CHI-RAQ is being criticized for what some feel is an insensitive and exploitative take on the issues currently facing the city of Chicago. Wesley Snipes, who stars as veteran gang leader Cyclops, has heard the critics. But Snipes dismisses the criticisms.
Eminem and controversy go together like Chris Brown and arrest warrants, so it’s not a huge surprise that the hip-hop star managed to raise the ire of a lot of people with his Veteran’s Day performance this week.
Rapper Young Chop spoke to Forbez DVD about the Interscope’s decision to let Chief Keef walk; criticizing the label for not giving the rapper a chance to fully meet the requirements of the deal.
Easily one of the most talked about music videos of the year across all genres, Nicki Minaj’s clip for her monster single “Anaconda” almost made
Both Don Lemon and Charles Barkley conveniently ignore the fact that their dismissal of black people of a certain social background as “ghetto” and “ignorant” is just as detrimental as being called “not black enough.”
Iggy Azalea has been criticized for her co-opting of “Dirty South” American hip-hop slang and affectations, when the Australian-born rapper obviously has a different cultural background.
Braxton’s had the singles and “Stacy Sippin'” with Raheem DeVaughn all over the Web, but she got a different kind of attention a couple of weeks ago after she performed at Howard University
Rah Digga had some choice words for Iggy Azalea. During a recent interview with ThisIs50, Rah criticized Azalea for not being herself on her records.
Speaking with VladTV, Tiny praised Iggy Azalea for her ability to appropriate a southern black accent when she raps–despite being a white girl from Australia.
Following rumors that surfaced of rapper Young Thug threatening to shoot a transgender in Atlanta and accusations that he was a notorious gay-basher, the hip-hop star posted a video on Instagram that has the public asking questions. More than the clip, the caption that was included is what has tongues wagging.
Rapper Snoop Dogg debuted a new alter-ego this weekend on Instagram, a white character named “Todd.” In a series of Instagram posts, Snoop–as “Todd”–promoted a site called WhitePeopleConnect.com and listed his hobbies as crocheting and paintball.
Iggy Azalea’s questionable lyrics and faux Dirty South accent have come under scrutiny from those who believe she’s a culture thief. But in speaking with Complex, T.I. made it clear that he has no tolerance for the Iggy hate.
This week, country(?) pop star Taylor Swift premiered the video for her new single “Shake It Off,” the leadoff for her latest album 1989. The video features Swift in a variety of aesthetics, including rocking a baseball cap and ghetto blaster boombox while b-boys (that look like Abercrombie models) breakdance around her.
Public Enemy frontman Chuck D has been vocal in his criticism of mainstream urban radio in the past, but over the last several days, the rapper/speaker has taken aim at New York City’s Hot 97 in the wake of last week’s Summer Jam concert.
Pastor Jamal H. Bryant, of the Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, kick-started a firestorm of controversy by quoting a Chris Brown hook during a sermon.
Hot 97’s music director, Karlie Hustle, explains why Hot 97 critics should check themselves
XXL has released its “20 Greatest Female Rappers of All Time’ list, and it doesn’t appear that the most popular publication in hip-hop takes its subject all that seriously. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a greatest female rappers list isn’t afforded the same attention to detail that other hip-hop lists seem to receive; but fans would probably at least hope that a publication with as lofty a reputation as XXL takes the time to put real effort and thought into compiling a showcase for all of the dope female emcees that have shaped the genre.
The Clippers players decided to wear armbands to cover the Clippers logo, then dumped their official team warm-up gear at half-court before they game. They wore inside-out warm-up jerseys instead.
Dr. James Peterson is an MSNBC contributor and Director of Africana Studies and Associate Professor of English at Lehigh University. While discussing the role of black intellectuals in public discourse, Peterson recently spoke about a February article in the New York Times, a piece by Dr. Eddie Glaude entitled “Black Intellectuals Have Sold Their Souls,” and addressed his own record as more than just a pundit for the 24-hr news cycle. He stated that his own status as on MSNBC should not obscure his work in the community.
Over the past several months, Dr. Cornel West has been vocal in his disapproval and outright disdain for President Barack Obama, and Dr. West’s fellow intellectuals and cultural commentators, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Rev. Al Sharpton. Dr. West’s criticisms were addressed yesterday by Dr. Dyson, as he spoke about the state of black intellectualism at Rev. Sharpton’s National Action Network Conference.
