40 plus shot and 5 wounded in Chicago over the weekend

The death toll continues to rise in Chicago. After we reported on the shooting spree that occurred 4th of July weekend, another violent filled weekend in Chi-town leaving over 40 wounded and 5 dead. NBC Chicago reports:

Violence continued to strike the Chicago area this weekend with at least 18 people shot in a little more than 12 hours overnight, bringing the number of people shot since Friday to 40.

Four people, including an 11-year-old girl at a sleepover with friends, have been killed, police said.

Family members said the young girl was at a sleepover and was preparing to make s’mores with her friends when she was shot.

She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and was listed in critical condition.

She was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed the girl had died.

At least 11 others were wounded in shootings Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Editor’s Note: NBC Chicago includes shootings that took place between 6 p.m. Friday and 12 a.m. Monday in the weekend violence report.

Woman shoots boyfriend over too little ejaculation

Wow, now I know sex is a serious issue in relationship but I didn't think it was serious enough to shoot someone. Apparently, Sadie Bell believes so. She believed her 60-something year old boyfriend because he didn't produce enough semen after sex. Crooks and Liars reports:

Southfield police officers responded to a report of domestic violence on July 28, 2013, and found 58-year-old Sadie Bell and her boyfriend, 60-year-old Edward Lee, according to The Detroit News.

Bell later stated that she had shot Lee in the stomach when she noticed that he had not produced enough ejaculate during their sexual encounter.

“She was pretty graphic about why she had shot him,” Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Paul Walton recalled. “She was convinced he was having an affair. She reached this conclusion by the fact that he didn’t produce enough ejaculate. So she shot him in the stomach.”

Due to the shooting, Lee had surgeries on his pancreas, colon, liver and kidney during a five-week hospital stay.

Bell was sentenced on June 26. She appealed the sentencing, and was released after posting a $10,000 bond on Thursday.

Walton described the bond as unusual since Bell had also shot her husband in 1991. But that case was dropped because the husband refused to cooperate.

“She appealed to the district court for an appeal bond,” Walton said. “We have a state court ruling that says that after a conviction for an offense, especially a violent offense, the court shall remand that person into custody while they await sentencing. Our position is that she had already received her sentence, she wasn’t awaiting.”

Man kills wife after he was caught in affair with another man

This is a story of how life can spiral out of control once one gets caught up in a web of deception. A man is suspected of killing his wife after she discovered him having an affair with another man, Hip Hop Wired reports:

A doomed vacation for a Florida married couple has resulted in the wife turning up dead after she reportedly saw her husband doing the unthinkable.

Michael Doster, 49, was arrested last Friday for attacking his wife, Pamela while they were riding nude on a jet ski together. According to police, Michael threw Pamela off the jet-ski multiple times with the final incident causing her to land on her head.

The argument stemmed from Mrs. Doster catching her husband in a 69 oral sex position with another man after they had been drinking and partying.

Unfortunately, Pamela died in the hospital after being treated for days and her husband is now the prime suspect in a potential manslaughter case.

NBC News reached Doster by phone and while he refused to go into detail, he told them he “heard” about his wife’s death.

Deputies are asking witnesses who saw the event take place come forward and testify.

Ma$e FINALLY decides to leave church for rap career

If you listen to the Vincent Tucker Radio Show, then you know I've taken a few shots at the M-A-Dollar-Sign-E over the past few months. Despite popular opinion, I don't care if Ma$e wanted to be both a rapper and a pastor. My problem was with the contradictory messages. The Bible says a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, which Ma$e clearly appeared to be over the past few years. Well, now he has made his decision and people can stop worrying. TMZ reports:

On-again, off-again rapper/pastor Mase has officially left his parishioners of the El Elyon International Church high and dry … and has run back to the rap game full time.

TMZ broke the story … and it’s sensational in every way.

Mase, who “retired” from rap in 1999 to pursue a career in the ministry, built up thousands of followers split into two churches in Atlanta and Phoenix … preaching the virtues of marriage and family values.

That all came crashing down earlier this year when Mase and his wife divorced, causing most of his flock to flee in anger. As for those stalwart loyalists, well Mase says … screw them.

He’s dropped all ties with both churches and is playing regular rap gigs around L.A., jumping back into his former lifestyle hardcore.

Kobe Bryant, Nipsey Hu$$le and more demand more responsibilty from celebrities

I wish I could report on more stories where we have celebrities stepping up to ask counterparts for more involvement in community affairs. But, for now I would like to salute Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hu$$le for their involvement in a Crenshaw rally. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Over two years after the wrongful death of Trayvon Martin, NBA legend Kobe Bryant meets with parents Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, and delivers a heartfelt speech about “responsibility” at a rally in Crenshaw.

“Players such as myself and others that have kind of a platform, our responsibility is more than just putting a ball in the basket […] but helping Trayvon’s parents have a platform,” he said to a crowd of 200 over the weekend.

Alongside Nipsey Hu$$le and Karen Civil, Bryant –– whose sense of responsibility comes after realizing what he can do for a family who’s had to overcome “true adversity” –– eloquently expressed the need for celebrities to do more with their wealth and status.

NYPD strips Staten Island office of gun and badge after killing Eric Garner

While we're all waiting to find out what will happen in the case of the senseless death of Eric Garner at the hands of a Staten Island police officer, the NYPD has at least taken some action. They have stripped the officer responsible, who has a history of complaints for police brutality, of his gun and badge. But he has yet to face any formal charges. The Gothamist reports:

The police issued a statement, “Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo has been place on Modified Assignment pending further investigation into the July 17, 2014 incident involving Eric Garner in the 120 Precinct.”

Previously, it was announced that Pantaleo, an eight-year veteran, would be placed on desk duty along with Police Officer Justin Damico, a four-year veteran.

Police claim that Eric Garner, 43, was selling untaxed cigarettes and that the officers attempted to handcuff him around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday outside 202 Bay Street in Tompkinsville. A disturbing video obtained by the Daily News shows Garner arguing with the police: “I was just minding my own business. Every time you see me you want to mess with me. I’m tired of it. It stops today!” When a number of cops try to subdue him, Garner, who weighed 350 pounds, is seen swatting their hands away and saying, “Don’t touch me, please.”

As Pantaleo puts him in a chokehold, other officers struggle to pull him to the ground and get his arms behind his back. Garner, an asthmatic, can be heard repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.” The NYPD says he went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at Richmond University Medical Center.

Father says his son saved the life of his own rapist

I'm sure by now you've all heard about the Florida father that walked in on an 18 year old sexually assaulting his son and battered the man until he looked like Rihanna after the Chris Brown incident. Not only will the father not face any charges, but the father says the only reason he didn't kill the guy was because his son stopped him. CNN reports:

A Volusia County father who beat up his son's alleged rapist has been hailed as a hero by many, but he says his son is the one who is a true hero.

The father, who did not want to be identified, beat the suspect, 18-year-old Raymond Frolander, and knocked him out.

He then called police.

"My immediate feeling was to kill him, so he will never hurt anyone again," the father said.

The father believes Frolander's bloody and bruised face is getting too much publicity. He said he doesn't regret his reaction, but he isn't bragging about it either. He is, however, bragging about his son.

"My son saved Raymond. Raymond was motionless on our floor. I went to the kitchen to grab a butcher knife and my son stopped me. My son came in front of me and saved his attacker's life," said the father.

The father says he treated Frolander like one of his own and says police reports that Frolander was abusing the boy for the last three years are wrong.

He claims there was an attempt three years ago, but then Frolander left town and only recently returned.

The victim never told anyone about the attempt, so the father knew nothing until he walked in on an alleged sexual battery.

Dispatcher: You said the person who assaulted, you beat him up?
Caller: Oh yeah, send him an ambulance. He's going to need one.

The beating was brutal, but not life-threatening, and the father says that's because of his 11-year-old who he thinks forgives Frolander.

"I think he must have because of, he saved his life," said the father.

"You don't forgive Raymond, but your son does?" WESH 2's Claire Metz asked."It's going to be a long time before I ever forgive that, if I can," said the father.

Frolander remains in jail without bond.

Shootings devastate Chicago over 4th of July weekend

The Fourth of July weekend wasn't enough to stop the violence raging in Chicago. Though the number wasn't as severe as the shooting that happened last year, still more than 20 were injured in this shooting. The Chicago Tribune reports:

Chicago was hit with a burst of gun violence on the Fourth of July, with at least 21 people shot, one of them fatally, during an 11-hour stretch from Friday evening into Saturday morning, according to police.

That brought to 36 the number of people who have been shot in the city since the long holiday weekend began Thursday afternoon, when two women were hit by gunfire as they sat on a porch just a block from Garfield Park on the West Side.

A 30-year-old man was fatally shot in the Clearking neighborhood about 1 a.m.

Joel Bentley was pronounced dead at 5:46 a.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after being shot in the parking lot of a Walgreen’s at 63rd Street and Austin Avenue about 1 a.m.

The man was shot in the stomach and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, police said. Police believe the man was throwing gang signs and taking pictures when he was shot. Bentley lived in the 5000 block of South Keating Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The holiday shootings have stretched across the city but have been concentrated in the South and West sides. The Englewood and Harrison districts have both seen a handful of people shot over the last two days, and there have been shootings as far south as the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood at the edge of the city to the Rogers Park neighborhood bordering Evanston.

Salute to DJ Skee, who delivered a very inspirational call to action during his broadcast about the drastic need for a solution to the violence in the city:

FTC accuses T-Mobile of charging hidden fees

A few months back we reported that T-Mobile could be acquired by AT&T. Well the Federal Trade Commission is going after the company claiming they have been charging customers hidden fees. A claim that T-Mobile disputes, obviously. Hip Hop Wired reports:

The Federal Trade Commission is accusing T-Mobile of overbilling customers to collect hundreds of millions in bogus fees, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday (July 1). The FTC claims the mobile phone giant continued tacking on extra charges even after customers opted out.

T-Mobile hid the charges behind “premium” text messages — disguised as horoscopes, jokes, flirting tips, and other messages — that run customers close to $10 per month. The company pocketed 35% to 4o% percent of the profits, the FTF said. “It’s wrong for a company like T-Mobile to profit from scams against its customers when there were clear warning signs the charges it was imposing were fraudulent,” noted FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. “The FTC’s goal is to ensure that T-Mobile repays all its customers for these crammed charges.”

For their part, T-Mobile called the accusations are “unfounded and without merit” and claims to have stopped billing customers hidden fees.

“T-Mobile stopped billing for these Premium SMS service last year and launched a proactive program to provide full refunds for any customer that feel that they were charged for something they do not want,” said T-Mobile CEO John Legere. “T-Mobile is fighting harder than any of the carriers to change the way the wireless industry operated and we are disappointed that the FTC has chosen to file this action against the most pro-consumer company in the industry rather than the real bad actors.”

The FTC says it tried to settle with T-Mobile out of court but could not come to an agreement.

Hi-Five singer arrested for allegedly killing wife

If you're a R&B enthusiast like I am, then you remember the 5 man band, Hi-Five. Though they were a big hit during their time, the group has always been one of the more troubled groups in R&B. Well now, one of the group's members Russel Neal is being held on $100k after being charged with the stabbing death of his wife. TMZ reports:

Hi-Five singer Russell Neal‘s wife was killed after being stabbed multiple times and he’s now been charged with murder.

Cops say Catherine Martinez died from blunt force trauma and stab wounds.

The victim was a hot, 24-year-old fitness model. She was also an aspiring boxer who went by the name Brasilia.

The 40-year-old Neal went to the police station Wednesday and told cops his wife was dead in their apartment and he needed a lawyer.

The couple has 2 kids. Law enforcement sources say there were no witnesses to the murder so it appears the children were not in the apartment when their mom was killed.

If you don't remember who Hi-Five is, maybe one of these joints can jog your memory:

Christian artists attempting to sue Katy Perry over Dark Horse

Christian rappers Flame and Lecrae will apparently be entangled in a lawsuit with pop-star Katy Perry over her hit song "Dark Horse" featuring Juicy J. Apparently, the song contains some similarities that didn't sit well with the artists, especially after viewing the video which contains some imagery that can be associated as black magic or witchcraft. Rapzilla reports:

Katy Perry’s defense attorneys can blame some Flame fans for the lawsuit against their client.

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Flame, along with Lecrae and Da’ T.R.U.T.H., are suing Perry for infringing the copyright of their song “Joyful Noise” on her song “Dark Horse.” The suit also claims that their track has been “irreparably tarnished by its association with the witchcraft, paganism, black magic and Illuminati imagery evoked by the same music in ‘Dark Horse’.”

Making Flame aware of this tarnishing were his fans. Driving from a concert, Flame’s DJ, Cho’zyn Boy, noticed an “influx" of tweets to Flame and Lecrae asking them about the new Katy Perry song. Flame doesn’t listen to Katy Perry, so he had no idea why his opinion of her music mattered.

Cho’zyn Boy searched for and listened to the song out of curiosity, which turned into shock.

“Wow,” Cho’zyn Boy said, telling Flame, “You got to hear this. It sounds like ‘Joyful Noise.’”

Cho’zyn Boy then turned on the djay 2 app on his computer and made a side-by-side comparison of the tracks. Here’s the audio he created to show Flame how similar “Joyful Noise” and "Dark Horse” are and a breakdown of how he did it.



· 0:00-0:25 Joyful Noise (original song)

· 0:25-0:40 Dark Horse (original song)

· 0:40-0:53 Speeds up tempo from 66 BPM to 76 BPM

· 0:53-1:07 Takes pitch down one decimal from Db to C

· 1:07-1:17 Mixes in Joyful Noise

· 1:17-1:23 Side-by-side, both at 72 BPM

· 1:23-1:30 Joyful Noise by itself

· 1:30-1:48 Dark Horse by itself

Cho’zyn Boy explained the difference to Rapzilla.

“What listeners are hearing is Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ at 66 beats per minute and they’re hearing Flame’s “Joyful Noise” at 76 beats per minute,” he said. “When they’re separated, they seem a bit different, but when you bring them to the same tempo and you just change her pitch down one octave, they’re identical … When things are that similar, it’s hard to dispute.”

Scientist produced a fake HIV vaccine to recieve grant money

There are people in this country who have long profited from the pain of others. In this case, some Iowa State University scientist who produced a fake HIV vaccine to receive grant money. Sickening to say the least. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Dong-Pyou Han, 57, resigned from his laboratory manager in October 2013 after it was discovered he added human antibodies to rabbit blood to make the HIV vaccine he and his team were working on appear to show as if it was making leeway.

The result of his falsified data yielded $19 million in grant money from the National Institutes of Health.

Unlike most cases however, the magnitude of financial fraud was not unprecedented, making Han’s deception a pretty big deal. He was indicted last week on four counts of making false statements. If convicted, he could be sentenced to five years in prison for each count. He was also force to surrender his passport.

Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, spoke to the Associated Press and said criminal cases in this particular area of medical research are rare, citing there have only been a handful of similar instances in the past 30 years.

“It’s an important case because it is extremely rare for scientists found to have committed fraud to be held accountable by the actual criminal justice system,” said Oransky. “It’s a pretty extraordinary case involving clear, intentional falsification,” admits Mike Carome, consumer advocate and director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. “The wool was pulled over many people’s eyes.”

Han was set to be arraigned yesterday (June 24) but didn’t show in court because the paperwork wasn’t properly documented. Oh, the irony.

Father arrested for helping his daughter assault teenage girl

It is a father's responsibility to protect and provide for his children. I've heard of parents going to great lengths to protect their child, but this Houston father just may have over stepped his bounds. Hip Hop Wired reports:

A Houston dad got arrested last Thursday (June 19) for helping his 14-year-old daughter beat up her classmate.

Darren Keith Patrick has his limits — he didn’t actually throw any blows he just held the 13-year-old victim up against a fence while his daughter kicked and hit her with a shoe.

Patrick is all about being a tag-team parent. Police from the Houston Independent School District say he followed the girl home from school on a bike, while his daughter pursued on foot. Once he caught up with the teen, he got off the bike and pushed the girl up against a chain-link fence as his daughter commenced with the attack.

Surveillance video caught Patrick and his daughter following the girl, and a witness recounted seeing the 45-year-old father detaining the girl.

Court documents state that the victim tried to defend herself but couldn’t break free from Patrick.

He was charged with injury to a child and is reportedly still being held on bail. No word on what happened to his daughter.

Mother charged with throwing toddler out of a moving car

I have been saying for years that not everyone should be allowed to procreate. Reason? Not everyone is responsible enough to be a parent. Stories like this one are becoming the norm, and it's just sad. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Deputies in Louisiana say a 23-year-old mother threw her toddler out the window of a moving car Sunday (June 22) in hopes of getting the child’s father’s attention.

Lasasha Allen of Winnsboro chucked the 20-month-old out of the vehicle in front of her other child, age 7. The young victim was taken to the Franklin Medical Center and an investigation was opened, due to the severity of the injuries.

Allen was interviewed at the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Offcie where it was determined that she meant to hurt her own child. “This was an intentional act,” said Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb.

She was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Bails has been set at $750,000.

A day before she carried out the act, Allen reached out to her baby’s father to inform him that the child had been injured. He didn’t respond. “The next day when she got no response, she made the determination to make this come true,” Cobb added.

Allen was traveling at 45 mph when she booted her baby out of the vehicle. She told authorities that she only meant to cause minor injuries, and waited before she took the child for medical treatment. The child is in now stable condition and was awaiting surgery.

“One thing is for certain,” Cobb said. “This child is in a safer place today than in the hands of the mother. Justice can’t move quickly enough.”

Jacob "The Jeweler" implicated in illegal gold mining op in Africa

The man responsible for creating some of the most gaudy and ridiculous pieces of jewelry in hip hop is now facing allegations of illegal mining in Africa. The Observer reports:

Investigations by the Sunday Observer found that, in Swaziland, Jacob and Co. has been given a license to prospect for gold in the Northern Hhohho region.

According to the license, the company has been given permission to prospect 22 million hectares of the Northern Hhohho Mountains.

However, it has been ascertained that the company has now been instructed to stop carrying out the prospecting after it was found to be engaged in an illegal mining of gold at Lufafa Mountain.

To explore for gold is a process where you work on an area to ascertain how much gold is available and the quality thereof, no mining is involved.

During the prospecting, a source said, whatever gold that they would come across is supposed to be forwarded to the Central Bank because it belongs to the King.

Government is reported to have been informed that what the team from Jacob and Co. was no longer prospecting but mining.

This observation is said to have been raised by people living around the Lufafa Mountain who saw the amount of machinery at the company’s site.

Boko Haram continues to terrorize the Nigeria

The Islamic extremist group known as Boko Haram is continuing to terrorize portions of Africa. News broke earlier this year about the group kidnapping a group of school-aged girls. Apparently, the faction has gone on another kidnapping spree, this time kidnapping a total of 91 people. The Associated Press reports:

Extremists have abducted 91 more people, including toddlers as young as 3, in weekend attacks on villages in Nigeria, witnesses said Tuesday, providing fresh evidence of the military's failure to curb an Islamic uprising and the government's inability to provide security.

The kidnappings come less than three months after more than 200 schoolgirls were taken in a mass abduction that embarrassed Nigeria's government and military because of their slow response. Those girls are still being held captive.

The most recent victims included 60 girls and women, some of whom were married, and 31 boys, witnesses said.

A local official confirmed the abductions, but security forces denied them.

There was no way to safely and independently confirm the report from Kummabza, 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Maiduguri, capital of Borno state and headquarters of a military state of emergency that has failed to curtail near-daily attacks by Boko Haram fighters.

Last week, a presidential committee investigating the April kidnappings stressed that they did happen and clarified the number of students who have been kidnapped. It said there were 395 students at the school — 119 who escaped during the siege of the school and another 57 who escaped in the first couple of days of their abduction, leaving 219 unaccounted for.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith met earlier this month with one of the girls who escaped.

"Almost two months later, clearly she was still traumatized — you could hear it in her quivering voice and see it in her eyes. Yet she spoke mostly of her deep concern for her friends and classmates still in captivity and pleaded for their immediate rescue," he said in a statement issued Tuesday.

But Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, also quoted testimony to the House Foreign Relations Committee last week by another former U.S. ambassador, Robin Renee Sanders, who warned that "Nigeria is in the beginning of a long war. ... There is no easy fix."

LeBron James opting out of his contract with Miami Heat

I'm not going to lie, as a basketball fanatic, I didn't pay attention to the NBA until it was Game 3 of the finals. I have my reasons, but I won't go into to that right now. But, all eyes are on the biggest star in the league in LeBron James. After losing in finals to the most underappreciated team in the league, LeBron is now opting out of his contract with the Heat. Though it is believed that he will stay with the team, many speculate that there may be a sequel to his 2010 'The Decision'. Time will tell. ESPN reports:

LeBron James' agent Rich Paul has informed the Miami Heat that the four-time NBA MVP will exercise his early termination option and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

James had until June 30 to decide whether to opt out of the final two years of his contract with Miami. He was scheduled to make $20 million next season and had two years and about $42.7 million remaining on his deal.

"I was informed this morning of his intentions. We fully expected LeBron to opt out and exercise his free-agent rights, so this does not come as a surprise," Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement. "As I said at the press conference last week, players have a right to free agency and, when they have these opportunities, the right to explore their options.

If James departs, he would be leaving a historic opportunity on the table. Only one team in NBA history has appeared in at least five consecutive NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics, who reached 10 straight from 1957 to 1966.

With James and Carmelo Anthony officially opting out of their contracts, multiple teams -- including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Lakers -- have begun the process of exploring roster moves that would create sufficient salary-cap space to sign 2014's marquee free agents in tandem, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com.

Meanwhile, the other two Miami stars with early termination options -- Wade and Bosh -- have not yet told the Heat or publicly revealed whether they will join James as free agents this summer.

The Central Park Five Documentary

I've always heard stories about the Central Park Five. So to see all of these brothers out and free is a beautiful thing. Now, there is going to be a documentary released that details the timeline of the case that sent five innocent men to prison. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Last week, the state of New York reached a $40 million payout to settle a civil lawsuit with the “Central Park Five “– a group of Black and Latino teens accused in the 1989 rape of a 28-year-old White female jogger in Central Park.

The “Central Park Five” ranged from ages 14 to 16, all serving full terms (between 5 and 15 years) for sex related convictions, they did not commit. The suspects were depicted as savage members of a “wolf pack” participating in a gang rape fueled by what was known was “wilding,’ or going “bezerk” as the New York Daily News wrote back in 1989. Although they were all minors, each had their printed in the media.

There was no physical evidence tying the teens to the heinous crime, yet all five of the suspects were found guilty and sentenced to between 5 and 15 years behind bars. Four of the suspects, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Kharey Wise, Antron McCray, were reportedly coerced into signing submitting a video and written confessions. The other suspect, Yusef Salaam, refused to sign a confession, but was implicated by the others.

A quarter-century after the controversial case linked these five strangers together forever, Hip-Hop Wired takes a look back at the timeline of events involving the “Central Park Five” case. A convicted murderer confessed to the crime back when he was over a decade after it was committed. DNA resting proved his admission.

McDonald's to sponsor a new B-Boy battle

So if you're a hip-hop enthusiast you'll be happy to know that McDonald's is helping to keep the truest essence of the hip hop culture alive. They have launched a new B-Boy battle. Hip Hop Wired reports:

McDonald’s is keeping one of the true essences of Hip-Hop alive and recognizing real with their inaugural B-Boy Royale in New York City.

You’ve seen all the countless dance flicks over the years but this is competition is real life for real prize money.

The format is simple; crews from all over the nation will go head-to-head in breakdance battles for rights to supreme dominance and, of course, bragging rights.

Korean American rapper Dumbfoundead will double as the master of ceremonies and DJ as the first host of the event. The winners of the contest will receive $3,000.

Everything will be left out on the floor later this summer on August 16 at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased here with proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald Charity house.

Angie Martinez appears on Power 105 for the first time

Now if you're into hip hop music and the radio industry, one of the biggest stories this past week would have to be Angie Martinez stepping down from her post at Hot 97 and heading to Power 105. I heard rumors that she would be making the move, but when I first heard it, I absolutely did not believe it. Until I heard the official announcement on Power 105.

There has always been bad blood between Hot 97 and Power 105. The long-standing feud between the two rival stations has seen a lot of casualties. From Funk Flex taking shots at everyone from Ed Lover and DJ Clue, to Charlamagne giving the business to Flex and Rosenberg. And of course who could forget the issues between DJ Envy, who was spinning at Hot 97 at the time, and the then Power 105 shock jock Star of the Star & Buckwild show.

One person who has always managed to stay out of the mix has been the "Voice of New York", Angie Martinez. By joining the Clear Channel family, Angie Mar will now not only be heard in New York, but her show will also be syndicated in Miami and can also be heard on iHeart Radio every afternoon starting in July.

Check out her interview with The Breakfast Club this morning as she discusses her decision to leave Hot 97, her monumental interview with Tupac Shakur and more.

New documentary attempts to examine Black Mega Churches

Even as a Christian, I can't deny that these days church is big business. There is no shortage of mega churches across the country that reach across the world. There is a new documentary that examines some of the churches and how the Black Church has changed so drastically over the years. Moguldom Studios had this to say in their press release:

“The film compares the black church’s origins to its modern day cultural relevance, and focuses on modern mega-churches and asks hard-hitting questions about service vs. the extravagant lifestyles of its multi-million dollar ministers and ministries. As the nation attempts to bounce back from a recession, mega-churches continue to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to fund their pastors’ exorbitant lifestyles.

“Through interviews with clergy members, politicians, community leaders and journalists, Black Church, Inc. explores whether the preachers, parishioners or communities are the benefactors of the millions of tax-free revenue generated by religious organizations.

“Black Church, Inc. attempts to justify the dichotomy of the profits of prophets. It takes a look at pastors who are seen as activists including Rev. Taharka Robinson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Pastor Raphael Warnock, as well as other pastors such as Rev. Eddie Long, Rev. Creflo Dollar and Rev. T.D. Jakes. The documentary takes a deep dive into controversial issues clouding the church including “love offerings” (cash payments given to ministers), financial abuse and the deification of the mega-church pastor all while asking… is prayer-for-profit moral?”

Google announces new music subscription fee for YouTube

The gap between the haves and havenots seems like it's continuing to grow and doesn't show any sign of shrinking. With this new subscription fee Google just announced for YouTube, it may begin to get harder for users to upload content on the site. Hip Hop Wired reports:

The wildly popular Internet video site is looking to clean up their server, which has been plagued with infinite amounts of copyright infringed material and unlicensed content. This also applies to independent record labels who don’t plan to latch onto the new movement.

Robert Kyncl (pictured), Google’s Vice President and Global Head of Business at YouTube, says he wants 100% participation for all users who are currently on YouTube but the door is still over thataway.

“While we wish that we had 100 percent success rate, we understand that is not likely an achievable goal and therefore it is our responsibility to our users and the industry to launch the enhanced music experience,” said Kyncl via The Guardian. He claims however, his team has already signed up labels that represent 90 percent of the music industry.

The service (long rumored to be called YouTube Music Pass) looks to rival companies such as Beats Music, Spotify and Pandora.

Fans will likely protest the changes but so far the biggest opposition to the move comes courtesy of the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) and their chief executive, Alison Wenham. She tells to The Guardian that “They have suffered a simple but catastrophic error of judgement in misreading the market. “We have tried and will continue to try to help YouTube understand just how important independent music is to any streaming service and why it should be valued accordingly. Music fans want a service that offers the complete range of music available. This is something that companies such as Spotify and Deezer do, both of whom have excellent relationships with the independent music sector,” she says.

Google counters Wenham’s opinions citing YouTube’s goal is to double as global platform and “an amazing music experience.”

Paid subscriptions for the service, which give users the convenience of navigating the site without being bombarded with ads, is said to begin in the next couple of days.

While VEVO will still remain intact, those artists and struggle rappers not currently attached to the machine will slowing be eradicated.

Angie Martinez announces her resignation from Hot 97

One of the most legendary names and voices on New York Radio, Angie Martinez, has resigned from her post at Hot 97. I'm going to set aside the fact that I used to have a crush on Ms. Martinez, and salute the fact that she has delivered some of the most classic interviews in hip hop history. She will be missed. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Today (June 18), Hot 97′s Angie Martinez, or the “Voice of New York” as some know her, announced that she’s leaving her position at Hip-Hop’s premiere radio station via Instagram.

Per Martinez:

Today I resigned from HOT97. I am grateful to the Emmis family for my time with the company and the immeasurable way that it has shaped my life. We made history together in so many ways and I will cherish those memories and my friendships forever. This was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make but ultimately it is time to move on, to grow and to be challenged in new ways. Saying goodbye is always emotional and bitter sweet but I am extremely excited about the future. Thank you HOT97 and most importantly….the listeners… for an unimaginable journey. Today will be my last show stay tuned…. Love, angie

Hot 97 issued an official statement not long after Martinez’s announcement. “WQHT HOT 97 FM confirms the departure of Angie Martinez,” Hot 97 said. “Angie has given over 20 years of service to the HOT 97 brand, where she exemplified professionalism and passion for music. We thank her deeply for her commitment to Hip Hop, radio, and broadcasting.”

Assistant Program Director, Ebro Darden, a longtime colleague of Martinez also chimed in. “I have worked with Angie side by side for many years and there aren’t words to express how amazing she is. HOT 97 will always love her. Thank you Angie!,” he said in a separate statement.

Needless to say that Hot 97 will not be the same without The Bronx native on air.

Actor Michael Jace pleads not guilty to murdering wife

I knew I recognized this dude but I couldn't remember where I recognized him from. But now I do, Cradle 2 the Grave, the Michael Jordan biopic, and The Replacements. Anyway, Michael Jace has had a long career as a very convincing actor, now he's gonna have to act like an innocent man as he has plead not guilty to murdering his wife. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Shield actor Michael Jace is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges of killing his wife April. As previously reported, Jace called the police following the May 20 shooting, confessing to the murder.

It was said the couple’s two children–both under the age of 10–witnessed the killing with their own eyes. According to the Associated Press, police have not officially released a motive for the murder but it is being alleged that a long brewing argument of the Jace’s financial crisis was the root of the problem.

Fire officials released a 911 call from April Jace’s father in June where it’s said Michael admitted to the crime.

“My son-in-law called me, and (texted) me, and said come get the kids because he shot April, our daughter,” the caller, whose name was removed from the recording, told a fire department dispatcher.

TMZ is now reporting that Jace pled not guilty to the murder charges.

If convicted, he faces 50 years to life in state prison. He’s currently being held on $2 million bail.

Man caught throwing drug filled football into a prison yard

For those that don't know, the drug game is very much alive in the prison system. People have been sneaking drugs in the correctional facilities across the country for years. But this graduate had to try one of the most ridiculous attempts I've ever heard. Hip Hop Wired reports:

The incident took place outside of the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility in Lansing, Mich. this past Sunday. It appears the man tried to launch the football into the main yard where most of the inmates work out, but his throw came up far too short and landed between a pair of fences. A prison officer witnessed the man making the throw, later discovering it contained heroin, marijuana, three cell phones and tobacco.

The Detroit Free Press has more:

“After observing the passenger exit the vehicle and throw the football, our officer ran towards the vehicle and drew his Taser and told the driver to stop, which he did,” said Russ Marlan, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections.

Christen Deon-Sterling Moore, 32, is charged with crimes related to delivery of heroin and marijuana and smuggling cell phones to prisoners, Jackson County Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka said today. Each is a five-year felony. A conference will be held Friday on how to proceed with the case. Moore has been arraigned but it was not clear today whether he is free on bond.

A California man killed after being acquitted

Good Lord what was going on with this man's head (pun intended)?! This is crazy but unfortunate nonetheless. Apparently this man was murdered the same day he was released acquitted and released from prison. Hip Hop Wired reports:

A California man was killed the hours after a jury freed him on burglary charges by mistake Wednesday (June 11). By the time a judge noticed the mixup, he had already ordered Bobby Lee Pearson released from custody.Jurors mistakenly marked Pearson not-guilty on a verdict form, when in actuality four of the eight were in favor of guilt. The instructions were explained to jurors twice . “Apparently, the message wasn’t quite received,” prosecutor William Terrence said.

Pearson, 37, was a five time felon. He headed for his sister’s house to change clothes and pick up some personal items. There, he and her boyfriend, Willie Gray, 35, got into an argument that ended with Pearson dead in the street.

“There’s not a death penalty on a burglary,” Terrence pointed out. “I’m not sitting here thinking he got what he deserved.”

He sustained a wound to his chest and a cut to his stomach, authorities said. Gray was taken to a hospital for his injuries and arrested for murder.

Pearson and two others were accused of stealing a video system and firearm from an apartment last year. His co-defendant, Terrel Minnieweather, was convicted.

Sony releasing Glacier White PS4 with Destiny

This is a story for all the gamers out there. Sony is planning on dropping a new PS4 this fall. Looks kind of cool to me. Hip Hop Wired reports:

Sony is dropping a Glacier White Playstation 4 this fall that will come bundled with the highly anticipated Destiny title.

The bundle will also include 30 days of Playstation Plu access and cost $449. If you were an early adopter and now want a white controller, that will be $59.

As for Destiny, the next-gen first person shooter will be arriving via Bungie and looks to be one of 2014′s biggest launches. You are a Guardian, tasked with protecting the Earth, which will surely be no easy feat but with the array of weapons we see in the trailers, it will clearly be fun trying.

Check out the latest advance look at Destiny below, and images of the glacier white PS4, which will be available when the title launches on September 9, on the following page.

Colin Kaepernick cleared of rape charges

Well, the San Fransisco 49ers fans can wipe the sweat of their brow, knowing their QB will not be facing rape charges and will be able to focus on the upcoming football season. The unfortunate part of this story is the fact that this woman lied. I didn't believe this story from the gitty-up, but you would like to believe that a woman wouldn't lie about something as serious as being raped. Though the natural inclination is to give a woman the benefit of doubt in a situation like this, due to the actions of a few manipulative conniving women, it causes us to question every time a woman says she's been raped. TMZ has the official story:

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has announced ... after a thorough investigation, the San Francisco 49ers QB is "exceptionally cleared."

According to official documents obtained by TMZ Sports, prosecutors determined, "There is no evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was committed against the complaintant." We broke the story ... Colin, along with 2 other NFL players, were listed as suspects in a police report after a woman claimed she may have been sexually assaulted while visiting the players at a Miami apartment.

Investigators say a rape kit was administered to the woman -- but NO semen was found in her genital area -- and there were no tears or lesions (signs of forced penetration) around her vagina.

Investigators say the accuser was behaving in a bizarre manner at the apartment -- including "banging her head against the bedroom walls and kicking uncontrollably."

According to the report, when officers arrived to the apartment ... the woman was moving her body around as "if she was engaged in a sex act, although there was no one else in the room."

"When she heard the officer's voices, [she] started screaming incoherently about Jesus and devils. At one point, [she] took the wig off her head and threw it at the officers."

Officials say it's possible she may have been under the influence of drugs -- but no traces of drugs were found in toxicology tests conducted by investigators.

Investigators do note that it's possible the woman was under the influence of bath salts -- but toxicology labs "are not always able to find such intoxicants in a person's system."

One week after the woman filed her police report, she spoke with cops and told them that she had prepared her body -- showered and shaved her pubic hair -- because she was planning on having sex with Colin on the night she went to the apartment.

She also said she brought condoms to the apartment that night.

According to the report, officials say Kaepernick and NFL player Ricardo Lockette met the woman in 2013 at a nightclub in Atlanta ... and Colin admitted he had sex with her right around the time they met.

Colin told cops that she called him on April 1st 2013 (April Fool's Day) and told him she was pregnant in an apparent attempt at a gag -- Colin then changed his phone number and tried to cut off contact with her.

She continued to try to contact him on social media -- but he never responded. Officials say they found a video of the woman online in which she was topless and covered in body paint resembling Colin's jersey.

The point -- it seems officials believe the woman had an unhealthy obsession with the football star.

And get this ... investigators say on the night of the alleged incident, Kaepernick was with another woman on the balcony of the apartment and the accuser stripped down naked and confronted them.

Officials say the accuser told the woman who was with Colin that it was not safe to be there. The accuser then went back to Colin's bedroom and Kaepernick left the apartment.

In the end, investigators determined that the accuser didn't have a shred of evidence to prove Colin or anyone else did anything wrong.

Michael Jordan officially a member of the Billionaire boys club

It was only a matter of time before this man reached billionaire status. Arguably one of the greatest basketball players turned businessman has officially reached a billie with after his stake in the now, Charlotte Hornets franchise, rising from 80% to 89%. Hip Hop Wired reports:

All those years of Michael Jordan peddling his own sneaker brand, Hanes underwear, Gatorade and everything else on store shelves have not been in vain.

The basketball legend’s net worth has reportedly eclipsed one billion dollars.

It was publicized that Jordan, 50, grossed $90 million alone in 2013 but it wasn’t his various endorsements and businesses that aligned his stock amongst the wealthy elite. According to findings by Forbes, it was Jordan’s increased stake in the returning Charlotte Hornets that got him there.

Mike Ozanian says that sources close to the Hornets organization say that Jordan’s stake in team quietly rose from 80 percent 89.5 percent over the past few months. Thanks to the struggling franchise being $135 million in debt, it gave MJ23 equity of $416 million. Tally up his existing net worth outside of the team to be around $600 million and voilà! A billionaire is born.

Strippers target wealthy clients for, gets them for $200K

I hate to be the one that's insensitive to the plight a bunch of horny rich men, but hey, you kind of bring this on yourself when you solicit the services of strippers. But, this group of strippers slipped these rich men some molly's and ended up getting got for more than $200K. The Los Angeles Times reports:

Four female strippers in New York have been charged with spiking the drinks of rich men and then taking the impaired victims to clubs where as much as $200,000 in charges were billed to their credit cards, officials said Wednesday.

New York's Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York office and the New York police have arrested four adult entertainers and a club manager on charges that include grand larceny, conspiracy and forgery, officials said. The arrests, the result of an eight-month probe, began on Monday, authorities said.

Those charged were: Samantha Barbash, Roselyn Keo, Karina Pasucci and Marsi Rosen. The manager at the RoadHouse Club, Carmine Vitolo, was charged with conspiracy, grand larceny and tampering with physical evidence, officials said.

Barbash's attorney, Stephen Murphy, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that his client denies the charges.

The four victims lost $200,000 from last September to December, according to officials. The victims included people in banking, law and medicine.

According to officials, the women allegedly drugged the men with methylone, commonly known as Molly, or other drugs after arranging to meet them at upscale bars in the New York area. The victims, reeling from the effects of the drugs, were taken to the clubs, where a variety of services, including private rooms, meals and drinks, were charged on the victim's credit cards. The women then received part of the proceeds.


The victims later reported waking up in their cars or in hotel rooms with little or no memory of the encounters. If they disputed the credit card bills, they received texts from the strippers threatening to make the encounters public, officials said.

Legendary actress/activist Ruby Dee passes away at 91

Time to bid our dues to another legend in the game, the great Ruby Dee. She has made in appearances in some of my favorite movies over the years; especially the Spike Lee joints. Her late husband, Ossie Davis passed away years ago, now she has gone home to be with him. Rest well, queen! Your work here will live on! CNN reports:

Ruby Dee, the award-winning actress whose seven-decade career included triumphs on stage and screen, has died. She was 91.

Dee died peacefully Wednesday at her New Rochelle, New York, home, according to her representative, Michael Livingston.

Dee -- often with her late husband, Ossie Davis -- was a formidable force in both the performing arts community and the civil rights movement. The couple were master and mistress of ceremonies at the 1963 March on Washingon, and she was friends with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Dee received the Frederick Douglass Award in 1970 from the New York Urban League.

As an actress, her film credits included "The Jackie Robinson Story" (1950), "A Raisin in the Sun" (1961), "Buck and the Preacher" (1972), "Do the Right Thing" (1989) and "American Gangster" (2007).

Dee earned an Oscar nomination for her performance in "Gangster." She also won an Emmy and Grammy for other work.

Broadway star Audra McDonald paid tribute to Dee when she accepted a Tony Award on Sunday, crediting Dee, Maya Angelou, Diahann Carroll and Billie Holiday for making her career possible. McDonald won a best actress Tony in 2004 for playing the same role Dee created on Broadway in 1959 and in the 1961 film version of "Raisin."

In a statement, Gil Robertson IV of the African American Film Critics Association praised Dee's contributions.

"The members of the African American Film Critics Association are deeply saddened at the loss of actress and humanitarian Ruby Dee," said Robertson. "Throughout her seven-decade career, Ms. Dee embraced different creative platforms with her various interpretations of black womanhood and also used her gifts to champion for Human Rights. Her strength, courage and beauty will be greatly missed."

Dee was born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1922, and moved to New York's Harlem as a child. She took the surname Dee after marrying blues singer Frankie Dee two decades later. She divorced Dee after a short marriage and was wedded to Davis in 1948. Davis preceded his wife in death in 2005.

Tracy Morgan did not have his leg amputated

I'm sure people have wondered why there haven't been any posts about the accident that claimed the life of Comedian Jimmy Mack and has Tracy Morgan in critical condition. Well, first of all, there haven't been any new developments to report on. Secondly, at this point, the reports that have come out have all been rumor based and we like to report facts here. According to Morgan's fiancé, stories circulating about his leg being amputated are all wrong. Allhiphop.com reports:

In a statement released to the press, Megan Wollover denies recent rumors about Morgan’s conditions and pleads with the media.

Yesterday (June 9th), rumors circulated that Morgan would have to have his leg amputated due to the severity of his injuries sustained during last Saturday’s six vehicle accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. Before stating that “rumors about amputating his leg are completely fabricated”, the statement revealed that Wollover would like for the media to not report inaccurate stories during this arduous time:

The concern for his well-being has been overwhelming, but Megan is respectfully asking that the media await official word through these channels before speculating (mostly inaccurately) on his condition

Police reports state that the driver of the Walmart truck that crashed into Morgan’s party limo had not slept in over 24 hours. Comedian James McNair (Jimmy Mack) was killed in the crash.

Father attacks a teacher for texting his 15 year old daughter

Here's a man that deserves a father of the year award! As a father, instinctively it is your responsibility to protect and provided for your family. That's exactly what this Baltimore man was trying to do when he attacked a 42 year old teacher for carrying on a text conversation with his 15 year old daughter. Huffington Post reports:

A Maryland dad likely won't see any charges after he struck a local teacher with a baseball bat.

Police say the dad saw a series of texts on Thursday between the 42-year-old teacher and his daughter, a 15-year-old student. The girl's mother deemed them "inappropriate for a teacher and a student" to be sharing, News Net 5 reports. Investigators didn't agree and never charged the teacher with a crime, but the situation took a downturn later that day when the unidentified teacher showed up at the girl's house.

He wanted to speak to the girl's father, but was told to leave, CBS local reports. When he refused, the dad reportedly whacked him with a baseball bat. The teacher sustained minor injuries.

Police arrived at the Nottingham home at about 9:45 p.m., but the teacher didn't press charges.

The Crimes Against Children Unit continues to investigate, according to The Baltimore Sun. The department said it won't release the names of the girl and her parents.

Archbishop claims He Didn’t Know Sex With Children Was Illegal

What in the name of all things holy?! Jesus said in Matthew 18: 6: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Not only is it illegal to have sex with minors, but it is immoral. I find it very hard to believe a Archbishop didn't know that. But this St. Louis Archbishop who is facing child molestation charges is making that very claim. NBC News reports:

Attorney Jeff Anderson, who is representing an alleged clergy abuse victim, also released documents Monday indicating Robert Carlson was aware in 1984 of the seriousness of child abuse allegations. He wrote to then-Archbishop John Roach that parents of one of the alleged victims was planning to go to police.

Carlson’s role at the time was to investigate abuse claims. He admitted in his deposition that he never personally went to police, even when a a clergy member admitted to inappropriate behavior.

In a video released by the St. Paul law firm Jeff Anderson & Associates, the Catholic archbishop is asked whether he had known it was a crime for an adult to engage in sex with a child.

“I’m not sure whether I knew it was a crime or not,” Carlson responded. “I understand today it’s a crime.”

When asked when he first realized it was a crime for an adult — including priests — to have sex with a child, Carlson, 69, shook his head.

“I don’t remember,” he testified.

Check out the video for yourself:

NCAA reaches a $20 million settlement with students over video games

All I have to say is: IT'S ABOUT TIME! I think it's absolutely criminal that the NCAA and these colleges/universities have been allowed to capitalize off student athletes for so long without properly compensating them for it. They make millions of dollars off their athletes from TV deals, video games. endorsement deals, etc. and very little of that money, if any at all, ever trickles down to the athletes. Well, that may change now with this $20 million dollar settlement that was reached recently. FOX Sports reports.

The NCAA has announced a $20 million settlement with former players over college-themed basketball and football video games produced by Electronic Arts.

The NCAA said Monday that the agreement will provide money to plaintiffs headed by former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller. The case was scheduled for trial in March 2015.

The settlement will award $20 million to certain Division I men’s basketball and Bowl Subdivision football players. Details were still be finalized.

The agreement was announced on the same day the NCAA heads to trial in federal court in California. Former UCLA star Ed O’Bannon and others filed a class-action lawsuit claims the NCAA over the use of their images in broadcasts and video games without compensation.

“With the games no longer in production and the plaintiffs settling their claims with EA and the Collegiate Licensing Company, the NCAA viewed a settlement now as an appropriate opportunity to provide complete closure to the video game plaintiffs,” NCAA Chief Legal Officer Donald Remy said in a press release.

Nas partners with Koru to offer a scholarship fund for

Legendary Queensbridge representative, Nas, is having an amazing 2014. For the first time in a long time, his name has been in the all over the news for something other than beef, his relationship with Kelis or legal/tax issues. While continuing to make music and moves, Nas has not abandoned his mission to make a difference. This time, he's partnering with Koru to offer a scholarship fund to benefit students seeking to further education. Allhiphop.com reports:

Nas once rapped “read more, learn more, change the globe” and he is putting his money where his bars are. Today (May 28th), the Queensbridge legend and his investment company Queensbridge Venture Partners have teamed up with Koru to offer college graduates The Nas Scholarship Fund.

The Nas Scholarship Fund is the product of Queensbridge Venture Partner’s investment in Koru, a highly selective program that gives exceptional college graduates job training and placement. Koru has partnered with 13 colleges and recently awarded the first recipients of The Nas Scholarship Fund. Steeve Simbert, a prospective Georgetown University graduate of the 2015 class and Marixa Rodriguez, an Occidental University graduate of the 2014 class were the first to be rewarded with the honor. Simbert is majoring in Government, whereas Rodriguez graduated with a double major in History and Spanish.

Nas dropped out of school after the eighth grade in the late 80s. However, in a statement released earlier today regarding The Nas Scholarship Fund, Nas spoke on the importance of helping those who’ve achieved higher education:

I’m inspired to support Koru participants because I know how hard it can be to carve out your path and purpose in life.  It takes conviction, hard work and the right network. The young people going through Koru are gritty, book smart and street smart.  The Koru program gives them an opportunity to put those smarts to work. I can’t wait to work directly with them and share what I’ve learned through my own life experiences.

The deadline for the July program is June 9^th and the deadline for the September programs in Seattle and San Francisco is June 30^th. To find out more about Koru, The Nas Scholarship Program and ways to apply, check out Koru’s official website.