Travis Scott Gives Surprise Pop-Up Performance At BAPE Store For NYFW Yesterday, Travis $cott surprised fans at a pop up performance for New York City’s Fashion Week at BAPE NYC. The pop up served double duty, promoting his new album, Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight , but also to announce Travis Scott X Bape upcoming collaboration before their unveiling at Complex Con. The surprise pop up performance prompted thousands of fans to flood the streets of SOHO to watch Travis perform hits from his new album — causing police blockades and traffic pile-ups. Nice, right? Tracy Bailey JR
North Dakota Legalizes Weaponized Drones For Police Use As if it isn’t terrible enough that drone-driven weapons are a thing…but now, police are able to use this technology to remote-control situations that they feel require weaponized force — at least in one state. Via Independent : Armed drones could be used by police in the US state of North Dakota after local lawmakers legalised their use. While they will be limited to “less than lethal” weapons, tear gas, tasers, rubber bullets and pepper spray could all be used in theory by the remote controlled flying machines. In a classic case of unintended consequences, the original sponsor, Republican state representative Rick Becker said he was unhappy with the way legislation turned out. His original intention was to prevent law enforcement officials from using the unmanned aerial vehicles from conducting surveillance on private property without a warrant. “In my opinion there should be a nice, red line: Drones should not be weaponised,” he said. The original draft of the House Bill 1328 said: “A state agency may not authorize the use of, including granting a permit to use, an unmanned aircraft armed with any lethal or non-lethal weapons, including firearms, pepper spray, bean bag guns, mace, and sound-based weapons.” However, the state’s police union amended the Bill, limiting the ban to only lethal weapons, meaning that sounds cannons or rubber bullets could be used on police drones, according to The Daily Beast. Police already get way too trigger happy in some situations out here. Imagine how many more issues could come about when they can remote control their weapons from the sky… Creative Commons
North Dakota Legalizes Weaponized Drones For Police Use As if it isn’t terrible enough that drone-driven weapons are a thing…but now, police are able to use this technology to remote-control situations that they feel require weaponized force — at least in one state. Via Independent : Armed drones could be used by police in the US state of North Dakota after local lawmakers legalised their use. While they will be limited to “less than lethal” weapons, tear gas, tasers, rubber bullets and pepper spray could all be used in theory by the remote controlled flying machines. In a classic case of unintended consequences, the original sponsor, Republican state representative Rick Becker said he was unhappy with the way legislation turned out. His original intention was to prevent law enforcement officials from using the unmanned aerial vehicles from conducting surveillance on private property without a warrant. “In my opinion there should be a nice, red line: Drones should not be weaponised,” he said. The original draft of the House Bill 1328 said: “A state agency may not authorize the use of, including granting a permit to use, an unmanned aircraft armed with any lethal or non-lethal weapons, including firearms, pepper spray, bean bag guns, mace, and sound-based weapons.” However, the state’s police union amended the Bill, limiting the ban to only lethal weapons, meaning that sounds cannons or rubber bullets could be used on police drones, according to The Daily Beast. Police already get way too trigger happy in some situations out here. Imagine how many more issues could come about when they can remote control their weapons from the sky… Creative Commons
Kelly Clarkson has had a wonderful career that has spanned over fourteen years. Clarkson won the first season of American Idol back in 2002. It’s crazy to think that she’s still as relevant as today as she was back then. Her career has continued to flourish, but Idol did not. The singing competition finally concluded earlier this year after 15 seasons. That’s a great run for any series. You’d think singing competitions would be a bit long in the tooth by now, but NBC continues to find success with two cycles of The Voice every year. Granted, there always seems to be some sort of rift with the judges on the show, but it drums up good ratings. Clarkson has enjoyed a lot of success throughout her career. She’s the first artist from the show to achieve 100 Billboard number 1 hit singles. Yes, that means the star has topped the chart at least 100 times. That’s not an easy task for anyone, so she deserves a lot of recognition for that. That said, Kelly is not about to forget where she came from. She knows American Idol gave her the career she has today. Joining singing competitions was the best way to get noticed in 2002. There was no Youtube for artists to go viral back in those days. Kelly took to Twitter to express her gratitude to the once hot Fox series. Kelly Clarkson Brings Everyone to Tears on American Idol “14 yrs ago 2day @AmericanIdol opened a door w/such amazing opportunities & experiences 4 me!” the 34-year-old singer wrote on Twitter on Sunday, September 4. “I am 4ever grateful & blessed! #heresto14more.” There’s every reason to believe that Clarkson will still be topping the charts in fourteen years. She really does have staying power and it’s not often an artist can continue to top the charts after all this time. Kelly recently signed a major record deal with Atlantic Records, so at least we know she’ll continue to release great music. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Welcomed Babies in 2016 She also welcomed a son in April of this year, but she will be back with new music very soon. It just goes to show that even though the final few seasons of American Idol were terrible, the show still served a huge purpose. It gave the likes of Kelly Clarkson a start in an industry that’s very difficult to become a star in. Clarkson even appeared on the final season of the Fox hit, but apparently Carrie Underwood was not impressed . Underwood was given a smaller segment than Clarkson. This peeved Underwood because she knows she is the bigger money maker of the two. What do you think of all of this? Hit the comments below! View Slideshow: 27 Stars Who Shamed Their Body-Shamers
Now that Drihanna is officially a couple, the usual frenzied speculation as to just how serious these two are has commenced. Or should we say re-commenced? As you probably know, in this case there’s an added layer of intrigue, as Rihanna and Drake dated before . There’s some disagreement about how and why it ended, but most accounts concur that Rihanna dumped Drake , presumably after enduring an endless barrage of soulful glances and attempts to rhyme “RiRi” in song form. But now they’re back on – and not surprisingly, it seems they’re moving very, very fast. For starters, Drizzy and RiRi are now rocking matching tattoos: The pic above shows a camouflage shark (obvi!) on Rihanna’s ankle. The story is that Aubrey gave her a stuffed camo shark as a gift when they dated the first time, because that’s just the kind of special thing that Canadian rappers do for the ladies in their lives, girl. Now, it seems that Drake is rocking a very similar tatt on his forearm. Seems kind of weird to permanently remind themselves of their unsuccessful first attempt at a relationship, but the takeaway here is that these two are clearly in it for the long haul. In fact, sources are telling E! News that at least one half of the A-list couple is ready for the altar. View Slideshow: 29 Drake Photos and Videos That Are Pure Drizzy “Drake is very committed to Rihanna,” the insider says. “They are both mature and ready to commit now. Drake loves Rihanna so much and if it was up to him, he would marry her tomorrow.” No big surprise there. After all, this is a guy who recently informed the world that he’s been carrying a torch for this girl for seven years: But what about the fact that DriRi went up in flames the first time? Well, the source says that’s all water under bridge: “Things are different this time between them for the better.” In this case, we’re guessing “different for the better” can be translated as, “She instructed Drake to stop being such a whiny little biznitch.” View Slideshow: 39 Ridiculously Racy Rihanna Photos If there’s any truth to these rumors, we’re hoping that Drake is keeping his Lisa Frank notebooks with “Mr. RiRi” scribbled all over them under lock and key. For one thing, the Barbadian songstress proved the first time around that she’s not into rushing things, and Drake seems to be on the verge of scaring her off again. In addition, Chris Brown has made his feelings on this relationship very clear , and he’s not exactly the most level-headed dude. We’re not saying a Chris Brown-Drake fight would be one sided affair, but … we can’t think of how to finish this sentence without dissing Aubrey.
As you’ve no doubt heard by now, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose not to stand for the national anthem before a preseason against the Green Bay Packers last week. The decision sparked a heated public debate, with some arguing that Kaepernick had disrespected his country and its military veterans. Others maintained that the former NFL standout (who lost his starting position to Blaine Gabbert last season) was exercising a constitutional right and calling attention to the critical matter of police brutality directed at people of color. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told the press after the game. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.” The 28-year-old added: “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder. “When there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand.” On Thursday, Kaepernick doubled-down on his protest by kneeling during the National Anthem prior to his team’s matchup against the San Diego Chargers, thus sending the clear message that he has no intention of backing down from stance. Needless to say, it’s a complex issue, and numerous public figures have expressed their views on Kaepernick’s actions. Of course, from the start of the controversy most sought-after opinion has been that of President Barack Obama, who has remained silent on the issue of Kaepernick’s protest until today. Obama is currently in China for a Group of 20 summit, and during a press conference this morning, he was asked about his views on Kaepernick. The President had this to say: President Obama on Colin Kaepernick “I think he cares about some real legitimate issues that have to be talked about,” Obama said, in what a statement of somewhat less-than-full-throated support for Kaepernick’s refusal to stand. “He’s exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there’s a long history of sports figures doing so.” Obama then expressed his empathy for veterans who feel that Kaepernick’s actions were indicative of a lack of respect for the sacrifices made by those who have fought in the US armed forces: “As a general matter, when it comes to the flag, and the National Anthem, and the meaning that that holds for our men and women in uniform and those who fought for us, that is a tough thing for them to get past, to then hear what his deeper concerns are.” Despite the fact that Obama didn’t take a hard-line stance on either side of the debate, his comments have resulted in harsh rebukes from his most strident critics. Of course, that should surprise absolutely no one who’s familiar with the climate of American politics in 2016. View Slideshow: 20 Scandalous Sports Stories
Pretty Little Liars is officially coming to an end . Marlene King revealed on August 29 that the Freeform drama will return for 10 more episodes before signing off for good. This raised a lot of questions about whether the show would be able to wrap up all of the plot in 10 episodes. Marlene chatted to reporters on August 31 about the end of the series and what to expect. Here's what she revealed: 1. No Time Jump “It’s one of our moments-later premieres,” King said. “So, Ali will not be super pregnant, she’ll just be a little more pregnant than she was last night.” 2. Paige Is Sticking Around “Paige is not gone for good,” King said. “Having that triangle play out felt very appropriate for us as storytellers as we embark upon these final 10 episodes.” 3. Wren Is Back! “We’ll see him in more than one episode, which is fantastic,” King teased of Melissa Hastings’ ex-boyfriend. “He had never had a scene with Ezra, and he and Ian [Harding] are friends in real life, so [Julian Morris] was like, ‘Please, can I have a scene with Ezra?’ So that was really the originator for the first scene that we’ll see Wren in when he comes back.” 4. Movie Spin-Off? “We’re very open to finding ways to keep these characters alive,” King said. “I hope that down the line we find a way to bring the girls back together again. It’s such a fun world to play in that we’re always keeping those options open.” King teased that the final episode will be like a movie, “The last episode is really going to be treated like a two-hour movie.” 5. Charlotte’s Origins “We will find out who Charlotte’s father is,” King revealed. “And we will find out how Spencer came to be with her entire family dynamic.” 6. Is Jenna Really Evil? “She knows A.D. exists,” King said of the Liars’ enemy. “She is, I would say, anonymously working for A.D. in ways that we find out moving forward a few other people on our show are as well.” View Slideshow
John Legend is stepping into what may be America’s most polarizing controversy at the moment. And it centers around America’s long-time theme song. Last week, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines for something he did away from the field. Just a few feet away from the field, to be exact. Prior to a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick sat down on the bench during the Star-Spangled Banner. He bucked the tradition of standing and taking off one’s hat in order to show respect for his country and he later explained why to NFL.com. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said. He added: “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder. Here is a photo of Kaepernick taking his stand sit: The quarterback did not cite any specific incidents, but it stands to reason that he’s motivated to make this protest by the disturbing number of African-American deaths at the hands of police officers in 2016. For instance, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile both lost their lives in confrontations with authorities in June and July, respectively. Neither man appeared to be an imminent threat to the lives of the cops at the time. Kaepernick’s stance has elicited strong opinions from both sides, with critics aghast over the way he his spitting on his own country… … and defenders saying he’s just exercising his First Amendment right to make a larger point. On which side does Legend fall? Team Kaepernick, it would seem. After tweeting an article about the Star-Spangled Banner that claims an often unsung verse in the Francis Scott Key classic “literally celebrates the murder of African-Americans,” Legend referred to the song as “weak.” My vote is for “America the Beautiful,” he wrote, offering up that track as the new national anthem. Legend then posed a question to those hating so hard on Kaepernick. These people absent-mindedly stand up during sporting events just because they’ve been told to, but are they even aware of the basis behind the song? Moreover, do they even like it? “For those defending the current anthem, do you really truly love that song? I don’t and I’m very good at singing it. Like, one of the best,” he Tweeted. It’s true. John Legend can wail! Since his initial protest, the back-up signal-caller has made it clear that he’ll continue to sit “to stand with the people that are being oppressed.” He explained: “To me, this is something that has to change. When there’s significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent and this country is representing people the way that it’s supposed to, I’ll stand. There’s people being murdered unjustly and [people are] not being held accountable. Cops are getting paid leave for killing people. That’s not right. That’s not right by anyone’s standards.” This sort of stance isn’t new to anyone who has been following Kaepernick on social media. The athlete has been outspoken when it comes to similar issues, providing his 845,000 Twitter followers and 1.3 million Instagram followers with plenty of updates about racial injustices. “This country stands for freedom, liberty, justice for all – and it’s not happening for all right now,” he says. Do you agree with him? Do you think this is the proper way to stage a protest? And, be honest, wouldn’t America the Beautiful be a better song for us all to sing anyway?
Well, good to see Kaepernicks fine azz girl is backing his protest.. While at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, Nessa of MTV’s Girl Code and Hot 97 talked to Baller Alert about her boyfriend Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers and his decision to sit during the National Anthem.
San Francisco 49ers Refuse To Punish Colin Kaepernick For Sitting Out The National Anthem Colin Kaepernick is WOKE !!!! The 49ers QB has refused to stand up for the national anthem during some recent pre-season NFL Games. Kaepernick, who’s biracial and was adopted by white parents, said he is “not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color.” Kaep said that he didn’t run his actions by anybody prior to sitting out the national anthem. “I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.” According to USA Today his team will not be punishing him for exercising how he feels about AmeriKKKa: Kaepernick is 28. Malcolm X was 28 when he came out of prison with an evolving self-awareness. I’m twice that old but constantly working on self-awareness. And so is this nation, which Kaepernick shone a light on in his own way. There’s nothing in NFL policy mandating that players must stand for the anthem, as much as you know the image-conscious, corporate-backed league stands on the principles of patriotism. The 49ers haven’t admonished Kaepernick, either, recognizing the American principles of self-expression while also pointing out liberties afforded U.S. citizens. It’s a fine line, and the Niners and NFL had surely better realize that other cases could be just around the corner as societal concerns continue to stay in the headlines — which go far beyond the world of football as Colin Kaepernick reminded us. Racism is very real… I wonder why Colin Kaepernick would protest the National Anthem & proclaim America to be White Supremacist nation? pic.twitter.com/YNXIZ1VHT0 — D (@Delo_Taylor) August 27, 2016 #STAYWOKE IG
