13th May, 2009
XXL Editor Steps Down
It's hard not to notice the trend here. Could this be the end of music magazines?
XXL Magazine Editor-In-Chief Datwon Thomas has reportedly left his position at the publication after just over a year.While details are in short supply, the news of Thomas' departure hit the net earlier today (May 12).
Word on the curb is that Datwon Thomas has stepped down from his position as Editor-In-Chief of XXL and Executive Editor, Vanessa Satten will resume duties at the top of the masthead. No reason as to why Datwon allegedly left his post, but we'll have more as this story develops. (Rap Radar)
Thomas took over the magazine in March 2008.
"I won't take the job lightly," he said in a statement last year. "The game is in a tough spot. Lagging sales, declining buzz, warring factions, creative slump and various other factors make the details of my job tougher than expected. I'm here though, ready to grip up and bust some for a culture that's slipping into uncharted territory that looks a little grim. The fact that a lot of good hip-hop is still out there helps make my job that much easier. I, with your help, will find that hip-hop and give it the platform that it rightly deserves. Wish me luck, I'm going in." (Pro Hip Hop)Prior to XXL, Thomas helped launch King Magazine and helped build it into a prominent urban publication. (Compiled by Sohh.com)
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Posted at 7:59 am | Comment (0)
2nd April, 2009
RIHANNA & THE LEAKED PHOTO
The Web has been buzzing over the shocking photo reportedly of Rihanna. Today is the "Umbrella" singer's 21st birthday, but she has not been seen in public since the alleged attack hours before the Grammy Awards. The Los Angeles Police Department has launched an internal investigation and filed a personnel complaint after a photo leaked late Thursday of what appears to be a bruised Rihanna following the alleged incident with Chris Brown on Grammy weekend. E3 Gossip has chosen not to post the picture, due to the nature of the case.
“The unauthorized release of a domestic-violence photograph immediately generated an internal investigation,” an LAPD spokesman said in statement about the photo, which appeared on TMZ. “The Los Angeles Police Department Media Relations Section began receiving numerous inquiries about the release of a photograph associated with a domestic violence incident that occurred on February 8, 2009, involving entertainer Chris Brown. The Los Angeles Police Department takes seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence,” the LAPD asserted in the statement. “A violation of this type is considered serious misconduct, with penalties up to and including termination.”
Posted at 5:31 pm | Comment (0)
11th February, 2009
Chris Brown incident shocker as Rihanna’s real name is revealed
The
hip hop world is reeling with the news that rapper Chris Brown has been
charged by the Los Angeles Police Department on a felony charge of
making criminal threats, reportedly against his pop star lady friend,
Rihanna. News traveled fast at last night's Grammy's and music's
hottest stars were understandably shaken.
Lady GaGa fought back tears,
"I'm shocked….Rihanna's real name is Robyn? Tragic."
Sidenote: in police filings, Rihanna's full name was revealed to be Robyn Rihanna Fenty, another unfortunate outcome of this episode.
Many in Hollywood are wondering how the couple went from fairy tale to fodder tale so fast. Rapper Jay Z, the man credited with discovering Rihanna, commented, "I care deeply about Rihanna and am working in her best interest at this delicate time… so it goes without saying I've already secured the rights for her new remix 'Disturbia aka Date Night with Chris Brown.'"
Not all were as compassionate as Jay Z. An unnamed
Pussycat Doll (*unnamed because does anyone really care about their
names? Silly Dolls!) alludes that once Chris Brown mends his fists then
he can find a welcome victim/date in her, "I wouldn't complain if Chris
Brown punched me…in fact he could punch, bite or scratch me. I would like him to please harm me."
-Meredith McKenna
Posted at 2:12 am | Comment (0)
11th February, 2009
LIL’ KIM JOINS ‘DANCING W/ THE STARS’
Looks like the Queen B should have no problems appearing on national tv wearing skimpy clothes and funny costumes. The New York rapper is the newest contestant on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" and will be vying for the mirror-ball trophy in Cycle 8. The new series begins on ABC on March 9th.
Do you think she the moves to win it all?
Posted at 2:12 am | Comment (0)
10th February, 2009
Famed Singer Charlie Wilson Diagnosed with Cancer
I adore the 'Gap Band.' Songs like "Yearning for Your Love" and "Outstanding" get heavy rotation in my world. Every major R&B singer to date has bitten some nuance of this man's style----R. Kelly, Aaron Hall, etc. On top of Charlie's successes with the 'Gap Band', he's been able to reinvent in recent years himself working with artists like Snoop Dogg and Pharell. Let's hope for a speedy recovery!
With the release of his second solo album, 'Uncle Charlie,' less than two weeks away, famed R&B artist Charlie Wilson has announced that he is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.The 'Yearning For Your Love' singer was diagnosed with the male-reproductive disease last fall and began therapy on Nov. 21. Wilson's sudden diagnosis has lead him to team up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to help raise awareness and research funds for prostate cancer.
"When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September, I thought to myself 'I'm too young... this isn't a cancer I should be getting,'" Wilson said in a statement.
"While I was surprised to discover that this disease strikes one out of every six American men, I was astounded to learn that African American men are 1.6 times more likely than others to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. My wife, Mahin, and I are very fortunate. I was lucky to be diagnosed and begin treatment early. My prognosis is excellent."
And 'Outstanding' he is!The former Gap Band front man has already started utilizing his Hollywood star status to help inform more African American men of the illness. Men are 35 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I am excited to be working with the PCF. They are the cruising force behind many of the advances that have been made in prostate cancer treatment to date," says Wilson. "Their work has helped reduce the death rate by nearly 40 percent in the past few years. Together, I believe we can make an important impact."
The Grammy-nominated artist also noted that his wife's support has played a major in his recent campaign.
"We men don't want to consider or vocalize our vulnerabilities. It was my wife who kept after me to see my doctor for a screening," he revealed. "I thank God she did. Now I feel compelled to spread the word about prostate cancer."
This spring, Wilson will be taking his message on the road with him and overseas to U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait while touring in support of his forthcoming album. Charlie Wilson's 'Uncle Charlie,' featuring the top 10 single 'There Goes My bouncing baby,' hits stores and digital retailers on Feb. 17. (From AOL BlackVoices)
Posted at 12:17 pm | Comment (0)
10th February, 2009
T.I.’s New Reality Show Premiering Tonight
You already know. I'm in there like swimwear!
Rap star Clifford "T.I." Harris' "Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go" will air tonight (February 10) taking viewers into the rapper's personal life as he aims to guide others to avoid the mistakes he's made.
The premiere episode will reveal Tip's thoughts and feelings upon losing his close friend and manager Philant Johnson along with being incarcerated on felony weapons possesion in 2007.
"This is really one of the first times that I've publicly opened up about the entire situation, telling the whole story," Tip says in the show's debut. "No amount of jail time is going to teach me the lesson that I learned in that moment...I'd always try to do the right thing...That grief, that pain, that anger mixed with the paranoia of knowing that the people who [killed Phil] had never been caught, that train of thought is what got me in that parking lot, October 13, 2007...Once you're incarcerated by the federal government, you're gonna be able to tell the difference, it ain't no city cops." (Episode One Press Screening)
Tonight's show will also feature troubled Atlanta teenager Pee Wee as Tip attempts to give him eye-opening experiences.
In the premiere, T.I. hangs out with an 18-year-old named Pee Wee, who he seeks to shake up by locking him in a cell and later making him view a dead body. As for a legitimate career, Pee Wee says he'd like to act and later is given an opportunity to informally perform Romeo and Juliet. (Variety)
Throughout his interactions with Pee Wee, Tip reminds him of learning from mistakes the hard way.
"We're gonna shake his world up a little bit and we're gonna help him, whether he wants our help or not" Tip tells the camera referring to Pee Wee. "I'll make a deal with ya, [Pee Wee]. I'll take some of your advice if you take some of mine...You ever been to jail before? It took me going to jail so many different times, seeinig that I was wrong, learning from my mistakes, trial and error, rather than having someone tell me 'You're making a mistake,' and learning from that." (Episode One Press Screening)
Despite being a month away from having to serve a year and a day prison bid, the rapper is reportedly proud of his latest television project.
"Right now, there's nothing else you can say about my charges or my circumstance that hasn't already been said, so to keep wasting time on that, it's not worthy and is not significant," Harris told the Daily News. "Impacting the lives of at-risk youths in America and inspiring change? That is. People remember you for the last thing you did. If the last thing that I do isn't negative, you won't have a negative perception of my life." (New York Daily News)
"T.I.'s Road To Redemption: 45 Days To Go" is scheduled to premiere Tuesday, February 10 at 9 p.m. EST on MTV. (Compiled by Sohh.com)
Posted at 12:06 pm | Comment (0)