B13 Peer Review

2013-01-26T09:23:00.001-08:00

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Rapper Cam’ron reportedly engaged to model girlfriend (Photos)

2013-01-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

Cam’ron engaged to model JuJu

After years of dating exclusively a Dipset rapper and an amateur model are reportedly engaged. Juju, who’s been known for dating rapper Cam’ron off and on since 2006, has been spotted lately rocking an enormous stone on her ring finger. The ring features a round-cut diamond and a large band.

And while the emcee and the model have yet to confirm their pending nuptials, fans have been flooding their social media accounts with well wishes.

“I want to see @Mr_Camron and Juju on the next Love and Hip Hop NY. Lets make it happen!” wrote one.

“Cam stole my girl @Iamjuju. Congrats!” wrote another.

In addition to “putting a ring” on his better half, Cam’ron recently premiered a new track titled “You Know This” on New York’s Power 105 and is prepping his Boss Of All Bosses 3mixtape.

Check out more pictures of Cam’ron’s rumored fiancée, JuJu, below. –danielle canada

B-13 Peer Review

Is it me or does she look like a thick Gabriel Union?

Sound off below:

Kelly Rowland – “Kisses Down Low” (Prod. By Mike Will Made It) [LISTEN]

2013-01-26T06:20:00.001-08:00

Miss Rowland if you nasty…

Kelly Rowland “Kisses Down Low”

Kelly Rowland has always been one to wave her freak flag high and proud and she does it

again on this new record called “Kisses Down Low.”

Produced by Mike Will Made It, “Kisses Down Low” is exactly what you think it is about.

However, this is a family website and you’ll just have to listen to the lyrics yourself. Kelly’s

been putting in work lately after appearances on Big Boi’s “Mama Told Me,” and Ludacris’

“Representin.”

Is Smokey Robinson Pharrell Williams' father?

2013-01-26T04:43:00.000-08:00

He wrote the songs a generation danced to, made love to and made war to. William "Smokey" Robinson's buoyant green-eyed soul washed the sound track of the '60s in a sweet romanticism matched only by the Beatles. He wrote or cowrote tunes others became famous for The Temptations' "My Girl," Mary Wells's "My Guy," Marvin Gaye's "I'll Be Doggone." And he saved some of the best for his own Miracles: "Ooo Baby Baby," "The Tears of a Clown," "The Tracks of My Tears." Guitarist and collaborator Marv Tarplin calls him the "poet of love"; fellow pop icon Bob Dylan, perhaps just a little carried away, once called Smokey the nation's greatest living poet And with one marriage, no busts and no public hint of scandal in a career that began at the birth of Motown Records in 1959, Smokey stood as a model of wholesomeness in a business not
known for its clean-living stars.

And that is why the opening declaration of Smokey: Inside My Life, a just-published autobiography written with David Ritz, is such a shocker: "I was dying." Startling as it is blunt, the line introduces readers to a drug habit that nearly took Robinson's life. That revelation is followed by a pile of dirty laundry—including adulterous relationships and a child fathered out of wedlock—that pop's Mr. Clean had kept hidden for years. "I always knew that if I was to write a book, it would have to be candid," Robinson, 49, says. "I didn't want it to seem all beautiful, like I was hiding something. I haven't lived a fairy tale."

For a couple of years, Robinson's life more closely resembled a nightmare. In 1984, at 44, an age when most artists mellow, Robinson became a drug addict. The singer who had it all chose not a designer drug habit but the ghetto killer, crack. Smokey says he smoked up to a half a gram a day and watched listlessly as his body began to fall apart. "Rock cocaine," he writes, "was killing me."

Though sick, depressed and frightened by heart palpitations that sounded like death knocking, Smokey continued his habit for two years. He hoped, he says, to escape the pain caused by the death of his father, William Robinson Sr., at 89, and the breakup in 1984 of his 25-year marriage. The union collapsed for good after Smokey fathered a son, Trey, by a woman, identified only as "Kandi" in the book, with whom he had an on-and-off affair for nearly 20 years. A health-conscious jogger and golfer, Robinson left his hitherto understanding wife—former Miracles singer Claudette Rogers, now 47—and their two children, Berry, 20, and Tamla, 18, and began devoting himself ever more ardently to crack.

The singer's descent into the netherworld of drugs was a surprise to everyone, including himself. Suffering paranoid aural hallucinations and morbid visions of his own death, Robinson was, he now says, "living in hell. I'd look in the mirror, and I didn't know who the cat was looking back at me."

Friends, he says, "could hear death in my voice." Actor Leon Kennedy couldn't believe what he heard and saw. "If someone had told me Smokey was doing serious drugs, I'd have said, 'No way! He's too intelligent, too healthy.' But when I realized what he was up to, I went into action. I'm his best friend, so it was my job to sit his ass down and tell him he was killing himself."

Surprisingly, Smokey listened—and agreed to try a course of treatment Kennedy recommended that was unorthodox, to say the least. In May of 1986 Kennedy took his friend to Ablaze Ministry, a small storefront church in East Los Angeles. There, says Smokey, a faith-healing female preacher named Jean Perez prayed for his soul, performed a laying-on of hands and went into a healing trance. "Something in him broke," Kennedy says. "He went back to his chair and cried for two hours. At the end of that night he said, 'All I can tell you is, the man who's walking out of here isn't the same man who came in.' " Smokey left the church "feeling higher than at any moment in my life, higher than I'd ever been on coke." Three years later, he swears that since then he hasn't "touched any sort of drug."

Despite growing up in a poor section of Detroit, Robinson says that, except for occasionally using marijuana, he was drug free during his youth. Smokey, whose maternal great-grandmother was white, was born with light-colored eyes, blond hair and skin so fair that nurses at the segregated Detroit hospital placed him in a "whites only" nursery. An uncle gave him the ironic nickname Smokey, street slang for a dark-skinned black. His father, William "Five" Robinson Sr., was a ladies' man and bowling-alley pinsetter who got his nickname because he preferred setting pins in the fifth lane. Smokey's mother, Flossie, was proud, self-educated and intolerant of her husband's philandering; they divorced when their only son was 3. Her death from a cerebral hemorrhage seven years later devastated Smokey, who began living with an extended family of relatives and friends.

Luckily for Robinson, he remained in Detroit's North End, which is to soul music roughly what Florence was to the Renaissance. Aretha Franklin was 3 and Smokey 6 when they first met. Diana Ross, Steveland Morris, soon to be known as Little Stevie Wonder, Motown founder Berry Gordy and rhythm-and-blues great Jackie Wilson all lived in the area. Smokey began writing love poems and singing Sarah Vaughan tunes and cowboy ballads at 5. By the time he graduated from high school in 1957, he'd formed the Matadors, a doo-wop group that became the Miracles. Within six months, mogul-in-the-making Gordy produced the Miracles' first single, "Got a Job," which earned a royalty check of $3.19.

In 1959 Smokey married Claudette, who was then a member of the Miracles, the group which helped define the Motown sound and peppered the Top 40 with hits for more than a decade. Their personal lives, however, were marked by tragedy: Claudette, who quit the group in 1964, suffered six miscarriages and the stillbirth of twin daughters. Desperate to have children, Smokey and Claudette sought out a then-highly-experimental solution: As Smokey tells it, in 1968 a Detroit doctor implanted Claudette's fertilized egg in a surrogate, who bore the Robinsons' son, Berry, named for Berry Gordy. In 1970 the same doctor invented a cervical brace that allowed Claudette to carry daughter Tamla to term.

Smokey quit the Miracles in 1972 but continued to score sporadic hits—including "A Quiet Storm" in 1975 and "Cruisin' " in 1979—as a solo act. He also kept up an active extracurricular romantic life that included relationships with Kandi, a model, and Meta, a dancer on Soul Train, whom he met at one of the show's tapings. Some might call it womanizing; Smokey preferred to see himself as an obsessive romantic easily seduced by beautiful strangers. "I felt that because of my love and respect for women, I could maintain relationships with more than one," he writes. "I even fantasized about having children with women of every race and color, all of us living together in one house filled with peace, harmony and happiness."

Over the past few years, Pharrell Williams has emerged as one of the most ... His father was a handyman and house painter and his mother was a teacher.

Unfortunately, Robinson never sold his vision of a romantic Utopia to Claudette, who tolerated his affairs—up to a point. Claudette told him that she would leave if he ever had a baby with another woman. When Smokey first told his wife about Trey, now 4, shortly after the couple's 25th wedding anniversary, Claudette told him to pack his bags. "I regret having to get divorced, and I regret that whatever it is that keeps you married disappeared," says Robinson. "I just hate that the kids and others might have suffered from the moves that I made." Did the book reopen old wounds? "Claudette was hurt by some of the stuff," says Robinson. "The details of what was going on with these other women were hard for her to digest. When I called to find out what she thought of the book, she was very upset. Then after I explained that all I was doing was being honest, she calmed down. I said, The greatest love affair in the entire book is with you.' And that's how I truly feel about Claudette. I love her very much." Claudette has yet to comment publicly on the book.

His life and career are returning to normal. Last year he won his first-ever Grammy, for the song "Just to See Her"; his 44th album is due in May. He's living in a bachelor condo in L.A. while workmen finish renovating his new $1 million estate in Encino, and he sees Berry, Tamla and Trey regularly. His family relationships, he says, while complicated, are once again relatively peaceful. He notes, for example, that Kandi—with whom he is no longer romantically involved—has even stipulated in her will that if anything happens to her, Trey should be raised by Claudette. "Most wives wouldn't want anything to do with [Kandi], but I'm telling you, Claudette is a rare sort of beautiful person," says Smokey. "I think this is the best period ever for me. For the first time in a long while, I have good relationships with all the people in my life."

—Steve Dougherty, Todd Gold in Los Angeles

B-13 Peer Review

Although there are some simularities in the artistry of Pharrell Williams, Singer (Falsetto), Song writer, Producer, Musician, and Music Executive: Simulary William "Smokey" Robinson, Singer (Falsetto) Song writer, Producer, Musician, and Music Executive. These are merely coincidences. All the torrid bruit about Pharrell Williams being the son of William "Smokey" Robinson are not true.

So where did the rumor come from?

Who knows but lets put it to rest Smokey is not the father of Pharrell Williams. Pharrell Williams was born April 5 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia the eldest of three sons to Carolyn McLaurimand, a teacher, and Pharoah Williams, a handyman.

Win Tickets and Qualify for VIP Trip to Mohegan Sun!

2013-01-22T01:12:00.000-08:00

JACK FM’S Bad Medicine Birthday Bash just got a whole lot bigger, and trip-ier. Win tickets every weekday during our commercial free Kick Start and Commute. You can win tickets and qualify for the Grand Prize VIP Trip to Mohegan Sun.

It’s all powered by Hammer-Made in the Galleria Edina and Island Def Jam Records.

Listen for the cue to call around 8:45am and 3:45pm. Be the correct caller and win tickets to Bon Jovi’s, “Because We Can” tour, April 7^th at the Xcel Energy Center. Plus you’ll qualify to win a V-I-P trip for two, to the official launch of the tour at Mohegan Sun, complete with an exclusive private dress rehearsal with the band. JACK FM’S Bad Medicine Birthday Bash staring Bon Jovi, celebrating the release of their new single and “Because We Can” tour. New album “What About Now” available March 26^th.

About Hammer-Made:Hammer-Made is a clothing boutique in the prestigious Galleria in Edina. Head to Hamme-Made for their bi-annual 50% off sale now through January 31st!

Prince Kicks Off Six Minneapolis Shows, Auditions New Drummer

2013-01-22T00:54:00.001-08:00

After toying with the idea for a few months, Prince booked six last-minute shows at the Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis this week. With more shows to come Thursday and Friday, Wednesday night (January 16) saw Prince play two shows (8 p.m. and 11 p.m.) billed as a “sound check” audition for new drummer Ronald Bruner.

According to a report from CBS Minnesota, Prince had a ten-member band that surprisingly started right on time and played mostly jazz for about an hour and a half. Prince only played small riffs of his hit songs, and is perhaps saving those for the shows later in the week.

It was stressed at the shows that absolutely no cameras or cell phones would be allowed, so it’s unlikely that fans will see much footage from Prince’s club shows in his hometown.

Tickets, which went on sale Tuesday and instantly sold out, ranged from $70 for the Wednesday night shows to $250 for Friday night. Thursday’s shows are slotted to be a jam session with an after-party vibe, while Friday’s show remains a “surprise.”

Watch the video for Prince’s most recent single from November 2012, “Rock and Roll Love Affair.”

More new music from The Purple One may be on its way. Earlier this month, a mysterious Twitter and YouTube account going by the name3rd Eye Girl has been posting remixes, rehearsal clips, snippets of “new” songs, and other rarities from Prince. This could very well be a hoax, but Prince has always been incredibly diligent about removing unauthorized uses of his music from the Internet, thus giving some credibility to the 3rd Eye Girl account.

B-13 Peer Review: A Moment in Black History

2013-01-21T17:01:00.003-08:00

Profiteering From The Slave Trade: Naming Names.

A prayer on a Brooklyn street preceded the filing of an unprecedented $1.4 trillion lawsuit against eight major corporations alleged to have profited from their historical ties to the slave trade more than 137 years ago.

Claiming to represent all of the United States' 35 million African-Americans, New York slave reparations activist Deadria Farmer-Paellmann named Aetna Inc., CSX Corp. and FleetBoston Financial Corp., among others, as unjustly profiting from the slave trade before the Civil War ended in 1865.

"We are going to finally hold corporations accountable for the crimes against humanity that they've committed against my ancestors," Farmer-Paellmann told reporters Tuesday.

"This is a case that targets corporate America. It targets those companies that we can prove were built on the backs of African slaves, that were built on the sweat and labor of African slaves that was never paid for, and we say 150 years later pay for it," said Bruce Nagel, an attorney representing Farmer-Paellmann.

"I don't think that it will prevail," said Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano. "It's inconceivable that someone alive or enjoying this wealth today had anything to do with it 150 years ago."

The suit was prepared by some of the same lawyers behind the Holocaust lawsuits that ended up winning $8 billion from Swiss banks that held Nazi assets taken from Jews before and during World War II. The lawyers for Farmer-Paellmann say they plan to file more suits and hope to identify as many as 1,000 corporations that benefited from slavery.

Attorney Ed Fagen of Fagen and Associates, one of the firms working for Farmer-Paellmann, said three complaints were filed Tuesday in New York and New Jersey implicating eight companies.

Hartford-based Aetna has already had a run-in with Farmer-Paellmann in the past. Two years ago, the company, which has given more than $36 million to the black community and hosts an annual symposium on race at its corporate offices, admitted that it insured slaves for slave owners and apologized.

"Aetna has long acknowledged that for several years shortly after its founding in 1853, that the company may have insured the lives of slaves," the firm said in March 2000. "We express our deep regret over any participation at all in this deplorable practice."

On Monday, Aetna responded to the news of the pending lawsuit. "We do not believe a court would permit a lawsuit over events which — however regrettable — occurred hundreds of years ago," a statement released by the company said. "These issues in no way reflect Aetna today."

CSX also issued a statement late Monday.

"The claimants named CSX because slave labor was used to construct portions of some U.S. rail lines under the political and legal system in place more than a century before CSX was formed in 1980. The lawsuit to be filed in federal court in New York City against CSX and other corporations demanding financial reparations is wholly without merit and should be dismissed," it said.

A spokeswoman for FleetBoston said the company would not comment until it has seen the lawsuit.

Though Farmer-Paellmann's suit is the first of its kind, it's unlikely to be the last. According to reports, a Washington-based group that includes O.J. Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran, Harvard University professor Cornel West, and Columbia scholar Manning Marable, has already developed a list of targeted corporations.

Those include New York Life, AIG, J.P. Morgan Chase Manhattan Bank, as well as Aetna and FleetBoston.

Media publishers who once printed ads for slave owners have also been fingered by reparations advocates, as have major colleges and universities — including Harvard and Yale — whose many early benefactors were documented slave owners.

"It’s safe to assume that these are the first steps and ongoing research as we speak is being done on a variety of institutions, public and private," said Marable, who said blacks continue to suffer in the private sector by experiencing higher insurance and mortgage rates from companies whose equity was raised on the backs of slaves.

"To me it’s not fundamentally about the money, it is about the truth of history and bringing the truth to light, which will promote a frank and honest discussion across the racial divide," he said.

Critics say the companies being targeted look nothing like they did almost a century and a half ago and that shareholders today weren’t even alive when the slave trade took place so they shouldn’t be held responsible for past evils.

"The real problem is they are publicly-traded companies, and they cannot afford the publicity. It’s a form of shakedown, extortion. The companies today are completely different from the companies they are talking about in the past; the people who will get the money are people who aren’t slaves," said scholar David Horowitz, who recently released Uncivil Wars: The Controversy over Reparations for Slavery.

But Joyce A. Ladner, a senior fellow with the Brookings Institute and author of The New Urban Leaders, said even if they don't succeed, the suit will have made its point.

"This case does two things, it educates the larger public about the role that institutions played in slavery," she said, and it "redresses old grievances" by tying specific harm to companies and the government.

"These lawyers — and they are some of the finest legal minds in America — know that this is basically a frivolous lawsuit that will not succeed, but to the extent that they can stir the pot and get us to talk about this and maybe create this fund for scholarships and maybe get an apology from Congress, they will have accomplished their purpose," Napolitano said.

Where is the money?

Chief Keef Gets Sentenced! [And Allegedly Cries At The News]

2013-01-21T01:06:00.002-08:00

After being taken into custody earlier this week after a hearing for violating his probation in 2012 (by holding a gun in an interview), Chief Keef received his sentence today. “I am a very good-hearted person,” he “tearfully” told the judge before receiving the sentence. “I am sorry for anything that I have done wrong. Give me a chance.” Find out what happened below!

Marisa Mendez

He was sentenced to 60 days in juvenile detention. The judge also decided to make him a ward of the state, removing him from the custody of an uncle and grandmother, saying this was “necessary to protect the public” and because of Keef’s “blatant violations” of the court’s orders.

Hopefully 2 months will turn him around!

Ja Rule and 50 rise and fall in hip hop

2013-01-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Hip hop beef in its purest form emerged late in 2002 when 50 Cent emerged from the shadows. He had an issue with the biggest rapper in the game, Ja Rule. Because of this issue, 50 Cent did not stop until he had Ja Rule at his knees.

Back in 1998, both rappers were in Queens trying to make their dreams into reality. While the rappers never knew each other, they traveled in the same circles. To this day, Ja Rule and 50 Cent have many of the same friends.

Ja Rule was destined to make it after he teamed up with the Irv Gotti-led Def Jam. Upon also linking up with Jay-Z and DMX, Ja Rule had a name for himself. In 1998, DMX released his debut single, "Get At Me Dog." The original version of this song also featured a verse from Ja Rule.

During the fall of 1998, Ja Rule's big break came when Jay-Z decided to release "Can I Get A..." off his multiplatinum success, Vol 2. ... Hard Knock Life. The song featured a verse from Ja Rule and was the biggest single off the album. Not only was it a major release off Jay-Z's album, but it also gained exposure as the biggest single off the Rush Hoursoundtrack. When the Chris Tucker film became a box office hit, it only made Jay-Z bigger, and Ja Rule because of association.

Jay-Z ft. Amil and Ja Rule - "Can I Get A..."

While Ja Rule was on the fast track to success, 50 Cent was working with the Trackmasters on his debut album, Power of the Dollar. Initially, the album was slated for a 1999 release and 50 Cent began promoting the album. During his promotional run, he ran into Ja Rule a couple of times. Initially, their relationship was friendly and Black Child, an artist signed to Murder Inc., was featured on 50's album. Soon, 50 Cent's buzz was built and he landed a full track on the In Too Deep soundtrack, "Rowdy Rowdy."

50 Cent - "Rowdy Rowdy"

After both rappers had buzz from film soundtracks, New York City was excited because of all the new talent and it appeared as if Queens had won again. Because of Ja Rule's success, Irv Gotti quickly came up with some beats and placed him in the studio to begin working on his debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci. Behind the success of the lead single, "Holla Holla," Ja Rule went platinum and with very little promotion. Fans were behind his movement and loved the idea of a sympathetic thug.

Ja Rule - "Holla Holla"

With Ja Rule now off touring with the stars and celebrating his platinum hits, 50 Cent had to deal with his album being pushed back. Columbia Records, who had been behind 50 Cent ever since they signed him early in 1998, were now nervous to release his album. They did not like the content, as they felt it told too much about the streets and the content was a little too violent. Because of this, 50 Cent was sent into the studio to record a radio single with Destiny's Child, which led to "Thug Love."

50 Cent had been pushed back to 2000, while Ja Rule was preparing to do a film with Snoop Dogg. Not only did he build a friendship with Snoop, but Rule also began a friendship with Busta Rhymes following the video for the "Holla Holla (remix)." Ja Rule was on top of the world and he wanted to spread the love, but not everyone was feeling it. DMX, his longtime ally, felt as if he had built his empire with his style and was not giving him the proper credit.

In May of 2000, Columbia Records gave 50 Cent a date to film his video for "Thug Love." The thugs on the street kept a close eye on this date. Queens kingpin, "Supreme," had a lot of interest in the local movement and liked Ja Rule so much that he helped get Murder Inc. off the ground. He had been a big fan of 50 Cent too, until he heard his street single, "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)." In the song, 50 tells of what really goes on in the street, but he told too much and McGriff (Supreme) was being investigated.

Supreme had arranged for a present for 50 Cent the day of his video shoot. While 50 Cent was leaving his grandmother's house in Jamaica Queens, an unnamed hitman open rounds of shots on 50 Cent. On the street, 50 Cent laid there, almost dead. The people behind the hit celebrated the death and Irv Gotti and the others associated with Ja Rule were witnesses. When 50 Cent was saved from death and built himself back up, he aimed to take down those who took him down.

At the time of the shooting, Ja Rule was on top of the world, he had moved his wife and daughter out of the hood in Queens and into a home in New Jersey. He was back in the studio, preparing his second studio album, Rule 3:36. The first single, "Between Me and You," marked a new relationship with Ja Rule and pop music. From this point on, all of Rule's music was geared towards this audience. The sympathetic thug had changed and fallen in love. The people ate it up and Ja Rule enjoyed triple platinum success.

On the other hand, 50 Cent was back at square one, learning how to function again. In 2001, 50 Cent regained his senses and he returned to the studio. Back in the studio, 50 Cent was upset because he could no longer rap the way he used to. Feeling as if he would never make it in the rap world, he was close to returning to a life of crime. But, his friends convinced him to continue to push his dreams, so 50 Cent jumped back in and kept rapping and was better than ever.

Following the shooting, Columbia Records dropped him from the roster and no label wanted anything to do with 50 Cent. With nowhere else to turn, 50 Cent created his own record label, G-Unit Records with his partner, Sha Money XL. Everybody in the crew who came with 50 Cent was added to the label. His friends from the hood, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Bang 'Em Smurf & Domination formed an early version of the label and group, G-Unit.

In 2002, 50 Cent went back into the studio and recorded his sophomore album, Guess Who's Back? The album featured multiple diss records aimed at Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and Murder Inc. 50 Cent dealt with vendors and retailers, himself, and the streets of New York supported him. The album was a success and 50 Cent was close to getting revenge over Supreme McGriff by taking Ja Rule down. In 2002, 50 Cent released his single, "Wanksta," and it rose from a local song to a top five hit before the end of the year.

50 Cent - "Wanksta"

In the song, 50 Cent talks about a rapper who pretends to be a gangsta, but really does not live that life. No name is mentioned in the song, but many people assumed it was about Ja Rule. After loading up the summer of 2002 with the Ashanti collaborations, people were tired of Rule. His 2001 album sold six million records in the United States, alone, and Ja Rule got cocky. DMX noticed this and began his arsenal against Rule, this completely turned the streets against Ja Rule and Murder Inc.

Ja Rule released the first single from his 2002 album, The Last Temptation, which featured Bobby Brown, but it did not even crack the top 40. For the first time in his career, Ja Rule was struggling to keep the fans interested. While Ja Rule was falling off, 50 Cent was making appearances and landing a unique deal with hitmakers, Eminem and Dr. Dre. The hitmaking duo decided to produce 50 Cent's next album, Get Rich or Die Tryin.' The album featured the diss record, "Back Down."

Feeling fortunate to have all of his dreams come true, 50 Cent decided he would not pursue a feud with Ja Rule. But, Rule saw how he teamed up with Eminem and Dr. Dre, so he decided to diss all of them. Also, his former friend, Busta Rhymes, made a song with Dr. Dre, so he was also brought into the feud. For all these years, Ja Rule was about peace, but soon he was doing magazine interviews and talking reckless about many people he even used to work with, such as Fabolous and Lil' Mo.

The fans were against Ja Rule and his only saving grace was that the suburbs still loved him. That, paired with another Ashanti feature in "Mesmerize," kept Ja Rule around for a little bit longer. But, even those fans were turning on Ja Rule. It was clear how bad the fans hated Ja Rule when "106 & Park" booed the world premiere of his video, "The Reign." 50 Cent responded to the Ja Rule disses and he teamed up with the likes of DMX and Busta Rhymes to bring him down.

Ja Rule ft. Bobby Brown - "Thug Lovin' "

Ja Rule ft. Alexi - "Murder Reigns"

For a short period of time, Ja Rule and 50 Cent shared the top. Some people think Ja Rule could have stood a chance, but making himself an enemy to everyone and a negatively-received album only hurt him. 50 Cent, on the other hand, had taken his spot and was smart enough to build his label. Before the end of 2003, 50 introduced the world to G-Unit Records. The group released their debut album, Beg For Mercy, and they lowered the boom on Ja Rule's career.

50 Cent focused on branching out following the release of his album. G-Unit Records landed an exclusive distribution deal with Interscope Records. 50 Cent put out albums from Lloyd Banks and Young Buck and featured himself on their debut singles. Due to the promotion, both albums were platinum successes. From that point on, 50 Cent started G-Unit Clothing and a sneaker line. Back into the music, he signed Compton rapper, The Game, to G-Unit.

However, 50 Cent soon fell victim to his own strength. In order to promote his second album, The Massacre, 50 Cent began feuding with Jadakiss and Fat Joe. 50 Cent also reignited his feuds with Ja Rule and Nas during this period. It was during this time that Ja Rule experienced a brief comeback and two major hits, "Wonderful" featuring R. Kelly and "New York" with Fat Joe and Jadakiss. However, the legal issues of his partner, Irv Gotti led to Def Jam dropping him even after releasing another platinum album.

Ja Rule ft. R. Kelly - "Wonderful"

Ja Rule ft. Fat Joe and Jadakiss - "New York"

Following the short comeback, Ja Rule disappeared from the spotlight. He reconnected with the streets and mended fences. In 2004, he took the stage with Eminem and reached out to Dr. Dre in 2005. Ja Rule resurfaced in 2007, right when 50 Cent's popularity was at an all-time low. Rule had formed a new alliance with Lil Wayne and had ended his feud with Busta Rhymes. 50 Cent, on the other hand, had made new enemies with Cam'ron and wanted to feud with Lil Wayne.

Despite his multiple public appearances, Ja Rule's album was shelved by Universal Records. 50 Cent's album, Before I Self Destruct, was slated for a November 2008 release. The album suffered multiple push-backs and did not come until December 2009. When the album was released, it received the lowest numbers of 50 Cent's career since his independent days. In the present day, Ja Rule and 50 Cent still make news, but it is no longer about the music.

Usually, Ja Rule is talking about his new business endeavors and providing commentary about the ongoings in the hip hop world. 50 Cent has taken a similar approach, becoming the Charles Barkley of hip hop, insulting almost everyone. The guns have been put away and people have come to realize 50 Cent is only having fun with the game now. Currently, the big names in rap are Rick Ross, Drake, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj. In 2009, Ja Rule said he realized his time came and went.

While the music scene is dominated by these artists, Kanye West is successfully landing his comeback and is building his label roster. Ja Rule is looking for a distribution deal for his Mpire label and he has proclaimed his artist, Harry O, to be the future of rap. On the other hand, 50 Cent has moved G-Unit Records from their longtime home of Interscope Records over to EMI Records. Here, they are releasing new music from longtime artists, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.

Most of the newer artists signed to the label's operated by Ja Rule and 50 Cent have said they have no issues and only want peace. Therefore, it will not be out of the question to see some of their artists working together. Ja Rule and 50 Cent have agreed they will never be friends and their beef will never end, but they are willing to coexist in this changing industry.

DMC, Russell Simmons 'Not Excited' About Run-DMC Movie

2013-01-20T12:51:00.006-08:00

'I certainly don't know if a third movie about Run-DMC should be made on a shoestring budget,' Simmons says of potential biopic.

B-13 PEER REVIEW WHERE YOU HEAR IT FIRST

Russell Simmons isn't as enthusiastic as you might think about the planned biopic about his brother's group, Run-DMC. The hip-hop godfather says the film's makers should talk major dollars — or not at all.

"That movie has been a made few times already," Simmons told MTV News. "I don't know if it's that exciting to do that movie at this time. I certainly don't know if a third movie about Run-DMC should be made on a shoestring budget."

All three group members starred in 1985's "Krush Groove" — a film that covered some of their origins — as well as the 1988 shoot-'em-up tale of revenge, "Tougher Than Leather." A new film on the kings from Queens is in the works, also with the working title "Tougher Than Leather." Cheo Hodari Coker — who wrote the script for the film "Notorious" — is crafting an adaption of legendary hip-hop figure (and Run-DMC publicist) Bill Adler's "Tougher Than Leather: The Rise of Run-DMC."

"Most movies made about our culture have been made on a shoestring budget," Simmons said. "Sometimes they're very talented and creative, and they get through it, like 'Notorious.' I don't think Run-DMC's story ... it's not gonna change them if the story is told at this time. It depends on if the studio is as inspired to do it as the producer says he is."

DMC doesn't seem too thrilled about the potential film, either.

"I don't really have anything to do with it," he said about the movie recently. "I'm just happy that somebody thinks I'm important enough to do movie about."

If D had his way, a police officer would crack the Jam Master Jayhomicide case, apprehend the criminals and then a movie would be made about the how the murder mystery was solved — not necessarily a big screener about the trio's rise to fame.

"If the movie gets made, I will be involved," Simmons added. "If the movie gets made, it will have the same type of budget of any mainstream Hollywood movie, which almost never happens. So it's really up to them. When they approach us the right way, we can have a discussion. Until then, it's not something we're excited about."

The Queens mogul was thrilled to hear about the group being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Any time you get an honor like that, it's wonderful. It's great that their work is being acknowledged like that," Simmons remarked. "I'm sure for D and for Joey it's very satisfying. I'm sorry Jay couldn't be here to see it. It's a very beautiful thing that people recognize their work like that."

Would you go see this movie?

Business Partner Accuses Russell Simmons & Reverend Run Of Pocketing Millions

2013-01-20T12:44:00.003-08:00

Russell Simmons and Reverend Run Russell Simmons' and Reverend Run's business partner, Rasheed Young is making plans to sue the moguls for allegedly stealing millions from him.

Music legends and successful businessmen Russell Simmons and Reverend Run (father of Diggy) are being targeted in a lawsuit from Run Athletics president Rasheed Young.

TMZ reports that Young's lawyers are accusing the brothers of funnelling their revenue earned from their Pastry brand of sneakers into another company; a company which Young claims to have no hand in.

Young is accusing Simmons and Run of stealing in the tens of millions from the company. The DMC alumni have yet to respond to such accusations.

Young is seeking his share of the brand's profit as well as changes in the current structure of the company. If these requests are not met he plans to sue.

Who are these guys?

Barbara Walters Hospitalized After Head Injury

2013-01-20T10:48:00.002-08:00

Barbara Waltersis in the hospital after having sustained a head injury.

On Saturday, the 83-year-old news veteran was visiting the Washington, D.C. home of the British Ambassador when she fell on a stair and cut open her forehead.

An ABC rep tells Gossip Cop, “Out of an abundance of caution, she went to the hospital to have her cut tended to, have a full examination and remains there for observation. Barbara is alert (and telling everyone what to do), which we all take as a very positive sign.”

Back in 2010, Walters had surgery to replace a faulty heart valve.

B-13 Peer Review wishes Walters a speedy recovery.

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KATHERINE JACKSON I Need Help from the Doc Who Killed My Son

2013-01-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

Katherine Jackson

is reaching out to the man who killed her son because she needs him badly for something ... TMZ has learned.
Katherine is in the throes of a wrongful death lawsuit against AEG, claiming the company negligently hired Dr. Conrad Murray and failed to properly supervise him.

Here's the problem. She needs Murray on the record, explaining how the arrangement went down, so she's subpoenaed the jailed Doc. Katherine wants Murray to acknowledge AEG masterminded the plan to bring him on board.

It's ironic, to say the least, but Katherine is dealing with some bad options. She can go after Murray, but he doesn't have a pot to piss in. Or, she can try to bring him into the fold in order to go after the deep pockets -- AEG.

Now the real problem -- Murray's not cooperating. His lawyers, Valerie Wass and J. Michael Flanagan, are fighting the subpoena, trying to get it tossed on technical grounds.

So Katherine can persist ... and a judge could order Murray to tell all. But she doesn't want to unnecessarily antagonize the Doc, because a hostile witness is often a bad witness.

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Must-See: Watch Tamar Braxton's New Video 'Love and War'

2013-01-20T10:30:00.002-08:00

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Tamar Braxton finally debuted her long awaited video for her first single "Love and War" off her upcoming sophomore album of the same name.

The video is shot in black and white and is quite dramatic—just like the song and its lyrics.

The day after the song debuted it soared to the top of the iTunes charts, and Braxton was thrilled with the reviews. "I definitely didn't expect that kind of response," she told ESSENCE.com the next day. Braxton also revealed the song is really about her marriage. "But given everything that happened to Vince and I… and everything we went through in our marriage, this song was fitting."

What do you think of the video?

Jamie Foxx Calls Spike Lee 'Shady,' 'Irresponsible' For 'Django Unchained' Criticism

2013-01-19T00:45:00.001-08:00

Jamie Foxx has responded to Spike Lee's criticism of "Django Unchained," calling the director "shady" and "irresponsible." Here is Foxx at the U.K. premiere of "Django."

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Jaime Foxx isn't taking Spike Lee's criticism of "Django Unchained" lying down. In a sharp response to Lee's diss, Foxx calls the director "shady" and "irresponsible."

Although "Django Unchained" has been widely praised by critics, won the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and broke Quentin Tarantino's box office record, Lee spoke out against the film's portrayal of slavery without having seen the flick.

@SpikeLee
Spike Lee

American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western.It Was A Holocaust.My Ancestors Are Slaves.Stolen From Africa.I Will Honor Them.

December 22, 2012 10:18 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

Lee had said previously in an interview with VIBETV that he did not plan to see "Django" because he considered the film "disrespectful."

In an interview with the Guardian, Foxx responded to Lee's criticism.

"The question for me is: where's Spike Lee coming from?" he said. "He didn't like Whoopi Goldberg, he doesn't like Tyler Perry, he doesn't like anybody, I think he's sort of run his course. I mean, I respect Spike, he's a fantastic director. But he gets a little shady when he's taking shots at his colleagues without looking at the work. To me, that's irresponsible."

Foxx noted that, for years, Hollywood has celebrated white people who told black stories or sang black songs. "But you got to look at the individual cases," said the actor. "When Pat Boone covered Little Richard, you think, 'Huh?', he's got no affinity for it. Good Golly Miss Molly? I don't think so. But you can't tell me that Eminem ain't hot 'cos he's white or that Elvis Presley isn't a bad motherfucker, or that Quentin Tarantino can't do whatever he likes, 'cos damn straight he can."

Lee's criticism of "Djano" wasn't the first time the "4 Little Girls" filmmaker slammed Tarantino. He also took issue with Tarantino's 1997 blaxploitation tribute, "Jackie Brown."

"I will say it again and again," he said during an interview after the release of "Jackie Brown," according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I have a definite problem withQuentin Tarantino’s excessive use of the n-word. And let the record show that I never said that he can not use that word -- I’ve used that word in many of my films -- but I think something is wrong with him."

What do you think? Sound off Below:

Natalie Wood Death Reopened: Robert Wagner Refuses Interview In New Inquiry

2013-01-18T22:23:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES — Robert Wagner has declined to be interviewed by detectives in a renewed inquiry into the drowning death of his wife Natalie Wood three decades ago, an investigator said Thursday.

Wagner was interviewed by authorities soon after Wood's drowning in 1981, but the actor is the only person who was on the yacht the night Wood died who has not spoken to detectives as part of the latest inquiry, despite repeated requests and attempts, sheriff's Lt. John Corina said.

Blair Berk, an attorney for Wagner and his family, said the actor had cooperated with authorities since his wife died.

Detectives began re-investigating the case in November 2011. Since then investigators have interviewed more than 100 people, but Wagner has refused and Corina said the actor's representatives have not given any reason for his silence.

The detective's remarks provided new insight into the case that has remained one of Hollywood's enduring mysteries. Earlier this week, coroner's officials released an updated autopsy report that had been under a security hold. It detailed why Wood's death had been reclassified from an accidental drowning to a drowning caused by "undetermined factors."

"Mr. Wagner has fully cooperated over the last 30 years in the investigation of the accidental drowning of his wife in 1981," Berk said in a prepared statement. "Mr. Wagner has been interviewed on multiple occasions by the Los Angeles sheriff's department and answered every single question asked of him by detectives during those interviews."

After 30 years, Berk said, neither Wagner nor his daughters have any new information to add. She said the latest investigation was prompted by people seeking to exploit and sensationalize the 30th anniversary of the death.

The renewed inquiry came after the yacht's captain Dennis Davern told "48 Hours" and the "Today" show that he heard Wagner and Wood arguing the night of her disappearance and believed Wagner was to blame for her death.

Authorities have not identified any suspects in the case.

Wood, 43, was on a yacht with Wagner, Christopher Walken and the boat captain on Thanksgiving weekend of 1981 before she somehow ended up in the water.

Corina said Walken gave a prepared statement and spoke to detectives for an hour.

Detectives have also interviewed other actors who knew both Wagner and Wood to learn more about their relationship.

Corina said detectives have tried at least 10 times to interview Wagner but have been refused. He said some of the refusals have come from the actor's attorney, and that detectives at one point traveled to Colorado to try to speak with Wagner but were unsuccessful.

Corina said the latest inquiry had turned up new evidence.

"Most of the people we've talked to were never talked to 30 years ago," he said. "We've got a lot of new information."

Asked if the information might lead to criminal charges, Corina said that would be up to prosecutors if they are presented a case.

"All we can do is collect the facts," he said. "We're still trying to collect all the facts."

Corina said new people have emerged with information each time the case is in the news. Detectives would like to interview other people who haven't agreed to talk, he said.

Coroner's officials released an update autopsy report on Monday that detailed the reasons Wood's death certificate was changed last year from a drowning death to "drowning and other undetermined factors."

The updated report states the change was made in part because investigators couldn't rule out that some of the bruises and marks on Wood's body happened before she went into the water.

"Since there are unanswered questions and limited additional evidence available for evaluation, it is opined by this medical examiner that the manner of death should be left as undetermined," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran wrote in the report completed in June.

Officials also considered that Wood wasn't wearing a life jacket, had no history of suicide attempts and didn't leave a note as reasons to amend the death certificate.

Wood was famous for roles in films such as "West Side Story" and "Rebel Without a Cause" and was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Conflicting versions of what happened on the yacht have contributed to the mystery of her death. Wood, Wagner and Walken had all been drinking heavily in the hours before the actress disappeared.

Wagner wrote in a 2008 memoir that he and Walken argued that night. He wrote that Walken went to bed and he stayed up for a while, but when he went to bed, he noticed that his wife and a dinghy that had been attached to the yacht were missing.

"Nobody knows," he wrote. "There are only two possibilities; either she was trying to get away from the argument, or she was trying to tie the dinghy. But the bottom line is that nobody knows exactly what happened."

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Yes, I always thought that he and Christopher Walken had something to do with her death. Now it is time to prove it. Christopher Walken was Natalie Woods ex, and Robert Wagner was her husband and alcohol was involved... Do you think it is fair that even if they do get convicted at this point they were allowed to live their lives?

Sound off below:

Andre 3000 Shuts Down Outkast Reunion Rumors, Says Big Boi Remixes Aren't Official Songs

2013-01-18T21:28:00.000-08:00

Getty Images

Outkast never officially broke up. But it's looking more and more like they'll never be getting back together either. Well, officially, that is.

Big Boi recently added a verse to Frank Ocean's "Pink Matter," a track that originally featured a guest verse by Andre 3000. There's also a planned remix of TI's "Sorry," which will feature Big. This has all lead to speculation that the pair were due to reunite.

Welp. No dice. 3-Stacks says these unofficial remixes are just sending the wrong impression. In a statement released today, he admitted as much.

"It's important for me to be clear about the origins of my contributions to 'Pink Matter' and 'Sorry,'" he explained. "I was approached as a solo artist by both Frank Ocean &Tip. I discussed musical direction with each artist and completed my verses. It was after that when Big Boi's name came up."

The collaborations went as planned-- sans Big Boi-- and everything was fine. Until now.

"I never want to mislead our audience," Dre continued. "I worried that some would think these were Outkast collaborations. These songs are not Outkast collaborations. I discussed this rationale with Big, Frank and T.I. and everyone agreed. That is why I was surprised to read about these remixes. I understand that anyone can put out an unofficial remix to any song but I have an obligation to be honest with fans about what this is ... and what it isn't."

We wish these two would get it together. However, we're in agreement with Andre that having both Outkast members feature on other people's songs would just be weird and not the correct way to reintroduce the group.

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Pink Matter (Remix) - Frank Ocean Ft. Big Boi & Andre 3000 [OUTKAST]

Frank Ocean - Pink Matter ft. Andre 3000

Very Bad Deeds – Tyler Perry SUED

2013-01-18T19:48:00.000-08:00

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First Elmo brings a sex scandal to Sesame Street, now Writer and Producer extraordinaire Tyler Perry is being sued for stealing another woman’s idea. While it’s hard for me to believe that a man of such Financial and Business prowess would make such an impudent move, Philadelphia author Terri V. Donald has taken off the gloves! Atlanta-based actor/writer Tyler Perry has been hit with a lawsuit accusing him of stealing the concept of his latest movie ‘Good Deeds,’ which starred Thandie Newton, Gabrielle Union and Perry himself. Terri V. Donald filed the lawsuit earlier today (November 28), in United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. According to the lawsuit, Terri V. Donald’s book “Bad Apples Can Be Good Fruit,” was sent to Tyler Perry.

Lawyers for Terri V. Donald claim ‘Good Deeds,’ was so similar to “Bad Apples Can Be Good Fruit,” that the movie immediately triggered the lawsuit.

“Terri V. Donald never entered into any agreement with either defendant which would permit defendants to adapt the Subject Book into a major motion picture,” the lawsuit reads. Further, defendants possessed no rights whatsoever in regards [to] usage of any aspect of plaintiffs Subject Book in any manner, shape, or form whatsoever.”

Tyler Perry is being sued for at least $225,000, although Terri V. Donald is seeking a full accounting of profits made from the movie ‘Good Deeds,’ as well as an injunction against the movie until the dispute has been settled.

It’s unclear what Perry’s response to the claim is so far, but with such a stark and glaring accusation staring him in the face, the outcome should be very interesting. I’m thinking Terri V. Donald will get paid off to make this nightmare “go away”. He may try to pin it on another woman; African American woman about 6’5” wearing a bad wig carrying a gun in her purse. Maybe Madea did it?

Do you think Perry stole from the cookie jar to cash in on “Good Deeds” for himself?

Sundance 2013: Jennifer Hudson as a drug addict mom in 'The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete' -- EXCLUSIVE CLIP

2013-01-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

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The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete, premiering next week at the Sundance Film Festival, is the kind of heart-wrenching, emotional, and funny coming-of-age drama that isn’t afraid to be rough around the edges. It also boasts big names, from Alicia Keys as co-executive producer and composer, to American Idol alums Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks as stars.

The movie, directed by George Tillman, Jr. (Soul Food), follows two boys — sad-eyed, feisty, and ambitious 14-year-old Mister (breakout Skylan Brooks) and small, innocent 9-year-old Pete (Ethan Dizon) — abandoned by their moms and surviving within the gritty world of the Brooklyn projects. They fend for themselves, searching for food and avoiding the police.

Check out an exclusive clip from the movie, below, with an intro by Hudson, Keys, Brooks, and Tillman, Jr. in our very own Sundance EW video suite. Future Oscar buzz may kick in swiftly for Brooks and Oscar-winner Hudson, who plays against type as Mister’s heavily abusive, tattooed, prostitute drug addict mom.

Big Boi: Outkast Reunion Isn't Out Of The Question (VIDEO)

2013-01-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

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Big Boi on his relationship with fellow Outkast member Andre 3000 and if we will ever see another Outkast album.

The hip hop duo known as Outkast hasn't released an official album since 2003, but that doesn't mean André 3000 and Big Boi aren't interested in collaborating again in the future.

On HuffPost Live Friday, rapper Big Boi noted that he and André 3000 are still best friends and hang out with each other regularly.

"We talk and communicate and we still come to each other's homes, our kids play together," Big Boi told HuffPost Live's Alyona Minkovski. "When you've been doing music for so long together, you don't have to be joined hip to hip. I know that's what the world wants to see right now, but we're just trying to do our own thing right now."

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of Outkast, whose members got their start together at an Atlanta-area high school in 1992.

After the 2003 double album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below," André 3000 and Big Boi joined forces for the Prohibition-era film "Idlewild" and its accompanying soundtrack. There has been some talk of the two collaborating on an upcoming Frank Ocean track, but Big Boi said they don't want their reunion to be on another artist's album.

Big Boi is currently promoting his latest solo album, "Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors," which was released Dec. 11, 2012. He told HuffPost Live that he now has some extra time to explore what's next.

"I'm just verbally exercising," he said.

Big Boi also talked about gun rights and why he's a Libertarian.

Watch Big Boi's Video for "Mama Told Me" Feat. Kelly Rowland

The One To Watch: The Story Behind Scotland Born Soul Singer Emeli Sandi

2013-01-18T14:36:00.003-08:00

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The Latest British Import outsold Adele in 2012
Jay-Z has been quoted as saying Sande has the talent to conquer America

From NPR 'Tell Me More' - After huge critical and commercial success last year, breakthrough British sensation Emeli Sande has her sights set on America.

It's a long way from her roots. Born to a Zambian father and English mother, the singer-songwriter was raised in Scotland. She tells NPR's Michel Martin that being the only mixed-race family in a small village had a big impact on her.

"I've always felt very different, and when I was young it made me more of an introvert," she says, "but then as I grew older I kind of began to embrace that feeling of being different." She says the experience has inspired her music: "I really wanted to speak for people who feel different."
[AUDIO]

Sharing this message influenced Sande's dream of being a musician more than fame. "I was such a shy kid, being a star wasn't an appeal for me," she says. "It was more, I want to write great music that people really connect with."

That said, her musical career nearly didn't happen because education always came first.

"My dad is from Zambia, and his whole life changed through education," Sande explains. She chose a medical degree as a safe backup option, but after four years specializing in clinical neuroscience, she made the difficult decision to head to London. "There has to come a point where you take the plunge," she says.

The move paid off. In 2012, Sande's debut, Our Version of Events, was the best-selling album of the year in the United Kingdom. She worked with artists like Alicia Keys and Rihanna. And her voice and trademark platinum hair helped her stand out when she performed at the London Olympics.

Sande says her look is important to her as an emerging artist: "You want people to recognize you instantly, and you want people definitely to have an image of you when they hear your music."

Standing out on her own is important. Comparisons have already been made with British artist Adele (Sande's first name is also Adele). While Adele's album was inspired by a breakup, Our Version of Events has a more upbeat tone. "I try and give people a different way of thinking about things, or a positive way of thinking about things," Sande says.

After a whirlwind year, Sande is now on a tour of the U.S. She says focusing on "making a second album that I'm very proud of and taking the music over here is a big challenge ahead of me."

There are already fans and artists this side of the Atlantic who are waiting for her to make her mark. Jay-Z has been quoted as saying Sande has the talent to conquer America. That confidence is a boost for Sande.

"I've been so inspired by artists from over here — you know, Nina Simone was one of my biggest inspirations when I was a kid," she says. "So, to come and have a successful career over here would kind of complete a circle. It's important to me."

Sound off below:

Rapper Eve Partners With Big Brothers Big Sisters, New Single Coming For National Mentoring Month

2013-01-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

Philadelphia rapper Eve is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, in honor of National Mentoring Month. Later this month, Eve will debut her new single “Make it Out this Town,” during a press conference that will detail her partnership with the organization.

The Hip Hop single “Make it Out this Town” is being incorporated into Eve’s fundraising and recruitment work for Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is the largest mentoring organization in the country.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children in single-parent homes with one-on-one mentoring relationships.

Eve will appear at the event with Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler, two-time Super Bowl champion Darrin Smith, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America president/CEO Charles Pierson.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters VIP reception will take place on Tuesday, January 22 at the Marriott Mayflower Renaissance from 6 to 8 PM.

B-13 Movie Review: "Django Unchained" the NY Press Q&A, and Trailer

2013-01-13T15:17:00.002-08:00

Every since I was a little boy I clearly understood the element of story and its importance to the filmmaking process. That is what prompted me to go to film school as a man. In high school I used to write poetry, draw, and I had an amazing imagination that has not escaped me as a man. My favorite authors were, Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Anderson, Edgar Allan Poe, and Ernest M. Hemingway. My favorite film directors of all times were and is Cecil B. Demille, Darren Aronofky and Oscar Micheaux until now.

Personal Point of Reference

When I was in film school all of my peers raved about this young new director named, Quentin Tarantino I was familiar but not convinced that he was a great filmmaker. His approach to story seemed to be very basic and simplistic and probative in nature. However, I appreciated his love and passion for the black exploitation era in film. It happened to be one of my favorite eras in black film history. So I can say that I had something in common with this Quentin Tarantino, but as a filmmaker I thought his body of work was a bit juvenile and in its infancy. I did believe that his efforts would culminate into something great someday. So I had my eye on him, and that is what motivated me to want to see where Quentin has come in the growth of his process in, "Django Unchained"

Tonight I went to see the movie, "Django Unchained" and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised, and nothing less than amazed to see that Quentin has reached his apex. I laughed, I grimaced, my eyes watered, I became angry, and then I left feeling like a winner. Before this, I had declared myself movie celibate because all the adaptations, and regurgitations of sacred stories in film right now. It seems to me that the powers that be are taking a page right of Hitlers manifesto on mind control. It seems to me that they are taking everything that is sacred in American and retelling it with their highly politicized "PC" idioms in the attempt to reprogram the American youth; so that they will willfully give up their constitutional rights. Believing that government has the answer to our societal ills.

Meanwhile, American history has recorded one of the greatest holocausts of world history, and it happened right here in America and its truth goes greatly disdained equally among blacks and whites. Moreover, the profiteers of this era still continue to work their magic by denying the victims of this holocaust, equality, justice, and the benefit of the hundreds of years of free labor; while going to war against foreign nations because of its human right violations. Amid its own atrocities that has made this one of the most violent nations in the world that operates without impunity. As a matter of fact, making the victims of its grim history feel guilty by the even mention thereof. Django, is a kind of answer to those that profiteers from slavery. I believe he is a very real threat to those that would use film as a sort of mind control. (I will save that for another time, but the American public seems to be none the wiser, or feel that their is no point to try to deal with it. I believe this is why we are the most violent, and drug abusing countries in the word. Until we come to grips with our violent pass America as an idea will cease to exist. I believe Quentin Tarantino, has opened the door for us to start to have a honest dialog, and hopefully actions that are long overdue.)

Brief Synopsis

"Django (Jamie Fox) unchained" is a tail set 2 years prior to civil war about an former American slave who joins forces with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz). Django's and his wife (Kerry Washington) was sold to separate plantations owners. As an agreement Django was to finger a brutal band of brothers for bounty and join forces with the Germany bounty hunter in exchange for his freedom. Django's wife was taken to the "Candland" plantation and served as a sex slave to the Calvin Candie roaster of prized Gladiator style fighters. Here is were the plot unfolds and Django and Dr. King confronts his wifes' captors.

Critic

Prior to seeing the film, I listened to the reviews on "Django Unchained" and I must say that the critics were not happy and gave scathing reviews. There has also been an all out artistic assault on the actors in the film. As you have been warned I don't listen to critics because I am convinced that they have an agenda, and I have my own mind. How glad I am that I didn't listen. The movie for me was nothing less than stellar! The character development was amazing; the plot made since for the era and was believable; the mise en scene did very much effect the verisimilitude making this a great work. Django, was for the people that see government as an evil infestation, (like me) a sort of folk hero. You almost wish that their was a folk hero in history that you could reference Django to. ( I am sure there is)

Leonardo Di Caprio had a stellar performance as Calvin Candie. He embodies the panache, arrogance, omnipotence, megalomania, brutality, and sociopathology that pleagued the plantation owners of the American south of the time. I believe that if you are truly a racist this film would make you very uncomfortable because of its honesty; notwithstanding I believe that it didn't go far enough, but then going any further would have taken away from the story. Calvin Candie, became very real to me through Leonardo's interpretation, he is a fascinating actor and is worthy of an award. The world that Calvin creates for himself and his sister made him god like. We are taken into that world were we feel hatred for Calvin but I also found him to be very charming and hospitable even when it goes against his core self. I hated that I liked him and hated that I hated him. Calvin surrounded himself with people that would protect his world until it was infiltrated by Dr. King and Django. Then this callous character began to show his true colors and motives behind his charm and hospitality that set you up for what was to become of him. Which made you feel like he was well deserving of his fate. Moreover, it seemed to be the moment that that world of Calvin Candie started to unravel at the scenes.

Equally, deserving of award is Christoph Waltz who plays the amiable Dr. King Schultz. During slavery there were may whites that sided with justice in the matter of human chattle slavery. These people sacrificed their lives without recognition, reward, or praise from either whites or blacks. They have faded into relative obscurity as if they didn't even exist. Dr. King serves as a symbolic representation of the citizens on this side of American history. Dr. King ironically through his relationship with Django had a real human side even though he killed people for a living. He had compartmentalized what he does for a living from how he feels about the act of murder altogether. He embodied for me the difference in the meaning of Kill vs the meaning of murder. His understanding of the terms had no racial bounds. This made for a fascinating sympathetic character in Dr. King. History has fail to record or we have failed to recognize people like him. When Dr King was faced with his mortality I saw the best in him. Most people don't have such carriage I left the theater examining myself searching to see if that attribute resides in me. I don't know if I could say that it does... Dr. Schultz is truly a hero in this tale and exemplary of what selflessness truly is.

Dr. King did to ensure racial equality and it is my hope that everyone that goes to see this film understands the sacrifice that Dr King made and research the whites who have been party of this and render unto them the recognition that they rightfully deserve. Christoph Waltz a virtual unknown actor has been placed on my radar based solely on this film. He gave what Dr. King Schultz represents real life to me and I will do my best to bring these people to light in my online magazine. However, there seems to be little to no information about them.

UNCLE RUKUS

Next, the house nigger, Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson) I do not have to mention what a great actor Samuel is and in this film he fails to disappoint. Stephen reminds me of Uncle Ruckus of the, Boondocks just a bit more traggic. Stephen was a exceptional nigger on the Candie plantation he equally hated niggers as much as the whites. I during college read, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and upon observing Steven it brought back to my mind that portion of book were Malcolm talks about the house nigger and Stephen reminded me of this. Malcolm said the house nigger would say when the boss is sick, "boss, we's sick"? Stephen embodied what that meant to me in the film. It seems to me that Samuel had so much conviction in the portrayal of this character that I had a hard time differentiating this character from the man. Stephen, I believe was the ultimate manipulator who had an mystical intuition, and clear convictions, that gave him control of all of the plantation. I believe Samuel deserves an award for the portrayal of this character as a supporting actor.

Last but certainly not least I believe the sound track was crucial to the telling for the story. The music had a ghostly feel to it of the music of the black exploitation era. Moreover, the western era back when John Wayne was king at the box office. It also had some new modern music that helped to develop the comedic feel when it was time to laugh.

WillyBill is an aspiring actor/director/screenwriter, and avid movie goer. He is a graduate of Film school Columbia College Chicago, and plans to attend Law school at Howard University Law School in Washington DC in the near future.

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Marlon Wayans On The Status Of The Richard Pryor Biopic

2013-01-12T01:35:00.000-08:00

Marlon Wayans has a new film out in theaters today, the horror-comedy entitled, A Haunted House, but I’ve been wondering if the long-delayed biopic about the life of legendary comedian Richard Pryor is any closer to filming. In short, no, as revealed in a new Q&A with Shadow and Act. Hopefully that’ll change for the comedian who has shown he has legitimate acting chops in the indie-drama Requiem For A Dream.

On the status of the Richard Pryor project:

You know, I don’t know what’s going on with it. Hollywood is in a weird place right now. Everyone’s scared to make movies. I think it’ll be a brilliant movie. You know, I’d never done stand-up until 2 years ago, when I did for the first time. And the reason I started doing stand-up was in preparation to play Richard Pryor. And for me – I’m a method actor – and I just wanted to become Richard Pryor, and see what the journey of a comedian was. But since the movie stalled, I don’t know when it’ll get done. But one day, I believe it will get done. So in the meantime, I’m just making sure that I’m prepared for that moment, starting with doing lots of stand-up around the country. And you know, it’s making me better, smarter, more articulate, and more calmer, and a better writer. So I’m so grateful for this journey, and believing that one day it will get done, and I want to make sure I’m prepared and ready for that moment when it comes.

Love & Hip Hop's Mandeecees Harris On Trial For Molestation

2013-01-12T00:06:00.000-08:00

Only a few days after "Love & Hip Hop" returned to VH1 for a third season, one of its characters has gotten himself in serious trouble.

Yandy Smith's baby daddy Mandeecees Harris "was charged with performing various sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl and inappropriately touching her at his former home in Lodi."

Harris allegedly asked the girl for oral sex and got what he wished for, but now he will pay the price. He was officially charged with aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and child endangerment. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

This should definitely add some serious drama to the next episode.

Only a few days after "Love & Hip Hop" returned to VH1 for a third season, one of its characters has gotten himself in serious trouble.

Yandy Smith's baby daddy Mandeecees Harris "was charged with performing various sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl and inappropriately touching her at his former home in Lodi."

Harris allegedly asked the girl for oral sex and got what he wished for, but now he will may the price. He was officially charged with aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and child endangerment. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

This should definitely add some serious drama to the next episode.

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