Archive for July, 2009

KRS-One & Buckshot Ready Survival Skills LP

Monday, July 13th, 2009

It's always a treat for fan to see what happens when two legendary lyricists link up. “Black Republican” spawned from Nas and Jay-Z and Nas was even able to link up with AZ in his early career to create “Life's A Bi*ch.” This time around New York's elite class of lyricists brings KRS-One and Buckshot together.

Their collaborative album, Survival Skills is set to be released on September 15 on Duck Down records.

“Ever since 1993 we've been passing each other on tour or in the studio saying, one day we should tour together, or one day we should do a record together,” KRS stated. “Well finally myself and Buckshot have the (more...)

Swim Club Apologizes For Turning Away Black Kids

Monday, July 13th, 2009

The suburban Philadelphia swim club, Valley Club, has invited minorities back after allegations of racist statements from club members.

Black and Hispanic children, from the predominantly day-care center Creative Steps Inc, stated that they heard members of the Valley club use racial remarks in relation to them as well as escorting their children from the pool.

The camp was refunded its $1,950 by the private club, but was told that the club members wanted the campers to stop using their facility to swim at. This became final when the camp's contract was canceled by the club. According to Bernie Duesler, the wife of the club director, the contract was canceled as a result of potential safety, noise and crowding issues.

According to the club director, John Duesler, the children were not turned away due to the color of their skin, but due to the fact that the quantity of children was underestimated and supervision of everyone could have posed a problem. He also added that their contract was not the only one canceled as two other day-care centers dealt with the same issue.

Since this incident, the club has invited the camp back as long as the safety concerns are all taken care of.

Member of Creative Steps Inc, however, may no longer want to associate itself with the club any longer. The director, Alethea Wright, said that she has attacked the club due to its lack of enthusiasm in dealing with the charges against them. She has also stated that the children have been “emotionally scarred” by everything that transpired at that pool. With this in mind, there would be no reason for her to want to bring those children back and possibly deal with even worse treatment.

Carolyn Nicholas, Wright's lawyer, has stated the center will actually give the invite some consideration once all parties have sat down and undergone an in depth discussion.

A woman filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia last week making allegations that the club did not allow her four children to swim there because they were Black. The two instances have stirred the attention of the state Human Rights Commission who is investigating the club. Sen. Arlen Specter has also asked for the Justice Department to find out if the club has violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The club, as well as the neighboring towns, has maintained that they are not racist and actually have a very diverse community.

Man white folk just hate that Black folks are taking another sport from them. Recently African American gold medalist Cullen Jones broke the American record in a 50-meter freestyle swim-off at the U.S. national championship Saturday. All is well though white America. Just look at it this way…at least you still have rugby and hockey because they're sure to be popular again sometime.

An Orgasm A Day Will Keep The Doc Away

Monday, July 13th, 2009

A new health campaign by the National Health Service pamphlet has got British citizens tizzy. Dubbed the “Orgasm A Day” campaign and directed toward school children, teens, and those entering college, the campaign preaches the positive effects that are enjoyed by those who have a safe, active sex life.

The informative little booklet, a pamphlet, officially called Pleasure, cites health promotions experts when informing of the health benefits that accompany a healthy sexual appetite and proper nutrition. For too long, say its authors, experts have concentrated on the need for “safe sex” and loving relationships while ignoring the main reason that many people have sex, that is, for enjoyment.

Met with various degrees of persecution and marred by controversy, it would be a gross understatement to say that this unorthodox method of sex education has been able to fly under the radar with little turbulence; and though that may be the case, the amiable cause that spawned its creation has drawn many supporters to its message.

Steve Slack, the director of the Center for HIV for the National Health Service's office at Sheffield and one of the authors of the controversial document, argues that it was not the intent of the pamphlet to promote teenage sex, but rather, to make sure that young people make better decisions when it comes to their sexuality. Slack also believes that teenagers have the same rights as an adult to enjoy a good sex life as long as they are making their decisions free of peer pressure and become fully informed on the good and bad the act has to offer.

Morehouse Grad to Become New Surgeon General

Monday, July 13th, 2009

HBCU supporters nationwide should be preparing to rejoice, especially on the historic campus of Morehouse College. In a monumental move, President Obama is choosing a Morehouse grad to become the new Surgeon General. His pick is a 1982 grad of the Morehouse School of Medicine and also happens to be a woman, yes a woman. Her name is Dr. Regina Benjamin and while she does not have the notoriety of previous nominee and CNN correspondent Sanjay Gupta, her track record is amazing.

Dubbed by the New York Times as “an angel in a white coat,” Benjamin has a reputation for being both determined and compassionate. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed her Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in the gulf coast of Alabama, she worked feverishly to rebuild it only to have it destroyed again by fire soon after. Starting with a $7 donation from a former patient, Benjamin won the hearts and check books of many leading to a $500,000 donation that she used to rebuild once again. In 2002 she became president of the Medical Association State of Alabama making her the first Black woman and the youngest doctor to be president of a State Medical Society in the United States. She also received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights in 1998 and was awarded a distinguished service medal from Pope Benedict XVI.

Go girl! Obama will formally announce Benjamin as his pick at a press conference later today.

Jay-Z Close To Inking Book Deal

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Spiegel and Grau, an imprint of Über book distributer Random House, is getting ready to release their next major project. Working with Hip-Hop mogul Sean “Jay-Z” Carter, the book giant is working to produce a work of literary mastery; a book that effectively gives background information and personal stories about some of the multi-platinum artists' most famous works.

Carter's literary agent, Matthew Guma, facilitated the union between the two (more...)

Wife Suspected in Boxer Arturo Gatti's Murder

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Amanda Carina Barbosa Rodrigues, 23, the wife of ex-boxer Arturo Gatti, is in the custody of police after he was found dead Saturday in San Paulo. Statements made by the woman during an interrogation, which come off as being contradictory, has resulted in the woman being the prime suspect in her husband's death, according to Brazilian authorities. She has denied involvement in the murder.

According to police, Rodrigues was the first to appear at the scene of her slain husband Saturday morning inside their vacation apartment that they were renting at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil.

Milena Saraiva, a spokesperson for the Pernambuco state civil police said that the former junior welterweight boxing champion, Gatti, was strangled with the strap of a purse which was discovered with blood stains at the crime scene.

Questions arose of her innocence when she was unable to explain how she spent close to 10 hours inside the apartment and was unaware of the fact that her husband was dead. She told police that a fight, not a bout, occurred between the two which culminated with her pushing her on the ground with her taking minor injuries to her elbow and chin. According to Rodrigues, her husband was drunk.

She has maintained her story that a third party was responsible for the act and probably committed the crime when Gatti traveled back to the apartment alone.

Their 1-year-old child, who was also in the house with the slain boxer, has been taken to Rodrigues' sister.

Gatti retired from boxing in 2007 with a record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts. His acclaimed fight series with Mickey Ward gave him the title of being one of the most exciting fighters of his generation. He won the super featherweight title in 1995 with a win over Tracy Harris Patterson and won the junior welterweight title in 2004. Gatti been coined “the human highlight film.”

Papoose Accused Of Fueling Violence in Prison

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Violence erupted recently at Riker's Island Prison located in New York and the alleged culprit that caused it is Brooklyn rapper Papoose.

The allegations stem from a performance from the rapper at the prison on May 30, 2006. According to reports, Papoose shouted out the name of inmate Dough Boy when the show came to a close. The following two months violence erupted in the form of eight slashings and stabbing in the facility. Jail officials believe that the inmate, known as (more...)

Ma$e & Cam Reunite

Monday, July 13th, 2009

As Harlem rapper Mase continues to make his unexpected return to the Hip-Hop game, he has taken the higher road in extinguishing past differences.

Lending 16 bars and remixing recent hits like Drake's “Best I Ever Had” and Trey Songz' “I Need A Girl”, the rapper has been busy in his comeback.

Cam'Ron and Mase recently appeared together on a track (more...)

Remy Ma Lawyer Pleads Guilty

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Ivan Fisher, most known for being Remy Ma's lawyer plead guilty Friday to misdemeanor tax evasion. According to prosecutors, Fisher admitted failing to collect $51,916 in state and city withholding taxes from the checks of his employees. The evasion took place from April 2006 to September 2008. He accepted a plea deal and will pay $68, 517 in taxes, interests and penalties along with another $10,000 in (more...)

Obvious Racist Audra Shay In Charge of Young Republicans

Monday, July 13th, 2009

A political “Clash of the Titans” is being waged within the Republican party; battles are being fought that place members of the Grand Old Party against none other than themselves in fights centered around a myriad of topics. So-called “Rush Limbaugh” Republicans are waging war against their common sense-minded colleagues, dubbed “Colin Powell” Republicans, often ending with disastrous results. One hot button topic, race, has been a perennial thorn in the side of GOP'ers for nearly a century with the trend seemingly continuing into the 21st century. The party created by abolitionists is widely regarded as the party of bigotry and greed with the actions of the political party's youth contingent revealing what the GOP has in store for the future.

Saturday saw the Young Republicans, an umbrella organization that houses GOP members under 40 years of age, elect an overt racist to the head of their national association. In a tight race decided by a mere 50 votes, Audra Shay ascended her menial past into a position of power after being elected to the presidency of the Young Republicans. True to historical GOP trends, controversy surrounds the election results, and more specifically, the woman elected. In the days leading up to her win, Shay came under fire for racists comments that she made on her Facebook, using the World Wide Web to voice her disdain of everything from President Obama to Black people.

Hiding under the veil of free speech, the 38-year old mother, army vet, and former event planner for the Young GOP'ers wrote in a post that “WalMart just signed a death warrant” by “endorsing Obama's health care plan,” after which, friend Erik S. Piker replied “Obama Bin Lauden is the new terrorist… Muslim is on there side… need to take this country back from all of these mad coons … and illegals.”

Shay voiced her support, saying “You tell em Eric! Lol.” The new president, who has a history of making inflammatory remarks, has come under fire for agreeing with the obviously racist remarks made by her fellow group member; an action that Shay dubbed “political attacks” saying that “proves that my opponents will stoop to the lowest levels to steal this election from the jaws of victory.” In 2008, Shay voiced her outrage over the hanging on Sarah Palin in effigy outside of an affluent Hollywood residence by posting on her Facebook account, “What no ‘Obama in a noose? Come on now, its just freedom of speech, no one in Atlanta would take that wrong! Lol.”

Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, endorsed Shay in quest to become president of the Young Republicans.