Leave a Comment | Posted by on May 28, 2010
CNN has issued an apology for playing a profanity laced song by Coolio in the middle of the afternoon yesterday (May 27th).
The network played an uncensored version of Coolio’s “Fantastic Voyage” at the end of a segment about a 103-year-old Coatesville, Pennsylvania woman named Gladys Flamer, who still enjoyed driving her Cadillac.
Anchor/host Kyra Phillips immediately apologized for the embarrassing mistake after a commercial break.
“We aired some music a few minutes ago, and, obviously for those of you that heard it, it was the wrong music that aired,” Phillips said. “We apologize for that. It was a terrible mistake. And we’re working very hard to make up for it.”
Rapper Snoop Dogg will enter the business world of the MMA this Saturday, when he is expected to be named President of the Serious Pimp clothing/sunglasses company.
The announcement is expected to take place at the Venus Pool Club at Caesar’s Palace this Saturday (May 29th) afternoon.
Snoop and company will then attend the UFC’s highly anticipated contest between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans.
“This brings the best of both worlds to Serious Pimp. Snoop Dogg knows what the people want and shares our vision to promote events that combine the Hip Hop culture and the MMA movement,” said Serious Pimp Founder and CEO Damian Kutzner. “Together we will usher in the next era for the Serious Pimp brand and satisfy the demand from the Hip Hop community and extreme fighting lifestyle world.”
The announcement comes weeks after Snoop’s “spiritual advisor” Bishop Don Juan, was named as Serious Pimp’s Chairman of the Board.
Snoop will leverage his contacts in the music industry to help expand the brand create events that merge Hip-Hop music with MMA fighting and create a stronger bond between the brand and the sport.
“Serious Pimp got its start sponsoring MMA fighters in their bouts,” continued Kutzner, who launched the company in 1999.
“Ironically, ‘Rampage’ was one of the first fighters we got behind. Snoop Dogg’s attendance at this fight shows the company’s connection to the past and its vision for the future,” Kutzner said.
After the bout between Jackson and Evans, Snoop Dogg will hit the stage at the LAX Nightclub at the Luxor for a special celebratory performance.
This June, a number of top rappers will head to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center Stone Mountain to celebrate the birthday of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur.
Rick Ross, Bun B., Too $hort, The Outlawz, Roscoe Dash and Pill are among the rap stars who will gather in Atlanta at the 2nd Annual Tupac Shakur Birthday Concert on June 16th to honor the slain rap icon.
“Tupac was a legend, may his memory last 100 lifetimes,” Rick Ross told AllHipHop.com in a statement released today (May 27th).
As the sole surviving member of UGK, Bun B. said that he realized the value and challenges associated with upholding a legacy, after his partner Pimp C. died of natural causes in December of 2007.
“As the sole member of UGK, I understand and accept the role of upholding a legacy. It’s not an easy task, and I accept and appreciate the love and support for family, friends, fans and supporters alike,” Bun B. stated. “So I’m always ready to help uphold the honor of hip hop’s fallen soldier. I take pride in standing and remembering 2Pac, one of the greatest ever.”
The second annual birthday celebration is being produced by Tupac’s mother Afeni Shakur and comedian Mike Epps.
“This is the second year that we are celebrating Pac’s birthday in concert,” Mike Epps said. “As fans we are just giving back some of what he gave to us. This charity event helps support the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts in Atlanta. On June 16th, Ms. Shakur and I along with some of the biggest names in hip hop will celebrate Tupac’s life, legacy and music! Don’t miss it!”
Tickets for the event are $25 and will be available at www.16thofjune.com and at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts located at 5616 Memorial Drive in Stone Mountain, GA.
D12 group member Swifty McVay is the latest artist to run into tax trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Swifty McVay, born Ondre Moore, owes the government over $254,000 in back state and federal taxes according to reports.
|On March 31st, the IRS placed a lien against the rapper with the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds. An additional lien of $22,036 was filed against Swifty and his wife in LA.
They also owe the state of Michigan another $7,199 in back taxes dating back to November of 2009.
Swifty’s lawyer told the Detroit News that the rapper was attempting to make good on his debt to the IRS.
“Mr. Moore takes full responsibility for his debt to the IRS and the state and is working with the government in resolving his outstanding tax liability,” Freeman said. “He has rejoined with his prior manager, and his current business and tax matters are now being properly handled.”
Other members of D12 are also facing tax issues. Last year, Kuniva was hit with a $215,000 bill, while Denaun Porter owed over $61,000 while Kon Artis owed over $150,000 dollars.
Legendary Hip-Hop collective Wu-Tang Clan have announced the release of Pollen: The Swarm Part 3, the third installment of the group’s “swarm” franchise.
The new album will feature appearances from Method Man, Ghostface Killah , RZA, Trife, Solomon Childs, Boy Jones, 12 oclock, Prodigal Sun, Killer Priest, Street Life, Remedy, JoJo Pelligrino, the Rev Burke, the late Ol Dirty Bastard and others.
“Wu-Tang is forever and we will continue to shine light and spread music to the world,” said executive producer The RZA, while co-executive producer Power added “as for anyone and anything else, you may need to refer back to the Wu-Tang’s first suggestion which is to certainly ‘Protect Ya Neck.’”
Pollen: The Swarm Part 3 is due in stores on June 22nd, 2010.
Kanye West has joined a musical boycott of Arizona’s new immigration law, which has caused a firestorm of controversy.
Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine has sparked the protest and the rock rapper furnished a list of musicians that have supported the movement.
West has been joined by Cypress Hill, Conor Oberest, Sonic Youth, Massive Attack, Ozomatli, Rise Against, Pitbull and Tenacious D.
De la Rocha said their boycott of the state was comparable to the legendary boycott of the Montgomery Bus system in the 60’s, which sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
“When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, they arrested her. As a result, people got together and said we are not going to ride the bus until they change the law. It was this courageous action that sparked the Montgomery bus boycott,” a statement read. “What if we got together, signed a collective letter saying, “we’re not going to ride the bus”, saying we are not going to comply. We are not going to play in Arizona. We are going to boycott Arizona?!”
Many groups, organizations and even cities have opted or proposed boycotting Arizona for the immigration law. The city of Los Angeles has approved an economic boycott of Arizona, which will result in about $8 million in lost revenue from contracts. Another $58 million could be affected in other contracts and investments, many of which lie in air travel.
Opponents of the immigration law claim mandate promotes racial profiling and is inherently unconstitutional. It lets officer of the law make personal judgements whether or not there is a “reasonable suspicion” that the person is in the United States illegally.
The law takes affect at the end of July.
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys are engaged to be married and representatives for the singer have confirmed that the couple is expecting their first child.
The announcement was made earlier today and a rep for Keys has confirmed the news to AllHipHop.com.
Gossip writers Jawn Murray and Marc Malkin of E! also made announcements via their social networks.
“Rep confirms Alicia Keys is pregnant! My scoop was 100% correct! Apparently her & Swizz Beatz are engaged too,” Murray said.
Speculation has been high since a series of images appeared to show a “baby bump” on Keys.
Thus far, neither Keys nor Swizz Beatz camps issued any public statement.
This is the first child for Keys, who is 29 years old. Swizz Beatz, 31, has two sons from his ex-wife Mashonda.