He later tweeted that it’s “all [good]” and he’ll simply “work harder”. I feel you though, Miguel.
Bonus: Jill Scott feels exactly the same way.
Willow Smith Announces Release Date For Upcoming Project
The still-untitled album will drop 4/3/2012 on Roc Nation.
LL Cool J, Common & Lupe Fiasco Rehearse With Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Get More: Music News
When did the Grammy nominations event start including concerts?
The fourth annual Grammy nominations concert Wednesday night (November 30) will include a special performance nearly three decades in the making. Rappers LL Cool J, Common and Lupe Fiasco will join Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five members Melle Mel and Scorpio for the group’s classic “The Message” during “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night.”
The generations-spanning ensemble hit rehearsals hard Tuesday afternoon at the Nokia Theatre, using every minute available to practice. That meant squeezing in extra rehearsal time in a lower-level lobby before they even jumped onstage. While Rick Ross had previously been announced as a performer, he was not present at Tuesday’s rehearsals. Ross’ absence was hardly felt however, as the cast of all-stars had plenty of energy to fill the massive theatre.
T.I. Changes His Tune Over Gay Comments
Harvey Levin strikes again. From TMZ:
Gay people aren’t the only ones who need to learn how to laugh at themselves — T.I. tells TMZ Live … the black community is also guilty of being overly sensitive when it comes to jokes.
T.I. called in, standing by what he said in the recent Vibe interview … that gay people who try to stifle arguably homophobic jokes simply because they’re offensive are “not American.”
And T.I. insists … the argument doesn’t just apply to gay people — it applies to anyone who can’t take a joke, black people included.
But there’s one exception … the n-word. Then all bets are off.
For the record, I do very much agree with Sandra Rose 100% on this issue.
Wyclef Responds To New Yele Haiti Allegations
And just that quick, we get to hear defense from the man himself. Check it out after the jump.
I started Yele in 2005 because I wanted to help people that were helpless in my home country of Haiti. People who didn’t have a voice, people who didn’t have resources, people who had mostly been forgotten.
Since Yele launched six years ago we have helped close to half a million people. I will always love and serve the Haitian people until the day I die.
The NY Post piece entitled, “Questions Dog Wyclef’s Haiti Fund†is misleading, deceptive and incomplete. The Post conveniently fails to acknowledge that the decisions that Yele made were a response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters in modern history and required an immediate humanitarian response.
There were no roads, no clean water, no sanitation, no banks, no electricity, no infrastructure. Immediate decisions were made to save lives and alleviate suffering. We made decisions that enabled us to provide emergency assistance in the midst of chaos and we stand by those decisions. We did the best we could with the available resources.
I am proud of the way that Yele handled the crisis on the ground in 2010. We were able to feed, clothe, provide medical assistance and shelter for more than 250 thousand people in need.
What the article doesn’t say is that the construction projects funded by Yele Haiti were responsible for rebuilding an orphanage, building a temporary assistance facility, and had constructed a system of out door toilet and shower facilities in Cite Soliel one of the largest slums in Port-au-Prince.
The Post never highlights that Amisphere Farm Labor was responsible for preparing and delivering close to 100,000 meals.
The Samosa SA property referenced by The Post was located in the vicinity of the largest tent camps in Port-au-Prince. Yele chose that location because it was closest to the people it needed serve.
All of these facts as well as photos and testimonials were readily available to The Post for their story. Unfortunately, they chose not to include these facts and instead chose to imply that Yele “squandered†donors money.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Finally, the percentage of funds used is consistent with NGOs and Not For Profits operating in Haiti at the time. I have acknowledged that Yele has made mistakes in the past, including being late in IRS filings, but that is old news. When I entered politics last summer, I transitioned from being a board member and chairman of Yele Haiti to a supporter.
The new and good news is that Yele under new leadership, despite efforts to undermine its credibility and effectiveness, continues its mission to serve people in need.
– Wyclef Jean
Accusations Over Wyclef Jean’s Misuse Of Yele Haiti Return In Full Force
In the months following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a charity run by hip-hop star Wyclef Jean spent a pittance of the money it took in on disaster relief and doled out millions in questionable contracts.
Yele Haiti’s coffers swelled to $16 million in 2010, the most the charity had ever received. But less than a third of that went to emergency efforts, and $1 million was paid to a Florida firm that doesn’t seem to exist, The Post has learned.
Jean’s charity, which he founded in 2005 with his cousin Jerry Duplessis, was already troubled when the earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. The Post reported in 2008 that it had never filed a required tax form detailing its spending with the IRS.
The group lost $244,000 in 2009. But hours after the earthquake hit, Jean took to Twitter to beg for $5 donations. An avalanche of donations poured in.
Almost immediately, allegations surfaced that the former Fugees singer had used the charity’s cash for his own benefit. Critics found that four years earlier Yele Haiti had steered $250,000 to a Haitian TV station controlled by Jean and Duplessis.
Jean held a Jan. 18, 2010, press conference to tearfully defend Yele Haiti’s reputation.
“Have we made mistakes before? Yes,†Jean said. “Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefits? Absolutely not. Yele’s books are open and transparent.â€
The earthquake killed between 200,000 and 300,000 Haitians and left a million homeless. The country is still in the grip of a cholera epidemic.
For all the desperation, records show that Yele Haiti spent just $5.1 million for emergency relief efforts, including food and water delivery to makeshift survivor camps, according to a review of the charity’s 2010 tax filings, which were obtained by The Post.
Yele Haiti paid five contractors to accomplish its goals, including P&A Construction — which received $353,983 and is run by Warnel Pierre, the brother of Jean’s wife, Claudinette.
A purported Miami business called Amisphere Farm Labor Inc. received a whopping $1,008,000 as a “food distributor.â€
No trace of the company could be found last week in the Sunshine State, but records show the company’s head, Amsterly Pierre, bought three properties in Florida last year, including a condo in an upscale waterfront community.
The firm incorporated in August 2008 but never filed any of the subsequent financial paperwork required to do business in Florida, according to the Florida Department of State.
The address listed for the business is an auto-repair shop in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood, where a worker said he had never heard of Pierre or Amisphere. Pierre did not return a call for comment.
Yele Haiti also paid $577,185 to a company called Samosa SA, based in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, as a “bulk water supplier.†But some of that money went to rent a house for Yele Haiti volunteers on Samosa’s property at the inflated price of $35,000 a month.
“Given the fact that Yele Haiti was involved in a swirl of controversy after the earthquake in Haiti, it’s all the more reason to be more transparent to ensure donors that their funds are going to help people,†said the Better Business Bureau’s Bennett Weiner.
Jean and most of the board left Yele in the summer of 2010. Derek Johnson is the new director.
“It’s a clean slate now,†he said.
Tha Carter IV Goes Double Platinum
Lil Wayne reached platinum in just two weeks, the RIAA reports Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV has now reached the two time platinum since its release three months ago.
50 Cent To Release 10 Track EP
In the honor of the 10th anniversary of his 2002 mixtape, 50 Cent Is The Future, 50 Cent has decided to release 10 new tracks starting next week including visuals for each.
Wale Is Officially Working On His Next Album
Our city’s current reigning Hip-Hop king (yep, try and debate that….seriously) is officially a couple of songs in on his next album. Ambition, indeed.
50 Cent Responds To T.I. VIBE Story
….because, well, it’s 50 Cent. Check out more tweets below.
Loon Arrested On Drug Charges In Belgium
Didn’t this guy change his life completely? I thought he did. Idiot. Spotted on D-Dot Omen…..you can check out the document after the jump (news story here).
Rick Ross & Wale Cover Billboard
Our city’s Hip-Hop ambassador continues to push his way to the top of the industry. You can read the full story here.
T.I. Covers VIBE
T.I. is officially back and he has plenty to say in the next issue of VIBE. A few excerpts below:
T.I. on people criticizing Tiny for not taking the drug charge
I’ma tell you, 50 Cent and anybody else, we not gonn’a have no discussion about what my ole lady should’a, would’a, couda done for anything as it pertains to me,†begins his rant. “We ain’t gonn’a do that. I’m the only one in my family that’s gonna take a lick when it pertains to the legal system. Since me, none of my other family members have seen a jail cell. Nobody. I’m the last one. The buck stops here. I feel that a person that stands behind [his woman for a criminal charge] is a coward anyway.â€
I doubt she would have gotten any time.
She wasn’t gonna catch it period, ’cause I’m there. That wasn’t even a consideration. Even if she asked me to I would’ve been like, “Nah, you trippin’. “
So you didn’t feel you were more valuable to your family, employees and business partners on the street?
That’s a discussion between me and another man. Not with the mother of my children. Not with the nurturer of my household.
Hip-Hop Apparently Embraces Versace For H&M
I was literally just talking about this over Thanksgiving……the idea that this major outlet of fashion would “dumb” themselves down to a retailer chain such as H&M (no disrespect to H&M either, they definitely have a lot of my money). Anyways, I just so happened to come across this article at High Snobiety speaking on the matter, and, apparently, Hip-Hop loves it. You’ll see what I mean when you read the article, which you can do here.
Gucci Mane & V-Nasty – BAYTL Tracklist
Im sorry to deliver this bad news, In a press release sent out today, Gucci and V-Nasty comment on their collaborative effort. Album drops December 13th. Tracklist below.
“Many people are going to be surprised by BAYTL,†reveals Gucci Mane. “This by far is my most controversial mixtape to date.†On how she came to work with the rapper, V-Nasty chimes in, “I’ve been a fan of Gucci since Trap House. We had the opportunity to connect through mutual friends and when offered the opportunity, I didn’t have to think twice. This album is all about having good, old-fashioned, hoodrat fun with friends.â€
1. Whip Appeal feat. P2theLA
2. Loaded feat. Mr. Fab
3. Let’s Get Faded
4. White Girl
5. Push Ups feat. Slim Dunkin
6. Food Plug feat. Berner
7. Out My Circle
8. Hate Me Some More
9. Millions Every Month
10. Fill My Shoes
11. F*** You feat. Slim Dunkin
12. Sick Swag.
Ja Rule Jailhouse Journal (Entry 1)
While Ja Rule locked up in upstate, NY, he’s using his time to write monthly journal entries. Here’s his first entrée bout an 18-year-old inmate attempting suicide.
Today I can truly say I’ve been through it all.
A young kid comes in today they put him in the 18 cell right next to mine he looked kinda depressed coming in but nothing out of the ordinary a few hours go past and all of a sudden I hear someone choking he’s trying to kill his self. We all heard it everyone runs to their cell doors and start kicking,banging, calling the CO’s.
Now I’ve seen a person get shot and I’ve even seen someone die from a drug overdose but this was different this was suicide. It was like I can hear the life leaving his body the CO’s rush in the cell they saved him. I didn’t even think some shit like this was possible in these cells. He tied his bed sheet to a pole that’s attached to a sink which is about 3 feet off the ground made some sort of noose
wrapped it around his neck then threw himself forward into a boston crab carmel clutch type position.
wrapped it around his neck then threw himself forward into a boston crab carmel clutch type position.
I never understood why a person would wanna kill themselves life is love & love is living it’s gods most precious gift. After they brought him back to his cell in the suicide suit he cried for hours we tried to console him telling him it’s never that bad to wanna kill yourself.
Turns out he just turned 18 and got his girl friend who is only 16 and her parents pressed charges and now he’s locked up on sex offender charges. He was in school for graphic arts to learn how to make video games. It’s sad cause he’s still a kid himself a good kid at that and now he’ll be forever labeled rapist or sex offender when really he’s probably just a kid in love.
Wow it’s crazy how 2 years can be so close but yet so far when your 18 & 16 it seems far because he’s now an adult and she’s still a teen, but when your 10 & 12 it’s cute and innocent and when your 18 & 20 nobody gives a fuck. It makes me think about Britt and her starting to date I’m not gonna lie at 18 & 16 I’d be at a cross road to but to ruin a young mans life & stain his future is not rite.
At 18 your legally an adult but your really still just a kid I remember when I was 18 I thought I knew everything about life & living as I look back now as a 35 year old man I realize I didn’t know shit LOL and I’m still learning & growing as a man. 2 years that’s what separates me from my family rite now and I look at it as short time but yet when Ish told me that Britt’s acting partner was 17 I almost had a fit even tho she’ll be 16 soon I’m sure he’ll be 18 soon and BAM there it is crossroad LOL.
It’s funny how God puts situations in front of you so you can see it clearly. I trust Britt I know me & Ish raised her well besides she hates Kids LOL. But I also know the intentions of a young man I got my eyes on you lil homie Don’t make me come back to this motherfucker!
Quote Of The Day: ?uestlove Apologizes For Michele Bachmann "Prank"
“The performance was a tongue-in-cheek and spur of the moment decision. The show was not aware of it and I feel bad if her feelings were hurt. That was not my intention.â€
Previously: The Roots Prank Michele Bachmann
In "You Already Knew This" News: Drake Hits Number One(Updated)
Lower than what was expected but still shitting on the competition, nonetheless.
UPDATE: Final number via SoundScan: 631,466 Digital: 264,845 | CD: 366,621
Uncle Murda “B-Boys (Freestyle)â€
Flex drops the bomb early this morning.Uncle Murda spits over The B-Boys “Girls“, he goes on you sucka for love as niggas. Ha! You can’t saved them
Nicki Minaj Announces Album Title & Date
A year ago Nicky dropped her debut album ,Pink Friday. In honest of her release of her debut album, today she announced the title and release date for her sophomore set. Valentine Day will never be the same.
GZA To Lecture At Harvard University (Karen Civil)
From Karen Civil (obviously):
Who says rappers aren’t intellectual? We’ve learned today, that Wu-Tang‘s own GZA is set to break down lyrics and lyrical skills at one of the most prestigious universities in the world in Harvard University. GZA will also lecture on the music industry during the institution’s Black Men’s Forum on December 1st at 4 pm followed by a Q&A for the public. Along with this, GZA will be speaking on his next album which is in the works.
Tyga – Careless World: Rise Of The Last King
Looks like Tyga is dropping his project the same day as Young Jeezy (12/20).