MUSIC 'BRANDING': IF THE SHOE FITS, MARKET IT
By EVELYN McDONNELL, MIAMI HERALD

G Unit is a shoe. In the eyes of many wearers of urban foot gear, it's the shoe: a Reebok trainer in classic black or white, understated and almost elegant.

G Unit also is a group, a musical outfit that includes top rapper 50 Cent.

The ''branding'' of hip-hop and R&B artists will be one of several topics at this year's Billboard/AURN R&B/Hip-Hop Conference, which opens today at Miami Beach's Eden Roc Resort. ''Cross-promotions'' and ''diversification'' will be confab buzz words, as more than 300 artists and industry insiders point to how P. Diddy's Sean John fashions have outpaced his musical career, or to how king of crunk Lil Jon, one of the top rappers and producers in the business, is also selling an energy drink.

''There's a new model in music,'' says Matthew Knowles, president of Music World/Sanctuary Urban Group and the conference's keynote speaker. ``Different revenue streams will become more important for record labels and artists.''

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