In honor of its 20th anniversary, MTV is set to kick off a month long tribute to the groundbreaking video show Yo! MTV Raps, beginning next month.
The tribute is scheduled to span the entire month of April, beginning April 1, and will be spread across various MTV networks and online properties, including MTV, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, MTV Jams, MTV Radio and MTV On Demand among others. The network will be launching several online initiatives via both their MTV.com and ThinkMTV.com sites showcasing the impact and influence of the show.
Special programming for the month will include "Yo! MTV Raps Top 10 Episodes", "Yo MTV Raps Top 20 Videos Countdown" and "Yo! MTV Raps Top Artists Then And Now", a show which will highlight artists in hip-hop with a considerable amount of longevity throughout their careers.
The show, which was hosted by Ed Lover & Dr. Dre, and Fab Five Freddy, has been credited with being one of the first video shows of its kind as well as helping to launch the careers of many of hip-hop's biggest stars.
Viewers are urged to check MTV listings for program dates and times.
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As various media outlets continue to dissect Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race in America and the remarks from his former pastor that spawned the speech, Common is speaking in defense of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. Excerpts from a sermon given the Sunday after the September 11 attacks in 2001 and another speech in 2003 have resulted in negative publicity for both the church and Sen. Obama, but Common feels that Wright is being misrepresented. Eurweb.com reports that the rapper and actor was also raised in Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, and came to Rev. Wright's defense during a recent press junket.
"He never really was against white people or another race," says Common. "It was more against an establishment that was oppressing people. I think we all can see that this country has problems and a lot of it starts in the political system."
The 36-year-old Chicago native has been an ardent support of Sen. Obama, both making public appearances on behalf of his bid for the Democratic Presidential Nomination and mentioning him in his music. Common spoke in defense of Wright, in hopes that the attention his previous comments are drawing will not permanently damage Wright or Obama's legacy.
"What I picked up from the pews...was messages of love," adds Common. "Anything that was going on against that love he would acknowledge and expose. He's been a preacher that's helped raise one of the greatest political figures in the world, and hopefully, the next President. He's also raised one of the greatest rappers in the world."
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After releasing 782 1/2 mixtapes in the last year, Lil Wayne is finally gearing up to release his next official album,"Tha Carter III, the final in the trilogy", on May 13th.
"Tha Carter III" is Lil Wayne's first solo album since the release of Tha Carter II (2005). The first single is "Lollipop" featuring Static. "Lollipop" was produced by Jim Jonsin (T.I., T-Pain, Twista) and co-produced by Darius "Deezle" Harrison (Teena Marie & Destiny's Child).
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Beanie Sigel will spend the next three months in prison, after he was accused of violating his probation for a third time.
The tribute is scheduled to span the entire month of April, beginning April 1, and will be spread across various MTV networks and online properties, including MTV, MTV2, MTV Tr3s, MTV Jams, MTV Radio and MTV On Demand among others. The network will be launching several online initiatives via both their MTV.com and ThinkMTV.com sites showcasing the impact and influence of the show.
Special programming for the month will include "Yo! MTV Raps Top 10 Episodes", "Yo MTV Raps Top 20 Videos Countdown" and "Yo! MTV Raps Top Artists Then And Now", a show which will highlight artists in hip-hop with a considerable amount of longevity throughout their careers.
The show, which was hosted by Ed Lover & Dr. Dre, and Fab Five Freddy, has been credited with being one of the first video shows of its kind as well as helping to launch the careers of many of hip-hop's biggest stars.
Viewers are urged to check MTV listings for program dates and times.
__________________________________________
As various media outlets continue to dissect Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race in America and the remarks from his former pastor that spawned the speech, Common is speaking in defense of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. Excerpts from a sermon given the Sunday after the September 11 attacks in 2001 and another speech in 2003 have resulted in negative publicity for both the church and Sen. Obama, but Common feels that Wright is being misrepresented. Eurweb.com reports that the rapper and actor was also raised in Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, and came to Rev. Wright's defense during a recent press junket.
"He never really was against white people or another race," says Common. "It was more against an establishment that was oppressing people. I think we all can see that this country has problems and a lot of it starts in the political system."
The 36-year-old Chicago native has been an ardent support of Sen. Obama, both making public appearances on behalf of his bid for the Democratic Presidential Nomination and mentioning him in his music. Common spoke in defense of Wright, in hopes that the attention his previous comments are drawing will not permanently damage Wright or Obama's legacy.
"What I picked up from the pews...was messages of love," adds Common. "Anything that was going on against that love he would acknowledge and expose. He's been a preacher that's helped raise one of the greatest political figures in the world, and hopefully, the next President. He's also raised one of the greatest rappers in the world."
______________________________________
After releasing 782 1/2 mixtapes in the last year, Lil Wayne is finally gearing up to release his next official album,"Tha Carter III, the final in the trilogy", on May 13th.
"Tha Carter III" is Lil Wayne's first solo album since the release of Tha Carter II (2005). The first single is "Lollipop" featuring Static. "Lollipop" was produced by Jim Jonsin (T.I., T-Pain, Twista) and co-produced by Darius "Deezle" Harrison (Teena Marie & Destiny's Child).
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Beanie Sigel will spend the next three months in prison, after he was accused of violating his probation for a third time.
Probation officials revealed that Sigel provided a false urine sample and tested positive for Xanax and Percocet five times over the past month.
Sigel, who admitted being addicted to the painkiller and muscle relaxers, was originally sentenced to six months house arrest in January, after a second probation violation.
In that case, a federal judge found that Sigel took an unauthorized trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and had contact with a convicted felon.
Sigel, who spent a year in prison on a federal gun charge in 2004, was acquitted of attempted murder in 2005, one month after he was released from prison.
According to the rapper, his stint under house arrest has left him unable ‘to earn the living” he used to earn prior to getting into trouble with the law.
Sigel told the judge that his relapse was brought on by money problems.
He also revealed he was about to lose his house, because he can’t travel to earn money through performances.
"I'm losing everything because of this situation," Sigel said.
Sigel, who admitted being addicted to the painkiller and muscle relaxers, was originally sentenced to six months house arrest in January, after a second probation violation.
In that case, a federal judge found that Sigel took an unauthorized trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey, and had contact with a convicted felon.
Sigel, who spent a year in prison on a federal gun charge in 2004, was acquitted of attempted murder in 2005, one month after he was released from prison.
According to the rapper, his stint under house arrest has left him unable ‘to earn the living” he used to earn prior to getting into trouble with the law.
Sigel told the judge that his relapse was brought on by money problems.
He also revealed he was about to lose his house, because he can’t travel to earn money through performances.
"I'm losing everything because of this situation," Sigel said.
