Lil Wayne Sends a Message to Sandy Hook Victims
Lil Wayne is the latest rapper to speak out about the unspeakable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last week. Touching on the debate about guns in America, Weezy expressed regret about his own history with illegal guns at the end of a recent interview on sports talk show Jim Rome on Showtime.
"Before I leave, I want to say you mentioned that in 2010, I was locked up for a weapon," Wayne said to Rome at the close of his interview. "If there was anything I could do in my life that I could ever change, it'd be that. Sandy Hook Elementary, my heart goes out to you."
Previously, Mike Posner, Jay-Z and T.I. have all offered condolences to the families of the 26 killed in the shooting in their own way. T.I., who has his own prior gun arrests, comes down on the other side of the gun control debate, however. He recently defended his right to carry weapons, despite the law, as a matter of self-defense.
"If the illegals have them, I think the legals must have them," he said in an interview with Hot 97.
Wayne served nearly a year in prison in 2010 after being arrested for illegal possession of a .40 caliber pistol outside a concert venue in New York.
Gucci Mane Faces Gang Threats Before Show in Georgia
Rick Ross isn't the only rapper whose touring schedule has raised objections from gang members. In a recent video shared to World Star Hip Hop, a purported member of the Crips warns Gucci Mane not to perform at an upcoming scheduled show in Macon, Georgia.
The alleged Crips representative, who wears a metallic skull mask in the video, suggests that Gucci will pay for the murder of gang affiliate Pookie Loc if he comes to Macon. Though Gucci turned himself in for Loc's shooting death in 2005, an incident related to Gooch's beef with Young Jeezy, he claimed self-defense and prosecutors eventually dropped the charges due to insufficient evidence.
The masked man accuses Gucci of using the incident to "boost" himself up and gain street cred.
"You keep bringing that s--t up [in songs]," he says. "It's like you taunting us."
While no specific threats are made, Gucci is warned that his security guards and policemen won't be able to guarantee his safety if he comes to Macon.
"You surrounded and protected... at least that's what they think," he says. "But I'll tell you what: You should stay home. Stay home."
Rihanna and Chris Brown Spend Christmas Courtside
On any given night (or day) celebrity row at a Los Angeles Lakers game is always a "who's who" of A-list stars. Well, guess who joined the party on Christmas Day? Ex-lovers turned friends, Chris Brown and Rihanna were in attendance at Staples Center to watch the hometown Lakers take on the New York Knicks.
While the game was a thriller (Lakers pulled out the 100-94 victory with a fourth quarter rally) Brown and Rih Rih stirred quite a buzz in the arena as they sat courtside to the right of the Lakers bench. Ever weary of the paparazzi the couple arrived to the Staples Center in the same car, but entered the arena separately. Once inside though they looked relaxed and comfortable during the nationally televised game.
Though Rih Rih and Brown have yet to officially state that they are an item again, catching the couple out on high profile dates is becoming the norm. In October they attended a Jay-Z concert at Brooklyn's Barclays Center. Last month they went club hopping in Europe, and spent Thanksgiving together in Berlin.
Of course whenever the stars are seen together it begs the question: what's up with Karrueche Tran? Though Brown broke up with Tran in September, he's been seen splitting time between his two rivaling exes. Tran stirred some buzz on social media Christmas morning when she posted a picture of herself wearing nothing but a Chris Brown-inspired Bathing Ape t-shirt. The suggestive photo was seen as yet another shot fired in her war with Rihanna.
Meek Mill to Donate $10,000 to Philadelphia High School
In the wake of the Philadelphia School District announcing the closure of 37 schools in 2013, Meek Mill is doing his part to help out one school dear to his heart. The Philly native has announced that he will donate $10,000 to his alma mater, Strawberry Mansion High School.
According to Philly.com, Meek, born Robert Williams, plans to make a $10,000 contribution to the school along with Puma basketball shoes. Strawberry Mansion is one of the schools that will likely shut its doors in 2013.
Meek hit Twitter to express his frustration with the planned closings.
"37 schools being closed in Phill…gone b the worst thing 2 happen 2 Philly," Meek tweeted.
The MMG rapper recognizes the social impact that the closures will have on students.
"They about to close down 37 schools in Philly....They gone have kids from different hoods going 2 school in different hoods #problems," the rapper continued.
The Philadelphia School District hopes to save an estimated $28 million a year with the closings.
Fat Joe Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
Fat Joe has made it rain throughout his renowned career, but the Bronx MC forgot to pay Uncle Sam along the way. Now Joey Crack is looking at a two-year prison bid for failing to pay the IRS $700,000 in back taxes.
According to TMZ, the 42-year-old hip hop star entered a guilty plea to tax evasion charges in a New Jersey federal court today for his failure to pay income taxes in 2007 and 2008.
The "Make It Rain" rapper was freed on $250,000 bond after the hearing and is scheduled to return to court in April for sentencing.
Joe joins Lauryn Hill and Beanie Sigel as prominent hip hop figures who were convicted of tax evasion this year.
T.I. Talks Sandy Hook Shooting and Gun Control
All across the nation, people from all walks of life are still reeling from the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school last Friday. During a recent interview with MTV's RapFix Live, T.I., who was sharing a couch with his Grand Hustle artist and recent survivor of gun violence Trae the Truth, shared his thoughts on the tragedy.
"It was tragic. You cannot be a human being with a heart that pumps blood and not feel somethin' about that," he said.
Reflecting on Sandy Hook and the personal backlash that Trae received after his own shooting incident, T.I. argued that perceptions about who is dangerous in America need to be adjusted.
"I just really believe you can't judge a book by its cover," he said. "Right now you may have a stereotype in your mind of what danger looks like. But to be honest with you, in recent history, the look of danger has changed ... It might be about time to change our thinking about that."
T.I. went on to share his thoughts about why the shooting in Connecticut, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six teachers, was particularly devastating and demands a response.
"I just feel like children are off limits because they're perfect. They ain't done nothin'," he said. "And to cut off the lives of so many future teachers and politicians ... people who could have led us into the next generation ... Their opportunities have been cut short because of some cowardliness. And I think that needs to be addressed in a major way."
Tip remains skeptical about the appropriateness of one such response, however. In a separate interview with Hot 97, he said he disagreed with the assault-rifle ban supported by the president and Senator Dianne Feinstein of California.
"This is my problem with the banning of anything: What that does is, that means only the criminals will be allowed to have this particular item," he said. "Right now, it's the criminals that can't have assault rifles or pistols but they got them and they know they can't have them. So if they ban them, what it's gonna be double-illegal for me now? I'm still gon' carry mine. So if the illegals have them, I think the legals must have them."
T.I. said he believes there are certain places in America where possessing assault rifles are necessary for protection.
"The need for assault rifles depends on the area of the country," he said. "It don't make sense for you to walk around with it, but it makes sense for you to have it because when you hear that door kicked in in the front room and you know these folks around here are playing with AKs and ARs [assault rifles] ... if you're military trained you could have a standard .40 issue [pistol] and get yours off, but for the most part them folks coming in are spraying everything, man. Fifty rounds in the drum. I know how they play because I was playing with them. So if I know how they playin', then guess what? I'm gonna have to play like that, too. I'm gonna have to be prepared."
Keyshia Cole Refuses to Open for The Weeknd
Keyshia Cole may not be the hot new thing in R&B, but when it comes to her hometown, she's No. 1. That's the message the singer and reality star sent promoters for KMEL radio's House of Soul concert in Oakland recently when she refused to perform at the event after being asked to open for The Weeknd.
On Twitter yesterday, Cole explained her absence from the event, saying the radio station tried to make her the opening act at the last minute.
"@KMEL has the nerve to tell me at the last minute they want me to open for the Weeknd. Then @106kmel tells us at last minute if I don’t then there’s no show! Then still uses my name when I refuse! I feel so f-cking disrespected," she wrote.
Cole said she doesn't have any beef with The Weeknd, but that she would not open for him at the show on principle.
"No disrespect to the weekend," she wrote on Twitter. "Why the hell would @106KMEL ask me to open for him in My home town! Where I give back! Where IM FROM! #NO."
Two months ago, a similar incident took place at a radio-sponsored show in Tampa, Fla., when R&B singer K. Michelle refused to perform before Lyfe Jennings. The show eventually went on without her
