Da Brat, Others Discuss the Use of the N-Word

It is good to see that we are finally dicussing the use of this word, but is it a little too late??

All it took was an over-the-hill radio jock to get the dialogue started, then he should have said it a LONG time ago. So, thanks Don Imus...

In this vid, rap artist Da Brat, actor/director Malcolm Jamal-Warner, and WNBA star Nakia Sanford discussing the history and use of this word.




In other N-word news...

A college trustee gets heat from dropping the N-word during a meeting. Ralph Papitto dropped the N-word as he and other trustees discussed ways to get more minority members on the Roger Williams University board. Students and at least one official want Papitto's name stripped from the law school, even though he has donated over $7 million.

He resigned his post in early July. READ MORE

Will the N-word ever die? Not in our lifetime.

Usher's Baby Mama on the Warpath

Today, Sandra Rose reported that Tameka Foster is on the war path. Ms. Foster is reportedly attempting to shut down usherforever.com - a popular fansite dedicated to her newest baby daddy, Usher.

What got Tameka's panties all bunch up is the comments left by fans who are mad with Tameka and Usher's impending nuptials. A lot of Usher's fans see her as an opportunistic, gold-digging "word rhymes with witch."

One fan was so frustrated with this debacle that she created a blog so others, like her, can speak freely about Tameka.

Isaiah to Newsweek: Rehab was a Joke!!

In an interview with Newsweek, Isaiah Washington spoke candidly about his firing from Grey's. Ok, ok, I am being a little mild with this post. Actually, he tears a new hole into the backside of ABC and his former show.

He is bitter about what happened after he done everything that was asked of him by ABC. The network asked for him to go to rehab for his homophobic language. He did and even paid for half of the rehab fee.

"I thought them sending me meant they actually wanted me to succeed and come out on the other end...There is no rehab for homophobia—that was just some crap being put out by the network," he says. " I went into an executive counseling program which many people in this industry know about and go to. They knew what the program was but chose to call it what they wanted to fit their agenda. And more importantly, I volunteered for it because I wanted to understand my fight with Patrick and how it got out of hand like that. I wanted to know what I could do to avoid it happening again." FULL STORY

I will miss him as my fav doctor, but I wish him the best of luck in his new endeavors.

Chamillionare Is Now N-Word Free

Chamillionaire has announced that in his upcoming album,"Ultimate Victory", he will not use the N-word. He has never dropped the f-word or b-word in any of his recordings.

In an interview with AllHipHop.com, Chamillionaire states:

“On my new album I don’t say the word n***a, I don’t curse nowhere on my whole album...People go back and listen to all of my old mixtapes and don’t even realize that I wasn’t even doing all that type of stuff. I was saying n***a, but I wasn’t saying the 'f' word or [the] 'b' word. I was never saying those types of things...I hear that so much and it restricts your creativity and how far it can go.”

Born Hakeem Seriki to a Muslim father and Christian mother, Chamillionaire said the current backlash against rap lyrics will create more of a divide between the younger and older generations.

"People going to get rap CDs and rolling them over with steamrollers, what is that doing? That ain’t doing nothing but creating rebellion and people need to realize that," Chamillionaire told Allhiphop.com.

“Ultimate Victory,” due this summer, features guest turns by Snoop Dogg, Pimp C, Slick Rick, Lil' Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Devin The Dude and others.

Jason Whitlock Interviews for Imus Job

Jason Whitlock, Kansas City Star sports columnist, is purportedly interviewing for Don Imus' former seat at WFAN-AM -the CBS owned station that served as home base for Imus' nationally syndicated show.

According to Eurweb.com (by way of Richad Prince), the news was reported last week on the paper's web site.

Whitlock gained nationwide attention by speaking out against the actions of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson during the Imus scandal. Whitlock believes that "pop culture - specifically violent and misogynistic rap music - is doing far more damage to the black community than anything."


Whitlock v. Sharpton on CNN's "American Morning"


Related Content:
Jason Whitlock's columnist page
Pop Culture is Huge Threat (Commentary written by Whitlock)

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Simmons Says 3 Epithets Should Be Banned

I know that you all have seen Russell Simmons on Oprah discussing the use of racist and sexist words in the media. In that episode, Simmons was defending the use of those words, saying the artist is "like a poet". Well he is singing a different tune.

Now, Simmons is urging the record industry to banned such words as "bitch," "ho," and "nigger" from supposedly clean versions of rap songs. He said that there is no uniform standard for deleting offensive words.

"We recommend (they're) always out," Simmons, the pioneering entrepreneur
who made millions of dollars as he helped shape hip-hop culture, said in an
interview Monday. "This is a first step. It's a clear message and a consistency
that we want the industry to accept for more corporate social
responsibility."
(Source)

I think this is a step, but how long will it last? Will the record industry as a whole embrace this move? Will this stifle the artistic views of the rapper?

What say you?

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Akon Should be Ashamed of Himself!

I remember going to concerts and hoping I would get the chance to go onstage. One girl got what she wanted--and a little more.

Akon was performing at a Port of Spain, Trinidad club-Zen- when he called a 14 year old girl to the stage (Yes, a 14 year old!!) to dance with him. In footage of last week's incident, Akon is simulating a sexual act with the 14 year old.

According to Eurweb.com, the 14 year old -Deena - won round one of a dance competition which carried prizes, including a trip to Africa-- which proved to be a hoax.

I have included the video taken from the concert.

Akon Actin A Fool In Trinidad
Uploaded by apartment3b

By the way, the 14 year old girl is the daughter of a Pastor!!

Edit: According to Topix.com, Deena Alleyne says she is sorry for what happen at the concert.

“I got carried away, I started to dance as well but I never thought it was going to be like that. I was shocked, my head was hitting the floor. "I got carried away in the spotlight, and with the crowd cheering. Everything was so fast, it was so quick.”

Related Story:
Akon Causes Pain to Trini Family
PM Manning Comments on Akon Controversy


Edit: There was so much talk as to Deena's attire, so I found a pic from the concert at Zen. I am NOT in any way condoning Akon's behavior, but I see why he did not know she was 14. Her outfit NEVER suggested she was underage.

Question: Do you think the Alleyne family will sue Akon for all the unwanted attention?

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Akon

Howard K. Stern Files Slander Suit

Howard K.Stern, former attorney and companion of Anna Nicole Smith, has filed a slander lawsuit. The suit is against an attorney for Smith's mother who has suggested he had a hand in Smith's death.

According to the lawsuit, O'Quinn appeared on several national television shows in which he suggested Stern murdered Smith. During an interview in Fort Lauderdale, O'Quinn told Fox News Show's Greta Van Susteren that Arthur believed Stern had murdered her daughter and that O'Quinn agreed with her. O'Quinn also suggested on MSNBC that Stern had ulterior motives for wanting to see Smith's will days before Smith died.

"The public airwaves should never be used to promote personal agendas or vendettas," Stern's attorneys L. Lin Wood said in a statement issued Friday.

(Source)

This suit was filed just days after the world found out his was not the father.

Don Imus Fired

After being dumped by MSNBC, Don Imus was let go from CBS today. For the complete story, click here.

I have never listened or viewed his show. From what I have read, this is not the first time he has said offending remarks. My mom always told me "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

In my opinion, his firing will not serve its purpose. He will most likely go to satellite radio, which is not heavily regulated by the FCC.

I hope that this incident will jumpstart the necessary dialogue that has been slowly simmering under the surface.

controversy