(NBC News) WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as "shithole countries" during a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House, a Democratic aide briefed on Thursday's meeting told NBC News.
Trump's comments were first reported by The Washington Post, which said the nations referred to by Trump also included El Salvador.
The U.N. human rights office said the comments, if confirmed, were "shocking and shameful" and "racist," while Haiti's foreign minister summoned the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Robin Diallo for clarification.
Two sources briefed on the conversation say that during the portion of the conversation about Haiti — which came at the top of the exchange that led to the “shithole” comment — the president questioned why Haitians should be given specific consideration.
“Why do we need more Haitians, take them out,” he said, according to sources. Someone else in the room responded: “Because if you do, it will be obvious why.”
Two decades after the album’s critically-acclaimed release, hip-hop artist Nas teamed up with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, to stage a symphonic rendition of “Illmatic,” one of the most revered albums in hip-hop history. The new concert film Great Performances — Nas Live From the Kennedy Center: Classical Hip-Hop captures the energy and nostalgia of this collaborative performance and premieres nationwide Friday, February 2 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
The program will be available to stream the following day at pbs.org/gperf and PBS apps. Released in 1994, “Illmatic” is the seminal debut album from Nas, and has long been considered one of the greatest hip-hop records of all time. The album is a densely textured, deeply lyrical portrait of life in the largest public housing project in North America, the Queensbridge Houses, located in the Long Island City area of New York City, home to nearly 7,000 people. “It’s crazy, you know, I wrote this in the projects in New York City. Here we are in the capitol of America, Washington, DC, and, you know, a bunch of white people with strings and all that, playing this album, and they [sic] feeling it,” says Nas in exclusive behind-the-scenes footage captured during on-stage rehearsal before the concert.
Alternating between candid reflections from Nas, photos from his youth, backstage footage and a symphonic performance of “Illmatic,” the program gives an inside look at the inspiration behind Nas’ music and his early life growing up in New York City. The combination of Nas and the orchestra reinvents the sound of some of his most popular songs, like “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The World is Yours,” “Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” to create a classical hip-hop journey. “This was the first time me [sic], as a classical orchestra conductor, was going to branch out into the realm of doing hip-hop music and rap music. And the idea of finally tackling this genre was something I was really looking forward to do,” says National Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke about this innovative collaboration.
Great Performances is produced by THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET, one of America’s most prolific and respected public media providers. Throughout its more than 40- year history on public television, Great Performances has provided viewers across the country with an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America’s most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming.
A Mass Appeal production, Nas Live From the Kennedy Center: Classical HipHop is directed by Jason Goldwatch and executive produced by Nas, Anthony Saleh and Peter Bittenbender. For Great Performances, Bill O’Donnell is series producer; David Horn is executive producer.
This Great Performances presentation is funded by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, The Joseph & Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, the Irene Diamond Fund, Rosalind P. Walter, The LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, The Agnes Varis Trust, The Starr Foundation, the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, The Abra Prentice Foundation and PBS.
1. "Never Be the Same" 2. "All These Years" 3. "She Loves Control" 4. "Havana" Ft. Young Thug 5. "Inside Out" 6. "Consequences" 7. "Real Friends" 8. "Something's Gotta Give" 9. "In the Dark" 10. "Into It" 11. "Never Be the Same" (Radio Edit)
Chicago producer and rapper, Young Chop, is back with his "King Chop 2" project. Features include Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Bump J, PARTYNEXTDOOR and more.
01. Rockstar (feat. Yung Tory) 02. Just Because (feat. Tae Flexxin) 03. Yea (feat. Bump J) 04. Blue Benjamin 06. Set It Off 07. Slow Down 08. Ice Cream (feat. Chief Keef) 09. Messenger Bag (feat. Lil Durk) [Remix] 10. Aquafina 11. Over You (feat. BD & Ace 00) 12. I Need a Break (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR & Chief Keef)
Chris Webby stopped by Sway In The Morning to talk about his new project Wednesday. He also spits a verse coming at Lil Pump and other mumble rappers. As well as politicians and disgraced celebs.
Wu Tang Clan emcee Raekwon the Chef drops off a new banger titled "It's a Shame." The RoadsArt-produced joint finds The Chef's lyrical sword as sharp as ever. Peep it up top.
(Sports Illustrated) Canelo Alvarez has agreed to a rematch with Gennady Golovkin for May 5 and Golovkin's team is expected to agree to the deal "within the next few days," according to Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times.
Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions, which promotes Alvarez, told Pugmire there will not be a rematch clause in the deal, unlike the initial fight that had one.
Gomez also told Pugmire they will likely decide between holding the rematch in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where the first fight was held, or Madison Square Garden, but nothing will be determined until both sides officially agree to the fight.
In September, Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a draw. Despite the first match being a tightly contest bout, mostofthetalk after the fight was focused on judge Adalaide Byrd, who scored the fight 118-110 in favor of Alvarez.
Alvarez, 27, is 49-1-2 on his career with 34 knockouts. Golovkin, 35, is 37-0-1 with 33 knockouts and currently holds the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBC world middle weight titles.
One of three men responsible for the murder of rapper Doe B has been found guilty.
The Montgomery Advertiser reports that Darius Thomas was sentenced to 85 years in prison Wednesday, January 10.
Kimberle Johnson and Timnarius Hamilton were also killed during the shooting at Centennial Hill Bar and Grill in Montgomery, Alabama on December 28, 2013.
Trial dates for Jason McWilliams and Taboris Mock, the other two alleged shooters, have not been set. Both are out on bond.
Doe B, born Glenn Thomas, was signed to T.I.'s Grand Hustle label at the time of his death. He was 22-years old.
La La Anthony stopped by Ebro in the Morning to chop it up about whether or not she's single, shares her true feelings about LaVar Ball, sex scenes and more.
A pioneer in MMA and the UFC, Vitor Belfort is ready for his final chapter at Fight Night St. Louis. Don't miss the action on Sunday, January 14 on FS1.
Lil Pump is reportedly looking for a new record deal after parting ways with Warner Bros. The 17-year old "Gucci Gang" hit maker signed with the label last June, but decided to terminate the contract.
According to DJ Akademiks, Pump, born Gazzy Garcia, is now fielding $8-$12 million offers from new suitors.
Looks like Ray J will be facing off in court against a man who says they were supposed to be business partners.
TMZ reports that Jean Paul claims in 2015 he and the singer worked out a deal involving electric scooter bikes. Ray allegedly agreed to become an investor and celebrity endorser in a company started by Paul.
However, in 2016 Ray partnered with Billy Jones to launch Scoot-E-Bike under the Raytroniks brand name.
"Companies have been trying to promote this style of electric bikes for about two years now, and nobody was able to impact America," the 36-year old "Love and Hip Hop" star told Mashable at the time.
"I first saw this kind of bike in Miami and then we did our due diligence and started studying [similar] bikes in China. Then we took the bike across the country and started to talk to tastemakers just to see if someone was already ahead of the game. But no one had ever seen [this kind of] electric bike. So after seeing the way the bike made people feel, we immediately began building the company around this product."
Paul says he was shocked to learn Ray had started a competing company and wants to be compensated.
He has filed a lawsuit against Kim Kardashian's ex seeking $30 million.
Paige VanZant is looking forward to making her mark on the new flyweight division when she faces off against Jessica-Rose Clark at Fight Night St. Louis.
Last month Nas filed legal documents seeking to hammer out an agreement with his ex-wife, Kelis, for more visitation with their 8-year old son, Knight.
He argued that Kelis dictated when, where and for how long he gets to see his child.
The two have now come to terms via a court decision.
TMZ reports that Nas will now get "four full weekends over January, February and March. Nas' weekend visits will begin immediately after school on Fridays ... thru Sunday night, or Monday night, if it's a 3-day weekend."
According to the new agreement, both parents must use their "best efforts to not popularize [Knight] in social media."
Known as lean, sizzurp, purple drink and hi-tech (among other names) the drug-fueled drink of Promethazine Codeine cough syrup mixed with soda or candy has been referenced in over 30 percent of rap songs that reached the top ten of Billboard’s Hot 100 in 2017 – including Migos' “Bad and Boujee” featuring Lil Uzi Vert and Future’s “Mask Off.”
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