Apparently West has finally decided to take some time off and regroup. He and budding pop sensation Lady Gaga announced recently that they will cancel their 'Fame Kills' Tour. which was set to make stops around the country beginning in November.
The duo did not give a reason for the cancellation, but one can only imagine it has a lot to do with Kanye's desire to deal with his emotions and get his life back together.
Have you ever seen a more scripted, insincere apology than this pile of crap offered up by Chris Brown??
After jet-skiing at Diddy's estate, laying low for a few months, then getting shut down from the BET Awards by Jay-Z, Chris makes his first public statements since that fateful night when he assaulted Rihanna from the drivers seat of his car.
If this is the best he could do, he shouldn't have said anything. Watching this makes me even question if he's truly remorseful for what he did or remorseful over the fact that his actions have affected his public image...Chris and his lawyer should be ashamed of themselves for this one.
Only a few days removed from the shocking news of Michael Jackson's death, radio station playlists and TV coverage are still devoting a great deal of time and attention to the pop icons music.
Remember the song Jam from Jackson's 1991 album "Dangerous" ? The song had cameos from Kriss Kross, a verse from Heavy D, and more importantly Michael "His Airness" Jordan was featured alongside Jackson shooting hoops and dancing.
Never before had two powerhouses of sports and entertainment been featured together in a music video..
Here is some footage of Jackson talking about playing ball with Jordan & showing him some of his patented dance moves.
Nowadays, cameos such as the one Michael Jordan made are commonplace. Athletes frequently appear in music videos, and musicians frequently support athletes in the arenas (i.e. Jay-Z & LeBron James).
LeBron actually has a similar cameo to Michael Jordan in Jay-Z's new video for his single 'Death of Autotune.' People always say nothing is new under the sun. Michael Jackson was the first to feature a prominent athlete in his video over 15 years ago...The man truly was a pioneer.
Jay-Z: 'Death of Autotune' video (LeBron cameo @ 3:55)
The BET Awards aired last night live from Los Angeles...Where do I start? I'm not going to share my personal views of the show, but know that overall they are not positive. The attire, the behavior, the performances, the acoustics, the speeches, the production value more closely resembled a high school talent show than a premier awards show on a reputable cable network.
So I guess I just shared my personal views, huh? Oh well.
Despite all of its failures, BET made a conscious effort to praise, tribute and pay homage to Michael Jackson's achievements and contributions to the music industry and I appreciate their effort in that regard. Putting forth the effort doesn't always yield positive results and that was the case last night. Many of the so-called "tributes" to MJ were nothing more than artists performing their hits in MJ inspired outfits. There were a handful of artists who performed some of Jackson's hits (none worth writing about) with the exception of Ne-Yo.
Ne-Yo performed "Lady in my life" and in my opinion was one of the few artists who actually did justice to a Michael Jackson song. If you missed the BET Awards, please do not feel bad as this video is one of the few highlights from three painful hours of live television.
King has left the building. I'm sure most of you were as shocked as I when you found out about Michael Jackson's untimely death. There is no doubt that the megastar, pop icon, musical pioneer turned freak show in recent years had an effect on your life. His music is timeless and his dance moves were impeccable.
A few weeks back I wrote about Jackson's announcement that he was planning a world tour that was set to begin sometime this year. Fans now will not get that opportunity to see Jackson on stage again. Jackson's death reminds us how precious life is, and not even the most accomplished entertainers and celebrities are exempt.
MJ will truly be missed. He touched many lives during his career. Fans from Beijing to Baltimore are still coming to grips with the harsh reality that Jackson is no longer with us. R.I.P Mike.
Mos Def is back at it. His newest release 'The Ecstatic' hit stores last week, and it's definitely worth a listen. Most fans of Mos didn't enjoy his 2006 release, 'True Magic,' but this album is a refreshing reminder of Mos Def's talent and skills that captivated music fans back in the days when he and TalibKweli formed the duo of Black Star. Solid production, thought-provoking lyrics, and guest appearances by TalibKweli & Slick Rick make The Ecstatic a solid release. Take a listen if you haven't heard it already.
He can't be serious... T-Pain introduced his chain to the world last weekend at the Summerjam concert in New York. Worth over $400K, adorned with 197 carats of diamonds and weighing 7.5 pounds, T-Pain's "Big Ass Chain" is exactly that.
I cannot think of a more frivolous way to spend money than on a big ass chain that actually says "Big Ass Chain." I am in sheer disbelief over this one. I like jewelry as much as the next man, but all in good taste. You can overdo anything...They used to put "big ass chains" on my people hundreds of years ago, but for different reasons. I guess Mr. Pain forgot that fact. He should be ashamed of himself.
I have to thank my good friend Nick Wright out in Kansas City for making me aware of this one. Nick hosts a talk show out in KC, mostly commenting on sports topics, and occasionally addressing larger social and/or political issues. Check him out at 610sports.com.
Such was the case today as Nick devoted a portion of his show to an event that occurred over the weekend that has KC up in arms. DJ Jazzy Jeff was performing at KC's downtown entertainment district Saturday night. For those who may not be aware, it was Will Smith AKA The Fresh Prince & Jeff Townes AKA DJ Jazzy Jeff who won the very first rap Grammy Award for their hit 'Parents Just Don't Understand' in 1989. Jazzy Jeff is a hip hop pioneer.
Saturday night after only 30 minutes, Jazzy Jeff ended his set and walked off stage. Read all about the incident here.
Jeff claims he was kicked off stage for playing hip-hop.. There are also reports that his "hype man" was forming gang signs on stage while attempting to liven up the crowd. Jazzy Jeff says they were asked to play Top 40 hits or leave, despite the fact Jeff says his set included T.I. & Rihanna's hit 'Live Your Life,' Kanye West's 'The Good Life,' and other chart-toppers.
Jon Stephens, the president of the Power & Light District where the concert was held maintains that Jeff & Co. were asked to leave because their levels were too high and risked damaging the speaker equipment...
My buddy Nick spoke with Stephens this morning and got his take on the situation:
The KC P&L district is an urban redevelopment financed by taxpayers, and there has been a great deal of public outrage regarding the districts policies since it opened last spring. Most of the outrage stems from what are perceived as racial undertones through the dress code policy and lack of venues that cater to minority clientele, despite the fact that 30% of the city's population is black.
Kansas City is also home to the American Jazz Museum & The Negro Leagues Museum, but the newly opened development where Jazzy Jeff was asked to leave does not have one venue that features blues, jazz or hip hop amongst its over 40 establishments.
KC P&L's dress code policy. What do you think?
Here is a news story on KCP&L's controversial dress code.
I was not in attendance Saturday, nor do I live in Kansas City. I am though good friends with Nick who was born, raised and now works there. Through Nick, I have learned that KC is notorious for frail race relations. KCP&L may have had the best of intentions last weekend, but the dress code policy, its lack of business that cater to minorities, and its treatment of a hip hop legend send an entirely different message...
We were dismayed to see the cover of the May 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which features a photo of Rick Ross wearing a pair of sunglasses prominently featuring counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks. Because the photo has generated considerable confusion among your readers and Louis Vuitton customers among others, we feel it is important to clarify several points.
The first is that the sunglasses Mr. Ross is wearing were not made by Louis Vuitton, and in fact, are counterfeit. Louis Vuitton did not grant permission to Mr. Ross or to whoever did make the sunglasses to use our trademarks. The second is that no affiliation, sponsorship or association exists between Rick Ross or XXL and Louis Vuitton. The third is that counterfeiting is illegal.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to correct the confusion.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Pantalony, Esq.
Louis Vuitton Malletier
Ouch. I think the funniest part is the caption at the bottom of the cover. "I've never had a credibility problem and still don't." You might have a small issue on your hands now Ricky.
Asher Roth dropped his debut LP 'Asleep in the Bread Aisle' on Monday 4/20. Usually albums are released on Tuesday's, but being the bonafide stoner (his first mixtape was called 'The Greenhouse Effect' and his website is the TheDailyKush.com) that he is, Roth definitely catered to his fan base with Monday's release.
Roth's flow reminds me of (not at all because he's white) Eminem, but with much more positive upbeat themes. Regardless, the album is hot. If you haven't heard it yet, you can check it out below.
Asher was in Syracuse this past weekend and blessed the undergrads at my alma mater with a performance at the Westcott Community Center. Shouts out to my man Yosh up at SU who captured this footage from inside the show.
Atlanta has been a hotbed for up and coming musicians for quite a while now. Outkast & Jermaine Dupri were among the first wave of musicians to garner national attention for Atlanta's music scene. Artists like T.I., Ludacris, & Young Jeezy have elevated the A to bonafide music mecca status.
The 808 Experiment is an undertaking started by a few of my friends Blake '808 Blake' German & Kyle '7King' King. The duo together goes by the name of SMKA, and they teamed up with some of Atlanta's hottest independent, up and coming artists to give the streets 'The 808 Experiment.' An eclectic mix of beats, vocals, and rhymes, The 808 Experiment (download album here) is a great listening experience for anyone who appreciates good music, southern rap, and quality production.
The video for the first single was just completed and I wanted to share it with you. The single called 'Caddy's' features A-Town rappers Gripplyaz, Young Trimm & A. Leon Craft. I would have been at the video shoot if I still lived in Atlanta. Shouts out to Motion Family and my boy David KA as well. The Motion fam did a fantastic job with the video.
John Mayer is en route to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with a cruise ship full of fans for his second annual'Mayercraft Carrier.' The cruise allows fans to bond with Mayer and other performers while the ship travels from LA to Mexico. It's a four day cruise full of sunbathing, frozen cocktails, partying, and performances by Mayer and friends. Sounds like an all-around good time.
Captain Mayer has been raising some eyebrows over his choice of attire during his cruises. Last year, he wore a 'mankini'a-la Borat.
This year, Johnny boy has once again proven that his body is NOT a wonderland with his latest sailing stunt. On this year's cruise, Mayer graced his shipmates with a white captains suit...with extremely short shorts...
Really John? Your penchant for media attention is becoming a little annoying. The Jennifer Aniston saga caused myself and others to take some points from your 'cool account,' and the shorts and G-String bikinis don't help either. Let's get it together man.
The sentence comes as a result of T.I.'s arrest by federal agents the morning of the 2007 BET Awards for trying to buy machine guns and silencers (see photo below).
T.I., a convicted felon tried to purchase machine guns and rifles from federal agents. A search of his home revealed more unregistered weapons. This timeline documents the sequence of events, and here is a slideshow of the weapons he tried to purchase as well as the ones taken from his home. Harris could have been sentenced to 10 years for the crime, but instead accepted a plea bargain that required him to complete 1000 hours of community service before sentencing, and 500 hours upon his release.
The plea also enables him to cut 15% off the sentence for good behavior, and the 2 weeks he spent in jail before he posted bail for $3 million will count towards the sentence as well. After the reductions Harris will only spend about 10 months in jail. Ten months vs. 10 years...I think he's pleased with the outcome. Ten months means he could be out by next year's Grammy's. In case you missed his performance this year, here it is:
Since his arrest, T.I. has been speaking to high school students as part of his community service obligations. He's been to 58 schools, 12 Boys & Girls Clubs, 9 churches, and a host of other functions in 25 states. MTV has also been along for the ride, documenting the time leading up to T.I.'s sentencing on'T.I.'s Road to Redemption.'Good luck TIP. We'll see you on the other side real soon.
Kid Cudi, the up and coming rapper from Cleveland made his network TV debut last night on 'Last Call' with Carson Daily. Cudi performed his hit 'Day 'N Nite,' as well as a few other songs.
Fans have been up in arms since Cudi announced that he would retire after he releases his first album this summer. I hope he doesn't do that, the guy makes good music. In the mean time, enjoy the performance.
Sean "P.Diddy" Combs appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show yesterday to answer questions as to why he would open up his home to Chris Brown, who by many accounts beat his girlfriend Rihanna.
Yesterday, I wrote about the Brown/Rihanna saga, and all of the interesting twists it has taken in the last few days. One of those twists included photos of Chris Brown jet skiing at Diddy's estate in Miami. For more on all of that see the post below.
Get a load of this...That 3 page text message that Rihanna read on Chris Brown's phone the night of the Grammy's came from: HIS 40 YEAR-OLD MANAGER!!! Whoa.
I just read the report on TMZ.com which claims that Brown's manager, Tina Davis was the sender of that infamous text message that Rihanna called Breezy out on and initiated Brown's furious rampage inside the car.
It has also been reported that Brown and manager Davis have been romantically involved since Chris was 16...Both Brown and Davis deny the accusations.
As if this story couldn't take any more twisted drama...there are also rumors that Brown swept Rihanna away to P.Diddy's $14.5 million estate on Star Island in Miami. There are photos of Brown on jetskis. Rihanna was not seen at the estate.
Recap: Breezy gets text. Rihanna reads text. Rihanna gets mad. Breezy get madder. Breezy beats Rihanna. Breezy and Rihanna get back together. Breezy and Rihanna spend a weekend at Diddy's estate. Breezy and Rihanna then get married (reported but not yet confirmed).
If this wedding actually happened, words will not be able to express my disgust at this situation, its outcome, and the message that it sends.
The King of Pop is stepping down from his throne. "Wacko Jacko" announced Thursday that he will tour one last time as part of his "This is it" tour, beginning in London and possibly making other stops around the globe.
Jackson made the announcement in front of a throng of adoring fans and journalists in London.
He also announced plans to release a 3D film entitled "Thriller 3D." In my opinion, they should just use his grossly deformed face for all of the frightening scences.
I found a hilarious site that documents Jackson's facial transformation..Thanks Kate for reminding me of how crazy this man is for cosmetic surgery.
I decided not to blog about this when I first heard the news last week, but it appears as if Mikey is having a case of stage fright about making his big return. MJ had to be escorted back to his hotel room after he wandered out drunk and bewildered. The pop star even called his mom for reassurance during his spell.
I'm with you Mike...nothing like the kind words of ma dukes when you're doubting yourself. Still though, are you serious? Stage fright? What? This guy has been on stage since he was in grade school, and he's 50 now. Get it together Mike.
Between the concert series and the 3D movie release, Jackson could make up to $400 million. I think those numbers may help him get his act together.
Ricky Ross is back on the scene. His new album 'Deeper than Rap' is set to drop March 24th, and I'm looking forward to it. With guest appearances by NaS, Kanye, Mary J. Blige, & Lil' Wayne, this new release should be another solid album from Rick. I just heard the first single the other day; 'Magnificent' featuring John Legend.
'Cigar Music'is another nice track off the album that might be making a lot of noise in the near future.
Andy Samberg and his boys at Lonely Island are back with another SNL digital short. You may not know these guys by name, but I'm sure you have seen their work...
The guys who brought 'Lazy Sunday,'and more recently 'Jizz in my pants' are back with another short. This new release 'I'm on a boat' features T.Pain, and can be best summarized simply by saying that this is what happens when Big Pimpin' meets SNL meets T-Pain...pretty hilarious stuff.
Ok, so by now we all know that Dr. Dre drops an album right around presidential election time (one term if you're lucky..)and not a moment sooner. Chronic 2001 came shortly beforethe outset of the W. Bush administration...The first Chronic came out December 1992...shortly after Clinton was elected.
Now that Obama is office, can we expect more heat from Dr. Dre????
The streets have been patiently waiting for "Detox" for some time, and the project has seemingly been getting pushed back for years now.
Not sure if you have heard this new ish...but Dre is back in a major way. "Topless," Dre's newest track features T.I. and NaS doing what they do over another banger from Dre. TAKE A LISTEN & ENJOY!
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