AMBER ROSE SIGNS WITH FORD MODELS

Major advantages of dating Kanye West: access to the front row of every fashion show - the chance to hang out with Madonna at the Met Ball - free sneakers from Ye's line with Louis Vuitton (OK, we made that up but we're thinking it's probably true). And, it seems, in the case of Kanye's much-debated-about-but-still-very-much-girlfriend Amber Rose, a full-on modeling contract. According to fashion insider Derek Blasberg's Twitter account, she has just signed a giant contract with Ford Models, the agency which incidentally also looks after the likes of Chanel Iman.

OMARION SIGNS WITH LIL' WAYNE'S YOUNG MONEY LABEL

After speculation arose late last week, it's Official... Omarion has indeed signed to Lil Wayne’s Universal imprint Young Money.

Rumors broke out following a message on Tyrese’s twitter account congratulating O on his new deal, a rep for Universal has confirmed that the R&B singer is the latest artist to join the Young Money roster. The imprint already has a long list of talent including Drake, Jae Millz, Mack Maine and Nicki Minaj, among others. It is uncertain if any of the other acts are officially signed to Universal. Of course, Omarion had signed a deal with Timbaland’s Mosley label last year — no word on what happened there.

KID CUDI INKS DEAL WITH MOTOWN | LAUNCHING NEW LABEL

Kid Cudi has just put to rest any retirement rumors with a new record deal and upcoming record label via a recently inked deal with Universal/Motown.

Company president Sylvia Rhone revealed that Kid Cudi’s upcoming debut album Man on the Moon: The Guardian will be released through his label Dream On, in conjunction with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint.

Universal Motown will also distribute Dream On, a new joint venture between Kid Cudi, his partners Emile and Plain Pat and West’s G.O.O.D. Music.

“Kid Cudi is at the vanguard of a game-changing new generation of artists,” Universal Motown President Sylvia Rhone said in a statement. “He crosses musical boundaries with an appeal that goes beyond genre, format, race, language, and culture. Cudi lives easily in the Hip-Hop, indie rock, pop, and R&B worlds – a diversity that shows in his innovative music and his all-embracing persona. He is a born storyteller who brings a positive, life-affirming message to his brilliant lyrical flow and compelling music. There are no clichés in what Cudi does. He is a breath of fresh air – a dynamic and important new voice, not only in the next phase of Hip-Hop, but as a groundbreaking trendsetter who represents the future. I am thrilled to welcome Kid Cudi into the Universal Motown family.”

The deal comes on the heels of the worldwide success of Kid Cudi’s single “Day’ N’ Nite,” as well as West’s hit single “Heartless," which Kid Cudi co-wrote.

Kid Cudi’s debut album Man on the Moon: The Guardian is due in stores this summer.

PHARRELL WILLIAMS WANTS TO MAKE GRADUATION GOWNS

Pharrell Williams celebrated the launch of his new eco-friendly fabric company the other day, which turns recycled plastic bottles into textiles.

“We want to do everything from high-end luggage to high-end denim, to university caps and gowns to Parks Department uniforms,” says Pharrell.

THINGS GO FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR CHRIS BROWN

Chris Brown is still in Los Angeles as he awaits his upcoming court date. Police are now telling media sources that additional charges may be filed against him when the case is presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Brown was booked for making criminal threats rather than domestic abuse, given the fact that Rihanna — had “visible injuries," including two “huge contusions” on both sides of her forehead, a bloody lip and bloody nose, on top of the swelling and bruising. Law enforcement sources tell us they typically book a suspect for the most serious crime they can be charged with — it’s then up to the D.A. to file any additional charges. Given there were allegedly visible injuries, the crime of making criminal threats is punishable by up to nine years in prison. Domestic abuse is four years.

In related news... Chris Brown has so far lost two endorsement deals. The "Got Milk" people have taken down Chris Brown's ad on their website and released a statement saying "The Milk Mustache campaign is taking the allegations against Chris Brown very seriously. We are very proud and protective of the image of the Milk Mustache campaign and the responsible message it sends to teens. Mr. Brown's ad was launched last fall and is scheduled to end this week." Earlier Chris also had his ads with Wrigley suspended. Wrigley also canceled their popular commercial that played during the Grammy's which features performances by both Rihanna and Chris Brown.

50 CENT TO LAUNCH COSMETIC LINE

Reports say that rapper-mogul 50 Cent is finishing a new cosmetics line for men, which will include moisturizers and health supplements. Oh, don't act so surprised. Every rapper uses night cream! We hear it helps with the hustle. A source says that "his range will be for the guy who likes to be pampered, but the supplements will make it more butch." Hip-hop is no stranger to manscaping — Jay-Z and Kanye both love it. But launching a line? 50, just who do you think you are... Diddy?

WTF?! KOCH RECORDS NAMES JIM JONES VP OF URBAN A&R

Koch Records has announced that rapper Jim Jones has joined the company’s executive staff, as Vice President of Urban A&R. Jones will be responsible for signing and developing new talent for the Urban division of Koch Records, which is the #1 independent record label in the United States. “It feels good to know that the hard work has been recognized by the same people that have helped me get to this point in my career,” Jones said in a statement. “They recognize that I’m not only an artist but a person that can smell talent and be able to mold a superstar.” Jim Jones’ solo albums On My Way to Church (2004), Harlem: Diary of a Summer (2005) and Hustler’s P.O.M.E. (2006) were all released via Koch Records. Hustler’s P.O.M.E. contained Jones’ massive hit single “We Fly High (Ballin’).” According to Alan Grunblatt, General Manager for Koch, Jones successes as a recording artist have helped put the label “on the map.” “He truly knows what it takes to make a hit record. I am thrilled to be working with him for many years to come,” Grunblatt said. The first release under Jones’ tenure with Koch will be the debut album by Juelz Santana’s new group, Skull Gang, which is due in stores February 24. New singles from the album, “Body Like Mazi” and “Rock Starr” featuring Lil Wayne and Starr are scheduled to impact radio in the coming weeks. Juelz Santana is also working on a new studio album that will be released in late 2009.

JAY-Z HOTELS PUT ON HOLD

The development of a New York hotel Jay-Z recently invested in, is on hold because he and his partners cannot pull in enough financing for the project. Jay ploughed money into J Hotels, which acquired a $66 million plot to build a high-end hotel in New York City. But due to the ailing economy, partners have failed to pull in investors - and there is now a $370 million shortfall in funds, as even the banks won’t back the property development. Charles Blaichman, one of Jay's partners, tells The New York Times, “A year ago it would have seemed a reasonable amount. Not now. Even the banks who want to give us money can’t.”

KANYE TO COMEDY CENTRAL???

Kanye West is set to star in a new show on Comedy Central that can pretty much be descibed as Hip Hop meets the Muppets. The project, which is under consideration for the 2009 season, would feature music produced and performed by West as well as fellow rapper Rhymefest, both of whom are serving as executive producers on the pilot, alongside Jimmy Kimmel. West also hosts the pilot; the idea is to have a different celebrity guest host for every episode, similar to the setup on the original “Muppet Show.”A half-hour pilot has been shot for the project, tentatively titled Alligator Boots.

PHARRELL WILLIAMS PARTNERS WITH MICROSOFT FOR AD CAMPAIGN

Pharrell Williams will join a cast of celebrities in a new $300 million dollar advertising campaign being launched by Microsoft. On September 4, Microsoft debuted two spots featuring comedian and spokesman Jerry Seinfeld and company founder Bill Gates, as part of the biggest ad spend in the company’s history. One advertisement features Seinfeld and Gates shoe shopping while engaging in idle chatter and the second features the duo engaged in conversation at a blue collar family’s dinner table. Despite being on the air for less than two weeks, the company is pulling the ads, in favor of a new campaign featuring Pharrell, Deepak Chopra and actress Eva Longoria.

A Microsoft spokesman said the ad campaign was “completely in accordance” with the company’s plans and denied that a lukewarm response from consumers was to blame for the change. The “second phase” of Microsoft’s ad campaign featuring Pharrell have the tagline: “Windows. Life without walls.”

IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED | ARLENIS TO LANCOME

The news we broke way back in July - that Arlenis is indeed the new face of Lancome - is absolutely true!

Lancome can't say exactly for how long the Dominican beauty will front their array of mascaras and lip glosses, but they can say that her ads, shot by Dusan Reljin, will break some time after the new year.

We're elated that one our choice best new models got such a huge (and coveted) contract so fresh out of the gate - remember that just at the beginning of this year, Arlenis was still a student without any idea she'd be posing for several editions of Vogue and walking for big shows like Oscar by the end of what would have been "next semester."

And do we even have to mention how much we love that Lancome seems to be diversifying their stable of models more and more?

ELIZABETH ARDEN TEAMS UP WITH JAY-Z FOR ROCAWEAR FRAGRANCE

Rocawear, the fashion label established by Jay-Z, will launch their first fragrance this fall. The new fragrance for men, 9IX Rocawear, was created under licensing arrangements with Elizabeth Arden. Arden hopes to bring added urban appeal to department stores by September.

Carter continues to be involved in the business and retains creative control over the fashion, and Arden said that Carter had a strong hand in developing the fragrance — but 9IX is not intended to be “a Jay-Z celebrity fragrance,” said Ron Rolleston, executive vice president of global fragrance.

The scent, concocted by International Flavors & Fragrances, has top notes of Asian coriander, mandarin zest and living cantaloupe; a heart of spike lavender, raw geranium leaf and suede, and a drydown of golden amber, musk and timberwood.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: SOLANGE KNOWLES TAPPED FOR ARMANI JEANS

Beyonce's baby sister, Solange Knowles, is joining the Armani family. Following in her sibling's footsteps (she is the face of Emporio Diamonds fragrance) the 22-year-old has been recruited to represent Armani Jeans.

"Armani Jeans expresses my vision of a young, independent, casual lifestyle with a strong and cool fashion sensibility," said Giorgio Armani. "Solange epitomizes this style perfectly and brings to it that swing so evident in her new single, 'I Decided.'"

The singer has agreed to wear the brand during her current European press tour through London and Cannes.

CHRIS BROWN AND NE-YO REMAKE JINGLES FOR WRIGLEY'S GUM

Wrigley’s has turned to contemporary artists to remix its signature gum jingles. Earlier today, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo debuted their remade Wrigley’s Gum Jingles at a press conference/concert at the Nokia Theater in New York.

The Wall Street Journal reports that, unbeknownst to the public, the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company paid Brown to rerecord the gum’s 1960 jingle, and the company also covered his studio costs as he added new lyrics “double your pleasure, double your fun,” and expanded the jingle into 4½ minutes of “Forever.” The song was added to Brown’s 2007 album “Exclusive” after it became a hit.

Ne-Yo chimes in with his interpretation of Big Red's “Kiss a little longer” jingle. The ads are set to air beginning next month.

BIG DEAL: CHRIS BROWN FOR PROACTIV + LUDACRIS FOR AT&T

R&B singer Chris Brown is on the verge of signing an endorsement deal with the acne product Proactiv. According to a person in Chris' camp the deal is said to be "worth seven figures."

We have also happy to report that Ludacris just signed a multi-million dollar deal with phone giant AT&T, the first hip-hop act to land such a large contract with the company.

He’ll lend his likeness to online and TV ads promoting the service and he just wrapped shooting of his first commercial. His installment in the campaign will begin running next month.