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G-Unit Pulls a Beyonce and Releases New Music

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G-Unit album cover.

G-Unit drops a new EP without any promotion.

 

It worked for Beyonce. Now G-Unit is following in her footsteps by digitally releasing new music Monday.

The group consisting of 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, and new member Kidd Kidd dropped “The Beauty of Independence” extended play at midnight. The move mirrors Beyonce’s surprise release of her self titled album last year.

G-Unit released the EP  independently on the Caroline label.

For a group that’s been down the rocky river road before, what’s different this time?
50 Cent says the group is more mature and that has enhanced the creativity behind their new music.  Group members said the fact that they are getting older played a huge part in their reuniting. Their hits include “Stunt 101,” and “Wanna Get to Know You.”

The group released T.O.S: Terminate on Sight in 2008 before disbanding.

Looks like 50 Cent has been busy in the studio and isn’t just posting challenges for Floyd Mayweather on Instagram.


Prince Will Release His First Solo Project In Four Years

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Prince performing on the Arsenio Hall Show.

Prince announces the release of two new albums next month.

The purple reign is about to ensue in just a few weeks. Living legend Prince announced Monday he is releasing not one, but two new albums in September.

The 56 year old says he plans to release Art Official Age on Warner Bros. Records. You aren’t the only one issuing a Prince worthy side-eye to him working with the very label he battled for the rights to his music.

RELATED: The Best Moments of the 2014 Essence Festival

The good news is Prince reached a deal with the label earlier this year, earning the rights to the music he recorded on the label.

Art Official Age album cover.

Album cover for Prince’s first solo project since 2010.

The Purple One has been super busy, he plans to release PlectrumElectrum with his all-female band 3RDEYEGIRL. Both albums will be released September 30.

What type of music can you expect to hear? It’s Prince, so it’s bound to be good. According to the Associated Press, Art Official Age will be a mixture of soul, R&B, and funk, making this Prince’s first album since 2010.

PlectrumElectrum, will feature 3RDEYEGIRL, the band that includes guitarist Donna Grantis, drummer Hannah Ford Welton, and bassist Ida Nielsen. Both albums are available for pre-order on iTunes and Amazon.

Plectrum Electrum album cover.

3RDEYEGIRL’s art for the release of their September 30 album.

RELATED: She’s Got Next: Prince’s Protégé LiV Warfield

Post-Ferguson, America is Corrupt After All

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Gone are the days of brazen Plunkitt at Tammany Hall graft and corruption, at least in most of these United States as far as we can tell.  George W. Plunkitt is the infamous New York state legislator who personified turn of the 20th century jobbery that’s fueled content for more than our fill of great Scorsese films, and spoke proudly of it in a really short classic worth a repeated read. But while American corruption isn’t as openly Plunkitt-esque anymore, we shouldn’t dupe ourselves into a false sense of security as if it vanished. Clearly, as we’ve seen in events that have unfolded over the past couple of weeks, corruption didn’t go anywhere.  In the case of Ferguson (which we can’t and won’t stop talking about), political crookedness was just a lot more sophisticated and less open than greedy politicians taking envelopes stuffed with money.  Occasionally, we do see that happen. But the contemporary methods by which political machinists work their craft is much more subtle if not more nefarious than in years past.  It’s the corruption we can’t see that’s like an overdose of odorless methane gas.

Like, for example, holding city elections in April rather than November as a slick way to consolidate and cement a racist political infrastructure in a St. Louis suburb. The white Mayor and nearly all-white city council in a city nearly two-thirds black will find all sorts of creative and legal ways to hold on to a sort of neo-plantation system at all costs – even if it stretches ethical boundaries so far that the resulting consequences explode in everyone’s face. So, they hold elections in April rather than November – the month everyone recognizes as voting time.

It depends on how we define corruption and how it has evolved over the years. The star data geeks at FiveThirtyEight would like us to think, in terms of pure numbers, corruption is down despite public perception that it’s not:

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Of course, it’s hard to argue with data and the supporting science. But the picture isn’t as clear if you realize you can’t take the numbers for face value once you’ve parsed through a technical definition of corruption. Watchdog Transparency International sorts it out through broad definitions of corruption segmented into three categories: grand, petty and political. Overall, they conclude that it’s “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.” It’s so broad that it’s argumentative. To let themselves off the hook a bit, they make a distinction each year between what is actual corruption and what is, ultimately, identified by those affected as corruption – hence the annual, and somewhat handy, Corruption Perceptions Index.

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Interestingly enough, and really not so surprisingly, the United States ranks No. 19 (tied with Uruguay) out of 177 countries for its perceived level of corruption.  The closer you are to the top of the list, the less likely you’re corrupt.  While 19 isn’t bad, it’s still troubling that we’re not in the Top 10 given our own domestic expectations and hype. We love to clown Canada, yet they’re No. 9. Perhaps because they don’t have Ferguson, Los Angeles, New York or Beavercreek-size problems like we do.

We’re by no means near being “a failed state” as some eagerly suggest for the sake of a political argument. But a 73 score in high school would’ve meant a C minus only several points away from a D.

It is complicated: we are a large, clunky giant of an economic and military powerhouse that has its tentacles spread all over the world. We’ve got our hands in so many cookie jars that we often lose focus on keeping our jar clean. And we can talk all we want about one American identity, but we’re still an awkward soup of many different cultures co-existing in one big space. It’s hard keeping that all together; other countries in the top 20 are close to homogenous or majority-white, save 90 percent black or “Afro-Bajan” Barbados which ranks at 15.

Not that FiveThirtyEight denied the existence of corruption. And even they caution: What if the federal government has just gotten worse at prosecuting corruption?” But it shouldn’t be so easy to dismiss public perceptions of corruption as it captures here:

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Nor should we dismiss the high level of distrust in government that runs rampant these days, the byproduct of a perception of corruption that’s fueled by a sense that government is non-representative and non-responsive:

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Some of us know better than others the extent of that corruption because we’re lumped targets of it: when certain political parties, for example, maintain supremacy by making it harder to access polling places by eliminating early voting or limiting elections to one weekday when it’s difficult for people to vote with inconvenient job schedules and asshole managers. Or, we see corruption in the way state legislators sneakily redraw legislative and Congressional districts in a bid to hang on to their jobs as long as possible. We can also argue that the continued presence of cash in determining political victors – rather than merit, service and well-informed ideas – is a form of corruption, albeit legal and hidden behind massively funded political action committees and shadowy tax-exempt cartels calling themselves “social welfare organizations” when they’re not. In essence, our corrupt political system, crowded with consultants, lobbyists, advocates and messaging spin masters, does it with style. It’s one reason, for example, Ukraine’s oligarchic political class has long utilized American political experts.

It’s no accident that between 2006 and 2010 – years marred by an Iraq conflict spawned under false pretense and a Supreme Court campaign finance ruling – the percentage of Americans who felt corruption was widespread rose by 16 points in just several years. Citizens may not be familiar with the exact data points or frequency by which corruption cases are alleged and prosecuted.  But even those with very low political IQ, have enough sense to know when they are being played.

 

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a veteran political strategist and Chief Political Correspondent for Uptown Magazine.  He is also Washington Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor to The Root. Reach out to him via Twitter @charlesdellison.

ICYMI: The Top Moments Of The VMAs

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The much-anticipated MTV Video Music Awards aired last night, and the show was worth the wait. From Beyoncé to Miley to Nicki, all of the stars came out for an evening of music, fashion, and fun. In case you missed it … here are the top moments of the VMAs.

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Ariana Grande is on fire this year! She went from performing at the pre-show last year to opening the show this year with her new song, “Break Free.” She was later joined by Nicki Minaj and Jessie J, to perform “Bang, Bang.”

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Just when we all thought Nicki Minaj‘s “Anaconda” music video was a showstopper, the rapper showed her impressive moves and body on stage — live. Let’s just say she received many interesting stares …

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Common led a thoughtful moment of silence for Michael Brown and Ferguson, MO. Unfortunately, Kim Kardashian and Kylie and Kendall Jenner couldn’t grasp the seriousness of the moment and spent the time texting.

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Miley Cyrus wins Video of the Year and uses her acceptance speech as a platform for raising awareness on homelessness, by inviting a formerly homeless teen to speak out to the youth.

vma ariana grandeAriana Grande and Big Sean showed their first public PDA-moment, holding hands backstage.

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Beyoncé! Of course, Bey stole the show with a 15-song mini-concert at the very end. But little Blue Ivy may have been the most talked about toddler last night. She was caught singing and dancing to her mommy’s songs — and then even congratulated her on stage! So, so adorbs! Oh- and the Carter’s made a very public PDA moment, in an attempt to shut down divorce rumors. Good for them!

NoCal Earthquake Causes $1 Billion-Worth Of Damage

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Northern California was shaken early Sunday morning during the area’s strongest earthquake in 25 years. The earthquake began rumbling around 3:20 a.m. in the South Napa area, waking many from their sleep.

So far, the NoCal Earthquake has injured over 150 people in a short period of time. Historic buildings and roads buckled, and items fell forcefully on residents. Fires flared in the surrounding areas, and over 70,000 people were without power in Sonoma and Napa Valley.

Although the quake only lasted a few seconds, it has caused major issues. The amount of damage is high, but the cost for the repairs is even higher. It is estimated that the natural disaster could cost the area up to $1 billion.

[Image: Noah Berger/AP Photo]

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Residents and visitors are continuing to brace themselves for aftershocks. Many remained outside yesterday, for fear that an aftershock would occur after the initial quake and cause more damage to their homes. It’s reportedly safer to be on the streets than in a shaking building, especially since officials are still assessing buildings for damages. As a precaution, Napa Valley schools are closed today.

As cleanup and precaution continues in the area, it’s clear that the NoCal earthquake was not just high in magnitude on the Richter scale. Napa Fire Captain Doug Bridewell told FOX News, “That’s the worst shaking I’ve ever been in.” Fortunately, no deaths have been reported.

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[Image: Ellen Knickmeyer/AP Photo]

Nicki Minaj Isn’t My Daughter’s Role Model, I Am

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By Caprece Cotton-Sturdivant

I fell in love with hip hop in its early years, back when it was more widely regarded as rap. Rap music came on the scene and blew our minds!! It was music that spoke just to us made by guys and girls, who looked like the people in our neighborhoods. It was our story told by the people who lived it, and for me it was life-changing.

Growing up, my mother never censored the music that I listened to. She never feared that I would be led astray by NWA, Public Enemy, or Ice Cube. She even took me to buy my first rap album, it was Salt N Pepa‘s Hot, Cool & Vicious, and I played it so much I nearly broke the tape. I loved everything about Salt N Pepa — their tight clothes, their edgy haircuts, their sassiness — but they were not my role models!

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Yes, the question of celebrities as role models has been raised once again with the release of Nicki Minaj‘s video for her latest song “Anaconda,” which samples Sir Mix A Lot‘s “Baby Got Back.” Who can forget the hip hop classic about Mix A Lot’s love of big bottoms while he conveniently perched atop a big bottom. The imagery was controversial, and “Anaconda” is no different. Minaj stays true to the song with enough booty-bumping and gyrating to give Fred Sanford one of his signature heart attacks.

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Nicki Minaj performs “Anaconda” at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.

Many felt that as a “role model to young girls,” Minaj should “do better,” but I disagree. Nicki Minaj is not a role model, or at least she shouldn’t be viewed as one. Role models are found in our everyday lives, the people who show us right from wrong not just in words, but by their actions, as well. I found my role model in my mom, not in Eric B & Rakim.

Minaj is an entertainer, who I often enjoy myself, but she should not be your children’s role model. We have that responsibility alone. Let the entertainers do their jobs, as we — as PARENTS — do ours.

Caprece Cotton-Sturdivant is a writer and mommy, who loves to share comedic tales of what she’s learned so far about being a mom. She resides in New York City with her husband and daughter who are her inspirations. Read more from Cotton-Sturdivant at Mommie Knows Fresh.

Thousands Gather At Funeral For Mike Brown

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Thousands came together at the funeral for Mike Brown to mourn the loss and celebrate his life Monday. The 18-year-old teen was gunned down by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri one day before he was to begin his collegiate career.

Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy and used that platform to blast the current police culture in the U.S. “America is going to have to come to terms with [the fact that] there’s something wrong, that we have money to give military equipment to police forces but we don’t have money for training, and money for public education and money to train our children,” Sharpton said. “How do you think we look when the world can see you can’t come up with a police report, but you can find a video,” in reference to a surveillance video released of Brown allegedly stealing from a convenience store shortly before he was shot to death. This reference led those in attendance to give Sharpton a standing ovation.

Families who’ve experienced the heartache of losing a young Black man to racism or police brutality were in attendance. Representatives of Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin, Sean Bell, and Oscar Brown showed their support to Michael Brown’s family at the proceedings. The line into the church began forming at 7 a.m., with the service beginning three hours later. The church accommodated up to 5,000 people, with others still waiting outside during the funeral.

Martin Luther King‘s son and daughter, along with Snoop Dogg, Spike Lee, Sean Combs, Talib Kweli, and Nelly were in attendance.

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Other celebrities voiced their support for the young man via Twitter:

Mike Epps Confirmed as Richard Pryor in Lee Daniels’ Biopic

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Oprah Confirms Epps in Lee Daniels Biopic

Oprah let the cat out of the bag that Mike Epps nabbed the title role as Richard Pryor in the biopic that will be directed by Lee Daniels after months of casting speculation. Winfrey posted a picture of herself, Daniels and Epps after their first script read through for the new film. Daniels also confirmed the news on Twitter. “Get ready y’all- #MikeEpps as #RichardPryor,” he wrote.

Epps beat out some stiff competition for role including Michael B. Jordan and Marlon Wayans who was attached to star in the role before the film switched producers. Nick Cannon nearly sealed the deal for the project after his audition for Lee Daniels and producers The Weinstein Company reportedly blew away the executives.

This isn’t Epps first time playing the late comedian. He also stars in Cynthia Mort’s Nina Simone that garnered controversy for Zoe Saldana’s involvement as Simone. The biopic would afford the actor-comedian a greater chance to show he’s more than a funny man and can carry a dramatic and well-rounded character.

The film has been in the works since Pryor’s death in December 2005 but has suffered from rights issues from Pryor’s estate. Richard Pryor, Jr. threatened legal action against Pryor’s widow Jennifer Lee Pryor. Now it seems with its main character filled, the film is moving full steam ahead.

Oprah has not released details about what role she’ll play in the biopic but it’s rumored that she will be instrumental behind the scenes and in front of the camera. The media mogul has been expanding her presence in the movie making business since the move to owning her own network. She produced The Hundred-Foot Journey being released this year as well as Ava Duvernay’s MLK Biopic Selma. Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway are believed to be contenders for the role of Jennifer Lee Pryor in the film.


Jeezy Arrested For Assault Rifle Possession

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Jeezy, formerly known as Young Jeezy, real name Jay Jenkins, appears to spend almost as much time behind bars as he does in the studio.  In January,  he was arrested for battery, false imprisonment, and making terroristic threats against his son.  He was arrested again that month on charges of obstructing police.

Over the weekend, the Atlanta rapper was arrested for possession of an assault rifle in Irvine, California.

It all went down on Sunday. The weapon was discovered during an investigation of the fatal shooting at Wiz Khalifa‘s concert in Mountain View, CA., where a man was shot five times.

Irvine police obtained a search warrant and searched Jeezy’s tour bus at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.

Jeezy is currently in police custody, being held on $1 million bail. He missed the last stop of the “Under the Influence of Music” tour on Sunday.

Photo: TMZ

Undercover Colors Nail Polish Can Prevent Date Rape

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uptown-undercovercolorsnailpolishMeet Undercover Colors, the nail polish that can prevent date rape.  The company aspires to be the “first fashion company empowering women to prevent sexual assault.” The nail polish changes color when it comes in contact with liquids that have been spiked with such date rape drugs as Rohypnol, Xanax, and GHB.

An Undercover Colors wearer simply puts her painted fingernail in a drink, before taking a sip, to note any changes in color.

This special technology could save lives.  Recently, a USB-sized device hit the market called pd.id, with the same intent of preventing women on dates from being unknowingly drugged and taken advantage of.

[Image: Undercover Colors via Facebook]

“Our goal is to invent technologies that empower women to protect themselves from this heinous and quietly pervasive crime,” Undercover Colors states on its Facebook page.

Hopefully consumers won’t have to wait too long for the product, although the nail polish is still in the early stages of development. The good news is that the team of North Carolina State University students who created Undercover Colors have already raised $100,000 for product development and are continuing their search for more investors. Undercover Colors won the Lulu eGames student competition, sponsored by North Carolina State’s Entrepreneurship Initiative earlier this year.

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Actor Sues Marlon Wayans Over Instagram Joke

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Funny man Marlon Wayans has been hit with a bizarre lawsuit after making a joke on Instagram. Pierre Daniel, who was cast for a role in A Haunted House 2, is suing Wayans and his production company for unspecified damages for racial discrimination and harassment.

Last September, the comedian posted a picture of Daniel alongside animated character Cleveland Brown, from the FOX series “Family Guy” and “The Cleveland Show.” Despite a funny resemblance, Daniel didn’t think the comparison was humorous, accusing the White Chicks star of cyber-bullying.

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Daniel says the comparison seriously injured him by causing “shock, pain, discomfort and/or anxiety,” and as a result he can no longer work as an actor. He claims the picture was racially-motivated and mocked his appearance, especially his Afro.

Wayans has yet to comment about the lawsuit.

Ferguson Cop Sued for Hog-Tying Child

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A Ferguson, MO cop faces a civil lawsuit for injuring and hog-tying a boy. According to a lawsuit filed in 2012 in Missouri federal court, Justin Cosma and another officer, Richard Carter. approached a 12-year-old boy who was checking the mailbox at the end of his driveway in June 2010.

The pair asked the boy whether he was playing on a nearby highway, to which he answered no, according the lawsuit. It also claims the officers “became confrontational” with the child, unprovoked and without cause. They choked and slammed the boy, who was shirtless at the time, to the ground, leaving cuts, scrapes, and bruises to his body. His mother was inside the home, but was unaware of what was occurring outside.

The child was taken to a hospital for treatment. Even though the officers cited that he “resisted arrest” on the police report, Jefferson County prosecutors “refused to issue a juvenile case” against the victim.

Cosma was also one of the officers who detained journalists from HuffPost and The Washington Post earlier this month in a local McDonald’s during media coverage of the Mike Brown protests. Cosma declined to give his name or badge number at the time, refusing to identify himself to the press. Thanks to a reader’s tip, the HuffPost matched his name and face after the altercation.

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[Homepage image: Shutterstock]

Something’s Fishy: Handcuffed Black Man Dies in Police Custody, It’s Ruled A Suicide

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The death of a young black man who was killed by a single gunshot while handcuffed in the back of a Louisiana patrol car has been ruled a suicide.The official autopsy of Victor White III contradicts early police claims that White allegedly shot himself in the back once he arrived at the police station on March 2.

According to the initial police statement, White had been arrested on charges of drug possession.  He was handcuffed with his wrists behind him and placed in a squad car.  Upon arriving at the police station, the 22-year-old reportedly did not want to get out of the vehicle. The official report concludes, “As the deputy requested assistance from other deputies, White produced a handgun and fired one round striking himself in the back.”

The official autopsy tells a much different story, and proves that White was shot in the front of his body – not behind. The bullet entered the young man’s chest, piercing his left lung and heart before exiting around his armpit, according to the final autopsy.

Although White’s hands were never tested for gunpowder residue, the Iberia Parish coroner still supported the initial police statement issued back in March. Dr. Carl Ditch ruled that White shot himself, and declared his death a suicide in a report released two weeks ago.

State Police Master Trooper Brooks David acknowledged that the investigation into White’s death is still open.

 

BET Is To Blame For Blue Ivy Shade, Not Karreuche Tran

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Although I make it a point to avoid watching 85 percent of the award shows on TV (including the MTV Video Music Awards), I did learn two things about Sunday’s show from my friends on social media. First, the VMAs were pretty lame until Beyoncé shut the show down with an amazing performance. And second, Blue Ivy Carter stole everyone’s heart with her incredible cuteness.

Post-show, everyone from ABC to TMZ had nothing but positive things to say about the much-maligned Carter-Knowles family. These predominantly white media outlets actually had little problem promoting the concept of Black love, all while showcasing a beautiful Black girl confidently rocking her amazing Afro. But in the midst of our collective adoration for the “First Family of Black Entertainment,” ignorance, as always, reared its ugly-ass head in the form of ridiculing and shaming a probably-oblivious Blue Ivy for her “unkempt” hair. But here’s the real joke: The comment came from Black Entertainment Television — the network that’s suppose to represent and advocate for African Americans.

Honestly, I haven’t watched an episode of “106 & Park” since Free and AJ left, and I don’t follow talentless “celebrities,” so I’m not sure why Karreuche Tran would have been featured on the show. I don’t understand what the point of that segment was, and I definitely don’t get why Tran was hosting it, especially since her sole claim to fame is being Chris Brown‘s on-again-off-again girlfriend. But, what I do know is that making fun of a Black child’s natural hair was NOT the intellectual creation of Tran. It was a decision made and supported by the staff at “106th & Park,” and BET in general.

Look, if you want to throw a solar eclipse of shade Tran’s way, go ahead. All I ask is that you remember that she is nothing more than the vapid vessel used to communicate a joke about a Black child’s nappy-headedness, which was written by Black folks and displayed over the airwaves of “our” Black TV channel. While Tran read the offensive joke, there’s a sea of Negroes — from show-runners to producers — who wrote it, approved it, and made sure it aired. Instead of honoring Bey’s incredible performance, discussing the power of seeing America’s major white media displaying a Black father’s love for his daughter, or just simply basking in Blue’s adorableness, we get picky-head jokes from the station that is supposed to have OUR backs.

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UPTOWN_bet_blue_ivy_karreuche_tranBut, it also must be said that we play an important role in shading Blue Ivy, because there are far too many Black folks in our community who degrade their hair in its natural state, as well. Hell, the reason BET even felt comfortable making that joke on “106 & Park” is because we made this young girl’s coils a topic of conversation — which is absolute bullshit.

To some people, this is a non-issue about some airhead getting on TV and making a stupid joke about Beyoncé, but to believe that, is to miss the larger issue at play here. Right now, Blacks in America are on the precipice of achieving real societal change based on the fact that we are angry, fed up, and ready to be fully involved in making a difference in our communities. Men and women, young and old, are now using words like revolution, and changing their past apathy to action. The importance of major Black media outlets has never been more apparent than right now. The need for keeping revolutionaries informed has never been more relevant than now. Yet “our” major TV network is dedicating its time to bullying young Black girls for their kinky hair, as opposed to promoting positivity and helping us in our fight for equality — and that’s a big deal.

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Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

Remy Ma Stars In New Music Video

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After serving six and a half years in prison, Remy Ma is on her comeback flow. The week of her release, she made her post-prison debut on DJ Khaled‘s “They Don’t Love You No More” remix, which also features French Montana. And now they’ve dropped a music video for the song starring Remy. And we hear there’s also a mixtape in the works that could be released as early as September

In an interview with “The Breakfast Club,” DJ Khaled expressed his desire to sign the former Terror Squad lyricist to his We The Best music label.

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Remy, wife of rapper Papoose, has not committed to signing with any label, she revealed in an interview with Funk Master Flex.

Remy Ma, real name Remy Smith, was released from a Westchester, NY prison Aug. 1 after serving six-years of an eight-year sentence for shooting her childhood friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph.


Boy Finds Dead Toddler In Bronx Home Daycare

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athena skeeterA home daycare provider is being charged with manslaughter after killing a 20-month-old boy in her care. The woman, Athena Skeeter, 40, runs an in-home daycare out of her Bronx, NY apartment. She has been licensed by the State of New York since 2005, and was used by the family of the child as a free day care service provided by the state. Skeeter allegedly killed Cardell Williamson and then went shopping at a nearby supermarket.

Isliel Hayward-Barnes, 12, walked into the home of Skeeter. He saw the young boy lifeless and propped up on the sofa. Williamson’s body was bruised and his mouth taped shut, while Skeeter’s mother Cora Cross, 60, viewed him from her kitchen rocking chair. Hayward-Barnes described Williamson as naked, stiff, and cold. Hayward-Barnes told the Daily News on Monday, “I saw my little cousin on the couch, I went over to him. He wasn’t moving. He was butt naked and he was wet. He had masking tape on his mouth.”

Bronx daycare murder

 

bronx daycare deathHayward-Barnes said Skeeter threatened to kill him if he told anyone about Williamson. Disobeying Skeeter, Hayward-Barnes told his mother, who immediately contacted the authorities. It has been determined that Skeeter wrestled with the child, placed him in bathtub of scorching hot water, and stepped on him. The case is currently under investigation, but Skeeter has been arrested and held without bail for manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

[Images/Source: New York Daily News]

Donald Glover Will Voice Spider-Man In Disney XD Series

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Donald Glover, also known as rapper Childish Gambino, got his wish! The self-proclaimed Spider-Man fanatic will voice Miles Morales in the new Disney XD series called “Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors.” Back in 2010, Glover made headlines when he launched a campaign to get himself cast as Spider-Man.

Though the campaign did not result in Glover getting the main role, Miles Morales was created for the Ultimate Spider-Man comic book series. He’s a half-Black, half-Hispanic 13-year-old hero who takes over as Spider-Man after Peter Parker dies.

“I don’t think it’s hit me necessarily yet how big of a deal that is,” Glover said to USA Today about voicing the new Spidey. “I admire anybody who allows themselves to be themselves. Especially a kid.”

[Image: USA Today]

Writer Brian Michael Bendis told sources that the influence to have an ethnic Miles Morales came when Glover threw out the idea and shortly after President Obama was elected. Since it was announced that it will be Miles Morales’ first appearance on TV, critics are already slamming the character for being second best.

Glover told USA Today, “I don’t look at this as second place. Spider-Man, he’s such an icon — you have to do something with him.” The Miles Morales episode of “Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors” will air next year but the show’s premiere is this Sunday on Disney XD. Check out a clip below!

CBS Sports Makes History With All-Women Sports Show

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CBS Sports announced Tuesday that it will air an all-women sports show called, “We Need To Talk.” The hour-long, weekly show will premier on September 30th and will feature some of the most notable women in sports journalism.

Lesley Visser, Amy Trask, Tracy Wolfson, Dana Jacobson, and Allie LaForce will be on the panel. Special guests including Laila Ali and Lisa Leslie will also appear throughout the season.

“This is a very proud moment for all of us at CBS Sports,” said CBS Sports Chairman, Sean McManus. “A sports show featuring all women is long overdue, and we are thrilled to be able to make television history this fall with the national launch of We Need To Talk.”

[Images: Getty]

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Led by the Emmy Award-winning duo, Emilie Deutsch and Suzanne Smith, “We Need To Talk” will inevitable be groundbreaking. The two serve as the only women producing and coordinating NFL games.

“This is nothing less than a cultural pivot point. There are many shows have a woman on, but not one that has a table filled with women. When I started covering sports in 1974, the credentials often said, ‘No Women or Children in the Press Box,’” said Visser. “Forty years later, we are accepted as members of the media, assistant coaches (San Antonio Spurs), college officials, and executives. We have learned to love sports the same way boys and men do – not all of them played the game either. I’m proud to play for CBS.”

We are excited for the fate of “We Need To Talk.” Besides, it gives us sports fans something else to watch other than Stephen A. Smith yelling at his fellow panelists on ESPN’s “First Take.”

BET, Karrueche Tran Apologize After Blue Ivy Hair Diss

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Chris Brown’s on-again-off-again girlfriend Karrueche Tran is not having the best week ever. At all. Her on-again-off-again relationship with Chris Brown is a neverending source of criticism by Rihanna’s Navy and Chris Brown’s TeamBreezy alike.

But did she open up a can of new worms while co-hosting 106 & Park on Monday evening?  The answer would be a resounding yes.

The Beyhive doesn’t take to kindly to insults toward their Queen Bey and especially Blue Ivy.  So when Tran read the teleprompter Monday evening, as part of a segment in which 106 dissected the 2014 VMA’s, she probably should have ignored the script and freestyled before reading the joke as written on the teleprompter.

“I woke up like this, because my mommy forgot to comb my hair!” Tran exclaimed, while a photo of Blue Ivy flashed across the screen before she let out a giggle, explaining that she loved baby Blue.

It may come as a surprise to some that 106 would serve as a platform for such an off-color joke about Blue Ivy’s hair. The parenting of Jay and Bey has been called into question by those with much to say about the natural styles the toddler rocks – including the cute ‘fro she sported at Sunday’s VMAs.

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Many feel the comedic insult probably would have been better for a private blog or twitter troll post. But to insult a child, of a huge celebrity no less, BET looks like the villain, using already vulnerable figure (Tran) as a punching bag. Some joked that this is why Beyonce always appears to phone in BET performances, while reserving her blood, sweat and tears for tours and the MTV Awards stage.

Karrueche got a heap of angry tweets from the Hive, including the following, which is probably the only PG tweet that we can show:

Tran explained she didn’t write the joke, later tweeting:

But the damage was already done. Tran later issued an official statement:

“I am a huge Beyoncé fan and I love Blue Ivy.  I apologize for the comment and wish I had a chance to review the revised script so that I could have avoided participating in that segment…I love that Blue is able to wear her natural hair. I laugh when I am nervous and when I registered what I had just said, I of course was taken aback.”

BET’s Stephen G. Hill also issued an apology to fans, Beyonce, and Jay Z yesterday via social media.

“Last night on 106 & Park there was a stupid, unthoughtful joke made about a young child. We apologize publically to the child’s parents (and have done so privately) and we have taken punitive actions with those responsible. It was very bad judgment and we will serve you much better in the future. Oh, and please don’t hate on Karrueche; it was NOT her fault. We also apologize to her for putting her in that position.”

106 & Park will not be on-air for the remainder of the week per the BET schedule – although the hiatus was planned before Monday’s fallout.  However, sources close to the show report that at least one producer has been fired. Did the Beygency pull one of their moves? Hmmmm…

American Killed In Syria After Joining ISIS

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uptown-douglas-mcauthur-mccainDouglas McAuthur McCain, a Minneapolis native and aspiring rapper, has been killed in the Middle East after joining a terrorist organization. Investigations conclude that McAuthur McCain left the U.S. for Turkey to fight for militant organization ISIS.

Relative Kenneth McCain told The Associated Press that the State Department had called his family to tell them the news that McAuthur McCain had been killed in Syria. The State Department told the press that it’s unsure whether McAuthur McCain died in combat.

U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials have expressed concerns regarding the influence of die-hard jihadists seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Officials say they fear that radicals will change the mindset of newcomers to ISIS and teach them practices that they may, then, implement once they return home to the U.S. or Europe.

McAuthur McCain is a practicing Muslim who most recently lived in San Diego and worked at a Somali restaurant. He last spoke to his family on Aug. 22, 2014, telling cousin Kenyata McCain that he was in Turkey, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

An acquaintance at the restaurant said McAuthur McCain was normal and “open-minded’ and just “wanted to be a good Muslim.”

He had sent a series of tweets back in June, which included messages to an ISIS fighter, which read:  “I will be joining you guys soon.”

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