● Steve Jobs has stepped down from his post as Apple CEO, saying, “I have always said that if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s C.E.O., I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.” [NYT] ● Someone in Australia is making a musical about Kanye West and his "struggle against the man to become the man." Sounds cool, bro. [LAT] ● Will and Jada Pinkett Smith's marriage is fine. See how hard they are smiling in all these pictures of their Malibu shopping trip? Totally casual. [TMZ]

Mr. Brainwash, in case you don't remember, is the videographer-turned-street "artist" in Exit Through the Gift Shop who was believed to be an elaborate hoax or performance art piece or something for a while. Turns out he must be officially "real" because the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who have already recruited Damien Hirst for their new cover art, have hired Mr. Brainwash to do a series of street art installations in L.A. promoting the new album.

Aging SoCal rock pioneers the Red Hot Chili Peppers have teamed up with British artist Damien Hirst for the cover of their new album, I'm With You. Yes, RHCP are coming out with a new album despite being officially middle-aged. It's coming August 30.

With worldwide insolvency imminent and more galleries dragging their heels to the killing floor, it was only a matter of time before recessionomics forced big-name artists to downsize as well. The most sobering news comes from Damien Hirst's camp, where about half of his London-based workforce has been laid off.

Brit artist and professional provocateur Damien Hirst has teamed up with Levi’s for the second time. And the fruits of the collaboration -- “three works of art of spin-painted 501 styles and the development of a limited edition collection,” says WWD -- are nothing to scoff at. The collection in question features 12 denim styles, all ornamented with classic Hirst motifs (think “skulls, colorful spots and tropical butterflies,” adds WWD).

Because it's the middle of the week, there's no time like the present for a round-up of the myriad things shaking up the art universe:

I've been skirting all things Damien Hirst as long as I possibly could, in favor of talented, budding artists who may never see Sotheby's or find the resources to fashion a ginormous diamond skull. And then once the news piled up, I toyed with the idea of visiting a particular exhibit to snap a suitable picture to match the headline, but that seemed like too much work. Instead, here's a perfunctory rundown of what's been happening in the iconic artist's life lately. Most items orbit his paradigm-shifting antics that threaten to render the middlemen -- galleries, dealers, agents -- redundant.

Can't get your art-school girlfriend into an artsy after-hours party this season? Get her a Damien Hirst knock-off instead! The replica of this overpriced piece of Hirstian genius goes for about a $100 million less than the original's asking price. Though the $25 streamlining of "For the Love of God" is sure to send Hirst into a hissyfit, it's the type of commercialism that would have Andy Warhol giddy with joy. Splash out an extra $4.25, and you can get yours in an adorable gift-box.

Following the failure of his artwork to sell, Damien Hirst's battered ego gets a lift: His diamond skull is getting picked up by the Amsterdam-based Rijksmuseum for a traveling exhibition. Titled "For the Love of God," the diamond skull will be accompanied by a collection of 17th-century paintings from the museum, handpicked by Hirst -- the overlying theme being the fear of death through the ages. Expected to boost the value of the piece's purportedly initial $100 million price tag through its exposure at more renowned venues, the exhibition will run from November through mid-December.

Internationally renowned contemporary artist, collector, investor, and financier, Damien Hirst will be auctioning off his own works under the title “Beautiful Inside my Head Forever” at Sotheby’s in London on September 15th and 16th. The highlight of this auction will be his famous formaldehyde installation The Golden Calf, with hooves and horns cast in 18-karat gold. The auction represents an odd move for Hirst, who is bypassing the usual middlemen of dealers and gallery folk, to sell directly to the public himself. Bidding starts at 15.7 million. Do I hear 15.8?