Artists Talk Barack Obama's Inauguration As 44th President

As the nation prepares for the inauguration of Barack Obama today (January 20), hitmaking R&B crooner D’Angelo and a number of rappers are weighing in on the impact the soon-to-be President will have over the next four years.

The singer is among those who believe Obama's presidency will result in an upward swing for the country in light of current economic issues and negative perceptions among those living in and outside the U.S.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Common: Obama will change hip-hop's attitude

The rapper Common wants to take hip-hop in a new direction, he says, and he has an unsuspecting ally -- President-elect Barack Obama.


Common says he was looking for a new sound on his eighth album, "Universal Mind Control."

"I really do believe we as hip-hop artists pick up what's going on in the world and try to reflect that," he told CNN, outlining his belief that mainstream as well as so-called "conscious" rappers -- the more socially aware -- will pick up on what he sees as the more optimistic prospects of an Obama presidency.

"I think hip-hop artists will have no choice but to talk about different things and more positive things, and try to bring a brighter side to that because, even before Barack, I think people had been tired of hearing the same thing," he said.


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Big Boi, Ludacris, Others Unite For Urban Ball Inaugural Celebration

Ludacris and Big Boi are teaming up. The Atlanta duo is reportedly putting together a show for President-elect Barack Obama. According to a variety of reports, Ludacris and Big Boi have joined forces to host the Urban Ball, part of the American Music Inaugural Balls, an event set to take place in Washington, D.C. on January 20.

T-Pain, David Banner, Cedric the Entertainer, Bobby Valentino, Lil Jon, The Cheetah Girls, Monica and Fantasia Barrino are confirmed to perform, according to various news outlets. Former NBA players Alonzo Mourning, Kenny "The Jet" Smith and Jalen Rose are also said to be confirmed to attend.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

As genocide raged, general's pleas for help ignored

In 1993, Romeo Dallaire was full of hope for the future of Rwanda.

Romeo Dallaire, now a Canadian senator, says that in Rwanda, he "shook hands with the devil."

A year later he left Rwanda a broken man, having watched helplessly as more than 800,000 people perished in Rwanda's genocide despite his pleas for more troops to stop the massacre.

"We could have actually saved hundreds of thousands," Dallaire told CNN's Christiane Amanpour for "Scream Bloody Murder."


Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Slaves helped build White House, U.S. Capitol

In January, President-elect Barack Obama and his family will make history, becoming the first African-American first family to move into the White House -- a house with a history of slavery. In fact, the legacy of American presidents owning slaves goes all the way back to George Washington.

Twelve American presidents owned slaves and eight of them, starting with Washington, owned slaves while they lived in the White House. Almost from the very start, slaves were a common sight in the executive mansion. A list of construction workers building the White House in 1795 includes five slaves - named Tom, Peter, Ben, Harry and Daniel -- all put to work as carpenters. Other slaves worked as masons in the government quarries, cutting the stone for early government buildings, including the White House and U.S. Capitol. According to records kept by the White House Historical Association, slaves often worked seven days a week -- even in the hot and humid Washington summers.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Young Jeezy And Nas Pay Tribute To Barack Obama, MLK, Public Enemy In 'My President' Video

Jeezy hints at a possible tour with fellow Georgians T.I. and Ludacris.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

Young Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris Unite To Support Jim Martin

Last night at the State Capitol in Georgia, Young Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris, and Kevin Liles teamed up to help bring out voters for Democrat Jim Martin.

Martin and Republican Saxby Chambliss have had their senate election sent into overtime due to the close number of votes. Today was the last day in Georgia for voters to cast their ballots to determine a winner in this long running battle.
The group of multi-platinum rappers and exec called on voters to help elect Jim Martin and add another Democrat to their Congress majority.


Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Bush: 'I was unprepared for war'

President Bush made some interesting comments about his readiness to command the country in wartime and his regrets about the intelligence that his administration relied on before the invasion of Iraq.

He also said the 2008 election, which delivered the White House to Democrat Barack Obama, "was a repudiation of Republicans."

Here's an excerpt from the interview with Charles Gibson of World News

Check Out Full Article @ USAToday

MTV Airs Paris' New Video

After years of being shunned by mainstream media outlets, militant Bay Area rapper Paris has secured an unlikely supporter in MTV for his latest album Acid Reflex.

The network finalized a deal last week to prominently air Paris’ revolution-based video “Don’t Stop the Movement,” which features an uprising of American citizens storming the White House in response to police brutality.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Scarface on Election: “Obama Speaks More for the Hip-Hop Generation

Joining a ever-expanding list of emcees, activists, and celebrities, Texas Hip-Hop legend Scarface is also voicing his opinion on the November 4 presidential election.

With his ninth and last studio album Emeritus on deck for December 2, Scarface expressed his disgust at the man he holds responsible for America’s current economic crisis.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Early voting suggests 2008 may see record turnout, expert says

Officials in early voting states are reporting record turnout with Election Day still two weeks away.

The numbers indicate a record percentage of voters could participate in the presidential election, a voting expert said.

Michael McDonald, an associate professor of politics and government at George Mason University, said at least 2.2 million people already have voted using absentee or other types of ballots that allow them to vote before the polls open on November 4.

Twenty-nine states were accepting early ballots as of Tuesday, and two more -- New Jersey and Oklahoma -- will begin accepting early ballots next week.

Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Eminem and Colin Powell Officially Endorse Barack Obama

As the most anticipated U.S. presidential election in history nears the final stretch, Hip-Hop megastar Eminem and former secretary of state Colin Powell are officially proclaiming their support for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

While historically Eminem his voiced criticism of the Bush administration in songs, the Obama endorsement marks the first time the Detroit emcee has endorsed a political figure.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

KRS One Criticizes the Creativity and Materialism of Rap

KRS-One recently rattled a few Hip Hop heads when he embraced newcomer Soulja Boy by welcoming him into the Hip Hop genre.
Although the prolific South Bronx legend demonstrated a show of respect for Soulja Boy, who has been criticized by media and audiences alike, The Teacha also had a few critiques of his own.
“[Old school Hip Hop has] art, creativity, genuineness, authenticity,” he told Real Talk New York on the red carpet of Vh1’s Hip Hop Honors show. “The youth today, the majority, are not seeking authenticity, because the society in which they live doesn't ask them to be authentic. It asks them to be other people… It doesn’t ask them to be themselves because there’s consequences to being yourself. So our young people don’t be themselves and as a result they follow whatever trend is out there…”
KRS-One also commented boldly on today’s quality of music, drawing major contrasts between new school and old school.
“I would say the new school has more money today than we do, that's the difference. We were poorer then. But that's how Hip Hop was created. You cannot be rich and continue to produce raw Hip Hop.”



Courtesy of HIPHOPDX

Market Woes Affect $42million Lottery Winner

A winner of a $42 million Mega Millions jackpot in Michigan may do something almost unheard of: receive the money in installments rather than getting a smaller, one-time cash payment.

The winner of the October 3 jackpot indicated a preference for taking the annuity. State lottery spokeswoman Andi Brancato says she can't remember a Mega Millions winner in Michigan ever doing that since the game was launched in 2002.

The winner will be announced Friday at a news conference.

Lottery winners typically take a lump-sum payment with plans to invest it, but confidence in the market has dropped with the current financial crisis. The Dow has lost nearly 40 percent since closing at its all-time high a year ago.


Courtesy of CNN.COM

Barack Obama Says He's Got Kanye And Jay On The iPod

At a presidential rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, MTV personality Sway had the opportunity to speak with presidential candidate Barack Obama to discuss issues such as the economy, Hip Hop, and of course John McCain.

Since the interview took place after the presidential debate, Obama was able to speak on his overall opinion of the debate.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Bow Wow To Walk Across America To Encourage Voting

Rapper/actor Bow Wow has teamed with Walk Across America to encourage voter registration and youth participation in the upcoming presidential elections.

Starting in October 1, Bow Wow and Walk Across America will travel to various cities across the United States, including major markets like Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and New York City.

Check Out Full Article @ All Hip-Hop

Race could play big role in election, poll suggests

A new study that surveyed racial attitudes suggests that racial prejudices could tip the balance in the upcoming presidential election.

A poll finds a small percentage of voters said they may turn away from Sen. Barack Obama because of his race.

If there were no racial prejudice among voters, Sen. Barack Obama would receive about 6 percentage points more support, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll, designed in partnership with Stanford University.

The results suggest that 40 percent of white Americans hold at least a partly negative view toward blacks, including more than a third of white Democrats and independents. A small percentage of voters -- 2.5 percent of those surveyed -- said they may turn away from Obama because of his race.


Check Out Full Article @ CNN

Daddy Yankee Defends His Decision To Back John McCain

Reggaetón artist won't accept Fat Joe's challenge to a political debate.

Check Out Full Article @ MTV

US Soldier Dishonorably Discharged For Hip Hop

Former US soldier Martin Jackson takes his Hip Hop seriously. So seriously, in fact, that he was dismissed from military duty because of it.

One of Malone’s sergeants burned his nine year collection of Hip Hop magazines after a heated argument. Malone’s reaction earned him a discharge for dishonorable conduct.

At the time, Malone had served three years which included a stint in Korea and service after the attacks of September 11.

Check Out Full Article @ Hip-Hop DX

Mentally ill kept in police cells

[in the U.K]



Thousands of people with mental health problems are being detained in police cells rather than being taken to hospital for assessment, a report says.

Over a year, more than 11,500 people were held in police custody for assessment under the Mental Health Act - double the number taken to hospital.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission collated data for all 43 police forces in England and Wales.

IPCC commissioner Ian Bynoe said the situation was "intolerable".

Section 136 of the Mental Health Act enables officers to take someone they believe is suffering from a mental disorder, and in need of immediate care or control, from a public place to a "place of safety" where they can be examined by a doctor and interviewed by an approved social worker.



Full Story at BBC