Archive for April, 2010

Update: Haiti Drops Kidnapping Charges Against U.S. Missionairies

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

A Haitian judge ruled Monday to drop child kidnapping and criminal association charges against ten U.S. missionaries for attempting to rescue children out of the country following January 12th's devastating earthquake.

As previously reported, the missionaries from a U.S. Baptist church were arrested after being found driving to the Haitian border with 33 children illegally.

8 of the 10 missionaries were released in February but the leader of the group Laura Silsby and Charisa Coulter were asked to stay behind.

Judge Bernard Saint-Vil rule Monday that Silsby still faced a lesser charge for her role in organizing the transportation of the children.

Silsby still remains jailed and faces up to three years in prison.

Coulter was released in March.

Tupac Shakur's Mother Arrested For Drug Possession

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Afeni Shakur Davis, the mother of the late great Tupac Shakur is making headlines after being arrested on drug possession charges.

Afeni, 63, was arrested April 16 in Lumberton, North Carolina and charged with felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance and simple possession of a controlled substance.

She posted $10,000 bail and is expected to appear in court May 10.

Shakur Davis is the founder of (more...)

National Guard May Be Called In To Curtail Chicago Gang Violence [Video]

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

After the increase in violence on Chicago's Southside, two government officials are requesting back-up from the National Guard.

After more than 72 people have been injured in April alone leaving at least 10 dead due to an increase in gang violence, State Rep. John Fritchey and Rep. Lashawn Ford are urging Governor  Quinn to deploy the Guard in Chicago.

The state reps aren't talking about having National Guard troops with tanks in the street or taking over neighborhoods by walking around with machine guns, but they are hoping that the presence of the National Guard's will eliminate a lot of the activity by establishing a presence.

The most recent shooting, claimed the life of a two-year-old little girl who was shot in the head after the assailant was attempting to shoot at her father.

According to reports, the toddler's father stopped to get cigarettes from a local store when 21-year-old Danzeal Finley opened fire into the car where the toddler was strapped in with her two other siblings striking her in the head and killing her.

Finley who was shot weeks earlier refused to tell police whether the shooting was in retaliation or not.

Although there have been no confirmations on whether the National Guard will be deployed into Chicago as of press time, it is truly sad that our neighborhoods are getting to this point.

2-Year-Old Fatally Shot In The Head In Chicago

HHWired Exclusive: Diggy Simmons Speaks On His Famous Family, Fashion And Avoiding Reality TV [Video]

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

"I wouldn't say so much that I even rap for my age, I rap for everybody. My fans range in age. I've seen people  from 12-years-old to 30-year-old Hip-Hop heads that are like, “Yo Diggy, I'm digging your music!” -Diggy Simmons

Diggy Simmons surprised the world when the famed teen from reality TV opened his mouth and ripped the mic in a way that would make his famous lineage proud.

The son of Reverend Run and Justine Simmons and nephew of Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons, is being regarded as a worthy legacy, a prince soon to take his crown and mini throne of the rap game.

Be sure to also check Diggy out on BET's "The Deal" tonight at 3 A.M/ 2A.M Central.

[Check under the jump for our interview with Diggy]

(more...)

WIRED Links

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Bossip: "Bow Wow On Hoes And The Double Standard: A Woman Is Supposed To Be Pure And Respect Her Body; As Guys, We're Dogs”

The Atlanta Post: "WATCH: Witness A Black Couple's Mission To Buy Black"

Idolator: "Watch B.o.B Tear Through “Nothin' On You” Live

F-Listed: "New Haven Woman Call 911 To Give Her A Ride Home From The Club"

Complex: "Made In China: 5 Rip-Offs From The 2010 Beijing Auto Show"

Black Voices: "Robert Hicks, Fought For Civil Rights in the South, Dead at 81"

DMX Files Lawsuit For Over $1 Million In Stolen & Unpaid Royalties

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Ruff Ryder DMX has had his fair share of trouble with the law but this time he is on the other end.

According to published reports, X is filing a lawsuit against Rich Kid Entertainment   and several other companies for unpaid royalties.

In the lawsuit filed yesterday (April 26), DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, claims that he has been “ripped off for years” by the company, who he hired to collect his song royalties.

The suit also claims (more...)

Akon Suing Over Konvict Fragrance, Claims Copyright Infringement

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Konvict Music mogul and artists Akon is suing a former business partner for copyright infringement for using his name and likeness on a new fragrance.

According to published reports, the Konvict fragrance which was released in March, was not authorized by the singer; although initially it was supposed to be.

In a lawsuit filed with the Manhattan Federal Court, Akon claims that he initially proposed the idea of a fragrance line with fragrance developers, but never reached any agreement to further the development.

Akon claims  that although no (more...)

Wal-Mart Facing Billion Dollar Gender Bias Lawsuit

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

As many as 1.5 million women that worked at Wal-Mart stores across the country could be receiving compensation now that an appellate court has ruled that a massive class action lawsuit against the company can go to court.

The decision means that the world's largest private employer could be forced to pay billions of dollars to women who say they were paid less than men in comparable positions and got fewer promotions.

The massive lawsuit is the result of six women in San Francisco, California that sued the giant in 2001 claiming they were discriminated against based on their gender.

The district court ruled in their favor saying that their suit could cover “all women employed by Wal-Mart at any time after Dec. 26, 1998” including all positions at the company's 3,400 stores.

Wal-Mart has fought vehemently to appeal those claims since then, arguing that women claiming gender bias should file lawsuits individually against specific stores.

An appellate court made the decision Monday to uphold the district court's ruling, but asked the trial court judge to consider the size of the lawsuit before ordering the company to pay punitive damages.

Peedi Crack Explains Fallout With Jay-Z

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

“If you wanna know, I can fill you in.”

With former Roc-A-Fella member Peedi Crakk being released from jail, it was only a matter of time before the media grabbed a hold of the rapper.

Rehashing the issues that surrounded his former boss Jay-Z, Crakk breaks down exactly what went wrong in the house of the Roc and even adds that he, along with other member of State Property, might have made a lot of poor decisions in the process.

And yes, everyone is surely tired of having it reiterated, but for once the blame isn't all pointed at Jay.

See what happens when a person tries ballin out of control.  They end up out of funds.

Nas & Damian Marley Ft. K'naan - "Africa Must Wake Up"

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010