"By, Nolan Strong
Hip-Hop mogul Steve Rifkind and multi-billionaire and Florida Panthers owner Jordan Zimmerman are merging companies to create a new business that will focus on music and other business ventures.

While neither Zimmerman nor Rifkind could reveal details because of the pending deal, Zimmerman said the two moguls were thinking forward.

"This is way out of the box thinking and is going to become the norm in the industry,” Zimmerman told AllHipHop.com of the merging businesses.

“They are joining forces and merging their respective companies to create a fully integrated music and business alliance,” another source close to the deal told AllHipHop.com.

Rifkind launched the Steven Rifkind Company in 1989 as a consulting firm that did “street team” work (a term Rifkind trademarked) for such companies as Nike, Pepsi, HBO, Rolling Stone and Levis.

With the success of SRC, Rifkind launched Loud Records in 1992 by signing legendary Hip-Hop groups, Wu-Tang Clan and Tha Liks.

The company went on to achieve success with such fabled Hip-Hop acts as Big Pun, The Beatnuts, MOP, Three 6 Mafia, Xzibit, Funkmaster Flex and others.

After closing Loud, Rifkind launched Street Records Corporation (SRC) in March 2003 with Universal.

Most notably, the label signed marquee artists David Banner and released his critically acclaimed albums Mississippi: The Album and his follow-up, Certified.

SRC recently signed Harlem, New York rapper Jae Millz and his Wanna Blow imprint and already counts Remy Ma and platinum selling singer Akon as artists on the label.

Zimmerman is the CEO of famed advertising agency Zimmerman Partners, which was founded in 1984. The billionaire owner of Zimmerman Partners owns the Florida Panthers and the Bank of Atlantic Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Zimmerman Partners also operates 22 offices in 10 states and has worked with a variety of clients, including the Florida Panthers, the Miami Dolphins, Musicland, and Office Depot.

The company’s philosophy centers on "brandtailing," which merges branding strategies with to promote products and services that build brand identity.." [Via allhiphop.com]