Kanye West posted the song “Silly Boy” on his blog the other day claiming it was Rihanna featuring Lady Gaga. That “news” spread like wildfire and created many headlines that based on the lyrics Rihanna was dissing Chris Brown. There is just one issue with that story…it’s not Rihanna on the song and it’s not Lady Gaga on the song either. It never ceases to amaze me how uncritically things are “reported” on these days. This story made it to the NY Daily News, NBC, and other news outlets despite the fact that taking one good listen to the song would clearly show that neither of the singers are on the track. It’s unfortunate that in an effort for people to stir up controversy and make headlines simple fact checking goes undone. Extra TV actually caught up with Rihanna’s people and they stated it wasn’t her on the track…Lady Gaga issued her denial through Kanye’s blog. Apparently this is supposed to be a demo for a collaboration so there is a chance that Rihanna will take it and run with it. Until then…people should really cut out the hysterics. Listen to the song that created the buzz below via youtube.

What do you guys think of the media reporting this as Rihanna dissing Chris Brown when she is not even singing on the song? Do you think it is irresponsible for media outlets to create false headlines without basic fact checking?

Posted by Reecie

Vibe has lost their damn mind by putting Plies on the cover and proclaiming Plies the future of Rap. After we have just seen the first Black man elected President and an unprecedented level of political and civic engagement from the Hip Hop community, this is what Vibe chooses to celebrate? Are you f*&king kidding me? Surely they can’t possibly believe that “Bust It Baby” qualifies Plies as some sort of Rap guru! This is really insulting to the real artists who are out there being innovative and keeping the Hip Hop genre fresh and relevant. I would really like to hear the reactions from Kanye, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne and see how they feel about the implication that they are the past and Plies is the future. I just hope that Vibe is being ridiculous for the sake of creating buzz and controversy, because they cannot be serious!

Do you think Plies is the future of rap? By Rap does Vibe mean the most ignorant manifestation of Hip Hop? Who should be the most pissed off that Plies has been proclaimed the future of rap? Who should be the most pissed that Plies got the cover (my vote goes to Robin Thicke) WTF?

Posted by Reecie

Some of you out there may have watched the show “From G’s To Gents”, which was for the most part pretty ridiculous. Well if you were a fan of the show then you would remember Kesan who was basically railroaded out of the house, because the so-called “G’s” were afraid of him. So anyway…you gotta check out this video that was shot backstage for the reunion special. Top trash talker E-6 was getting his clown on as usual, where he got an unexpected surprise from around the corner! Personally, I think sucker punching someone is kind of a punk move, but that doesn’t make it any less hilarious. If all this went down backstage before the show taped, I can only imagine what the actual show is going to be like. Anyway…I can’t embed MTV videos so click here to watch.

But…I found this hilarious video mix of the greatest sucker punch in reality tv history so check it out.

As a bonus here is a youtube comment in defense of the sucker punch (lmao): “There is no such thing as a sucker punch, do we let countries know before we invade them , no. Do we call it a sucker invasion, no. If you talk SH*%, keep your guard up. Oh yea whatever happened to the MC. This E6, I never heard of him b4 he got “KNOCKED the F&%K out” but his style is a joke. “
Did you watch ever watch the show? Do you think Kesan was treated unfairly? Do you think it was b!tch ass of him sucker punch E-6, or did E-6 have it coming?

Posted by Reecie

Ciara has a new song called “Go Girl” featuring T-Pain. The production is hot and I like the way Ciara sings the song…but what I find interesting is how she is switching up the lyrical content of her music. Now she is “super sexual” and is talking up her sexuality more than we’ve ever heard from her in the past. It’s not terribly surprising considering that she has vamped up her image considerably lately and was last seen gyrating her crotch all up in Chris Brown’s face at the BET Awards…but still there is a part of me that is a little disappointed that she is being so obvious with it. I like Ciara despite the fact that she can’t carry a tune during a live performance, but I really don’t think this more cocky and boastful swagger she has is warranted given her marginal talent level. But alas, not having much talent and being successful are not mutually exclusive so with all that said…the song is catchy and I expect it to be a hit. Click here to listen

On another note,in keeping with her new sexier image Ciara is covering the new Vibe Magazine with no discernible clothes on. Vibe also gave her the title of “Sexiest Singer Alive”. Hmmm…really? Ciara is a very pretty girl, but I don’t think a boob job (no hate on those with boob jobs) suddenly makes her the sexiest singer alive. She is probably the sexiest dancer/singer, but being sexy to me is about having looks, style, and swagger…so on that basis, she is not #1.  Maybe they are just trying to show someone other than Beyonce and Rihanna some love, which I can’t be mad at.
What do you guys think of her new song? Do you think sexualizing her music is going to take her to the next level? Do you think Ciara is the sexiest singer alive?

Posted by Reecie

As most of you Hip Hop fans have probably already heard, Rick Ross got put on blast for being a corrections officer before he was a rapper (Click here for more info). Instead of just saying “I was a corrections officer and now I am an ENTERTAINER, so what?”, he believed it was more appropriate to claim that he REALLY IS a drug dealer, gangster, whatever.

Now I understand that rappers feel the need to establish their street credibility in order to sell more records, but what I can’t understand is why people even believe half the words that come out of these rappers’ mouths in the first place. Why would anyone even believe that Rick Ross was a big time drug dealer to begin with? Just because he weighs 400 pounds and is tatted up, that doesn’t mean he has some super hard core past. Besides, There is NOTHING wrong with being a corrections officer and it is TOTALLY wrong to be a drug dealing gangster. If Rick Ross had any honor, any decency, and any integrity he would say as much. Instead of glorifying a lifestyle that creates destruction, he should seize this opportunity to educate people about how they shouldn’t be emulating or idolizing rappers and their lyrics. Of course that would be too much like right for a rapper to actually possess honor, integrity, and decency though so that’ll never happen.

What do you guys think? Doesn’t this situation show just how absurd it is to believe that these rappers do half the stuff they rap about? Do you think Rick Ross should’ve manned up and confessed to being a corrections officer? Am I the only one who sees how f*&ked up it is that he believes being a drug dealer is more noble than being a part of law enforcement? Do you think other Hip Hop acts will come to his defense? Will this hurt his record sales? Would Rick Ross still be boasting about dealing drugs if he was thrown in jail?

Posted by Reecie

Young Buck has new song in response to 50 Cent recording his heartfelt conversation and putting it on the internet. I listened to part of the tape and I felt too bad to post it, because I think it’s a real low down dirty thing to do to a person. But…since Young Buck is tackling the situation head on then I’ll post it for reference. I give Young Buck credit for taking his beef to the records instead of the streets (well at least at this point). It’ll be interesting to see how this shapes up though. On a gossip note, I thought it was interesting that he said “Ciara get out while you still got a chance, let a real n!gga put a band on your hand” considering that there are rumors that 50 and Ciara are secretly married. Hmmmm…Click here to listen

Here is the convo 50 recorded (Click here to listen to Part I, Part II). For the record, Buck claims that this convo was taped over a year ago.

What do you think of this whole beef? Was 50 foul for putting the convo on blast like that? What kind of person records conversations between himself and a friend? Doesn’t it make you wonder who else he is recording? (That was rhetorical) What do you think of Buck’s response?  Who looks worse in this situation- Young Buck or 50?

Posted by Reecie

Usher put the smack down on people trashing his wife on yesterday’s TRL. I think it’s quite noble for Usher to stick up for his wife, but how does the saying go? He ”doth protest too much”. I don’t think people say anything about his wife than what is said about any other celebrity in this day and age…that doesn’t make it right at all, but a lot of people live under scrutiny and have to deal with non-stop gossip. Some (like Brad and Angelina) take it in stride and focus on the more positive things, and some let it get to them. Nonetheless, more power to him for speaking his mind and standing up for what is important to him.

What do you guys think of Usher’s outburst? Was it really that serious? Isn’t the best way to keep your personal life out the tabloids is to not invite people into your personal life to begin with (vs. granting Essence Magazine several interviews and a pictorial)?

Posted by Reecie

PS- Thanks HM Reader Akeila for the tip.

Lots of love is definitely in the air this spring…I don’t remember a time when there was so much Black Star Power Coupledom going on. I’m digging this new relationship/commitment trend, since I think the whole glorified playa/mack thing is hella played out. So…I decided to dedicate a post to the lovebirds. First up…

Nelly and Ashanti have kept a really low “couple” profile…and they definitely seem more like a publicity couple than the real thing…but they still look cute together. They were spotted out the other night having dinner.

Rihanna and Chris Brown were spotted getting extra cozy at KFC of all places! I think these two make a super cute couple, and they are definitely the hottest young couple on the scene.

Jay-Z and Beyonce (aka Mr. & Mrs. Carter) were partying it up a few days ago at Jay-Z’s 40/40 club. I’m wondering if and when the wedding pics are going to come out and and if when they will start wearing their wedding rings.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon stepped out in their first public appearance as a couple/husband and wife last night. They actually make a cute couple and they definitely take the crown for the most talked about celebrity couple right now. Everyone wants to know…is it real? Is it fake? I read the People mag article and they sounded head over heels in love. I’m a sucker for love, so I hope for the best for both of them.

So, who takes the hottest couple in the game crown for now?

Take our poll: Who is the hottest couple in the game?

Here is the story:

“A source close to Nick Cannon has confirmed exclusively to Latina.com that Cannon and Mariah Carey are married! The couple wed yesterday in a small ceremony on an island and it was “very impulsive,” according to our source. The wedding was attended by a few close friends of the couple, including Da Brat. “

Hmmm…Nick Cannon seems to consistently find himself in these engagement/marriage rumors. Last year after All Star Weekend, the gossip ran rampant that he eloped with Selita Banks and that turned out to be false. So…I’m taking this one with a grain of salt. It seems a little unbelievable that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have never been photographed together hanging out yet they’re tight enough to get married. But…stranger things have happened. I truly hope that Mariah hasn’t reduced herself to some lame publicity stunt which she clearly doesn’t need to sell a massive amount of records. IF they are in fact married though…then my congrats go out to them.

Update from Us Magazine:

Nick Cannon’s family has confirmed that the 27-year-old actor has wed singer Mariah Carey, 39. Family member Linda Cannon told E! that Nick called her with the good news. “Yes, we know. He called us and told us all about it,” she said. “We are happy for him. If that is what he wants, then we are happy for him.” She added, “I’m not going to give you any details, but we are happy for him.”

Hmm…”if that is what he wants”…that’s an odd statement to make and kind of adds credibility to the claim that is was a very impulsive decision by the two to get hitched. I’m still suspicious that they really got married, especially considering that they got “married” in the Bahamas. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them pull a Tracey and Eddie and never legally finalize their marriage in the US. However…like I said earlier, if this is really a genuine relationship and not just another crazy publicity stunt then more power to them and I hope it lasts.

Do you think Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon got hitched? Or is this another manufactured publicity stunt relationship?

Posted by Reecie

Jay-Z recorded a diss song about DeShawn Stevenson in defense of his buddy Lebron James that was played at Love in D.C. this weekend (and of course made its way to the blogosphere). Click here to listen

Washington Post has the story:

Jay-Z, the Jigga Man, H-to-the-Izzo, Mr. Beyonce Knowles,
made a diss record about DeShawn Stevenson that was played at the D.C. night spot Love on Friday night, according to several witnesses. I have not heard the song or the lyrics but I was told that Jay-Z freestyled over the beat for the track, “Blow The Whistle” by rapper Too Short. The beat is hot, and if you want to know how that beat goes at least, click on this.

But anyway, witnesses at the club said that the DJ gave the microphone to Cavaliers reserve Damon Jones. Jones allegedly made some unsavory comments about Stevenson and the Wizards, according to people in attendance. And just before 2 a.m., the song was played. It was played five times from what I hear (I feel like a gossip columnist here. I really wish I was writing about basketball, people).

What was DeShawn’s reaction? He went at James.

“He says he has a lot of swag, but I don’t think that’s something to do,” Stevenson said about James. “This is basketball. I’m not worried about the song. I’m not worried about what he did. But for Damon Jones to get on the mic. And I heard he was saying foul stuff about me and stuff like that, they’re taking it beyond basketball to me.”

So apparently all this stuff started because DeShawn Stevenson called Lebron overrated and said he didn’t like him. There have been some pretty retarded non-rap beefs that spilled into music that I can think of (i.e. Timbaland vs. Scott Storch)…but this little beef between DeShawn and Lebron/Jay-Z seems even more pointless. To be honest, I don’t really follow sports much so I didn’t even know who DeShawn Stevenson is until this whole diss thing came about lol. I guess Jay must be really bored these days to take the time to record a diss track. I think it makes him look a little unprofessional considering that he is part owner of a NBA basketball team. However, my only real gripe though is that he just didn’t match the hotness of Too Short’s original “Blow The Whistle”. That song is classic (on the West Coast) but Hov didn’t bring that same energy. Oh well…hopefully these guys will get back to playing ball and leave the beef alone since it kind of makes them all look stupid.

What do you guys think of Jay-Z dissing DeShawn Stevenson? Do you think it’s fair game since DeShawn has thrown a few subliminal jabs? Shouldn’t Jay-Z be holding himself to a higher standard of professionalism in matters concerning the NBA?

Posted by Reecie