Archive for July, 2009

T.I. - "Live My Life Alone"

Monday, July 27th, 2009

14 T I-Live My Life Alone

Fabolous - "Loso's Way Freestyle" (Rise To Power)

Monday, July 27th, 2009

01 Fabolous-Losos Way Freestyle

Boxer Vernon Forrest Murdered In Robbery & Attempted Carjacking

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Former boxing champion Vernon Forrest was shot and killed last night in an apparent robbery and carjacking. WSB Radio in Atlanta first reported the shooting, citing a police spokesman.

Forrest, who was 38, was an Atlanta native. He was shot seven or eight times as he chased at least two men who had tried to steal his Jaguar as he put air in his tires at an Atlanta gas station, Lt. Keith Meadows said, according to the radio station.

According to ESPN, Forrest had a gun and confronted the men, police said.

"The victim and suspect became involved in a brief foot chase," Meadows said. "At some point, gunfire was exchanged between the two of them. The victim was shot at least once in the head."

Forrest was fatally wounded by two semi-automatic weapons, according to police.

"At this point we have a general description of at least two Black males driving a red Monte Carlo." Meadows said, according to the report.

Mark Guilbeau, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office, said an autopsy is planned for Sunday.

Forrest, a native of Augusta, Ga., who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 Olympic team. He was also a former WBC super welterweight champion.

The 38-year-old took two wins over Sugar Shane Mosley in 2002. On Sept. 13, 2008, Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title by beating Sergio Mora.

Oakland Pot Smokers Scored!!!

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

In a landslide vote on July 21, Oakland's bid to become the first U.S. city to tax revenues made from sales of medical marijuana was passed.

According to Alameda County Registrar, around 80 percent of voters voted in favor of the taxation of Oakland's medical marijuana facilities.

In these facilities, those who are eligible to indulge can choose from an array of fluffy, green buds that are separated by their flavors, euphoric feels and lasting effects. Each strand's side effects are listed on the menu from which you can choose. Nice.

When the news spread, some Oaksterdam University students celebrated by rolling up spliffs and packing pipes with super green Cali bud. The school trains students for employment in the medical marijuana industry, reports CNN.

"It is important because the city of Oakland is facing a massive deficit like many jurisdictions in California," said Steve DeAngelo, a leader of one of the city's cannabis clubs. "And we decided to step up to the plate and make a contribution to the city in a time of need."

DeAngelo, an advocate who ignited the efforts to get the tax approved, said under the new tax, his business will have to dish out more than $350,000 next year.

Among thousands of advocates, Oakland's City Council also supported the movement.

City councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan said, "Given that the medical cannabis dispensaries are something that was legalized in California, why not have revenue from it?"

While there were no absolute objections to the new tax, some believe the effort sends the wrong message: Choke and pass, choke and pass.

"The taxation of a federally unlawful drug is just not something that the community should accept," said Paul Chabot of the Coalition for a Drug Free California. "With the state in dire straits in finances and the country looking for ways to pay down debt, looking at illegal drugs is the absolute wrong thing to do."

The tax was passed by way of a mail-in election Tuesday, which officially implemented 1.8 percent gross receipts tax on four legal pot dispensaries in Oakland.

Each facility will have to pay approximately $18 in taxes for every $1,000 in marijuana sales.

If you don't live in Cali and you want your state to follow suit, start the movement, or take part in the mass exodus to the Bay area that's soon to follow.

Hittmenn DJs To Open 5,000 Bank Accounts for Urban Children

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Hittmenn DJs President Rob "Kaspa" Smith announced today that his company, Atlanta's world-renowned Hittmenn DJs, will be opening 5,000 Bank Accounts for urban children in conjunction with his Second Annual Bank Empowerment Tour.

"My goal along with Hittmenn DJs this year is a great project for all our communities. We would like to open over 5,000 bank accounts for disadvantaged children. We will open these accounts, AND we will teach youth the importance of economics, banking and finance.

Presenting children with this opportunity gives them the tools to (more...)

Old Skool DJ Freddy Fresh To Teach Hip-Hop Accredited Program

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Freddy Fresh, the acclaimed Hip-Hop DJ and Producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in rap music since the '80s and enjoyed international success with his own records, has been named to the faculty of the McNally Smith College of Music's Hip-Hop Diploma Program, the first accredited Hip-Hop degree program of its kind in the country. Fresh will join Toki Wright (the program coordinator, Hip-Hop artist and community organizer), Dessa Darling (Doomtree) Joe Mabbott (engineer for Atmosphere) and Sean McPherson (Heiruspecs) when the program launches this fall. Enrollment for the Hip-Hop degree for the Fall Semester beginning September 3, 2009, continues this summer at the contemporary music school.

"We are very excited to have Freddy Fresh join our ground-breaking Hip-Hop Diploma Program and Faculty," says Wright. "He is an enormous talent and successful DJ and Producer who has been producing Hip-Hop and (more...)

Jay-Z feat. Kanye Wesy and Rihanna - "We Run This Town"

Friday, July 24th, 2009

01 Run This Town f. Kanye West _ Rihanna _Dirty_ 1

14-Year-Old Boy Tried as an Adult for Raping 8-Year -Old Girl

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Four boys ranging from ages 9 to 14 took turns raping an 8-year-old girl behind a shed for more than 10 minutes. Phoenix police say it's the one of the most horrific cases they've seen.

According to the Associated Press, the incident sparked further outrage after police said the victim's parents blamed her for the attack and shaming the family.

As if the trauma of being raped and having to live with the scars isn't enough, her punk-ass father adds insult to injury, literally.

"The father told the caseworker and an officer in her presence that he didn't want her back. He said, 'Take her, I don't want her,' “police Sgt. Andy Hill said. When the father was asked by local reporter s what he thought should be done to the boys who raped her daughter, he answered plainly, "Nothing."

Maricopa County Attorney's Office confirmed Wednesday, the 14-year-old boy, Steven Tuopeh, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and kidnapping. The assailant appeared in court on July 23 and is currently being held without bond.

The other boys who raped the little girl- ages 9, 10 and 13 were charged as juveniles with sexual assault. The 10 and 13-year-olds were also charged with kidnapping.

Phoenix investigators said the boys coaxed her into an empty shed with bubblegum offerings on July 16. The boys held the girl down while they took turns raping her, police said.

"She was brutally sexually assaulted for a period of about 10 to 15 minutes," Hill said.

Officers responding to a call reporting a girl screaming hysterically found the girl partially undressed and the young punks running from the scene.

"This is a deeply disturbing case that has gripped our community," Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said Thursday. "Our office will seek justice for the young victim in this heartrending situation."

The victim and the pre-pubescent rapists are all refugees from the West African nation of Liberia. Hill believes the family's African culture is why the girl's father has disowned her.

In some parts of the "Motherland," woman are faulted for rape and often believed to have enticed the pervert so much, he has to rape her. Ultimately, women who are raped are shunned by their families.

"It's a shame-based culture, so the crime is not as important as protecting the family name and the name of the community," said Tony Weedor, a Liberian refugee in Littleton, Colorado. "I just feel so sorry for this little girl. Some of these people will not care about the trauma she's going through - they're more concerned about the shame she brought on the family."

The little girl, now in Child Protective Services, is going to have a particularly difficult time healing said Paul Penzone of Childhelp, a group who cares for young victims of crimes.

"These four boys used what was a ploy to entice her to a place where they could take advantage of her almost like a pack of wolves," he said.

"And what's so disturbing beyond the initial crime is the fact that a child needs to have somewhere to feel safe, and you would think that would be in a home with her own family," not in state custody, Penzone said.

This poor girl is forever scarred by the sexual assault she suffered and now the trauma of being rejected by her family. Shame on all four of those boys and her father...they should all be bent over several times and plugged and then see how it feels to be “shamed.”

R.I.P.: Best Selling Author E. Lynn Harris Has Died

Friday, July 24th, 2009

E. Lynn Harris, the best-selling Arkansas author known for contemporary stories about African-Americans, died today during a West Coast book tour. His latest book was called “Basketball Jones.” Click here for more.

Report Blasts FEMA On Toxic Trailers

Friday, July 24th, 2009

A federal inspector general released a report Thursday slamming FEMA for failing to address the formaldehyde problems in the mobile trailers they provided to Hurricane Katrina victims.

The 80-page report claims that FEMA declined to address the matter in a timely fashion being overly concerned with its already tainted public image. The report says FEMA withdrew the formaldehyde health threat only after media attention "grew to disturbing levels" and even postponed testing to "develop a public communications strategy," according to CNN.

While federal tests found formaldehyde in their emergency housing units just two months after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ripped through the South East, most of the tests weren't performed until two years later and in the winter, when formaldehyde levels are at their lowest, the report says.

"Because of the delays, the test results may have underestimated the extent of formaldehyde exposure that residents had experienced," it says.

Almost immediately after 200,000 trailers were provided to displaced Katrina victims, residents began to encounter health problems likely due to the toxic, strong-smelling gas that officials believe causes cancer.

Shortly after the hurricanes in October of 2005, federal officials advised government workers to limit their time in the trailers, however, the same advisory was not extended to the trailer residents.

In the report, the inspector general acknowledges FEMA's efforts to address the problem.

"FEMA officials did make some attempts to identify the extent of the formaldehyde problem, but they did so by trying to get an accurate tally of complaints from occupants rather than testing occupied units," the report says.

Richard Skinner, the inspector general who released the report, for the Department of Homeland Security. DHS is FEMA's parent department.

In the report, FEMA officials said the document "does not adequately emphasize the compelling fact that there were no established formaldehyde standards for travel trailers." The inspector general agreed that there is a lack of standards.

FEMA spokesman, Clark Stevens made a statement Thursday and said he "agrees with the Inspector General's findings" and has already made considerable strides in establishing policies and actions to address growing concerns about formaldehyde emissions.

"As a result, FEMA and our partners are far better positioned to respond to the temporary housing needs of disaster survivors than we were several years ago."

FEMA is now performing third-party tests to ensure the air quality in mobile housing units comply with new specifications.

How convenient, several years later and minus a Bush and they are more equipped to handle the situation. Now let's see if FEMA will help provide health care for anyone that reports any cancerous health claims after living in these death traps.