rapper
Reebok drops Rick Ross over rape lyrics
Rick Ross is still working damage control after the release of rapper Rocko’s track “U.O.E.N.O.(You Ain’t Even Know It)” three weeks ago.
Today Reebok announced they were dropping Ross as a sponsor due to the lyrics in the song.
In the song Ross raps, “Put molly (slang for pure MDMA, better known as ecstasy) all in her champagne – She ain’t even know it – I took her home and I enjoyed that – She ain’t even know it,” bringing the full brunt of UltraViolet down on the rapper and his sponsors. Ultraviolet is a women’s rights group.
Soon after the song was released Ross said in an interview, “The term rape wasn’t used. I would never use the term rape in my records. Hip-Hop don’t condone that, the streets don’t condone that. Nobody condones that. I just want to reach out to all the queens on my timeline, the beautiful ladies that were reaching out to me… we don’t condone rape and I’m not with that.”
Obviously the rapper has a complete disconnect with the English language.
Rick Ross
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Read: Rick Ross glorifies rape
UltraViolet was instrumental in convincing Reebok to drop Ross after launching a campaign against Reebok resulting in over 100,000 people joining the cause.
On Thursday of last week, UltraViolet supporters flocked to Reeboks flagship store in New York in protest.
Photos of Rick Ross in concert
Moments before the group hit the store the clueless Ross Tweeted, “I dont condone rape.Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape. #BOSS,” still sounding like he doesn’t believe his lyrics depicted rape.
He followed up the tweet with, “Apologies to my many business partners,who would never promote violence against women. @ReebokClassics @ultraviolet”
The result was Reebok dropping Ross as a sponsor, sending Billboard a statement that said:
“Reebok holds our partners to a high standard, and we expect them to live up to the values of our brand. Unfortunately, Rick Ross has failed to do so. While we do not believe that Rick Ross condones sexual assault, we are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse. At this time, it is in everyone’s best interest for Reebok to end its partnership with Mr. Ross,”
Rick Ross cancels tour amid death threats
In a statement Ultraviolet responded to Reebok’s decision:
“We are thrilled to hear that Reebok is joining the fight against rape culture and dropping Rick Ross. This is a huge victory for women, for the 526 survivors of rape who were brave enough to publicly confront rape culture, and for the nearly 100,000 UltraViolet members who have poured their hearts and time into this campaign. This sends a strong message that rapping about drugging and raping an unconscious woman is not only morally wrong, but has real consequences. After Steubenville, Americans expect and demand better. Thank you Reebok for taking a stand.”
Rick Ross glorifies date rape
Rick Ross
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Rick Ross is no stranger to controversy, but he may have gone too far as he raps about drugging women on fellow rapper Rocko’s track “U.O.E.N.O.(You Ain’t Even Know It).”
The offending lyrics are, “Put molly (slang for pure MDMA, better known as ecstasy) all in her champagne – She ain’t even know it – I took her home and I enjoyed that – She ain’t even know it.” The lyrics continue to stir controversy even after Ross attempted to explain them away in an interview with Q93.
In his interview the 37-year-old rapper said, “There are certain things you can’t Tweet and certain things you want people to hear and I want to make sure this is clear… woman is the most precious gift known to man. You understand.”
Ross goes on to explain, “The term rape wasn’t used. I would never use the term rape in my records. Hip-Hop don’t condone that, the streets don’t condone that. Nobody condones that. I just want to reach out to all the queens on my timeline, the beautiful ladies that were reaching out to me… we don’t condone rape and I’m not with that.”
Rick Ross cancels tour amid death threats
Many Twitter users echoed the sediment of #DirtyGames who tweeted, “Put Molly in her drink she ain’t even know it, took her home and enjoyed it, ain’t even know it” @rickrozay that’s rape bro”
Women’s rights activists are up in arms and one woman in particular, Lolia Etomi, has posted a petition on Change.org, urging anyone who takes issue with his lyrics to help force the 37-year-old rapper to make a public apology.
Etomi writes, “The dominant rape culture today has come from people ignoring and even glorifying statements like this because the song sounds good in the club. You don’t have to be a feminist to support this, but roofy-ing and rape are very serious and shockingly common problems.”
In another online petition at Ultra Violet it states, “His lyrics aren’t vague, he’s not hinting that he raped a woman–he’s clearly and proudly saying that he drugged and raped a woman who was not capable of consent.”
While some may say music is art, others will argue that this song sends a clear message.
Will he apologize? Should he?
Listen to “U.O.E.N.O.(You Ain’t Even Know It”
Lil Wayne on the mend posts video
Lil Wayne
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Lil Wayne is on the mend after spending last week in the hospital and today he posted a video thanking his fans.
The 30-year-old platinum selling rapper landed in the hospital for the second time last week after experiencing seizures. Those seizures are being blamed on Sizzurp – an addictive combination of prescription-strength cough syrup with codeine, sodas like Mountain Dew or Coca-Cola, and hard candies for added flavor.
In a video posted on TMZ the 30-year-old platinum selling rapper, laying back in chair dressed in a red hoodie, starts out by saying, “What’s poppin y’all,” waving a sucker around he continued to thank his fans, “Thank y’all for y’all prayers and y’all concerns and all that. I swear to God I felt that love when I was laid up in that mother f##kin hospital bed, but I want all of you to know that I’m good, nigger more than good.”
Wayne went on to remind fans that his latest album, “I Am Not a Human Being II,” is due out next Tuesday. He also assured fans that his upcoming tour ‘America’s Most Wanted’ remains on-track and is set to begin on July 5.
Concluding the rapper joked, “Kiss my fist! I’m more than good, but thank you for real. Thanks for all your prayers and all that, I’m more than good. I swear.”
Rapper Too Short arrested for DUI
Too bad for Too Short
Photo: L.A. Police Department
According to TMZ rapper Too Short was arrested early this morning after police pulled him over for a traffic violation in Los Angeles.
Apparently after pulling over Short, whose real name is Todd Anthony Shaw, officers suspected he was under the influence and attempted to administer a breathalyzer test, that’s when Shaw ran for the hills. Only problem is, he tripped and fell before reaching them there hills.
Blowing a .09, which is .01 over the legal limit, Shaw was placed into the back of the cruiser and transported to the station. On the way to the station he tried to dump his narcotics in the back seat of the cruiser.
He was booked for a DUI and felony possession, so far stupidity is perfectly legal.
Photo: Zomba Recording
Short is best known for his hit songs “The Ghetto” and “Blow the Whistle,” along with being one of the pioneer rappers of West Coast hip hop.
In 2010 the platinum rapper was arrested for battery after allegedly trying to beat up three bouncers in Boise, Idaho. The altercation started when guards attempted to stop him from bringing several underage females backstage at a concert.
In 2011 it was widely reported that Short had died from a heart attack, after somebody updated his Wiki page. Frustrated he tweeted, “Stop calling my phone. I’m not dead. Been in the lab working on my 19th album.”
Currently Short is quite alive, albeit not happy, as he wakes to find himself hung over and behind bars.
Tone Loc collapses onstage
Tone Loc – Click for more images
Photo: Randy Miramontez
The Des Moines Register is reporting that Tone Loc collapsed onstage last night during his performance in Des Moines. Apparently suffering a seizure after ending a song the ‘80s rapper went down.
Read Tone Loc’s concert review
As stagehands were assisting the 47-year-old it quickly became apparent that the show was not going to go on, as security announced that the show was shutting down and everybody needed to leave.
It’s unclear if the rapper was sent to the hospital, or what his current condition is.
Tone Loc is best known for his wildly popular hits “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina.”
This is becoming old hat for Loc and is the third time the singer has collapsed while performing. In 1995 Loc collapsed at a Los Angeles Lakers game. In 2009 while performing “Funky Cold Medina” at a show in Pensacola he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Then in 2011 in Atlanta he collapsed and was treated for exhaustion.
Is Lil Wayne on his death bed
Lil Wayne – Click for more images
Photo: Randy Miramontez
The Associated Press is reporting that Lil Wayne was hospitalized Friday after having a seizure and is reportedly in stable condition.
The 30-year-old platinum selling rapper was in a Los Angeles hospital where his reps are saying he is recovering after an apparent seizure.
Someone Tweeted from Wayne’s Twitter account today, “I’m good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love.” However, there have been numerous reports that have run the gambit from ‘Lil Wayne is dead,’ to he’s fine and “watching the Syracuse game,” referring to the Syracuse University Orange against Georgetown in the Big East men’s basketball tournament.
According to TMZ, Wayne was taken to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A. on Tuesday night due to multiple seizures. After being released the following day he was found unconscious in his room.
When Wayne was rushed to the hospital today he did not stabilize and was transferred to the ICU. According to TMZ he was placed in restraints because he was shaking uncontrollably and then placed in an induced coma and is breathing through tubes.
Sources close to the super-star say his mother is currently on a plane to Los Angeles and any major decisions regarding Wayne will be made when she arrives, including to discontinue life support.
Lil Wayne – Click for more images
Photo: Randy Miramontez
Droves of fellow rappers have descending on the hospital along with friends and family.
In contrast to the dire news, rapper and president of Wayne’s Young Money record label tweeted, “Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe … that’s false!!”
There are also several reports that his seizures may have been caused by a sizzurp binge, which is an addictive combination of prescription-strength cough syrup, sodas like Mountain Dew or Coca-Cola, and hard candies for added flavor. Users typically use Styrofoam cups to drink it.
At this point it’s difficult to determine who or what to believe.
UPDATE (Saturday a.m.): According to sources close to Wayne, he is slowly stabilizing, but is being watch closely by doctors.
Rick Ross – Death Threats Cancel Tour?
Rick Ross – Click for more images
Several reasons have been cited over the last few days, including lack of organization on the part of the promoter, as well as rumors of death threats from Gangster Disciples, a street gang that originated from the Chicago area.
The MMG tour included Meek Mills, Wale, and more recently Machine Gun Kelly. The tour was originally scheduled for 23 days, but was extended to Dec. 16.
Representatives for the promoter, Live Nation, have not commented.
The cancelations started with two shows in North Carolina, where the death threats were rumored. Soon after that, the remainder of the shows were canceled.
The Gangster Disciples posted their threats on YouTube about a month ago, warning Ross and everyone who was signed with Mayback Music Group that they were coming after them. Since then a number of videos have surfaced on YouTube threatening the singer.
Their beef started back when Ross was better known as Teflon Don, when he released the single “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast), where he mentioned the gang’s imprisoned leader Larry Hoover.
Machine Gun Kelly – Click for more images
It doesn’t stop there! Gangster Disciples are also upset, or should I say pissed off, that Ross is using a design similar to their gang symbol on his Black Bar Mitzvah mix-tape.
Oh . . . one more thing. There’s also something about the pressure being on until the gang receives “the check”. Apparently the check is for providing protection for Ross in the way of security/body guards.
Do any of these people have anything better to do?
What’s the worst part about the cancelations?
Machine Gun Kelly is not going to be able to build up his fan base! As the opening act for the MMG Tour, he has stolen the show. Look for him headlining his own show next year, minus all the death threats and other crap that seems to follow Ross around wherever he goes.
Before the tour was canceled, Ross brought the MMG tour to the Sacramento area. You can read the review here.
Rick Ross brings his posse to Sleep Train Arena
Rick Ross (Rozay) – Click for more images
Rick Ross brought his MMG Tour to Sleep Train Arena on Saturday.
This is Rozay’s (Ross’s nickname) first headlining tour as he brought a supporting cast of characters including, Meek Mill (Robert Williams), Wale (Oluboware Victor Akintimehen), Omarion (Omari Ishmael Grandberry), and Machine Gun Kelly (Richard Colson Baker).
Opening the show was MGK storming the stage and daring the fans to have fun as he dove into the crowd on several occasions. Pro-skateboarder Ryan Sheckler was in attendance for MGK’s show and was invited backstage after his performance.
Machine Gun Kelly – Click for more images
While Rozay and crew put on a great show, MGK is the real story. Bringing his high energy and lightning fast rap, which earned him the nick name Machine Gun Kelly, this kid stole the show. If anyone in attendance didn’t know him before the show, they certainly knew who he was after the show.
Following MGK was Omarion. He was met with a lukewarm reception, which may have been because he was following a blistering performance by MGK. I don’t believe Omarion brought his A-game and luckily only played a brief set.
Omarion – Click for more images
I thought it was strange as each performer was represented by a cardboard cutout with their name displayed on it, which was being held by a couple of stage-hands. As if the audience needed to be reminded who was onstage. Not sure what that was about.
Wale followed Omarion and was met with cheers and screams. Wale won the crowd over and had fans on their feet. Wale also performed a pretty brief set, saving some time for the big man Rozay.
Meek Mill – Click for more images
Meek Mill followed Wale with “Racked Up Shawty” and “Young & Gettin’ It” as the crowd started getting more intense and loud. Was it Wale’s performance, or the wildly good California weed?
When Rozay took the stage it could have been independence day as fireworks were going off all around. The ruler and king of MMG ripped through his hit’s including “Hustlin’ ” and “I’m Not A Star.”
Wale – Click for more images
Following Rozay’s lengthy solo set, Wale and Mill joined Rozay onstage to perform a number of songs including “Bag Of Money” and “Tats On My Arm.”
Rozay has put together quite a line-up for his first headlining tour and made a brilliant decision to include Machine Gun Kelly. I’m looking forward to seeing bigger and better things from MGK, including his own headlining act. The kids got talent!
Wheezing with Wiz
Wiz Khalifa – Click for more images
Sleep Train Arena turned into a haven for pot smokers as Wiz Khalifa and his band of recording artists, under the record label Taylor Gang, brought throngs of fans to the arena formerly known as Power Balance Pavilion Sunday night.
Wiz Khalifa and Taylor Gang 2050 World Tour is in support of Khalifa’s latest album O.N.I.F.C.
Car alarms could be heard going off on a regular basis, as a large number of “pre-drinkers” and pot smokers were hanging out in the parking lot prior to the show.
While fans were filing into the arena, a thick cloud of smoke could be seen rising above the sold-out crowd. Wheezing was the watch word because as the crowd grew, so did the cloud.
Tuki Carter – Click for more images
As Fans pushed and shoved their way to the front, security was having to extract people who had bitten off a bit more than they could chew. There were a couple of instances where people were being pulled out of the crowd after they had lost consciousness. In fact, one fan had to have only been 10 or 11 years old.
Berner – Click for more images
These concerts are not for the faint of heart, and not the type of event parents should be dropping off their kids so they can have a nice quiet dinner alone. I was shocked to see so many young kids.
Taylor Gang is a recording label established by Wiz Khalifa. The “gang” on Sunday night consisted of Tuki Carter, Berner, Lola Monroe, Chevy Woods, Juicy J and of course Khalifa.
Lola Monroe – Click for more images
The audience was into the show from the start as Tuki Carter took the stage followed by Berner and Lola Monroe, each playing about 10 or 15 minutes. The short sets didn’t hamper their efforts to get the crowd excited as each came out and gave it their all.
Chevy Woods and Juicy J both performed for about 30 minutes each, followed by Khalifa who performed for over an hour.
Chevy Woods – click for more images
It was quite a night with almost the entire audience smoking freely while girls were being invited up onstage to “party.” At times it was hard to tell where the smoke was coming from, smoke machines or the hundreds of joints being lit up throughout the arena.
Juicy J – Click for more images
Just prior to Khalifa coming out onstage, it was obvious a few fans saved the best for last, as they were holding on to finger sized joints with lighters at the ready.
It was a smoking good concert!
Thunder Valley gets Naughty
Kool Moe Dee – Click for more images
Thunder Valley Casino Resort along with World One Presents, Maita Honda, and local radio station V101.1, brought Naughty by Nature, the Sugar Hill Gang, and Kool Moe Dee to Thunder Valley’s Pano Hall for a hip hopping Halloween Friday night. Emcee for the night was V101′s Big Al.
A number of fans dressed up for what turned out to be an awesome show as Bay Area artists Rory and Reed opened the show with a brief 10 minute set.
The crowd went crazy when Kool Moe Dee took the stage. Moe Dee brought along Special K and L.A. Sunshine as they sang hits like “They Want Money,” “Rise & Shine,” and of course “Wild, Wild, West.”
Sugar Hill Gang – Click for more images
By the time Sugar Hill Gang took the stage the crowd was in full party mode with most fans gathering around the catwalk and dance floors.
Sugar Hill Gang consisted of original band members Wonder Mike, Master Gee, and Big Bank Hank. Keeping the audience completely engaged with their past hits “Apache,” “Eighth Wonder,” and “Rapper Reprise,” they seemed to just be hitting their stride when they finished their set.
Naughty by Nature – Click for more images
As Naughty by Nature stormed the stage the crowd went wild as they all started bouncing up and down to the beat of the music. Original band members Treach, Vin Rock, and DJ Kay Gee, put on a great performance as they played “Everything’s Gonna be All Right,“ “O.P.P.,” and “Hip Hop Hooray.”
Checkout Thunder Valley Casino’s upcoming winter concert schedule!
