With that shady BDR character… SMH. They must’ve heard there was lots of white women down there. Our homeslices over at the New York Observer posted some photos of Perpetual Professional Bandwagon Jumper Russell Simmons bringing his wallet flexing “poet” friend Kanye West by the “Occupy Wall Street” protests and we thought we’d share: Yes, that Kanye West—the one with the $25,000 chains and small child-sized Horus-head-as-bling pieces—dropped into Occupy Wall Street today. He was apparently accompanied by Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, who Tweeted “kanye west is on his way to #occupywallstreet” with this photo: It sounds like it was sheer pandemonium, though no definitive accounts other than plenty of pictures and “he was here, and then he left” have yet to come through. And so it is: Kanye West gets added to the list of celebrities (Susan Sarandon, Jeff Mangum, Michael Moore, Talib Kweli) who have dropped into Occupy Wall Street who are not Thom Yorke. These ninjas ain’t even in the 99%, are they? Last time we checked they was ballin’ so hard, you know… And we could probably pay off all our student loans combined with the gold in Ye’s mouth. Just sayin’!
‘If you let Def Jam die, you’re gonna let a bit of the culture die,’ he tells ‘RapFix Live,’ fearing label’s lack of leadership could lead to its demise. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Irv Gotti Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News When you think of the great Def Jam executives, Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles all come to mind. But don’t forget to credit Irv Gotti with helping rebuild the legendary hip-hop label in the mid-1990s. After producing for Jay-Z ‘s independent debut, Reasonable Doubt, Gotti helped set up the now-infamous deal between Hov’s Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. DMX , in all his multiplatinum glory, came next, and Ja Rule followed, all brought to Def Jam by Gotti. Now, the Murder Inc. founder wants to head the seminal rap record company. “I wanted to speak on this because I love the hip-hop culture with a deep, deep passion,” Irv Gotti said when he visited “RapFix Live” on Wednesday (October 5). “Def Jam is the light of that culture; Def Jam personifies the hip-hop culture. There is no other hip-hop label like Def Jam.” Irv acknowledged the contributions of late label executive Shakir Stewart but criticized former Def Jam Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid and said there hasn’t been a proper president at the company since Jay-Z left at the top of 2008. Gotti, like Violator’s Chris Lighty, has always had his name come up whenever rumors of who will take the label’s reins surface. “If you don’t want to hire me — the best man for the job, the man who will die for it — cool, I understand. You think I’m Suge Knight, you think the feds may come in here again if you hire me, cool,” the music producer said referring to the money-laundering charges he beat in 2005 . “Put somebody in there, because you not giving any sign or any indication that you care about my culture.” Gotti said the company that serves as a home to Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and Fabolous has a talented roster but needs leadership. Irv recalled the time when Cohen went to DMX’s Yonkers, New York, neighborhood to sign the rough-around-the-edges hitmaker. He also told host Sway a story about how Lyor once played basketball against the LOX at the famed Rucker Park. He’s also worried that if someone isn’t brought in soon, the label will eventually crumble. “This is helping our lives. This is a culture that is deep for us. You can’t let it die, and if you let Def Jam die, you’re gonna let a bit of the culture die,” Gotti pleaded passionately. “And the fact that you ain’t got no one up there leading the army and ain’t had nobody — you just let the artists come up there, give you a record and you put it out. That’s not what Def Jam is about.” Do you think Irv should lead Def Jam? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Method Man And Irv Gotti Related Artists Irv Gotti Jay-Z DMX Ja Rule
Since last night, the movement to spread awareness about Troy Davis’ case and prevent his execution has been in hyperdrive on Twitter. Some, like Russell Simmons, have taken the approach of asking celebs who might not usually ask their followers to get involve in causes like this – like Kim Kardashian – to educated others about who Troy Davis is and why his case matters. Others, like Big Boi have gotten their hands dirty, spearheading rallies and protests in various parts of the country. But is it too late to do anything? Q. Can the president grant clemency or stop the execution in any way. A. No. While President Obama has said he thinks the death penalty does little to deter crime, he has no legal authority to get involved, officially, with a state execution. When the death penalty is imposed for a state crime like murder, it is a state issue. Q. Can the governor stop the execution? A. No. Georgia’s Constitution gives that authority only to the state Board of Pardons and Paroles. Q. Can the Chatham County district attorney ask the judge who signed the death warrant to withdraw it? A. Mike Mears, a professor at John Marshall Law School and who has challenged the death penalty for decades, said probably not. “I don’t think there is a legal mechanism to ask a judge for a do over,” he said. Q. Can the courts stop it? A. Though his attorneys he can fill appeals, the only viable option is the Georgia Supreme Court and that is a questionable one. His lawyers would have to file in the Superior Court in Butts County, where the prison is located, and then, if necessary, the Georgia Supreme Court and then directly to the US Supreme Court. Federal law limits appeals in that court system and Davis has exhausted those. Q. Can the Pardons and Paroles Board change it’s mind? A. If additional evidence is provided the board could step in but the board has already twice rejected Davis’ requests for clemency. This morning they said they would not reconsider additional requests. Still, even with yet another judge refusing to delay Troy Davis’ execution, scheduled for 7pm EST, hundreds are continuing to make their voices heard online, led by celebs who are refusing to drop their efforts. Here’s what you can still do: Flip through and check out some of the people other people getting involved.
Big Boi spreads the word about protests in Georgia before Davis’ scheduled execution on Wednesday. By Gil Kaufman Protesters for Troy Davis gather in Atlanta on Tuesday Photo: Jessica McGowan/ Getty Images With his execution looming on Wednesday night (September 21), Georgia death-row inmate Troy Davis ‘ lawyers have been scrambling to piece together a last-minute appeal on his behalf. Davis has been fighting to win a clemency ruling that would spare him the death penalty for the 1989 killing of Georgia police officer Mark MacPhail, a crime he claims he did not commit. Time magazine reported that his lawyers offered on Tuesday to have him take a polygraph test if the pardons board would consider its results, and some of Davis’ supporters have suggested asking President Obama to intervene in the case, though legal experts said that was unlikely. A Georgia appeals panel refused the polygraph request on Wednesday in what has become the most high-profile death penalty case in the country in several years. A number of prominent hip-hop artists have taken up Davis’ cause, among them Diddy, ?uestlove, Killer Mike and Russell Simmons, as well as the ATL’s Big Boi. The Outkast co-founder has taken to his Twitter account to spread the word about the case and try to get the word out about a series of protests planned for Wednesday around the city. “Time to hit the streets people!!!! #Troydavis. Rally at the prison in Jackson Georgia 4:00 pm , time to be seen!!!!!” he wrote early Wednesday as part of a flurry of tweets about the topic. “Judge Penny Freezeman is apparently the only one that can stop the UNJUST execution of Troy Davis: 912-652-7252.” Boi’s account is full of retweets from other celebs weighing in, including Kim Kardashian, Diddy, writer Kevin Powell, Cedric the Entertainer and Marlon Wayans. “At this point if you’re in Atlanta or anywhere near, Jackson, Georgia, is where u need to be, out of towners can man the phones,” he wrote . MacPhail was working as a security guard at a Savannah, Georgia, Burger King in August 1989 when he tried to help a man who was being assaulted in a nearby parking lot. Davis was fingered as the assailant and during his 1991 trial a number of witnesses testified that they saw Davis shoot MacPhail, though a murder weapon and DNA evidence were never recovered from the scene. Ballistics tests showed that the fatal shot came from the same gun used in another shooting in which Davis was earlier convicted. Davis’ lawyers have argued that new ballistics tests disprove the prosecution’s case and that seven of the nine original eyewitnesses changed all or part of their testimony in later proceedings. The long-running case has garnered worldwide attention and Davis’ cause has been taken up by groups and individuals such as Amnesty International, the NAACP, former President Jimmy Carter, the Pope, civil rights leader Al Sharpton and former FBI director William Sessions, who’ve called on courts to grant Davis a hearing in light of the new evidence. Lawyer Brian Kammer also tried to file a last-minute appeal based on new ballistics evidence and allegations of misleading testimony used in the original trial to convict Davis, but legal experts predicted those efforts would also likely fail to spare his client’s life. Davis is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The case made it all the way to the Supreme Court last year, Davis’ lawyers failed to prove their client’s innocence. Davis has maintained his innocence all along, but prosecutors in the case have repeatedly said they feel confident that the right man was convicted. Watch ‘RapFix Live’ today at 4 pm ET on MTV.com as Big Boi and Pill discuss their protest of the Troy Davis execution with Sway. Related Artists Big Boi
The plot between Bow Wow and the mother of his child, video model Joie Chavis, thickens as more drama is revealed to the world. According to TMZ , Joie decided to exclude Bow Wow’s name from the birth certificate of their child, Shai, since he did not show up to the hospital during the birth of their daughter after Joie had to undergo an emergency c-section back in April. In fact, it is reported that Bow Wow didn’t show up until six days after the baby was born! Joie is also stating that Bow Wow is a fake, and is acting like he’s a devoted dad from the open letter he wrote to his fans earlier this week but was absent during their daughter’s birth. Although she obvisouly seems to have ill feelings toward the rapper, it’s reported that Joie is willing to move on and let the courts name Bow Wow as baby Shai’s father, legally, although that will be up to the discretion of the judge. SMH. Every girl needs a father in their life! I hope everything works out for Bow Wow, Joie and their daughter! Read more here. Bow Wow Opens Up To Russell Simmons About Suicidal Thoughts Bow Wow’s Open Letter: “I Want My Daughter With Me, But There’s Baby Mama BS” Bow Wow’s Mom Tweets About Her New Granddaughter
Mogul, entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons was honored at the 2011 American Business Awards this past week with the Difference Maker award for his “groundbreaking vision and influence on music, fashion, finance, television and film, as well as [being] the face of modern philanthropy.” President Michael Gallagher of the Stevie Awards says “Russell Simmons is the personification of the American business spirit, his approach to building businesses for the future — which are both sustainable and philanthropic — has instigated change in corporate America. He has the kind of vision as a business leader that not only makes a difference, but creates a path that inspires others to follow and that’s why we are proud to honor him with this award.” BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #33: Russell Simmons And Rick Rubin Launch Def Jam Recordings Bill Cosby To Russell Simmons: “Get The F*ck Out Of My Face”
Nothin’ like a bad b*tch that knows how to throw down… Gorgeous swimsuit model Jessica White has sashayed out of her criminal charges for an alleged slapdown with another woman over a cab last October – and she managed to do so in towering yellow platform stilettos. A Manhattan Criminal Court judge told the Victoria’s Secret model today that her misdemeanor assault charges will be dismissed if she stays out of trouble for six months, serves three days of community service and goes to anger management for two days. She also has to pay $489.94 to compensate Vanessa Kia, the Connecticut car rental company clerk she was accused of slugging as they parried for a cab outside a nightclub. White turned heads as she strutted up and down the courtroom aisle-turned-runway, wearing high heels and a well-above-the-knees royal blue sundress. She’s been in the news in recent weeks for planning an anti-child abuse campaign with Russell Simmons and a skin-care line for women of color. “The injuries were not substantial and the complaining witness was amenable,” prosecutor Rene Jarusinsky said in agreeing to the eventual dismissal. Sounds like Jessica was workin’ the preferential treatment angle with her court attire, seems like it might have worked. Play on playa…but try to leave the Naomi Campbell act alone, she’s not exactly the best role model. Source
With Father’s Day approaching this Sunday, here are some quotes on Fatherhood from black celebrity Dads for inspiration and confirmation on the universal spirit of being a father. Check it out and share your thoughts and comments on Fatherhood, from your point of view, in the comment box below. Rev Run “For boys you want to teach them how to treat a lady, how to play football, how to handle themselves in the street. With a girl, it’s another whole animal,” “I have to teach my girls how to feel good about themselves. If you have a girl who doesn’t feel good about herself, she is going to be promiscuous. She is going to be open to anybody’s lame rap.” – Rev Run (BNET) 3 Steps For Father’s To Lead A Strong Healthy Life Russell Simmons “You just learn to be a little bit accepting and promote tolerance and act and be tolerant yourself.” “The way young people think, you want to think like them so they teach you a lot. Having a child teaches you so much,” he says. “That really is the best part of being a dad. You remember what’s important in life.” – Russell Simmons (celebritybabies.people.com) Russell Simmons “Super Rich” Book Review. Will Smith “From the first time the doctor placed you in my arms I knew I’d meet death before I’d let you meet harm. Although questions arose in my mind, would I be man enough?” – Will Smith (Africanamericanquotes.org ) Words Of Wisdom From Black Men Bill Cosby “Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.” “If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.” – Bill Cosby ( Africanamericanquotes.org ) Tiger Woods “My dad has always taught me these words: care and share. That’s why we put on clinics. The only thing I can do is try to give back. If it works, it works.” – Tiger Woods (Africanamericanquotes.org ) Nat King Cole “I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me — I was a father.” – Nat King Cole ( (Africanamericanquotes.org ) Did You Know Nicki Minaj Plays The Clarinet? See The Video Here! BLACK MUSIC MOMENT #62: Ludacris Debuts As Radio Personality “Chris Lova Lova” NEW MUSIC: Beyonce Ft. Andre 3000 “Party”
