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The Pot Of Gold TV Show Coming To Cable (Spate Media)
The Pot Of Gold TV Show Coming To Cable (Spate Media)
Get connected with Spate Media co founder MaddMann
Get connected with Spate Media co founder MaddMann
Spate TV Original Programs
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New music from Kanye West and Jay Z Monster with Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross
New Music Kanye West and Jay Z with Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj "Monster" check off the Kanye and Jay Z album
Indie Grind: Congrats to Ace Jonez on the UMA win, check the photos
Remy Martin V the taste test SPATE First Look
We got a first look at the new Remy Martin V. The first thing I noticed was the bottle and the great design. Some may think that it doesn't matter but that's the first thing people see. When you go out to the club the girl that stands out is the one with the hottest dress and nicest shoes so it does matter. So I guess you can say the bottle would be the hottest thing in the club that night anyway. Remy Martin is not known for vodka type drinks but now this will change that. The actual launch for this will be Sept 1 so make sure you ask for it in your neighborhood club because I see some big things happening with this brand. As for the taste, we mixed it with a few things and it came out great.
Timbaland says no worries he didn't try to commit suicide
On Tuesday, Timbaland was apparently the focus of a law enforcement manhunt amid concerns he might be suicidal.
His wife and mother-in-law called the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to say that he had left his Malibu home "upset and under a lot of stress" and they feared a "possible suicide attempt," because of a $2-million Jacob & Co. watch was stolen from his home.
An APB was issued before 5 p.m., and a helicopter and squad cars were dispatched.
Timbaland came clean to Ryan Seacrest about the whole hot mess on Thursday in a brilliant, insightful and refreshingly candid statement:
"It ain't nothin to worry about...I don't know what happened to be honest with you, I don't know what people are talking about...People steal from me all the time. Stuff did happen, it wasn't a watch it was something else.
Juelz Santana disses Brian Pumper
Juelz Santana took a few shots toward the adult entertainer Brian Pumper this week.
@TheJuelzSantana blasted on Twitter:
"A! LMAO NO HOMO how u tell another n****a"he aint p****ng no meet"super HOMO This B.pumper n***a is outta control #killyaself f****ng weirdo"
Juelz Santana was referring to a line B. Pumper said in his diss towards Jay Z, "She Aint Statisfied."
Who do you think is the next rapper to diss Brian Pumper?
Sonyae Elise covers SPATE Magazine #24
Sonyae Elise is doing big things. After being signed to Midi Mafia Sonyae is headed in the right direction.
The Hot Ticket: Overtime Concert Series
If you haven't checked out The Overtime Concert series you are missing a lot. The show is well organized and the event has some of the most talented up and coming artists. I had a great time on Aug 19 and these shows happen monthly. Make sure if you are in NYC that you check the Overtime Concert Series. Get more info click here.
Checkout some of the performances
Indie Grind Daily: Queen Yonasda
Queen Yonasda is making a name for herself in the music world.
Although Queen YoNasDa is new to the hip-hop scene she has aligned herself with some of hip-hop's heaviest hitters. One of her first tours included opening nationally for Wu-Tang Clan's 8 Diagrams Tour and Capone N Noreaga's "Built For Cuban Linx 2 Tour".
As the grand-daughter of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and daughter of Wauneta Lonewolf, Queen YoNasDa has proven to be a leader by spearheading movements like "Hip-Hop for Haiti" and leading the hip-hop community in Arizona to protest the new immigration law which she considers to be racial profiling and separates families. The Arizona protest song is a remake of Public Enemy's "By the Time I Get to Arizona" and has been featured on AllHipHop.com: http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2010/05/06/22204547.aspx
Kanye west signs Pusha T to Good music label
Virginia bred emcee and Clipse member Pusha T has officially signed to G.O.O.D Music.
According to published reports, at a secret concert given by Kanye West in New York, Yeezy brought out his G.O.O.D Music artists and officially announced Pusha as one of them.
Hot 97 on air personality Miss Info confirmed the reports on her blog:
“Kanye along with the help of John Legend, Estelle, Consequence, Pusha T of The Clipse (who 'Ye announced last night IS a part of G.O.O.D. Music) and others treated a select crowd to a memorable show.”
In addition to adding to his G.O.O.D Music roster, Kanye is also busy readying for the release of his upcoming untitled album slated for a November 16th release.
As previously reported, Ye has confirmed that the upcoming album, will feature production by Pete Rock and DJ Premier as well as features by Jay Z, Beyonce and Young Money's Nicki Minaj.
“Honestly I think that Nicki Minaj is on her way to becoming to the number 2 rapper in the game, right after Eminem. I think that she is one of the best all-around and when you hear the verse she spits on my album, it's serious.”
Even though the album's only official single release is “Power”, Kanye has decided to bless fans with two additional tracks from the upcoming album including the single, “See Me Now” and “Mama's Boyfriend, which he performed last night.
Katstacks says she gets paid for people to see her face now
Why do ho’s get famous for f*cking? That’s the question we asked when we read the Kat Stacks interview with XXL. In it, Kat Stacks says she IS famous and she doesn’t have to be a ho anymore, now all she has to do is show her face to get that money.
Kat Stacks got off her back long enough to give XXL some insight into how she skyrocketed to one of the most well known ho’s in the game. With more than 70,000 Twitter followers tracking her sexcapades, Kat says she’s still “Kat Stacks, bitch!” and she ain’t goin’ nowhere, no time soon. She also claims that she got her ho’in from her mama.
“My daddy died when I was like 10 years old. I was actually raised by my Uncles… I never had a father figure because my mother was running around with alot of muthaf*ckas and my Uncles weren’t father figures either. They used to be physically abused by their father, so that’s how I was raised. I got tired of it. I left. I ain’t never had a mother figure. Ain’t none of them were ever there.”
XXL also asked her how she went from stripper to paid jump-off.
” When Ifirst started [stripping], I didn’t expect to meet anybody. I just thought about money to pay my bills. The first person I met was Pitbull, the next person I met was T-Pain because he owned the club Encore, and I was working there. I started meeting them out [in Miami]. And then I started meeting more on Twitter. I didn’t expect to meet none of these muthaf*ckas on Twitter, because you only think there’s computer nerds on there, but rappers are actually there.”
“Well since I was a stripper, back then it was all about money. So if anybody wanted me to go home with them, they had to pay. So yeah… I don’t have to f*ck dudes for money no more. They just give me money to see my face.”
Lauren London is back with Tyler Perry
Lauren London is joining the cast of 'Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family.'
The Los Angeles native will join previously announced cast members Bow Wow, Loretta Devine and Old Spice pitchman Isaiah Mustafa in the drama/comedy.
Mustafa will portray Calvin, a man struggling with his family relationships. Devine and Bow Wow will play his mother-in-law and brother-in-law, respectively. London will play Bow Wow's girlfriend.
Perry will reprise his signature role as Madea Simmons in the film, adapted from his new stage play 'Madea's Happy Family,' which is currently on tour in the U.S.
Written and directed by Perry, filming started this week in Atlanta, with production slated to wrap in early September.
London was last seen in 2009's 'I Love You, Beth Cooper' with Hayden Panettiere, and made brief appearances in 'Next Day Air' and Chris Rock's documentary, 'Good Hair.' Her previous films have included 'ATL' with rapper/actor T.I., and 'This Christmas' with Chris Brown, Regina King, Sharon Leal, and Idris Elba.
The 25 year-old actress will also star in the VH1 movie Queen Latifah is producing, 'Single Ladies,' alongside Lisa Raye, and Stacey Dash.
Last year, London gave birth to her first child, a son, whose father is Grammy Award winning rapper Lil Wayne.
She's also on the cover of the debut issue of black lifestyle magazine 'Fearless magazine', featuring a bevy of young, black Hollywood starlets.
Top Hip Hop Sites: Allhiphop.com talks with Wylefs Jeans president opponent Michel Martelly
Unlike many other Third World countries in turmoil, Haiti is not plagued by warring factions or ideological conflicts. Haiti’s issue for the last few decades have centered primarily around a lack of funds and a lack of proper leadership. Over the last 15 to 20 years, the Haitian people have been subjected to political conflicts and economic stagnation rooted in selfish leadership which acted without true concern for the people or the development and progress of the island nation, which now lies as an embarrassment to its legacy as the first independent Black republic in the world. The January 12 earthquake which devastated Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and other towns on the island’s southwest side, dealt a final blow to the island’s international image. It revealed the nation naked exposing all the ills that had been plaguing its people. Now, with the first post-earthquake Presidential election in Haiti drawing near, many have speculated how to contend with the country’s current crisis as well as its legacy of socio-economic needs. Some have argued that Haiti needs a president who has a genuine desire to see the people do better. Wyclef Jean feels he fits that bill, but there is another. Enter Haitian musician Michel Martelly.
Just days after celebrating the 22nd anniversary of his musical career, Martelly announced that he would submit himself as candidate in the 2010 Haitian presidential election, set to take place on November 28. But while Martelly, or “Sweet Micky” as his legion of fans knows him, has embraced his position as the “President of Compa,” he is much more reluctant to accept the title of “Presidential candidate.” In his first interview with American media since submitting his candidacy to Haiti’s Electoral Council, Martelly spoke candidly to AllHipHop.com about his country’s biggest problems, his goals for the people of Haiti, and why he won’t be voting for his friend Wyclef Jean.
AllHipHop.com: So give us a brief introduction so American audiences can understand who you are
Michel Martelly: I came into the music world in 1988 with a song called “Ooh La La,” that was like a breath of fresh air in Haitian music. Because back then, we had the old generation big bands of Compa, playing with 15 members; that concept was going down in Haiti. At the same time, bands from abroad, like Kassav, were coming out with Zouk, which is a genre from the French islands Guadeloupe and Martinique. So when “Ooh La La” came out, it was a breath of fresh air for the Haitian market. I rallied all the youth around me, all the people who liked Compa, but felt like it was dying, going away, being replaced with Zouk. So it became a movement. So, through the years, I’ve played my music with dedication, discipline and originality, and controversy also. Unlike the big bands, I was a one-man show for the first two years. And then I was joined by two more members. By then, I had captivated the heart of every Haitian in Haiti and abroad. Because of that, I felt like I was the only thing happening. People would travel with me just to listen to my music: they [come to a] dance tonight in Port-au-Prince and they’re with me the next day in Miami, just to hear my music. Around 1993-94, I proclaimed myself President of Compa. And because there was no objection, the title remains to this day.
AllHipHop.com: Is the rumor that you are running for President of Haiti now confirmed?
Michel Martelly: The rumor is confirmed, but I still don’t wanna put it like this, like I’m “running for President.” I don’t think it’s a good [aspiration], being President of Haiti. The last five-six presidents of Haiti have failed miserably. And I don’t think it would be an honor for me to say I want to be the next “president.” I want to be the man by with whom change arrives. Because, I think it’s definitely time. It’s time for the Haitian people to have access to education. It’s time for Haitians to have access to health care. It’s time to open our borders to the Haitian diaspora, open our markets to the world. It’s time to open our country to potential investors. It’s time to change our mentality, which [has become] self-destructive: we seem not to care about ourselves, we don’t care about our neighbors, our children. We seem not to care about our country. We’ve lost our sense of civic duty, of patriotism, our sense of pride. And the concepts of love, sharing, compassion, are the concepts that regulate a society; and they’re basic concepts. And I think it’s a must for us to have a mental revolution. And having a warm voice, being loved by my Haitians, I believe that if I assume the leadership to take them to where they ought to be, although it may not have been their plan; and with the assistance of a great team, a team that is well qualified and devoted, and that understands also that it’s time to change the direction in which the country is headed, I believe that I’ll be successful. That’s why I don’t want to be just a regular candidate. I want to be the man through whom change happens.
AllHipHop.com: What motivated you to enter the political arena?
Michel Martelly: The initiative came from my wife. Through the years, while I was performing on Christmas Eve and things like that, instead of staying home alone with the kids and thinking about me or crying, she spent time preparing home cooked meals [which she delivered] to people in poor neighborhoods, to go to hospitals, to go to the places where she knew that people in need where having a very different Christmas. So she would take them food and other necessities and share with them the spirit of Christmas. And it became a tradition for my kids and my wife to do that. And after the years, that developed into more involvement. We would go to every corner of the country, from North to South, from East to West, to create a movement where we would receive [aid] donations and sponsorships and go distribute it in remote areas. With that came a deeper love from the people. Because before, it was just an admiration for my musical, I would say, talent – although I believe that not having any musical training, I remain a big figure in the Haitian music industry, and a controversial one. But now with my philanthropical involvement, besides just liking my music and being curious about my persona, they started realizing that I was someone much more different than what I was selling. I was selling craziness, I was selling joy, I was selling frivolity and indulgence. But behind the entertainer, there was a man full of compassion, a man who cared for his own. With that, the love came from the people’s heart. And that’s mainly why I believe that the power that I have is much more than the music. It’s like a family, it’s like a bond that exists, a relationship. And this is mainly the reason why I decided to do more. I believe that I can help them take direction. After the election of [exiled former Haitian president] Jean-Bertrand Aristide, I saw the people [motivated]. So I know the power of a leader that’s loved, I know the power of a leader that’s trusted, a leader people have respect for. Therefore, I decided to present myself as a candidate, not because I believe I’m the man with all the solutions, but because I believe that I can be that source of inspiration for my people. And again, alone, I will not succeed. But with a team, with a plan, with the unity that I can inspire, we’ll be successful.
AllHipHop.com: When you speak of Unity, what do you mean?
Michel Martelly: I’ve lived on both sides of the river. I was raised in a poor neighborhood; but I went to school with the rich kids. So, I’ve lived on both sides of the fence. And I believe, having been accepted everywhere, by every facet of Haiti’s society, I believe this is a chance for me to come in and unite the people, from North to South, from East to West, from White to Black, from rich to poor. Because the dream must be a common dream. There’s only one Haiti, so we need one goal, one nation and one leader. And even then, in order to succeed, we need to be aware that we have neighbors, we have collaborators, we have donors; and the people who will be investing in us will have expectations. We have to start negotiating and stop begging for help. We need to keep our pride, we need to deliver, we need to be respectful. And I believe that under my leadership, because I’m honest, full of good will and transparent; and because I have no need for power, beautiful cars or beautiful girls; because my only desire is to see my people change, my country progress and prosper, I believe I’ve made the right decision, and I’m going full blast at it.
AllHipHop.com: How exactly does the presidential electoral process in Haiti work?
Michel Martelly: Well, as you know, the process itself is new to me. But I know that right now, we first need to align ourselves to a political party, which is a decision we plan on making in the next 24 hours. Afterward, you need to register, which will probably be done within the next 48 hours. Afterwards, there is a grace period during which you’re allowed to prepare yourself, but you’re not allowed to [formally] campaign. You’ll be allowed to campaign starting October 26 until November 26. The election itself will be on [November] 28. The candidate who receives more than 50% of the popular vote wins. If no one gets 50%, there is a second election and the candidate with the most votes wins.
AllHipHop.com: When you say you can prepare yourself but not campaign, how does that work?
Michel Martelly: You can visit [institutions] outside of the country and speak, you can organize fundraisers, talk to the people, align yourself with people, finish the building of your team, review your plans, fine tune whatever is missing, travel and introduce yourself to the international community. You need to understand politics a little bit more, especially if you’re new, like myself and Wyclef. We both have experience managing our careers and we both have good intentions, we both understand that we need to surround ourselves with qualified people. So that’s what we’ll be doing before we start campaigning. When campaigning starts, as you realize we only have one month. For that month, Haiti has ten “départements ,” which are like states, and you have to visit each of them. Some, depending on the size, you may want to visit more than once. And you also have to speak to the Haitian people outside of Haiti. What I believe is, while you cannot campaign in Haiti [before late October], I believe you can campaign in the diaspora, talk to the people, answer questions, without it being under an official campaign. But this is the time we should use to present ourselves to the people who don’t know us and to reveal and explain our plans to the voters and potential contributors. But of course, you have to do it by the book.
AllHipHop.com: The fact that there’s corruption in the Haitian government is no secret to international community. What is the current attitude of Haitian citizens towards the current administration? Do they trust the government? Do they believe they have the power to change the situation as it is right now?
Michel Martelly: It’s a vicious circle where people tend to believe that even if they pay their taxes, for example, the government won’t do anything with it. So what you need to do is restore the authority of the state. You need to restore the people’s trust, you need to restore their confidence. You need to show that you are out to eliminate corruption. You have to show the people that when you pay taxes, progress is made. One of the reasons we always seem to have our hand out begging, is because [the government] has no money coming in. We don’t emphasize taxes, we don’t export… so, these are some of the things we’re going to have to work on and implement so people can go back to work, be able to afford paying their taxes, etc. But they also need to have transparency to see that they can keep an eye so trust can prevail. And from there, you set the example.
AllHipHop.com: So you believe the government’s authority has been undermined?
Michel Martelly: If we had to go back now and put people in jail for things like back taxes, you’d have to put almost everybody in jail. Because a country that has no rule of law allows anybody to do anything. And that’s not where we wanna go now. We need to look forward right now. We want to develop, we want healthcare, we want to develop our agriculture system, we need to raise the standard of education, we need to restore pride, we need to develop our tourism industry, we need to restore our relationships with other countries. We need to stop begging. We need to present plans and we need to carry them out. We need to care. We need to love. And this is what I want to work on.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve spoken of pride and the idea of not begging a couple of times…
Michel Martelly: A question I’ve been asking throughout Haiti is, what if the international community never gives us a cent of the money that was pledged? Are we gonna remain the way we are? We’re at 80% unemployment. Why not use the “kombit” aspect of our culture [ed note: the idea of members of the community working together to harvest, clean, build, etc.]? There probably not enough money to rebuild through “kombit,” but you can at least clear the rubble and debris left by the earthquake. So by uniting the people, by having one vision, by having the right leadership, there are so many things that we can do. We need to go back to our culture. Even though the country is predominantly Christian, we need to accept voodoo as part of our culture, for example. It’s a very mysterious thing. People tend to want to learn more about it. And we need to utilize it within the tourism industry. There is a thing called “The Ceremony at Bois Caïmans,” which was the ceremony that started the slave revolt that lead to Haiti’s independence. We should have, like a Broadway show so people all over the world could come and see “La Ceremonie du Bois Caïmans.” We need to exploit these things, we need to exploit our history and our past because it’s a great past! It’s like we don’t know who we are. We need to restore pride, and for this, we can’t do it alone. It can’t be just me, it can’t be just me and my team, it can’t just be us and the international community. We need a movement. We need help from the Almighty. But at least with a positive attitude, I think we can move in the right direction.
Get more here
Top hip hop sites: Allhiphop.com is reporting
(Illseed of allhiphop.com)
Illseed gives a clip of Montana Fishburne interview with BV
BV: How much did you make off of this? Was it six figures?
MF: I don't know.
BV: Well, everyone wants to know what your father thinks about it?
MF: I mean, I haven't talked to him directly yet. We have conflicting schedules, so it's been hard. But, he's upset. I hope he supports me. But as soon as I talk to him, you guys are going to hear something
BV: How has Kim Kardashian really influenced you?
MF: She inspired me to go to Vivid. I always wanted to do porn. That was a given. So when I decided to start getting in to it, to see how I was going to go about it, I looked to her. Kim Kardashian released her sex tape with Vivid. Paris Hilton, Kendra Wilkinson, Pamela Anderson, all these people. And they're well known for having celebrity sex tapes. And Kim's is the one that did the best.
BV: Now what's your association with Brian Pumper? He's saying that you have another movie coming out?
MF: I did a music video for him, but with my porn career, I'm focusing on Montana Fishburne with Vivid. That's what it is. The whole Brian Pumper thing, I look at it as a mistake honestly. And I'm trying to get away from that and focus on Vivid and the release of this movie.
BV: Do you think Brian Pumper will have a rap career now that he has a video out?
MF: No, I don't think his music appeals to the mainstream.
BV: When are we going to see you and him in action?
MF: Me and Brian are no longer in contact.
BV: Do you think he's exploiting you?
MF: Yes, I feel taken advantage by Brian Pumper. I don't really want to go into details about the situation. Jeremy [Greene, an aspiring porn actor], he feels for me, he knows how I feel about it. He has talked to Brian, and they have dealt with each other, because I don't even want to deal with him anymore. I'm not in contact with Brian Pumper, and I'm just trying to get rid of the situation.
Nelly and Ashanti back together again?
After being seen at TI's party Nelly and Ashanti seem to be an item again. The sites are going crazy over the thought, they make a nice couple.
Diddy says comments about his son are racist
Diddy recently told Vibe magazine that Nightline Host Martin Bashir's question about him giving his son a Maybach for his birthday was racist:
"There were times in the interview when I had to give him an ultimatum," Diddy told Vibe. "The questions weren't being handled the right way. In hindsight, when I saw him, I shouldn't had done the interview because I know the style of interview that he does . . .. The whole thing about giving a Maybach to my son, that's really like a racist question."
"You don't ask White people what they buy their kids," he continued. "And they buy 'em Porsches and convertible Bentleys, and it ain't no question. It's really a racist question and put things back in perspective with money and the way that people still look at you. And I'm not saying that consciously he's a racist. But he probably don't even realize that he would not ask Steve Jobs that. He would be like Steve Jobs has that money and that's the gift his kid is supposed to get."
I think Diddy was right about one thing: Most journalists would never question a wealthy white person like Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet about a car they may have bought their children.
I think, though, he is missing a critical difference between himself and men like Steve Jobs. Men like Jobs and Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have not made a fortune promoting luxury lifestyles and defining themselves by them.
A tenet of hip-hop is ostentation and glamour and luxury. Diddy's image, probably more than any other entertainer, is built on throwing wealth in the faces of others who look on with a mixture of awe, envy and delight. He brags at every opportunity about his wealth, so why shouldn't it be fair game in an interview? The image of boundless wealth, big mansions and fancy cars is how hip-hop has defined itself, and whether he wants to admit or not, Diddy is one of the main architects.
I bet a reporter wouldn't ask Bob Johnson or Kenneth Chenault about a car they bought for their children.
I believe the question was less about race and more about the fact that he is not taken seriously.
You can't be a media whore and then get mad if someone asks you a question you don't like. If you don't want to be questioned about what you give to your children, don't do it on TV. You can't have it both ways, Diddy. I can't remember the last time Bill Gates bragged to the world about how much money he had.
I also think that the question is more relevant to Diddy than to America's wealthiest business leaders, because of the impact that his lifestyle has on young people.
Many young people want to be like Diddy, because he's rich. Not because he worked hard and built a mega-empire from nothing. Unfortunately, the message of hard work and the story behind Diddy's rise to power is lost on a generation who believe they are entitled to big Sweet Sixteen parties and Maybachs without lifting a finger.
We have collectively failed as a community in this regard. Diddy, along with the rest of us, are culpable in raising a generation who just want to be "rich." They don't want to work hard, they don't want to excel in school. They just want be a baller. And if they can't be rich, at least they can look rich, even if it means begging, borrowing and stealing to accomplish it. Somewhere along the line, we forgot to teach our young people the most important four letter word of all: WORK.
And a small part of that is Diddy's fault. If he spent as much time talking about the hard work it took the get to where he is as he does rattling off the brand names in his closet, perhaps he could be taken more seriously as a business leader and not just some rich hip-hop buffoon. Isn't he the one who said, "It's all about the Benjamins?"
"There were times in the interview when I had to give him an ultimatum," Diddy told Vibe. "The questions weren't being handled the right way. In hindsight, when I saw him, I shouldn't had done the interview because I know the style of interview that he does . . .. The whole thing about giving a Maybach to my son, that's really like a racist question."
"You don't ask White people what they buy their kids," he continued. "And they buy 'em Porsches and convertible Bentleys, and it ain't no question. It's really a racist question and put things back in perspective with money and the way that people still look at you. And I'm not saying that consciously he's a racist. But he probably don't even realize that he would not ask Steve Jobs that. He would be like Steve Jobs has that money and that's the gift his kid is supposed to get."
I think Diddy was right about one thing: Most journalists would never question a wealthy white person like Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet about a car they may have bought their children.
I think, though, he is missing a critical difference between himself and men like Steve Jobs. Men like Jobs and Warren Buffet and Bill Gates have not made a fortune promoting luxury lifestyles and defining themselves by them.
A tenet of hip-hop is ostentation and glamour and luxury. Diddy's image, probably more than any other entertainer, is built on throwing wealth in the faces of others who look on with a mixture of awe, envy and delight. He brags at every opportunity about his wealth, so why shouldn't it be fair game in an interview? The image of boundless wealth, big mansions and fancy cars is how hip-hop has defined itself, and whether he wants to admit or not, Diddy is one of the main architects.
I bet a reporter wouldn't ask Bob Johnson or Kenneth Chenault about a car they bought for their children.
I believe the question was less about race and more about the fact that he is not taken seriously.
You can't be a media whore and then get mad if someone asks you a question you don't like. If you don't want to be questioned about what you give to your children, don't do it on TV. You can't have it both ways, Diddy. I can't remember the last time Bill Gates bragged to the world about how much money he had.
I also think that the question is more relevant to Diddy than to America's wealthiest business leaders, because of the impact that his lifestyle has on young people.
Many young people want to be like Diddy, because he's rich. Not because he worked hard and built a mega-empire from nothing. Unfortunately, the message of hard work and the story behind Diddy's rise to power is lost on a generation who believe they are entitled to big Sweet Sixteen parties and Maybachs without lifting a finger.
We have collectively failed as a community in this regard. Diddy, along with the rest of us, are culpable in raising a generation who just want to be "rich." They don't want to work hard, they don't want to excel in school. They just want be a baller. And if they can't be rich, at least they can look rich, even if it means begging, borrowing and stealing to accomplish it. Somewhere along the line, we forgot to teach our young people the most important four letter word of all: WORK.
And a small part of that is Diddy's fault. If he spent as much time talking about the hard work it took the get to where he is as he does rattling off the brand names in his closet, perhaps he could be taken more seriously as a business leader and not just some rich hip-hop buffoon. Isn't he the one who said, "It's all about the Benjamins?"
For The Stans: Beyonce in German Magazine Alverde, Seeking Tracks For New Project
Beyonce does German Magazine Alverde, and reaches out to Darkchild for some new music:
“As far as I know, Beyonce is working. We definitely keep in contact with her, and she lets us know what she’s looking for. I’m not sure if she’s officially started as far as ‘in-studio’, but I’m pretty sure she’s doing it. Ya’ll know Bey – when she gets focused and she gets ready, she goes in and smashes down”.
Terrence Howard And Regina Hall Joins 'Law And Order: Los Angeles'
With production set to begin this week, Terrence Howard and Regina Hall have been added to the cast of 'Law & Order: Los Angeles.'
Already cast in the spinoff series are Skeet Ulrich, Alfred Molina, Corey Stoll, and Wanda De Jesus.
Howard will play Deputy District Attorney Joe Dekker on the show, splitting episodes with Alfred Molina in the courtroom, similar to the way 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' operated for several seasons with Vincent D'Onofrio and Chris Noth. Molina's character name is Deputy District Attorney Peter Morales.
Series creator Dick Wolf said Friday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour that the combination of Howard and Molina makes him feel like the manager of the 1961 Yankees. Wolf said he now had his "Mantle and Maris," referring to sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.
"They're the Jack McCoys. The prosecutors. They're the ones who are going to be leading the cases," said series executive producers.
De Jesus will play Lieutenant Arleen Gonzales, the captain of the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division, while Hall will play Assistant District Attorney Eva Price.
Ulrich and Stoll play Senior Det. John Winters and Junior Det. Tomas 'TJ' Jaruszalski, respectively.
Wolf also confirmed that 'Law & Order,' which was canceled at the end of its most recent season, is officially dead.
Howard and Hall both starred in Malcolm D. Lee's 1999's romantic drama, 'The Best Man.'
Howard was Oscar nominated for Best Actor for his work in 'Hustle & Flow.' He's currently wrapping up filming 'Winnie' opposite Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, where he will play a young Nelson Mandela to her Winnie Mandela.
Hall was last seen opposite Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock in the comedy 'Death at a Funeral,' which will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 10.
'Law & Order: Los Angeles' premieres Sept. 29. The drama will air every Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. (EST) on NBC, following 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.'
Rapper T.I ties the knot with Tiny
Tiny wore a Valentino dress, while Tip rocked PRADA.
Kandi, Monica and Toya were Tiny's bridesmaids.
The couple have been dating since 2001 and have two children together. The party isn't over yet according to UsWeekly. "They plan on returning to their hometown of Atlanta for a reception Saturday afternoon before jetting off to Las Vegas to celebrate with friends into the wee hours."
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats get married
(thisis50)
Its been a wild week of weddings. We've seen T.I, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Supermodel Miranda Kerr, and even Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea tie the knot...not all to each other of course lol.
According to news wire WENN: Parents-to-be ALICIA KEYS and rap producer SWIZZ BEATZ have married in a ceremony in Corsica, France.
The No One hitmaker, who is pregnant with the couple's first child, walked down the aisle on Saturday (31Jul10) in front of family, friends and A-list stars including U2 rocker Bono and Queen Latifah.
Keys looked radiant in a flowing white gown and headband, while the groom wore a white tuxedo jacket, pink shirt and bow tie for their big day.
The nuptials on the Mediterranean island proved to be a relaxed affair - Keys showed off her baby bump in a bikini while enjoying a dip in the pool before exchanging vows.
The singer announced her pregnancy and engagement to Beatz in May (10) and their first child is due later this year
Indie Grind Daily: Ace Jonez interview
1.What projects are you working on now?
Right now I’m currently working on my street album titled “Get Used To Me” which should be out later this year. I’m also working a collaborative mixtape with an artist from Cincinnati named Trigga Mane and a mixtape with my Grynd Mobb family “No Surrender” that should be out next month.
2.How do you stay motivated to do music?
I think most of it is self-motivation I just genuinely love music. I could win the lotto today for $300 million, and I would continue to pursue my music career. I also think some of my motivation comes from some of the music that’s being released today; I’m not really a big fan of a lot of the newer music.
3.What are you listening to right now?
Honestly? I listen to a lot of my own stuff, but aside from that I listen to just about everything. Whether it is mainstream or underground, I try to stay up on what’s going on in the hip-hop world. But if you were to check my cd changer you might find Emenim, T.I., Young Jeezy, and Drake.
4.Have you worked with any known producers?
At the moment no, but I’ve been talking to a producer by the name of Drawzilla. He’s worked with artist such as Capone (CNN), Remy Ma, and Jae Millz to name a few. So I’m looking forward to working with him in the near future.
5.Where are you from and how does that impact your music?
I am from the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, PA. Philly is known for the real aggressive material, the battle rappers, and lyricist so I think some people give me a chance because of the artist philly has already produced.
6.How has the Internet affected your music career?
It has definitely helped a lot! I think the Internet is the best thing for an up and coming artist. It gives you the opportunity to reach people all across the world, just by uploading your music to different hip-hop and blog sites.
7.How would you describe your style?
I don’t really think I have a style, I’ll try almost anything in the studio except sing or use auto tune. I try to be versatile with my music; whether it be rapping slow, fast, something aggressive, something for the club, or something for the ladies I’ll never sound the same on every song.
8.Do you have interests outside of music?
Yes, I’m actually getting into acting. I’ve been in 2 films so far; one was a speaking role and the other I was hired as an extra. I’m about to start filming for another film tilted “Siren City”, which is based on some of the violence that’s been happening in Chester, Pa. In addition to that I’m in the process of writing a script of my own, so I’m looking forward to that.
9.Female hip-hop is on the rise right now, who are your favorite female rappers?
I’m a big fan of Remy Ma, I think she is very talented and she’s not your average girly rapper. Besides her I like Nicki Minaj, Eve, and a few up and coming artist like Rasheeda, Kanary Diamonds, and Yung Syren.
10.How did you get the UMA nomination?
Well I have a single that’s out right now called “Drinks On Me” and its been getting a lot of good feedback, so I submit it to as many sites and blogs as I can. I guess somebody on the UMA staff or someone they know got a hold of it and thought it was that good, the next thing I know I’m getting notified about being nominated for (Best Club Bange). Win or lose I’m just excited that my talent was recognized.
11.Where can the people find you?
You can find me on twitter.com/acejonez, facebook.com/bagattijonez, myspace.com/acejonezonline, and Block2DaBooth.com is where you can get the latest music and show updates.
