miss.shaun presents...

Most memorable celeb moments in 2007: 10-5

2007-12-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

You can call it a cliche, I will call it a learning experience. Let us take a moment to reflect some of 2007's most funny/excruciating/memorable/sad moments. Click on the provided links to take a peak at all of the situations I am referring to, if you are unfamiliar

My disclaimer:

Don't get mad at me, you did it.

10. Year of the celeb DUI's.

For whatever dumb a** reason, it seems like 2007 was the year Hollywood celebs went overboard with driving under the influence. Some people involved in this act of tomfoolery include:

*Eve
*Vivica A. Fox
*Lindsay Lohan
*Shemar Moore
*Paris Hilton
*Nicole Richie
*ABC's Lost stars Daniel Dae Kim (Jin-Soo Kwan) and Michelle Rodriguez (Ana Lucia Cortez)
*Ray Liotta
*Keifer Sutherland
*Tracy Morgan
*Scott Weiland
*Bill Murray (he probably had the worst DUI charge in history! Click to read more.)

And that just came from the top of my head! Just sad.

9. Short Hair/Bolnde Ambition

Short hair/Blonde hair Many celebs went short or blonde this year.
*Britney went bald.
*Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham and her hubby David Beckham got a short cut at the same time.
*Rihanna wanted to be bad, so she cut her hair and added blonde streaks. That's bad to the bone Rihanna.
*Nelly Furtado rocked a new blonde hairdo for the VMA's.
*And Keyshia Cole's hair (for some reason) looked more fabulous this year than years prior. Her hair in her album booklet is absolutely stunning. Now as far as her wardrobe goes, I can't account for that.

8. Stage appearances done wrong, or right...

Beyonce falling down the stage in Orlando was one of the funniest moments this year (although B and her die hard fans may think otherwise).

Justin Timberlake's back up dancer got lucky on stage; Akon throwing a fan off of the stage was a mess; Bobby Brown (the King of R & B) going on stage after his heart attack was (almost) questionable; Amy Winehouse CANCELLED a bunch of her stage performances; and who could forget Britney Spears' VMA "comeback" performance?

But on a lighter note, Chris Brown's VMA performance with Rihanna was the highlight of my evening that night; Beyonce's American Music Award performance with Sugarland was popular amongst a lot of people (I'm sure Ne-Yo was beaming with pride); and everyone that was at Madison Square Garden when 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Diddy and Kanye West and T.I. appeared on stage together are (probably) still in a state of shock.

7. Naughty Celebs in the Nude

Sex tapes and nudity were pretty popular this year. High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens had a bit of a debacle with her nude photo; Amy Fisher's sex tape surfaced (that is so nasty); American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra is having a tough time battling a sex tape and prison time; Britney Spears had some racy photos of her and another chick flying around; Ray J's still (attempting) to live off the fame of his sex tape; Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag have been fighting all d*mn year over an alleged sex tape; and Eva Longoria fooled everyone with her very funny sex tape.

6. Oh So Many Reality TV Shows.

Well, we all love MTV's modern day Huxtible family, Run's House. But more shows have been peaking around TV land:

*Snoop Dogg's Father Hood (hasn't come on yet, but I'm sure it's interesting. Hey, I'm a Snoop fan).
*Keyshia Cole's show The Way It Is has received great reviews from TV Guide and other sources, which surprised me, but just a little. She's talented anyway.
* I Love New York 2 is a hit amongst my friends. I say *yawn*.
*Gotti's Way is actually quite interesting. I thought it would be boring, but he has some real underlined issues he's chosen to ignore for sometime. He might want to slow it down.
*A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila is a bi-sexual Flavor of Love 'wanna-be.' I expected more from that show.
*Salt-N-Peppa's show is funny as hell to me. That 'ol Sandy is so silly.
*Who could for get America's Next Top Model? I've been aching to watch three consecutive episodes from this season, but that's how it is when you're always on the go.

The list goes on because Reality TV is popular today. But I really wish (that when the writers strike is over) they get some great shows in line and put a halt to so many Reality Shows.

5. More Baby Mama Drama

2007 was also the year of paternal brawls. K-Fed & Britney along with Scurry Spice & Eddie weren't the only one's feuding over their little ones.

Remember: Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez acted like they didn't even want to TELL anyone they were knocked up (although I really don't blame them); Matt Leinert had to roll up his sleeves and try to shut his baby's mama up; Diddy's other baby's mother, Sarah Chapman, spoke to Sandra Rose about their parenting situation; and Larry Birkhead took his baby home.

Well, that's all for now. Stay locked to find what #'s 5-1 are.

10-year-old Gabi Wilson on the Today Show

2007-12-08T10:41:00.000-08:00

I was so blown away by this young lady's performance on the Today Show. Apparently, so are the people who have watched this video on YouTube.com. Many viewers didn't believe this was her real voice.

Bling Overloaded

2007-12-08T10:21:00.001-08:00

picture:PageSix

The Dutchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, hit up a Ugandan state shin dig with a little TOO MUCH bling (click to read more). Mami wasn't playing that night with the jeweled crown, earings, necklace and pendant!

This should be proof, ladies and gentlemen, that taste is more important than money, as the late Christian Dior used to say. Now, if only someone would tell that to Sean Kingston and that stupid a** Crayola chain he likes to rock...

Light skin v.s. dark skin: a needless psychological battle

2007-12-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

Check this out:

On December 9th, Dr. Ian Smith will be hosting a celeb panel discussion about an age old topic that has plagued black communities for many, many years: light skin v.s. dark skin blacks, and whether light skin blacks have a better quality of life. Click to read more.

Honestly, (in my opinion) I think a lot of the light skin v.s. dark skin mind set is just that, a state of mind. Even though I get some form of discrimination just about everyday because I'm dark skinned, I've been paying more attention to another topic that pissed me off--the fact that many men treat black women (both light and dark) like whores. Yes, I said it, WHORES!

I can't tell you how much it burns me up when men (of any skin color) automatically assume that I already have two or three children with no husband, or they'll assume that I'm promiscuous, when I have never even told them my name. I've never been pregnant and I've been married to a wonderful dark skinned brotha for over a year, and he treats me like a queen.

Yes, the light v.s. dark skin ideologies are very unnecessary. All it will do is lower your self esteem. My mother has felt that way for years, and you can basically say that she has little to no self esteem because she's been put down for being a beautiful and intelligent dark skinned woman. Trust me, it's not worth thinking that way.

When bringing sexy back gets done wrong...

2007-12-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

This chick had a plastic surgeon give her butt implants, he he f*cked her s*it up! When you look at the video, you will see that it's the best way to describe her plastic surgery.

And honestly, I can't really feel too sorry for her. I don't mean to sound insensitive or heartless, but that's one of the risks you take when you go under the knife. I just need to know the look she was going for, because it doesn't look like the JLo ass she was probably hoping for.

Pimp C of UGK found dead

2007-12-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

So I finally checked my text messages, and to my dismay I found out that Pimp C (the other half of Houston super-Hip Hop duo UGK) was found dead in his Los Angeles hotel room, as reported by the Los Angeles Times:

Rapper Pimp C was found dead this morning at an upscale hotel on Sunset Strip.L.A.

County Fire Department paramedics, responding to a 911 call, found him in his bed at the Mondrian Hotel. Pimp C, whose real name is Chad Butler, was a member of UGK, a rap duo that had a No. 1 album in August.

The hotel released the following statement: "Mondrian received calls this morning from the family of Chad Butler inquiring about his whereabouts. Mr. Butler had checked into the hotel on 28 November and, according to the callers, was to have checked out yesterday. Security personnel went to Mr. Butler's room and found him in bed, apparently expired. A 911 call was placed at about 9:20 a.m. and paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and pronounced Mr. Butler dead."

It's unclear how Butler, 33, died. The L.A. County Sheriff's Department is investigating.

Click to read more.

WHAT'S UP WITH OUR COMMUNITIES?! It's a damn shame we have to keep losing our black men. I'm hurt.

All of my prayers go out to his family and friends. HE WILL BE MISSED!

Kiss, kiss: there is hope for those who have trouble getting the booty!

2007-12-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

So, I found some time today to chat it up on my blog after running across this interesting article about that lovey dovey, kiss, kiss stuff. According to a recent Gallup research poll, as reported by CNN.com, this is the reason why men don't get the booty after kissing (besides funky breath), and the reasons why we smooch:

For men, kissing is more often used as a means to an end -- namely, to gain sexual access. Men also are more likely to literally kiss and make up, using kissing to attempt reconciliation.

Women on the other hand use kissing as a mate-assessment technique, Gallup notes. They subconsciously evaluate mating potential from the chemicals in their partner's saliva and breath, for instance.

Women also use kissing as a bonding gesture, as well as to monitor the status of the relationship. If her partner's kissing frequency or technique suddenly changes, that perhaps is a sign of his waning interest.

Other gender differences uncovered by Gallup's research:
• Men show a greater preference for tongue contact and open-mouth kisses.

• Men are more willing than women to have sex with someone without kissing, as well as to have sex with someone they are not attracted to or consider to be a bad kisser.

• Women place more importance on kissing throughout a relationship, whereas men place less importance on it as the relationship progresses.

Improve your kiss:

If you've ever been told to kiss off after smooching someone beneath the holiday mistletoe, fear not. Like other skills, one's kissing technique can be improved upon. Michael Christian, author of "The Art of Kissing" (under the pen name William Cane), offers classes, and there's a myriad of how-to books and DVDs.

To improve your technique, Christian suggests switching up your repertoire with different types of kisses:

• Vacuum kiss, in which you suck the air out of your partner's mouth while kissing

• Neck kiss, in which you kiss up and down your partner's neck

• "Lip-o-suction," in which you kiss the upper lip while your partner kisses the lower lip, and then you reverse.

Bad kisses, on the other hand, are relatively easy to pinpoint. "Bad kisses trigger the gag reflex," Christian says. "Bad kisses are also static and repetitious. Varying the speed, intensity and style can help."

Spontaneity also can help you get out of a slump.

Takin' a little break...

2007-12-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I was able to steal a few minutes away from my my monstrously busy schedule to blog about some some things that I am so excited about, and not so excited about.

First, World AIDS Day kicked off nation wide December 1st. If you're afraid to go get tested because of your dirty blood SUCK IT UP! Especially of you're African American. Did you know that over 50% of the new AIDS cases reported come from African Americans that look like you and me? GO GET TESTED AND SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Click here to find out the facts about AIDS and how you can get tested, and click here to take quizes about sex, STD's and the facts about "laying down the pipe" or "rippin' the mic," if you get my drift.

Snoop Dogg appeared on 106 & Park this week to talk about his latest album, Ego Trippin', and doing his doggy business. The album is just a few months away and I can't wait. I'm a huge Snoop fan, and this is one album I am so excited about! If you have not seen the video for his latest single, Sensual Seduction, take a peak here.

Uncle Snoop definitely stepped outside of his element in this video and into his ode to Zapp & Roger. I love the funkadelic feel, and the grainy film they used. You can tell that the gain was up high during filming (there I go again with that film school jargon). The wardrobes, the lyrics to the song and the video itself took me back to a time where my parents reminisced about their hey day when I was a kid. It also makes me happy that there is at least one artist out there that does not make cookie cuter type music. We can always count on Uncle Snoop to save the day.

At any rate, Ego Trippin' is slated to drop in stores in February.

Speaking of albums, Grand Daddy Too Short's album drops December 4th. So I'm looking at the advertisement for the album, and the gray hairs aren't doing it for me. There are so many people in the Bay area that deserve some shine, and I wish he would push that fresh meat out there a little more. Lord knows the game needs someone to play super-save-a-h*e.

And speaking of dropping, Diamond left Crime Mob to pursue other interests, like her solo career. Click here to read more. Word is that Miss Diamond is dropping a mixtape that is going to be raw and unadulterated. How did I know Crime Mob would come to this? Maybe it's just me, but I personally liked Princess' flow a little better. Maybe because I've been hearing her spit on tracks before I really listened to Diamond. Ah well, such is life and I wish Diamond much success in the future.

Also, after Beyaki's appearance on the American Music Awards with Country music group Sugarland, ybf reported that she is slated to drop a country album. I guess she won't be going on hiatus afterall, as I've been hoping. Click to read more. Jesus, take the wheel...

I've been having terrible internet connectivity thanks to Windows Vista, but I finally got a chance to catch up on what's been hot out there in the blog world thanks to those tips from Jeannie Jones' afternoon show on WKYS out here in Chocolate City. It was R. Kelly the Pied Piper/Platinum Pissedr and his, shall we say, dealings with his publicist's 19-year old daughter. Click to read more. Why is he even on tour? Shouldn't he be on trial somewhere in Chicago? Hmmm...

It was also the tragic shooting death of Mannie Fresh's sister Angela Bryant. Click to read more. The city of New Orleans needs to clean house right about now. It's a damn shame there is so much crime going on down there with no entity aggressively taking action toward this madness. Many prayers to Manny Fresh's family and loved ones.

And finally, I got the chance to see the highly revered film American Gangster the week before Turkey Day.

Hated it!

I think that the plot was great, and that the movie had the potential to go further and be ten times better than what it was. I also think that every character in the movie did a wonderful acting job with the roles they were given, even T.I.'s 10 minutes of fame.

But I think that the wrong character was developed (the cop), there was not much insight given into the intensity of New York City's broken down narcotics division, and how they transported the dope should have been placed at the BEGINNING of the movie, instead of the end. In all, I think that the script was so poorly written and they could have done a MUCH better job at story telling. I felt like I was being told gossip and not a legendary story that changed NYC, the United States Armed Forces and, ultimately the way policemen do business in the United States. That is all I can tell you without spoiling it for those who have not seen it yet. But if you do, I encourage you to wait till it comes on HBO.

But on the other end of the spectrum, I like Jay-Z's album American Gangster. That is, what I have heard from it.

At any rate, I gotta zip. Stay blessed!

Happy Holidays!

2007-11-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

photo: navytimes

Dear Readers:

I have been out of the loop, as you can see (that is, if you read my blog regularly). I have some projects up my sleeve, but none of them are releaseable at this point. Mostly because my military duties have me tied for the next month.

However, if you want to stay IN the loop, subscribe to our newsletter, The Bridge, by e-mailing me or visiting my comrade's blogspot pages here or here.

There will be some fresh stuff on my page at the beginning of the year, so just keep checking back. Thanks for all of your support.

Oh yeah, I also got promoted. I'm really greatful for that, as I am sure all of you have something you are greatful for this holiday season.

Gobble Gobble and Happy Holidays to all of you.

Amp Fiddler and Corrine Bailey Rae video

2007-11-07T02:36:00.000-08:00

I love this video with Amp Fiddler and Corrine Bailey Rae. It's cute, yet disgusting.
Maybe it's the cartoons of what appears to be dancing genitalia.

Check out Amp Fiddler here. You'll really appreciate the experience.

Nature vs. Nurture: is this the case for Dog the Bounty Hunter?

2007-11-07T01:35:00.001-08:00

So I’m watching Hannity & Combs, and Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman is on the show crying about how he was sorry about his racist comments about blacks, blah, blah, blah…He wants to be buried with the slaves on the Potomac River, blah, blah, blah…He feels awful…In essence, he was on the show apologizing for something he did in private.

If you don’t know what happened, Dog the Bounty Hunter was slammed for saying racist comments about his son’s African American girlfriend in a private telephone conversation with his son. His son taped the conversation and leaked it to the media.

Well, Petey Green would say, the n-word is the biggest stress reliever. I guess Petey is wrong in this case, because Dog’s stress has only just begun. In which case, this is a classic example of nature v.s. nurture. The sooner WE stop using the n-word, as well as disallowing our children and counterparts to do the same, the sooner we won’t have to have incidents like Dog’s, where people are crying and apologizing on national television.

The Lower Level/Kel Spencer exclusives!

2007-11-04T23:01:00.000-08:00

Well, my other articles are out!

Brooklyn's own Kel Spencer is headed overseas on tour. Since he's written for Wyclef Jean, MC Lyte, Nick Cannon and Will Smith, Kel tells me that he's ready for HIS time to shine.

Click here to read his excluisive interview.

Also, Houston's own Hip Hop heavyweights, The Lower Level, is getting ready to go on tour and drop a mix tape (yeah, these brotha's are busy!).

Click here to read their article at Urban Mogul Magazine online.

One of my first interviews...

2007-11-03T05:31:00.000-07:00

I know that this site is primarily dedicated to Hip Hop and R & B artists/lifestyle, but I had to post this.

This is one of the first bands that I have ever had the pleasure to interview live (around June or July '07), and I have to say that I am so happy for Maren and her camp. They are all very talented musicians.

Oh, and she's supposed produce a YouTube documentary with yours truly in it. I'M SCURRED! LOL!

Keep up the great work, guys. Oh, and one of the girls I worked with is STILL in love with the drummer. Is that cute or WHAT?

Donnie Goines: Scouting Report for BallerStatus.com

2007-11-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a roller coaster ride trying to get this article (along with 3 others) out to media outlets, along with dealing with personal pressures (I've been battling an up-and-down weight problem).

My boss said that my life would make the perfect reality show, just based on how much freelance work that I do on the side, along with my military duties. I'm thinking that he's right!Things get a little emotional for me at times.

But it paid off, and I got three articles published this month. A sistah is THRILLED! Hey, I'm just starting! At any rate, click here to take a peek at my article spotlighting rapper Donnie Goines.

Can't Help Remix--Trey Songz feat. Kel Spencer

2007-11-02T01:20:00.000-07:00

Ladies:

I ran across Trey Songz' Cant Help Remix featuring Kel Spencer, and it's nice. Really nice.

Click here to show Kel some love and listen to the single. You won't be disappointed.

A great networking tool for aspiring artists

2007-11-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I've featured a few artists on this blog, and I'm sure other aspiring artists have taken a peek as well.

I ran across this interview with Gaby Acevedo, President of SRC Records, on Andrew Bees' myspace blog. If you don't know who Andrew Bees is and you're an aspiring artist, you may want to GET to know him. He's a journalist who has interviewed everyone from Mya to Chamillionaire to Grand Master Flash (as you can see, he does not discriminate).

Take a peek at what Gaby says he is looking for in new talent, and how they can use Loud.com as a networking tool.

WTF Dennis!

2007-10-30T02:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again--Halloween. You know it's Halloween when it's acceptable for a man to dress like a woman (or Shenehneh's cousin).

Now, I know that I said I would try to say something nice or not say anything at all, but I must ask: when was it ever acceptable (for a man or woman) to look like this in public? My Granny is rolling over in her grave at the sheer THOUGHT of me coming out of the house looking anything like this.

I give him an "E" for effort, but an "F" for not opting for a better look. Only Jesus can take the wheel on this one...

Elephant Man: the new Billy Blanks

2007-10-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

I saw this video on Crunk & Disorderly, and I've been so afraid to watch it. But I finally gave it a chance today, and I couldn't stop laughing.

If you don't know, Elephant Man has a new workout video for those of you who want to whip your flabby as*es into shape through winding, thunder clapping and gangsta rockin'.

How in the blue h*ll did they find a way to commercialize this?!

Jena 6: your hard earned tax dollars is at work!

2007-10-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

You know, I've gotten into this mode: if you don't have anything nice to say...well, you can finish the rest. You just watch the video and judge it for yourself.

Erasing Ethnicity: is the trouble worth the hassle?

2007-10-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

I ran across this article on MSN, and it made me do a lot of thinking. Many women today (especially black women) are doing a lot of damage to their bodies to look less ethnic. People also forget to take into account those women who have trouble with society putting them "in a box" of what they are supposed to act like based on what ethnicity they look like. For instance, in Kimmora Lee Simmons' book Fabulosity: What it is and how to get it, she mentions how blacks thought that she should act asian (because she looks asian), and asians didn't take her seriously as a girl of asian ethnicity because she's dark. At any rate, before I give you my take on this subject, here are some of the facts from the article I found to be most interesting:

Surgery:

In the past five years, the number of plastic surgeries performed on minorities jumped 65 percent — compared with an increase of 38 percent for the overall population. Why the spike in minority candidates? Higher incomes and access to a wider range of ethnic-specific techniques.

THE QUEST FOR A SKI-JUMP NOSE Unlike the rhinoplasties performed on Caucasians (often to straighten a bridge or remove a bump), nose reshaping for minorities generally leads to narrower nostrils, a higher bridge, and a pointier tip — shapes typical of white noses.

TOP COUNTRIES FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION Spain, Italy, U.K., Sweden, Finland, India, Norway, Slovenia. In the U.S., the procedure ranks #1 for Hispanics and #2 for Asian-Americans among minorities.

Color contacts:

Since color contacts by FreshLook became available in 1984, women of color — including Naomi Campbell, Lil' Kim, and Ziyi Zhang — have been eager to experiment. "Our largest market is with dark-eyed and dark-complected women," says Jeff Cohen, vice president of global marketing for CIBA Vision (makers of FreshLook), citing African-American, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern women as the top customers in the U.S…

With this uniquely exotic notion of lighter eyes coming into vogue, colored-lens users climbed to 2.7 million in the U.S. alone last year.

Skin:

In June 2007, the first-ever tanning salon opened in Beijing. Called DB Salon, it serves legions of women under 30 with a strangely specific goal: to have the caramel coloring of American pop princess Christina Aguilera.

In India, Bollywood stars are going for the burnt-sienna hue one sees in Malibu, achievable only via a bottle.

And in Japan, bronzing goods account for $140 million in sales.

Hair:

34% of the hair dye sold in the U.S. last year was blonde.

80% of Koreans in their 20s lighten their hair.

It’s been a long road to loving myself for who I am. And that’s the beauty of me, loving who I am despite my flaws. Yes, it’s hard, but God made me this way for a reason, and I know that I have to have pride in who I am and the women that are dark and beautiful just like me.
Plus, I think that society puts such a strain on what they think a woman should look like, people tend to forget what's important--her overall health! Don’t think you have to follow the crowd. If you’re healthy and happy, then leave the rest to God.

From pieces to weight: Fiddy's new book

2007-10-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

50 cent started signing autographed copies of his new biography From Pieces to Weight this week.

Click here to view excerpts from the book.

I’m happy Fiddy has moved on to other things, bedsides 'staged' fights with 'Ye. Maybe all of this venting will help him get rid of some of that anger. Dude seriously needs a hug!

From Pieces to Weight is available in stores now.

Karrine Steffans on the cover of Today's Black Woman

2007-10-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

So I was looking at Sandra Rose’s blog site, and I noticed an article she posted about Karrine Steffans being on the cover of Today’s Black Woman Magazine.

So, nosy me decided to do some investigating. Yep, it’s true. Many people do not think that she deserves to be on the cover of the mag, and many of them want to execute a protest against her.

First of all, I respect Karrine for having the courage to release her demons to the world in two best selling books, despite the criticism. Who would have thought that it would have made her millions? But what I don’t like about her is that it seems like she never learned from her own experiences, even though she claimed to have written her books so that others can learn from what she’s done, wrong or right.

Even more so, I hate the fact that people ACT like they can not relate to her on some level. Karrine had feelings of desperation, and many of us have had the same feelings. She’s had to do what she had to do in order to survive, and many of us did the same thing. And like my very good friend Fred would say to me “Everyone has had their times when they acted out like a whore.” He’s right-- I know I’m no angel, and Karrine does not profess herself to be one either.

My point is this: maybe in your opinion she went about her business the wrong way. If that’s your opinion, that’s fine. But don’t front like you can’t relate to her feelings in some way, because you probably can.

Foxy Brown gets into a scuffle--AGAIN!

2007-10-24T03:31:00.000-07:00

I was hoping that Foxy meant what she told the judge when she said that she was "changing." But as you can see, that's not the case.

Fox Boogie Brown has received 76 days in confinement for a scuffle with another inmate at Rikers Island jail. But it wasn't the first scuffle the jailbird princess had with inmates while she was incarcerated. The 28 year old diva got into a shoving match with another inmate earlier this month.

She can keep it up if she wants to. She's slowly turning into the spawn of Ike Turner.

Read more.

Gay rights group asks Obama to cut ties with Donnie McClurkin

2007-10-23T02:53:00.000-07:00

According to The Associated Press, a gay rights group as asked presidential hopeful Barack Obama to cut ties with gospel singer Donnie McClurkin because of his views on homosexuality. (full story). AP reported that the group felt McClurkin spreads “false information” about homosexuality.

McClurkin was slated to help fundraise for Obama’s presidential race at a concert in South Carolina this weekend. In a telephone interview, McClurkin stated that he did not believe that it was the intention of god. ‘Sexuality, everything is a matter of choice.” He also said that he did not believe in discriminating against homosexuals. "What people do in their bedrooms and who they are as human beings are two different things," he said.

We need to stop separating ourselves, in my opinion. It is my belief that one of the reasons why people are afraid to “come out of the closet” is because of that separation. Like Obama said, they are our brothers and sisters too.

Cornel West's album is hot?! That's what critics say...

2007-10-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have a snitch who told me that Dr. Cornel West's second Hip Hop album, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations, was hot.

I've always liked Cornel West, although I've questioned many of his views. However, I think it's great that he's released an album. It's got to be more positive that what we're listening to now. Plus, I hear that he's one of the greatest lecturers ever (according to Ms. Purity Chitwood, and she's a reliable source on those matters). So that means this album has got to be great.

If you don't know who Dr. Cornel West is, here is a breakdown:

*He's a prominent professor of African American studies and philosophy at Harvard U.

*He's also a best selling author, lecturer, and a social activist.

*West's book Race Matters won a Critics Choice Award and was listed as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year in 1992. Other works included Keeping the Faith: Philosophy and Race in American (1993) and Jews and Blacks: Let the Healing Begin (1995), co-authored with Michael Lerner. In 1996 he co-authored The Future of Race with his Harvard colleague, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (answers.com)

The album features songs by Prince, Andre 3000, Talib Kweli, KRS-One, Killer Mike and others.

Click here to read XXL Mag's review.

Coolaid the Clown: One great role model.

2007-10-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today, I ran across something extraordinary on America's Got Talent, and it came in the form of a clown.

That's right--a clown. Coolaid is his name, and he has opened his home to inner city youths in Los Angeles, giving them other options, as opposed to going down dangerous roads, like gang violence and/or drug dealing. But he's running out of space in his house, and he could use the help, according to his web site.

Considering the fact that our youths need more role models nowaday (especially since Jena 6), we could always stand to support those who are trying to make a difference in our communities.

Take a look at this video. I'm sure that you'd want to donate after watching the superb job he has done with these kids.

Reasons why you should wear condoms and shoes!

2007-10-17T03:55:00.001-07:00

Boil on someone's inner thigh. YUCK! (pic--CDC)

According to the Baltimore Sun, here is another reason why YOU should wear a condom/protection before sex, and keep on some type of footwear at all times!

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are far more widespread than scientists previously thought and might be killing more than 19,000 people a year in the United States, according to a study published today.
Of the nine sites that researchers examined, Baltimore had the highest rate of infection by invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA. But health officials said the city was more urbanized than the other sites, which could account for much of the difference.

What is Staph? (source:Web MD)

It is a type of infection caused by a Staphylococcus (or "staph") bacteria. Actually, about 25% of people normally carry staph in the nose, mouth, genitals, and anal area. The foot is very prone to pick up bacteria from the floor. The infection often begins with a little cut, which gets infected with bacteria.

These staph infections range from a simple boil to antibiotic-resistant infections to flesh-eating infections. The difference between all these is how deep and how fast the infection spreads, and how treatable it is with antibiotics. The antibiotic-resistant infections are more common in North America, because of our overuse of antibiotics.

The type of staph infection that involves skin is called cellulitis and affects the skin's deeper layers. It is treatable with antibiotics.

This type of infection is very common in the general population -- and more common and more severe in people with weak immune systems. People who have diabetes or weakened immunity are particularly prone to developing cellulitis.

What does staph infection look like?
Staph cellulitis usually begins as a small area of tenderness, swelling, and redness. Sometimes it begins with an open sore. Other times, there is no break in the skin at all -- and it's anyone's guess where the bacteria came from.

The signs of cellulitis are those of any inflammation -- redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. Any skin sore or ulcer that has these signs may be developing cellulitis. If the staph infection spreads, the person may develop a fever, sometimes with chills and sweats, as well as swelling in the area.

What can be done about a staph infection?
Antibiotics are used to treat these infections. But there's been a gradual change in how well these antibiotics are working. While most staph infections used to be treatable with penicillin, in the 1980s that changed and stronger antibiotics are now used.

In about 50% of cases, however, we see resistance to even these stronger antibiotics. These cases are not just happening in hospitals -- as once was true -- but now are occurring in the general community. That's been a problem. Many doctors are accustomed to using certain antibiotics, but those then fail because of antibiotic resistance. There are several more potent antibiotics now, but doctors need to know when to use them.

There's another treatment we sometimes use with staph infections. If the infection goes so deep that it involves muscles or fibers that enclose muscles, it needs to be surgically cleaned.

Can staph infection be prevented?
You can take steps to help prevent it. Any time you have a cut or skin breakdown, wash it with soap and water, keep it clean and dry, use antiseptic ointment, and keep it covered. A couple of recent outbreaks among football players began when one team member had a boil, and the infection was spread to other team members.

The staph infection is contagious if the wound is weeping or draining, and if people share towels or other items that are contaminated. Wearing foot coverings in locker rooms and other commonly used areas can help prevent contamination.

If the sore becomes unusually painful or red, get prompt medical attention. If red lines develop, that's a sign the infection is spreading and needs medical attention.

F*ck New York?! What?!

2007-10-17T03:30:00.000-07:00

Last night, I interviewed Donny Goines, a budding emcee from Harlem. He made a song that took me for a loop, but I felt his message. The New York bred artist produced a track called F*ck New York, of which, I must admit, was so crazy to hear in the beginning.

My first thought was “Hold up, isn’t that the birthplace of Hip Hop? To say those words are strong and demeaning to those pioneers of rap music.” Actually, I was my words were not that eloquent (oh yeah, I was cursing).

But I listened. And the more I listened to Donny's words, the more I understood him. There are people out there misrepresenting NY, and its a mess. That says a lot because I’m from Cleveland.

There was a gang of New Yorkers in my neighborhood in Cleveland, and I remember them not accepting mediocrity, being prideful of their respective boroughs, and always keeping it 100.

Sad to say, that’s not the case in today’s Hip Hop or pop culture markets. There are emcees (and some homo-thugs) on a paper chase, not reppin’ what Hip Hop culture is about. So they come out with a bunch of catchy hooks and ring tones, but nobody really GRASPS the essence of the music, the lifestyle or the culture any longer. If you want to know what it's REALLY about, pick up ANY article Queen Latifah has written. You can feel the life jump into your soul...it's that DEEP!

At any rate, I can’t wait until New York takes Hip Hop back. Don’t get me wrong, I have love for all Hip Hop, no matter who you are or where you come from (correction: I have love for all Hip Hop that is good). But those “homo-thugs” have got to go, and I KNOW there are New Yorkers out there that agree with me.

H-Town Hip Hop legend dies at 33

2007-10-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

A piece of Hip Hop history just left us this past weekend. Houston is a buzz with the death of the city's legendary rapper, Big Moe, whose real name is Kenneth Moore. Big Moe died suffering complications following a heart attack. The rapper was only 33 years old.

For those who are not familiar with his work, here are his career highlights, as reported by Mediatakeout.com:

Kenneth offered a slow and calm style. He both raps and sings, called rappsinging, and his producer's craft smooth, melodic tracks that bounce along at a leisurely pace.

Like many of the Houston based rappers, Big Moe began his career freestyling and making flows on DJ Screw's mix tapes before going to Wreckshop Records. Wreckshop Records released Big Moe's debut album, City of Syrup in (2000), the title nodding to Houston's reputation for drinking codeine-laced syrup, which Moe pours from a Styrofoam cup on the album's cover.

"City of Syrup" album featured his single, "Mann!" that Moe intended to be the South Side's answer to Black Rob's East Coast hit "Whoa!". A year and half later, Moe returned with his second album, Purple World in (2002). It offered a "who's who" ensemble of Houston vocalists, two versions of Moe's breakthrough single, "Purple Stuff." Priority Records distributed the album, ensuring that it would be everywhere, from the street corners of Houston to Wal-Marts in suburban America.

Even MTV gave Moe's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory-themed video a few rotations. He has been featured in songs with Mike Jones, Z-Ro, Lil' O, Southside Playaz, and Big Pokey. Big Moe was also in talks to make appearances in the up and coming cartoon series Pablo and Victor, where he was slated to play as himself.

R.I.P

Can't "Crank Dat Soulja Boy" any more!

2007-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

An Ohio school banned students from doing the "Crank Dat" Soulja Boy dance at their homecoming party.

Finally, people are listening! It's about time parents challenged their children to do the same thing. Don't get me wrong, I L-O-V-E Hip Hop music. But many listeners don't actively hear the music coming through their speakers.

Although musicians (across the board) need to take responsibility for their lyrics, they ARE NOT BABY SITTERS. I'm glad the parents in that high school realized this.

Confessions of a Dark Skinned Sistah...

2007-10-14T03:42:00.000-07:00

I was so dismayed to hear that there was actually an event for light skinned sistah's in Detroit (click to read full article). Wait! Let's not forget the LIBRA'S...

But here's why the thought of this event grinds my gears:

When I was 16, I just so happened to ask one of my aunts what I looked like and how I acted when I was a baby. She said that I was quiet. She also said that I was an ugly baby!

I laughed really hard. DAMN! That was cold. But then she kept talking, and went on to say that my cousin (a brown skinned sista) was just as ugly, but my other cousin (a light skinned queen) was beautiful child."Well if you're ugly, you're ugly," is what I was thinking while she was talking. But then I actually heard her talk about her distaste for dark skinned people in that conversation, even though she didn't come right out and just say it. In that chit chat with my aunt, I festered so much hatred for my light skinned cousin.That was a shame because she had done nothing to deserve my hatred of her.

OMG! It was so deep. Every time I saw a light skinned sista, I had something negative to say. Don't let me even SEE a picture of Tisha Campbell, Jada Pinkett Smith or my home girl Samantha looking cute. They were all kinds of "light skinned heifers" and "ugly h*es" and any other names I could think of. In my 16-year old akwardness, all I heard was "Your cousin is so pretty," this and "Isn't your cousin just blah, blah, blah," that. I felt sub human. I felt like I was beneath their standards of success or beauty and as a result, I hated myself for years. I was jealous and confused.

I can't tell you how proud I am of both of my cousins. They've grown to be so beautiful inside and out. Granted, many of you may hear my light skinned cousin say something that you may think is really stuck up or conceited, hell sometimes it is straight up stuck up and conceited. But you can kick rocks. As she always told me (in so many words) while we were growing up, "If you don't think you're the sh*t, who will?" (Didn't think I was listening, huh?)

I've learned so much from both of my cousins, and I'm proud to say that they are related to me, and that they are strong, beautiful African Queens.

Peace and Love:>)

King Rod: "A 9-5 ain't for everybody."

2007-10-14T01:53:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that Tupac Shakur influenced numerous people from around the world, and even more so upon his death. People who listened to his early productions might tell you that those born after 1989 could never understand the extreme impact Shakur had on rap music. But in Indie Hip Hop artist King Rod’s case, that ideology is 100 percent false.

“Coming up on Pac, everything was real,” he reflects. “It made me grow up fast. Instead of going to my mom or dad with my problems, I’d go to Pac.”

King Rod is only seventeen, but he’s determined to make his mark in Hip Hop history. Backed by the souls of music legends, King Rod says he’s here to inspire, and he has his eyes set on the only way to the throne.

MISS SHAUN (MS): It seems that many Hip Hop artists remember the day they wrote their first rhyme. If you remember, tell me about yours.

KING ROD (KR): The first rhyme I wrote was in fifth grade. It was about the high school football team, because I came from a small city and that was the popular thing at the time. The Havana Gladiators.

MS: What made you want to pursue music as a career?

KR: It's kind of the love for it (music). It's the drive. I don't even have to get paid for it. I basically want to spend my life doing something I love. Like I say "A nine to five ain’t for everybody!"

MS: For those of us who are not from Tallahassee, give us an idea about what the Tally Ho Drop is all about.

KR: Okay, it's a popular dance that really just caught on in the nightclubs around the city. It's a dance from the hood that we would do to T-Pain's "Dance Floor". We'd do that and the Holton Street Hop.

MS: Your song "The Don't Really Know" is very popular on MySpace. What was your inspiration behind that song?

KR: The inspiration to that was from the fact that I have no brothers or sisters so I had a lot of time to think. I'd look around me at what people were going through and at what was happening in our country. Asa rapper I feel like it's my job to point out what's wrong, what's right, and just to give my opinion.

MS: You're pretty young in the game to have such biting lyrics, and your music seems very mature in comparison to other mainstream artists around your age group). Can you describe your musical influences and style? Where is all of this maturity in your lyrics coming from!?

KR: ... I don't try to make to make it one way or another, I just try and say what I feel is true. Also listening to a lot of what's out there, it's like nobody wants to step up and go that extra mile. The way I look at it you could be hood while still sounding intelligent. Even in Holton Street Hop, that's a dance song, I'm not on there with a twelve bar verse just talking nonsense.

MS: Everyone has something to say about Hip Hop music and where it's going. Where do you think Hip Hop is going, and where do you plan to take it as an artist?

KR: Good question. Hip Hop music right now is definitely going mainstream. Everything is commercial. It's money. It's all about money. There's no emotion. There's no art. It's all about sensationalism. What I want to do is make music that makes other people say, "he's only seventeen, and he can do this!?" I want to inspire more young artists to not be limited in terms of the content they write.

MS: What advice can you give to others that are just as young as you are, and want to make their mark in Hip Hop music?

KR: Write! Write a lot! Learn and take advice from anybody who's been there. You can learn something from anybody, even an idiot. You've just got to learn to take things away from positive and negative experiences. I listen to everybody. But read and work on your vocabulary. Practice enunciating. Freestyle, it does help. And never turn down a show, even if it's for one guy in a barn. All those little shows add up to experience. No matter how large or small the crowd, you still give them a show and that makes you better

Boy killed, everyone acquitted. That's bull dookie, straight up!

2007-10-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

Gina Jones (mother), left, her lawyer Benjamin Crump and Robert Anderson, right, prepare to make a public statement concerning the verdict in the Martin Lee Anderson trial. (AP Photo/Robert Cooper,Pool)

Let me get this straight: Michael Vick can kill a dog, get ALL KINDS of charges against him, in addition to possibly losing his career. But a teenage boy is tortured AND killed, and everyone involved is ACQUITTED?!

Click here to read more.

WHAT THE COWBOY H*LL IS THIS WORLD COMING TO? This is the time when we NEED to be marching!

Am I taking this out of context? Let me know, because I am not happy about this one.

Is Hip Hop dead? Goodwin says "H*ll Naw!"

2007-10-06T01:38:00.000-07:00

So here’s the question:

There was a point in time when music served as a tool for healing and change, especially in the 60’s and 70’s. With the Global War on Terror, Jena 6 and post-Hurricane Katrina, I think we need Hip Hop music to channel all of its energy to help America heal. So where is Hip Hop? Did it die with Tupac and Biggie?

And Goodwin answered it. GOOD LOOKIN’!

Well, I don't think hip hop is dead, I just think the type of hip hop you'd like to hear is harder to find, but [it] still exists. Plus, I look at my own music, and the response I've got from some people on myspace, and I realize that the issue isn't just to be blamed on labels. People themselves, the consumers, are less interested in music that carries a message and much more interested in just having a good time...

The fact is, they wouldn't market [the music] if it wasn't making money, and it's making money [so] people are buying it, which leads me to believe that's what people want. I've had people on myspace listen to my music, and because it wasn't that type of stuff [they normally listen to, they said] it was wack. So it makes me feel that the blame lies with the labels, but also with the people who support that movement by spending their money on that sort of music. There was a time when there was room for all sorts of Hip Hop. But now, it seems like all it's about is the party and materialism, and people are just eating it up.

Maybe the fact that 50 Cent's new album isn't selling that much is a sign that people are getting tired of it. After all, Common's album did pretty well when it came out. But it will take a lot more than that, especially on the part of the consumer, for things to make a radical change.

So the question is, how attached is the consumer to shallow Hip Hop? After all, it seems like there's a perception that gangsta rappers make their music for the streets, or for the people, while conscious rappers are just a preachy bunch of whiners. That misconception wouldn't stick if people didn't believe it. And they respond to it.

So instead of focusing all our energy on blaming the labels, perhaps we should also work on the general perceptions that exist, and work to change people's minds about what's really important.

"You'd rather have a Lexus or justice? A dream or some substance? A Beemer, a necklace, or freedom?" -- From Hip Hop, by Dead Prez

Goodwin is an underground artist out of Brooklyn, NYC. Check him out here on myspace.com.

From Houston to your speaker: are you ready for what The Lower Level is bringing?

2007-10-05T23:31:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, I had the privilege to meet a Hip Hop group out of the Lone Star State that’s not taking their music as a game. The Lower Level is straight out of Houston, and they’re not messing with these “Hip Hop clones” and “I can only produce hooks” type rappers. Although they were (at one point) signed to a major label, Jedii and Freddy Freaxx took their own musical route, refusing to accept any BS from media "know-it-alls." They profess themselves and emcees, and they tell me that the music they make is just as real as they are--100%.

MISS SHAUN (MS): How did you two hook up as a group?

Freddy Freaxx (FF): We met in the 9th grade when I changed High Schools. We both were on the basketball team (and) we had a thing for music. We both had talent and we both rapped together back then. Jedii met (producer) Q-Stone in college, I came home from the service, and The Lower Level was born.

MS: Tell me about the Lower Level's chemistry. How would you describe your (individual) style? How is it fused to produce the music that you create today?

FF: The Lower Level has a genuine sound. Our styles flow like a 1-2 punch. I have a laid back, seductive flow, with an all terrain texture. Ain’t no telling what I’ll say or do. Jedii’s more energetic, with various techniques to run the track. We’ve been doing what we do, that's why it flow so easy. We both respect and love the music, we are both musicians. We both have our own creativity.

Jedii (J): … That’s where the chemistry comes from. We [are] not new to what we’re doing. You know the whole H-town style of flow didn't get really popular until the late nineties, So in other words, people were just learning how to rap, by then me and Freaxx were seasoned emcees that had already created our style, and we was like “F*ck changing. We dope.” A lot of cats…came up off [of] making songs from other people’s beats [and] using other peoples hooks [by] just kind of changing the words around … We never did that. We were blessed enough to have our own producer the whole time, so we were coming up with our own beats, hooks, everything. We have been working together [for] so long now that it's easy. We sit down with Q, and we start songs from scratch, he starts making the beat, we start vibing with Q and it just comes together every time.

MS: Well, on that note, you’ve seen it for yourselves: Hip Hop has made some drastic changes. Where do you think Hip Hop is going? Where do you want to take it as artists?

FF: Hip-Hop has turned more in the direction of being commercial. It seems like everybody’s just chasing the money. The Lower Level is here to keep the [liveliness] in Hip-Hop. We want to give people something real to bump to, no matter what time it is. We will keep instruments and other original elements involved in Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop is real and will always be real.

MS: Sooo is Hip Hop dead? And I’m still trippin’ off of that blog (on myspace). “If Hip Hop is dead, YOU probably killed it.” Why all the anger? Was it a situation that fueled the fire?

FF: No anger, just putting the truth out there. Everybody wants to point fingers instead of doing something about the problem. The South has been very influential in Hip Hop, that should be obvious. The Industry is killing Hip-Hop, let Hip-Hop be what it is: the sound of the streets.

J: …Hip Hop is not dead. Yes the music is the cornerstone, but Hip Hop is now a culture, reflected in the way we speak [and] everything. What pisses me off is when some people who are in the position to change things don’t. Instead of at least doing their part, which is nothing more than putting out something tight, original and game changing, all they do is follow the clones who mess up the game, and then they complain about it. Don’t complain! Do something!

MS: I feel that. But there are other blogs that The Lower Level has put out that are even more controversial (I like them, however). Everyone has something to say about Hip Hop and the people that listen to it. What do you think about the social responsibility that you hold to the people that purchase and listen to your music?

FF: People are influenced by what they listen to, we do understand that. Although we are not here to raise our listeners, we do make a note to put out useful information in our music. We don't talk about things we have no knowledge or experience in. If we save somebody some trouble or give them the heads up on a situation or issue, then that’s a benefit of real information in your music.

J: Our social responsibility lies in the truth…A Tribe Called Quest ain’t never lied: Industry rule #4,080 [record company people are shady]. You already know. So that’s what we offer our audience: music that they can relate to.

MS: So can people relate to your song ‘I Ain’t Trippin’?” [I know this may sound like a silly question but] Is that your “I’m too grown for that foolishness,” song?

J: I Ain’t Trippin’ is one of my favorite songs because it is an example of how we do it. We made that song in typical Lower Level fashion. Go to the studio with no idea of what to write about, no track, no nothing. Q-Stone picked up the guitar and we started talking about the ride to the studio and there it was.

MS: What advice do you have for those trying to make their mark in Hip Hop music?

FF: Always stay true to yourself. Make music about your life [and] tell your side of the story. Learn the business, and learn about people. Have your own voice.

J: BE original. I’ve never seen a famous clone…there is only one original, so be that!!!

The Lower Level with Mike Jones

Breaking obscurity: Miss Jones tells it all in her new book

2007-10-05T23:09:00.000-07:00

I recently read “Have you met Miss Jones,” the memoirs (if you will) of New York’s Hot 97 morning show DJ, Miss Jones.

I’ve always liked her, as a DJ and as a vocalist. When she was a guest DJ at Dayton, Ohio’s 102.9, I listened faithfully every night at 7 from my college dorm room. I have to admit that I never understood (and disagreed with) a lot of her viewpoints when she conducted interviews. But now that I’m in radio (I host a morning show in the Armed Forces) I have a better understanding, and I have a lot of respect for her. I still don't agree with a lot of her viewpoints, but that's on me.

What I do appreciate is the fact that she broke in a market that was male dominated, which makes it easier for black women like me trying to make it in the same industry.

I’m really happy that I’ve read her book, and I hope that others take the time to do read it too. It clarifies a lot of NONSENSE that people typically misconstrued about her famous interviews, her professional career, and her life.

Everybody hates Isaiah Thomas...for real, for real!

2007-10-03T01:50:00.000-07:00

According to firethomas.com, he's the DEVIL!

PHOTO: firethomas.com

Although Isaiah Thomas has to hand out some cheddar for his crude advances to a former team executive (read more), the firethomas.com website has already had a movement in the making to get rid of his behind!

This website discusses reasons why the New York Knicks should fire him, of course. One of those reasons was that he "repeatedly shows the "Charles Smith Gets an A for Effort Under the Basket" motivational video during practice."

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condoning anything he did, and if he’s just a “stupid” leader, then I really feel sorry for him because that’s something you can’t change. At least that’s what my momma tells me (she said there’s three things you can never change while you’re living: ugly, stupid or the DMV).

But DAMN! There is actually a movement of people that are READY to see his butt go. Amazing. Makes me wonder if there’s more to the story. Hmmm…

Jennifer Hudson: the city is hers!

2007-10-03T01:09:00.000-07:00

The closer it gets to the premiere of the Sex & the City movie, the more I get anxious. I know that former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson is going to ‘kill ‘em .

And even though I love Kim Cattrall’s character, I want her to leave her clothes on in this movie. Then I’ll be a-okay.

The movie is slated to hit theaters May 2008.

Who is Kel Spencer? Well ask no more...

2007-10-03T00:14:00.000-07:00

Photo: jazzyjefffreshprince.com

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I had the honor (and I can definitely say it was an honor) to interview an emcee who hails from Brooklyn, NYC. His name is Kel Spencer, and this dude (hands down) ain’t no joke! Please believe me!

If you don’t know who Kel Spencer is, I’ll give you a taste, but you gotta SEE to BELIEVE, so check out his myspace page here.

Kel Spencer is not JUST an emcee, he’s a public speaker, Co-Chair of his own imprint, 3rd Power Music Group, and a ghostwriter for artists like Will Smith, MC Lyte, Nick Cannon and Rodney Jerkins (to name a few). He co-wrote the song Switch (performed by Will Smith), which won an American Music Award.
Also, Kel just got some love from MTV in London, where they’re playing his video THE BUILDING in rotation—THAT’S HOT! He’s constantly working, so look for his "Brooklyn Spartans" mixtape, and the "Who is Kel Spencer" documentary.

I can't say anymore. You HAVE to check this cat out for yourself, because he's on the brink of stardom.

Oh, and remember to VOTE 4 KEL SPENCER!

Until there's more (and there will be more)...

Monkey see, Monkey do

2007-10-02T23:57:00.000-07:00

Theo Shaw, 18, (left) and Robert Bailey Jr., 17, (right) two members of the Jena 6.

Picture: npr.org

Hip Hop artists backing Jena 6 can be a problem if they’re not setting an example themselves.

In September, thousands of African Americans marched through the streets of Jena, Louisiana to show support for six boys on trail. If you don’t know what happened, here’s a rundown: six high school aged African American males, also known as “Jena 6” were initially charged with attempted second degree murder after attacking and beating a white classmate unconscious following an incident where nooses were hung from a tree in the school’s yard.

Since then, the Jena 6 males have garnered a lot of attention from musicians, especially those in the Hip Hop community. In fact, a benefit concert was hosted in Birmingham, Alabama showcasing artists like Jagged Edge, Nick Cannon, Hurricane Chris and (the bad boy himself) Bobby Brown. Moreover, there have been other rockers that have enthusiastically donated money, support and prayers to those at the center of the case.

But how long will this last? Especially since many the individuals supporting Jena 6 are publicly blasted for their raunchy and/or violent music? Not to mention those who are too busy defending themselves in court or getting carted off to jail for some of the same reasons why the Jena 6 boys got in trouble.

For instance, rapper Foxy Brown told reporters that they should pay more attention to what’s happening with the Jena 6 case, and not hers. Foxy Brown said all this during her legal trouble, which stemmed from her smacking a nail salon employee.

Rapper Trick Daddy was arrested for disorderly drinking, resisting arrest, and fighting in a Miami strip club in September.

David Banner and Master P defended their music to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “Aren’t there bitches out there?” David Banner asked. “Don’t they exist? Those types of women exist, and if they didn’t it’d be different.”

All of these situations are funny to me because there was a time when Hip Hop artists simply made the music they wanted without any excuses. Like, Public Enemy. They were a group that constantly educated and enlightened youths about their political and social surroundings, serenading crowds with songs like Hell No We Ain’t All Right and Can’t Truss It.

William Jelani Cobb, author of To the Break of Dawn, describes Rakim’s Casualties of War album as an eerie, Nostradamus-like tale of urban terrorism similar to the horrors of September 11th.

And Ice Cube’s 1990 album, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted came out after the Rodney King beating and LA Riots. On his track Tales from the Darkside, he said the LAPD’s role was to “serve, protect, and break a n*ggas neck.”

So what’s different? There are too many excuses and not enough responsibility. Too many rappers aren’t taking responsibility for the words they express. If their neighborhood’s are dilapidated, over run with drugs and filled with men and women that hold no moral values, then there’s nothing anyone can do but try to fix the problem. At the same time, local and national decision makers need to take their communities back into their own hands, whether it’s on Capitol Hill or in their back yards. Rappers don’t express their views for just no reason, and neighbors don’t complain when there’s nothing to complain about.

Perhaps there will be some Hip Hop artists that will stand up and start taking more accountability for the lyrics they write. Maybe lawmakers nationwide will stop talking and start constructing and developing cleaner, safer communities.

Maybe America needed the Jena 6 experience—we obviously haven’t learned our lessons from years prior.

"Tell 'em why you mad, son!" Hip Hop moguls defend their music to the House

2007-09-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

Photo: Amanda Marsalis, from Fader 28

A few scholars in the Hip Hop community, along with David Banner and Master P, banded together to defend Hip Hop (again).

Billboard.com: On Sept. 26, David Banner joined fellow MC Master P, music industry executives and scholars to discuss offensive language in hip-hop music before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Reading from a statement, the 33-year-old Mississippi rapper/producer tenaciously defended hip-hop from its detractors.

During his testimony, Banner said, "If you fix our communities, we'll fix our lyrics." Asked how that would affect change, he tells Billboard, "In the Katrina hearing, one congressman asked, 'Haven't we done enough for Katrina?' They live in a world that we don't live in, and it's hard to speak for a majority when you don't live under the same conditions. People don't sing happy songs if they're broke."

"Rap music does for us the same thing gospel did for the slaves," he adds. "We communicate our anger through our music."Banner has butted heads with those trying to ban words like "bitch" and "hoe" from rap lyrics, including the Rev. Al Sharpton and Master P.

"Aren't there bitches out there?," he says. "Don't they exist? Those types of women exist, and if they didn't it'd be different. When someone yells in a room full of women the word 'dyke,' my mother isn't insulted because she isn't one.""Rap is an art, and I can say whatever the hell I want to," he continues. "I use the words I use because they are graphic and they hurt. It's supposed to get people's attention. Where we come from, we speak that way."

You're right, David Banner. There are bitches in the world (mainly those who serve as imprudent bosses in the workplace).

I could preach the "why tear down black women" speech, but I've done better than that. I don't support music that I don't believe in or agree with. I concur with many Hip Hop artists when they say that listeners should ACTIVELY pay attention to their music before they purchase it. If you don't like what you're hearing, don't support it. Because not all Hip Hop is good Hip Hop (and that's another story that we won't EVEN get into).

I have a question for you:

2007-09-28T04:49:00.000-07:00

There was a point in time when music served as a tool for healing and change, especially in the 60’s and 70’s. With the Global War on Terror, Jena 6 and post-Hurricane Katrina, I think we need Hip Hop music to channel all of its energey to help America heal. So where is Hip Hop? Did it die with Tupac and Biggie?

Ahoy! Hollywood studios are cracking down on movie pirates!

2007-09-28T03:56:00.000-07:00

Photo: Reuters

According to Yahoo! News, The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has filed suit against two online Web sites that are allowing users to watch bootlegged movies online, and many of them are in theaters now. Titles like "Good Luck Chuck" and "Resident Evil" are amongst some of the pirated films on the illegal websites. Uh oh!

The lawsuit seeks to shutdown cineatube.net and ssupload.com, and to disallow them from further "infringing on the copyright of MPAA members."

So if you're a bootlegger, and you frequent the following sites: http://cinematube.net/ or http://ssupload.com/, I suggest you find another vendor. Go back to the dude that bootlegs buspasses in the projects (9 times out of 10, he's the smartest guy you know. Hopefully he's smarter than the MPAA). Or just pay for your stuff like everyone else (my husband is probably laughing his ass off as he reads this sentence).

Chaka Kahn and Bebe Winans: the new "Miss Sofia" and "Harpo."

2007-09-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

Newsday.com (and my favorite celeb gossip blogger Sandra Rose) reported Chaka Kahn and gospel sensation BeBe Winans are slated to star in the Broadway musical "The Color Purple" this January. Producers say the diva herself (Chaka) will portray the role of Sofia, and BeBe will play opposite her as Harpo. American Idol's Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino is currently playing the role of Miss Celie, and they're looking for her replacement before she leaves the cast in January.

DAMN! My dream of going to Fantasia's Broadway performance is slipping right before my very eyes...(sniff, sniff). But I guess it's cool. There's always syndicated reruns of Oprah, who has already had Fantasia sing on her show. Plus, Chaka should make a very interesting portrayal of Miss Sofia, hmmm...I can see it now, "I said hell naw." I'm giggling already.

Zoink! Scurry Spice Danced with the Stars better than I anticipated.

2007-09-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

'Aint we lucky we got 'em...GOOD TIMES!

I watched ‘Dancing with the Stars’ last night in a NyQuil induced state (I’m getting over a bad case of the flu). So I was feeling right! Nonetheless, I was a little surprised with Mel B’s performance. Not the type of surprise you feel at a surprise birthday party. More like the surprise you felt when you first heard that Tracy Edmonds and Eddie Murphy were getting married—you wasn’t really shocked, you had other feelings bubbling inside, and happiness may have been somewhere in that bed of emotions.

For real, for real, I kinda thought that her dancing was going to go a little bit like the Hollywood gossip that’s been surrounding her for the last few months—all over the place.

But she did really well in her Cheetah Girls dress (which I thought was really cute). She was a little stiff, but she already knew that. I was proud. High on NyQuil, but proud.

I give it TWO SNAPS UP!

And speaking of America’s Next Top Model…It’s Miss Jay Alexander, B*TCHES!

2007-09-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

I love Miss J. Alexander! Style, spice, rage, haughtiness—Miss Jay has got it, and I LOVE IT! So I was thrilled when PAGE SIX reported that Miss J. is giving this season’s ANTM viewers a bit of an upgrade, which has already started airing. The new and improved style is described as “dirty, filthy, nasty and fabulous.” Fabulous.

PAGE SIX also informed us that the ‘Catwalk Queen’ dropped the dime—well, more like the nickel—as to which model/diva in training will be crowned queen for the latest ANTM cycle. “She’s extremely religious,” said Miss J.

Should I be scared or excited? I'm not really sure...

Stop the madness Adrianne Curry!

2007-09-25T03:24:00.000-07:00

So I'm reading the headlines for the Celeb Gossip segment of my show, and lo and behold, I come across this little tid bit. Apparently, Adrianne Curry from Cycle One of America's Next Top Model had a few choice words about Black History Month and Black people on her myspace page.

This is gonna be hard guys. I LOVE the comedians on BET. I also LOVE the fact that they play my favorite show of all time, In Living Color. However, I do not believe in seperating ANY RACE in America. WE ARE AMERICANS! How dare we have Black History Month! In my eyes, the Native Americans deserve it MUCH more, seeing how we destroyed their ENTIRE SOCIETY. There are hardly any of them left! They also have been proven to have the WORST living conditions on their reservations. I want AN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH. One where we learn about EVERY race, ALL OF OUR LEADERS, EVERYONE! I think by having a month dedicated to one race, and not one for any other, is RACIST. Every fund set up to only help people of one race is SICK and RACIST.

Yes, I get it. Black people were slaves here once. You know what? That does suck some major balls, however, it is time to move the fuck on. Do we hear the Jews crying that they were made slaves for thousands of years? Do we hear them whine that they should OWN the pyramids in Egypt because THEY broke their backs making them? Do we hear them bitch and moan about Hitler, etc? (my hubby is a Jew)Nope, we dont. It's time for us to UNITE AS ONE. I do not think that singling out one race, giving one race opportunities to go to college (I know a TON of poor white.asian, indian, american indian, etc etc that could use that too!), giving one race the EXCUSE to blame things on others for being whatever nationality they are, is a good way at making sure we NEVER kill racism.

I am over this shit. WE ALL CAME FROM ONE BLACK WOMAN FROM AFRICA, THAT is our EVE! It has been proven by science, and I stand by it. If any other race had a chanel dedicated to just them, we would think it was racist. If any other race demanded a month be set aside for ONLY them, they would be considered racist. I am NOT living by this double standard any longer.

Think I am racist? I am not. I know what racism is. I dated a guy named "Justin" in Junior high. Nothing serious, but I really liked him. He was the blackest of black...BEAUTIFUL skin, kinda like Alex Wek's. He was handsome, and athletic, etc. I was called a nigger lover. But you know what? I was called that by a whole 2 people out of a school with HUNDREDS of students. THAT is why I am NOT buying this racist shit anymore. Let us teach or children that there is NO DIFFERENCE! We are all human. I hope one day aliens land and try to kill us. Maybe THEN we would finally realize that WE are ONE.

So, I will no longer tune into BET. This is going to suck, but I do NOT like the idea of having a chanel for only 1 race. In the year 2007 in a country that is supposed to be the most advanced and equal. This is unexceptable! I will also no longer acknowledge Black History Month. Instead, I will see it the way that Morgan Freeman does (I have the quote at the bottom of my last blog on Obama/jesseJackson, and OJ). AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH! I will read/watch/and learn about ALL the people who made a difference in this country.

I am asking you ALL to join me. Black, White, Indian, Asian, Russian, Australian, etc etc.....lets be AMERICANS together! What happened to the African American community was AMERICAN HISTORY, not BLACK HISTORY. If you want to celebrate in a way that excludes others and singles one race out, count me the FUCK out! I am soooo proud to be an American. I am SO proud that I have friends of every race, and none of us see each other as anything but what we are..people. Lets change Black History Month to 2 months of AMERICAN HISTORY. We will still learn about all the black leaders and people who made a difference....just not with the racist name of "Black History Month". It has to start somewhere. I am going to do my part in making sure we are all treated EQUAL in a country that CLAIMS we are. NO MORE SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR ANYONE WITH ANYTHING!

But in all fairness, she did have a rebuttal:

Yep, I gotta try to clarify a few things here.

Firstly, I just want to apologize for how random my thoughts were in my last blog. I wrote what I did just minutes after a long heated discussion on the topic. I can hardly read the thing, it's so damn random!

I think it is HORRIBLE that people misunderstood my message. Just because I wanted to stop separating races, doesn't mean I want to STOP TEACHING HISTORY! Or schools need to teach MORE of ALL of it anyway! I was asking that we not name things to separate ourselves. I never claimed we shouldn't learn our own history, or that of all the other countries on earth (which we as Americans are pretty bad at). I am very aware of all the amazing things hat black people have done for our country, and we should always be aware of it. However, separating our races sounds like racism to me. It just does. So go ahead, claim I am the one who is ignorant for wanting us all to be EQUAL! Can you believe that? How does that make a fucking lick of sense? Honor your heritage, I know I do. Just make sure that by doing so, you do not seperate yourself from the rest of us! Black History to me would be everything that happened in AFRICA. I lived there for almost 5 months. Visted Robin Island, and saw the cell they held Nelson Mandela in. I witnesses first hand people calling these taxi vans "Black Taxis" and these nice taxi's "white taxis". Just vile.THAT is African(black if you will) history. African AMERICAN history is OUR history!

And you know that what you've just read above is not all. Oh no folks, that is not all...

click the link below to read more:

http://www.myspace.com/adricurry

My word:

Adriannne Boo: whatever you do, DON'T TURN INTO A ROSIE O'DONNELL! You're trying to head down that road with this blog. DON'T DO IT! Just come on back home. Petey Pete! Handle that!

Mother sentenced to 1 year in jail for encouraging her daughter to fight on the school bus

2007-09-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

I saw this story/video on z90.com a few months ago, and I thought it was a mess then.

(check this link for the full story: http://www.channel10.com/news/specials/popular/article.aspx?s=popular&storyid=63583 )

I’m not really sure how I feel with this one. A part of me is angry at Shayla Muldrow for even encouraging her daughter to fight her battles with her fists. But my mother made me fist fight when some crazy girl and her cousin verbally and physically attacked me in middle school for a period of time (yeah, I was a little bit of a punk. I’m not one now so…).

What’s even crazier is that I still hold true to the old belief that there are some people you have to smack upside the head in order for you to get your point across to them. This is why we have to teach our kids to fight with their minds and not their fists. They start thinking like yours truly.

One day we will evoke the spirit of our mothers and fathers from the civil rights era and fight all of our battles nonviolently.

O.J.: what the cowboy h*ll was he thinking?

2007-09-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, So O.J. decides to act a fool and “retrieve” memorabilia that he says belongs to him. He said that he's found police to be unresponsive to him when he does seek their assistance. People are still really pissed at him.

(check for the full storyhttp://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3608130)

But what I want to know is this: why is it that every time OJ gets involved with someone or something, there’s always a number of unanswered questions? Who knows, maybe the (overpriced, might I add) book “If I did it” will answer some of my queries.

The Lower Level hitches up the ‘Lac and rides to Jena.

2007-09-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a dynamic Hip Hop group out of the Lone Star State who are getting their politics on (move over Kanye).

Jedii.com and Freddy Freaxx make up The Lower Level, and the duo is on the road to Jena, Louisiana to show support for those whose lives were inconvenienced by outrageous politics concerning the Jena 6 trial (visit democracynow.org for more info).

If you’re a fan of their music, or just appreciate a Hip Hop group supporting something more worldly, hit up their myspace page at www.myspace.com/thelowerlevel.

Jedii (the mad writer) said that he will keep us updated on what’s up in Jena, and I’ll be sure to keep all of you posted as well.

Peace and Love,

Miss.shaun

Michael Vick versus the media

2007-09-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

Despite popular belief, I am personally happy that Michael Vick is owning up to his crimes, and is pleading guilty. I am even happeir that he isn't trying to cop a plea deal or trying to weasel his way out of this one (besides, there was no way he could have gotten out of this jam). But I don't think that he should be hung outside to dry because of it.

Jennifer Lopez said something in Page Six that struck a cord with me, on this same subject. (Paraphrasing) J.Lo said that PETA tends to pick on certain celebs so that they can gain noteriety. I couldn't have agreed more with her, especially in the Michael Vick case.

Again, don't get my words twisted. Vick was dead wrong, and he should be punished. But when people say stuff like "This case is worse than Kobe Bryant's rape case,"? WOAH! TIME OUT! PRESS PAUSE!

How is it that a human beings life is of less value than an animals? I've owned my share of pets, and I've never wanted harm done to them, but why is it that my life is less than an animals? Statements like that piss me off! It's an insult to every man or woman who has ever been sexually assaulted or physically abused.

I hope that Vick learns a valuable lesson in all of this drama, and I hope that all states (besides the Commonwealth of Virginia) start tightening up their laws on animal abuse. I sometimes wonder if his case would have been blown out of proportion had he did it in New York state.

50 Cent.. the real Mad Rapper

2007-09-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever worked with someone who would come in to work and say some stupid sh*t like “Don’t expect me to work today! ‘Cause I aint doing no work!” Or what about the guy/girl at who is labeled the outrageous complainer? This person can’t seem to do anything without crying like a baby first?

Needless to say, that’s a mess. Unfortunately, it seems like we have a few of these types of people amidst our presence in the music industry, and one sticks out like a sore thumb in my mind.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. I swear it’s like every week, this man finds five things to be mad at. Is this negro ever happy with anything? I’d hate to imagine him as the type of man that would walk into an elevator “gangsta-like” as women, black and white, begin holding their purses and shivering nervously. So that I can prove one of my points, lets take a moment to reflect on the most recent zany adventures of Curtis Jackson:

On Jay-Z & Diddy: “Nah, I don’t even like them”
On MTV’s rap list: They don’t even exist outside the U.S. [Well, I was actually mad that the Game made #3 on MTV’s rap list my damn self. But still, 50 should KNOW that he can’t be faded! Where is the confidence?]
On his “boss”: "@#*$%s think Jimmy Iovine my boss, #*$%, @#*$ Jimmy Iovine.”[check out the mixtape at SOHH.com]
On Kanye West: I’m “retiring” if he sells more albums than I do.
On the leak of his next music video featuring Robin Thicke: “smash” goes the blackberry; “clang clang” goes the sound of the plasma TV as it hits the floor. “crash” goes the window.
The list goes on.

While I side with Fiddy in many of the reasons why he is so angry, there are a few of them that I just can’t even pretend to agree with. But regardless of what others think, 50 Cent has done extremely well. He’s a phenomenal businessman, period.

But what I want to see Fiddy do is bring Hip Hop back, or forth, rather. I want to see him take Hip Hop beyond shaking in the club, to the phenomenal force it once was. I feel that he has the potential to make the music more profound and almost cult like. He has the potential to give the O’Reileys and others like him something to really fear--a black man with a socio-political agenda. You see how people are already attacking Obama, right?

Now, if only Curtis Jackson could find a way to put something like that on his weekly s**t- I- need-to-be-mad-at list. Hmmm…

Lessons learned from The Notorious B.I.G.

2007-09-19T09:09:00.003-07:00

“It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up Magazine..."

Do you remember how you felt when you actually let the meaning of those words sink into your brain when the late Notorious B.I.G. spit those lyrics? If you have never actually thought about those words, then reader, I think we have a problem.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not writing this piece to downplay your intellect. But Christopher Wallace had some profound meaning behind his words.

Ok, check it: there was a time when Wallace just wanted to be heard, just like you. There was a time where he felt tired, and he wanted to be able to care for his family, himself, and tell people where he was from and how he lived--just like you. He was hungry, so he ate, while influencing and, whether you admit it or not, changing Hip Hop forever, especially upon his death.

But if there is one thing that all of us can take from Christopher Wallace that we should value and cherish is that he always maintained that he was never "above" anything or anyone.

"I'm blowin' up like you thought I would, same number, same hood and it's all good," (Juicy)

"If the game shakes me or breaks me, I hope it makes me a better man, Take a better stand (Sky's the limit)

"See 74' march 8, set me straight, not able to move behind a great steal gate, Time to contemplate, damn were did I fail, All the money I stacked, was all the money for bail..."(1970 Somethin')

My point is this: remember that you were given a blessing, and the whether you believe you should make it big or not, it's a blessing. This means that you are not above anything or anyone. You may be given accommodations that might be less than desirable. You may even hate the crowd you are performing for. But nevertheless, you are the next pioneer. You may not feel it now, but you are leading a community, and maybe, a world of individuals who want to hear your words.

They could be words of endearment and encouragement, like what Juvenile did for Hurricane Katrina victims in his hometown. They could be words of hope, like what Bun B did for UGK's fans worldwide when his partner was sent to prison. Or they could be radical enlightenment, and we frequently saw that from Tupac Shakur’s lyrics.

Whatever the case, you are not above speaking to those that need to hear your words the most. Otherwise your journey to the top will be exactly like what the late Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G. Wallace said: "It was all a dream".

Think about it.

Peace and Love,

miss.shaun

Ric Shea: He can't survive without his radio

2007-09-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

Despite the drama that surrounds Hip Hop music, Indie artist Ric Shea is no Russell Simmons, but he is helping to progress it, one mic at a time.

One thing is for sure: hip hop music has drastically changed since it’s late 1970’s conception. Nonetheless, there’s something in the music that keeps listeners shawty snapping, thunder clapping, and rocking away. Call Ric Shea old school, but his goals as an artist are a bit different than those who are producing today.

“As an Artist, I hope to take it [Hip Hop] back to its roots,” he reflects. “When I was young, hip hop spoke a lot of the struggle. Now all artists talk about is their money. Money is cool, but I’d like to think [that] the next generation is more important.”
A son of a jazz musician, the Chicago native understood the importance of quality music at an early age. That seed was planted when Ric Shea saw his father’s first performance before his sixth birthday. Since then, he’s been staying on his grind, all the while keeping in mind that he has a social responsibility to his listeners as an artist.

“I like to educate the kids, [and] thats what Chuck D and Flavor Flav did so well. Other artists followed, but we've gotten away from that. I would like to see us get Hip Hop’s essence back,” he said.

In the meantime, you can catch the conscious rapper making moves with some members of the Wu Tang Clan, hosting a party, and planning his next move while trying to take Hip Hop’s world by storm.

As for those who want to join Ric Shea in taking Hip Hop music to the next level he advises them to educate themselves. “Study music's icons of every era, then you'll see where the vets of hip hop got their love from,” he says. “We only love music because of the greats that came before us. That's why you have your Jay Z's and Big's and Nas's and Tupac's.”

Check out Ric Shea at http://www.myspace.com/ricshea