Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) speaks at a rally of Democratic senators following a final series of procedural votes on the health bill WednesdayThe Senate has started the final day of deliberations on passage of a sweeping $871 billion health care bill. A vote is expected shortly after 7 a.m. ET.
The Senate health care bill cleared a third and final procedural hurdle Wednesday as Democrats successfully limited remaining debate time on the $871 billion measure.
The Senate voted 60-39 along party lines to set up Thursday's vote on final passage.
Democrats also turned back last-ditch motions from Republicans claiming various provisions in the bill, including a mandate that individuals purchase coverage, are unconstitutional.
"It's long past time we declare health care a right and not a privilege," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said after Wednesday's vote.
"Today is a victory ... for American families," proclaimed Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana. "Americans won."
The expected victory for President Obama's top domestic priority comes after nearly a year of sharply polarized deliberations on Capitol Hill. Any measure passed by the Senate, however, will still have to be merged with a $1 trillion plan approved by the House of Representatives in November.
Increasingly confident Democrats hope to have a bill ready for Obama's signature before his State of the Union address early next year.
"Health care reform is not a matter of if," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday. "Health care reform now is a matter of when."
If a combined House-Senate health care bill clears Congress and is signed by Obama, it would be the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid over four decades ago.
Republicans have mounted a no-holds-barred legislative campaign against the bill, using a series of procedural maneuvers to slow debate while arguing that the measure will raise taxes while doing little to slow spiraling health care costs.
They've also ripped Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, for garnering the 60 votes necessary to pass the bill in part by cobbling together a series of "sweetheart deals" for wavering members of the Democratic caucus.
"This bill is a grab bag of Chicago-style, backroom buyoffs," Utah GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch said Wednesday.
Recent compromises made to win the backing of moderates such as Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut also angered many liberal Democrats and threatened to undermine support for the bill.
Democrats have now held three key procedural votes on the health care bill this week. The backing of all 60 members of the Democratic caucus was required during each vote in order to overcome a filibuster from a GOP minority united in opposition.
Final passage of the measure, in contrast, will require only a bare majority in the 100-member chamber.
Enthusiastic top Democrats argue the Senate bill would constitute a positive change of historic proportions. The legislation, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, would extend health insurance to more than 30 million Americans currently lacking coverage while reducing the federal deficit.
The House and Senate bills agree on a broad range of changes that could impact every American's coverage.
Among other things, they have agreed to subsidize insurance for a family of four making up to roughly $88,000 annually, or 400 percent of the federal poverty level.
They also have agreed to create health insurance exchanges designed to make it easier for small businesses, the self-employed and the unemployed to pool resources and purchase less-expensive coverage. Both the House plan and the Senate bill would eventually limit total out-of-pocket expenses and prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Insurers also would be barred from charging higher premiums based on a person's gender or medical history. However, both bills allow insurance companies to charge higher premiums for older customers.
Medicaid would be significantly expanded under both proposals. The House bill would extend coverage to individuals earning up to 150 percent of the poverty line, or roughly $33,000 for a family of four; the Senate plan ensures coverage to those earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level, or just over $29,000 for a family of four.
Major differences between the bills will be the focus of the conference committee that will try to merge them. House and Senate Democrats are still divided over how to pay for their plans. They are also split on, among other things,
language relating to abortion coverage and whether to include a government-run public health insurance option.
The House bill includes a public option; the more conservative Senate measure would instead create nonprofit private plans overseen by the federal government.
Source: CNN
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Trailer After The JumpVeteran actor Clifton Powell and Bay Area emcee Yukmouth are among the ensemble cast of Dioncel “Donny” Armstrong’s film Five.K.One, which addresses a controversial informant law.
The movie takes its name from the federal sentencing mandate that gives more lenient sentencing to informants who have committed murder, robbery, or drug conspiracy.
The narrative follows best friends Tiger (rapper Forty Da Great) and Remo (Melvin Jackson, Jr of The Wire), who form the street crew Self Made Bosses (SMB), specializing in drugs, murder, and money.
The organization’s problems begin due to a federal indictment, and Remo’s desire to go legitimate and focus on family life.
Clifton Powell plays the role of a nightclub owner in debt to the SMB, while Yukmouth takes the character of a vicious hitman.
A veteran entertainment entrepreneur who launched his career with the popular independent project Street Life: The Documentary, Armstrong’s inspiration for the film derives from witnessing the federal informant laws effects of urban communities around the country.
“The whole 5K1 snitch [law], nobody ever told it like it is in this movie, how easy it is for a person that’s a snitch to commit all types of crimes and still get off,” Armstrong told AllHipHop.com. “I wanted to tell that side of the story, so this film really tells it without the people pressuring me to change [it]. Soon as I sent it out to distributors and they wanted me to change things like the ending, I decided right then and there to go independent.”
Ironically, the film’s star Forty da Great is incarcerated due to information provided under the 5K1 law. Armstrong also revealed how he narrowly avoided the same fate before his transition into entertainment.
“My man Forty da Great who is the star of the movie is incarcerated right now because of the same law. Somebody snitched on him and it’s crazy and shows how real it is. This happened before the movie was even shot,” Armstrong detailed. “People need to take responsibility for what they are doing. If 5 people are out there committing crimes together and everyone gets caught, all of them should go to jail. But if only one gets caught, he or she has to understand that they have to go because they got caught. I’m not in the street game, but I’m a product of it. All my family was in it, but I just found something [positive] to do. My years in the street only caused me grief. The person who snitched on me just so happened to not show up in court so I was blessed. I put a little piece of that in the film to show how easy it is for someone to make up a story to the police and have it believed.”
With artists such as Forty da Great and Yukmouth playing significant roles, Five.K.One is a film with direct ties to Hip-Hop music.
Regarding distribution, Armstrong plans to involve overlooked outlets such as barbershops and clothing stores, by allowing them to share profits of the film by advertising at their businesses.
Five.K.One debuts January 19, 2010, and will be accompanied by a soundtrack, and behind the scenes book. For more information, visit www.fivekone.com.
Source: AllHipHop
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Any worries about "Avatar" after it got off to less than a phenomenal start this past weekend have been erased.20th Century Fox's costly 3D tentpole movie sold $16.4 million worth of tickets on Monday and $16 million on Tuesday in the U.S. and Canada, according to the studio. That's the highest-ever domestic gross on either day for a film playing outside of summer.
Including flicks that opened in summer, traditionally the strongest time of the year for moviegoing, "Avatar" had the third-biggest non-holiday Monday (excluding Memorial Day and July 4th weekends) ever and the third-biggest Tuesday ever.
Huge weekday ticket sales for "Avatar" are yet another sign, along with its higher-than-predicted Sunday, that word-of-mouth for the movie is fantastic and spreading fast.
According to people who have seen audience polling, "Avatar" will probably decline very modestly, if at all, this coming weekend compared with its $77-million debut. Combined with the $109.5 million it has grossed so far, it will probably be close to and possibly over $200 million by Sunday and on its way to an ultimate domestic gross of at least $350 million.
Combined with even bigger grosses from foreign countries, including a debut in Japan today that is expected to be very strong, a final worldwide total of more than $1 billion is looking more and more likely for "Avatar."
The $430 million that Fox, along with Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Partners, spent to produce and sell the movie is looking like a better investment every day.
-- Ben Fritz
Source: L.A. Times
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An impasse over the drug-testing protocol to be used in the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather welterweight title bout can be overcome if Mayweather agrees to allow the agencies used by the NBA, NFL and MLB to handle testing for boxing's biggest fight, Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said Wednesday.
"Our suggestion is to utilize any of the independent agencies that work with the National Football League, the National Basketball Association or Major League Baseball, since they administer drug testing for their professional athletes," Arum said.
Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao
The fight, which was tentatively scheduled for March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was knocked off track Tuesday over a significant disagreement on drug testing.
Mayweather continues to demand Olympic-style testing, which is conducted by the United States Anti Doping Agency. Its protocol calls for random urine and blood testing throughout the training camps, fight week -- even the day of the fight -- and immediately after the fight. According to Leonard Ellerbe, a Mayweather adviser, that means something like 3 to 5 blood tests and 10 to 12 urine tests over an approximately 10-week period.
Mayweather would be subject to the same testing as Pacquiao.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission and other state commissions only conduct post-fight urine tests and, in some cases, pre-fight urine tests.
Floyd Mayweather Sr., the fighter's father, has repeatedly accused Pacquiao of taking illegal substances. Pacquiao, who has risen through seven weight divisions to win titles in a record seven divisions while maintaining his speed and power, denies it. He has also never failed a drug test.
Floyd Mayweather Sr
"Manny says, 'I'm not going to let them take my blood whenever they want when I'm getting seriously ready for a fight. They can take all the urine they want,' " Arum said. "My fighter feels uncomfortable with that and feels that would weaken him. I know if I deal with an organization that deals with pro athletes we can agree to the protocol."
Arum said that USADA's testing procedures would not allow it to assure Pacquiao that he would at least not be blood tested during the week of the fight or even on the day of the fight.
"He'll give them blood but he wants to know it will stop at a particular point," Arum said. "He wants the fight. But he's a proud guy. He won't be pushed around by this guy [Mayweather]."
Ellerbe said that if Pacquiao won't submit to random testing, it must mean he has something to hide.
"The reason why they don't want to do that is because obviously there is something to hide," Ellerbe said. "You're not going to dictate to an organization like USADA, which has tested the elite athletes of the world, on how their testing is conducted. Arum is talking about the fighters like they're going to have a blood transfusion. We're talking about a tablespoon of blood. We're taking about a tablespoon. This is the same representation of Manny Pacquiao that says he's superstitious and doesn't like needles and then you look all over his body and he has tattoos. So which one is it? If there's nothing to hide then what is the problem?
"Boxing has an opportunity and a platform with the whole world watching to say we have a clean sport. What better opportunity that with the two top guys in the sport stepping up to make this happen?"
Arum said Pacquiao would submit to three blood tests, even though he would prefer not to have his blood drawn at all.
"Let's be very clear on the real issues we differ on. It's not about being tested," Arum said. "Manny is on board with that since it's such a major concern of Floyd Mayweather Jr. It's about who does the testing and the scheduling of the procedures.
"Manny will submit to as many random urine tests requested," Arum said. "Regarding the blood tests, he will subject himself to three tests -- one given in January during the week the fight is formally announced, one 30 days from the fight, no later than Feb. 13, and the final one immediately following the fight, in Manny's locker room.
"The major issue related to the testing rests with which independent agency will administer these tests," he said. "The United States Anti Doping Agency cannot do it because they will not amend its procedures to accommodate the blood testing schedule we have outlined. USADA, under its guidelines, would have the right to administer random blood tests as many times as they want up to weigh-in day and that is ludicrous.
"If Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions are sincere in creating 'a level playing field,' as they stated in their [Monday news] release, our recommendations should put their minds at ease. If not, one has to wonder if their motives are more about leveling the fight."
Arum said that if they use the agencies that administer testing to the American professional sports leagues they could write down a specific set of guidelines, while USADA will only conduct testing one way.
"You gotta understand," Arum said. "I'm dealing with a Filipino fighter who is superstitious and I have to tell him they (USADA) have the power to come into his dressing room before the fight and take his blood. Any time means any time. They would put nothing in writing as to any kind of schedule. That is ludicrous. Let's bring in the testers from the NBA or the NFL or baseball."
Ellerbe said Mayweather is not interested in anything other than the USADA way of doing things because its way is random.
"We're sticking to what we've been saying," Ellerbe said. "Manny Pacquiao or any of his representatives are not going to dictate random testing. That's the whole point of random testing, so you don't get a chance to study for the test. USADA is the premiere agency for doing this, the gold standard. They're not going to have Top Rank, Mayweather Promotions or Golden Boy Promotions dictate to them. It's pretty simple. Manny Pacquiao can put an end to this whole thing by stepping up to the plate and doing this."
Source: ESPN
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Singer Amy Winehouse has been charged with assault after allegedly attacking a theatre manager at a pantomime.
Ms Winehouse was in the audience for Cinderella at Milton Keynes Theatre on Saturday, watching an all-star cast including Mickey Rooney, Anthea Turner and Bobby Davro.
But she was reported to have entered the pantomime spirit a little too enthusiastically, repeatedly shouting out "He's f***ing behind you!" during the performance. The Sun newspaper said that she also branded the Ugly Sisters "bitches".
Thames Valley police launched an investigation after the front-of-house manager, Richard Pound, complained that the Back to Black star had pulled his hair, punched him and kicked him when he asked her to move seats.
They confirmed today that Ms Winehouse was arrested after she attended Milton Keynes police station in Buckinghamshire voluntarily with her legal adviser at 1.15pm.
The 26-year-old, from Hertfordshire, was charged under the name Amy Civil with a public order offence and common assault following the incident on Saturday night.
Source: London Times
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Posted by ChasinDatPaper on December 23, 2009 at 12:00pm
Kanye West surprised everyone by showing up to bless the mic at Kid Cudi's recent Los Angeles show.
Mr West has been off soul searching ever since the Taylor Swift VMA disaster, but he showed the Nokia Theater crowd he's back better than ever.
The Louis Vuitton Don spit a hot freestyle before ripping through his new joint "I'm So Appalled". He even brought out his baby girl Amber Rose for a few. I'm not sure why, but hey who cares she's a dime.
I'm assuming this signals the end of Kanye's hiatus, we should be hearing a lot more from him in 2010.
Kanye West "Freestyle" Live
Kanye West Performing "I'm So Appalled"
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2009 will be remembered as the year rappers went to jail en masse..
The latest rap artist to to end up on the wrong side of the law is Sean P of The Youngbloodz.
According to WSBTV, the Decatur,Georgia mc was arrested in Atlanta for disorderly conduct at a listening party for his new mixtape.
Bond was set at $1500, no word yet if it's been posted.
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants Manny Pacquiao to submit to Olympic-style drug tests, including a blood test within days of their tentatively scheduled March 13 bout, and failing to agree to these terms could threaten the fight, Mayweather's camp said Tuesday.
Pacquiao has expressed reluctance to submit to a blood test within 30 days of the proposed world welterweight title fight, which will be staged at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
"As management for Floyd, we're insisting this Olympic-style, random [blood] testing take place to assure it's a level field before the biggest fight in history," Mayweather's advisor Leonard Ellerbe said. "We're definitely at an impasse."
Mayweather's promoter Richard Schaefer said a Pacquiao promoter told him the Filipino superstar would not agree to a blood test within 30 days of the bout because of his superstition against testing.
Pacquiao and Mayweather have previously submitted, and passed, urine tests for performance-enhancing and illegal drugs supervised by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.Travis Tygart, chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said a blood test can allow testers to detect use of energy-boosting synthetic EPO, human growth hormone and "a number of potent performance enhancers not detectable in urine. . . . With a [30-day] window like that, you could dope to the gills and get away with it."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said Mayweather's push for blood testing is a ploy to avoid fighting Pacquiao, who has won back-to-back fighter of the year awards and has battered world champions Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto.
"I knew Floyd wanted a way out of the fight," Roach said.
Roach said his concern about the timing of a blood test has nothing to do with hiding anything. "It's 100% mental. If it's in your head that [a blood test] weakens you, then it will weaken you," he said.
Roach suggested a compromise, saying he would allow Pacquiao to give a blood sample one week before the fight, but no closer than three days before the bout.
"One would assume that he'd find it acceptable to be subject to the same testing that Lance Armstrong, Kobe Bryant and Floyd Mayweather agree to," Mayweather's promoter Schaefer said.
In another development, Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said Schaefer's Golden Boy Promotions has applied for a permit to stage the fight at MGM Grand..
Several venues, including Staples Center and Dallas Cowboys Stadium, expressed interest in staging the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout with guarantees of $20 million and up. But MGM Grand, with tickets ranging from $500 to $2,500 and other related Las Vegas properties offering closed-circuit seats, can apparently offer more than $30 million.
Source: L.A. Times
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Videos After The JumpMary J. Blige is out promoting her just released cd "Stronger withEach Tear".
The Queen of R&B stopped by 106 and Park to talk with Rocsi and Terrence J about the album and the work she is doing in the inner city of New York.
The Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now was created by Mary to empower disadvantaged women and girls in Yonkers, New York.
She recently got the green light from BET for a reality show centered around the Foundation.
The show has recently been conducting casting calls for 18- to 26-year-old females who live in Yonkers, where Mary grew up
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Posted by ChasinDatPaper on December 23, 2009 at 12:30am
Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi appeared on The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien Tuesday (December 22).
The Good Music/Universal Motown Records artist performed "Pursuit Of Happiness" off of his debut album 'Man on the Moon: The End of Day' which is in stores now.
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Sean Combs is a perfectionist, he wants everything to be just right. Whether it's his Sean John clothing line, his new male and female fragrances or the liquor he co-owns, Ciroc Vodka.
So maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the man who spent $3 million dollars on his own 40th birthday bash is taking his time with his next album "Last Train To Paris'
Originally slated to come out in September 2009, Diddy recently revealed to the Chicago Tribune he has no idea when the disc will see the light of day telling them:
"I don't know the exact month. We're going to have it come out when it's ready. We're bringing everything together, editing it down. We did 60 songs. Also, we're figuring out what's missing."
In the meantime he's hard at work with his new group Dirty Money which features Diddy, ex-Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper.
Hopefully we will see that project sooner than later.
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Images of Arturo Beltran Leyva's corpse covered with blood-stained peso notes and jewelry raise concerns that law enforcement is adopting the tactics of hit men. An inquiry is underway
Reporting from Mexico City - The dead drug lord lay on his back, blood-soaked jeans yanked down to the knees. Mexican peso notes carpeted his bullet-torn body, and U.S. $100 bills formed neat rows next to his bared belly.
The gory photograph of Arturo Beltran Leyva, one of Mexico's most wanted kingpins, was among those widely published here during the last few days following his death in a shootout Wednesday with Mexican marines in Cuernavaca, capital of the central state of Morelos.
Even in a country where pictures of gruesome crime scenes routinely show up on the front pages of newspapers, the Beltran Leyva images have stirred controversy over who staged the tableau and whether Mexican authorities did so to send a taunting message to the rest of his powerful drug trafficking gang.
Several commentators said the photos, some of which showed religious jewelry laid across Beltran Leyva's stomach, were evidence that the government had adopted the macabre public-relations methods used by hit men. Gang members often line their victims' bodies along the roadside or hang them from bridges, leaving menacing, handwritten messages to scare foes.
The federal government, locked in a violent 3-year-old crackdown on drug cartels, has denied any responsibility for the photographs, calling the images "pernicious" and "reprehensible."
"The Mexican government fulfills its duty to halt organized-crime activity, but it does not get into personal humiliation," Interior Minister Fernando Gomez Mont said in a television interview.
But that has not laid the doubts to rest.
"Photographs of a corpse: law or vengeance?" the Excelsior newspaper asked in a headline over the weekend.
"The humiliated corpse, with its pants lowered, covered with bloody bills in one photo and religious objects in another, showed the typical modus operandi of narco-traffickers," security analyst Jorge Chabat wrote Monday in El Universal newspaper, which earlier ran a version of the photograph on its front page. "The only thing missing was a sign saying 'so that you learn to respect' to confirm the unmistakable stamp of an act of narco revenge.
"The problem is much deeper: It has to do with the absolute lack of democratic culture and respect for human rights in our country."
Among the main questions was who took the time to cover Beltran Leyva from neck to knees with blood-smeared bills, apparently to publicize the scene. Most of the bills appeared to be 500-peso notes, which are worth about $39 each. Another image, taken without the bills, showed Beltran Leyva's face disfigured by bullets.
Beltran Leyva, who called himself the "boss of bosses" and headed a family-run gang based in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, was killed when marines stormed an upscale apartment complex Wednesday. Six bodyguards and one commando also died.
Gomez Mont said the marine commandos, who are part of the Mexican navy, left the crime scene in the hands of coroner specialists from Morelos. He said federal officials would help state authorities try to figure out how the photographs were taken and distributed.
Morelos officials said Monday that they had opened an investigation.
El Universal published a series of photographs Sunday showing three people in civilian clothes, with faces digitally blurred, lifting Beltran Leyva's body by the arms and belted pants. Pictures showed gloved hands handling the bloodied bills and then portrayed the body covered with them.
The case sparked debate among journalists over newsworthiness of the photographs, which were credited to Mexican newspapers and wire services. But mainly it had people wondering whether the drug war, with 15,000 dead in three years, had both sides adhering to the same vicious rules.
"It is the state forces that adopted the basic language of the narco," columnist Luis Petersen Farah wrote in the Milenio newspaper. " 'There's your money,' the photograph seems to say. It's the language of war."
Posted by ChasinDatPaper on December 22, 2009 at 12:00pm
Atlanta rapper T.I. was officially been released from a low-security federal prison in Forrest City, Arkansas today (December 22).
The rapper, born Clifford Harris Jr., is expected to report to Dismas Charities Atlanta West correctional center tonight, where he will spend three months.
T.I. was sentenced to 366 days in prison after an October 2007 incident, in which federal agents caught him attempting to purchase machine guns and silencers.
After he has finished his stay at Dismas Charities Atlanta West, the rapper must complete 500 hours of community service, in addition to another 23 days of house arrest.
T.I. is expected to work during the three months he is confined to the halfway house, according to reports.
Source: AllHipHop
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Posted by ChasinDatPaper on December 22, 2009 at 10:55am
Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony will give their fans a Christmas this year with the release of the FixTape Vol 3: Special Delivery.
The mixtape was slated to be released today (December 22), but the group delayed the album to ensure fans received the highest quality of material from the group.
The FixTape Vol 3: Special Delivery will now be released on December 25th as a present to the group’s longtime fan base.
"We decided to release this project on the day that our fan family are celebrating a day of giving special deliveries to their loved ones, Dec 25,2009,” Layzie Bone told AllHipHop.com. “Initially we planned to release it on Dec 22,2009 (and we still are going to give them one song) but we want to give them our total gift on a much more meaningful day to them."
Various members of the group will reveal more details about the mixtape on their website BTNHBoard.com and during a live Ustream event later today.
Group member Flesh-n-Bone expressed enthusiasm about the direction of Bone’s mixtape and album, Uni5: The World’s Enemy.
Last week, the group released snippets of the album, which has a planned release date in March.
“It feels good to be back as a full family and team with my brothers after all the years apart from one another,” Flesh-n-Bone told AllHipHop.com. “We have been working at a steady and focused pace. One day at a time, one fan at a time we are working hard to truly give the world a special delivery on March 2, 2010. Stay ready so you won't have to get ready."
To view Bone Thugs-n-Harmony live conference later today, click here.
AllHiphop
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Posted by ChasinDatPaper on December 22, 2009 at 10:29am
Tracklist:
1. Rite Back produced by Vaughn T of the Labtechs
2. What Up produced by Mr. Porter
3. Thin Ice produced by Mr. Porter
4. Need To Know featuring Bilal produced by Mr. Porter
5. Happy Birthday produced by Quelle
6. Mill Ticket produced by Brenk
7. Get Back produced by Lord Quest
8. Alex Foley featuring Danny Brown & Chips Dinero produced by House Shoes
9. The Chase produced by D Fresh
10. The Way It Goes produced by 14KT
11. Talk About produced by Black MilkDownload HereRead more…
Posted by ChasinDatPaper on December 22, 2009 at 10:00am
Kid Cudi must feel like the world is against right about now.
After just recently being kicked off of Lady Gaga's 'Monster Ball Tour'. The "Day N Night" rapper was pulled over at gunpoint by the Los Angeles Police Department Monday (December 21). In an apparent case of mistaken identity.
Cudi had just wrapped up a photo shoot for NME outside a Joyrich store on Melrose Avenue. As he and his crew left the store in two SUV's and a Jeep the LAPD swarmed in like they were about to take down a Mafia boss.
After being pulled over, a total of five police cars blocked the path of the rap star and his entourage. Then made them get out of their vehicles onto their hands and knees where they were handcuffed.
The police soon realized their mistake and released them with the explanation that someone had identified them as being involved in a robbery.
Kid Cudi seemed to take it all in stride and released a statement via NME :
"Who knows, really, the story changed a bunch," he said. "I'm just happy to be back. I'm a free man! For that moment I was not free. I was in handcuffs. It did not feel very comfortable.
We're in LA, it's a rowdy place in the United States, you know? And a lot of shit goes down. And these cops have to use force. So it's, like, I understand that they were doing their job. I just wish we weren't in that place at that time."
I think Cudi must have been in shock and just relieved he didn't get shot because what happened would have outraged most people. The LAPD doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to dealing with people of color.
Here's hoping Kid Cudi has a much better 2010 with much success.
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Nominees Beyonce, Maxwell, and the Black Eyed Peas are among the first performers that have been announced for the 52nd Grammy Awards.
Beyonce, who already has 10 Grammy wins on her ledger, leads the trio with 10 nominations this year, including Record of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (“Halo”), Album of Year (I Am…Sasha Fierce), Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (“At Last”), and Best R&B Song (“Single Ladies”).
Maxwell has secured 6 nominations. Powered by his successful LP Blacksummers’ Night, Maxwell’s list features distinctions for Song of the Year, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song for “Pretty Wings,” Best Pop Instrumental Performance (“Phoenix Rise”), and Best R&B Album.
Three-time Grammy winners The Black Eyed Peas have also secured 6 nominations, including Record of the Year (“I Gotta Feeling”), Best Pop Vocal Album, and Album of the Year for The E.N.D.
Through January 15, fans can upload a 20-second video of renditions of BEP’s “I Gotta Feeling” for the opportunity to have their covers appears live during the Grammy telecast.
The videos can be uploaded at http://www.cbs.com/specials/grammys/upload/ The 2010 Grammy Awards will air live from LA’s Staples Center on Sunday, January 31 at 8PM.
Online coverage will be available through www.grammy.com, Youtube (www.youtube.com/thegrammys), Twitter (www.twitter.com/thegrammys), and Facebook (www.facebook.com/thegrammys).
Source: AllHipHop.com
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