“Sing Like Bilal”
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Mickey Factz Ft. Emilio Rojas [BGA]
“Red Sky”
Crooked I Ft. Vaughn Anthony P###. By Tabu
“Let Me Buy You A Drink”
B Stacks
“Ain’t So”
Alternative Pick: Fantasia Ft. Cee-Lo
“The Thrill Is Gone”
Big Sean Ft. Pat Piff
“I Go Hard”
Bizzy Bone Breaks Down His Cash Money Deal
Hello AllHipHop.com, this the first of many releases from yours truly. This is Bizzy Bone formerly of Bone Thugs n Harmony.I say formerly for reasons I’ll later reveal.So the press release is not taken out of context let me clear up the Cash Money issue right now before jealousy of the playa hata’s sets in.Actually the discussion I had was about how Cash Money, Young Money, G-Unit, Bad Boy and similar labels have SURPASSED MAJOR LABELS in marketing and promotion and all out record sales in the industry.My view was seeing how Bone Thugs n Harmony (in my eyes a mega legendary group) has been placed in a losing situation.This is the reason why I (BizzyBone) decided to go on my own and deal with labels of the Cash Money nature.To me it would be the ideal label for the likes of myself or even the entire Bone Thugs n Harmony group.Cash Money, Young Money and such labels as this know how to treat a artist. Whether the artist has been in the industry for a decade or brand new to the system.They (Cash Money, Young Money, G Unit etc.) respect the artist position and know how to market and promote a top caliber artist(s). :Basically to keep a artist hot: The label has to believe in them and clean them up so they shine like the pristine diamond (10 million + copies) sellers that they’ve accomplished. Instead these major labels put huge names on the roster for looks and investments. Treating a artist like s### , but bigging them up towards investors for larger budgets and when its goes down hill the blame is on the artist(s) or group(s). That makes the artist(s) value go down lower and lower and puts forth a black cloud over them that only talent and perseverance can dissipate. Only Lyor Cohen (from my studies and research) truly understands this fact.Labels like Cash Money, Young Money, G-Unit have continuously showed majors THERE IS NO RECESSION!This is simply a excuse for majors to sit on their a#### and control who’s hot and who’s not. Whether their endorsement of who’s hot is mediocre or flat out s##### (with enough radio and hype any artist can look successful) yall know who they are no need to call em out. Playa gotta eat.With Barack Obama being the first black president and jobs in MAINSTREAM AMERICA declining, this was a opportune time to feed the Hip Hop community this (Recession) fallacy. Remember HIP HOP COVERS THE GLOBE NOT JUST MAINSTREAM AMERICA! There is enough money for everyone. Lil’ Wayne 1 mill + in 1 week, Drake 450,000 + in oneWith them under the Cash Money umbrella I can see how people can misinterpret my comments.With the recent sales of Bone Thugs, mediocre at best, I feel it is a must to stand up for my brothers, regardless of me being a solo artist since 1998 contractually, they still my muh~f**ken dude’s. So I’m standing for them and others caught in that dark place. With Bone I learned to separate Business and pleasure, friendship and personal. Those are my golden rules towards the brothers.So that was the discussion. Basically Cash Money has the upmost respect from me along with their offsprings and affiliates.BABY, SLIM, FIDDY, DIDDY (Sean Combs), bless yall for yall continuous work in the Hip Hop community. I see yall and appreciate you all as well as the others whom follow in yall footsteps. I’m 44 records deep and even celebrity rehab won’t take me? (Some humor)Also I’m not trying to have any falsehood statements or press releases out there. Thank ALLHIPHOP.COM for getting this straight. Very reputable of you and expedient.Lock down Love Lil Wayne. The entire Hip Hop community eagerly awaits your return.Peace,Bizzy the Kid(yall remember used to be in Bone Thugs n Harmony?)P.S. I was asked by the group to not go on tour because I negotiated my own show money that’s why I wasn’t there.Long Live Child Support BUCK BUUUUUUUCK!
Young Black
“That Pipe”
OJ Da Juiceman Ft. Brite P###. By Supa Villain]
“Trap Boyz”
Haitian Officials Postpone Election Announcement Over Wyclef’s Eligibility
(AllHipHop News) The electoral authorities in Haiti have postponed today’s announcement of presidential candidates approved to run, while they deliberate the legality of Wyclef Jean’s bid to run for President. Authorities were supposed to finalize the list yesterday (August 18th), but they need more time to deliberate the challenges lodged against several potential candidates, including Wyclef Jean. Opposition is questioning Wyclef Jean’s citizenship with the country, claiming he is not eligible because he has not had five consecutive years of residency in Haiti, in addition to tax compliance issues. Reuters reports that other candidates, like Jacques Edouard Alexis and Leslie Voltaire are also being scrutinized for their eligibility to lead the country, which was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake in January that left up to 300,000 people dead on the tiny, impoverished island. Wyclef Jean claims that he has maintained residency in Haiti for over five years. In related news, Wyclef announced that he was in hiding yesterday, after receiving emailed death threats over his bid for President in the election, which is slated for November 28th. According to reports, Wyclef is currently hiding in a secret location in Haiti out of fears for his safety.
ChartWatch for August 18, 2010: Em Dominates, Rick Ross Still Selling, Drake Almost Platinum
Theres not a lot of certainty in the music world. You can be on top of the charts one week and plummet the next. One artist that has managed to maintain his sales peak is Eminem. The Detroit artist climbs back into the number one spot with his latest album, Recovery. Eminem sells 130,810 copies this week bringing his total sales for this album to 2,129,750 and pushing him to double platinum. Em is followed by Rick Ross, who falls from six to eight with his new album, Teflon Don. (Side note .just listened to the album its cool but I do have a serious question. Arent MC Hammer and B.M.F pretty much the same song? Am I super late on this observation? Just wondering )
The Miami rapper moves 29,110 copies this week bringing the albums total sales to 308,378. Canadas own Drake claims the number 11 spot with his debut Thank Me Later. The Young Money MC pushes out 23,944 copies sold this week bringing his totals to ..drum roll please 983,186. Drake is pretty close to the line and he should be going platinum next week. (American platinum not Canadian platinum). The Black Eyed Peas hold their position at number 18 by moving 14,959 copies of their fifth studio album The E.N.D. This brings the Hip Pop groups total sales to 2,718,090.He was number four last week but this week he takes a significant drop to the number twenty spot. Bun Bs Trill OG sells 14,020 bringing its total 2 week sales to 53,858.He is followed by Atlantas B.o.B and his debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray. This week B.o.B takes the 32nd spot, moves 11,081 copies, and brings his total sales to 333,720. Finally, Outkasts Big Boi claims the 42nd spot this week. Sir Luscious Leftfoot the Son of Chico Dusty moves 8,143 copies this week giving the Atlanta MC 131,319 in total sales.Once again there arent too many interesting albums coming out so no Dropping this Week. There should be some decent stuff coming out in the next few weeks so be on the lookout. See you next week.
Method Man To Sue Insane Clown Posse
(AllHipHop News) Method Man is planning to sue rap group ICP (Insane Clown Posse) after being cut on the face at the Gathering of the Juggalos festival this past weekend.According eyewitness accounts, fans started pelting the artist with objects during a performance with Redman, at which point Method Man was hit in the face with a full beer can.Although the rapper still managed to perform with a wound that was visibly bleeding, the rapper came out yesterday and said I’m suing those motherf**kers!After Method Man was hit in the face, Redman cursed at the crowd then telling Method Man, “Your face is cut, go take care of that.”But Meth insisted that the show went on replying, “Start the music we’re continuing the show, let’s f**k these motherf**kers up.”Reality star Tila Tequila who was rumored to be targeted prior to her performance, was also assaulted during the event, when thousands of people chased her off the stage and attacked her trailer as well. “We paid her before the show and assured her that even if things got out of hand, she could keep the money if she had to leave the stage,” Violent J. told TMZ.com. Tila Tequila, born Thien Thanh Thi Nguyen, is in the process of filing a lawsuit against the Insane Clown Posse and other organizers of the Gathering of the Juggalos. And there will be no settlements, according to Violent J. “We’re not gonna sit back and give her our money, Violent J. stated.
Hip-Hop Rumors: Kanye West & Justin Bieber Link For New Album?
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.
WHO: illseedWHAT: Rumors, Funnies, Fails and more!
WHERE: illseed.com, twitter.com.illseed
HOW: Send your rumors, sightings and ill pics to illseed at al*************@***il.com.
THE DAILY TWO SENSE
This is too crazy. Kanye West’s comeback album will include a collabo with Justin Bieber. To this day, I have never heard a song from the Bieber-meister. All I know is dude is a trending topic and Usher is getting PAID! Jazzy F checks in to deliver the news and Mikey T weighs in on the hoodie rumors with Ali Vegas talking about 50 Cent.
KANYE AND BIEBER!!!!
Raekwon Confirms Kanye West & Justin Bieber Collabo, Kat Stacks the Advocate for Sucka MCs & Blocks me on Twitter
Whats good AllHipHop Jazzy F. the Harlem Don from TheSocietyOnline.biz had to hit you all in the head real quick so check it.
I guess this is no longer word on the street. The Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Raekwon collbo will be happening according to XXL. Over the weekend Kanye was on Twitter with busting it up with Justin Bieber about how much they loved each others music and for odd reason a collabo between Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Raekwon from Wu Tang Clan was mentioned. Now not only was it mentioned but they were dead serious. I really do not know what to say about this but #random. I mean do hip hop fans really wanna see this happen is the questions. I am sure fans of each artist would love this but what does the Hip Hop community has to say about this. Check below for the phone conversation Raekwon had with XXL Magazine and confirmed the collabo was actually in motion already.
Im honored that you like my Music @JustinBieber!!! he wrote. You gotta hear the album. Maybe we can do something together. Me, You and Raekwon.
Me, u, and the chef 2gether on a song = EPIC, Bieber responded. Might sound crazy 2 u but even having this convo is living the dream. Thanks.
Well, XXLMag.com just got off the phone with Rae, and he says the song is already in the works. Its definitely gonna happen, he said over the phone. When you got these kinda talents merging together to do something exciting, I think its something thats gonna make the fans check it out. Im big fans of both of these guys. I think, at the end of the day, shorty is a sensation. And [for him] to acknowledge me it makes me feel good that the young generation is checkin me out like that. And at the same time it gives me a position to play a big brother in the game. He wants my assistance or whatever he can get it. I respect him, I like his style.
Yeezy called me and we gon make it pop, he continued.. At the end of the day were all doing our thing in the game and for them to even just have a conversation and just put my name in it it feels good. It feels good to respect what I do and I respect what they do. And we gon make a hit. Justin got his own fan base and Me and Yeezy got our own fan base and we gon make it happen. We gon make a good record.
Let me put you guys on about Kat Stacks being a advocate for Sucka MCs. It has been reported that Kat Stacks was created to help rappers get press, which has become very clear so lets cut her 15 min of fame short. Sucker MCs in hip hop has gotten desperate to get a internet buzz and some twitter followers being that it seems only Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., Eminem and Drake are the only rap artist selling records these days. Here is where Kat Stacks come in. Hip Hop has gotten so wack artist has suck to an all time low.
Kats Stacks and her corny crew as you all know are some low budget rappers out of ATL who has been feeding off the fame of videos on World Star Hip Hop. She rolls with the corny dude with the Jeri Curl name Yung Mazi who is a struggling artist out of ATL. We all know Kat Stacks is a video hoe so she was already getting popped off by camps like Young Money, Wall Street, Bow Wow and Nelly. I am sure after those videos you notice the caliber of rappers she been connected with has declined to artist like Chopper. Kat Stacks has been helping other local NYC struggling artist as well. She even tweets about how she is helping artist get press.
I was talking with my twitter followers about Kat Stacks helping sucka MCs and she was cool until I tweeted that Natalie Nunn said she was a punk b#### and of course she blocked me and went on a twitter rant due to the rival she has with her. Kat Stacks is not only a s### but more stupid than Fantasia. She can’t spell to save her life and I think her tweets will verify what I am saying is pure truth. Check out the tweets below. Bart is the same dude who slapped the s### out of her at the bar while Yung Mazi watched but check the tweets. Kat Stacks even tried to get French Montana attention. We all know French is coming up and she needs more relevant rappers to help her keep her 15 min alive. Has hip hop got this bad that rappers are creating smuts to help them get press?
Remember follow me on Twitter for nothing but around the clock Twittertainment www.twitter.com/itsJazzyFBaby
MIKEY T’S HOOD RUMORS!As always, no editing needed for Mikey T!!!!Justin Bieber and kanye west as well as Raekwon this record is going to generate alot of buzz if done rite it could sell millions but most likely will end up on a mixtape . T.I. is expecting 20-25 million for his film Takers first week sales , we’ll have
you the coverage for that ..T.I. is on the positive side for this project , though it also stars the likes of Paul Walker & Chris Brown.French Montana working with Fat Joe this could be a album cut for the forthcoming
Excuse my French LP ..French is gearing up for the album . Free Max B !! Look For a Few More Jabs between 50 cent & Shyne Tony Yayo was recently speaking on a new Gunit Album on EMI after Banks project Ali Vegas sets the record straight on the deal that cost both him an 50 cent the major releases of there late 90’s Albums …Hip Hop would have been different
ALI VEGAS TALKS BEING LABEL MATES WITH 50 CENT
We Back Mikey T The Movie Star ..holla at me on twitter 4 more hip hop info @MTMovieStar AllHipHop, All Day
ALI VEGAS aka LIL NAS, WE LOVE YOU!
They
keep us talking, but if we
stop talking about them then
they should worry!
Hip-Hop Rumors: Nicki Minaj Fights Keyshia Fought? Wyclef Getting Death Threats!? Lil Wayne’s Ex Engaged?
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.
WHO: illseedWHAT: Rumors, Funnies, Fails and more!
WHERE: illseed.com, twitter.com.illseed
HOW: Send your rumors, sightings and ill pics to illseed at al*************@***il.com.
WYCLEF IN HIDING, DEATH THREATS!
This is getting serious, this election in Haiti. First of all, Wyclef has been getting death threats over his decision to run for president of Haiti. But, how strange is that considering he has been rejected due to his failure to have proven true residency for the required 5 years. On the flip side, Clef says he can and has proven that he’s been a Haitian resident for 5 years straight, the minimum needed to run for prez there. So, there you have it. I hope he doesn’t become endangered due to a fool sending him emails of death threats. Can’t they track that anyway? Anyway, by the time you read this, the full list of presidential candidates should be known.
LAURENCE FISHBURNE SPEAKS!!!
Morpheus aka Laurence Fishburne has apparently spoken. Dude, I cannot imagine how embarrassed and or outraged he must be. BUT, dude apparently has taken particular exception for his Chippy D for using the good ol’ Fishburne name. According to TMZ, Montana is completely cut off from his life and he doesn’t want to know about her. SMH! Damn. Poor Larry. This is what Montana said he said, Im not going to speak with you till you turn your life around. Well, perhaps there is hope after all. Finally he said, You used your last name. No one uses their real name in p###. You know, that’s true. I never even thought of it like that. She was really secretly trying to get her daddy’s attention.
THE MENACE: DOWN WITH GAME OR NOT?
I have gotten quite a lot of feedback on this Menace situation as it pertains to The Game and Black Wall Street. Basically, some people are telling me that Game is letting Menace do his think and not trying to restrict him. So, basically Menace rapping with Big Fase 100 is not big deal really. But, on the flip side of things, some are saying that Menace is not happy, but he is pretty much staying around Game to play…the game. Who knows? Hopefully, it gets resolved if there is something to be resolved, before it gets out of hand.
LIL WAYNE’S EX-WIFE ENGAGED?
I was checking out my on/off girlfriend Necole Bitchie (just kidding) and she said that her sources are telling her that Lil Wayne’s Ex Toya and MempHitz are about to get married. She apparently had a big rock on her ring finga.
TIM DOG GOES CRAZY? SCREWS IS BUDDIES OVER?
Did you read the story with Marc Live on AllHipHop.com? Do you even know who that is? Dude is a legend to the game. Click here to read that story, which delves into Ice-T, Eminem, Raw Breed, Kool Keith and much more…including Tim Dog. So, here is what Marc said about Tim Dog.
Marc Live: I did a record called Project X with Kool Keith and Tim Dog (of the Ultramagnetic MCs), we did the video, we did tours in Australia, and had 20 dates in the states, but Tim spazzed out, he lost it. He saw his career coming back, he saw it as an opportunity to exploit what we were doing. And he spazzed out. We were like, dude its here, we brought it, enjoy. We’re your friends, don’t f**k your friends. Don’t go into my wallet while I’m sleeping and take $20 out and then the next morning be trying to look for the $20 with me when its in your back pocket. Don’t play me.
So, it got me thinking about a rumor that I heard about Tim Dog. This really isn’t a rumor. Basically, Tim Dog was looking to make a grand comeback to music. Oh, do you know who Tim Dog is? Basically, this is the dude that really sparked the flames of the East/West beef. He released a song called “F**k Compton” which was a diss to NWA, but it really was a shot to the whole West. So, his debut was similar…a lot of dissing of NWA, DJ Quik and some others. Never dissed Ice-T or Ice Cube though. You know, Dre and Snoop dissed him on “Dre De.” Anyway…here is the rumor. A couple years ago Tim Dog gets a new deal with an indie label. From what I understand, the label was HYPE. And, based on what Marc Live said above, things seemed to be going Tim Dog’s way. Well, Tim Dog totally refused to do any press, including AHH! Because he wouldn’t interview with AllHipHop, the label just decided to drop him. He basically had the deal, had the momentum, but didn’t give himself a chance, because he didn’t want to do press. I’m telling yall…I don’t tell at LEAST 50% of the stuff I know/hear! Sheeeeeeesh!
THE JUGGALOS – THE FACTS FOR YOU RAPPERS
OK, so…I will speak for myself and say…I never heard of the Juggalos. They are some sort of crew down with the Insane Clown Posse. We are just starting to realize that these fools are trouble at every event. Furthermore, they have a history of hitting rappers. They even hit Method Man! Did you read about that? Click here for that.
But, peep the science in a letter from one of my loyal readers!
Illseed,
Whats up man. I am tripping out about this whole Insane Clown Posse Gathering of the Juggalo rumors. This aint a new thing. I was at the Gathering in 2005 performing with some people and we knew going in that it was going to be nuts. We walked into the venue as 5,000 of those crazy bastards where chanting Kill Him to a rapper who had just hit some girl in the crowd when he threw something back at them. Its nuts and its well known that this is the way that things go down. Just a few years ago Too Short left the stage after getting hit with a bottle after only doing two songs. Really whoever is managing these artist need to step their damn game up. Its not something that just happened. They have this fd up initiation that they do to any artist that comes to that stage and that is throw all kinds of s### at them. Even if they like you they are going to pelt your ass with whatever they can get in their hands. After our show there wasnt one of us that didnt have some kind of cut or wasnt completely drenched in that nasty ass Faygo soda that they throw up there. So seriously someone needs to tell these damn managers to do a google search and see what the hell happens out there with those crazy ass people. The messed up thing about it is that the actual artists on ICPs label are actually nerdy nice guys. They just portray this fd up image that bunch of kids who need something to look up to latch on to. Its not them at all they are just cashing in on kids insecurities. Thats whats wrong with Hip Hop. They guys arent real but the kids thing that they are. You are just hearing about it now cause nasty ass Tila got jacked up but its been going on for years. Just thought I would give you the heads up.
C.Davis
NICKI MINAJ AND KEYSHIA COLE FIGHT?
I was reading HelloBeautiful.com and their gossip section had an interesting bit in there. They got word that Nicki and Keyshia Cole had gotten into a full fledged fight! What the hell!? I thought both of these ladies had left the hood behind them and had taken on new accents and all that. Anyway, H.B says they were doing a song together when one of the dudes with Nicki said something off color to KeyKey. Keyshia reverted back to the old KEYKEY from OAKTOWN. She reportedly raised caine and then Nicki wanted to jump in. Well, after that it was chaos. Nobody got their head flown off or anything, but the song idea has been trashed…for now.
FANTASIA UPDATE!
Fantasia and Cook are back together, reports say. Dude was just kicked out of his house the other day and now he and ‘Tasia are reportedly talking marriage themselves.
Radar Online says:
Fantasia and Antwaun are back together again and they have even talked about marriage once his divorce is finalized with Paula. She knows that her family will only fully accept her relationship with him when he is no longer married.”
“Antwaun has finally committed to Fantasia and his wife knows that their relationship is definitely over now. They want the divorce pushed through as soon as possible and Fantasia is determined to marry him and she wants to start a family with him too.
DRAKE’S MADE OVER $10 MILLION!!!!!
Holy Moley!!!! Peep this from MTV:
JAY-Z IS THE RICHEST MAN IN HIP HOP
According to Forbes, Jay-Z tops the Hip-Hop Cash Kings list of the wealthiest people in hip-hop after raking in an estimated 63-million dollars over the past 12 months. Interestingly enough, Jay made way less last year, when he earned 35-million. For the second consecutive year, Jay knocked out Diddy, who banked 30-million. Akons business ventures grossed 21-million while Lil Wayne earned 20-mil and Dr Dre made a respectable 17-million. To check out the full list, head over to Forbes.com now.
Drake missed the top ten on the Hip-Hop Cash Kings list, but he still made 10-million dollars this year and claimed number 11.
Last month we reported Jay claimed the number six spot on Forbes magazines annual Top Earning Musicians of 2010 list.
Drizzy getting that PAPER! None of the others are shockers to me.
ILLSEED’S QUICKIES
According to DJ Semtex, Jay Electronica is working on his new album in the UK. Sure is making us wait.
Man, I am being old that it is highly possible that Foxy Brown could do a bid again. I don’t think we need her in jail again.
Kanye’s Twitter is funny. He say the most outrageous things like Swizz Beatz is the best producer of all time.
Christina Aguilera reportedly blames Lady GaGa for ruining her career. Duh! Gaga is the White version of Beyonce when it comes to ethering competition.
OBAMA IS PROTECTED, DUN!
Shout out to my homey Santo! He told me all about this one! Obama is out there in Seattle for some bizness he has to tend to. Well, security is crazy high around Obama and people – Santo included – heard a HUGE EXPLOSION SOUND. What people thought they heard was security/secret service or whatever protects Obama, blowing something out of the sky. Anyway, it definitely sounded like and explosion to the naked eye. But. what happened was a pair of military fighter jets broke the sound barrier to get to a private plane that had gotten into the air space near where Mr. Obama was visiting. That dude is lucky he wasn’t blown out of the sky. The plane came from Portland, Oregon. Sonic Booms…louder than a bomb.
ROCK STEADY CREW – I HAVE A “NEW” RECRUIT!
Her name is Grandma Tracy and she can give Crazy Legs a run for his money!
SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END
I really ignored this the other day, due to the total absurdity of it all. But apparently, in India or something they have pole dancers that put the American strippers to shame. The only thing is…these are dudes. LOL!!!! Yo, isn’t this illegal there?
NICKI MINAJ AND KEYSHIA COLE, WE LOVE YOU!
They
keep us talking, but if we
stop talking about them then
they should worry!
A Double Standard?: Alicia Keys vs. Fantasia Barrino
Both singers allegedly stepped out with a married man. All similarity ends there. Guess which one gets a pass and which one gets labeled with a scarlet letter — and why.
American Idol winner and R&B singer Fantasia Barrino tried to kill herself. It is being reported that she took an overdose of aspirin and sleep medication in an effort to escape the media scrutiny related to her role in an alleged affair with Antwaun Cook, a married T-Mobile salesperson. Cook’s wife, Paula, filed for divorce, naming his affair with Barrino as a factor and alleging that the two had made multiple sex tapes. Barrino maintains that there are no sex tapes and that Cook was separated, so she did nothing wrong.
Media coverage of the suicide attempt has been interconnected with relentless documentation of the illicit affair, including the fact that Barrino had Cook’s name tattooed on her shoulder, which she later covered. Even in Charlotte, where I live when not in D.C., the media, which normally rarely cover the North Carolina native made good, have been fixated on the attempted suicide and t##### details of the affair. I’m wondering: If they know that this type of scrutiny is what drove her to try to commit suicide, why would they continue badgering her in the press? But that’s another story.
What I found to be most interesting is that Alicia Keys has been able to escape this type of media scrutiny in the mainstream press, even though she reportedly was engaged in a three-year affair with a married man, which ultimately resulted in the demise of the marriage. Keys also became pregnant and engaged to super producer Swizz Beatz while the man was separated but still married nonetheless. She then married Beatz weeks after his divorce was finalized. The black press have let both Fantasia and Keys have it for their indiscretions, but the mainstream media took to the Fantasia story like a rabid dog while ignoring the illicit actions of Keys.
They painted Keys’ wedding as a fairy tale, even though she allegedly did what many women other than Angelina Jolie consider to be the unthinkable: steal another woman’s husband and get pregnant before the divorce is even final. Most women on the receiving end of that behavior would take the pregnancy as a great big open-handed slap to the face. Of course, we don’t know if Keys “stole” Beatz from his wife — no one knows what goes on in marriages — but it appears that she was romantically involved with someone who was married. Beatz’s wife, Mashonda, maintains that she was blindsided by the affair with Keys, who was even a guest at her baby shower.
I’m wondering why the mainstream media are so willing to let Keys off the hook for what many would call socially unacceptable behavior at best, and immoral behavior at worst, while taking Barrino to task for similar behavior.
Is it that Keys is too pretty to be pummeled?
Yeah, I said it. Keys, who is beautiful, fits the dominant standards of beauty in the black, white and brown worlds. Is that why she’s being handled with kid gloves by the mainstream press? We wouldn’t want to beat up on someone who is just so attractive.
The biracial beauty, raised by a single mom in Hell’s Kitchen, hails from humble beginnings. She is loved throughout the world for her musical talent, charity work in Africa and overall “go get ’em girl” personality. Her inspiring anthems, including “Superwoman” and “Empire State of Mind” with Jay-Z, solidified her place in American pop culture as an icon en route to what is sure to become legendary status. The girl who graduated as valedictorian of Performing Arts High School at age 16 and dropped out of Columbia University to pursue a music career has done extremely well for herself. So this isn’t a “hate on” Alicia Keys piece.
The sad truth is, even in 2010, skin color and conventional standards of beauty play considerable roles in these real-life soap operas. Keys fits those beauty standards; Barrino does not. The message boards were brutal when Barrino played Celie on Broadway in The Color Purple; “ugly” was a common descriptor. Now, Barrino might not be a cover girl, but she is far from ugly.
Like Keys, Barrino also hails from working-class beginnings. (She shares a hometown, High Point, N.C., with jazz legend John Coltrane.) Barrino has been vocal about her challenges: poverty, being molested as a child, becoming a teen mother, having an abusive relationship with the child’s father, illiteracy, and recent financial and family challenges. These challenges have been documented in her Lifetime biopic, Life Is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story; her autobiography of the same name; and her VH-1 reality show, Fantasia for Real, not to mention the Oprah interview seen around the world.
And while Barrino is extremely talented, she has not enjoyed the superstar success of Keys, although the two share a record label and mentor, Clive Davis.
Keys, on the other hand, represents the New York aesthetic of cool. At a young age, she fought her way through the ultracompetitive New York music scene to get a record deal. Perhaps it is a regional issue? Beat up on the dark-skinned girl from the South. Love and admire the biracial girl from the North.
Perhaps the mainstream media respect Keys’ career more because of her metropolitan background and traditional career path, whereas Barrino is from small-town America and, some would argue, lucked into her success in the recording industry. With the exception of Kelly Clarkson early in her career and Carrie Underwood, American Idol winners have not been able to reach superstar status in the ways that those who come up through the traditional route do. Or is it easier to go after the small-town girl who made it big rather than the city girl who made it bigger?
Are the media willing to lambaste Barrino because she seems to fit certain stereotypes about black people? That of the poor, downtrodden black girl singing her way out of the hood — or, in this instance, the country — whose laughter is clearly hiding a lot of pain? She does a little jig to make you feel better and sings her heart out while crying about her circumstances — she is as American as apple pie in terms of media representation. She’s the girl who refuses to leave North Carolina, setting up shop in Charlotte instead of going to New York, Los Angeles or Atlanta, as many black music artists do who have hit the big time. She will not leave her past behind, even though, if you watch her reality show, you know it is her past that is getting in the way of her present and her future.
But even that doesn’t fully explain why Barrino is being labeled a home wrecker while Keys gets a pass. It doesn’t explain why Barrino’s affair has been covered so much while Keys’ has not. It has been reported that Cook reconciled with his wife at one point after the affair. Beatz, however, left his wife, divorced her and married Keys in record time. In the end, Keys got her man; Barrino didn’t.
Clearly, Keys has a better publicist than Barrino. Maybe it’s because the mainstream media would have to admit that this “perfect” woman, whose image they helped construct, is, in fact, far from perfect. How can you make a song like “Superwoman” and sleep with and get pregnant by another woman’s husband? Supporting women isn’t just about equal pay.
Keys has crafted a Teflon image that even the mainstream press won’t touch, but Barrino is an open target. Some of you think that karma is swift and Barrino deserves what she is getting. You may be right, but the way she’s being raked over the coals while Keys’ actions are completely ignored exposes a hypocrisy in our culture. Both women are wrong. What’s also wrong is the difference in the way their bad behavior is covered by the mainstream media. And that makes absolutely no sense.This opinion piece was originally published on August 16, 2010 at TheRoot.com. The views in this editorial don’t necessarily reflect those of AllHipHop.com.
Signs The World Is Coming To An End! Lying Mother of 3 Kills Infant Sons!
Just so you know, we will be doing it again with Myspace on the 18th with a free concert with Big Boi. Click the image for details and if you cannot make it, come to AllHipHop to see it live via stream. Dude’s show is incredible.
THE REAL SIGNS THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END
According to initial reports, Shaquan Duley, a mother of two boys, flagged down South Carolina police a half a mile from the Edisto River. She told them she was in a car accident. This motherf**ker drove her car into the river with her sons in it, strapped in their car. This is giving me a headache just writing about it, I’m so p##### off. Two-year-old Devean Duley and 18-month-old Ja’Van Duley were found soon. As soon as they found old, dumb a$$ Shaquan, they knew she had done it. She wasn’t wet and there were no tire marks around the river. But, here is what’s even WORSE. This stupid, sick and evil woman got into a fight with her mother and then decided to kill her kids. She actually killed them by putting her HANDS OVER THEIR MOUTHS AND SUFFOCATED THEM. THEN she drove them into the river. She is up for two counts of murder. Oddly, she has a daughter too that she didn’t kill. Man, I swear, give her the chair. Skip the costly trial and all the legal crap. Just give her the chair, yo! Killing two innocent kids like that! What is wrong with us!?
On top of it all, this chick is 29. The early reports are suggesting she wanted more free time..to be free. She didn’t have any money. She wasn’t able to hold a job. Lemme stop…head hurts.
This is a tragedy. I hope somebody sees the handwriting on America’s wall.
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Jay-Z’s Hip-Hop Top Earner With $63 Mil, Diddy Rakes In $30 Mil
(AllHipHop News) Forbes has dropped its annual list of the top money makers in Hip-Hop music and rap mogul Jay-Z has topped the list for a second straight year. According to the report, Jay-Z, born Sean Carter, raked in $63 million over the past 12 months. He will pay the government about $22 million, more than any other artist earned on the entire list, excluding Sean “Diddy” Combs, the #2 earner with $30 million. “We put together this list by applying the same rigorous methodology we apply to our research for the Forbes 400, the Celeb 100 and other specials,” Forbes writer Zack O’Malley Greenburg told AllHipHop.com.Greenburg, who is also penning a business-focused biography on Jay-Z told AllHipHop.com that information was gathered “concrete data” provided by companies like Billboard, Pollstar, Niesen Soundscan, the Recording Industry Association of America. Additionally, Forbes conducted its own investigative research through interviews with executives, lawyers, media buyers, label executives and various artists. “This year’s rankings show that Hip-Hop’s most financially successful artists continue to be the ones who’ve diversified their revenue streams,” Greenburg told AllHipHop.com. This year, the rappers earned a combined $300 million in earnings, which is almost equal to the amount that was generated last year, despite a troubled music business and an ailing economy. Both Jay-Z and Diddy’s income was generated by their various business ventures. Jay-Z still has a stake in Rocawear, owns the 40/40 nightclub, is still touring and owns a stake in the New Jersey Nets. Diddy made his cash from his television businesses, including his Diddybeats earbuds and his partnership with Ciroc vodka. “Ten or fifteen years ago, everyone had to have their own record label; a
few years later, the trend was to have a clothing line,” Greenburg continued. “Now, those are
prerequisites for a Hip-Hop empire, and the new must is having your own
brand of alcohol. Diddy made more from his Ciroc deal than from any of
his other sources of income, and Ludacris, T.I. and others are following
suit.”Akon checked in at #3 with $21 million earned through a deal with Pepsi, his Konvict Clothing line and his Kon Live record label, which is home to Lady Gaga, T-Pain, Kardinall Offishall and others. Lil Wayne checked in at #4 with $20 million earned from his hit album Rebirth and through his endless touring schedule. Super producer Dr. Dre was #5 on the list with $17 million earned, while Ludacris was #6 with $16 million earned off movie roles and his exclusive new line of cognac, Conjure. West coast rap veteran Snoop Dogg’s appearances on television and in films and a worldwide tour landed him at #7. Famed Producer Timbaland is listed at #8 with $14 million, followed by fellow producer Pharrell Williams, who raked in $13 million to take the #9 position through his Ice Cream/Billionaire Boys Club clothing line, as well as his involvement in creating the soundtrack to the animated hit, Despicable Me. Despite a low profile over the past 12 months, Kanye West landed at #10 with $12 million earned through his various business endeavors, including producing hit records. The rest of the Top 20 are listed below: 11. Drake $10 million 12. T.I. $9 million (Tied) 13. Swizz Beatz $9 million (Tied)14.Eminem $8 million (Tied)15. 50 Cent ($8 million (Tied)16. Young Jeezy ($8 million) (Tied)17. Common $7 million 18. Soulja Boy $ 6 million (Tied)19. T-Pain $6 million (Tied)20. Lil Jon $ 5 million, Tied with Gucci Mane, who earned $5 million despite being incarcerated most of the year. To view the full article and a feature about Hip-Hop cars, click here.
VIDEO: T.I. Talks Takers And The Change In Music
After nearly a year out of the spotlight, rapper T.I. is poised for one of his biggest summers ever. Just last night, the King made his return to the stage in New York City for his first concert since being released from prison. On August 27th his new movie, Takers, releases in theaters and he’s also scheduled to release another album this summer as well. All this comes on the heels of him tying the knot with long-time girlfriend, Tiny.
T.I. stopped by theGrio to explain his new role in Takers. Although it’s his third movie, this is the first time the rapper has donned the title of producer. T.I. said he welcomes the added responsibility. For him it was part of the natural progression of his career. “By the time I’m 40, I’d much rather be in the talks for Oscars than still for Grammys,” the Atlanta rapper explained.
However, music is still very important to him. “Each of my albums represents a part of me at a particular point in time,” said T.I., “I can’t make Trap Muzik right now…I can’t make Paper Trail right now.” He considers his newest album to be more uplifting — a representation of how he feels about his life right now.
Bun B P###. By J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
“Don’t Go”
Young Dro Ft. T.I. and Gucci Mane
“Freeze Me Remix”