement. “…I will have more of the biggest names in Hip-Hop to announce real soon.”

Rapper Lupe Fiasco’s been kickin’ and pushin’ since his Best Urban Alternative Performance Grammy nomination earlier this month for his hit song “Daydreamin’” featuring Jill Scott. His character driven episodic sophomore album, The Cool releases today and he is celebrating with a concert at NYC’s The Fillmore (tonight at 7 p.m.) and the launch of a new streamlined version of LupeFiasco.com (featuring a video game called “THE COOLest”). And to follow-up, a nationwide tour beginning Jan. 11; ringtone/download partnerships with AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint; clothing design partnerships with Converse, Levi’s, Maharishi, and Swagger for his Righteous Kung Fu line; a vintage radio show; blogging on an as-yet-unannounced site; and a character-inspired toy development deal. All this aggressive marketing savvy for the relatively new artist, still he told Billboard.com he has plans for it all to end. “’LupEND’ – that’s going to be my last album’s title. When you play a videogame, you can only put in three letters for your name and when the game’s over, those three letters and ‘END’ pop up. My next record might be my last one.”

Rapper Snoop Dogg was all about football this weekend as his “Father Hood” episode with soccer star David Beckham aired and he hosted his third annual Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) benefit concert; and he’s highly rated in both arenas. According to Multichannel News, Snoop’s E! series, “Father Hood,” debuted with the highest four-week average rating for the network’s timeslot. However, he’s likely more excited that his Los Angeles, CA House of Blues show (Dec. 15) was sold out. “I am as committed to the SYFL as I am to any of my other interests – it ranks as high, if not higher than the others for me,” Snoop said in a statement. “The kids in the league depend on me to keep it going and giving 100% of the sales from this concert is my way of making it happen for all of them.” He has coached and provided funding for the league for the past three years, helping it grow to having 12 chapters (totaling 2,500 inner-city youth). The funds raised will go towards uniforms, transportation, lodging and food for the SYFL Snooper Bowl championship game in Arizona on Feb. 3, the same date and location of the NFL’s Super Bowl XLII.