Earlier this week, William L. “Karboso” told you about the new L.L. Cool J for Sears clothing line.  Then yesterday I told you about the Trina label.  Now don’t get me wrong,  I love Trina and LL Cool J is a hero in this hip hop game but isn’t all this clothing line stuff not only played out but a bad business move in general? 

Remember this isn’t LL’s first line.  In fact his first line, Todd Smith which WAS a professional mens line was so wack and misunderstood that he relaunched it back in March with a new hipper focus and STILL no one cares.   So you’re thinking the fact that he’s got the Sears corporate backing might mean something?  Well apparently not because Todd Smith was a joint venture with Macys’ which makes me question the Sears management.  How can you have a guy featuring a line in your stores that has a partnership with a competitor.  Perhaps Todd Smith was so obscure that Sears executives were unaware of the partnership.   Don’t Sears executives read HN? Then again maybe it dissolved. They don’t put out press releases when you go out of business.   

WWD.com expects the line to gross as much $100 million for Sears, sounds like PR hype if you ask me.  Much like LL, Sears has peaked and on the twilight of its brand shelf life.  Is this a sign of bad business or just a case of a geriatric rapper looking for a retirement plan?  I don’t know but I urge you artists…beg you artists…stop embarrassing Hip Hop by flooding the game with more clothing lines.  Start a hedge fund, a transportation business, fast food chain.  There are so many opportunities for you out there.  You don’t even need to think out the box, JUST THINK PERIOD!