Sunday, January 31, 2010

Black History: Cathy Hughes



Catherine Hughes: A pioneer radio entrepreneur
Copyright © 2008 by Jean Sanders

During her journey from teenaged mother to corporate executive, Catherine Hughes has proven that determination, hard work and reliance on inner strength can create success. Founder of the African-American radio network, Radio One, Hughes has been called the most powerful woman in radio. She is the first woman owner of a radio station ranked #1 in any major market and is the first African-American woman to head a publicly traded company.

Catherine Elizabeth Woods (later Hughes) was born April 22, 1947, in Omaha, Nebraska, the oldest of four children. Her father, William Alfred Woods, an accountant, and her mother, Helen Jones Woods, a registered nurse, lived modestly in a public housing project. When she was nine, her parents gave her a transistor radio. Her incessant listening was a portent of things to come.

Smart and studious, she was the first African-American to attend Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, a prestigious Catholic girls' school in Omaha. At age fourteen, she sold classified ads for the African-American-owned Omaha Star. She has credited that experience as shaping her philosophy about "the responsibility of black-owned media." She has also attributed part of her success to her Omaha upbringing, emphasizing black pride, and a Midwestern work ethic.

Surprised at sixteen to learn she was pregnant, she was depressed and in denial. She dropped out of school and married the baby's father. Two years later they divorced, making her another sad statistic--single black teenaged mother with an unfinished education and few prospects.

Today she emphasizes the value of having vision, which she defines as a combination of imagination and preparation. Her vision then inspired her to secure a good future for her son, Alfred Liggins. She returned to Duchesne Academy and graduated in 1964.

Her formal education continued sporadically thereafter. She attended the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the fall semester of 1968 and records reveal she took some additional courses there and one course at Creighton University in 1972.

Her principal education, however, was in the "School of Experience." Among several jobs, she worked for Reverend Leon H. Sullivan at the Opportunities in Industrialization Center in Omaha and, in the early 1970s, helped an African-American group buy and manage an Omaha radio station, which the Ford Foundation helped fund.

Her work ethic was rewarded in 1972 when Tony Brown, Dean of Howard University's new School of Communications in Washington, DC, hired her to lecture there.

In 1973 Hughes was appointed general sales manager of its radio station, WHUR-FM. In 1975 she became vice president and general manager, the first woman to attain that rank in the Washington, DC area. She created The Quiet Storm, a variation on rhythm and blues that featured romantic, sultry sounds. She asked Howard University to license the format but was refused with the reasoning that it wasn't "commercially viable." Ironically, due to The Quiet Storm, ratings and revenue rose dramatically. Today it is standard nationwide.

In 1978 she left WHUR-FM to become general manager at WYCB-AM in Washington, DC. Six months later, frustrated at being stifled creatively, she decided to pursue owning her own station. By that time she had married television producer Dewey Hughes.



In 1979, WOL-AM was a small station with a big problem. It was undergoing a federal investigation and being forced into sale. Hughes and her husband decided to buy it. They found investors who guaranteed $450,000. They put up $100,000 of their own money and tried to secure a bank loan for the remainder of the $950,000 asking price. Thirty-two banks turned them down, but persistence paid off. Thanks to a Puerto Rican female loan officer new on her job, they purchased the station in 1980. It was the genesis of Radio One. Their slogan was "Where information is power."

Upon arriving in Washington, DC, Hughes had been astonished to discover there was no black-owned radio station, or any that targeted black listeners in the area, so she instituted an all news and talk format presenting issues from a black perspective. The station was moved from Georgetown to a black neighborhood. A glass booth was installed so the public could observe. Money for additional staff was unavailable, so Hughes became the talk show host, outspoken in her advocacy for black issues. She was accused of racism and prejudice.

The station lost money. Debt and marital tension rose. Dewey Hughes moved to California to further his career. Catherine Hughes refused to go. They divorced and she bought his share of the station. Faltering finances forced Catherine and her son to lose their house and car. They lived in the station with sleeping bags for beds and a hot plate for cooking.

Eventually they fashioned an apartment out of office space. Hughes sold a precious heirloom that had belonged to her great-grandmother--a rare white-gold pocket watch made by slaves--and received $50,000. She contacted her creditors to update them regularly, and paid them a little at a time. Almost seven years later, the station began to show a profit.

Early in 1982 the bank's loan officers threatened to cut off funds unless she included music in the format. She compromised by keeping talk in the morning and playing music the rest of the day. Ratings dropped, proving once again that Hughes knew her core audience. After a year and a half, she was able to return WOL to all talk, and ratings rose.

In 1986 the Washington Post published what Hughes considered to be a biased and insensitive story about a rap artist accused of murder. Using her talk show as a platform for protest, for thirteen weeks she demanded reform in reporting. Finally, both the publisher and editor of the powerful Post appeared on her program to apologize.

Another instance of controversy ensued when, in 1990, Hughes held a fund-raiser for Mayor Marion Barry. Barry was convicted on drug-related charges, and Hughes later regretted her stance which, originally, she had perceived as support for the black community.

By 1987 it was time to expand. FM had become the dominant venue for music and was deemed essential to any radio owner's survival. To provide that tie-in, Hughes purchased WMMJ-FM. A new federal law in 1992 made it possible to expand her burgeoning radio empire across the country. Her pattern was to buy troubled stations and turn them around.

In 1994 a challenging incident occurred when Hughes' remarks about Hispanics working in black neighborhoods were misconstrued. She explained that she had intended to compliment Hispanics for their initiative and cooperation with the black community.

In 1995 she quit hosting her talk show. In 1998, she returned a $500,000 loan from the state of Maryland and denounced the state legislature because they had expelled Larry Young, a black state senator, for alleged ethics violations.

Hughes' dream of providing a good life for her son has become a reality. Alfred Liggins began working for Radio One full time when he was twenty-one. Today he is president and chief executive officer of the network based at Lanham, Maryland.

The pinnacle of their success was reached when, in 1999, Radio One, with an estimated value of $924 million, was traded publicly for the first time, making Catherine Hughes the first African-American woman with a company on the stock exchange. Radio One now has over sixty stations in urban areas and is still growing.

One of Hughes' hallmarks is her willingness to take big risks. There is no doubt that BET dominates--almost monopolizes--black television broadcasting. Still, Hughes believes there is room for another network aimed at African-Americans.

Radio One, Inc., partnering with Comcast Corporation, started the subsidiary TV One early in 2004, targeting a slightly older demographic. Some market analysts are skeptical, but Hughes has proven repeatedly that her ventures can survive and thrive.

Hughes' commitment to community involvement has been unwavering. Foremost is her sponsorship of the Piney Woods Summer Camp, where inner-city youths can attend an African-American boarding school in Mississippi.

She has received much national recognition. In 1995 she received an honorary doctorate from Sojourner-Douglass College in Baltimore, and in 1998 was the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Achievement in Radio Awards. Other honors include the first annual Black History Hall of Fame Award and the Prudential Media Black Woman on Wall Street Award. She has also been named by Essence as one of "100 Who Have Changed the World."

Hughes advises young people to persevere, be willing to do any job asked of them, believe in God and work hard.

Among several published accounts of her career are entries in Current Biography (2000) and Notable Black American Women, Vol. 3 (2003) See also Omaha World Herald, February 4, 2008 and Who's Who in America, Vol 1 (2008).

Taken from NSEA.com!

Beyonce on 60 Minutes

Grammys: Michael Jackson Tribute

Kim K un-touched! Hot or Not?




Plastic Surgery: Would you?


(Click image to see larger version)




Lady Gaga's Grammy Performance

Me in the Storm Studios mixing around!



Ghetto Visionz: Plies f. Fella "Chirpin"

Sexy Ass Maxwell Accepting his 1st Grammy!



Hard to believe this is his FIRST Grammy! Wow, they have been slippin!!!

Beyonce Performs "If I Were a Boy" Live

Red Carpet Flix: Grammys


RiRi looks like RiRi has been looking! Fabulously crazy! For her I love it...doubt it would work for anyone else!


I'm still trying to decide if I love or hate Ciara's outfit. I have to give her points for doing something avant guard! Definitely, but really, it looks like an oversized doily from a gypsie palm-reader's house! I'm just saying!


Ok, Lady Gaga always gets points on originality! I love the fact that she doesn't seem to give a f%#* about what we think. She looks like a princess from a naughty Disney movie! Fight the power! MEOW!


Drab! One word is all that's needed for this mess Beyonce has on! it's 2010 honey...I thought we were doing better!?!


Mary is a DIVA and I think she looks beautiful!


Keri Hilson looks fabulous! I mean she looks flawless and classy from head-to-toe! Mission complete...girl you got it! All these other R&B chicks need to be scared for their spot...

Early Grammy Awards

Following on early dance and country Grammy wins by artists like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, a collection of some of the biggest names in hip-hop, pop and R&B were honored with statues before the show kicked off. The winners include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, the Black Eyed Peas and Eminem.

Nominated for 10 total awards — the most of any artist this year — Beyonce took home four early awards. For Best R&B Song, her "Single Ladies" triumphed over Jamie Foxx and T-Pain, Maxwell and Jazmine Sullivan. Beyoncé also beat T-Pain and Foxx for Best Contemporary R&B Album (I Am ... Sasha Fierce). In the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category, the singer's "Single Ladies" beat out tunes from Melanie Fiona and others. Her "At Last" cover came out on top for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance over songs from Anthony Hamilton and Ann Nesby.

Beyoncé's husband also took home some pre-show awards. Jay won for Best Rap Solo Performance ("D.O.A. [Death of Auto-Tune]") and Best Rap Song ("Run This Town). He shared that second award with Kanye West and Rihanna.

Eminem won twice as well: Best Rap Album ( Relapse) and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group ("Crack a Bottle"), along with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent.

The Black Eyed Peas already have a slew of wins, from Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals ("I Gotta Feeling") to Best Pop Vocal Album (The E.N.D.) to Best Short Form Video ("Boom Boom Pow").

Earlier in the evening, Gaga nabbed two wins (Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album), as did Taylor Swift (Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song category). The "Twilight" soundtrack lost out twice to sounds from "Slumdog Millionaire."

10 Things The Apple iPad Doesn't Have



Today Apple announced the iPad, a new iPhone-esque mobile computing device. As neat as many of its features are, it is still missing a lot. Here are 10 things that it lacks.

1. Flash. The Safari browser included on the iPad doesn't have Flash -- just like the iPhone. That's a huge hindrance. How does Apple think it can get away with no Flash? Did it bake HTML5 in and forget to tell us about it?

2. No camera. A user-facing camera to enable video conferencing and/or video chats was high on the list of features expected. It doesn't have one.

3. No multitasking. It appears that even though Apple has re-jiggered iPhone OS to work on this device, it still can't run background processes. That's a huge detractor.

4. No Verizon. The 3G wireless service that comes as an option with the iPad is not being provided by Verizon Wireless. It is being provided by AT&T. Man, can AT&T handle it? We know the scorecard there.

5. No widescreen display. The 9.7-inch IPS display may be capable of showing HD movies, but it doesn't match the 16:9 standard screen dimension that many of today's devices conform to.

6. No Mac OS. The iPad runs a new, in-house built processor that Apple calls the A4. It clocks in at 1GHz. That appears to be just fine for iPhone OS, but the iPad doesn't run the more capable, full OS X, which is what would have really set the device on fire.

7. No GPS. The iPad has an accelerometer for a great gaming experience, but no GPS. That means Google Maps is going to have to rely on 3G and/or Wi-Fi to locate the iPad. So much for replacing your smartphone.

8. Enough storage. I realize that the iPad can sync content with iTunes and users can add/remove content at will, but 64GB (max size) is just not enough. Not enough for the games, movies and music I'd want to carry around.

9. Removable Battery. The iPad follows the footsteps of Apple's iPhone and newer laptops in that it doesn't have a user-removable battery. So much for bringing a spare for flights that last more than the 10-hour rated battery time.

10. No HDMI. How is it possible that Apple would skip an HDMI port for easy compatibility with today's HDTVs? Stunning, in my book.

Plus no USB, Mic or SD card reader!

Taken from InformationWeek.com!

Diva Alert: Mary J Blige "I Am"

T-Pain & Jamie Foxx talk about upcoming Grammy performances!

WTF Alert: Kelis has mastered inter-planetary travel

...or at least her outfit leads me to believe that! She looks like something Captain Kirk would SMASH! LOL... All I can say is WTF? SHM



Friday, January 29, 2010

Jay-Z, Rihanna & Bono Team Up For Haiti




Ghetto Visionz: Snoop & Soulja Boy "Pronto"

Luda Says Step Off!

The nationwide Sprite Step Off competition will be the focus of a new docu-series hosted by rapper/actor Ludacris.

The six-part series, titled Sprite Step Off, will follow six step teams from fraternities and sororities across the country as they prepare for the regional rounds of the Sprite Step Off competition while learning steps and beats as well as juggling round-the-clock rehearsals and family, friends and school demands.

Each team will compete for a chance to win one of two $100,000 scholarships at the event’s national final. The Sprite Step Off is regarded as the largest national step team competition in history as it celebrates the creativity and originality of the multicultural college experience through stepping, scholarship and service.

The combined prize pool of the Sprite-sponsored event amounts to $1.5 million in scholarships. In addition to the competition, the Sprite Step Off competition promotes a national program called the Sprite Step Off Challenge, an effort designed to inspire youth nationwide to help their communities by donating a collective total of 1.5 million hours of volunteerism and service between September 12, 2009 and September 12, 2010.

For Ludacris, the chance to showcase teams in the Step Off as well as the merits of stepping provides a win-win situation for viewers and step enthusiasts.

"I love that MTV2 and Sprite are giving a Step competition national exposure and introducing this creative dance form to an audience outside of the urban college landscape," the entertainer said about the half-hour series, which was shot on location at college campuses around the country. "The teams competing on the show are not only dedicated but diverse and will take Step competitions to a new level."

Fraternities and sororities featured on Sprite Step-Off include Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and Zeta Tau Alpha.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Sprite to bring these student performances to television as part of our new original series lineup for MTV2 and to provide a platform for the rich and historic tradition of college stepping," added Chris McCarthy, senior vice president of Strategic Development and Digital TV Networks, MTV.

The Sprite Step Off docu-series featuring Ludacris will premiere Sunday (Jan. 31) on MTV2.

Taken from AllHipHop.com!

Mystikal "Bouncin Back"?!



Rapper Mystikal is heading right back to work since being freed from jail after serving 6 years in a Louisiana prison or sexual battery and extortion.

The Grammy Award winning rapper has been tapped to headline the “Mystikal and Friends” Mardi Gras concert at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for Performing Arts.

The rapper, who was released from prison on January 11, will perform hits like “Danger,” “Shake Yo Ass,” “Bouncin Back (Bumpin’ Me Against the Wall),” and “Move B**ch.”

“I’m back. It almost feels like a dream,” he said in an interview with New Orleans’ radio station Q93 FM after his release on January 11. “Six years off the scene for most rappers, it would be over with, but it’s a new beginning for me….we cant be foolish especially when you are blessed and successful. We gotta tighten up”

Sources told AllHipHop.com that during his incarceration, Mystikal, born Michael Tyler, wrote hundreds of songs, which he plans on recording for a new, untitled release.

“The Mystikal and Friends” concert is slated to take place February 16 at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $36-$63.

Taken from AllHipHop.com!

Crazy $h!t: Repo-ing the Baby Too! Taking it all back!!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Getting Hitched: Alicia & Swizz




Rumors on the Internets suggest that Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz are secretly engaged. Anyone believe that gossip? Anyone hear of Swizz Beatz before?
Well, he's dating Alicia Keys, and the singer apparently had a lot to smile about on her 29th birthday January 25 when he got her an engagement ring.
That's what the rumor is, anyway.

Swizz Beatz, a 31-year-old producer who is still married to (and currently divorcing) his wife Mashonda, supposedly proposed with a 7-carat sparkler.

The happy couple were photographed strolling on a Hawaii beach the day of the alleged proposal, January 24. Keys' rep denies she is engaged, but ...

Another friend of Alicia's reveals to Us that the couple is "currently in Hawaii celebrating the engagement and her birthday. She feels blessed."

Adds the pal: "She is so thrilled. She is with the man who has inspired so much of her music and her new album [The Element of Freedom]."

Engaged nor not, Swizz Beatz is equally smitten with Keys. "What we have is so precious," he gushed to the New York Daily News last year.

Taken from TheHollywoodGossip.com!

Moving Violation: Omarion "Speeding" Video

This Just In: Mariah Carey & Nicki Minaj



Obama's 1st State of the Union











Usher f. Plies "Hey Daddy"

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Your 2 Pennies: Is Drake Over-Rated??



iBreak Music: New Rick Ross



The follow up to Rick Ross's 2009 street single, "Music Mafia," has leaked onto the Internet, and a music video is currently in the works. The track, titled "Music Mafia II," features backing vocals from Chrisette Michele, and will appear on Ross's upcoming album, Teflon Don.

In a preview of the video posted to YouTube, Ross confirms that Michele will appear in the video, which is also said to feature DJ Khaled and Triple C.

"Those that are from Miami that know that was Ross's original rap name, Teflon Don," DJ Khaled told TheBoombox.com. "Trust me, we are making some crazy music man. We gonna make them anthems that have the club going crazy."

Taken from RTTNews.com!

WARNING: REAL LIFE & DEATH



This is not a movie...this is REAL LIFE...and DEATH...

Please donate to the Haiti relief efforts if you can by texting YELE to 501501.

WTF Alert: Learn to Put Make-Up on Like Lil Kim

WTF Alert: Bow Wow Blogging Now???



While I highly doubt that Bow Wow is ACTUALLY doing most of the updating, its interesting to see him and his team embrace viral/Internet marketing in that way. At least his people understand where marketing is moving and that if Bow Wow doesn't want to get left behind (anymore than he already is, lol), he's gotta do things like Blog and Tweet! (Stormy)

Check the story below!

***********************************************

Long on the receiving end of backlash from select blogs, Hip Hop recording star/actor Bow Wow has decided to join the crowd with his own blog !

Titled "Who Is Shad Moss," Bow Wow joins a number of celebrities, including Kanye West, who would much rather their fans get the latest straight from the 'horse's' mouth.

"We gone get the blog going strong," Bow Wow wrote early this week, promoting the blog via Twitter. "I just started up. Keep checking for more updates. I just updated my blog!!"

So far Bow Wow has not only blogged about upcoming appearances, including a show with Nelly, he's also taken time out to talk women, sneakers and the difference between a stripper, video chick, and model.

As previously reported, the "Price of Fame" star is fast at work on his Cash Money Records debut after spending much of his career signed with Columbia Records.

Taken from SingersRoom.com!

Your 2 Cents: Ladies, is Plies sexy?!?







Ghetto Visionz: Gucci Mane "Lemonade"

Sneak Peek: Daddy's Home

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A Young: DJ Storm & 50 Cent

This is sooooo throwback! I met 50 Cent while working at Hot 105.7. This was before he got shot...and before he got the 6 pack! lol, he's still a cutie though (as for me, that's another story)!

Cypress Hill signs with Snoop



Snoop Dogg has made his first signing as Creative Chairman of Priority Records, adding West Coast rappers Cypress Hill to the revived label’s roster. Snoop and Cypress Hill made the announcement on yesterday’s Lopez Tonight show, where the Black Sunday band performed their hit “Insane in the Brain.” Cypress Hill will release Rise Up, their first album since 2004’s Til Death Do Us Part, on April 6th.

According to Snoop Dogg, “Cypress Hill is undeniably one of the most important hip hop groups in music history, not only are they incredibly talented and the first Latino hip hop group to go platinum, they are also from the west coast-so this signing is the perfect marriage.”

Having released its debut album nearly two decades ago, Cypress Hill has sold more than eighteen million albums and hits including Insane In The Brain.

In related news, guitarist TOM MORELLO has joined CYPRESS HILL on the rap act’s comeback album.

Rage Against The Machine star Morello will appear on the title track of Rise Up and another tune when the new release hits stores in April (10). The guitarist says, “It was great to work with my longtime friends and comrades.”

Cypress Hill are Snoop Dogg’s first signing to Priority Records. The rapper is the label’s new creative chairman.

Taken from HipHopGalaxy.com

Your 2 Cents: Waka Flocka's 15 Minutes...

Drake Talks Competition, Says He's Loyal To Lil Wayne



In the latest issue of Complex Magazine, Drake describes his somewhat competitive relationship with other newcomers in rap music, addresses the hate aimed towards the Kanye-directed video "Best I Ever Had," and expresses his loyalty towards Lil Wayne and Young Money. The young rapper said that during his initial rise in popularity, he perceived peer Kid Cudi as one of his biggest rivals.

"When you're coming up, and you're in competition with somebody, it's always hard to have a friendship," he told the magazine. "I think Cudi and I are realizing that we don't threaten each other. It's ended up being one of the greatest industry friendships I have." Drake cited North Carolina native J. Cole as one rapper he may have to watch out for. "I'm at the starting line. Those guys are at home, putting on their tracksuits, getting ready to make their attack. When J. Cole gets it super-right, I think he's gonna have a place as a Nas-type character who really stands for hip-hop, but still makes ill records that everybody fucks with."

Although the Toronto rapper has expressed confidence in his abilities as an emcee, he admitted that the criticism directed towards his debut video "Best I Ever Had," may not have been totally off-base. "You can do something you believe in and people will still say, 'This shit is terrible!' But I still believe in Kanye's vision. Maybe we didn't do a great job with getting the point across--it was supposed to be a humorous video. When I read the comments, I was like, 'Man, I guess no one wants to laugh anymore.' Everybody wants the fairy tale, you know?"

However, the rapper did not give any credence to criticism that he may have made the wrong decision in joining Lil Wayne's Young Money Record Label. "Everyone seems to have a comment for me about Young Money. [They say], 'Fuck Young Money,' or 'Why are you with them?' But what people have to understand is maybe there was a way for me to be successful without Young Money. But we'll never know. My loyalty is to Wayne, and that goes for anybody who genuinely believes in me. We don't have the most personal relationship where we hang out every day or we talk that much, but Wayne's admiration and respect goes without being verbally said. He put his neck out there for me at a very early stage, and those actions tell me everything I need to know about how he feels about me as an artist."

Throughout the interview, Drake also talks about his previous leg injury, his verse on "Forever," the content of his upcoming album Thank Me Later, and more.

Taken from HipHopDX.com!

Stalker Moment: Pics of J & B on a dinner date

Treating themselves to a gourmet meal, Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z were spotted hitting up Nobu restaurant in New York City last night (January 25).

New Music: The 229 Takeova




The 229 Takeova "I Am Down Wit"



Monday, January 25, 2010

Should Rihanna Be Careful with Matt Kemp?



Just when it seemed like a drama-free romance was blooming for Rihanna, questions have surfaced about the singer's new beau, L.A. Dodgers star Matt Kemp.

In June 2008, Kemp's ex-girlfriend, Felisha Terrell, filed a temporary restraining order against him, alleging she endured "constant verbal abuse and threats. . . . He has other people calling me, stalking me and I feel very afraid for my safety."

The case never went beyond the restraining order and both sides agreed to move on.

But the details surfaced almost exactly a year after Rihanna was battered by her previous boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, following a pre-Grammy party. The pair split up and Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault and was sentenced to six months community labor.

A rep for Terrell quickly released a statement, saying, "To be clear, Matt was never physically abusive to Felisha."

Terrell's attorney at the time, David Diamond, tells PEOPLE that her allegations in the restraining order were truthful. "It was the harassment, it was the stalking and it was the intimidation," he says.

Kemp's camp denies all of it. His agent Dave Stewart released a statement, saying Terrell never moved forward with the case because "the statements made within [her complaint] were false."

"This happened over a year ago and it's really a non-issue for him," Stewart says. "He was saddened by the whole thing, especially taking into account what [Rihanna's] been through."

Kemp's lawyer, Richard A. Stilz, tells PEOPLE: "He denied [the claims] emphatically, even verbal abuse. He's just that not that kind of person."

Rihanna's rep had no comment.

• Additional reporting by JESSICA HERNDON

Taken from People.com

Rapper Waka Flocka Says Hitman Was Sent To Kill Him



Rapper Waka Flocka who was shot in what was called an attempted robbery on last week, as reported on HipHopRX.com, is now saying that someone was sent to kill him, but the guy was too nervous.

In an interview with Hot 107, Waka Flocka Flame born Juaquin Malphurs says that all he knows is that someone was sent to kill him, but was so scared that he let him get out of the car.

Waka Flocka went on to say that the shooter shot him in the arm and that, “trust me, he could have did his job. That’s the word out to him [the shooter] and his people.”

The rapper went on to give shout outs to everybody who’s been hating on him.

Waka Flocka is most known for being linked to hip hop artist Gucci Mane’s So Icey and 1017 Brick Squad camp after appearing on “The State vs. Radric Davis” on the music single “Bingo,” which also features rapper Soulja Boy Tell ‘em. The rapper most recently started to gain major buzz for himself after the release of the single and music video “O Let’s Do It.”

Taken from HipHopRX.com

My $h!t: Timbaland f. Drake "Say Something"

Drake and LeBron James Team for All Star Celebrity Experience



By Chris Richburg

(AllHipHop News) The worlds of Hip-Hop and basketball will once again intersect during this year’s NBA All-Star weekend, as Young Money rap star Drake and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James host the All Star Celebrity Experience.

The event will take place February 12 at the AMPM Lounge in Dallas and various entertainment areas in the city’s Mosaic building.

Located at 300 N Akard Street in downtown Dallas, AMPM is noted for an upscale vibe that includes more than seven party areas, 10 V.I.P. bars and two penthouse suites as well as music provided by four renowned DJs.

The All Star Celebrity Experience will be among a series of events planned for the all-star weekend.

The 59th NBA All-Star Game is slated to be played on February 14, 2010, at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Among the starters lined up for the annual competition are James, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett and Philadelphia 76er point guard Allen Iverson for the East as well as the Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire, Los Angeles Lakers standout Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs for the West.

The All Star Celebrity weekend marks the second time Drake has worked on a James-related project. The rapper was featured on the soundtrack to the basketball star’s documentary More than a Game.

The tune, titled “Forever,” included fellow rhymesayers Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem.

Musically, 2010 looks to be a productive year for Drake, who saw his share of successful collaborations with Trey Songz, Timbaland, DJ Khaled, Gucci Mane, Birdman, Lil Wayne and Young Money in 2009.

The Toronto native is currently gearing up to release his forthcoming solo debut album, Thank Me Later, is slated to hit stores in March.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit LeBron James Family Foundation non-profit organization.

Check It or Wreck It: Gucci Mane "Lemonade"



Gucci Mane - Lemonade"




Friday, January 22, 2010

Hope For Haiti NOW: Christina Aguilera performs

Hope For Haiti NOW: Mary J. Blige, Taylor Swift Performance

Hope for Haiti Now: Stevie Wonder, Wyclef

Hope For Haiti NOW: Alicia Keys performance

Model Citizen: JerZie VinTaGe MODEL

This pretty lady sent me her pictures and she's so fab I had to post them! Make sure you follow my CORE (I'm a CORE DJ) sista, model Niagra Fallz! She's HOTTTT!!!

www.twitter.com/niagrafallz






Thursday, January 21, 2010

Puuuuullll Up: Snoop's Bringing the West Back

"]Snoop Dogg

California rapper Snoop Dogg has been making some moves for the old school lately. His latest endeavor as the newly appointed creative chairman of Priority Records is a West Coast compilation album entitled 'West Coast Blueprint.'

Snoop's been pretty busy leading up to the announcement of the compilation of left coast classics. The Doggfather recently signed fellow Cali legends Cypress HIll to Priority -- a fitting marriage considering Snoop's love of weed and Hill's 1993 hit 'Hits From the Bong.' Snoop's other agenda at the record label includes plans to re-release classics by other iconic rappers, namely Master P, Eazy-E and EPMD and accumulating a supergroup of OG's -- MC Eiht, Kam and Goldie Loc.

'West Coast Blueprint' features Snoop's favorites from the Priority and Capitol Records catalogs, including The Luniz' 'I Got 5 On It,' Rappin' 4-Tay's 'Playaz Club,' D.O.C.'s 'No One Can Do it Better,' and two versions of a new Snoop song called 'Check Yo Self.' The album is scheduled for a Feb. 23 release date.

1. Introduction To The West Coast Blueprint - Snoop Dogg
2. Eazy-Duz-It - Eazy-E
3. Act A Fool - King Tee
4. No One Can Do It Better - The D.O.C.
5. Pay Ya Dues - Low Profile
6. La Raza - Kid Frost
7. Interlude - Snoop Dogg
8. Alwayz Into Somethin' - N.W.A.
9. You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo - Yo-Yo (feat. Ice Cube)
10. Check Yo Self - Ice Cube (feat. Das EFX)
11. Playaz Club - Rappin' 4-Tay
12. Interlude - Snoop Dogg
13. Foe Life - Mack 10
14. I Got 5 On It - The Luniz
15. The Evil That Men Do - Ras Kass
16. Gangstas Make The World Go Round - Westside Connection
17. 4 Tha Hustlas - Ant Banks (feat. 2Pac, MC Breed & Too $hort)
18. Nothin' But The Cavi Hit - Mack 10 (feat. Tha Dogg Pound)
19. Trust Me - Snoop Dogg (feat. Sylk E Fine & Suga Free)
20. Check Yo Self Interlude - Snoop Dogg
21. Check Yo Self (Snoop Dogg G-Mix) - Snoop Dogg (feat. Hustle Boyz)

Taken from The Boom Box

Check out the video for "I Wanna Rock," Snoop's new joint!

Ghetto Visionz: Ludacris - How Low

Ri Ri Sings for Haiti

Ghetto Visionz: Mario "Ooh Baby"

Bonnie & Clyde for Haiti: Beyonce and Hova Team Up For Telathon

B and J

Beyonce Knowles has been confirmed as joining her husband Jay-Z along with Rihanna and U2’s Bono and The Edge in London for the Hope For Haiti telethon event and concert performances that will all airing this Friday.

As reported on HipHopRX.com, the Hope For Haiti telethon is where hundreds of celebrities will all ban together in an effort to bring in more donations and help for Haitians who are suffering from the earthquake disaster which struck their country on January 12. The telethon will be hosted by actor George Clooney, Wyclef Jean, rapper/social activist and founder of the Yele Haiti Foundation, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

While all in separate locations, George Clooney from Los Angeles, Wyclef Jean from New York and CNN anchor, Anderson Cooper, in Haiti, multiple performers and celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, Rihanna, U2’s Bono and The Edge (who will be in London) will be tied in through satellite broadcast which will air commercial-free across over 30 television networks including MTV, VH1, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, the CW, HBO, CMT, PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Bravo, E! Entertainment Network, National Geographic Channel, Oxygen, G4, Centric, Current TV, Fuse, MLB Network, Epix, Palladia, SoapNet, Style, Discovery Health, Planet Green, as well as international’s Canada’s CTV, CBC Television, Global Television, MuchMusic, BET International, CNN International, and MTV Networks International.

This will make the “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” telethon available to an estimated 640 million homes worldwide.

Among Beyonce, Jay-Z, Rihanna, U2’s Bono and The Edge, other performances expected are Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Sting and others.

Donations raised during the Hope For Haiti telethon will go towards benefiting the organizations Yele Haiti Foundation, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, and Unicef.

Among other things, Facebook and Twitter were announced as the official social-media partners for the telethon.

Taken from HipHopRX.com

Beef: Brisco Disses So Icey!!!



WOW! Brisco must have realized that a good "beefin" can boost record sales! LOL, take a listen as he goes after the So Icey camp in this freestyle!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Waka Flocka got shotta!



Waka Flocka, was shot twice in an attempted robbery on Tuesday.

According to sources quoted at hophopwired.com, Flocka was shot in the arm and another bullet entered his chest after he was robbed at a petrol station in Atlanta.

Flocka was reportedly approached by unknown men at gunpoint and was told to hand over his jewellery after stopping at the petrol station. After refusing to give it up, the suspects fired shots and Waka Flocka was reportedly hit twice.

WTF Alert: The Rock's a "Tooth Fairy"



WTF?! Was he on laughing gas? Is the Rock that hard up for money? What the hell possessed him to do this movie?

This My Joint: Say Something

Damn, this song is the $h!t...and the video iiaght too!! Check it out!

Remembered: Martin Luther King Jr.




Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement. His main legacy was to secure progress on civil rights in the United States, and he has become a human rights icon: King is recognized as a martyr by two Christian churches.[1] A Baptist minister,[2] King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement and established himself as one of the greatest orators in U.S. history.



In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means. By the time of his death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and opposing the Vietnam War, both from a religious perspective. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2004; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a U.S. national holiday in 1986.

King's last speech




Click here for King's full bio from Wikipedia.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Usher's "New Look"



Usher's New Look Organization Official Website



Usher has been very involved in helping Haiti since the devastation caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the country last week. The singer is stretching his philanthropic arm farther, announcing his partnership with the United Nations Foundation to help the victims of the quake. Through his non-profit, Usher’s New Look, he is calling on young people worldwide to each donate $5 to help the United Nations emergency response in Haiti.

“If only 1 percent of the world’s youth population raised $5 each, we could raise $150 million to support the United Nation’s relief efforts,” Usher said.

Usher’s New Look and the UN Foundation teamed up to empower young people to make a difference.
Once young people raise dollars they can send donations of $5 or more directly to the UN Foundation for the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) website or by check. Youth can also text CERF to 90999 to donate $5, up to five times. The Usher’s New Look website is also linking directly to the CERF donation page.

Young people are also encouraged to use Twitter and Facebook as an outlet for their fundraising initiatives.

Ear Candy: New Music 1st



Snoop Dogg f. Jay-Z - I Wanna Rock(Remix)




Gucci Mane F. Nicki Minaj, Shawty Lo, Waka Flocka Flame & Yo Gotti - Mi Casa, Tu Casa




Rihanna f. Lil Kim - Hard (Remix)




Destiny's Child - Twirk




Drake - Zone




Lil Wayne - That's What N!66@$ Do



Friday, January 15, 2010

Check it...or...Wreck it: Travis Porter "Go Shorty"



Check it...or...Wreck it: Travis Porter "Go Shorty"




Follow Travis Porter @ www.Twitter.com/IAmTravisPorter