Kanye West: Hip-Hop's Kiss? Rapper Reveals Sneaker, Energy Drink, Fragrance

Kanye West is quickly become the Kiss of hip-hop: the rapper has branded himself onto a fragrance, energy drink and Nike shoe all in one week. West, along with Jay-Z, Rihanna and another "well-established female artist" all inked deals with fragrance maker Parlux through Jigga's licensing company Iconic Fragrances, People's Style Watch reports. West and Rihanna's scent will hit nostrils by the summer of 2010, while Jay-Z and the mystery singer's fragrances are out the following summer. Hmm, Jay-Z's licensing company, a "well-established female artist," both scents out in summer 2011... who wants to smell like Beyoncé?

At 4 a.m., when the majority of the world is sleeping, paparazzi always seem to catch Kanye out at the clubs or hitting the studio. Ever wish you had the rapper's stamina? Well, now you can, thanks to his new energy drink from beverage company Guru, Pitchfork reports.  "I express myself through music, fashion, art, and design, and that's why I am excited to collaborate with Guru; because the brand values what I value, and I can put what inspires me into this new product," Kanye said in a statement. Finally, an alternative to 50 Cent's VitaminWater flavor Formula 50.

Finally in Kanye merchandising news, according to MTV, hundreds of fans and sneakerheads lined up outside stores in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles this past weekend with the hope of buying a pair of Kanye's new Nike Air Yeezy shoes. Kanye later took to his blog to thank fans for buying the kicks, promising another line of sneakers in the future. Next up? The Kanye coffin, of course.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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