EDITORIAL
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Source: @fatjoe / Instagram
“I never had dinner with the president!” – Ice Cube (“No Vaseline”)
O’Shea Jackson’s jab at Eric Wright on the scathing diss track aimed at his former N.W.A family carried significant weight in 1991. At the time, the president represented the power that was oppressive to the Hip-Hop community. A group like N.W.A didn’t participate in a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial inner circle, which was hosted by then-President George H. W. Bush. And the idea that Eazy-E did just that painted him out to be a traitor to the community.
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We fought the power for change in our community, we didn’t fraternize with the power in an attempt to join their fraternity. And any individual in the Hip-Hop community who didn’t adhere to these unwritten laws was subject to being publicly tarred and feathered. No questions asked.
Fast forward to 2024 and, as The Notorious B.I.G. once said “Things Done Changed.”
The power that we were up against in the 80s and 90s has changed shape over the years. It’s a little more complicated to figure out who “The Power” is now when the economics and landscape have been modified, altered and remodeled. In some ways it has changed for the better but, as they always say—the more things change, the more they stay the same.
“Sharing our platforms and our audiences with individuals who have spent the majority of their careers in the spotlight disparaging the very communities we come from is a dangerous proposition.”
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Snoop Dogg joins a long list of Black celebrities and public figures who have given former Swindler-In-Chief Donald Trump a pass for reasons far beyond comprehension. In a new interview, Snoop Dogg claimed to have love and respect for Donald Trump despite a record of questionable actions and alleged abuses of power.
Snoop Dogg spoke with a London publication, The Sunday Times, sharing details of his long and storied career en route to becoming one of the world’s top pitchmen and recognizable stars.
“He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has done only great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris,” the Long Beach, Calif. star said during the chat. “So I have nothing but love and respect for Donald Trump.”
Some may know that Harris was a co-founder of Death Row Records, which gave Snoop his first shot at stardom. Harris was pardoned for attempted murder and drug trafficking charges by Trump in 2021.
The pair were once at odds with one another once Donald Trump became president and Snoop Dogg took several shots at the beleaguered former business mogul and Republican Party frontrunner for this year’s general election.
However, it appears that Trump’s pardon was all it took for Snoop to have a change of heart, which is at least a more significant reason why some of his other Black supporters pledged their support.
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Kid Rock, the former struggle rapper who pretended to be from the soil, led a vocal and violent charge against Bud Light after the beer company aligned with a trans influencer. Now, Kid Rock is back teaching a class in struggle-nomics after claiming that Bud Light is back in his can-crushing rotation although it never left if anyone cares.
Kid Rock sat down with right-wing talking head Tucker Carlson for an interview we didn’t view in full and won’t be doing at any time but clips have surfaced online of the pair talking, well, Bud Light, “wokeness,” and whatever MAGA mutts get up to these days.
In the conversation, Rock and Carlson discussed the controversy over trans influencer Dylan Mulvenay working on a collaboration with the popular light beer brand. Rock and others who claim that the beer brand “went woke” by working with Mulvaney walked back their support of the Anheuser-Busch company.
Rock said that the company has suffered enough and says that “they got the message” in keeping in its right-wing fanbase’s preferences when it comes to celebrities they have representing the brand.
Some might remember that Rock took his protest to the next level by shooting up a case of beer with a high-powered weapon during some weird tough-guy act that was supposed to scare folks away from drinking the suds or something.
Anyway, Kid Rock is drinking Bud Light again, even though he’s been caught on camera pounding a can since his little backyard carnival gun show.
Cheers.
[h/t WFLA]
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Van Jones saw himself trending on X this Thursday (December 7) after an appearance on CNN in the wake of the fourth Republican Party presidential debate. Vivek Ramaswamy made mention of a fringe right-wing conspiracy angle known as “the great replacement theory” which Van Jones said left. him “shaking.”
Van Jones, 55, appeared last night on CNN as the network analyzed the GOP debate featuring Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris Christie. The presidential hopefuls all trail Donald Trump by a wide distance but that hasn’t stopped the quartet from doing their best to angle for the Republican Party’s nomination to take on President Joe Biden in 2024.
Ramaswamy, 38, said during his time at the podium that, “great replacement theory is not some grand right-wing conspiracy theory, but a basic statement of the Democratic Party’s platform.”
For those unaware, the great replacement theory has captured the feeble minds within the political sphere, which explains a plot to replace white people via illegal immigration and other related nonsense.
Naturally, Ramaswamy’s comment caught the eye of several right-wing pundits and media figures who embrace some of the zanier theories as they relate to politics in the post-Trump era. Ramaswamy is also an election denier and was openly critical of former Vice President Mike Pence for not certifying the election results in Trump’s favor and said he would have done so.
Jones said the following of Ramaswamy’s comments, courtesy of Mediaite:
[T]he smug, condescending way that [Ramaswamy] just spews his poison out is very, very dangerous, because he won’t stop Trump, but he’s gonna outlive Trump by about 50 years, and you’re watching the rise of an American demagogue that is a very, very despicable person.
Literally, I was shaking listening to him talk because a lot of people don’t know that is one step away from Nazi propaganda coming out of his mouth.
Naturally, the MAGA nuts are celebrating this as Ramaswamy “PWNING THE LIBS” and that the reaction from Jones should be a point of celebration.
We decided not to platform any of that chatter because while Van Jones has often played himself when it comes to political opinions, it isn’t hard to see where he’s going with this thought.
Check out the clip on Mediaite.
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Maybe there’s a reason fewer young Black people are identifying as Christian.
While Black Americans are still more religious than most other racial groups in the U.S., research shows the number of us who still faithfully attend church and praise Jesus as our Lord and Savior has done nothing but drop over the last two and a half decades. And if older members of the Black community who are still strong in their faiths are shaking their heads wondering why they’re losing the youth, maybe it’s time they looked inward.
They might find that young Black people (and youngsters in every other racial group in the Western world for that matter) are turned off by all of the respectability politics, the moral condemnation, and, of course, the queerphobia. Perhaps they’re also over all of the Christians who claim to be humble servants but also so arrogant they perpetually think they can speak for their God.
One thing is for sure, Lil Nas X isn’t having any of it.
The “Montero” singer recently got a number of Christ-lovers all in their holy feelings when he posted a short snippet of a new song accompanied by the caption, “Y’all mind if I enter my Christian era?”
It turns out that some so-called Christians—the people who are supposed to be tasked with bringing people to their faith—did, indeed, mind.
Notably, singer Tyrese ignored his own past as a sinful adulterer while casting the first stone at Nas X.
“Y’all gone learn to stop playing with God…God is not to be played with,” Tyrese wrote on Instagram. “From shoes with devil signs and devils blood in the [shoe] sole? We can all change I get it but I feel a way about people making a mockery of Jesus.”
Nas X responded by saying it’s “really crazy cuz all I did was post a song about asking god for hope when you feel hopeless and y’all acting like I posted a video of me burning a church down and peeing on a nativity scene.”
Here are the lyrics to the song that got the “Old Town Road” artist accused of “playing with God”:
“Free me from worry and wanting pity/ Free me from all this envy in me/ I don’t want these feelings/ I don’t want these feelings
I call on angels/ I’m trying hard to face my pain/ Give me hope when I feel/ Give me hope when I feel less.”
And somehow that was enough to get Tyrese crying his fake “I heart Jesus” tears, much like he cried over the ex-wife he cheated on. And he wasn’t alone.
Rapper Holy Gabbana also got holier than thou in a ridiculously homophobic response to the “Industry Baby” singer’s post.
“If Nas X wanna be gay cool, do u lil bra,” Gabbana said in what is essentially the equivalent of an “I’m not racist, but…” preface. “Jus don’t title yaself Christian and make others believe it’s okay for us to live in habitual/intentional sin. Ppl deserve TRUTH and I stand on da word of God.”
Yeah, if the only “sin” you’re concerned with as a so-called Christian is homosexuality, it’s not because you “stand” with God, it’s because you stand with bigotry.
Once again, Nas X responded saying it’s “really insane how y’all pretend some of our pastors aren’t getting piped down before the Sunday service. Y’all do not know Jesus personally stop trying to gatekeep him.”
Exactly.
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Boosie Badazz might be the first rapper to be told to “get over it” after someone blatantly stole his lyrics and hook for a song. After Rod Wave recorded and released the track “Long Journey” without giving Boosie any writing or publishing credit, the Lousiana rapper says he’s ready to get litigious with his younger peer.
In recent Instagram Live videos, Boosie Badazz explained that he and Rod Wave did try to work things out behind the scenes over the track “Long Journey,” which appears on Wave’s Nostalgia album. The track shares the same name as Boosie’s 2010 track and has the same chorus.
In one video, Boosie says he would’ve called off the suit for $200,000 and 25% in royalties going forward but Wave tried to talk Boosie down on the cost according to his account. Boosie also raised a fair point in saying that the use of the track and him speaking out from a legal standpoint made fans, quote, “choose sides.”
In another video, Boosie shares that he doesn’t own 100% of “Long Journey” but he does have songwriting and publishing credits on the track and just wants his fair share. The video below displays Boosie’s side of things.
The pushback from fans without law degrees is that they’re framing Boosie Badazz as trying to shake down Rod Wave for money he doesn’t deserve. Further, some are speculating that the label that put out Boosie’s “Long Journey” track might be pulling a fast one but that doesn’t explain if Wave and his producers actually cleared and paid for the use of the song and hook.
Check out some reactions from X, formerly known as Twitter, below.
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Source: Minnesota Department of Corrections / Minnesota Department of Corrections
George Floyd’s murderer, Derek Chauvin, is reportedly in the hospital after he was assaulted by a fellow inmate. Apparently, the disgraced ex-cop got shanked.
Reportedly, Chauvin, 47, got stabbed on Friday (Nov. 24) in Arizona.
Reports the Associated Press:
The attack happened at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
The Bureau of Prisons confirmed that an incarcerated person was assaulted at FCI Tucson at around 12:30 p.m. local time Friday. In a statement, the agency said responding employees contained the incident and performed “life-saving measures” before the inmate, who it did not name, was taken to a hospital for further treatment and evaluation.
Chauvin Chauvin is serving a 22-year sentence for second degree murder and a 21-year sentence for violating Floyd’s civil rights.
News of Chauvin catching an L was met with what you should expect in the social media universe; from kudos to obliviousness to any suffering the convicted murderer may have to endure. We compiled some of the best in the gallery.
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It’s almost universally understood that Pardi fumbled the ball when he cheated on Meg Thee Stallion. Well, in order to up the struggle, he dropped a diss track aimed at his former flame, and he’s getting cooked for the tomfoolery.
Keeping it a been, we knew this inevitable after Meg dropped “Cobra” and made Pardi public enemy no. 1 when she rapped that he cheated on her in her own home. So there was Pardison Fontaine hopping on Al Gore’s Internet talking some ish about this is for Megan Thee Person and it only went downhill from there, respectfully.
Pardi’s suspect retort is getting slandered for a myriad of reasons including the audacity to say he actually didn’t cheat on her in his crib or his use of the usual “loose woman” rhetoric. X users clearly aren’t falling for the okey doke and are dragging Pardi for all the filth.
And if you’re saying Pardi ate, we’re just going to assume you think Tory Lanez is a political prisoner. Good luck with that.
We compiled some of the best bombs aimed at Pardi, for archival purposes.
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André 3000 caused a stir in the news this month after announcing a new solo project that leans into the Outkast rapper’s musical interests of late. I know that some of tired of the discourse around 3 Stacks and his current decision to move on from rapping, but he made an excellent point in explaining why he put down the microphone.
In a recent GQ profile, André 3000 mentioned that at the age of 48 along with his current state of being, rapping isn’t a priority for him as it once was. 3000 also added that the content he’s hearing doesn’t reflect the concerns of those approaching middle age, and he isn’t entirely wrong about that.
Although some took his words as a jab toward some of his veteran peers, the artist born André Lauren Benjamin believes that Hip-Hop artists near or around his age should rap about the reality of where they are and not the fanciful parts of life that most listeners will never obtain.
Sadly, the knee-jerk reaction to 3000’s statement will render some to think he’s dumping on older Hip-Hop acts or calling into question their maturity. Recently, Joe Budden caught the ire of Drake over his For All The Dogs album due to the content seeming to be aimed towards a younger demographic, certainly younger than the 37-year-old Canadian superstar.
Like most discussions around Hip-Hop, which I try to avoid because most people have the communication skills of an agitated wasp, people didn’t hear what 3000, or Budden, for that matter, tried to convey. Even stranger to witness was the entitlement of fans demanding Stacks get back to rapping, even with his Outkast brother Big Boi fully supporting his partner’s new direction.
In the same GQ conversation I referenced above, Stacks didn’t rule out rapping; he just wants to be inspired to do it on his terms. That said, if he never raps again, good for him. He doesn’t need to. And when he does, it’s going to be a body of work that won’t lack substance and will wow us like all the spare verses he’s done over the last decade.
People are saying online that André 3000 saying he has nothing to rap about at 48 seems like a cop-out and I get what some are saying considering how good of a lyricist he is. But if you’ve moved on from something that once served you, it was probably for the better good.
My only countering point to those disappointed in 3000 not rapping — even though he’d probably body the “Grown Man Rap” lane — is to go listen to Little Brother’s 2019 album, May The Lord Watch, or Phonte’s 2018 solo album, No News Is Good News, and Rapper Big Pooh’s 2022 solo album, To Dream In Color, which I named as one of my favorite albums of last year.
I recently caught wind of a rapper out of Detroit by the name of Paradime, an artist who was new to me but epitomized what I meant when it comes to the term “Grown Man Rap.” It’s a phrase I don’t really enjoy, hence the quotes, but it’s clear what I’m trying to convey. The rule that Hip-Hop is a young man’s game is changing as veterans are rapping longer and still great at their crafts.
Speaking of greats, Joell Ortiz, who shares the same Mello Music Group label as the aforementioned Paradime, routinely shows his writing range as a man in his early 40s. Ortiz, if anyone is unaware, will also bar your face off so it’s not just old man on the porch raps going on these days with the vets. Hip-Hop as a whole has so many artists making “mature” (again, lack of a better term here) music you can play in front of your friends and not be accused of trying to keep up with the youngsters.
Acts like Solemn Brigham, Oddisee, Atmosphere, Homeboy Sandman, Rapsody, Sa-Roc, McKinley Dixon, Che Noir, Skyzoo, Homeboy Sandman, J-Live, Open Mike Eagle, and even grittier rappers like Conway The Machine can reach into those chambers to deliver poignant bars to the people. And that was just off the top of my head because I’m sure there are dozens of other rappers who have this said ability.
Hip-Hop is what you make it and what you need from it. And, for what it’s worth, André 3000 doesn’t need to be seen as an elite rapper anymore. Like any of us, he is just a person trying to figure out his life and artistry without compromising his integrity or his purpose.
Check out André 3000’s solo project, New Blue Sun, at your preferred digital outlets.
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Photo: Emma McIntyre / Getty
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World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10 and was established to call attention to the need for awareness, education, and support for those contending with issues surrounding mental health. On X, formerly known as Twitter, several people are sharing their journey with mental health along with tips and tools for coping.
“To break the wall here a bit, I am someone who suffers from mental health issues and I am in constant search of tools and expert assistance to push me to a greater version of myself. I fail often, and sometimes to the point of despair. But with the help of great therapists, family, and friends, I’ve found ways to stay afloat even on my hardest days. I hope that all of you reading are doing your best because that’s all we can do. Just know that you’re not alone in climbing the mountain.” – D.L. Chandler, Senior Editor.
World Mental Health Day was first established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. Around the world, mental health professionals and those suffering from mental health issues come together in support of improving the station of those in flux.
On X, several individuals are sharing parts of themselves with amazing vulnerability and encouraging others to take charge of their mental health using the various avenues available. As some note, the ups and downs of mental illness are not easy to contend with but there are more ways to get help than ever before.
To learn more about the World Federation for Mental Health and the day itself, please follow this link. Keep scrolling to see the reactions from X and do remember to be kind to yourselves during this time,
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