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More than Aid, Haiti Needs Allies

 The views expressed with in this editorial don’t necessarily reflect the views of AllHipHop.com or its staff.

“AllHipHop.com and other sites,

activists, entities and caring people are scrambling to create Hip-Hop for

Haiti. What it is exactly, we’ll let you know soon, but we know we will

continue to help the nation and support people like Wyclef that are more saints

than rappers these days,” wrote AllHipHop

CEO Chuck Creekmur last Friday.[1]

In his editorial, Creekmur castigated the apathy he believes certain well-to-do

Hip-Hop artists have displayed since news broke last Tuesday night of the 7.0 Mw

earthquake which leveled large parts of Haiti, claimed thousands of lives, and

displaced millions.

I applaud Creekmur for his charitable

endeavors at this time of need, but it’s also worth noting that aid alone never

goes far enough—more so in this specific scenario. Haiti needs more than aid—it

needs allies ready to carry as many crosses in not only helping rebuild broken

infrastructures, but ensuring political stability once the rubble clears, the

dead bodies have been disposed of, and mainstream media has turned its camera

lenses to more titillating topics.

In dark times like this, especially when

concerning darker people of the world, the liberal capitalists come out in

droves, ready to give as much tax-deductible money their accountants agree to.

As philosopher Slavoj Žižek wrote three years ago, this crew—of movie stars, TV

personalities, news anchors, entertainers, executives, wealthy philanthropists,

etc.—“love a humanitarian crisis; it brings out the best in them.” They never

hesitate to take a moment from their busy lives to urge everyone watching

whatever PSA they’re staring in this

time to “give” as “much” as possible; to spear a dime; to empty their pockets

for a good cause. But, to Žižek’s

point, more often than not, whatever aid is accumulated not only fails to reach

populations most in need, but also works to “mask” the underlying economic

exploitation exacerbating the disasters: “There is a chocolate-flavoured

laxative available on the shelves of US stores which is publicised with the

paradoxical injunction: Do you have constipation? Eat more of this chocolate!—i.e.

eat more of something that itself causes constipation.”[2]

And, it seems, the laxative-pushing has

already begun. The conservative Heritage Foundation was quick to remind patrons

that “Amidst the Suffering, Crisis in Haiti Offers Opportunities to the U.S.”

(Later renamed: “Things to Remember While Helping Haiti.”) In a blog post for

the foundation, an author describes why this life-altering (and life-stopping)

moment must be used, amidst the aid efforts of course, to “interrupt the

nightly flights of cocaine to Haiti and the Dominican Republic from the

Venezuelan coast,” to “prevent any large-scale movement by Haitians to take to

the sea in dangerous and rickety watercraft to try to enter the U.S.

illegally,” to “insist that the Haiti government work closely with the U.S. to

insure that corruption does not infect the humanitarian assistance,” and to

“implement a strong and vigorous public diplomacy effort to counter the

negative propaganda certain to emanate from the Castro-Chavez camp.” All these

are critical since “[l]ong-term reforms for Haitian democracy and its economy

are … badly overdue.”[3]

This is why aid is never innocent. There

are almost always political incentives tied to foreign aid. It’s not enough

merely to cut checks or text a few numbers; it’s critical to know into whose

hands—and toward what ends—one’s cash is going.  

Haiti has suffered enough—from the

bellicosity of its affluent neighbors—and as if to punish Haitians further, mainstream

media has made a circus of the crisis.

Once word of the disaster hit newsrooms

across the country, the big networks dispatched their celebrity correspondents with

swiftness. Anderson Cooper, Ann Curry, Brian Williams, Bill Hemmer—you name them.

Of course very few of the big-name bobbleheads were prepared for reality as it

stared them down. Take, for example, FOX News minion Bill Hemmer who whined,

“I’ve had the good fortune of seeing a good part of this world, and a lot of

the 3rd world, and this is the most inaccessible story I have ever covered.” He

went on: “It’s inaccessible in so many ways: our ability to communicate, our

ability to move around, our ability to get information.”[4]

Oh, you don’t say, Bill. Inaccessible? In a country systematically destroyed—and

turned upside down—by economic foreign policies!—Inaccessible? NBC’s Brian

Williams was less caustic: “This is just a colossal calamity.”[5]

The celebrity news men and women, with sleeves rolled up, made sure to

dramatize and document every aspect of their sojourn in Haiti—from sleeping in baggage containers, to inhaling

the toxic smell of dead bodies. These are the “stories” of their lives, as

Williams put it.  

But where’s Haiti’s story?

Starting last Tuesday night, viewers were

informed Haiti is such a “poor” country. Poor Haiti. Why this country is “poor”

has hardly gotten a second of address. Why a country only 500 miles from

Florida had, long before the earthquake, 50% of its citizens malnourished, with

70% making less than $1 a day, couldn’t be of lesser concern.[6]

In recent times, one other similar event—dramatically affecting the lives of

poor Black folk—comes to mind: Katrina.

The parallels are unmistakable:

1)     

The

historical antecedents which made both natural disasters even worse are almost

entirely ignored. In Katrina’s case, for a state with the third highest rate of

children living in poverty, and whose illiteracy rate was 40%, many, educated

by popular press, wondered why residents couldn’t simply drive out of the

impending storm. For Haiti, the most financially disempowered country in the

Western hemisphere, dilapidated by decades of political instability (sponsored

by certain governments), and flooded with foreign food imports and

subsidization—which inevitably led to famine, which inevitably led to street

riots and violent protests in mid-2008: little of this history has found solace

in the shock-and-awe broadcasts of network news and cable chatter.[7]

Instead, we are simply told that Haiti is a “poor” country. Poor by nature. Worse yet, the vibrant

history of successful revolt against former colonizers, of economic

independence, of genuine democracy—which spans centuries—is unknown to most

raised on Cable Network News.  

2)     

The

same news channels who sensationalized every bit of the Katrina debacle, and

then patted each other’s backs warmly for reportedly—though sufficient proof

doesn’t exist—holding accountable elected officials responsible, are back at

it. Sticking microphones into the faces of hapless victims, holding up babies

as props, shedding insincere tears—back at it. One wonders where the crocodile

tears were before relatives were picking and pulling out family members from

beneath bricks and buildings. The rain of salt water could have done greater

good when Haiti’s peoples were catching hell, for decades, due in large part to

the economic policies of a few superpowers.[8 ]

3)     

“I

hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says,

‘They’re looting.’ You see a white family, it says, ‘They’re looking for

food’,” Kanye West eloquently protested five years ago, in wake of images,

disseminated by TV, web, and print media, describing Black New Orleans families

disproportionately (in stark contrast to those of Whites) as looters—rather

than harmless citizens starving of hunger.[9]

And, though the disparity of racial representation hasn’t been featured in the same

sense this time, news folk have already gotten down to the business of fixating

on a few Haitian men armed with machetes, and on reports of food-looting, than

the hungry bellies left unfilled and the lost ones unrecovered. Not only does

this thoughtless practice offer a very unfortunate and unfair presentation of

the real reality, it also discourages

some from giving any further since, they figure, their charitable dollars are

likely to end up being misused or looted by street thugs and rogues. Just as

with the many unsubstantiated reports of babies raped in the Superdome and

mothers sexually assaulted, news of widespread, uncontrollable crimes are also

dominating mainstream reports.[10]

4)     

With

this, of course, comes the rationalization of military boots on the ground. For

Katrina, it was the criminal gang Blackwater dispatched.[11]

For Haiti, it is the U.S. Army and U.N. Peacekeeping forces—and, to be sure, backup private security. 5 years ago,

police forces ran amok, with unfettered and unrestricted power, imprisoning (or

attacking) any citizen who even looked suspicious (Black and male).[12]

There’s no reason to believe the same wouldn’t happen—or isn’t already

happening—again in Haiti. And reports of Blackwater employees blowing off heads and clashing with innocent civilians

should dispel the mistruth that military might can do the job of relief organizations.  

5)     

The

cranks of the religious right never disappoint in helping translate God’s thoughts. Just last week, Rev. Pat

Robertson informed millions of viewers—who, I can only assume, he believes are

dumber than 5th graders—that the people of Haiti are simply paying

for their “pact to the devil.” They’ve been “cursed,” he lamented. Not economic

exploitation; not hazardous architectural decisions forced by economic

exploitation; not a natural disaster aided by an abused planet; but divine retribution—as was also said

following Katrina. “Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people

might not want to talk about it,” Rev. Robertson explained on his international

program, “The 700 Club.” “They were under the heel of the French—you know,

Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil.

They said, ‘We will serve you if you’ll get us free from the French.’ True

story. And so, the devil said, ‘Okay, it’s a deal’.”[13]

It’s obvious Robertson’s twisted theological thinking is steeped in racism, in

a belief, much like slave masters convinced themselves centuries ago, that

white domination of Black “savages” was divine ordinance. But it also bespeaks

an extremist philosophy of Christianity—far from the redemptive gospel of Jesus

Christ—that preaches eternal damnation of every sinful—better yet liberal—soul.

When Katrina struck and dead Black bodies were shown swimming in muddied waters,

popular preacher John Hagee, another press secretary for God, explained why it was wrong to feel sorry for the victims (in

both cases, predominantly Black): “What happened in New Orleans looked like the

curse of God. In time, if New Orleans recovers and becomes [a] pristine city,

it can … be called a blessing. But at this time it’s called a curse.”[14]

But for all the parallels between

Katrina and Haiti, one difference shatters all similarities: the Bush gang was

well-equipped, financially and infrastructurally, to provide relief efforts for

dying citizens. Haiti was in no such shape. Even if all government agencies

were functioning faultlessly, there still was a great gap in what could be done

and what should be done. The apathy of cold-hearted, insecure nitwits like Rush

Limbaugh notwithstanding: “[ W]e’ve already donated to Haiti. It’s called the

U.S. income tax.”[15]

Katrina victims, however, deserved more from a government fully capable of

providing “adequate evacuation plans … [and] transportation for people

[lacking] money, cars, or help to get them out of the city.”[16]

The indifference of brain-dead megaphones like Bill O’Reilly notwithstanding:

“Many, many, many of the poor in New Orleans … weren’t going to leave no

matter what you did. They were drug-addicted. They weren’t going to get turned

off from their source. They were thugs.”[17]

Haitians, it is true, need all the help

they can get, but, as Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine, warns, “crises are often used now as the

pretext for pushing through policies that you cannot push through under times

of stability. Countries in periods of extreme crisis are desperate for any kind

of aid, any kind of money, and are not in a position to negotiate fairly the

terms of that exchange.”[18]

Desperation ought not to be abused by

oligarchic governments to drown Haiti into more debt or hold that sovereign

nation economically hostage. Desperation

ought not to be abused to enforce even more draconian mandates that only

promote further instability. Desperation

ought not to be abused to enhance specific political policies that only service

imperialistic ambitions. Unless one still believes in fairy tales, it’s almost

unthinkable to assume many foreign governments, who’ve already come bearing

gifts, don’t see this as an opportunity to accomplish all three.  

Katrina should serve a sobering

reminder.

While human beings were hanging from

rooftops and stranded in water-packed houses, Republican leaders were promoting

“relief measures … to achieve a broad range of conservative economic and social

policies.”[19]

If Haitians are to lead lives of dignity, devoid of foreign intrusion, allies

would have to do more than just donate money or relief resources in the coming

months and years. Though the earthquake as a natural disaster was almost

unpreventable, it also stands true that, as was written post-Katrina, “a

long-gathering storm of misguided policies and priorities preceded the

tragedy.”[20]

And this is where Harry Reid comes in.

Reid made news recently for comments underlying why Obama’s light skin and Ivy

League parlance—lack of “Negro dialect”—helped endear him to a mainstream

(white) majority. Flip that and the implications are obvious: Haitians, like

many New Orleans residents, are of dark skin and, most likely, speak in non-purified vernacular. Thus, their

concerns—indeed their humanities—were never of top priority in the hearts and

minds of those now rushing to shell out cash for these “poor” people. They aren’t “clean” and “nice-looking,” as

Vice President Biden might put it; thus, for decades and even centuries, their

plights were ignored—rendered inconsequential.[21]

But now that the earth has opened up to swallow a people long-neglected and

forgotten, we witness a stumbling-over of communities and countries, worldwide,

to “help” out at this most unfortunate of times.  

But this charade would only last a few

weeks—as always. In but a little while, the people of Haiti, like New Orleans

residents, would be left to fend for themselves and, most tragically, left to

defend themselves against neoliberal capitalists with insidious intents. And

the game has only just begun.  

Last week, House speaker Nancy Pelosi

expressed hope to see this “tragedy” transformed into a “new, fresh start” for

Haiti—an opportunity to build a “boom economy.” Pelosi drew from personal

history: “From my own experience with earthquakes, being from San Francisco, I

think that this can be an opportunity for a real boom economy in Haiti.”[22]

The same was said post-Katrina, and, within 2 years, permanent changes were

already instituted to reframe the city of New Orleans into a Disney-like

tourist attraction—wiped clean of its rich, Black history (and residents). None

of this was easy, of course. But it worked with a systematic plan including “criminally

contaminated trailers for Katrina-stuck families, hotel evictions, displacement

of communities [through] the demolition of public housing projects, rampant

homelessness, and forced evacuation [of] helpless families.”[23]

There are no reasons to believe Haiti

isn’t headed for the same fate. With George W. Bush and Bill Clinton

spearheading official relief efforts in Haiti, it seems, in fact, almost the

inevitable fate. Only a courageous countervailing movement that stands strong

for the dignities and humanities of Haitians—during the aftermath and beyond: when

TV channels have moved on to the next circus, when people have stopped giving

and relief organizations are running out of aid—would save Haiti from an even

greater earthquake already rattling the ground beneath.

Tolu Olorunda is a cultural critic whose

work regularly appears on TheDailyVoice.com

and other online journals. He can be reached at: [email protected].

[1] Chuck Creekmur,

“Haiti: Does Hip-Hop Care,” All Hip Hop

(January 15, 2010). Online:

https://allhiphop.com/stories/editorial/archive/2010/01/15/22097684.aspx

[2] Slavoj Žižek,

“Nobody has to be vile,” London Review of

Books (April 6, 2006). Online:

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n07/slavoj-zizek/nobody-has-to-be-vile

[3] Jim Roberts,

“Things to Remember While Helping Haiti,” The

Foundry (January 13, 2010). Online: http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/13/things-to-remember-while-helping-haiti/

[4] Danny Shea,

“Bill Hemmer From Haiti: ‘This Is The Most Inaccessible Story I Have Ever

Covered’,” The Huffington Post

(January 14, 2010). Online: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/14/bill-hemmer-from-haiti-th_n_424094.html

[5] Danny Shea,

“Brian Williams In Haiti: ‘This Is Just A Colossal Calamity’,” The Huffington Post (January 14, 2010).

Online:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/14/brian-williams-in-haiti-t_n_423550.html

[6] Lenore Daniels,

“The U.S.’s ‘Fidelity to Our Values’ is Haiti’s ‘Tragedy’,” The Black Commentator (January 14,

2010). Online (Subscription Required): http://www.blackcommentator.com/358/358_ror_fidelity_to_values_haiti.php

[7] Earl Ofari

Hutchinson, “Where was the world when Haiti really needed it?” The Daily Voice (January 14, 2010).

Online: http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2010/01/where-was-the-world-when-haiti-1-002493.php

[ 8] Garry

Pierre-Pierre, “As Haiti Embargo Tightens, Poor Children Get Hungrier,” The New York Times (July 3, 1994).

Online: http://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/03/world/as-haiti-embargo-tightens-poor-children-get-hungrier.html?pagewanted=1

[9] Aaron Kinney,

“‘Looting’ or ‘finding’? Bloggers are outraged over the different captions on

photos of blacks and whites in New Orleans,” Salon (September 1, 2005). Online:

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/09/01/photo_controversy/index.html

[10] Gary Younge,

“Murder and rape – fact or fiction?” The

Guardian (September 6, 2005). Online: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/sep/06/hurricanekatrina.usa3

[11] Daniela Crespo

and Jeremy Scahill, “Overkill in New Orleans,” Alternet (September 12, 2005). Online: http://www.alternet.org/katrina/25320/

[12] Photographic

report detailing questionable shootings of 10 civilians, following Katrina:

http://media.nola.com/law_and_disorder/other/NOPD-Katrina-Incidents2.pdf

[13] Amanda Terkel,

“Pat Robertson Cites Haiti’s Earthquake As What Happens When You ‘Swear A Pact

To The Devil’,” Think Progress

(January 13, 2010). Online: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/13/robertson-haiti/

[14] Matt Corley,

“Hagee Says Hurricane Katrina Struck New Orleans Because It Was ‘Planning A

Sinful’ ‘Homosexual Rally’,” Think

Progress (April 23, 2008). Online: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/23/hagee-katrina-mccain/

[15] Audio: http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201001130022

[16] Henry A. Giroux,

Stormy Weather: Katrina and the Politics

of Disposability (Boulder: Paradigm Publishers, 2006), p. 43.

[17] Audio and

Transcript: http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200509150001

[18] “Naomi Klein

Issues Haiti Disaster Capitalism Alert: Stop Them Before They Shock Again,”

Democracy Now! (January 14, 2010). Online: http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/14/naomi_klein_issues_haiti_disaster_capitalism

[19] Noam Chomsky, Interventions (San Francisco, CA: City

Lights Publishers, 2007), p. 149.

[20] Ibid., p. 147.

[21] Ibid., “The

U.S.’s ‘Fidelity to Our Values’ is Haiti’s ‘Tragedy’,” The Black Commentator.

[22] “Top US

lawmaker: Quake aid may give Haiti ‘new fresh start’,” AFP (January 16, 2010). Online: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jUdiiS9N1b_tKyvG6QWqj69grSqw

[23] Tolu Olorunda,

“Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of apathy,” The Daily Voice (August 28, 2009). Online: http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2009/08/this-is-working-very-well-for-002230.php

Monday Fashion Feature: Trend Alert: Preppy Chic

The classic boyish preppy look will be in full effect for spring 2010 – but the key for ladies is to ad a sultry edge this time around.  Keeping current with the hard rock chic look, typical pieces like blazers, trench coats, pencil skirts and such are kicked up a notch with unusual cuts, uses of fabrics, and details. Take Burberry, who reinvented their classic trench coat multiple times for spring/summer 2010: Having recently caught the film Sherlock Holmes, Rachel McAdams sexy menswear style comes to mind:  Normally colors associated with this look are rich dark navy, burgundy, tan etc. – but as you can see from Burberry’s icy lavender trench coat with bold black buttons, it’s ok to have some fun with it this spring. Get the look with these pieces from DJPremium.com: Striped Jacket by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Gaho Trench by Miss Sixty Fallon Oxford Flats by Dolce VitaAll Geometry Strapless Dress by French ConnectionSummer Tweed Pant by Converse by John VarvatosDobson Tuxedo B##### by Harajuku Lovers

Who Is Cooler: Diddy Or Jay-Z?

The views expressed with in this editorial don’t necessarily reflect the views of AllHipHop.com or its staff. 

 

Since “cool” is all relative for the sake of this argument I will define it as being someone whose lifestyle and mannerisms we look to emulate.  Someone we look to, to know what car to drive, what clothes to wear and how to wear them.  Basically, who has more influence over the culture?  The other day I was asked whom I think is cooler between Jay-Z and Diddy and I had to give the crown to Mr. Sean “Take That, Take That” Combs.

Be clear, I’m not accusing Jay-Z of being un-cool, so Jay stans fall back.

Bar none, Jay-Z and Diddy have set more trends than any other artists in the past decade.  They’ve both parlayed their influence into lucrative businesses outside of music and have defined cool for a generation.  However, to me it seems like Jay’s cool factor is depleting while Diddy’s only grows stronger.

 I say that because I feel like Jay-Z used to REALLY influence people.  If he said throwbacks were done it was over…no questions asked.  Jay says the 4.0 Range is no bueno???  You better go get a six.  Button ups, Rocawear, Evisu Jeans, Maybachs, And so on and so on.  We followed Jay from Marcy to Forbes and our tastes changed with his.

But recently not so much…

Cristal isn’t cool? Uhmmmm….if I had to choose between Ace Of Spades and Cristal, I want Cris.  It’s still the status symbol of choice unless of course you’re Jockin Jay-Z.  Autotune is dead? How many of your (or your girl’s) current favorite records have Autotune? All black everything? Did YOU run out and get a goth wardrobe?  I didn’t.

 

We still care what he has to say but nowadays it’s more like, “Thanks for your opinion, Jay, but we like what we like still.”

 We respect him as an artist, we admire him as a businessman and revere him as a legend but we don’t really look to him to know what’s cool anymore.

 

Diddy’s influence is also legendary.  The mid to late 90’s will forever be remembered as the Bad Boy era of shiny suits, bacchanal style partying and over the top opulence.  Although he’s not the most respected producer, rapper, actor (you get the idea) he does have a certain magic that has kept us intrigued over the years and we love him just as much today.Diddy is a big reason that Twitter and Ustream became the new, cool thing to do among urbanites.  Jay-Z trends when his album drops but Diddy trends year round when he makes up phrases like #lockin, #twittassness, #letsgo etc.  Much like Jay-Z, Diddy introduced us to a new liquor and told us it was the cool thing to drink. And, in my opinion Ciroc has been way more successful than other celebrity endorsed brands.  We used to go for the Goose now we go for the Ciroc…it just feels more baller-like and, like I said above, no change on the high end champagne preference.  He introduced us to the concept of “Bitchassness,” made it cool to vote (Vote or Die), and had swag long before we killed that word. 

After giving it a little thought I believe Diddy’s cool factor has outlasted Jay’s because he has adapted to the internet in a way Hov hasn’t.  Jay-Z’s whole image is secretive, secluded, exclusive which is why he never did cribs or anything like that. But now we like to know EVERYTHING about celebrities.  We want them to Ustream while they record their albums, we want them to tweet what they eat, what they’re watching, who their with etc.  We feel like we KNOW them especially Diddy so when he says, “Ciroc is the drink to drink” it’s like one of our friends co-signing.But Jay has almost NO internet presence (Well, there is roc4life.com) he’s still as secluded as he was in the 90’s.  So when he drops an album of course we all want to hear it – he’s an icon – but when he has a new cool thing for us to do (or not do) we’re not so eager to follow because we don’t feel the same connection.Lastly, you have to keep in mind I’m not talking about grown folks and Jay and Diddy’s “command” over their habits.  I mean the kids. If you can still remember how quickly things changed when Jay said throwbacks weren’t cool you’ll always remember Jay as that cultural titan.  But there’s a whole generation of kids coming into adulthood that don’t remember that.  They don’t even remember the shiny suit days but they know Diddy from @iamdiddy, youtube, Making The Band etc.

 Well there goes my argument…what do you think??  When you put talent and music aside – which of these two rap gods is cooler?

 

 

Nipsey Hussle, Pac-D##, SAS Headline Concert for Haiti

(AllHipHop News) Tonight, (January 17), a number of West coast Hip-Hop acts will lend their support to the relief efforts underway to aid the island of Haiti, which was destroyed during a massive earthquake on Tuesday (January 12).

 

Nipsey Hussle, Pac-D## and Strong Arm Steady will headline the “COOL Relief Effort and Benefit Concert” for Haiti.

 

Organizers are asking fans to bring canned goods, food, clothes, medical supplies or anything that can be sent to benefit the country.

 

The COOL Relief Effort, which is hosted by Devi Dev and the Lax Paperboys, will also feature performances by 1500 or Nothin, UNI, Diz Gibran, Blu + Mainframe, DOM Kennedy, Tiron and Problem.

 

DJ Drewbyrd, DJ Bianca and DJ Sean G. have also signed on board to provide sounds for tonight’s The benefit concert takes place tonight at Echoplex in Los Angeles.

 

Ticket prices are a $20 donation, with all proceeds going towards Wyclef’s www.Yele.org and the Earthquake Alliance.

Rapper Rick Ross Hosts Blood Drive To Aid Haiti

(AllHipHop News) Rapper Rick Ross is getting involved with the relief efforts today TV by hosting a blood drive tomorrow January 18.

 

The rapper’s Rick Ross Charities will team with The Community Blood Centers and 24 Hour Fitness to collect blood to order to send to the victims of the massive earthquake, which leveled the capital city of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.

 

According to the latest estimates, the death toll from the 7.0 earthquake will top 100,000 people, while millions of injured and wounded are in desperate need of medical attention and other vital supplies.

 

Ross is hosting the event on Monday, the same date the U.S. honors the birth of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

“We have to come together to assist Haiti in anyway possible,” Rick Ross told AllHipHop.com. “Give blood, donate what you can and remember the relief efforts for Haiti need to be long term.”

 

Ross will appear at the blood drive, which takes place from 5:30pm – 10:30pm at 24 Hour Fitness, located at 8385 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines. Ross’ charity work in Haiti started before the earthquake ravaged the country.

 

The rapper performed during the Starfest Multi-Cultural Music Festival, which drew an estimated 500,000 fans in December of 2009.

 

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While there, Ross visited several hospitals and offered encouraging words to children staying at boys and girls homes.

Hip-Hop Rumors: Will The Fugees Reunite For Haiti?

DISCLAIMER: All

content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual

info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.THE FUGEES TO REUNITE FOR HAITI?

I’ve been lurking on twitter! And guess what? I am seeing a bunch of “tweets” going on that suggest that the Fugees may do a benefit concert that will generate funds for the relief effort in Haiti. Now, on the real, there have been no indication that Wyclef and Lauryn are with it, but Pras is. He reportedly started this on Twitter, but I could be wrong.

People are creating the lineup for the concert, creating fake quote and everything – just to try to make this concert come to life. I’m not sure this will happen, but I certainly would be happy to see it happen. The Fugee rule.

If you are on twitter, make it a trending topic via #fugees4haiti tag

If you didn’t see it, Clef went in on the various folks trying to tear down his good will. Clowns probably didn’t pledge any support to Haiti, but just want to cause some drama!

SMH!

FUGEES, WE LOVE YOU!!!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].

Hip-Hop Rumors: Wyclef Attacked! Rihanna Dissees Chris Again! Ne-Yo’s New Gal!

DISCLAIMER:

 

All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.

THE DAILY TWO SENSE!

 

WYCLEF UNDER ATTACK

 

I find it funny how the Hip-Hop “Nation” is so quick to jump to the side of the media or attackers of one of our own. How many people gave to “legit” outlets during Katrina relief? I and where did all of that money go and who do you know that is actually back in New Orleans with a house? RIGHT. So, this is where I even challenge AllHipHop’s founder to some degree with what he wrote right here. In “Haiti: Does Hip-Hop Care,” Jigsaw asked the  Hip-Hop community to give. Right? We should give, but I remember when big names like Diddy and Jay gave to those “official” organizations and nothing happened. So, why should they give now? Giving and caring are two very different things. You can give and not care and you can care and not GIVE. I’m not sure if their giving is doing any good…even with the large sums of tax deductible money they give. SMH. I’m just texting ‘Clef a few times and if he does wrong, that’s on him. My conscious is clear…but will yours?

 

 

RIHANNA CLAIMS CHRIS BREEZY WAS A CONTROL FREAK

 

She talked to “W” magazine and threw Brown under the yellow bus again.

 

“There were control issues, insecurity. When people are insecure, they become very controlling and they can get very aggressive and in turn abusive. It doesn’t have to be physical. Like, they would say bad stuff to you to make you feel lesser than them, just so they would have control in the relationship. It takes a big toll on your emotions and on your everyday life. It changes you.”

 

 

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

 

Check out this interview that I did with a French website. Oh yeah, you have to know French. LOL!

 

According to Gyant, Ne-Yo is dating Jessica White, who is a Victoria’s Secret Model. They were allegedly seen “canoodling” in New York City. I hate that word… canoodling. I’ve never canoodled.

 

LMAO! I’m telling you. That Susan Boyle chick is like me –not built for fame! They say at an airport, she started singing into a damn MOP! They are worried about her mental healthy.

 

Usher wants Usher to chill on buying those fur coats that were stolen from him.

 

Happy Birthday to Aaliyah. She was one in a million. She’d be 31 if she had lived.

 

Tiger Woods has giving up on his wife, because his wife has given up on him. So, he’s supposedly coming back to golf in April and will participate in the US Masters. Life goes on.

 

NBC executive Dick Ebersol called Conan O’Brien’s 7-month run on The Tonight Show as an “astounding failure.” No, I think the failure is on them. It will come down in time.

NOW THAT SIMON HAS QUIT…I WANT THE JOB!

CONAN, WE LOVE YOU!!!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].

Video: Wyclef Speaks to Critics of His Haiti Foundation

Wyclef Jean’s video response to critics. Full editorial starts after video.

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(AllHipHop News) Wyclef returned to his native Haiti at the Port-au-Prince airport the day after the thousands upon thousands were killed in a lethal 7.0 earthquake. Thursday, the entertainer then began clearing the dead bodies of his country’s inhabitants off of the streets. Among other matters, he’s issued a plea to the President, started to plan telethon with George Clooney and his tireless lobbying.

Despite his efforts, the singer/rapper now must contend with allegations of misappropriated funds from his Yéle Haiti Foundation, according to a report from The Washington Post. “It seems clear that a significant amount of the monies that this charity raises go for costs other than providing benefits to Haitians in need,” said Dean Zerbe, national managing director of Alliant Group, a tax services company.

Hugh Locke, President of Yéle Haiti, countered the notion in a statement that was issued to AllHipHop.com early Saturday morning.

“Wyclef Jean, the founder of Yéle Haiti has never profited from his organization. It’s a shame that during this international emergency, we have had to divert resources away from our response efforts to address these allegations,” Locke said.

Locke also told the Post, “I think people should be very comfortable that any money given to Yele Haiti is going 100 percent to emergency relief.” He also stated that Wyclef’s status in Haiti gives them more access to those that truly need the money.

Furthermore, Locke stated that the organization has used monies raised for scholarships, a soccer team, various educational trips, employs natives and also established a food program that distributed supplies after a 2008 hurricane.

At press time, the Yéle Haiti Foundation had raised over $2 million in contributions, largely through texted donations.

Locke, through Yéle Haiti’s PR company, sent AllHipHop.com a list of “Financial Facts,” which can be seen below.

Fact: Yéle Haiti, originally called the Wyclef Jean Foundation, filed a tax return in 2000 and then suspended activities until 2005 and so was not required by law to file a tax return until it resumed operation.

Fact: Yéle Haiti received a clean bill of health in independent external audits conducted in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 by the firm of Tempesta & Farrell, P.C..

Fact: Yéle Haiti was guided by the firm of Grant Thornton LLP to ensure that all transactions involving board members Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis were conducted to fully comply with both the spirit and letter of the law governing such matters.

Fact: Yéle Haiti offices are located in Platinum Sound, the recording studio owned by Wyclef and Jerry Duplessis in order to save money. The organization pays only $2,600 a month for the space and a shared reception service, instead of considerably more for the same arrangement in midtown Manhattan.

Fact: Wyclef Jean was paid $100,000 in connection with a benefit concert in Monte Carlo in 2006, which was organized by a for-profit organization. The vast majority of that amount went towards costs related to the performance, including the hiring of backing musicians and other costs related to the production.

Fact: Yéle Haiti purchased $250,000 of airtime on the commercial television station Telemax in Haiti that is owned by Wyclef and Jerry. We have documentation allocating the hundreds of hours of Yéle programming, over several years, that addressed a wide range of development and social issues in Haiti.

Hip-Hop Rumors:Tiger Woods In Sex Rehab? Trey Songz New Manager? Def Jam Layoffs?

DISCLAIMER: All content within this section is pure rumor and generally have no factual info outside of what the streets have whispered in our ear. Read on.UNIVERSAL LAYOFFS

I heard Universal Records had some huge layoffs this week. From the person that told that person about this, they wanted to wait until after the holidays to do it. But, they are happening and its not going to stop there.

I have been saying this, but I am hearing that Def Jam is likely to be the next company to have these sorts of layoffs. I am not sure what the size of Def Jam’s staff is, but its definitely going down. I hope it doesn’t take a negative turn for what i heard beyond that.

JERMAINE TAYLOR GOT A GIFT?

Rumor has it Jermaine Taylor, the boxer, was paid not to show up to the Showtime boxing tournament. Taylor has been brutally knocked out in his last few fights. He was going to keep fighting in the tourney, but Showtime pulled the plug on it. He didn’t bow out…they paid a lil’ over a million to just drop out.KEVIN LILES IS MANAGING TREY SONGZ?

Kevin Liles is rumored to be the new manager for Trey Songz from what I understand. The rumors are swirling that Liles helped get Trey on the BP3 tour with Young Jeezy and Jay-Z. He is also trying to help take him to the next level. On the flip side, I heard Trey’s previous manager is LIVID about being out of a job. TIGER WOODS GOES TO SEX THERAPY?

Tiger has money. He’s been TOTALLY MIA since he got busted with a slew of hoes. But the new rumor is that Tiger has undergone SEX THERAPY. What happened to just being a FREAK BOY? LOL! The word is dude is getting help for sex addiction in Hattiesburg, Mississippi…Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services clinic to be specific. They also teach people not to be ashamed of their actions. WELL, at least Tiger gave $3 million and a cargo plane to Haiti! That may help him get some good will going forward from his witch hunters.

ILLSEED’S QUICKIES

That chick that pretended to give everybody AIDS…fail. Nobody believed you in the first place.

Eve has departed Interscope. Or is that the other way around?

Gilbert Arenas bowed down and pled guilty to one felony count of carrying a pistol without a license.

Madonna and Tyler Perry have donated $250,000 to Haiti. That’s it? LOL! TIGER, WE LOVE YOU!!! AND SO DO THE HOES!

They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry!

-illseed

WHO: illseed.com

WHAT: Rumors

WHERE: AllHipHop.com, MySpace.com/TheIllseed

HOW: Send your rumors and ill pics to illseed at [email protected].

Haitian Rapper Jimmy O Killed In Earthquake

(AllHipHop News) Wyclef Jean was desperately looking for Jean “Jimmy O” Jimmy Alexandre, but sadly the Haitian rapper was slain in the massive 7.0 earthquake that has devastated Haiti.

Wyclef told CNN, “I urge everyone who’s listening right now that knows how great this kid is in Haiti — I need y’all to verify this information. It would be a terrible loss for us.”

Jimmy O, 35, was a member of Wyclef’s Yele Haiti Foundation.

The rapper died as he drove to Port-au-Prince to work on a mixtape. His body was crushed by rubble disrupted by the quake.

The body was discovered on Friday (January 15) and verified by a passport on his lifeless body.

Jimmy O was very important to the local rap scene as he helped to mentor rappers and contributed charitable work through Wyclef’s Yele Haiti Foundation.

Jimmy O was a married father of three children.

“His loss will be tremendous in Haiti,” said Agent Robert Dominique to CNN.

The Yele Haiti Foundation has raised a total of $2 million as of Friday and the money will be allocated to emergency relief, food and other vital help for the people of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas.

AHH Stray News: Talib Kweli, I Love NY 2 Murder, Lydia Harris (Death Row)

(AllHipHop News) Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli will head to Dublin, Ireland at the end of the month in support of his upcoming album Revolutions Per Minute. Kweli will perform at the Tripod on Harcourt St with opening acts Messiah J. & The Expert, Brian Deady and Choice Cut DJ’s. Kweli is expected to perform material from his lengthy catalog in addition to new tracks from Revolutions Per Minute. The event takes place Saturday, January 30th. Doors open at 7:30PM.

 

An aspiring rapper who was briefly featured on I Love New York 2 will go on trial for murdering a 28-year-old San Francisco man in 2007. Prosecutors accuse Jamal “Milliown” Trulove of gunning down Seu Kuka in the Sunnydale projects in the city. Prosecutors said Trulove filmed his appearance on I Love New York 2 just weeks before he murdered Kuka. Trulove was booted from the show during the first episode because of an altercation with another contestant in the house. He is charged with murder and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

 

Lydia Harris, a reported co-Founder of rap label Death Row Records with ex-husband Michael “Harry-O” Harris, has launched a Stop The Violence 2010 Initiative to help New Orleans’ youth. Harris, who is CEO of Lady Boss Ent., has partnered with college professor and motivational speaker Khalil Osiris, who did a stint in jail. The initiative aims to reverse the violence in the communities in New Orleans using “highly trained street violence interrupters and community outreach staff, public education campaigns and community mobilization.” “In order to make collective and positive change on the streets of New Orleans today, we need everyone to exert their individual voting power holding their candidates accountable and true to their platform,” Harris said in a statement. “We need everyone’s voice to be heard. We need their voice to be heard by getting out there taking care of our communities.” Harris and Osiris will appear at Montrel’s Bistro on January 31 to promote the Stop The Violence initiative.

Cornel West and Brother to Host Intergenerational ATL Dialogue on Hip-Hop

(AllHipHop News) Brothers Cornel and Clifton West will be in Atlanta this Sunday (January 17) to host Sweet Tea Ethics, an event aimed at exploring the concepts of manhood, black love, mending generation conflicts, and the transformative power of Hip-Hop.

 

The dialogue hopes to challenge the black community to look critically at why there is deep division between elders and the Hip-Hop community, and why many hold a “clichéd view” leadership and formal education.

 

The free event was organized by producer and award-winning journalist, counselor and producer Edward M. Garnes, Jr who will also serve as moderator.

 

Garnes is the founder of From Afros To Shelltoes, a community program focused on using the arts to “bridge generation gaps between youth, elders, and Hip-Hop heads.”

 

Clifton West has been a mentor to Garnes, and co-founded BMWMB (Black Men Who Mean Business) with Mike Dailey to give the musical backbone to his brother Cornel’s Hip-Hop albums.

 

“The event is all about brothers sharing a journey of courage, testament of faith, renaissance of hope and a message of love; unduly granted by a lifetime of grace,” Clifton West told AllHiphop.com. “We are excited about our collaboration with From Afros To Shelltoes.”

 

Phonte of Little Brother/Foreign Exchange praised Garnes’ community efforts, framing them as a voice for late 20s Hip-Hop fans who are starting to feel displaced in the culture.

 

 “There is no movement that epitomizes the thoughts, dreams, and disillusionment of my generation better than From Afros to Shelltoes (F.A.T.S). For every young Black person that’s closer to 30 than 25, too grown for 106 & Park, but still too young for the Tom Joyner crowd, F.A.T.S is our leading voice,” Phonte stated. “With their exciting mix of wit, insight, and just plain old ‘real talk,’ F.A.T.S gives voice to a generation that wants to build on the future, while learning from the mistakes of the past. If my kids are reading about From Afros to Shelltoes in their history books in 20 years, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

 

Stic.man of Dead Prez has worked with Garnes, and lauded his ability to symbolically unite past traditions with today’s climate.

 

“Sweet Tea Ethics is as culturally profound as the Japanese tea ceremonies because it goes back to traditions of how we were raised in the south,” he explained. “Ed Garnes’ writing, teaching, and community work with From Afros To Shelltoes is very relevant, very Hip-Hop, and a very important bridge from our past to today’s sensibilities. His brilliance is committed to the values of our people in the most warm and accessible manner.”

 

Sweet Tea Ethics will be this Sunday (January 17) at Camp Creek Market Place’s Barnes and Nobles, located at 3685 Market Place Boulevard in East Point, GA.

 

The event is free and commences at 5PM.

Bun B Founds “Houston For Haiti,” Hosts Benefit Concert

(AllHipHop News) Bun B, the UGK rapper, will host a rap concert deemed “Houston For Haiti” in an effort to raise funds for the devastated people of Haiti.

“Houston For Haiti” will occur at Warehouse Live in Houston on Monday with a ticket price of $20. All the proceeds will go to http://www.care.org/index.asp?.

The likes of Slim Thug, Trae The Truth, ESG, Lil O, Candi Redd, Just Brittany, Corey Mo, The Party Boyz and others are confirmed to perform.

Local athletes like Vince Young of the Tennesse Titans are expected to appear as well.

Bun B has been an outspoken staple in the Texas rap scene and has been at the forefront of many productive movements.

“We all need to get involved,” Bun B said in a statement. “Race, color or creed, we are all Haitians right now, and we need to help our brothers and sisters.”

Haiti: Does Hip-Hop Care?

Haiti: Does Hip-Hop Care?

The crisis in Haiti has captivated the global community, but has it mesmerized the Hip-Hop community in same manner?

The affluent seem sluggish in aiding Haiti – at least publicly. Is it me?

Hip-Hop’s activist roots have shriveled in the last couple of decades, giving way to jewels, money, apathy and other collective vices. Nevertheless, in times of extreme need, like police brutality, Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina, we have witnessed the Hip-Hop heavies galvanize.

Its still early, but the upper echelon of the Hip-Hop elite seems to have opted out of the relief efforts in Haiti. Brad and Angelina gave a million of their money even though Jay-Z and Beyonce were the top grossing couple of 2009. Even the New York Yankees pledged $500,000 to help the country that seemingly has the worst “luck” with natural disasters.

And then there is Wyclef Jean, one of the most powerful and talented people in music. Being a pure-blooded Haitian clearly makes this cause his passion, but his energy isn’t contagious. We haven’t witness this level of sloth from Hip-Hop in quite some time.

This isn’t to berate or to call people out by names, because that’s not productive and we all know who the influential are. However, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I didn’t issue my own minute call to action. By now, we’ve all been able to witness the earthquakes’ destruction and how it has killed, annihilated those that were already under the thumb of corruption, poverty and disaster.

To the moguls: we know there are projects to promote and money to be made, but slide a bit of that budget to the relief effort in Haiti. Then, continue with the art of entertaining. (If you are a weed carrier of a mogul or rapper, give them a nudge to help out…it will bode well with good Karma.) Hey, if you don’t care, you don’t care. If you do care, do something.

In the meantime, AllHipHop.com and other sites, activists, entities and caring people are scrambling to create Hip-Hop for Haiti. What it is exactly, we’ll let you know soon, but we know we will continue to help the nation and support people like Wyclef that are more saints than rappers these days.

And through, Clef’s organization Yele.org, the people have spoken by donating a collective $1 million to Haiti. I’m sure some of the rich ones can politic a ‘lil more, right?

Reuters, Associated Press and AFP images

Action Against Hunger, 877-777-1420Agape Flights, 941-584-8078

American Red Cross, 800-733-2767American Refugee Committee, 800-875-7060American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, 212-687-6200  American Jewish World Service, 212-792-2900AmeriCares, 800-486-4357 Beyond Borders, 866-424-8403B’nai B’rith International, 202-857-6600CARE, 800-521-2273CarmaFoundation Catholic Relief Services, 800-736-3467Childcare Worldwide, 800-553-2328Church World Services, 800-297-1516Clinton Foundation, 501-748-0471Text “HAITI” to 20222 to donate $10 to Haiti reliefConcern Worldwide, 212-557-8000Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998 Cross International, 800-391-8545CRUDEM Foundation, 413-642-0450CRWRC, 800-55-CRWRCDirect Relief International, 805-964-4767 Doctors Without Borders, 888-392-0392Episcopal Relief and Development, 800-334-7626Feed My Starving Children, 763-504-2919 Food for the Poor, 800-427-9104Friends of WFP, 866-929-1694Friends of the Orphans, 312-386-7499Habitat for Humanity, 1-800-422-4828Haiti Children, 877-424-8454Haiti Foundation Against Poverty Haiti Marycare, 203-675-4770 Haitian Health Foundation, 860-886-4357Healing Hands for Haiti, 651-769-5846Hope for Haiti, 239-434-7183International Child Care, 800-722-4453International Medical Corps, 800-481-4462International Rescue Committee, 877-733-8433International Relief Teams, 619-284-7979Islamic Relief USA, 888-479-4968Lions Club International Foundation, 630-203-3836Lutheran World Relief, 800-597-5972

Medical Benevolence Foundation, 800-547-7627 Medical Teams International, 800-959-4325  Meds and Food for Kids, 314-420-1634Mennonite Central Committee, 888-563-4676Mercy Corps, 888-256-1900Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, 800-306-9950New Life for Haiti, 815-436-7633Operation Blessing, 800-730-2537Operation USA, 800-678-7255Oxfam, 800-776-9326Partners in Health, 617-432-5298RHEMA International, 248-652-9894 Rural Haiti Project, 347-405-5552 The Salvation Army, 800-725-2769Samaritan’s Purse, 828-262-1980Save the Children, 800-728-3843

ShelterBox

UN Central Emergency Response Fund

UNICEF, 800-367-5437United Methodist Committee on Relief, 800-554-8583World Concern, 800-755-5022World Hope International, 888-466-4673World Relief, 800-535-5433 World Vision, 888-511-6548 Yele Haiti, 212-352-0552 Wyclef Jean’s grassroots orgText Yele to 501501 to donate $5 via cellphone

Rap Moguls, Artists Call For ‘Peace Week’ In Honor Of MLK

(AllHipHop News) A number of influential hip-hop artists will join New York Governor David Patterson today (January 15), to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

 

Rap mogul Russell Simmons, Hip-Hop pioneer Eric B. of Eric B. and Rakim, Salt of female of rap’s most successful girl group Salt-N-Pepa and the real Avon Barksdale will appear in Queens with activist Erica Ford and Gov. Patterson to launch “Peace Week.”

 

The Governor and the celebrity rappers will use their influence to call for peace and unity in the streets and amongst the youth.

 

“We lost to many to senseless violence. Martin Luther King called for non-violence and peace,” Life Camp/Peace Week Founder Erica Ford told AllHipHop.com. “[It’s] time to ‘Bury Da Beefs’ and live at least a week of it in his [MLK’s] memory.”

 

“Peace Week” launches today (January 15) and ends January 22 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, a civil rights activist who encouraged non-violent protest as a means to bring forth social change.

 

Various events will take place in different boroughs throughout the week, including a celebration for MLK at Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and a “Teen Peace Party” in Jamaica, Queens.

 

Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is being celebrated across the world today (January 15).