Thursday, May 30, 2013

Ne-Yo hits down the stage for Malibu Red in Dallas


On Friday, May 17, 2013, The Urban Advocate was among those who were invited to be apart of an exclusive performance by singer/songwriter/actor Ne-yo, presented by Malibu Red. Aside from Ne-yo's great performance, the crowd was also introduced to the newest artists on Compound Entertainment, Trevor Wesley and Candice. Check out the exclusive footage from "A Night with Ne-yo"!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The aftermath of the tornadoes in Oklahoma

I'm sure everyone has heard about the tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma earlier this week. The damage was absolutely devastating and the residents have been left to pick up the pieces. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Although initially reported at 51, the death toll has been revised to 24 (seven of which were children), according to the Associated Press.

CNN reports: 

A massive, howling tornado pulverized a vast swath of the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, chewing up homes and businesses, and severely damaging a hospital and two elementary schools. The storm carved a trail through the area as much as two miles wide and 22 miles long, officials said. The storm killed at least 91 people. 

The official death toll stood at 51 Tuesday morning, but a coroner's office official said some 40 bodies have yet to be processed by medical examiners -- roughly half of them children. More bodies could be hidden under the vast debris field, authorities warned.

So intense was the devastation and its tragedy (children in an elementary school were killed) that one veteran reporter broke down in tears while covering the story.

President Obama has declared this a major disaster and has already authorized federal assistance.

Jose Canseco accused of sexual assault

Someone has come a long way from his days as a major league baseball player. Jose Canseco has apparently been accused of rape. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Joe Canseco is being investigated over allegations that he r@ped a woman in Las Vegas, TMZ reports. Authorities are looking into the claim, but Conseco isn't necessarily helping the situation.

According to the website, a woman filed a police report with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, which opened an investigation into the May 10 incident. The ex-baseball star is denying the whole thing, and is not considered an actual suspect but a "person of interest."

Canseco however announced that he was "charged," and went on to name the accuser in a series of now-deleted tweets. "Breaking news this is a first folks las vegas police was just at my house i have been charged with rape by a [name redacted] from las vegas," he wrote this morning. "All media welcome to this drama filled event. Did I rape [name redacted] or is she lieing. Stay tuned to another day in the life of Jose Canseco."

The 48-year-old also dared the accuser --who is a fitness instructor living in Sin City--to take a polygraph test on live television, and promised to do the same. He also posted the woman's phone number encouraging the media to call and "ask her if she will take a polygraph."

Tess Driver, spokesperson for the Las Vegas district attorney's office told Buzzfeed that Canseco is simply confused by how the legal system works. "From [his tweets], it sounds like Metro [Police] just went to his house to question him," Driver explained. "So, they are probably just in the investigation stage at this point."

Canseco has been known to expose people. In his 2005 book, Juiced , he not only admitted to doing steroids but named other players, some of whom he personally injected--allegedly. - See more at: http://hiphopwired.com/2013/05/22/jose-canseco-accused-of-rpe-names-alleged-victim/#sthash.Ok12ZML6.dpuf

Chad Ochocinco arrested in Florida


I hate watching anyone's life fall apart before my eyes. But, I'd be lying if I said I didn't see his downfall coming. Ochocinco is back in hot water. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson's life is in shambles. The former star NFL wide receiver was arrested in Florida today over a prabation violation stemming from his domestic violence arrest for head butting ex-wife Evelyn Lozada. 

TMZ reports: 

Chad Johnson was just arrested in Florida -- after a Broward County judge determined the ex-NFL star violated his probation stemming from his 2012 domestic violence bust ... TMZ has learned. 

We broke the story ... a warrant had been issued for Johnson's arrest earlier this month after he failed to report to his probation officer on 2 occasions AND failed to show proof of enrollment in a domestic violence education class. 

Johnson's probation stemmed from his domestic violence conviction involving ex-wife Evelyn Lozada last year. 

35-year-old Johnson appeared in a Broward County courtroom over his alleged probation violation -- and moments ago, the judge determined Chad WAS in violation and ordered him to be arrested and jailed. 

We're told bail will be set momentarily. This is only part Johnson's latest legal struggles. Recently, Johnson filed court documents asking that his $5,420 child support payments to one of his baby mamas be lowered because he can no longer afford it since he is basically unemployed.

Suspects in Mother's day shooting apprehended

I'm glad that the police have caught these individuals responsible for the shooting that took place at the Mother's Day parade in New Orleans. Hip Hop Wired reports:

New Orleans police made good on their promise to get to the bottom of last week's Mother's Day shooting, arresting two men this week. The suspect are brothers. 

Shawn Scott, 24, and his 19-year-old sibling Akein Scott, are both in custody for the incident that struck 19 people, including two 10-year-old children. 

Akein was caught on surveillance escaping the scene. Police apprehended him Wednesday (May 15), his brother was busted Thursday (May 16), while trying to flee from a New Orleans home. 

Four others--Nakia Youngblood, 32, Brandy George, 28, Bionca Hickerson, 22, and 19-year-old Justin Alexander--were arrested for trying to hide Akein. 

New Orleans residents aided in the captures of both brothers, providing authorities with witness statements and tips. "The people of New Orleans have chosen to be with us instead of the cowards who fired into the crowd," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Akien made his first court appearance Thursday. He and his brother face 20 counts of attempted second-degree murder. The teen's bond has been set at $10 million.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Urban Testament Kendrick Lamar Ticket Raffle at Indie in the Big D

THIS SATURDAY at "Indie in the Big D 2013" sponsored by the Dallas Observer, Urban Testament Clothing will be raffling off a pair of tickets to see Kendrick Lamar June 12 at the Verizon Theater. To enter the rattle, all you have to do is purchase a t-shirt from Urban Testament. 

Indie in the Big D is a FREE open market of independent business owners and artists from Dallas. The market will be open for 1 day only from 11 am to 7 pm. There will be ample parking on grounds, live music and food trucks and over 50 local vendors.  Confirmed vendors include Urban Testament Clothing,  Stem & Thorn and The Good Child featuring live performances from K.MC, Alsace Carcione, Yung Rick and more!

Visit www.indieinthebigd.com/, for more information on the event!

Don Colman Clothing Launch Party






It's the Don Colman Launch Party June 1st*!!! Join us on the rooftop of The Davis Building for this Launch Party/Fashion Exhibit hosted by Jasmine N. Dunbar with Big Suave "The Mayor of Oak Cliff, Tx" on the 1s and 2s. Don Colman Clothing will also be showcasing their New Collection "Midnight Goddess"!!!

*Free Admission
*Complementary Drinks from 2-4
*All White/Poolside Attire
*First 30 Guest get a Goodie Bag


We'll see you on the rooftop!!!

We Got Next Vol. 18 at Hyenas Comedy Night Club


MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND come get your laugh on!!!! Sunday May 26th at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub, it's We Got Next Vol. 18 @Hyenas, hosted by Comedian Q, featuring Alfred the Alley Cat with headliner Michael Prince! You know the deal, present by HC3 Enterprises and Quality Events Dallas, with DeShon's Celebrity Catering providing the buffet! Doors open at 7pm CST! Get your presale tickets at www.ticketstorm.com 

Check out the recap of We Got Next Vol. 17!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

African rapper nearly suffocates for stage custom

That's right ladies and gentlemen, this weeks you brought this on yourself award goes to this young rapper for his half thought out wardrobe. Hip Hop Wired reports:

East African rapper Jose Chameleone thought wearing a nearly $13,000 NASA-approved space suit, during his concert late last month, would be a great idea.

He was wrong.

Rather than "make history" for his top-of-the-line $12,700 astronaut wear, Chameleone's story took a different turn when he almost suffocated inside the costume. The suit ended up being a walking death trap-- which he found out during the set.

Not long after hitting the stage, Chameleone couldn't breathe inside the headpiece because there was no oxygen pumping through it (which is a necessity). Once he freed his dome, the Ugandan rhymer ran into another problem: he couldn't really move.

Defeated, Chameleone decided to pull the plug on the operation but forgot the instructions on how to remove the suit. He nearly suffocated as the heat inside the suit began to rise.

No word on how he managed to escape, but according to a report from the concert, he was able to rock the crowd well past midnight.

Malcolm X grandson killed in Mexico

Malcolm Shabazz, the grandson of Malcolm X, has passed away in Mexico due to injuries after being robbed. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Malcolm Shabazz, the grandson of Malcolm X (El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz), has died due to injuries suffered in a reported robbery. Developing reports say that Shabazz died Thursday (May 9) morning after allegedly being thrown from a rooftop in Mexico.

The Amsterdam News broke the story after a family friend took to Facebook to confirm the details of Shabazz's murder. Author Terrie M. Williams wrote, “I'm confirming, per US Embassy, on behalf of the family, the tragic death of Malcolm Shabazz, grandson of Malcolm X. Statement from family to come.”

The exact details surrounding the death of Shabazz are still largely unconfirmed, although family members have stated that he was in Mexico at the time of his passing. Earlier reports said he was shot, while other reports trickling in say he was thrown off a roof in Tijuana.

Shabazz, 29, was the son of the late civil right leader's second daughter, Qubilah Shabazz, and has battled legal troubles since the age of 12. In 1997, Shabazz was responsible for setting a fire that killed his grandmother, Betty Shabazz, in her New York apartment. Shabazz was found guilty of arson and manslaughter, serving 18 months with an additional four years of juvenile detention.

Back in February, Shabazz was arrested by the FBI on unknown charges while en route to Iran to attend a conference regarding Hollywood and the entertainment industry. Shabazz released a lengthy statement via former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney's Facebook page back in March addressing the arrest and stating that federal agents were not involved.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Strap on your seat belts for Fast and Furious 6


The latest installment in the "Fast and Furious" franchise may possibly be the best installment of the "Fast and Furious" franchise! It amazes me that over a decade after we were first introduced to Dominic Toretto, Brian O'Connor, Letty Ortiz and Mia O'Connor (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster respectively), they can still captivate an audience for two hours. The eye popping action, adrenaline pumping chases and incredibly crafted fight scenes is what has kept this series going for so long. I have to be careful with this review so I don't give anything away, because trust me, you're going to want to see this movie. This movie picks up where "Fast Five" left off, after Dom and the rest of the crew made off with $100 million after the heist in Brazil. With that being said, everyone is living the good life. That is until Federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) shows up to recruit Dom and the gang to help take down a heist organization in Europe. From there, you're on a fast paced ride to possibly the best movie to be released in the summer of 2013. "Fast and Furious 6" will take take you through all sorts of plot twists as it reintroduces characters from previous films and revisits some of the previous incidents in the film series. Much of the story centers around the reemergence of Letty, who everyone thought was dead, and her involvement with the very same organization Dominic has been asked to disassemble. Of course, Vin Diesel, Brian O'Connor and Dwayne Johnson serve as the anchors for this film. Though at times it seems as if Johnson's superhuman strength and ability to toss everyone to and fro seems to be a bit exaggerated, the fight scenes in this film very much resemble a WWE sloberknocker (as the good ol' J.R. would say). Roman Pearce and Tej Parker (played by Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris respectively) serve as the comic relief for the film, and boy oh boy do they deliver the laughs. The budding love story developing between Han and Gisele (Sung Kang and Gal Gadot) adds a nice dynamic to the film as well. Luke Evans portrayal of Owen Shaw, the leader of the heist organization is well....not very convincing but he doesn't completely bomb. Again, I won't give away any details of the film, other than go into this movie ready to cheer, laugh and possibly even cry at some point if you're the sentimental type; "Fast and Furious 6" provides an opportunity to do all of the above. This movie is definitely worth the price of admission! I predict this will be one of the best movies this summer and will easily break box office records, if not across the board at least for the "Fast and Furious" franchise.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

The fall out from Mister Cee's arrest

Mister Cee is a legend in New York, as one of the people credited for discovering the Notorious B.I.G. But more recently, the DJ has been in the news for his issues with male prostitutes. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Talking mostly with the station's program director and morning host, Ebro Darden, the veteran DJ copped mad pleas while explaining his penchant for picking up prostitutes and when answering whether or not he is gay.

The first question, after estabishing that everyone in the station, including the rest of the morning shows hosts, Ebro asked the first question everyone wants to know. "I am not gay," answered Mister Cee. "I'm looking in your eyes, I'm looking in Cipha Sounds eyes. I'm looking in Rosenberg's eyes, I'm looking in K. Foxx's eyes. I am not gay."

The follow up question was, "Why male prostitutes?," which is when pleas started getting copped. Cee insisted that if everyone had done their "research," we would know that the only time a male prostituted was involved was after the 2011 arrest.

The interview took all types of suspect twists and turns with Cee shouting the 82nd precint and central bookings, admitting that he frequents prostitutes and underground strip clubs and revealing that he is seeing a therapist.

Also, Charlamagne Tha God, who Mister Cee had harsh words for at the tail end of the interview, named the radio veteran Donkey of the Day.

Some suggest Blacks are missing out on jobs because of social networking

I keep telling people, social media will be the decline of humanity. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Last Friday (May 3), The U.S. Department Of Labor released its jobs report for the month of April, revealing positive gains in employment. With 165,000 jobs added in the month, the unemployment rate dropped to its lowest rate in four years. However, African-American and Hispanic job seekers are still the hardest hit groups with a rate of 13.2 and 9.0 percent, respectively.  Could this trend be a symptom of poor social networking among Blacks? 

A recent opinion piece from the New York Times seems to suggest this angle as a possibility. As part of its The Great Divide series, the column takes direct aim at an unspoken practice amongst employers that uses a fine line to escape illegal discriminatory practices.

The column's author, Rutgers Business School professor Nancy DiTomaso, made waves with her book The American Non-Dilemma: Racial Inequality Without Racism last December. She asserts that Whites in managing positions simply hire within their own race based on stronger networking.

From DiTomaso's piece for the Times:
Because we still live largely segregated lives, such networking fosters categorical inequality: whites help other whites, especially when unemployment is high. Although people from every background may try to help their own, whites are more likely to hold the sorts of jobs that are protected from market competition, that pay a living wage and that have the potential to teach skills and allow for job training and advancement.
Nepotism and favoritism is at the top of DiTomaso's argument and she provides research and data that speaks to her claims that the practice isn't racist. Instead, she believes that because of the ties Whites have in their networks, they're able to get inside tracks on jobs where White managers have sway over the hiring process.  But what's most curious is DiTomaso's statement that the practice of Whites hiring Whites is not the same as racial discrimination and further adding “it is not illegal.”

While there may be some weight to DiTomaso's observation, what lingers is the possibility that White managers are ignoring qualified Black and Hispanic workers simply because they don't attend the same social mixers. This speaks to the exclusion of several of groups of people who don't have a pathway to success because they're not given a fair opportunity.

Lauryn Hill sentenced to 3 months in prison

Well as one 90s hip hop star was released from prison, another one has been sentenced...for the same reason the other hip hop star was initially in prison, taxes. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Just when Lauryn Hill (and the rest of us) thought her tax troubles were a thing of the past comes this shocking news. The mother of six has been sentenced to three months in prison over her delinquent tax bill.

News of the sentencing comes just after Hill's attorney confirmed that she paid over $900,000 on the remaining debt yesterday, one day before she was due back in court. It appears that the attempt-- and the release of a new song in accordance with her new record deal with Sony that allotted her the money to pay back Uncle Sam--weren't enough to convince a judge that she deserves to be free.

From the Associated Press:
Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill has been sentenced to three months in prison for failing to pay taxes on about $1 million in earnings.
She was also sentenced Monday in Newark to three additional months of home confinement.
The 37-year-old South Orange resident pleaded guilty last year in the case.
During a forceful statement to the judge, Hill explained she had always meant to eventually pay the taxes but was unable to during a period of time when she dropped out of the music business.
Before the sentencing, her attorney had said Hill had paid more than $970,000 to satisfy the state and federal tax liabilities.

Shortly before being sentenced, the New Jersey native offered another explanation as to how things got out of hand. “I needed to be able to earn so I could pay my taxes, without compromising the health and welfare of my children, and I was being denied that,” she said.

Hill faced a maximum one year sentence for each of the three charges stemming from her more than $1 million in tax debt. It is unclear when she will report to custody.

Ja Rule has been released from prison

IT'S MURDER!!! Shout out to Ja Rule who has just been released from prison. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Ja Rule is finally a free man. The Queens rapper was released from prison this morning (May 7). 

A fellow Queens rapper, who happens to be familiar with the penal system, broke the news via Twitter. "Just spoke to @Ruleyork everybody tell him welcome home!!!," tweeted N.O.R.E. aka P.A.P.I. early this morning.

Ja's official fan site, RuleYork, confirmed the news, "The Rule York team is very proud and excited to announce that Ja Rule has been released from prison! Let's give him a warm welcome. Ja Rule's Twitter handle is @ruleyork. Follow him and send him some welcoming tweets. We will be giving you more details of his release shortly. Stay tuned!"

Ja Rule served two years for a gun charge and 28 months for tax evasion in New Jersey, which ran concurrently. The "Holla Holla" rapper was released from an upstate prison in February after completing his time for the gun charge but was immediately taken into federal custody for the tax dodging charges.

Ironically, as news of Ja's release arrives, yesterday Lauryn Hill was sentenced to three months in prison for tax evasion.

In early 2013, while incarcerated, Ja Rule released an album titled Pain Is Love 2.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Violence in Chicago rages on with a 10 year old shot overnight

At some point or another, we have got to do something about the violence going on in the streets of Chicago. Entirely too many lives are being taken unnecessarily. Hip Hop Wired has the latest:

A 10-year-old boy was one of more than a dozen struck in Chicago, during overnight shootings beginning Wednesday (May 1). The child was standing outside when the gunfire erupted.

"I'm assuming he was shooting at other individuals," Officer Hector Alfaro said of the suspect, who is one of a group of men that started fighting on a street corner near the boy. "He wasn't shooting at the child."

According to Alfaro the boy sustained a wound to his right buttock, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he is listed in "stable" condition.

No arrests have been made in the shooting.

The victim is one of at least 20 people injured in overnight shootings, which claimed the lives of an additional three people, on what happened to be the city's first 80-degree weather day in seven months. One of the deceased was among three shot in a parking lot across the street from the UIC Police Department headquarters, at around 10 p.m. The men were taken to Stroger Hospital, where two--ages 19 and 21 --were stabilized. The third victim, also 19, was pronounced dead over an hour later.

Just after midnight, a 27-year-old man was shot in the chest on the 6800 block of South Cornell Avenue. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:53 a.m. Less than an hour later, a 23-year-old man in the neighborhood known as Lawndale, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was found lying in an alley. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Other shootings throughout the city included three men shot at an intersection.

In less than a week, May has already turned into an extra bloody month for Chicago, a city which saw more than 500 homicides in 2012.

Assata Shakur becomes 1st woman added to FBI's terrorist list

First of all, let me start this by saying "ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE" and R.I.P. to Huey Newton. Now, let me continue by saying that former Black Panther, Assata Shakur, has become the first woman ever added to the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist List. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Forty year ago to the day, Assata Olugbala Shakur, who was then known as Joanne Chesimard, was involved in a gun battle that left a New Jersey state trooper dead. Today, Shakur has been placed on the FBI's most wanted terrorists list, the first woman to earn the distinction, with a reward of $2 million being offered for her capture.

Reports the Associated Press: .
"She continues to flaunt her freedom in the face of this horrific crime," State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes said at a news conference Thursday. Fuentes called the case "an open wound" for troopers in New Jersey and around the country.
The Justice Department has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her capture. The additional money is being put up by the state of New Jersey through civil and criminal forfeiture funds and won't fall on taxpayers, state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said.
Chesimard, a member of the violent Black Liberation Army, was convicted of the 1973 murder of state trooper Werner Foerster during a traffic stop. The BLA was responsible for killing more than a dozen police officers in the 1970s and `80s, said agent Aaron Ford of the FBI's Newark division.
Shakur has long disputed the charges leveled against her, insisting she was framed by the FBI's COINTELPRO program. Gaining notoriety as a "political prisoner," she has won the admiration from many including MC's like Common and Chuck D of Public Enemy.

Nevertheless, the government wants to get their hands on Assata.

"Our resolve to capture Joanne Chesimard does not diminish with the passage of time,"  said New Jersey state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa. "Instead, it grows stronger with the knowledge that this killer continues to be free. Our hope is the augmented reward will spur action that will bring Joanne Chesimard back to face the justice she has evaded for far too long."

Shakur has been living in Cuba since at least 1984. The country, recently visited by Jay-Z and Beyoncé, has no extradition agreement with the United States and many "political prisoners" reside in the island nation.

Florida man arrested for repeatedly calling 911 to place food orders

What in the...what?! Why?! What in the world were you on and why are you calling 911 making food orders? SMH...Hip Hop Wired reports:

Jarvis Sutton was arrested Sunday (April 28) for dialing the emergency number 80 times (in one day) asking that drugs, Kool-Aid and a burger be "delivered to him."

Rather than following his orders, cops decided to make another kind of delivery, and transported him to jail. Once in custody he confessed to making the calls. "The defendant admitted to calling 911 because he wanted Kool-Aid, burgers and weed to be delivered to him,'" read the affidavit.

The 34-year-old was taken to Pinellas County Jail, and on the way to custody, he added another random twist to his story. Suffering from a serious case of the munchies, Sutton started chewing on the foam connected to the metal casing in the back of the squad car.

He was held in lieu of  a measly $150 bail.

Group of Zimbabwe women kidnap and rape a soldier

It looks like the group of Zimbabwe women raping men for their sperm has struck once again. This time a soldier. Hip Hop Wired reports:

A soldier in Manicaland, Zimbabwe ran into a rough four days when he was kidnapped by an all female gang that had their way with him, repeatedly. The 25-year-old victim fell into the women's trap on April 19, after they, and another male, picked him up in a Mercedez Benz.

The man was allegedly offered a lift to the city of Miutare and realized he had been duped when the car eventually diverted from the route. He asked to be dropped off and was met with a knife. "The complainant asked where they were heading to and they told him they were going to get some food," said Assistant Inspector Muzondiwa Clean. "The soldier requested to be dropped, but the driver produced a knife and threatened him with it. One of the female passengers blindfolded the complainant with a black cloth.”

Rather than reaching his destination, the now blindfolded man was driven to a house. Once there he was robbed for $35, and had his cellphone stolen, before his clothes were ripped off. He was s-xually assaulted until April 23, when he was blindfolded yet again and dropped off in the Dangamvura Mountains, where the women threw stones at his left foot, before leaving him there.

The soldier was able to maintain consciousness and filed a report with authorities, who are investigating.

Women have been known to r@pe men in the country--usually to steal and sell their sperm to Ghana and Nigeria. In 2011 three women went to trial for giving a man a ride, throwing water in his face, and injecting the victim with "something" that gave him a "strong s-xual desire." He was made to have intercourse with all three women in the car, before they threw him out naked. Authorities charged the trio with 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault (because a female r@ping a man is not recognized in the country). The suspects were busted after 31 used condoms were found in their vehicle. They denied the assault, claiming to be prostitutes who were too busy to dispose of the contraceptives.

Family of Emmett Till rejects Lil Wayne's apology attempt

Well, I haven't read the letter Lil Wayne wrote so I can't say anything about it. But, if what Emmett Till's family is saying is true, than I can't blame them for not accepting a half-hearted apology. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Lil Wayne's week isn't going to too well. Yesterday, before we knew he had been treated and released from the hospital for yet another seizure, the YMCMB rapper revealed a letter he wrote addressed to Emmett Till's family. Weezy acknowledges the hurt his now infamous "Beat the pu--y up like Emmett Till" lyric on Future's "Karate Chop (Remix)" caused, but the Till family, like many others, have noted that he falls short of an actual apology.  

Reports TMZ:
Nowhere in the letter did Wayne say he was sorry for what he did.
Visit Now, Airickca Gordon-Taylor -- Executive Director, Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation and Till Family Representative -- tells TMZ the family does not view the letter as a formal apology.
"While it's commendable that he has vowed to respect the legacy of Emmett Till and his memory to ‘not use or reference Emmett Till or the Till family in his music,' this statement falls short of an apology, as none is mentioned."
We're reaching out to Lil Wayne for comment -- stay tuned.
It is the Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation that has vowed to urge Wayne's business partners, like Mountain Dew which is a product of Pepsico, to drop the rapper if he doesn't properly apologize.

Looks like a phone call, instead of a letter, may be in order, too.

Woman runs over ex-boyfriend's girlfriend in Illinois

Jealousy is never a good look. Especially when it drives you to cause bodily harm to another individual. This Illinois woman will learn this lesson the hard way. Hip Hop Wired tells of how she ran a woman over, over her ex-boyfriend:

A Matteson, Ill. woman let jealousy get the best of her recently. Alexius Keys is accused of running over her ex-boyfriend's new flame, and dragging the victim several feet.

Authorities say she went to the 400 block of Rutledge Street in Park Forest at around 6 p.m. last Thursday (April 25), and became enraged at seeing her replacement. The couple was spotted by Keys riding in a car, at which point she rear-ended them. The female passenger jumped out, and was hit and dragged by the 20-year-old.

The victim suffered a bruised lung, back fractures, a broken arm, and had a layer of skin scraped from her buttocks, and lower back.

Keys was arrested on an attempted murder charge and held in lieu of $75,000 bail. She reportedly collapsed during a court hearing over the weekend, yelling "I love you," and "ya'll forgive me" to family members in the room, before being carried out.

Her family declined to speak with media.

4 Moorehouse athletes accused of sexual assault

One of these days, young people will recognize the value of thinking before you act. Unfortunately for these young men, they're going to learn this lesson after being accused of sexually assaulting Spellman students. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Four Morehouse College students, all of which have ties to the school's athletic program, have been accused of r@pe and s-xual assault of Spelman students in two separate events.

Maroon Tigers basketball players Chukwudi Ndudikwa and Malcolm Frank are facing r@pe and aggravated sodomy charges. Teammate Tevin Mgbo face charges of kidnapping, aggravated sodomy, and reckless conduct.

The scandal unfolding at the private all-male college is an explosive one, as NBC affiliate 11 Alive unveiled in a special video report. So far, Atlanta police officials have not gotten involved and instead are allowing Morehouse authorities to conduct their own investigation.

According to court filings, Frank, Ndudikwa, and Mgbo attended a club party over the school's spring break back on March 8. The victim says she had been drinking but does not recall the events that allegedly took place at the East Suites after leaving the club.

Witnesses say the victim reportedly had s-x with several men over the course of the night and was seen using drugs. The victim maintains that she did not use any drugs. Another witness say the victim was dancing while intoxicated and fell, hitting her head in the process.  Other witnesses came forth saying that some of the suspects said the r@pe accusations were false and that the s-x was consensual. The trio was arrested by campus police after word of the assault was reported.

Lucien Kidd was arrested and charged with r@pe in April in a separate case. Kidd tried out for the football team in 2010, but was never an official member of the squad. Morehouse College police and the Fulton County District Attorney's Office are working in tandem on the case.


San Diego teens suspended over "twerking" video

Just and FYI, I will not be posting the video to this because if the individuals in this video are in high school, chances are they are underaged. And The Urban Advocate nor it's affiliates want to be associated with minors doing anything of a sexual nature. But we will tell you that everyone involved has been suspended from school and it's activities. Hip Hop Wired reports:

A group of high school students at San Diego's Scripps Ranch High School have been suspended and face possibilities of not graduating or attending their senior prom according to reports. In all, 33 students who called themselves the “Scripps Ranch High School Twerk Team” were accused of violating the school's zero-tolerance s-xual harassment policy because of a twerking video.

San Diego's NBC 7 reported on the incident, talking to students from Scripps Ranch regarding the suspensions. All students involved in the suggestive video were part of the journalism class group, and electing to be taped -- although it's been reported by at least one parent that the students didn't know if the clip would be made public on YouTube.

“I don't think they should have gotten suspended. I think the filmers should have been suspended, but not the girls involved,” said senior Brooke Carlucci to NBC 7. Carlucci did not appear in the video.
Parent Mark Silverman added, “I just think it's not that big of a deal. It was just expression, maybe overly expressive I guess.”

On Twitter, a hashtag “#freethetwerkteam” has emerged and several students are rallying behind their suspended classmates. As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, school board member Scott Barnett will bring up the incident at this coming Tuesday's closed board meeting. “I want to make sure I am comfortable that the facts and activity warrant the consequences," Barnett said via a statement.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Chris Kelly passes away at 34

Knowing that one half of Kriss Kross has been struggling with a brain tumor most of his life, I can't say I'm surprised to hear this news. But it appears Chris Kelly is no longer with us. The Huffington Post reports:

Chris Kelly, member of the rap group Kris Kross, is dead, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to the Huffington Post. Kelly was 34.

The Medical Examiner's Office said it could not provide more details about the circumstances of his death at this time.

An unnamed source told CBS Atlanta that Kelly was found dead at his Atlanta home.

R.I.P. Chris Kelly! Here's my favorite Kriss Kross song and the last time I saw him publicly:







***UPDATE***

Hip Hop Wired:

My Fox Atlanta reports that Kelly was found unconscious in his Atlanta home this afternoon. After being taken to the hospital, he was pronounced dead at around 5:30 p.m at the Atlanta Medical Center.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that our beloved Chris Kelly has passed away on May 1. To millions of fans worldwide, he was the trendsetting, backwards pants-wearing one-half of Kris Kross who loved making music,” his mother, Donna Kelly Pratte said in a statement sent to Hip-Hop Wired. “But to us, he was just Chris – the kind, generous and fun-loving life of the party. Though he was only with us a short time, we feel blessed to have been able to share some incredible moments with him. His legacy will live on through his music, and we will forever love him.”

Kelly, along with his partner in rhyme, Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith, shot to fame in 1992 as Kris Kross. The duo's biggest hit was "Jump," a Jermaine Dupri produced and Jackson 5 sampling party jam that sat at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for eight weeks. Recently, Kriss Kross reunited on stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of So So Def Records.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Kelly's death is being treated a drug overdose. An autopsy is schedule for Thursday (May 2) morning.