As a respected member of the broadcast community, Jackson's career spanned over seven decades. He was the first black announcer on network radio, the first black person to host a jazz show for the ABC network, and the first black play-by-play sports announcer on radio—among many other accomplishments .

In 2001 Jackson was inducted into the Broadcast Hall of Fame, and is credited for collecting more than 6 million signatures to turn Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday into a national holiday.

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• D'Angelo Tells GQ Mag That J Dilla Inspired Him To Clean Up His Act [PHOTOS]

• Drake Tour & Afterparty Pics With French Montana, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz & More [PHOTOS]

• 10 Rappers In The 40 & Over Club That Still Got The Glow

• Bout to Blow: 7 Hip-Hop Labels Accused Of Being Fronts For Illegal Drug Operations

• 6 Rappers Who Lied About Retiring From The Game

• Mercy: 10 Hip-Hop Artists Who Chose To Die Another Day

• 10 Dope Rap Acts Who Could Not Top Their Freshman Albums

• The Awkward Moments Between Jay-Z And Freeway At The Made In America Press Conference [PHOTOS]
--
Photo: J9 Music Life

In 2004, Beyoncé  sampled Summer's single “Love to Love You Baby,” for her “Naughty Girl” track off her Dangerously In Love Debut. Summer died Thursday (May 17) in Naples, Fla.

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• 10 Photos Of Celebs Looking Awkward Next To Jay-Z [PHOTOS]

• Mercy: 10 Hip-Hop Artists Who Chose To Die Another Day

• 5 Reasons Why Blue Ivy Carter Will Have A Better Rap Career Than Lil B

• 10 Dope Rap Acts Who Could Not Top Their Freshman Albums

• Bangin Candy: Rico Love's Division 1 Recording Artist, Rabbit

• Mexico's Deadly Drug War: A Look At The Violent 5-Year Conflict

• The Awkward Moments Between Jay-Z And Freeway At The Made In America Press Conference [PHOTOS]

• 7 Female Rap Beefs (That Didn't Involve Lil Kim)
--
Photo: AP/Bliss Tree

Since Yauch's death last week, the two remaining members have become the target of legal action, at the hands of Tuf America. The company filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the group, and Columbia Records, for the unlawful use of samples on two of the three aforementioned albums. Tuf America alleges that while the group paid for the use of two records, they had no right to use four different tracks from the R&B funk group Trouble Funk.

The Beastie Boys have yet to release a statement on the pending legal matter.

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• A Bad Azz Timeline: How Lil Boosie Ended Up On Trial For Murder

• Kanye West, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Rick Ross and More At The Met Gala [PHOTOS]

• Exclusive: Street Artist Kai Launches Now Royalty Exhibit In L.A. [PHOTOS]

• LeBron James Rocks Nike Air Yeezy 2 During Press Conference [PHOTOS]

• Bangin Candy: Floyd Mayweather Jr's Fiancé Shantel Jackson [PHOTOS]

• A Journey Into Adam Yauch & The Beastie Boys' Stylistic Legacy [PHOTOS]

• 8 Things You Must Know About The Avengers Before Watching The Movie

• Bangin Candy: Gorgeous Looking, Ridiculously Bodied UK Model Tabby Brown [PHOTOS]
--
Photo: AOL

One person touched by Yauch's career is  Game, who shared his thoughts on the passing of the MC.  "We lost a great musical legend,” Game told Hip-Hop Wired exclusively, after hearing the news.  Growing up as a fan of the Beastie Boys, hearing of the Yauch's death marked a sad moment for the Compton native. “My heart and condolences go out to MCA's family and friends. Beastie Boys paved the way for Hip-Hop artists like us. I will be forever grateful.”

Yauch was diagnosed with a cancer in his parotid gland back in 2009, and was unable to attend the Beastie Boys' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in last month.

Check out more rappers sharing their thoughts on Yauch's untimely death below.

MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!

• Bangin Candy: Gorgeous Looking, Ridiculously Bodied UK Model Tabby Brown [PHOTOS]

• Nas To Include Daughter, Destiny Jones, In Video For "Daughters" [PHOTOS]

• Evelyn Lozada, Kandi Burress & Chrissy Lampkin Get Frisky For The Camera [PHOTOS]

• Bangin Candy: B.o.B's Leading Lady, Sophia Marie [PHOTOS]

• Bow Wow Talks Underrated, Suicide Rumors, Says Daughter Is The “Best Thing” To Happen To Him

--
Photo:

Osama Bin Laden Death

The shock of Bin Laden's death came to many when the headlines broke on CNN. Perhaps even more shocking was the celebration worthy victory that many were making it out to be.

Some breathed a sigh of relief, while others wondered how a country founded on justice could find anything celebratory about a man's death.

60 Minutes sat down with our president and got his views on the entire situation. His view on the matter could be summed up with this quote,

"As nervous as I was about this whole process, the one thing I didn't lose sleep over was the possibility of taking bin Laden out. Justice was done. And I think that anyone who would question that the perpetrator of mass murder on American soil didn't deserve what he got needs to have their head examined."

Obama also spoke on maintaining privacy over the situation and his decision not to release photos of Bin Laden's dead body.

“I didn't tell most people here in the White House. I didn't tell my own family. It was that important for us to maintain operational security… If I'm not revealing to some of my closest aides what we're doing then I sure as heck am not going to be revealing it to folks who I don't know.”

He continues, "It is important for us to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence. As a propaganda tool. You know, that's not who we are. You know, we don't trot out this stuff as trophies."

MORE  HIP-HOP WIRED NEWS AND VIDEO

Dr. Steve Perry Gives Advice To Obama, Talks Bill Cosby & Russell Simmons Beef And New Book

"Fast Five" Opens Today: Tyrese Talks Working With Vin Diesel, The Rock & The Successful Movie Franchise

T.I.'s Producer Kevin "Khao" Cates Discusses Working With Megan Good On New Film "Video Girl" [Video]

Mystikal Talks Relationship With Nivea, New Mixtape “Fish Grease” [Video]

A 91-year-old Pennsylvania widow was found to be living with her husband and twin sister.

Unfortunately, the relationship was awkward because both of them were deceased.  Jean Stevens had the embalmed corpses of her loved ones dug up and stored at her house.

It was discovered that her husband had been dead for more than a decade, and her twin sister had passed last October.  Stevens had wished that she could be reunited with her loved ones and explained to an interviewer that "death is very hard for me to take."

The police are finishing up their investigation and no charges have been filed.  The bodies were taken out of Steven's home and are now in the custody of the Bradford County coroner.

Chris Rudge, Britain's top transplant official defended the decision and claimed that patients should be aware that they are not getting a brand new transplant.  He also said on the BBC that "lungs from a smoker can be working perfectly normally." 

Scott's family called for patients to be told more information about organ donors before accepting a transplant.

 Forest Lawn in Glendale, California, where Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest, may allow fans to visit the grounds of his tomb for the first anniversary of his death, June 25^th.

Arrangements for a ceremony that will allow people to pay homage to the King of Pop are in their final stages.  Fans will not be able to enter the mausoleum but plans are being worked out as to how close fans will be able to get to Jackson's actual burial site.

Is it just me, or is this kind of creepy?

Let's think about it. I'm going to spend an inordinate amount of time and/ or money to stare at Michael Jackson's tombstone from a distance. Crazy.

Everyone says R.I.P. when referring to Michael but I wonder if we ever are really going to let the man rest in peace. If I had to guess some member of the Jackson family will be collecting a hefty check for these “festivities” that go on in Michael Jackson's “honor.”

And as long as the checks keep coming, the “circus” will continue.

His wife, Loleini Tonga, has come out to speak on behalf of her husband and to finally provide more clarity to the situation.

Following an argument on December 16 between the couple, Tonga pulled off in her truck while Henry was standing in the back.  Falling from the vehicle, a severe head injury would lead to Charlotte police announcing his death in the early morning hours of the following day.

According to Tonga, she believes her husband was trying to jump from the back of the moving vehicle and insists that she was not moving very fast in the truck.

Although no charges have been filed against the wife of Henry, reports have stated that she has yet to be cleared by authorities on the pending case.

The auto-tuned crooner and top hat aficionado signaled an end to one of his more “coonish” ideas, laying his infamous “Big A$$ Chain” to rest in in an effigial  ceremony.

The Tallahassee hero arrived in a hearse, regaling all in attendance with Jay-Z's “Death of Autotune”, a song that has recently caused friction between himself and the “Greatest Rapper Alive.”

Shortly after parking, the rapper turned singer unloaded a coffin in which a skeleton rested, wearing nothing but a white tee, jeans, and Pain legendary chain.