Cam Newton Chosen First In NFL Draft By Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is the first pick in the 2011 NFL Drafts; he was chosen by The Carolina Panthers. Before The Auburn quarterback was announced, commissioner Roger Goodell took to the stage where he heard the cries from the crowd chanting “We want football, we want football.”  When on stage, Cam Newton expressed his joy “Man, it’s a great feeling to be up here!” The NFL Drafts were held in New York at Radio City Music Hall.

[Video] Consequence To Expose G.O.O.D Music, Kanye West, Amber Rose & Wiz Khalifa?

It was all good just a few years ago…
Former G.O.O.D Music artist Consequence sends a cryptic message to Kanye West, Amber Rose, Wiz Khalifa, Q-Tip and Jay-z in a preview of a new video titled “The World Is Watching”. In the video, there is footage of Yeezy and ex-girlfriend Amber Rose together, Amber Rose with Wiz Khalifa, as well as Consequence performing with his cousin Q-Tip and Kanye. In-between those clips flash the words:

Chris Brown Denies Proposing To His Girlfriend

Rumors began spreading earlier this week that Chris Brown had popped the question to his girlfriend, model Karrauche Tran.  Brown is setting the record straight and denying that any proposal took place.
“LOL… just heard about the engagement rumor,” Breezy tweeted. “LOL .UMMMMM FALSE! im way too young for that step!!!”
Millions of teenaged girls (and our very own Shamika Sanders) can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Breezy isn’t completely off the market.

6 Beyonce Sued For Costing Video Game Co. $100M And 70 Employee Jobs

While Beyonce will (allegedly) be off mingling with royalty at the British royal wedding extravaganza this weekend, her lawyers will be knee deep in a lawsuit leveled against the star. The New York Post is reporting that video game maker, Gate Five LLC sued the Grammy Award-winning singer earlier this week in New York, for losing the company over $100 million and sending 70 employees to the unemployment line.

GIRLFIGHT: Beyonce vs. Lady Gaga

We recently told you about the tension between Beyonce and Lady Gaga,that has been growing for months and that they haven’t really spoken since their ‘Telephone’ collabo… well word on the street is that Gaga is about to start an all out war!!

50 Cent Gets A Jheri Curl?

While on the set of his new movie “Freelancers,” 50 cent was spotted rocking a Jheri/S-Curl type of hairstyle! The movie stars 50 Cent, Robert Dinero, Forest Whitaker and is about the son of a murdered cop who becomes an officer to only be led by the same cops led by his father’s old partner.

Beyoncé & Jay-Z Not Performing At Royal Wedding Say Reps

A representative for Beyoncé has shot down rumors that she and Jay-Z will be performing at an informal party thrown by Prince William of Wales and his wife-to-be, Kate Middleton.
“The ceremony is not on her schedule and she has a shoot in New York on Saturday,” a rep for Beyoncé said.
The rumor originated in an article from the UK’s Daily Star tabloid. The rumor stated that the royal couple, who will wed on Friday, asked Beyoncé and Jay-Z to perform “Crazy In Love” during an informal reception after their wedding ceremony.
Source: AllHipHop.com

5 Rihanna Cost Commercial $15K Because She Thought She Looked Fat?

Rihanna is being accused of causing costly re-editing delays on a commercial that she thought she looked fat in. After seeing the final cut of her charity public service announcement for UNICEF, she complained she looked heavier than usual.
According to Page Six, Rihanna’s “self-involved demands caused ‘extensive delays’” and held up the “the project’s launch for more than a week at a cost of more than $15,000.”
However, a UNICEF rep is refuting the rumors, saying, “We’re surprised to hear that. She was not unhappy. We were very thankful. Rihanna was very collaborative and very participatory. What was shot was what exists now. No reshoots were done.”
See Rihanna’s UNICEF commercial below and decide for yourself! And see her print ad here!

Eminem & Royce Da 5’9 To Release “Bad Meets Evil” EP In June

Eminem & Slaughterhouse member Royce Da 5’9 have dusted off their old Bad Meets Evil group project and plan to release an EP of material together in June. The pair of Detroit emcees conceived the project after recording the song “Bad Meets Evil” together for Eminem’s 1999 album The Slim Shady LP.

Former Destiny’s Child Member Arrested

Farrah Franklin, formerly of Destiny’s Child, was arrested over the weekend for disorderly conduct in Culver City, CA. Sources say that alcohol was involved.
Franklin was arrested at 6:45 AM on Saturday.  She was released later that day on $100 bail.
Franklin spent 5 months with Destiny’s Child in 2000.
Source: TMZ

New Music: RichGirl f/ Chris Brown – ‘For You’

RichGirl teams up with Chris Brown for the sexy collabo “For You,” which could potentially appear on the group’s forthcoming debut. The quartet, consisting of Audra, Brave, Lyndriette, and SeVen, take turns singing about love at first sight while Breezy lends his pen game and echoes their sentiments by adding some vocals to the chorus. “If ever the sun don’t shine, I’ll be there for you/ No matter the distance, no matter the time/ Whatever you need, it’s yours if it’s mine,” they sing.

Fall for the midtempo tune below.

NEW MUSIC: JA RULE – ‘REAL LIFE FANTASY’

 

Ja Rule asks “Is this my life?” on the reflective first single from his new albumP.ain I.s L.ove 2. Produced by longtime collaborator 7 Aurelius, “Real Life Fantasy” addresses the former Murder Inc. rapper’s recent troubles. “Get high, go to prison, and evade taxes/ This is not what I envisioned when I started rapping,” he confesses, adding, “If this was ’03, then I’da told ya you was crazy if you told me that is what it’d be/ I miss Vita, Caddie, Black Child, Charli/ I thought we was tighter than the Marley family.” PIL2 and The Renaissance Project drop June 7, the day before Rule is scheduled to start serving his two-year jail sentence  whats sucks is Ja got caught the same way lil wizzy did with the same charges and wizzy get 11 months and ja gets 2yrs!! SMFH AMAZING SYSTEM!!!

Real Life Fantasy by 7Aurelius

via www.rap-up.com

Police: WR Brandon Marshall stabbed by wife

MIAMI – Authorities said the wife of Brandon Marshall stabbed the Miami Dolphins wide receiver with a kitchen knife, and his agent said Saturday that the player was recovering.
Michi Nogami-Marshall, 26, was arrested Friday evening and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. According to the Broward County Sheriff's Office arrest report, Nogami-Marshall told officers she was defending herself. Marshall had earlier told officers he slipped and fell onto a broken glass vase, but the officers noted that evidence at the couple's home didn't substantiate that claim.

Lindsay Lohan -- Bailed Outta Lynwood ... Again

Lindsay Lohan just walked through her own personal revolving door -- the exit way at Lynwood Correctional Facility -- after a bondsman put up the cash to spring her. According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department 's website ... LiLo was in custody for almost 5 hours and her bail was set at $75,000.

           

Toni Braxton Is Separated But In No Rush To Divorce

Well this makes for an interesting discussion…
In her recent interview with Sister2Sister magazine, Braxton Family Values star Toni Braxton reveals details about her separation from husband Keri Lewis. Toni and Keri, who was once a member of R&B group Mint Condition, split in 2009, and this year marks the 10-year anniversary since they wed. She tells the magazine that the main reason she can’t see herself divorcing Keri is because she believes she’ll upset her children.

How Did NeNe Leakes Get Involved With The Royal Wedding?

NeNe Leakes isn’t going anywhere. Next week, she will co-host a special on the royal wedding of Prince William and his bride-to-be Kate Middleton. Looks like her dreams of becoming a talk show host are becoming more of a reality.
Alongside gossip blogger Perez Hilton, NeNe’s “Will & Kate Forever” special will air the same day as the big ceremony. She’ll be giving her sassy commentary on all the wedding details.
No offense, but what the hell does NeNe from Atlanta know about Will & Kate from the UK?
Anyhow, you can catch the one-hour special on Friday, April 29 at 7PM EDT on Wedding Central.

Mariah Carey’s Baby Nursery Cost How Much?!? [PHOTO]

If we didn’t know already that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s twins were going to be competing with Suri Cruise for the title of world’s most spoiled (and luckiest) children, we sure do now. In an interview with Life & Style magazine, Mariah proudly showed off the gorgeous nurseries, which will soon be home to the babies (one in their Californian mansion and another in their New York City apartment), and divulged that the elaborate set up cost a mind-blowing $100,000, including $30,000 on the cribs!
Of the room, she says:

Steve Harvey Robbed By Intern

Steve Harvey was robbed of $10,000 by a Clark Atlanta University intern who allegedly pocketed the cash! According to the AJC, the intern is believed to have stolen at least $10,000 from a bag inside Steve Harvey’s Piedmont Road office, and told the comedian he’d return the money despite insisting he didn’t steal it.As of last week, when Atlanta police filed an incident report, 22-year-old Kyle Reynolds had not made good on his word.

Terry McMillan Confirms “Waiting To Exhale” Sequel For 2012?

Terry McMillan used Twitter to confirm that a “Waiting To Exhale” sequel is in the works and on it’s way. “Getting Happy,” which was published last year, picks up 15 years after “Exhale.”
Savannah is finally married, but unhappy; Bernadine is near-broke after her huge divorce settlement;

Are Rihanna & Usher More Than Just Friends?

Did the desert heat at Coachella spark a connection between Rihanna & Usher? The folks at OK! magazine seem to think so. Both Usher & Rihanna attended the Armani Exchange A|X and 944 magazine party — called the “Neon Carnival,” and here’s what went down:

Rihanna Scores 10th #1 Single, Ties With Janet Jackson

Rihanna has scored her tenth #1 single with her “S&M” remix featuring Britney Spears. She is now tied with Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder, as they all hold the 7th position amongst all artists with the most chart-toppers in the history.
Mariah Carey remains the solo artist with the most #1 singles: 18!
However, Rihanna surpassed Mariah Carey in two other titles: achieving 10 #1 songs faster than any solo act and being the youngest person to accomplish that feat thus far. SOURCE
Sooo, Rihanna did in 6 years what Janet did in 30? Interesting industry.

IT’S OFFICIAL: SHAQ OUT FOR REST OF THE NBA PLAYOFFS

(blackmediaSCOOP) This is not good news for the Boston Celtics. Their big man Shaq is out for the rest of the playoffs. The Celtics made the call after O’Neal failed to sprint up and down the court during a “conditioning test” on Saturday before limping off the court. Now coach Doc Rivers will have to rely on veteran Jermaine O’Neal, who also joined the team during the offseason and has battled knee problems since the beginning of the season, with Glen Davis and Nenad Krstic serving as his backups. So far the team is up two games against the New York Knicks.

BLACK EYED PEAS OPEN MUSIC ACADEMY

(blackmediaSCOOP) The Black Eyed Peas are giving back by opening a music academy in NY. Local teens will learn video and music production using professional-quality equipment. The group made the announcement this week that their Peapod Foundation together with the Adobe Foundation will open a Peapod Adobe Youth Voices music and multimedia academy in lower Manhattan. The New York academy will offer classes to students ages 13 to 19 starting this July.

WILL & JADA SMITH WORKING ON “THUNDERCATS” MOVIE

(blackmediaSCOOP) Will Smith has gotta be a workaholic! He’s currently shooting Men In Black 3 and now there’s word he’s planning a remake of the Thundercats cartoon. The Hollywood superstar is said to be looking to develop and star in a live action movie based on the cult cartoon capers of a group of cat people whose space ship crashes on a mysterious planet. Peeps close to Will say he’s is a huge Thundercats fan and even his kids are into it now. He’s working on a script now and will possibly work with Jada on the project.

Did Lauryn Hill Hint At Another Pregnancy On Stage? [VIDEO]

Is Lauryn Hill pregnant again? During her “Moving Target: Extended Playdate Series” at Club Nokia in Los Angeles last night, fans got under the impression that she may be.
Wearing another oversized outfit (her first was at Coachella last weekend), Lauryn alluded to her possible pregnancy saying, “I keep having these children. I don’t know if I’m the most fertile woman in America.” She then performed “To Zion” written about her first born.

Kanye West’s Charity Shuts Down Operations

Kanye West‘s charitable organization, The Kanye West Foundation, has shut down operations. The organization was founded by Kanye’s mother, Donda West, who died in 2007 of complications from plastic surgery.
According to the New York Times (login required), Joseph Collins, the former executive director of the organization, sent out an email to his associates last month informing them that he was looking for a job because the foundation had closed.
“I am reaching out to let you know that the Kanye West Foundation (kanyewestfoundation.org) has officially closed it doors after a successful 4+ years of programming and events,” Mr. Collins wrote in the e-mail. “It has been an incredible experience working with Kanye and the board to realize his mother’s vision and I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead the Foundation.”
The Kanye West Foundation was launched in an effort to reduce high school dropout rates.
Source: The New York Times (login required to read article)

Tyler Perry Blasts Spike Lee: “Spike Can Go Straight To Hell”

The drama between Tyler Perry and Spike Lee is heating up again! During a recent press conference for his Madea’s Big Happy Family, Tyler said: “I’m so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee,”. “Spike can go straight to hell!” If you remember back in the day, Spike Lee, referred to Perry’s films as “coonery buffoonery;” Perry responded publicly on 60 Minutes, and admitted that he felt insulted by Lee’s comments.
Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family opens nationwide this Friday.
Tyler calls out Spike by EURnews

Is Rihanna Teaming Up With Beyonce For Duet?

Word on the street is that Beyonce and Rihanna are teaming up to record a song together. According to M is for Music, Beyonce’s new album is scheduled to have a June 2011 release date and is said to be ‘groundbreaking’.
A source said:

Halle Berry: “I’m Not The Marrying Kind, I’ve Been An Idiot”

Though Halle Berry has been successful in her career – she can’t say the same about love. Her first marriage to baseball player David Justice ended after 5 years. Her second marriage to singer Eric Benet ended after 4 years. And her long-term relationship with model Gabriel Aubry, the father of her daughter Nahla, came to screeching halt after 5 years, as well.
Halle recently told UK’s The Sun that she wishes she had known at 18 what she knows now:

2 Erykah Badu’s Coachella Performance [VIDEO]

The eclectic and soulful Erykah Badu finally graced the stage at the annual Coachella Music festival yesterday in California. She performed her song, “20ft Tall” and some of the other new songs she is working on off of her album, New Amerykah Part II. Nice!
Erykah isn’t the only artist scheduled to tear up the stage at the event. This three day music festival is filled with performances from some of our favorite artists such as Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, Nas & Damien Marley  to name a few. Other celebs such as Usher and Rihanna were also spotted in the audience, watching Ms. Badu’s performance from the sidelines. What do you guys think about Erykah’s clothing choice of the evening? Interesting right?
Looks like everyone is having a great time at the music festival! Can’t wait to see who will hit the stage at the event today!
Check out Erykah’s performance below!

Superhead Gets Another Restraining Order On Eddie Winslow

Karrine “Superhead” Steffans got another restraining order placed on her ex-husband, Darius “Eddie Winslow” McCrary. Steffans says that McCrary was harassing her by hanging outside of her window.

4 Why Do Women Like To Be Called A “Bad B****”?

The term “b*tch” has a double meaning. It can be used to represent a “bossy” lady, someone who takes charge, knows what she wants out of life and isn’t taking no for an answer. Or the term can be used to represent a woman who resembles someone with a trashy and poor attitude and just an overall bad personality. I’ve always wondered why women like to be called a “bad b*tch”, when it has such double meaning and it mostly associated with negative connotations.

Halle Berry Drops Out Of Broadway Role Due To Custody Battle

Halle Berry’s child custody battle with her ex Gabriel Aubry is heating up and she’s not trying to keep it a secret. Halle was supposed to be taking on a role in “The Mountaintop,” a Broadway play about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but producers have said otherwise.
In a statement, producers said, “Ms. Berry would not be appearing in the role due to child-custody issues.”
The play is an imagined account of the night before Dr. King’s assassination. Halle was supposed to play Camae, a hotel maid at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. SOURCE
What happened to “no comment”?

Did Kanye & Wiz Khalifa Come To Blows Over Amber Rose At Coachella Festival?

Word on the street is that Kanye West & Wiz Khalifa almost came to blows last night at California’s Coachella Music Festival. Both rappers were scheduled to perform at the festival and all was well until Mr West hit the stage. When Kanye took to the stage to perform his hit song “Stronger,” he reportedly went out of his way to take a dig at Amber who was standing on the side of the stage, by changing up the lyrics in the song.  The original lyrics to a verse in “Stronger” goes like this:

L.A. Reid “Looking for Crazy” As ‘X Factor’ Judge

Last month, L.A. Reid announced his departure as chairman of Island Def Jam Records to secure a judging gig for the U.S. edition of Simon Cowell’s reality singing competition ‘The X Factor,’ which is scheduled to premiere in September. Maybe the letters from Nas and Shyne finally got to him but Reid will now be searching for new talent instead of managing the demands of current acts.

Lil Wayne’s UNOFFICIAL Tracklisting For Tha Carter IV

Rumors have been swirling about guest appearances for Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV, but Complex got hold of an unofficial tracklisting of Weezy’s follow-up to Tha Carter III. The usual suspects like Birdman, Drake and Nicki Minaj supposedly join past collaborators like Kanye West, Eminem, Rick Ross and Jay-Z.  The lineup feels a bit guest heavy even by 2011 standards but let’s hope Weezy pays his producers this time around. Tha Carter IV will be available May 16th.
Tha Carter IV rumored tracklist:

Wiz Khalifa Won’t Smoke Weed Given To Him By Fans

Wiz Khalifa is a notorious pothead, and his fans are notorious for throwing weed at him when he’s on stage.  But Wiz recently revealed that he won’t smoke any sticky icky given to him by his fans.
“I don’t usually smoke the fan weed. I accept it as a gift and pass it on to somebody else,” Wiz told Spin.com
Probably a good idea…
Wiz will star with fellow weed-head Snoop Dogg in the upcoming film High School. The pair also recently released a video for their collab “This Weed Iz Mine” from Snoop’s latest album, Doggumentary.

Catherine Zeta-Jones Checked Herself Into Mental Hospital for Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

 

Bobby Bank/Getty Images

 

Michael Douglas wasn't the only one facing some dark days this year.
After supporting her husband during his successful cancer treatment, Douglas' wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones briefly checked herself into a mental-health facility for treatment of her bipolar disorder, her rep confirmed to E! News.

Oprah To Charge $1 Million For Commercial On Show Finale

If you want to plug your product on Oprah’s last show, it’s going to cost you. The Oprah Winfrey Show is charging a whopping $1 million for a 30-second commercial on the big finale show on Wednesday, May 25th reports tvsquad.com. The $1 million price tag is nearly 18 times more than the show’s recent asking price of $57,400, as reported by Nielsen earlier in the season.
While the Superbowl remains the most expensive TV show to advertise on (it cost $3 million for a 30-second spot on the last Superbowl), among regularly-scheduled TV shows, the 2004 series finale of Friends is STILL the most expensive — it cost $2 million for a 30-second commercial.
Oprah is definitely going out with a bang!

Bobby Brown Expecting His 6th Child

Bobby Brown and his fiancee/manager Alicia Etheridge are expecting another baby. This will be child number 6 for Brown. DAMN!!.Bobby and Alicia’s first child is named Cassius and Bobby is happy to be a dad again.
“I try to keep my kids close,” Bobby said.
The new baby will join siblings Landon (b.1986) with Melika Williams; LaPrincia (b.1990) and Bobby Brown Jr. (b.1991) with Kim Ward; Bobbi Kristina (b.1993) with his ex-wife Whitney Houston; and Cassius Brown (b.2009) with Alicia.
I hope Bobby is taking care of ALL his kids!
SOURCE

Amber Rose Gets A Visit From Her Future Self? [CAPTION THIS]

Amber Rose recently tweeted a photo of herself and an older, tattooed woman who looked like it could have been Amber Rose in 30 years.   Did future Amber travel back in time to warn present day Amber of the impending apocalypse?
“I haaaaad to take a Pic with this woman! Lol,” Amber tweeted along with a link to the photo.

Frankie’s Publicist Says She Wasn’t Arrested For Failing Drug Test

Keyshia Cole‘s mother, Frankie Lons, made headlines earlier this week when she was arrested.  Initial reports said that Lons was arrested for failing a drug test, but her publicist says that’s not the case at all.
Cherry Bañez, Frankie’s publicist, sent a statement to SandraRose.com that says that Frankie was arrested because she missed an appointment with her probation officer because she was in rehab.

…She missed probation because she was at rehab at Dr. Drew’s Pasadena center. That’s what lead to the arrest, not drugs as published by mediatakeout.
Frankie is 50 years old and I am doing what I can to help her change her image into a sober woman who has made regrettable mistakes. As she approaches the next phase of her life with grandkids and her new found children, I hope she does succeed.

We guess Frankie failed to inform her probation officer of such an important piece of information…

Teyana Taylor Gets Into Fight Over Chris Brown

Chris Brown’s BFF Teyana Taylor was involved in a girl fight over the weekend. According to TMZ, the fight took place in a Burbank recording studio when a girl made a comment about Chris and Teyana was not having it! She allegedly punching the chick in the face and kicked her in the head and stomach. Cops arrived to the studio and found a swollen victim, but Teyana had already checked out by then. An investigation is currently taking place and the cops are looking for Teyana. No charges have been filed as yet!
That’s what I call sticking up for your BFF!!

Should Ciara Be Worried About Amar’e Stoudemire’s Business Partner Rachel Roy?

Now that NBA’s Amar’e Stoudemire and R&B singer Ciara are a couple,you would think all is well in their world…well guess again…Word on the street is that Amare’s clothing line partner Rachel Roy is putting the moves on Ciara’s man! Sources are saying that Rachel likes Amar’e, but more importantly she likes the spotlight. She sees the shine that LaLa gets by being with Carmelo and she wants the same.
So where is Ciara while all this is going down? On tour in Australia.
Ciara come get your man!!!

Alicia Keys To Release 10th Anniversary Deluxe Editions Of Debut Album

Alicia Keys is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut album songs in A minor with a special Deluxe and Collector’s edition. To commemorate the occasion, she will also give an intimate performance at New York City’s Beacon Theatre.
The Deluxe edition will be two discs, while the Collector’s edition will be three. Both will boast special packaging and a booklet featuring new liner notes. Never-before-heard tunes that didn’t make the original tracklisting will be included, like “A Woman’s Worth (Remix)” featuring Nas, the mixtape version of “Juiciest,” the previously unreleased “Typewriter,” and more.
Additionally, the Collector’s Edition will feature a documentary that explores the making of the album, as well as interviews with Keys and those who worked on the Grammy-winning record.
The special-edition albums drop June 28; her one-of-a-kind show, “Piano & I: A One Night Only Event with Alicia Keys,” will be held on June 30.

Cops called on funny man Kat Williams

Comedian Katt Williams had a run-in with the Beverly Hills PD yesterday afternoon ... after allegedly getting into a heated shouting match with another guy ... TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell us ... at least 4 squad cars raced to the Beverly Hills office building where the alleged incident occurred ... but when they arrived to the scene, things calmed down.  We're told no arrests were made -- and Katt left the scene without further incident.

           

GQ Magazine Goes In On Chris Brown

GQ stands for Gentleman’s Quarterly and the people over at that publication take those very words very close to heart; emphasis on the Gentlemen part. After a reader submitted the question “Has Chris Brown ever been on the GQ cover? and if not when will he?” GQ personel answered “Might be a while. It is Gentlemen’s Quarterly, afterall, not Ironically-Named-Magazine-That-Knowingly-Puts-Domestic-Violence-Abusers-On-Its-Cover Quaterly.”
-Really GQ, all that though? There was nothing gentleman like about that answer!
Spotted @NecoleBitchie.com
 

Ashley Judd Apologizes For Calling Hip-Hop “Rape Culture”

Ashley Judd caused a firestorm of controversy when an excerpt of her new book, All That Is Bitter And Sweet, that compares hip-hop culture to rape culture was posted online. Judd recently apologized for the comments.

“Along with other performers, YouthAIDS was supported by Rap and Hip Hop artists like Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy to spread the message…um, who? Those names were a red flag,” Judd writes in her book.
“As far as I’m concerned, most Rap and Hip Hop music–with its rape culture and insanely abusive lyrics and depictions of girls and women as ‘ho’s'–is the contemporary soundtrack of misogyny. I believe that the social construction of gender–the cultural beliefs and practices that divide the sexes and institutionalize and normalize the unequal treatment of girls and women, privilege the interest of boys and men, and, most nefariously, incessantly sexualize girls and women–is the root cause of poverty and suffering around the world.”

Yesterday, Judd addressed the topic in a post on Global Grind, the news site founded by Russell Simmons.

I have looked closely at the feedback I have received about those two paragraphs, and absolutely see your points, and I fully capitulate to your rightness, and again humbly offer my heartfelt amends for not having been able to see the fault in my writing, and not having anticipated it would be painful for so many. Crucial words are missing that could have made a giant difference. It should have read: “Some hip-hop, and some rap, is abusive. Some of it is part of the contemporary soundtrack misogyny (which, of course, is multi-sonic). Some of it promotes the rape culture so pervasive in our world…..” Also, I, ideally, would have anticipated that some folks would see only representations of those two paragraphs, and not be familiar with the whole book, my work, and my message. I should have been clear in them that I include hip-hop and rap as part of a much larger problem. It is beyond unfortunate that I am talking about some, for example, of Snoop Dogs’ lyrics, an assumption has been spread I was talking about every single artist in both genres. That is false and distorted. Here, I am again aware that it would be impossible for me to get this “exactly right.” Some will find fault, no matter how careful I am, no matter what my intentions.

Read Judd’s whole statement on GlobalGrind.com