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Friday, December 29, 2006
James Brown - A Superstar on His Own Terms
James Brown - A Superstar on His Own Terms
Instead of the star studded memorial that many expected, James Brown was eulogized this evening
(Dec. 28th) by close family and friends, with over 1500 fans in attendance at New York's Apollo Theater, and with thousands
more waiting outside.
The Reverend Al Sharpton, who credits Brown as a father figure who encouraged his
political activism back in the early 1970's, spoke at the memorial, saying the soul singer became "a superstar on his own
terms." Sharpton called Brown a Beethoven figure for R&B music who was "also was a social leader and innovator." Sharpton
reminded the audience about how influential Brown's music has been on hip hop, where producers have sampled heavily from the
legend's funk based catalog. However, the reverend chastised rappers for borrowing from Brown's music, while ignoring his
call to not use derogatory language like the N-word when referring to Black men and women.
A visibly emotional Tomi Rae Hynie, Brown's romantic partner who has been barred
from entering his home in South Carolina, used her time at the memorial to clarify her relationship with Brown. Through tears
she said, "I didn't live down the street, I lived with him". Earlier this week James Brown's lawyer, Buddy Dallas claimed
Hynie actually lived in a house blocks away from the four times married singer and was never legally wed to him.
Several members of James Brown's family, including six of his children took the stage beside
his golden coffin where he laid to rest in a blue suit. Jonelle Procope, CEO of the Apollo Theatre Foundation, and
Charles Rangel, the powerful congressman who represents the Harlem district also spent time eulogizing Brown.
There will be a private service for Brown on Friday, December 30th at the James Brown Arena
in Augusta, Georgia beginning at 1:30PM.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
James Brown's Body To Lie At Harlem's Apollo
James Brown's Body To Lie At Harlem's Apollo
The body of soul singer James Brown will rest on the stage of the legendary Apollo Theater
in Harlem from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 28), and thousands of people will be allowed one last look at the "Godfather
of Soul".
"It would almost be unthinkable for a man who lived such a sensational life to go away quietly," Rev. Al
Sharpton told The Associated Press in an interview from Georgia, where he was making funeral arrangements with
Brown's children.
Sharpton said he and the children viewed Brown's body Tuesday.
"I looked at his body. I was walking in half disbelief and sadness but proud," he said. "I couldn't even begin
to describe it, to walk around his house and he not be there."
The public Apollo viewing will be followed by a private ceremony Friday in Brown's hometown, Augusta, Ga.,
and another public ceremony, officiated by Sharpton, a day later at the James Brown Arena there.
"His greatest thrill was always the lines around the Apollo Theater," Sharpton said of the 125th Street landmark.
"I felt that James Brown in all the years we talked would have wanted one last opportunity to let the people say goodbye to
him and he to the people."
Sharpton, who said he had been like a son to Brown since they met in 1973, was introduced to him by Brown's
son, Teddy, shortly before the teenager died in a car crash.
He said Teddy wanted to encourage his father's support for Sharpton's youth organization, leading Brown to
begin a lifelong commitment to Sharpton's civil-rights projects.
"I became the son he lost," Sharpton said.
Sharpton also said Brown always knew his place in history.
"He used to tell me, `There are two American originals, Elvis and me. Elvis is gone, and I've got to carry
on.'"
Brown died of congestive heart failure on Christmas morning in Atlanta at age 73. He had been scheduled to
perform on New Year's Eve in Manhattan at B.B. King's blues club.
Brown's agent, Frank Copsidas, said family members have requested that in lieu of flowers, contribution be
made to the James Brown Music Education Foundation, which provides scholarships for aspiring musicians. The address
is James Brown Music Education Foundation c/o Intrigue Music, 601 W. 26th St., Suite 1080, New York, N.Y. 10001.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Legendary Singer James Brown Dies at 73
Legendary Singer James Brown Dies at 73
James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary
rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early Monday, his agent said. He was 73.
Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45
a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said.
Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of,"
he said.
Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences
of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid-footed dancing inspired
Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie's "Fame," Prince's "Kiss," George Clinton's "Atomic
Dog" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style.
If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke,
then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was
to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.
"James presented obviously the best grooves," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told The Associated
Press. "To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close."
His hit singles include such classics as "Out of Sight," "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine,"
"I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud," a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.
"I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves
black," Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. "The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and
a song can change society."
He won a Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1992, as well as Grammys in 1965 for "Papa's Got
a Brand New Bag" (best R&B recording) and for "Living In America" in 1987 (best R&B vocal performance, male.) He was
one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Presley, Chuck Berry and other
founding fathers.
He triumphed despite an often unhappy personal life. Brown, who lived in Beech Island near the Georgia
line, spent more than two years in a South Carolina prison for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer.
After his release on in 1991, Brown said he wanted to "try to straighten out" rock music.
From the 1950s, when Brown had his first R&B hit, "Please, Please, Please" in 1956, through the
mid-1970s, Brown went on a frenzy of cross-country tours, concerts and new songs. He earned the nickname "The Hardest Working
Man in Show Business," and often tried to prove it to his fans, said Jay Ross, his lawyer of 15 years.
Brown would routinely lose two or three pounds each time he performed and kept his furious concert
schedule in his later years even as he fought prostate cancer, Ross said.
"He'd always give it his all to give his fans the type of show they expected," he said.
With his tight pants, shimmering feet, eye makeup and outrageous hair, Brown set the stage for younger
stars such as Michael Jackson and Prince.
In 1986, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And rap stars of recent years overwhelmingly
have borrowed his lyrics with a digital technique called sampling.
Brown's work has been replayed by the Fat Boys, Ice-T, Public Enemy and a host of other rappers. "The
music out there is only as good as my last record," Brown joked in a 1989 interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
"Disco is James Brown, hip-hop is James Brown, rap is James Brown; you know what I'm saying? You hear
all the rappers, 90 percent of their music is me," he told the AP in 2003.
Born in poverty in Barnwell, S.C., in 1933, he was abandoned as a 4-year-old to the care of relatives
and friends and grew up on the streets of Augusta, Ga., in an "ill-repute area," as he once called it. There he learned to
wheel and deal.
"I wanted to be somebody," Brown said.
By the eighth grade in 1949, Brown had served 3 1/2 years in Alto Reform School near Toccoa, Ga.,
for breaking into cars.
While there, he met Bobby Byrd, whose family took Brown into their home. Byrd also took Brown into
his group, the Gospel Starlighters. Soon they changed their name to the Famous Flames and their style to hard R&B.
In January 1956, King Records of Cincinnati signed the group, and four months later "Please, Please,
Please" was in the R&B Top Ten.
Pete Allman, a radio personality in Las Vegas who had been friends with Brown for 15 years, credited
Brown with jump-starting his career and motivating him personally and professionally.
"He was a very positive person. There was no question he was the hardest working man in show business,"
Allman said. "I remember Mr. Brown as someone who always motivated me, got me reading the Bible."
While most of Brown's life was glitz and glitter, he was plagued with charges of abusing drugs and
alcohol and of hitting his third wife, Adrienne.
In September 1988, Brown, high on PCP and carrying a shotgun, entered an insurance seminar next to
his Augusta office. Police said he asked seminar participants if they were using his private restroom.
Police chased Brown for a half-hour from Augusta into South Carolina and back to Georgia. The chase
ended when police shot out the tires of his truck.
Brown received a six-year prison sentence. He spent 15 months in a South Carolina prison and 10 months
in a work release program before being paroled in February 1991. In 2003, the South Carolina parole board granted him a pardon
for his crimes in that state.
Soon after his release, Brown was on stage again with an audience that included millions of cable
television viewers nationwide who watched the three-hour, pay-per-view concert at Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.
Adrienne Brown died in 1996 in Los Angeles at age 47. She took PCP and several prescription drugs
while she had a bad heart and was weak from cosmetic surgery two days earlier, the coroner said.
More recently, he married his fourth wife, Tomi Raye Hynie, one of his backup singers. The couple
had a son, James Jr.
Two years later, Brown spent a week in a private Columbia hospital, recovering from what his agent
said was dependency on painkillers. Brown's attorney, Albert "Buddy" Dallas, said singer was exhausted from six years of road
shows.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Aretha Franklin Prepares to Drop New Album
Aretha Franklin Prepares to Drop New Album
Aretha Franklin is ready to prove she’s still in the R&B game. The soul songstress prepares for
the release of her new album, Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love, set to hit stores in the beginning of 2007.
The album features a solid guest list of gospel singers like Shirley Caesar, Karen Clark-Sheard and
the rest of Detroit's Clark Sisters, as well as multi-platinum artist Faith Hill.
Franklin will drop this album on her own label, Aretha’s Records, with some help from veteran studio
hand Michael Powell, who worked on numerous R&B projects including her 1998 hit, “A Rose is Still a Rose”.
A Woman Falling Out of Love will come out riding on the crest of Franklin's Golden Globe nomination
for best original song in a motion picture for "Never Gonna Break My Faith," her duet, co-written by Bryan Adams, with
Mary J. Blige for the Bobby film soundtrack.
"My agent called me and told me that Miramax Pictures was calling and they wanted me to sing for that
[film]," Franklin says to Billboard.com. "I was just delighted, having met several of the Kennedy's on occasion and I also
sang at the first memorial service for him. And singing with Mary J. Blige, I think we made a very good coupling."
Franklin was also honored at the United Negro College Fund's "An Evening of Stars," which was taped
in September in Los Angeles for a broadcast that will air on Jan. 27 and 28 on BET.
Diddy's Twins Have Arrived, Named Twins After Grandmothers
Diddy's Twins Have Arrived, Named Twins After Grandmothers
Bad Boy impresario, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and long-time girlfriend, Kim Porter, received
early Christmas presents this morning (Dec. 21), when Porter delivered two healthy twin girls.
The couple welcomed the twin girls into the world Thursday morning at an undisclosed hospital in New York.
The first child, named D'Lila Star Combs, came at approximately 7:56 a.m., weighing in at 5 pounds. The second girl, Jessie
James Combs, followed just two minutes later at 5 pounds, 4 ounces.
The children were named after Porter's and Diddy's grandmothers--Lila Star and Jessie Smalls, respectively--"two
people who had an enormous influence on both Kim and Sean's lives," Diddy's rep, Robert Zimmerman said in a statement.
The site reports that Diddy, who had been keeping a plane on standby just in case Porter went into labor,
flew in for the delivery from Toronto, where he has been filming a movie adaptation of the Broadway musical A Raisin in
the Sun.
When he received word that Porter was going into labor, Diddy headed straight to New York and "made it just
in the nick of time for the delivery," according to Zimmerman. "Both Kim and the girls are doing great."
The couple first announced the news of Porter's pregnancy to twins in August via a myspace video blog.
This morning, a written blog read:
Myspace Fam,
Wanted to tell you first, I'm at the hospital right now and christmas came early this
morning when Kim gave birth to two healthy beautiful twin girls!!! Both, Kim and the twins are doing great, thank you for
all your support this year! I Love Y'all!
Combs and Porter already have a son, 8-year-old Christian. Combs has another son, Justin, 12, with fashion
stylist Misa Hylton-Brim and Porter has another son, Quincy, from a previous relationship with Al B. Sure.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Carmen Bryan Working on a Reality Show
Carmen Bryan Working on a Reality Show
Rumors have it Nas' baby moms, who recently dished out "secrets" about her steamy love affair with
rapper Jay-Z, among others, in her book It's No Secret, isn't done putting her business on blast. Carmen
Bryan is said to be working on a reality show which promises to be as revealing as the publication.
“Telling all is a full-time job,” the 35-year-old Queens bred mother of one (Destiny Jones, 12) said during
an Essence Magazine interview, which alleges a reality show starring Carmen is in the works. “I still love SC, and
I still love Nas. Love is an energy that can never be destroyed.”
It seems as if Bryan, who dated rapper Nas for 10 years, and cheated on him with Jay-Z for five of them, was
anxious to put her story out there following the rap song "Is That Your Chick?," in which Jay-Z indirectly revealed their
secret love affair to the world. In 2005, she self-published Sex, Drugs and Hip Hop, a detailed account of her life
with both men, which sold only 100 copies through sexdrugsandhiphop.com, her web site.
It wasn't only until last year that she expanded the book at the suggestion of rapper 50 Cent.
“It wasn’t my decision to make this a public affair," Bryan exclaims. "When Jay-Z and Nas recorded songs about
me, they opened this door. Once I was given the opportunity to tell my story, I jumped at it.”
Visit Amazon.com to purchase a copy of It's No Secret.
Monday, December 11, 2006
African Americans and Identity Theft
| African Americans and Identity Theft
ID Theft increases during the holiday season; Consumers should take extra precautions
Columbus, OH - 'Tis the season to be merry, give presents and...protect
yourself from identity theft? With increased shopping and credit card use, the holiday season presents a prime opportunity
for identity thieves to steal consumers' financial information.
"This time of year should be filled with festivity and celebration, but sadly, retailers aren't the
only ones busy during the holidays," said Kirk Herath, Nationwide's Chief Privacy Officer and an expert on identity theft.
"Identity thieves see prime opportunities for stealing and using financial information as consumers make more trips to the
mall and spend more online. "The best way for consumers to enjoy the season without putting their financial information at
risk is to be aware."
Identity theft occurs in several ways. The following are some common techniques by which identities
are stolen, along with tips from Nationwide, who has developed a unique Identity Theft protection service, on how consumers
can protect themselves.
Online scams: According to the Nielsen Net Ratings, online holiday shopping increased 30% between
2004 and 2005 and is only expected to grow in 2006. Ordering gifts online presents opportunities for thieves to pose as legitimate
retailers or to collect financial information traveling over the Internet through an unsecure Web site.
* TIP: To avoid becoming a victim online, don't trust a company that asks you to provide a Social
Security number. Keep a printed copy of your online order confirmations.
Shoulder Surfing: Harried shoppers and long check out lines present a perfect opportunity for a thief
to quietly look over shoppers' shoulders and steal financial information.
* TIP: To protect yourself from shoulder surfers, be aware of your environment and shield your credit
cards, checks, driver's licenses and PIN numbers from wandering eyes. Also, watch out for thieves using camera phones to snap
a photo of your account number and card.
Phishing: Some thieves trick people into giving up personal information online by sending phony emails
with links to fake corporate Web sites asking you to update your billing information. By visiting the site and entering the
personal information, victims inadvertently give the criminals their credit card numbers, PINs and even Social Security numbers.
* TIP: Legitimate companies would not ask you to provide sensitive information like this via email.
Do not provide this information in response to an emailed request.
Phone scams: Be cautious in giving information to telephone solicitors over the holiday season.
* TIP: Ask the solicitors to send you information in the mail.
Skimming: Shopper information can also be stolen when a clerk slides a credit card though a second
machine - unrelated to the purchase - that scans the information from the magnetic strip and stores it until it can be downloaded
onto a counterfeit card.
* TIP: To protect yourself from skimming, pay with cash whenever you can. When using a credit card,
keep your eyes on it at all times and carefully review your statements for unwarranted charges.
Dumpster diving: Thieves will go through your garbage looking for credit card receipts and other personal
information to retrieve your identification.
* TIP: Shred anything with a bar-code or other sensitive information.
"Smart shoppers not only make their list and check it twice, they also take measures to secure
their financial information," said Herath.
About Nationwide:
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance
and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $158 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #98 on the Fortune
100 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycles, boats, homeowners,
life, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions and long-term savings plans.
The Nationwide companies include the country's seventh-largest property/casualty, the fourth-largest homeowners, the sixth-largest
auto insurance group and the country's largest farm owner's insurer. Nationwide Life Insurance Company, the major subsidiary
of Nationwide Financial, ranks 11th in assets according to A.M. Best. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com |
Friday, December 8, 2006
Panic! At the Apollo..Justo’s Mixtape Awards 2006
Panic! At the Apollo..Justo’s Mixtape Awards 2006
“To me, a Mixtape Award better than a Grammy” rhymes Papoose on his latest song, “Getting Gwap”. Now
if only the rest of hip hop can share his sentiment of respect for the late Justo Faison’s vision.
Last night, aspiring rappers, DJs, and industry folk made their way to Harlem’s Apollo Theatre for
the 10th Annual Mixtape Awards, braving the cold (not to mention the extremely long wait outside).
The red carpet scene was relatively vibrant: a fresh-out-of-jail Freeky Zeeky greeted everyone in high spirits,
while local fans stood on barricades to catch a glimpse of former kings Sugar Hill Gang and Fab Five Freddy as they entered
the theatre.
The scene inside was mildly, although expectedly, chaotic (this IS hip hop we’re talking about), as
those in attendance tried to find their seats. Seen randomly in the crowd were BG, Julito McCullum (from HBO’s The
Wire), and David Banner.
Commencing the show was the Sugar Hill Gang performing “Rapper’s Delight” like it was 1979, but with a 2006
swagger. Donell Rawlings, best known as “Ashy Larry” from Chapelle's Show, then took the stage and offered the crowd,
who was becoming increasingly intensified due to delays, some comic relief.
DJ Red Alert, a legend in these New York streets, then took the mic and proceeded to serve as master of ceremonies,
quickly offering his sentiment to Power 105.1 DJ Carl Blaze, who was gunned down early Thursday morning and currently
in critical condition. The DJs in attendance, a majority of whom are from the New York area, and colleagues of Carl Blaze,
shared concern for their friend who is battling for his life.
Awards finally began to be presented, as Talib Kweli honored the Best Underground Mixtape DJ, which went to
J Love. The award for Best Blends Mixtape DJ went to DJ Dirty Harry, while Best Female DJ went to Brandi Garcia, of the Murda
Mamis.
When Mr. Cee reached the podium to introduce the Best Club DJ Award, which consequently carries his namesake,
he, along with some members of the crowd, expressed his displeasure when the award went to Clinton Sparks, and not to the
crowd mover DJ Camilo. Clinton Sparks, being a good sport, jokingly told Mr. Cee to “get familiar”.
Things immediately got crazy when Apollo ushers and security attempted to deny entry to a crew outside, who
simply bumrushed the short-staffed entrance and caused the NYPD to get involved. Despite the award show still going on, and
even a requested moment of silence for Justo, all attention was given to the venue’s rear, where scuffle after scuffle ensued,
immediately causing the police to shut down the show.
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Mary J. Blige Wins Big at BillBoard Awards
Mary J. Blige Wins Big at BillBoard Awards
R&B diva Mary J. Blige was the woman of the hour last night (Dec. 4) at this year’s Billboard
Music Awards, walking away with nine honors, thanks to her chart-topping album, The Breakthrough.
Some of these awards included R&B/Hip Hop Artist of the Year, R&B/Hip Hop Album of the Year and Female
Artist of the Year.
The soulful songstress rocked the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where the show took place in white go-go boots and
a sparkly minidress, performing “Enough Crying” and her current single, “Take Me As I Am”.
The Breakthrough shot to No. 1 after it debuted on the Billboard charts in December 2005 and
has sold 2.6 million copies since.
Among other winners were 17-year-old R&B crooner Chris Brown and Barbados-bred beauty, Rihanna, with best
male and female artists of the year, respectively.
Atlanta rapper T.I. took home Rap Artist of the Year and Rap Album of the Year for his fourth solo album,
King, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart in March.
Janet Jackson opened the awards show sporting a short bob haircut and a belly-baring white turtleneck sweater,
her classic sex appeal - minus the wardrobe malfunctions. Jackson performed her 1980s classic, "The Pleasure Principle," mixed
into "So Excited," a single from her 2006 comeback album, 20 Y.O.
Veteran singer Tony Bennett was honored with the Billboard Century Award, a lifetime achievement award.
Bennett timed his release of Duets: An American Classic — featuring Bono, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and Barbra
Streisand, among other musical icons – with that of his 80th birthday.
The September release has become the best-selling album of his 50-plus-year recording career.
Monday, December 4, 2006
Organization to Lead "50 Shots" Protest Rally; Nas, Papoose and Others Join Movement
Organization to Lead "50 Shots" Protest Rally; Nas, Papoose and Others Join Movement
The black community is outraged following the tragic shooting of 23 year-old Sean Bell two
weeks ago, and they are asking all supporters to join a grassroot resistance movement to demand Mayor Michael Bloomberg
and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly accept responsibility and make some drastic changes.
The December 12th Movement, a human rights organization, will lead a protest rally to "Resist Fascism
and the Rise of the American Police State," on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 4:30 p.m. at NYPD Headquarters located in downtown
New York. Community activists, elected officials, and grassroots community residents will speak out about what is happening
"on the ground" in the domestic war zone.
"Petty incidents like sitting on your front porch; or drinking an open beer or playing your music too loud
in your yard at a family barbeque are treated like acts of terrorism. Swarms of police descend on the hapless victim and the
situation quickly escalates to police brutality, false arrests and imprisonment," said Kamau Brown of Bedford Stuyvesant via
a statement. "It's happening all over the city. We have to back them up and the only way we can is to mobilize and organize
against it together. One by one we can't win, but together we can."
The issues on the agenda include the police profiling of Black youth; NYPD / Homeland Security occupation
of the Black community; police aggression, harassment and overkill, as well as President Bush's assault on Habeas Corpus;
the erosion of civil rights; and Iraq war for oil.
Meanwhile, members of the rap/celebrity world are uniting to shed some light on events like that of Bell's,
in which innocent blacks are killed by the police.
Earlier this week, Papoose debuted "50 Shots" on DJ Kay Slay's satellite radio show. Using Sam Cooke's "A
Change Is Gonna Come" as a sample, Papoose rhymes "R.I.P. to Sean Bell/R.I.P. to Kathryn Johnston/R.I.P. to Amadou Diallo."
The mixtape-style track addresses police brutality (“Mike Oliver said his gun jammed/he the main one/12-year
veteran and don’t know how to use a gun”) and what he sees as the unjustified murders committed by the NYPD in the black community.
Nas, along with NBA player Chris Webber, stepped forward to contribute to Bell's funeral costs, though, according
to Webber's publicist, Tiaka Hurst, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has already made
arrangements to cover the wake. Hurst told the New York Post that instead, Nas and Webber would both provide financial assistance
to Bell's fiancee and the couple's two children. No amount was disclosed.
Sean Bell and two friends were leaving a club on November 25th, where they celebrated Bell's bachelor party,
Bell, who was driving the car, struck an unmarked police vehicle and then backed into a storefront before charging forward
again — almost striking an undercover cop — and crashing into the vehicle once more, according to reports.
NYPD officials proceeded to fire 50 rounds of bullets into the car, a late-model Nissan Altima. The unarmed
Bell, who was to be married later that day, was killed instantly, and the two passengers were both injured, one critically.
Authorities claimed a fourth passenger was present at the time and in possession of a firearm. At press time,
however, police were still investigating the matter and so far have questioned two men about their whereabouts that night.
The protest will take place at One Police Plaza, Manhattan, New York, on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 4:30
p.m. For more information call 718-398-1766.
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Killa C No Longer Member of Crime Mob
Killa C No Longer Member of Crime Mob, Incarcerated on Charges Related to Child Molestation, Drug Possession
According to a statement from a Warner Bros. publicist, Crime Mob member Killa C is no longer
a part of the Atlanta rap group.
In the process of reporting a feature on the group, VIBE has learned that Killa C, real name Chris Henderson,
20, pled guilty to charges of child molestation in May of 2005, stemming from a December 2000 incident involving his then
six-year-old brother. He was sentenced to five years probation, but failed to register as a sex offender.
After VIBE inquired about the incident while reporting the feature, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s
Office confirmed Henderson’s incarceration. He was arrested in January 2006 for possession of marijuana and cocaine. It was
then discovered that Henderson had failed to register as a sex offender.
He is currently serving a two-year sentence for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, as well as a concurrent
two-year sentence on a violation of the Georgia Controlled Substance Act. After requesting comment from Crime Mob's label
on Henderson’s situation, VIBE was informed two days later that he is no longer a member of the group.
Henderson has not been without support during this chain of events. The DeKalb District Attorney’s Office
confirmed that BME Recordings, imprint of Atlanta producer Lil Jon, sent a letter to the judge presiding over Henderson’s
case corroborating Henderson’s membership in the group.
As recently as 6p.m. E.S.T. today, a photo with the phrase “Free Killa C!!!” emblazoned upon it appeared on
a MySpace page (myspace.com/missdiamondatl) which purports to be that of fellow Crime Mob member Brittany “Diamond” Carpenter. His image appeared on the
group’s web site (www.crime-mob.com) at press time and Henderson will be featured on Crime Mob's upcoming sophomore release, Hated On Mostly.
No mention was made of removing his contributions to the album.
Originally six members, Crime Mob now consists of siblings Lil Jay and Princess, Diamond, MIG, and Cyco Black.
Hated On Mostly is scheduled for a January 2007 release on Reprise Records.
Ludacris & YouthAIDS Help Keep the Promise
Ludacris & YouthAIDS Help Keep the Promise
December 1, 2006 commemorates the 25th anniversary of AIDS and the 19th anniversary of World AIDS Day.
This year’s theme is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise”, which denotes the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goal to
stop global AIDS by 2015.
YouthAIDS identifies itself as an education and prevention initiative of Population Services International
that uses media, pop culture, music, theatre and sport to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and reach 600 million young people in
more than 60 countries with life-saving messages, products, services and care. Founded in 2001 by Kate Roberts, YouthAIDS
uses celebrity ambassadors to increase HIV awareness among youth. Most notably, they partnered with ALDO Fights AIDS
for their national “Speak/See/Hear No Evil” HIV awareness campaign that utilized such celebrities as Bow Wow, Ashanti, and
Kelly Rowland
In honor of World AIDS Day, YouthAIDS teamed up with hip hop superstar
Ludacris and actress Emmy Rossum to launch their “Kick Me” campaign. According to YouthAIDS, “Kick Me” is based on the prank
of someone sticking a Kick Me sign on someone’s back without them knowing - just like 90% of those infected with HIV/AIDS
may not know they are carrying the virus. YouthAIDS asserts that they are “turning that practical joke into a practical lesson.”
Yesterday (Nov. 30), Ludacris and Emmy Rossum participated in an informal discussion with a graduate class
about HIV education, testing, and prevention at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. The pair
harped upon the importance of HIV testing and knowing one’s status, a key component of the “Kick Me” campaign, and the need
for HIV education among youth.
Ludacris, personally, hopes “to educate [people] about what’s going on in the community” and is trying “to
get young people to talk more about [HIV] because talking about it is the first step towards trying to find a solution.” In
addition to “leading by example”, Ludacris is “looking for ways to try and reach as many people as (he) can [through his music],
apart from just going personally to different universities and talking to people.” The superstar was also open to ideas from
the class about ways to educate others about HIV and encourage safe sex through his music and videos.
Ludacris wants his message to cause a chain reaction, where one person “spreads the word” to another. He stated,
“I try to talk to everybody in hopes that each individual that could ever be affected gets the point of what I’m saying.”
The Columbia University class specifically agreed with him when he affirmed, “This is everyone’s problem!”
Ludacris, Emmy Rossum, and YouthAIDS want you to be part of the solution!
 GET TESTED, GET EDUCATED & GET INVOLVED.
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