Straight Up Brands
has announced that is has acquired Rappin Brands LLC, a company established in
2003 that has agreements with various Hip-Hop artists to market personalized lines
of alcoholic beverages.Rappin
Brands experienced a banner year in 2006, earning over $1 million in sales with
limited marketing, due mostly in part to Cam’ron and Jim Jones’ drink Sizzurp,
a purple passion fruit cocktail. The
Dip’s Sizzurp was introduced to the market in late 2004 with limited marketing
and distribution. Still, the rapper’s Sizzurp brand moved over 28,000 cases in
its first year in stores. In
addition to Sizzurp brand, Rappin Brands is marketing a sparkling wine from Foxy
Brown, Storm Vodka with DJ Clue, MoMo Mojito with Ja Rule and Grand Lenare cognac
in collaboration with Big Tigger."Acquiring
this company has been a high priority target for our Company for some time, as
it offers very promising growth prospects both in the US and internationally,"
said David McCallen, CEO of Straight Up Brands. "As with other brands that
we are building and acquiring, we offer a strong route to market for premium branded
spirits."The
combined revenue of Straight Up and Rappin Brands are expected to increase over
2007 with a new marketing program, which will various encompass various forms
of media, including product placement CDs and videos produced Hip-Hop artists.
