Author Topic: Jay-Z And GM's Big Pimpmobile (Read 97 times)

Damien J. · « **on:** January 09, 2007, 02:29:34 AM »

Sure he lords over the album charts, designs a clothing line (Rocawear), runs a record label (Def Jam), owns sports bars and even a minority stake in the New Jersey Nets, but now Jay-Z is really in the driver's seat, courtesy of General Motors Corp.

The rap mogul turned up in Detroit Saturday night for a GM Style event celebrating the public unveiling of the automaker's new vehicles and concept cars—among them his signature Jay-Z Blue, a 2007 GMC Yukon Denali that he spent more than a year designing in cahoots with GM's Global Color Studio.

"Automotive design, entertainment and fashion have had a profound influence on each other and American culture for generations,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. “Tonight we're pairing a music icon, Jay-Z, with an automotive icon, the GMC Yukon Denali. Our Global Color Studio worked with Jay-Z to develop a fresh, vibrant color that matched his goals and aesthetics."

Big pimpin', indeed.

The Jay-Z Blue is still in the concept stage, but it's expected to roll off the assembly lines and into showrooms later this year.

"Hopefully I'll be able to drive one of them out of here tonight," the recently unretired rap star, real name Shawn Carter, told reporters.

Jimmy Kimmel hosted the glitzy GM party, an invitation-only event attended by more than 1,000 people that officially revved up the North American International Auto Show which opens to the public Jan. 13.

Also on hand were a number of celebs to help showcase the car giant's latest fleet of roadsters.

Among those putting in face time: soul singer John Legend, Dream Girls star Jennifer Hudson, Carmen Electra, Nick Lachey, Curb Your Enthusiasm's Cheryl Hines (who showed off a Chevrolet Sequel concept), Veronica Mars' Kristen Bell, Vivica. A. Fox, Christian Slater, supermodel Petra Nemcova (modeling a Saab Aero X concept), America's Next Top Model winner CariDee English, That '70s Show's Danny Masterson, Friday Night Lights actress Minka Kelly and Dancing with the Stars' Mario Lopez, who escorted the electric blue Chevy WTCC Ultra race car concept down the runway.

Apparently Jay-Z is going to need a new place to garage his namesake SUV.

Although rumors never panned out that he and Beyoncé Knowles were planning to wed last month, E! Online senior editor Marc Malkin reported last week that the first couple of hip-hop was spotted doing some real-estate browsing in the Dominican Republic over the holidays and paid a visit to Oscar de la Renta's Casa de Campo luxury resort development.

Speaking of Beyoncé, while Jay-Z was in the Motor City, the R&B diva returned to her hometown of Houston to audition a group of dancers for her upcoming tour. The coast-to-coast talent search has already hit Atlanta and Los Angeles, with upcoming stops scheduled for New York and Chicago. Thirty finalists will be selected from each city, and 40 lucky hoofers will ultimately get the gig, which will pay up to $3,000 a week.

This report is provided by E! Online