http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/rappers/ en-us Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:54:58 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407511/posts Why wouldn't you just fire a pistol the normal way? As police chased Raymond "Ready" Martinez through Times Square on Thursday, the street hustler and aspiring rapper fired two shots, holding the gun sideways "like a character out of a rap video." Slate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407511/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:54:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2315010/posts Two Cambridge rappers are weighing in on the Gates-Crowley debacle with a verbal assault aimed at racist cops and a sellout black scholar. E’Flash and Vee Knuckles of Natural Born Spitters (NBS) say they don’t want to take sides in the protest track “CPD” (for Cambridge Police Department), their reaction to the July 16 arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. by Cambridge police Sgt. James Crowley. Instead, they want to offer a street analysis of longstanding problems within their community. Boston Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2315010/posts#comment Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:19:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2253978/posts Buoyed by Barack Obama’s election as president, a group of hip-hop artists and other activists is taking to Capitol Hill — trying to harness the wave of support for Obama among young voters into an ongoing political force. The group, the Hip Hop Caucus, has a nine-member Washington office — but its real reach comes from its ability to harness the power of hip-hop artists to put a famous face on issues and draw in their young, multicultural fans. In the next few weeks, the caucus will see a bill it fashioned with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) be introduced —... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2253978/posts#comment Tue, 19 May 2009 15:59:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2228761/posts NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The home of a rapper under house arrest while awaiting trial on a murder charge will be the setting for an anti-crime news conference at 11 a.m. today. The Rev. Toris Young, who heads the "Louisiana Ministerial Alliance Of Churches For All People," says rapper Corey Miller is among a new group joining forces to fight violent crime in the New Orleans area. Tuesday's news conference will take place at the Kenner home of Miller's grandmother, where he is being detained. nola.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2228761/posts#comment Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:17:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2069563/posts LOS ANGELES — Rapper and hip-hop producer Dr. Dre's 20-year-old son has died, a spokesperson for Dr. Dre said in a statement on Tuesday. Fox News.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2069563/posts#comment Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:31:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1879357/posts Black boys 'need role models not rappers' By Sarah Womack, Social Affairs Correspondent Last Updated: 2:13am BST 10/08/2007 Black youngsters need a new generation of role models, drawn from the legal profession, business and education, to counter under-achievement and involvement in crime, a Government-funded report has said. Uanu Seshmi: boys need self-confidence to reject gangs Too often the role models for young black men are celebrities and rappers who glamorise crime, guns or gangs, the independent Reach report said. It came as a charity boss claimed that Britain's inner cities were starting to resemble American ghettos and that a lack... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1879357/posts#comment Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:57:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870346/posts All the breathless debates about Michael Vick are missing the point. The bigger issue has nothing to do with whether or not he deserves the right of due process, or whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should suspend him, or whether Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank should enable him or give him tough love. It's not even about whether ... Nike should be launching another designer shoe with his name on it. All of those are minor distractions from ...: How did someone like Michael Vick ever come to exist? Are we really ready to have that conversation? Do we dare... St. Louis Post-Dispatch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870346/posts#comment Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:46:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1863515/posts FReep This Poll! Do you think the NAACP's funeral for the 'N-word' will reduce its use? Yes No Not sure North County Times/The Californian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1863515/posts#comment Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:56:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1855293/posts CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. — The $25,000 a month in child support and household expenses that rapper 50 Cent pays to the mother of his 10-year-old son is not enough, says the boy's mother, Shaniqua Tompkins. The rapper is "worth tens and tens of millions of dollars," said her attorney, Raoul Felder. The parents of young Marquise Jackson are wrangling over the issue in family court in this Long Island community, where 50 Cent arrived Friday in an armored SUV equipped with a satellite dish. 50 Cent no longer needs to worry about the choice he famously expressed on a 2004... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1855293/posts#comment Sun, 24 Jun 2007 01:34:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1817193/posts FLORENCE, S.C. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) on Friday questioned the way some rappers talk about women in songs, saying the lyrics are similar to the derogatory language used by embattled radio host Don Imus. They are "degrading their sisters. That doesn't inspire me," Obama said of some hip-hop artists when a man in a crowd of about 1,000 questioned him. The Illinois senator was responding to a question of what inspired him, and said God and civil rights activists. Earlier this week, Obama criticized Imus, who was fired Thursday for labeling the Rutgers women's... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1817193/posts#comment Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:08:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1816817/posts In the wake of the Imus affair, MSNBC is airing an all-day discussion on the theme "What's OK to say?" Poet Maya Angelou appeared at 11:05 AM EDT, and in the course of her interview with MSNBC's Peter Alexander, had this exchange: ALEXANDER: Dr. Angelou, you're an author and an artist. I guess the question is, is there a need for more censorship of our media and of our arts, are you comfortable with that? And if that happens, when does it end? What is OK to say? ANGELOU: Exactly. I agree with that. I think the society decides... NewsBusters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1816817/posts#comment Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:52:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1816289/posts I've been getting slammed by my more libertarian friends since I suggested major media corporations like NBC and CBS should have the good sense and decency to fire Don Imus' old, flabby, white posterior. "We'll have to appoint you minister of culture for the Clinton presidency," writes Conrad Carter. "Last time I checked, we had freedom of speech, and I presume you have the sense to turn the dial." Ahhh, but notice I didn't suggest Imus should be arrested. Notice I didn't suggest he should be gagged and bound. Notice I didn't suggest the Federal Communication Commission should dispatch speech... WorldnetDaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1816289/posts#comment Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:27:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780649/posts Two men who were asked to rap to get out of a ticket are seeking large amounts of money for what they believe was a violation of their civil rights. One of the men has filed a claim against the city of Tempe for $50,000 and the other filed a claim for half a million dollars. A claim is the first legal step toward a lawsuit against a government entity. James Baker and Robert Tarvin, who are black, were shown rapping on a segment of the police-produced cable-TV show "Tempe StreetBeat" after Tempe police Sgt. Chuck Schoville pulled them over... Discover the Networks http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1780649/posts#comment Wed, 7 Feb 2007 15:05:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1763642/posts The 800-pound gorilla is back, and as usual folks are pretending the critter ain't in the room. We'll call this particular 800-pound gorilla Joey, in tribute to that 1940s film about the giant ape called Mighty Joe Young. I think it's time Joey got his props. I think it's time we acknowledge Joey. Joey, meet the guys. Guys, shake hands with Joey. "The guys" in this case are those Baltimoreans who, for the past week, have expressed angst and dismay about the appalling way some young black men in this city, addicted to the thug life, dispatch each other with... The Baltimore Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1763642/posts#comment Sun, 7 Jan 2007 08:12:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1746069/posts Like many urban teenagers, Ted Robertson doesn't mind spending more than he can afford to emulate his favorite rappers. He wears $500 Japanese designer jeans and $200 Air Jordan sneakers. A 17-year-old junior at NOVA, (Northwest Opportunities Vocational Academy), an alternative school-to-work transition program for at-risk students, Robertson is more concerned with keeping up with the latest hip-hop fashions than getting into college. "I try to dress like my favorite rappers, T.I. and Little Wayne," he says. "I want to save for a car, but I want a pair of Red Monkey Jeans that cost $1,000. I'm going to get... JSOnline http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1746069/posts#comment Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:06:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1729267/posts      Convicted fanatic ... Mostafa    EXCLUSIVE  Hook son's job on Tube By NICK PARKEROctober 31, 2006           THE terrorist son of hook-handed Abu Hamza has been working on London’s Tube, The Sun can reveal.  Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, 25 — a convicted fanatic who has glorified suicide attacks like the 7/7 slaughter — was rumbled by Underground workmates when they saw his picture in The Sun.  They went straight to bosses, who told Mohammed Kamel Mostafa, 25, to sling his hook.But last night fury erupted over the security shambles that led to the convicted terrorist being... The Sun (U.K.) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1729267/posts#comment Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:58:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738828/posts THE son of the jailed Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri declared yesterday that he was proud to be a British citizen. Mohammad Mostafa Kamel, 25, who was jailed for terrorist offences in Yemen in 1999, said that it was wrong to associate him with his father’s views. “Everybody has their own beliefs and it doesn’t mean that if my dad believes something that I believe the same,” he told the BBC World Service Outlook programme. “I don’t agree with everything my dad says.” Mr Kamel, who was dismissed from a part-time maintenance job on the London Underground after his bosses... The Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1738828/posts#comment Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:03:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737187/posts LONDON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A U.S. intelligence analyst is accusing rap artists in Britain of moving young Muslims toward extremism through lyrics about the Iraq war. The Times of London reported Saturday that New York Police Department analyst Madeleine Gruen said the music of some groups is "very persuasive because it is giving young people ideas and those ideas are what might motivate someone to become a jihadi." United Press International http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737187/posts#comment Sun, 12 Nov 2006 08:02:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1681835/posts UNITED NATIONS - Jay-Z boycotted premium champagne Cristal at his clubs after the brand's owner made some remarks he didn't like. Now the rap superstar has a new favorite drink: water. - - - - - Snip - - - - "I figure that once I stumbled upon that, if the information was out and young people knew that these problems exist while we're having Poland Springs at Cipriani and things like that, that we'll get involved," said the 36-year-old rapper, referring to the high-class restaurant chain. MSNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1681835/posts#comment Fri, 11 Aug 2006 14:41:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1656317/posts CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Rapper and Def Jam Records President Jay-Z's much-hyped boycott of Cristal isn't likely to cost the vintage champagne brand any dead presidents, according to beverage industry experts. But it could give Cristal's competitors a reason to pop a few corks of their own. Music mogul Jay-Z is unhappy with the public comments of Frederic Rouzaud, managing director of Cristal parent Louis Roederer. The tempest in a champagne flute kicked off when Frederic Rouzaud, managing director of Cristal parent Louis Roederer, told The Economist that he viewed his brand's ubiquity in hip-hop lyrics and videos -- such as... Advertising Age http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1656317/posts#comment Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:39:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1623757/posts NEW YORK - He usually saves his beefs for other rappers; this time, 50 Cent is going after Oprah Winfrey. In an interview with The Associated Press, 50 complained that Winfrey rarely invites rappers on her talk show: "I think she caters to older white women." "Oprah's audience is my audience's parents," the 29-year-old rapper said. "So, I could care less about Oprah or her show." The Mercury News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1623757/posts#comment Sat, 29 Apr 2006 15:48:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1613305/posts DETROIT - Proof, a member of rap group D12 and a close friend of Eminem, was shot to death early Tuesday at a nightclub along Eight Mile, the road made famous by the 2002 film that starred Eminem and in which Proof had a bit part. The death of Proof _ real name Deshaun Holton _ was confirmed by Dennis Dennehy, the publicist for D12's label, Interscope Records, as well as by Detroit police spokesman James Tate. "Memorial service arrangements are still being made, and his friends and family would appreciate privacy during this difficult time," Dennehy said in a... http://www.comcast.net/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1613305/posts#comment Tue, 11 Apr 2006 20:42:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1545625/posts New York, New York (AHN) - Three people were stabbed Wednesday at a party celebrating a new record featuring murdered rapper Notorious B.I.G.About 3:10 a.m., police officers heard gunfire at a parking garage close to the club. They found three men inside with gunshot wounds. They are in stable condition at the hospital.A short time later, a 911 call was made about a stabbing at a Manhattan club called Exit. Police found two men who were cut in the face and one who was stabbed in the stomach. They were all hospitalized.Detectives are unclear whether the two incidents are connected.... All Headline News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1545625/posts#comment Thu, 22 Dec 2005 22:07:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1540339/posts Four young men were gunned down in a rap music studio massacre in the basement of a Dorchester house last night, pushing the city’s murder rate to a 10-year high. Boston Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1540339/posts#comment Wed, 14 Dec 2005 18:13:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1539364/posts (snip)In recent weeks, celebrities such as Jamie Foxx and Danny Glover argued that Williams, on death row for 24 years, deserved clemency for his antigang activism, which has included several books aimed at children and teenagers denouncing gang violence. Among the most prominent voices has been rapper Snoop Dogg, himself a former Crip. ''He inspired me to want to do something positive with my life and to go and touch the kids," the platinum-selling rap star said at a pro-Williams rally outside San Quentin last month. (snip) Still, Snoop has been the only rapper to speak out on Williams's behalf.... Boston Globe http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1539364/posts#comment Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:03:24 GMT