Criticism

Questlove blasts Rolling Stone over Drake cover controversy

Drake lashed out at music publication Rolling Stone after the iconic magazine replaced its Drake cover at the last minute with a tribute cover to Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died of a heroin overdose on February 2nd. Drake criticized Rolling Stone in a series of tweets that were subsequently deleted, but Questlove voiced his support for Drizzy by taking Rolling Stone to task on his own Twitter page.

February 16, 2014 No Comments

Ice Cube criticized for ‘wrong and foul’ N.W.A. biopic

Kokane of Above the Law took Ice Cube to task for the way Cube has allegedly handled the production of the highly-anticipated upcoming N.W.A. biopic. According to Kokane, Cube and the film’s producers have failed to include the family of the late Eazy E, who founded N.W.A. and Ruthless Records in the late 1980s.

February 6, 2014 No Comments

Too many black TV critics insult black women’s intelligence

With the success of ABCs “Scandal,” and other shows like Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and Have Nots” and BETs “Being Mary Jane,” has brought an intense amount of scrutiny to shows that feature black actresses as leads. Cries of “negative portrayal” have become louder and louder, due to the fact that many of the female characters on these shows are involved in extra-marital affairs.

January 23, 2014 No Comments

Talib Kweli defends Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have generated much debate in hip-hop circles since the release of 2012s The Heist. The Seattle-based duo became indie rap poster boys after their single “Thrift Shop” became a mainstream smash, but not everyone celebrated the pair’s success.

January 16, 2014 No Comments

Blue Ivy backlash proves blacks are still ‘hair conditioned’

Blue Ivy, the two year old daughter of superstar couple Jay Z and Beyonce, is arguably the most famous baby on the planet. While Prince William and Kate Middleton’s son, George, and North West, the baby daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are also vying for the title, there can be little debate that baby Blue gets the most scrutiny–and sadly, the most derision.

January 14, 2014 No Comments

NY Jets star Geno Smith opens up about Jay Z as a sports manager

In a recent interview with the New York Post, New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith explained how having Jay’s ear helped him get through his recent slump and helped him face the intense media scrutiny that comes with playing in New York City.

December 29, 2013 No Comments

Bun B blasts Sen. Ted Cruz for Obamacare opposition

Bun B is one of the godfathers of Houston hip-hop, and his perspective carries a lot of weight in the community. The UGK co-founder was recently asked to give his opinion on Houston senator Ted Cruz. Cruz infamously gave a controversial unofficial filibuster of Pres. Barack Obama’s healthcare program that lasted over 21 hours.

November 29, 2013 No Comments

‘Scandal’ hate: How black history can stifle black art and entertainment

ABC’s “Scandal” has become one of America’s most popular dramas. Now in it’s third season, it’s become must-see TV–especially for many African Americans. It is a hit show with an African American female lead (Kerry Washington) and is created by an African American woman (Shonda Rhimes), so the fact that is so popular and well-received has been cheered by many.

November 27, 2013 No Comments

Justin Bieber’s celebrity support group includes Will Smith, Eminem

Justin Bieber and his manager Scooter Braun open up about the criticism Bieber has faced over the past couple of years in the latest issue of The Hollywood Reporter. They reveal that, through much of his troubles, he’s had the ear of some notable celebrities who want the best for him.

November 23, 2013 No Comments

Yelawolf blasts Lord Jamar’s anti-gay comments: ‘That’s just stupid’

Brand Nubian member Lord Jamar made headlines in September when he declared that white rappers were “guests in the house of hip-hop” after he was asked about Macklemore’s LGBT-friendly hit “Same Love.” The statement was given as Jamar explained why he felt a white rapper had no business criticizing homophobia in hip-hop. Alabama native Yelawolf was asked go offer his perspective on both Jamar’s statement regarding white rappers and the veteran emcee’s stance on homophobia.

November 7, 2013 No Comments

Lord Jamar on white rappers: ‘You are guests in the house of hip-hop’

Brand Nubian member Lord Jamar has come under fire for his controversial views regarding hip-hop, masculinity and homosexuality numerous times over the past few months and several times throughout his 20+ year career. But the outspoken rhymer does not hold back, and in a recent interview with VladTV, Jamar was asked about Seattle rapper Macklemore and his critically-acclaimed song “Same Love.”

September 24, 2013 No Comments

Amber Rose scoffs at Illuminati rumors: ‘It is not Satanic’

The voluptuous model appeared at Jay Z’s “Made In America” Festival last week, and she sporting a (presumably temporary) tattoo on her brow of an upside-down cross. When pictures of Rose were published, fans hopped on social media accusing Wiz Khalifa’s new wife of having satanic ties.

September 5, 2013 No Comments

Harry Belafonte wants to sit down with Jay-Z and Beyoncé

Entertainer/activist Harry Belafonte’s 2012 criticisms of superstar couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s perceived lack of activism have sparked a war of words in the media between he and Jay. The hip-hop superstar fired back at Belafonte, both in song (on Magna Carta Holy Grail’s track “Nickels and Dimes”) and in a recent Life+Times interview, where he defiantly declared that his “presence is charity.”

July 29, 2013 No Comments

Al Sharpton’s former associate blasts him over Cash Money deal

One of Rev. Sharpton’s former associates is accusing him of hypocrisy and selling out. Carl Redding believes that Rev. Sharpton is wrong for signing the deal with a label that he feels creates music that exploits and degrades black people.

July 21, 2013 No Comments
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