Another Black Eye

So, once again, a rich black man has to show his ass and give the racists another reason to continue to stereotype us. After a colossal win by the President-Elect, Barack Obama, we still have to contend with the dumb exploits of New York Giant football player, Plaxico Burgess. This even after winning a Super Bowl earlier this year and being rewarded with a rich contract that many people would kill for, yet, even though he is injured, he still feels he has to ‘thug it out’ at a New York City nightclub this past week!

You would think that after all the bullshit fellow NFL player ‘Pacman’ Jones has gone through in the previous year and the Michael Vick situation, people would be more cautious about the ignorance that still possesses their lives. What needs to start happening is that when these idiots decide to act out in public, they should be reprimanded as harshly as you or I would if we committed the same acts, but without the high priced attorneys stepping in to save their dumb asses!

I still don’t understand why rappers, actors, entertainers and sport players feel that they have to prove their ignorance while in the streets. They create their own imaginary image and feel that they have to live up to ‘being real’ for the sake of the ignorant people that they either admire or want to be cool with, yet, avoid making money because they can’t get endorsements and wonder why people only see them as talented people and nothing else. We all know they crave respect, admiration and acceptance but why is it that it has to be done on an ignorant level? Yet, I can’t get in the ‘cool club’ because I don’t have the status of these ignorant people, yet they are the ones keeping up the stereotype, ESPECIALLY in the New York City area. Thanks Plaxico Burgess for giving these club owners more reason to prevent me and my other law-abiding friends the opportunity to hang out and have a good time based on your ignorance and their perception of ALL Black people. They look at us and say, the niggas get rich and still act like niggas. Thanks to all the dumb ass rappers and entertainers that feel that they have to be ignorant to get respect in the same streets that will test them more than any other group out there. Thanks for re-enforcing my thoughts on going to these ‘high profile’ events and staying home and being safe and not having to worry about being shot or left out in the cold because I am not one of the ‘cool kids’.

B-Real of Cypress Hill “Don’t Ya Dare Laugh”

Devin The Dude @ The Highline NYC 11/17/08

Never Confuse God w/ Government-Interview w/ Jeremiah Wright

Written by Davey D 

25 November 2008
This past weekend the State of the Black World Conference took place in New Orleans.
Lots of activists, community leaders and artists came through to talk about key issues facing the Black community, developing and implementing an agenda along with the challenges we face as a community in the aftermath of Barack Obama’s historic win.

On hand this weekend was Reverend Jeremiah Wright who was to receive a prestigious Legacy Award.
For those who don’t know, Rev Wright was and continues to be a popular figure especially in church and religious circles. His villification for sermons taken out of context was a bitter pill many of us swallowed as Obama made his historic run for office. Him being distorted didn’t sit well with a lot of folks. In our minds Rev Wright was never wrong. He was always right.

We sat down and talked with him as he opened up about the entire ordeal he endured. He explained to us how he managed to stay strong and survive the storm. He said it was the love shown to him by average everyday folks who he felt always spoke truth to power that kept him going with words of comfort.
We talked about Liberation Theology and the importance of faith and how one should use it in troubling times. Wright received death threats and talked about during his acceptance speech how the Nation of Islam protected him.
He talked about his love and friendship with Minister Farrakhan and how he has always looked at other faiths as important to acknowledge, learn about and build with as we struggle for equality and true liberation for all oppressed people.

He spoke to us about his current relationship with President-elect Obama and whether or not he felt Obama could’ve handled the controversy in another way. He noted that back in 2007 he had remarked to Obama that there would come a day when Obama would have to distance himself from Wright and his church in order to get elected.

Wright spoke candidly about the toll some of this took on his family, in particular his daughter who was a first year student at Howard University and had to deal with harsh criticisms from fellow students who were unaware of Wright’s work and only knew him via Fox News.

He talked about his visit to the Clinton White House and how he along with several other ministers prayed for Bill and Hillary’s troubled marriage. He explained how he felt knowing that the Clinton camp were among the first to throw him under the bus when they knew damn well what his sermons were really about. The Clinton’s were aware of the distortions and knew the types of things that are said and the manner in which things get preached on Sundays in the Black Church.

Rev Wright also talked to us about the church’s relationship to Hip Hop and the love he has for Common who has been a long time member of his congregation. He talked to us about the types of steps he felt needed to be taken in order for the Church community and Hip Hop generation to better connect. He also shared the disappointment and hurt he felt when some rappers tried to clown him and take him to task in their songs.
He wasn’t aware that there were many others like Paris, Rebel Diaz, NY Oil, Jasiri X and so many others who have been shouting him out in songs and shows in a good way.

Wright also talked to us about why he may start calling himself the 7 million dollar man-making note of the amount of money Obama’s opposition paid to run that slew of last minute commercials where they twisted his words and sermons.

In this particular episode you will hear long excerpts of some of Wright’s sermons that were taken out of context and made to demonize him. In episode 2 we play the original sermon that set things off. The theme is the difference between God and Government.

Never Confuse God w/ Government pt2

Below is the link to the 2003 sermon that set everything off..

http://odeo. com/episodes/23662709-Jeremiah-Wright-sermon-2003

This is the 2003 sermon in its entirety that pretty much set things off and cast long time Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright in a bad-light. When you hear this sermon you will see just how much they distorted his words. You will also see just how a what Rev Wright said could be taken the wrong way…

Listen to the interview by clicking link below…

http://odeo. com/episodes/23662487-Interview-w-Jeremiah-Wright

Common To Release “Universal Mind Control” On December 9th

Grammy award winning, platinum recording star and big screen actor, Common,  is set to release his highly anticipated eighth (8th) studio album, Universal Mind Control (UMC) on December 9th on G.O.O.D Music/Geffen Records.  Universal Mind Control follows last summer’s release Finding Forever which debuted at number one (#1) on the Billboard 200.

 

The techno-inspired club banger, Universal Mind Control, presents a fresh sound and change of direction for the Chicago-bred musician.  Common created Universal Mind Control because he felt the feel-good music was the only music missing from his body of work. 

 

“I’ve always been passionate about what I do,” says Common.  “I put my heart into Universal Mind Control, and I think it’ll reach audiences I’ve never touched before.”

 

With every new release Common is able to gain the eyes and ears of an entirely new audience.  The artist began his career with stimulating lyrics in his 1992 debut, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, and subsequent release Resurrection.  One Day It’ll All Make Sense introduced Common to the neo-soul/bohemian crowd, Like Water for Chocolate, solidified his position with the next generation of soul musicians, and the adventurous Electric Circus saw Common expand his horizons even more.  Be and Finding Forever, resulted in classic, soulful albums that would garner four Grammy nominations for Be and a Grammy Award for Finding Forever. 

 

To promote Universal Mind Control Common produced two videos: one a high tech futuristically looking piece shot with a modern and sleek fashion sensibility for the high energy title track “Universal Mind Control” and the other a ground-breaking piece for “Announcement,” which features state of the art post effects and should be available right around the album release date. Both videos are directed by Hype Williams and both songs are produced by and feature Pharrell.
 
Produced by The Neptunes and Mr. DJ (of Outkast fame),  Universal Mind Control  hosts a number of fun-filled tracks including “Make My Day,” a sunny hip-hop version of “California Girls” with a Cee-Lo hook, and “Everywhere,” an upbeat duet that draws its guitar riff from Pat Benatar’s “Love Is A Battlefield.”  The Chicago MC manages to remain true to his roots with “What A World,” a story that is based on Common’s journey of overcoming long odds to find success that features a catchy hook by pop duo Chester French and “Changes,” an optimistic look at the future that pays homage to President Elect, Barack Obama.  The first single, the title track and Afrika Bambaataa-influenced “Universal Mind Control” is #2 most added at urban radio this week (Source: R&R’s “Urban National Airplay” chart) and is featured in a Zune commercial that Common appears in alongside Bambaataa.  The commercial appears on TV and online.  

 

Early praise on Universal Mind Control includes reviews from outlets such as Rolling Stone who says UMC has “hyperspeed dance-floor jams spiced up with futuristic effects and deft lyrics,” while Entertainment Weekly states that Universal Mind Control is “packed with flashy synths and catchy hooks.”

 

To complement the new release, Common has launched a new website, thinkcommon.com. thinkcommon.com was designed and developed by Fishbucket and  will serve as the main hub for any fan who wants to keep up-to-date on Common’s life, music, films, and beyond. 

 

Common has been a mainstay in the entertainment business for sixteen (16) years.  He recently made the transition to film and has starred in five (5) major films with incredible stars including:  Smokin’ Aces directed by Joe Carnahan starring Jeremy Piven and Ben Affleck and American Gangster directed by Ridley Scott starring Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington in 2007, Street Kings directed by David Ayer starring Forest Whitaker and Keanu Reeves and Wanted directed by Timur Bekmambetov starring Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman in 2008.  In May of 2009 we will catch Common starring in Terminator Salvation directed by McG and also starring Christian Bale.

 

He has also written three children’s books-one having won a NAACP Award, has a youth empowerment foundation (The Common Ground Foundation – www.commongroundfoundation.org), and he has enjoyed being a part of commercial endorsement campaigns for Lincoln, Gap, Converse, and now Microsoft. 

 

Along with all of that he’s even designed his own hat line (Soji), so you won’t be surprised to know that Common continues to push the boundaries with plans to launch a film production company soon.  Common is currently on a promotional tour across the country promoting the upcoming release of Universal Mind Control. 

GHOSTFACE GIFT WRAPS ‘GHOSTDEINI THE GREAT’ ON DECEMBER 16th

Arriving just in time for the holidays, Def Jam artist – and Wu-Tang Clan mainman – Ghostface Killah reaches deep into his secret stash o’ vintage jams for GHOSTDEINI THE GREAT, his first official archive collection on the Def Jam label, blending “classic tracks with remixes and new verses,” as announced on Billboard.com. 

 

            The newly-produced release features an all-star cast of guest appearances – including Wu-Tang Clan (“9 Milli Bros.”), fellow Def Jam artists Kanye West and Ne-Yo (a new remix of “Back Like That” from Fishscale), Amy Winehouse (a new remix of “You Know I’m No Good” from More Fish), Mary J. Blige (“All I Got Is You,” a song recorded a decade ago by WTC’s Raekwon), Ice Cube (a new remix of “Be Easy” from Fishscale), and others. The album also features two new, unreleased tracks – “Slept On Tony” and “Ghostface Christmas.”

 

            GHOSTDEINI THE GREAT will arrive in the physical and digital marketplace on December 16^th.  The physical CD (only) will feature bonus video content that chronicles his performance on the first annual 19-city Hip-Hop Live! Tour back in October-November 2007.

 

            Virtually a brand new album, GHOSTDEINI THE GREAT is Ghostface’s fourth Def Jam release in less than three years – easily making him the most prolific WTC member of all.  The collection follows up:

 

·        Fishscale (released March 2006), one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year – 4¶ in Rolling Stone, A+ in the Village Voice – it debuted on Soundscan at #2 R&B and #4 pop, featuring the chart singles “Back Like That” (with fellow Def Jam artist Ne-Yo) and “Be Easy” (with Theodore Unit’s Trife Da God);

·        More Fish (December 2006), another critical success – 4¶ in Spin and Mojo and XXL – containing the chart single “Good” (with Trife Da God & Mr. Maygreen), and guest appearances by Kanye West and Ne-Yo (on a new remix of “Back Like That”) and Amy Winehouse (on “You Know I’m No Good,” produced by Mark Ronson); and

·        The Big Doe Rehab (December 2007), winning another 4¶ in Rolling Stone, this album rose to Top 10 on the Billboard R&B chart, with a solid VIP guest list that included (among others) WTC comrades Raekwon and Method Man (on “Yolanda’s House” and “Paisley Darts”), and Def Jam’s Chrisette Michele (on the bonus track, “Slow Down”).

 

The GHOSTDEINI THE GREAT track list sequence:

“Slept on Tony”

“Run” remix (featuring Jadakiss, Lil Wayne, Raekwon, Freeway)

“Kilo” remix (featuring Raekwon and& Pusha T)

“Be Easy” remix (featuring Ice Cube)

“Tony Segal” (aka Barrel Bros.) (featuring Styles P and Beanie Sigel)

“It’s Over”

“Walk Around”

“9 Milli Bros.” (featuring Wu-Tang Clan)

“Mighty Healthy”

“Apollo Kids”

“All I Got Is You” (featuring Mary J. Blige)

“Cher Chez La Ghost”

“Back Like That” remix (featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo)

“Street Opera” (featuring Sun God)

“You Know I’m No Good” (featuring Amy Winehouse)

“The Champ” remix

“Ghostface Christmas”

 

Black Milk “Give The Drummer Sum”

Former Martial Arts World Champion and Film Star Will Bring 10,000 Children To Albany To Protest Governor David Patterson’s Budget Cuts

Former Martial Arts World Champion and Film Star Lou Neglia is bringing 10,000 Karate Kids to protest Governor David Patterson’s chop of Children’s Programs, that are going to be cut because of the 14 billion dollar deficit.
 
Neglia is calling on a March on Albany, next week on the day before Bruce Lee’s birthday, November 26, 2008. The group is calling for Mixed Martial Arts to be allowed in New York State to make multi-million dollar revenue to save children in need. New York State is losing hundreads of millions of dollars to other arenas according to a recent economic impact statement. Over 36 states in United States have legalized Mixed Martial arts.
 
A study commissioned by the Ultimate Fighting Championships and conducted by HR&AA Advisors revealed a UFC event at Madison Square Garden would generate $11.5 million in economic activity and $400,000 in tax revenue for New York City and $555,000 in tax revenue for the cash-strapped state. An event in Buffalo would generate $5.3 million in economic activities. Thirty-six states currently allow professional martial-arts matches, as well as Washington D.C. and two Native American reserves. Syracuse and Albany are among the other upstate cities that would be in contention to host the matches.
 
According to the report, a martial-arts event could attract thousands of visitors, bringing in $1.1 million in revenue for the Buffalo area. The report states $300,000 alone would be spent on overnight stays.
 
Martial-arts events in Buffalo would require about 300 staff, resulting in the creation of 57 new jobs, according to the report.
 
The group wants the Legislature to pass a bill that would allow the state Athletics Commission to regulate martial-arts matches. Without the regulations, the events cannot be held in New York.  Mixed martial arts events include karate, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, a Japanese sparring method.
 
Lou was a film Icon in Bruce Lee Post Era of the martial arts movies staring in blockbusters like ”A Hard Way to Die, ”Fist of Fear” and ”One Down Two to GO”.  He has been featured on several magazine covers and is known in some circles as the “Brooklyn Bruce Lee”.

Friday Hip Hop Report

GILBERT ARENAS’ WAX FIGURE JOINS THE STARTING LINE UP AT MADAME TUSSAUDS WASHINGTON D.C.

Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas, along with 50 children from his Zer0 Two Her0 Foundation, unveiled his wax figure today at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. Arenas posed side-by-side with his wax double and the children, who all donned Washington Wizards’ jerseys for the occasion.  The figure sports his signature #0 Washington Wizards home uniform, which was donated by Arenas. The wax figure will be a part of the attraction’s sports area alongside figures of other legendary athletes, including Evander Holyfield, Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali.

“Gilbert Arenas is one of today’s most beloved basketball players — both in Washington D.C. and on a national stage,” said Janine DiGioacchino, General Manager, Madame Tussauds New York and Washington D.C. “As we move into our second year in the nation’s capital, we are thrilled to have a figure of the Washington Wizards’ fan favorite in our attraction.”

“It is an honor to join the ranks of sports icons such as Muhammad Ali and Tiger Woods by being immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.,” said Arenas.  “Like the Wizards, Madame Tussauds has become a fixture in the nation’s capital and one that I’m proud to be a part of.”

In order to create the incredibly lifelike figure, a team of Madame Tussauds studio artists flew in from London, UK to conduct a figure sitting with Arenas at the Verizon Center earlier this year.  Arenas was an enthusiastic participant in the creation of his wax figure – the sitting alone took more than two hours as the studio artists took hundreds of measurements and photos, as well as selected eye, hair and skin tone matches for his figure. The figure creation process is incredibly intricate.  Artists insert each strand of hair individually; the creation of Arenas’ figure’s head took nearly five weeks to complete. 

Since joining the NBA, Arenas has been a popular figure in the league.  Nicknamed The Hibachi and Agent Zero, he has transformed himself from a relative unknown to an NBA All-Star and a bona fide fan favorite.  His Agent Zero Blog on NBA.com, in which he offers fans an inside look into his whirlwind life with witty insights, is widely considered the top blog of any professional athlete today. 

Off the court, Arenas is passionate about several charities, including his own Zer0 2 Her0 Foundation, which helps promote the safety and well being of children by raising funds to support organizations that aid in the preservation of families through foster care, adoption and child welfare services.  

 

Fifty 7th and 8th grade students from James Madison Middle School in Prince George’s County, Maryland were part of the figure unveiling.  The students were recipients of Arenas’ Zer0 2 Her0 Foundation Christmas Dream program, and James Madison Middle School was a recipient of his Scores for Schools program last season.  Through Scores for Schools, Arenas donates $150 for every point he scores during Washington Wizards’ home games.

Washington Wizards’ fans will get to see Arenas’ wax figure again tomorrow when it makes its appearance at center court during the Wizards game against Houston at the Verizon Center.

Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is located within walking distance of the National Mall and the White House with its entrance on the corner of F and 10th Streets.  With a limited time offer of $10 tickets for adults and seniors and $8 for kids ages 12 and under, now is the time to visit D.C.’s interactive “must do” attraction.  For more information, visit www.madametussaudsdc.com or call 202-942-7300.

About Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.:
Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is a fully interactive, full-sensory experience, where visitors are able to touch, see and hear major historical events and celebrities in a way unlike any other Washington D.C. attraction.  Recent additions to the attraction include the beloved Jonas Brothers exhibit, where guests can snuggle up to figures of the famed trio and rock out with them on a pair of Gibson Guitars and a drum set.  Wax figures of superstars Penelope Cruz, Tyra Banks and Denzel Washington were recently introduced as well.  The attraction is located within walking distance of the National Mall and the White House.  The entrance is on the corner of 10th and F Streets.  For more information, visit www.madametussaudsdc.com or call 202-942-7300.

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