They’re back…Award-winning music directors Chris Robinson, Anthony Mandler, Jessy Terrero, plus newcomer Shane Drake host an annual directors’ dinner at the House of Hype, who have directed videos for everyone from Rihanna and Britney Spears to The Killers and John Mayer. Sponsored by Esquire Magazine, Nivea’s new line of male products, NIVEA For Men, Red Bull, and Grey Goose Vodka, the dinner celebrated the four directors’ nominations at this year’s 2009 Video Music Awards. Aside from close family, a few celebrity friends of the directors came by to relish in the Grey Goose Vodka and delicious entrees, including superstars Rihanna and Pink. Towards the end of the evening, NIVEA for Men also provided 100 gift bags to the attended dinner guests, which included NIVEA products and copies of this month’s issue of Esquire Magazine.

Directors’ Dinner at LEVANTeast inside Hotel on Rivington

[L-R]Host of Esquire/NIVEA For Men Directors’ Dinner: Chris Robinson was nominated for Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent” video, Jessy Terrero was nominated for Wisin y Yandel’s “Abusadora” video, Anthony Mandler was nominated for Jay-Z’s “D.O.A.(Death of Autotune)” Video, and Shane Drake was nominated for Paramore’s “Decode” off the Twilight Movie Soundtrack.

Grey Goose Vodka was served at the tables, as well as the bar.

Host Anthony Mandler invites close friend Rihanna to Directors’ Dinner. Mandler has collaborated with Rihanna on twelve of her music videos.

Host of Directors’ Dinner Shane Drake and his executive producer Brandon Bonfiglio show off their NIVEA gift bags.

Recap of the House of Hype featured in Esquire Magazine’s February issue.

In 2009, Island Def Jam, the largest record label in the world, enters into a strategic partnership with the House of Hype, and together, will celebrate the labels astounding 36 Grammy Nominations at the House of Hype Annual Grammy Event. This year’s nominees include: Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, and Mariah Carey. The event will be hosted by Island Def Jam Music Group CEO and Chairman, Antonio “L.A.” Reid.

Congratulations to
ISLAND DEF JAM’s
51st Annual Grammy Award
Nominees!!

IDJ RACKS UP A TOTAL OF 36 NOMINATIONS!!!!

Ne-Yo
Album of the Year- Year of the Gentleman
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance- Closer
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance- Miss Independent
Best R&B Song- Miss Independent
Best R&B Song – Spotlight by Jennifer Hudson (Songwriter award)
Best Contemporary R&B Album- Year of the Gentleman

Kanye West
Song of the Year- American Boy w/Estelle
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group- Put On w/Young Jeezy
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group- Swagga Like Us w/ JAY-Z, T.I., & Lil Wayne
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration- American Boy w/Estelle
Best Rap Song- Swagga Like Us w/ JAY-Z, T.I., & Lil Wayne
Album of the Year- Tha Carter III (Featured Artist)

JAY-Z
Best Rap Album- American Gangster
Best Rap Solo Performance- Roc Boys
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group- Swagga Like Us w/ Kanye West, T.I., & Lil Wayne
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group- Mr. Carter w/ Lil Wayne
Best Rap Song- Swagga Like Us w/ Kanye West, T.I., & Lil Wayne
Album of the Year- Tha Carter III (Featured Artist)

Rihanna
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals- If I Never See Your Face Again w/Maroon 5
Best Dance Recording- Disturbia
Best Long Form Music Video- Good Girl Gone Bad Live

Duffy
Best New Artist
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance- Mercy
Best Pop Vocal Album- Rockferry

NAS
Best Rap Solo Performance- N.i.*.*.e.r. (The Slave And The Master)
Best Rap Album- NAS

Chrisette Michele
Best Urban/Alternative Performance- Be OK w/will.i.am

Karina
Best Contemporary R&B Album- First Love

Ludacris
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group- Wish You Would w/T.I.

Young Jeezy
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group- Put On w/Kanye West

Mariah Carey
Best Gospel Performance- I Understand W/Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, Bebe Winans & Hezekiah Walker’s Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church Choir

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds
Album of the Year- Tha Carter III (Featured Artist)

Fabolous
Album of the Year- Tha Carter III (Featured Artist) )

Juelz Santana
Album of the Year- Tha Carter III (Featured Artist)

Def Jam
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media- American Gangster (Various Artists)
Best Remixed Recording, Non- Classical- Closer (A Remixer Award)

Award-winning rapper Young Jeezy kicks off VMA Weekend with a pre-bash at the House of Hype. Guests enjoyed complimentary cocktails and champagne courtesy of the premium brands that sponsored the star-studded evening. Celebs like Rihanna, Katy Perry, Christina Milian, Lil Wayne, Drake, Jamie Foxx and Khloe Kardashian relished in the $500 bottles of Cattier Champagne, Ciroc Vodka and Nuvo served at the House of Hype.

Young Jeezy and Khloe Kardashian

Audrina Patridge & Corey Bohan inside House of Hype’s VIP tent.

Brody Jenner attends Directors’ Dinner

Singers Fefe Dobson and Christina Milian get interviewed at the House of Hype party.

CBS interviews Lil Wayne as he walks into the House of Hype pre-VMA Party.

Product Launch for SanDisk’s slotMusic took place at exclusive Hollywood Hills event during House of Hype’s MTV Video Music Awards pre and after parties at an exclusive 8-acre mansion in the Hollywood Hills. During the day, House of Hype created stations where guests could customize and download their own mixes off of the various DJ’s playlists onto ‘slotmusic’ chips House of Hype distributed to its guests. A photo booth was also built where guests could commemorate their experience at the House of Hype, and also have those images downloaded onto their’ slotmusic’ chips. Daytime DJs featured DJ Shepard Fairey and DJ Clinton Sparks, while House of Hype provided a nighttime live performance by Grammy winner Robin Thicke. At its nighttime SanDisk event as well, the House of Hype built a state of the art light exhibit and SanDisk-branded visual displays, where select attendees included Jamie Foxx, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Drake, Lil Wayne, Michael Phelps, Missy Elliot, Ryan Phillippe, Busta Rhymes, Jermaine Dupri and many more.

House of Hype guests were given SanDisk ‘slotMusic’ chips.

SanDisk ‘slotmusic’ photo booth.

Renown street artist and DJ Shepard Fairey spins at SanDisk’s ‘slotMusic’ pool party.

Entire venue was packed with state of the art light art exhibit and SanDisk-branded visual displays.

Christina Milian gets gifted a SanDisk ‘slotmusic’ chip.

Ne-Yo with SanDisk ‘slotMusic’ chip.

Lil Wayne is in awe of his new ‘slotMusic’ chip.

Grammy-winner Robin Thicke performs his famous “Lost Without You”.

After Thicke’s performance, Russ Eisenman, SanDisk VP of Marketing talks to the singer about the ‘slotMusic’ chip, and it will revolutionize the music industry.