The Latest from Allhiphop.com

Eminem, Jay-Z Rock Detroit With All-Star Lineup

Friday, September 03, 2010 5:13 AM | 6 Comments

By Mike Winslow

Kia Shine Accused Of Spoiling Girl's Sweet 16 Party

Thursday, September 02, 2010 6:14 PM | 27 Comments

By Houston Williams

Former Atlanta Mayor Suggests T.I. Was Pulled Over For 'Driving While Black'

Thursday, September 02, 2010 4:15 PM | 44 Comments

By Nolan Strong

Ca$his Preps New LP 'Shady Loyalty 1st'

Thursday, September 02, 2010 3:13 PM | 8 Comments

By Jake Crates

AHH Stray News: Drake Heading to Philly; Rick Ross, Rah Digga

Thursday, September 02, 2010 2:19 PM | 7 Comments

By Ace Cannon

Rapper T.I., Wife Tiny Face A Year Over Ecstasy; Metha-Amphetamines

Thursday, September 02, 2010 10:02 AM | 87 Comments

By Roman Wolfe

T.i., Tiny Arrested For Drug Possession in Hollywood

Thursday, September 02, 2010 7:23 AM | 46 Comments

By Roman Wolfe

Diddy Sued For $12 Mil By Employee Who Claims Age Discrimination

Wednesday, September 01, 2010 5:39 PM | 19 Comments

By Roman Wolfe

TI Arrested for Drugs? Yes, I’m Disappointed

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

TI (aka Clifford Harris) is my favorite rapper, and the person I consider to be one of the most talented artists in America.  I've made no secret about my appreciation for his music, and from friends of mine who know him, I can say that he is genuine about reducing gun violence among our youth.  TI is also the artist that I would have gambled on to have the greatest likelihood of turning his life around.  He has a lot to live for, and people who love him.   He's made his mistakes, but I was convinced that he'd grown from them.

Now, after hearing about his arrest for drug possession, I'm not so sure if TI has learned a thing.  In fact, I'm having a hard time distinguishing TI from his self-destructive counterpart, Lil Wayne.  And yes, I will say this in public: I think Lil Wayne is an idiot.

Click to read.

The DEA Hiring Ebonics Experts to Understand Drug Dealers

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Scholarship in Action – Syracuse University 

The Associated Press is reporting that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is considering hiring translators to help agents understand the language of drug dealers. Apparently, the agents are having trouble interpreting the words and sentences being used by suspects during wiretaps. The agency reached out to some translation services companies to find someone to help them with the problem. No, this is not a joke.
"They saw a need for this in a couple of their investigations," Special Agent Michael Sanders said. "And when you see a need - it may not be needed now - but we want the contractors to provide us with nine people just in case."
Yes, this story is making me laugh as much as you are. When I heard that the DEA was considering such a move, I could almost appreciate their intentions, but I think they might be a bit misguided. The first thought that came to mind was whether or not they are presuming that drug dealers speak a dialect of English which matches that of the rest of urban black America? Sure, there are going to be similarities, but most of my urban friends don't understand drug dealers either. Dealers don't just sound like rappers, but actually structure a variation of language and sophisticated codes that nearly anyone would have trouble translating. Rather than hiring an ebonics expert to understand the lingo of drug dealers, they'd be better off hiring a former drug dealer.

Click to read.

Son of Dallas Police Chief Allegedly Kills a Cop

Suge Knight, Kanye West: Lawsuit, Guns and Money

• It appears that Kanye West and the infamous Marion "Suge" Knight are getting together to work out ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 6:36PM | Comments (0)

How Love and Money Mix and How You Can Do it the Right Way

• I did the interview below on CNN Radio this week about love and money. Most of us know the feeling ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 4:45PM | Comments (1)

Black Single Mothers and Dating: What's It Really Like?

• In this episode of 'Dr Boyce Watkins on AOL Black Voices,' we discuss black single mothers ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 3:54PM | Comments (0)

Should Facebook Be Held Accountable for Murders by Members?

• A man was sent to prison after he did the unthinkable: He pretended to be a teenager, lured a young ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 3:42PM | Comments (1)

Rev. Al Sharpton and Dr. Boyce Discuss the Plight of the Black Male

• Every week, I speak with Rev. Al Sharpton on various issues that affect the African American ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 9:45AM | Comments (6)

Obama's Fatherhood.gov Commercial: Too Feminine for Black Men?

• On Father's Day, I wrote about the immense thrill of being a dad. This is one of the reasons I ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 9:30AM | Comments (8)

BP Chooses a Black Man to Head its Claims Process

• "BP is paying all the bills right now," Darryl Willis, the vice president of resources for BP ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 22nd 2010 7:50AM | Comments (1)

Son of Dallas Police Chief Suspected in Killing a Cop

• Investigators are saying that the 27-year-old son of Dallas Police Chief David Brown shot and ... Read More
• By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 21st 2010 8:38PM | Comments (2)

Dr Boyce Money: Diddy's Son's Car- Too Much?

by Dr Boyce Watkins

Some of us turned our heads to the side when it was reported that the rapper and businessman Diddy gave his son Justin a $360,000 Maybach automobile for his 16th birthday. People asked me what I thought about this, since I've written a great deal on how to teach your kids about money, and I used a three letter acronym: TAH - "Tacky As Hayell."
I respect Diddy and I apologize for having to lean in on him for this one, but as S Tia Brown and I discuss in our latest episode of Financial Lovemaking, you can find ways to show your children love without spoiling them for the rest of the world. By giving his son such an extraordinary gift at such an early age, Diddy may have minimized his son's ability to conceptualize the value of working hard for his success or empathizing with those who are less fortunate. In other words, receiving such overdoses of dopamine at the age of 16 is a sure-fire recipe for depression later in life.

Click to read

Time for Hip Hop to Change

The age of the Hoochie Mama is over

by Dr. Boyce Watkins | TheLoop21 in Culture & Society

It's time for hip hop, and its audience, to grow up.

read more

Rappers and Black Women: Slim Thug and Talib Kweli

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

A note to Slim Thug: You probably just need to be quiet for a while. It's not to say thatyour comments about black women were outside your rights to freedom of speech, but if you keep dissing the audience most likely to go out and buy your records, you are probably going to end up in the same poorhouse as MC Hammer. Don't get me wrong, black men love your music (at least I do), but the bottom line is that brothers don't buy albums, books, or anything else put up for sale. But when black women turn on you, it's a wrap son. Settle down and go back to the studio; it's good for your financial health.
I wrote yesterday about the comments made by Slim Thug regarding how he perceives white women to be a better dating choice than black women, as well asColumbia Professor Marc Lamont Hill'sresponse to Slim Thug's words. It seems that the debate has taken a life of it's own, now that rapper Talib Kweli has joined the conversation. In a recent essay he wrote for Vibe Magazine, Talib Kweli was ever the diplomatic artist, as he showed respect for Slim Thug, but also expressed his own concerns for his colleague's remarks about black women:

Click to read.

To read more about the debate regarding Slim Thug’s comments about black women, click here.

Your News: Rapper Slim Thug Gets Public Lashing by Black Scholar

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University

When I recently read the open letter to the rapper Slim Thug(pictured above), written by Columbia Professor Marc Lamont Hill (pictured below), I was concerned. I love "Slim Thugger" and his musical brilliance, but putting him in an intellectual toe-to-toe with one of the most brilliant young scholars in America is like puttingLennox Lewis in a boxing match with Beyonce. Marc is my boy, and incredibly sharp, and I would encourage him to pick on someone his own intellectual size. Simultaneously, I encourage Slim Thug to quietly walk away and shut up. He needs to stay in the booth and use his intellect for something other than ridiculous social commentary.
But Slim Thug asked for his public butt whooping, after engaging in one of the most feeble and misguided critiques of the African-American woman that I’ve heard in quite a while. Even for a rapper, he sounded as if he needed to be educated on what black women are all about. Here are Slim’s words, "straight out of the negro’s mouth":

Click to read

Kanye West Gets Banned from Haiti Telethons

It looks like the actions of Kanye West in the past and his constant issue with checking his ego at the door hasn't paid off for the rapper even now.

In an attempt to bring as many supporters as possible to aid in the relief of Haiti, there have been countless telethons being conducted to raise awareness and donations for the country after the devastation that it's suffered.

Actor George Clooney is doing his part with his own telethon, but reports are saying that he won't allow West to participate in the fundraiser which will be broadcasted tomorrow.

Sources have added that they are going out of their way to ensure that West doesn't make an unwanted appearance, courtesy gawker.com.

“After what he said on the Katrina telethon and the way he behaved at the MTV Video Music Awards, everyone agrees it's just best that he does not participate,” said a producer.

 

Click to read.

Your Black News: Lloyd Banks Gets Locked Up

G-Unit's Lloyd Banks is being held by police in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, on assault and robbery charges after an incident involving a local promoter on Friday night. Authorities say that Banks and three others assaulted the promoter after the G-Unit member performed at Club NV in nearby Brantford late Friday night.

Sergeant Brad Finucan of the Waterloo Regional Police's Criminal Investigations branch told MTV News on Sunday (January 10) that Banks (real name: Christopher Lloyd) and three associates got into a dispute with the promoter at a local hotel over payment for performance and an appearance fee. The promoter's name was withheld by police.

 

Click to read.

Rapper Plies Still Being Sued for Shooting Last Year

Five Gainesville residents are suing a Florida rapper, his record label and a local club after they were shot during a 2006 concert.

Billy Dee Williams, Michael Lamar Daymon, Edwin Devasco Faircloth, Steve Ruben Jean-Jacques and Dorian Shannel Johnson are suing rapper Plies, whose real name is Algernod Lanier Washington. They are also suing night club 238 West and Washington's record label, Slip-N-Slide Records Inc., for compensatory damages.

Washington is best known for his 2007 single "Shawty" featuring T-Pain.

According to the suit, after Washington's microphone was cut off during his show at the West University Avenue establishment, he "became enraged and a fistfight ensued."

Tory Denard Carnegie and Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte, Washington's security guards, then pulled out guns and began firing, the suit stated. The victims were each shot in different places, including the foot, neck, arm, abdomen and cheek.

According to court records, both Lavatte and Carnegie pleaded no contest to criminal charges and received prison sentences.

 

Click to read.

Hip Hop Wired Talks about Heather Ellis and the Rally

» By MICHAEL ICEBLUE HARRIS   Nov 5 2009, 11:31 Am

Dr. Boyce Watkins will be spear heading a rally on November 16th in Kennett, Missouri in support of Heather Ellis. Ellis, a young college student is facing up to 15 years in prison after an altercation at a local Walmart that started from cutting the line.

After the dust settled, Heather was arrested and charged with trespassing, disturbing the peace, and two felony counts of assaulting a police officer. These charges have delayed her education and cost her potential employment opportunities.

When Heather refused to sign a plea deal

News: Bill Cosby dropping a CD

Many times we don't want to listen to old heads when we know what they say is right. Bill Cosby has been holding a mirror to Black America over the last few years and rightfully so as teenage pregnancy, high school drop out rates and murders like that of Derrion Albert seem to become normal.

Now stepping into the music genre again, the famed comedian and Black activist plans to rekindle Hip-Hop's socially conscious flame on “Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency,” an album of music with messages reflecting today's most critical issues affecting young people.

Created to engage listeners and lead them to take action, the CD's empowering and dialogue-provoking themes will be spread throughout the Internet via the comedian/actor/author's extensive social media network and an interactive new web site, billcosby.com, designed to build a grassroots campaign of activist-led house parties and town halls.

Click here to read more.

--
Posted By LadyBaby to Your Black Gossip: The Official Source of Black Celebrity Gossip at 10/14/2009 07:25:00 AM

Roxanne Shauntay Speaks Up and Out about her PhD situation

According to EUR Web:

A rep for Shante explained that Cornell’s Web site had posted a picture of the artist and listed her name as “Dr. Shante,” when in fact, she “didn’t receive the years of education to constitute a PhD. She did not falsely promote herself as a PhD, but rather she continued what the college started in how they basically said she was a doctor.”

On Thursday, Shante sent us the following statement responding to the controversy:

I would like to thank my long time fans and supporters for your continued support. I am humbled and grateful to all of you for that.

Without going into all of the details as of right now, I would like to apologize that this story regarding my post recording career has caused such a ruckus. The entire story will be revealed at a later time.

Throughout my career and life, I have been faced with many challenges, both professionally and personally. Like all of you, I am human, and may have not made the correct decision all the time. And, like anyone else, I would like to think that my entire life or career is not judged by one error or mistake.

It is very easy to criticize someone and I have left myself open to criticism. That is fair.

There are plenty of people that will attest that I have done a lot for them. It seems though, that negativity gets more attention than positivity.

All I can say to that, is before you level any further criticism and cynicism, walk in my shoes. I am making this statement to apologize to the people that truly care about me for any angst that this situation has caused, and to thank them for their continued support. I am proud of what I have been able to do for so many others, and would like to let those persons know that I will continue to be there for them no matter what.

I am proud that during my twenty plus years as a pioneer in the Hip-Hop industry to have opened doors for those who came after me.

I will have no further statement in regards to this matter at this time

Please contact my management at Spydo Music xxx-xxx-xxxx or my publicist Belinda Foster at xxxx for any further inquiry.

Regards,

Roxanne Shante

Hip Hop News: A Rapper Who Takes His Job Waayyyy too Seriously

Elizabeth McCutchen and a friend were walking to book club two weeks ago in quaint Farmville, Virginia, when they strolled by a home on First Avenue. "Something smells dead," her friend said.

Richard Samuel McCroskey has been arrested in connection with the killings of four people in Virginia.

They were thinking animal. A dog, a cat, something like that. They never imagined they were smelling the remains of massacred humans. It was Thursday, September 17. But another 24 hours would pass before police made the gruesome discovery.

Richard Samuel McCroskey III -- a 20-year-old rapper in the underground genre of "Horrorcore" who sang of chopping people into pieces -- has been arrested in connection with the slayings. The crime scene was so horrifying police would not even describe it, saying only that the victims died of blunt force trauma.

The victims were Mark Niederbrock, 50, the beloved pastor at Walker's Presbyterian Church; his 16-year-old daughter, Emma Niederbrock; Melanie Wells, Emma's 18-year-old friend from West Virginia; and Niederbrock's estranged wife, Debra Kelley, 53, a professor at Longwood University.

McCroskey has been charged only in the killing of Mark Niederbrock. Police and the prosecutor's office did not return repeated phone calls from CNN. But in late September, authorities said more charges are pending.

Click to read.

Visit Your Black World for the latest in Black News!

Dr. Boyce Watkins speaks on the “Sippin Syrup” Drink Being Sold in Stores

by Dr Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

AOL Black Voices 

You've probably heard the phrase "sippin syrup," used in reference to the act of mixing cough syrup, codeine, and soda together to create a relaxed feeling within the person who consumes the beverage. The "drank" has become quite popular, particularly in the south, as rappers have done their jobs of giving free promotion to an illegal product that has managed to make teenagers even less productive than many of them already are.
It was only a matter of time before corporate America stepped in to make money off the trend. Meet the new drink on store shelves: Sippin Syrup. The drink doesn't use any illegal products, but produces the same "lean" effect that many young people seek from the cough syrup product on the street. Harmless enough, right? Not so fast.
Officers in the Houston area are concerned that the product sold on store shelves is nothing more than a gateway to an incredibly dangerous and addictive drug. The snazzy ad campaign fully leverages the power of the brand of "purple stuff" being sold on the streets already. Teenagers who can't get the real stuff would likely be enticed by the substitute until the door is open for the actual product.

Click to read more.

 

If the above link does not work, please click here to see Dr Boyce articles on AOL Black Voices

They Still mad and sh*t?

The original mad rappers, Onyx, are back, and they're not happy about Damon Dash's 'Blak Roc' collaboration album with The Black Keys. In a recent interview on Angela Yee and Leah Rose's Lip Service radio show on Shade 45, the baldhead rappers discussedyelled about Dash's project, which features notable MC's likeLudacris, Jim Jones, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch and more.
"N----s is biting the whole f---in' movement," explained a ticked off Fredro Starr. "The 'Black Rock' s---, we been rocking with that. Now I'm hearing other n----s coming out with it...I ain't sayin' no f---in' names. You know what it is man, holla at me n----, 100 mad n----s with guns n----, stop playing games with me!"

read more click here

DMX Has no respect for Jay Z?

"DMX says "I f*cks with him and had respect for him -- until he became the president of Def Jam and I ain't gonna say too much more about it, but you know what it is. There's a difference between doing wrong and being wrong. There's a difference between doing wrong and 'being' wrong, at one point you were 'being' wrong. N*ggas can't do it like we could, n*ggas couldn't do it like we could. N*ggas weren't able to -- we're artists. Jay is a talented motherf*cker. Don't misunderstand me. He is talented but he has no heart behind it. There's no soul behind it. It's motivated by money...But I still maintain the respect, because our birthday is in the same month and you know, we have history. But I lost it when he became president of Def Jam, that's why I left Def Jam.”

" [DMX Talks About Jay-Z - Watch Here]

The President Allegedly Calls Kanye West a “Jackass”

Are you serious?  Newsweek and other media outlets are reporting that during an off the record remark to an ABC reporter, Obama called Kanye West a Jackass for his attacks on Taylor Swift. 

Well, was he lying?  I think the world is getting tired of Kanye West.

Dr Boyce on Kanye West and Serena Williams

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University 

When Kanye West stood on NBC four years ago and said "George Bush doesn't care about black people," I applauded. When he acted a fool on stage after not receiving some award he deserved, I laughed. When he came out with that really weird CD after dealing with personal crises involving the loss of his mother and break up with his fiance, I sincerely felt for him (but never bought the album).
But after Kanye's stunt last night on the MTV Video Music Awards, I wanted to slap him. Damn brother, that was just pathetic. When Beyonce told you she liked men with big egos, you surely put that theory to the test.

Kanye West's decision to bum rush the stage and yank the mike out of the hand of Taylor Swift, a 19-year old woman winning her first award has finally certified him as the jackass that everyone thought he might be. I have been a big supporter of West, and I still support him to a point. He brings some degree of intelligence to hip hopthat the industry has needed for a long time. But the truth is that his actions last night were rooted in extreme selfishness and horribly arrogant behavior. Not good for Kanye, nor anyone else.
This must have been "The weekend the black folks went wild," because Serena Williams had an equally problematic outburst at the US Open. After a very bad call by one of the judges, Serena felt the need to offer to shove the ball down the "f*cking throat" of the woman for making her mistake. OK sistuh-girl, does the judge really need to have the ball shoved down her throat?

 

Click to read.