I’m still considering the possible ramifications of this. Broadcast radio is already struggling financially and this could be the nail in the coffin. However, given recent radio playlist practices and the long history of payola, it’s hard for me to have sympathy for larger stations. Here’s a brief news segment regarding Houston radio’s opposition of the bill:

Passage of this bill could greatly affect broadcast radio and subsequently the recording industry. I’m going to continue to follow this and hope you do as well.

Peace.

Kwame Kilpatrick

A judge has ordered that crooked Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick be jailed for violating the terms of his bond by taking a trip to Canada last month. The supposed “Hip Hop Mayor” is facing all sorts of felony charges stemming from a 2007 wistelblower trial. The list of this dudes indiscretions is miles long. The stripper party at the mayorial mansion, the murder of stripper Tamara Greene, the theft of civic funds, and the text message scandal are just some of the items on homey’s rap sheet. What an embarrament to his city, the hip hop community, and the Black race. Read more about the story at CNN.

I dedicate this song to Kwame Kilpatrick, a cat who just couldn’t stay true:

Peace

Entertaining cut from Ludacris’s upcoming Gangsta Grillz mixtape. Normally, I can’t deal with Ludacris, but his lyrics and flow is on point here.

Naturally, the Obama camp has distanced itself from the freestyle, because of its offensive statements. As you heard, Ludacalls Hillary Clinton a “bitch,” says McCain should be paralyzed, plus more. Obama spokesman Bill Burton said that “Ludacris is a talented individual, but he should be ashamed of these lyrics.” Additionally, “As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to.” Same old stuff.

I commend Ludacris for spitting this freestyle, but I’m not sure if this helps Barack’s campaign, if that was its intended purpose. In a recent Rolling Stone article, Obama mentioned that he was a Ludacris fan. Luda even referred to that in the freestyle. Because pop culture and politics are so closely aligned, this somewhat affiliates Ludacris with Barack’s camp. Comments such as Luda’s only bring negative attention to Barack, and he doesn’t need anymore of that. Although he attempted to do something positive, he ultimately wound up in the same boat as Jeremiah Wright and Jesse Jackson, two people he called out in the song.

Peace

Woooow! What a mean-spirited, desperate, assholish thing to say. He’s basically accusing Obama of treason and questioning his morals, character, patriotism, and manhood. According to McCain, Obama is so selfish that he values his quest for presidency over thousands of US and Iraqi lives. What a H.A.N.

Obama’s well crafted and articulated response:

Prior to his current presidential campaign, I had a lot of respect for John McCain. Back in 2000, I thought he might have made a better president than both Bush and Gore, although I ultimately supported Gore. I was 16 then, so it didn’t really matter anyway. I also lauded his bipartisan efforts over the past few years. My respect for him has lessened over the course of this campaign and with this statement, it has damn near hit rock bottom.

In closing, my frat brother sent me this dope video that compiles some of McCain’s missteps and attempts at manipulation.

Peace

Obama ‘slave’ shirt sparks lawsuit threat

Designer claims unhappy customer got assaulted, now wants to sue.

JUL 17, 2008

When a 25-year-old Manhattan graduate student who was assaulted Tuesday night got dressed that morning, she probably didn’t anticipate that her T-shirt would provoke four teens into shoving her, pulling out her earphones and spitting in her face.

Then again, with a shirt sporting the slogan, “Obama is my slave,” it may have been wise to consider the possibility.

Now she’s suing the $69 shirt’s designer, Apollo Braun, for “all he’s got,” the designer claims.

But the Israeli-born Braun — born Doron Braunshtein — says what allegedly happened to his now-disgruntled customer isn’t his fault — and that his outrageous design reflects not his views but those of “ordinary WASPs.”

“For a lot of people, when they see Obama, they see a slave. People think America is not ready for a black president,” Braun told Metro from his five-year-old Orchard Street boutique.

Braun claims that after the customer — who did not return repeated calls from Metro — threatened to sue, he contacted his own lawyer, who assured him he was shielded by the

First Amendment from any legal action.

The ugly incident over the ugly shirt took place at 8:30 p.m. in Union Square, Braun told Metro, when four African-American female teenagers accosted the student, cursed at her for her shirt and pushed her. According to the designer, the student walked away, but the girls followed her, one pulling the earphones out of her ears, another spitting in her face.

This isn’t Braun’s first sartorial criticism of the Democratic presidential presumptive nominee. He has also sold shirts with slogans such as “Jews Against Obama,” “Obama = Hitler” and “Who Killed Obama?” — which he claims was so popular, he moved 1,200 pieces.

“I can’t stand Obama,” Braun says, adding that it’s not because the Illinois senator is black. “That’s the only thing I like about him. He opens the door for other minorities.”

“He reminds me of Adolf Hitler,” Braun explained, adding he does not like Obama because “he is a Muslim” — a thoroughly debunked myth.

by s. spencer scott

Wow, I’ve never heard a story where every character is completely wrong, but this is one. The t-shirt designer is an idiot who’s attempt at satire was an EPIC FAIL! The customer is a dumbass for paying $70 for a raggedy t-shirt that I could have pressed up. Even stupider for wearing it thinking that there was not going to be any retribution. And, although I hate to say it, the black girls were wrong for assaulting the student. Violence isn’t the answer. Increase the peace.

What a dumb story.