Chuck D Defends Travis Scott, Blames Live Nation For Astroworld Tragedy
In an open letter, Public Enemy’s Chuck D defended Travis Scott and blamed Live Nation for the Astroworld Festival tragedy.
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Dear America: Are You Ready For A Bulletproof Black Man Like Luke Cage?
Can America Love A Hero And Hate Us?
Safaree Writes Open Letter On Life Without Nicki
Get IT Off Ya Chest!
Q-Tip Shares A Lesson On The History Of Hip Hop, Racism & White Privilege With Iggy Azalea
READ Q-TIP’S “OPEN LETTER” TO IGGY AZALEA
Gucci Mane Says He's Changing His Life In Letter From Jail
GUCCI MANE: I WILL IMPACT MY FAMILY AND THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE FOR THE BETTER
Disabled Writer Pens Critical Open Letter To Kanye West About "Wheelchair Incident"
HUFFPOST’S HARSHADA RAJANI WANTS KANYE TO APOLOGIZE & DONATE TO A DISABILITY CHARITY
Wale Pens Open Letter Addressing His Critics & Twitter Hiatus
WALE OPENS UP ABOUT CRITICS, THE MEDIA, & WHY HE DOESN’T TWEET ANYMORE
Read Questlove's Open Letter About Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman Trial, & Discrimination
Questlove Of The Roots Shares His Reaction To Zimmerman Trial: “I Ain’t Sh*t”
[VIDEO] Iyanla Vanzant “Writes” DMX An Open Letter
DMX GETS AN OPEN LETTER FROM IYANLA VANZANT
Senator Marco Rubio Calls Jay-Z Cuba Trip “Hypocritical”
(AllHipHop News) It appears the controversy over Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s recent trip to Cuba lingers on. Yesterday, Florida senator, second generation Cuban-American, and possible 2016 Republican presidential contender Marco Rubio appeared on several Sunday news shows and repeatedly took the two superstars’ choice to travel to the Communist nation to task. “Quite frankly, I think it’s hypocritical of the people who took that trip, because they didn’t go down there and meet with some of the people that are actually in trouble today,” Rubio told CNN’s Candy Crowley on State of the Union. “There’s a hip-hop artist in Cuba who is on a hunger strike and has been persecuted because he has political lyrics in his songs,” Rubio added. “If they really wanted to know what was going on in Cuba, they should have met with some of the people that are suffering there, not simply smoke cigars and take a stroll down the street.” During an interview on ABC, Rubio also said Jay-Z needed to get informed about Che Guevara who was a key figure in the Fidel Castro led Cuban Revolution in the 1950’s. “One of [Jay-Z’s] heroes is Che Guevara,” said Rubio. “Che Guevara was a racist that wrote extensively about the superiority of white Europeans over people of African descent, so he should inform himself on the guy that he’s propping up.” Jay-Z has been seen wearing t-shirts with Che’s image on it, and even referred to himself as “Che Guevara with bling on” on the track “Public Service Announcement” from 2003’s The Black Album. He later explained the context of the reference in his book Decoded stating that it was a response to a writer who questioned his decision to wear a Che shirt with a Jesus piece because of its apparent clash between the ideas of materialism, religion, and socialism. Jay told MTV in 2010: The second verse of “PSA” may not have that many hidden jewels in [it], but the story behind why I wrote the second verse is pretty interesting. It’s sort of that look on rap, how this writer had written this article about me wearing this Che Guevara shirt [with a] Jesus piece, and she was like, “The Jesus piece is hitting his head,” and I was like, “You’re going a little too far. It’s a T-shirt and a chain. It’s not literally hitting his forehead”… That [experience] inspired the entire verse. “I’m like Che Guevara with bling on, I’m complex.” It’s the whole entire story of how and why I came to write that second verse on “PSA.” Last week’s criticism about his sanctioned trip to Cuba led to the release of the response song “Open Letter”. The public will have to wait and see if Senator Rubio receives a mention in a future Jay track. [ALSO READ: New Music: Jay-Z’s New ‘Open Letter’ Discusses Everything From Obama To Cuba To ‘New World Management’] [ALSO READ: White House Responds to New Jay-Z Song, Says Obama Never Spoke To Jay-Z About Cuba Trip]
Swizz Beatz: More Songs From Jay-Z
SWIZZ: “WE RECORDED FOUR SONGS”
Hip-Hop Rumors: Who Was Jay-Z Calling A Dweeb Though?
“Woulda brought ’em to Brooklyn for free, ‘cept I made a million off you f**kin’ dweebs.” So, tell me…who is the man talking about? I know this isn’t a rumor, but this is destroying my brain cells! [polldaddy poll=7030026] Bad day for dweebs. They keep us talking, but if we stop talking about them then they should worry! -illseed.] Illseed, Out. GET INTERACTIVE WITH ALLHIPHOP.COM! Follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! Email illseed rumors: kingillseed@gmail.com
Open Letter To Rick Ross From A Music Industry Vet
Editor’s Note: Dee dee cocheta is an industry vet that has had a long tenure in music. Her career spans PR & Social Media Professional, digital content producer, blogger and more. She writes an open letter to Rick Ross after a recent song seems to advocate date rape. Rick Ross has not commented. While rape, real or suggested, is horrific and completely objectionable, the views in this open letter are dee dee’s. Greetings William, I am writing you a letter because I have sat back and observed long enough. I am coming to you as a ‘sister’ of the human family we all belong to. WE are connected! AND you my brother, I am tired of hearing negative things about you and now I am mad at how you are treating yourself. So please do not take this wrong or feel I am coming at you to scold or beat you up with my words. I am coming to you because I CARE and LOVE YOU! What brought me to the point of writing this open letter was after reading ALLHIPHOP.com Hip-Hop Rumors on your new song, “U.O.E.N.O.” (you ain’t even know it) titled: YOWZA! New Rick Ross Lyric Will Upset Smart Women! So yeah I’m a little upset and rightfully so as the lyric you wrote about refers to ‘date rape’ and is exactly how I lost my virginity; someone STOLE it at the age of 14 before entering in high school. I take responsibility for being at a party I had no business being at but I want you to know how scary this now 41-year-old woman felt to wake up to blood on the sheets with an aching pain and empty feeling, that your heart is sunken where you feel you lost something. Well I did, I lost the right to choose whom I wanted to share that special moment with because I was knocked out and taken advantage of. See William, your lyric doesn’t educate it only further glamorize what fools like that man did to me 27 years ago. I happen to believe in karma and I know that man got his without me having to lift a finger. William, I’m concerned about your health and your life messing with the wrong people and feel you are not listening to the GOD in you. I believe things that are happening to you now is because it’s GOD saying SLOW THE EFF down, get control of your life, you are not on the path destined. William, that means not at the expense of yourself or others. I understand this entertainment industry with expertise of over 20 years and can impart wisdom as I just shared my experience with date rape. Additionally, in my youth, I have been associated with gang members, dealt with being a borderline diabetic so weight/eating has always been an issue for me most of my life and basically led a self-destructed life. Why? because I really did not love myself. Additionally, I have 7 children and 3 grand babies (known to many as the Hip-Hop Mama) where I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer… So William, I’m not the type of mom, sister or friend that judges let alone condone certain things, I take accountability for my actions, I take responsibility for how I live and educate my children; making them aware of as much as I can in life – good and bad, never hiding truth and the ugliness this world has to offer. Right now though I am in the process of healing self and fully loving me. I believe this may be something missing in your life. I am sure you are trying to work on your health issues?!!? I am not sure what’s going on with all this gang/gun/court mess but I do not like it and I have been praying and meditating on you for a while. “You must choose your battles wisely.” Words I have heard and keep hearing because I did not learn my lesson until now… William, those lyrics on date rape to your actions all say to me you need help and healing yet we cannot take that first step for you. YOU MUST CHOSE A SIDE and not at the expense of your health, your life or to further perpetuate the hurt and pain of others. William, we are all survivors, KINGS and QUEENS! I hope you make your way back to being able to show us that courage and strength. Being vulnerable is not a sign for weakness; it shows you are a man. I will continue to pray yet this is a call for you to take some other type of action before you will be another fallen Hip-Hop artist like so many others we lost. I believe and LOVE YOU WILLIAM. Please show me something different good! RESPECTFULLY, your sister dee dee “Hip-Hop Mama” cocheta
