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Diddy cast as first black member in “Downton Abbey” parody

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:24:00 +0000

Sean "Diddy" Combs surprised news outlets yesterday when the rapper announced that he's going to be a "series regular" on British period drama "Downton Abbey," which only weeks ago cast its first black character. It turns out that Diddy was referring his role in a Funny or Die parody of the show, called "Downton Diddy," which posits that there's been a black character in the series all along -- he's just being ignored:

Downton Diddy from Sean Combs

Was a rapper sexually assaulted onstage?

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:30:00 +0000

The rumor was retweeted ad infinitum: Last week, a popular rapper got a blow job onstage from a female fan during a show in Minneapolis. When someone tweeted at the artist in question to ask if the rumor was true, he -- or someone using his Twitter handle -- responded, "and didn’t miss one bar." As the tale jumped from Twitter to various music blogs, the boastful tweet was deleted, but the buzz continued. Some virtually high-fived the rapper, while others found it just another story about misogyny and objectification of women in hip-hop. But today, rapper Kitty Pryde, who is currently on tour with the rapper in question and witnessed the incident in person, wrote a blog post reframing it as sexual assault. "It was an actual sexual assault, and somehow nobody gives a fuck about that but me," wrote Pryde, who refers to the rapper as her "best friend."

As you can probably tell, I've decided to not name the rapper. It isn't difficult to figure out who he is, of course, but it seems a matter of principle to keep his name out of this article. After all, we're talking about an incident that at least one person is calling a sexual assault, and which Pryde argues involved reverse sexism and double standards when it comes to sexual assault.

Snoop Lion releases anti-gun video featuring his daughter and Drake

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:54:00 +0000

Snoop Lion, a rapper reborn with a mission for peace and positivity, has released an anti-gun music video today featuring Drake and Cori B, Snoop's daughter.

"No Guns Allowed" is a track off of his new album, "Reincarnated." In a clip from his upcoming documentary of the same title, the rapper explains that the track and his daughter's involvement in it is meant to set things right with his family after his darker, more volatile past.

Lil Wayne still in hospital after suffering multiple seizures

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:20:00 +0000

Despite sending out a reassuring tweet on Friday and hearing reports on Sunday that said Lil Wayne is "good, just resting," the rapper is now entering into his sixth day in the I.C.U of Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, reports TMZ.

TMZ first broke the news that Weezy had been admitted to the I.C.U. after suffering multiple seizures Tuesday night, and was released on Wednesday. "Sources say there's evidence Wayne went on a Sizzurp binge after being released Wednesday, because doctors found high amounts of codeine in his system," reported TMZ. "We're told Wanye's stomach was pumped 3 times to flush the drugs from his system." MTV has noted, however, that Lil Wayne has had seizures before, writing, "The situation is similar to the reported seizure like-symptoms Weezy suffered while aboard his private jet in October. After a pair of hospital visits, the 'No Worries' MC appeared to be well, and in November, he admitted to MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway that he was on medication to treat his condition during an interview in which he was sweating profusely."

But this time, TMZ has reported that his condition over the weekend was so critical that his mother came to the hospital and made decisions "including the decision to discontinue life support." Rappers Nicki Minaj, Drake, Birdman, Chris Paul and perhaps Eminem have also visited the rapper at the hospital.

Afghanistan’s first female rapper perseveres past death threats

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 20:14:00 +0000

Sosan Firooz, a 23-year-old Afghani woman, raps about female oppression, her experience as a refugee in Iran and against child abuse. She's making history in the conservative country by performing in front of men, which comes at a high price--her safety.

"I am her secretary, answering her phones. I am her bodyguard, protecting her. When she's out, I must be with her," her father told the AP in October. Now, CBS reports that the rapper, who has been gaining attention for her release of "Our Neighbors" earlier this fall, has started receiving menacing text messages and death threats against family members. "They told [Firooz's mother] 'If your daughter appears on TV again, we will cut off your head,'" said Firooz.

Firooz's uncle has cut off relations with her, but her parents continue to support the singer.

Music producer Fared Rastagar, who recorded Firooz's song, told CBS, "Some female singers have stopped singing because of threats from the Taliban. Some have left the country." Firooz, however, plans to stay. "Yes of course it's difficult," Firooz said. "But it's easier than being a refugee."

Jay-Z to stream concert on his new YouTube channel

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:13:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jay-Z is live-streaming the last of his eight concerts at New York City's Barclays Center for the launch of his new YouTube channel.

The rapper announced Thursday his performance at the new Brooklyn sports arena will be live-streamed on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. He says it'll air on his new Life and Times channel.

Jay-Z's new channel is part of an original programming initiative by YouTube, owned by Mountain View, Calif.-based Google Inc. Life and Times promises a lineup of "in depth lifestyle pieces" based on the tastes and interests of Jay-Z.

The rapper is christening the Barclays Center with a weeklong series of shows. The arena is the home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, of which Jay-Z is a minority owner.

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Online:

HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/JAYZSLIFEANDTIMES

DMX freaks out over using Google

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:46:00 +0000

DMX is a brave, brave man. He has endured prison, endless legal battles, and the tumult of a rap career -- but these pale in comparison to what the rapper confronted yesterday: The Google. He told Power 105.1, "I don't even know how to use a computer. I don't want to know how to use a computer." Of the Google toolbar, he said, "That's scary. That's scary."

Eventually, an interviewer coached him through it, and it was sort of OK:

"I know you can do this, just type 'D-M-X.'"

(DMX struggles to find keys)

"Oh, all right, so what do I do?"

"Now you hit 'Enter'!"