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2010 BET Awards - We hope you will remember:

6/30/2010 12:12:07 AM

John Legend's words, not his hairline - don't be distracted by nonsense!! He gave a great call to action, a call that, if responded to, can upgrade YOUR community. Not only should those with great wealth and money look at how they can influence positive change - we should all look at the choices we make and how we choose to spend our time, are there better choices that you can make? Make time to help someone else - today :-)
The message in the Gospel segment on Haiti - no matter how bad we *think* things are in America, most of us have no experience with the level true suffering that our brothers and sisters are experiencing in Haiti - imagine, listening to your mother, or child die three feet from you in the rubble, imagine sleeping in rain, mud and bugs...your entire family dead and dumped in a ditch, forever, and at the same time you are hungry, thirsty and sick...we have great reason to be thankful and Praise God - praise Him that you breathe clean air and access to clean water...then please take this encouragement to use the many non-profits, school resources, church ministries and other things that are here to help you live your BEST life - don't take these things for granted! Your life does not have to be dictated by your environment. Video here >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Umo5dEQ8d0
Diddy's tenacity! - throughout his performance I kept hearing "Let's work" even with all his fame and fortune this man is still focused on working hard everyday - please don't believe the hype that successful people just lounge around going to parties all day - many of the artists on stage last night have less free time than you (assuming you don't work 80 - 120 hours per week) - school, work, and chores provide a great opportunity to practice doing what you don't want to do today so that you can have anything you want tomorrow
Kanye is human - Kanye gave an awesome performance, we hope that he will continue to do well. We encourage everyone to remember that this extremely talented young man is possibly still in mourning as it is obvious that he was so very close to his mommy, so enjoy the great things to come from him but allow him to still be human, meaning allow him to possibly make mistakes (hopefully not big one's Kanye, for your own sake) - but still allow him time, space & to find his footing again - encourage him to be that positive awesome leader that he has the capacity to be for our community. He once told me personally that he basically isn't aiming to say hey let me be everyone's role model - maybe he isn't but we kinda wish he would! - - Glad to have you back Kanye.
T.I.'s Road to Redemption - T.I. is back and doing his thing, remember that you can go positive and land on top - we hope that the same T.I. who helped young men find their path, make better choices, walk away from lives of crime and who encouraged young women to see their true value beyond what some rap songs say about them (SMH) - we hope that that T.I., the road to redemption T.I. will continue to become a force in media and our communities to push positive social change for our young people. We also hope that other rappers and celebrities follow suit and put their own "road to redemption" efforts to work, our young people need to know that what they hear and see on T.V. is not how life should be lived, that going after solid positive things is cool, and that most of these rappers are happy that they don't have t sell drugs or their body to make ends meet - our young people need help and encouragement to find better paths! We hope that T.I.'s "Dead and Gone" was true for him.
Overall: The show went well, we love the local heros segment (see, helping your community instead of poisoning your community is HOT!), we also loved mostly clothed performances, re-enacting poetry from Love Jones instead of "it's gunz & I hate you Jodi" from Baby Boy like last year, we loved feeling like this is an awards show and not a minstrel show, thumbs up, hoping this is "doing better because they know better" More on the hottest heros can be found here: http://betawards.bet.com/articles/local-hero-geoffrey-canada

2 comments

LiL Wayne Baby Mama Drama...not!

4/8/2010 1:27:51 AM

According to the mothers of his children, ex-wife Antonia Carter, Lauren London and Nivea get along well and focus on doing so for the happiness of their children with famed rapper Lil Wayne.

"At this point it's not about none of us," Toya said in an interview. "It's about the kids and I would go beyond for my daughter just to put a smile on her face. I would do whatever to have her around her brothers and just be cool and cordial. That's what people don't get... I been knowing Nivea for a long time and Lauren's been around for a long time. We just never really talked like that until [her] baby

was born... It's not like I want Wayne. Some of us are really over him. We just put that to the side. We having time with the kids with their daddy. The whole situation isn't ideal so we just gotta make the best of it. 'Oh I don't like having my kids around her?' Nah. He just lucked up to have baby mothers that are just not on no real ignorant stuff." (VIBE)"

We at hiphoptruth.com hope that more men and women in our community will also focus on what the kids need, things like a great relationship with both parents and a real relationship with their brothers and sisters. Next time someone gets heated at their "baby daddy", "baby mama", or his other "baby mama" just pause or walk away or write down your feelings about what the kids really need out of the situation and give it to the other person - try to be honest and try not to focus on hate. Focus on suggesting solutions toward what the kids need and try to keep your emotions out of it. If you are really heated then it may be best to address the matter, whatever it is at a later time after you cool down.

Remember - the kids will usually be charged to see both parents and their brothers and sisters at the same time. Kids often get scared or very sad when adults that they love argue (even if they don't show it). And there are a lot of things that everyone can do together:

Barbecue
Watch a movie
Birthday parties
Go to church
Go to the mall
Play games - video, board, cards, outside
Let all the kids go to the same Vacation Bible School (also usually free break for parents - holla!)

Apparently Lil Wayne, Nivea, Toya, and Lauren have something that seems to work for them and their kids, when Nivea's healthy son was born Toya and Lauren wished Nivea well with congrats on Twitter.

"We talk," she said in an interview. "We have a great relationship

. He's a great father. He tells [our daughter] about [his other kids], so I just go along with the flow. I'm good with all of [his children's mothers]. I try to keep the kids cool because they're all in the same situation, so we don't have time for any drama." (E! Online)"

Apparently before "going away" Lil Wayne talked to he and Toya's daughter everyday after school so much that his daughter will miss it while he is gone so now they have a call arrangement worked out. Fellas if you want Lil Wayne's swagger and bling, we hope you will want his strong daddy relationship with your kids too. Talking to your kids everyday, knowing what they are learning, and listening to is important - teaching and protecting your kids is very cool, so like Nike, just do it!

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Rihanna/Chris Brown - take a bow?

8/27/2009 9:18:24 AM

Everyone is buzzing about the incident that took place between Chris Brown and his girlfriend during Oscar week.

Additionally rumors are swirling as to whether or not the two are back together. A hint may come from Brown's court appearance on March 5, 2009. Rihanna's lawyer, Donald Etra, shook hands and spoke with Chris Brown in the court room after Brown's appearance before Los Angeles County Judge Kristi Lousteau on felony assault & criminal threat charges. During proceedings the judge asked Rihanna's lawyer if a no contact order was requested and the response was that Ms. Fenty (Rihanna) does not request a no contact order against Brown. Meaning that she is not asking the court to order him not to contact her. Etra, Rihanna's lawyer stood near Brown and his lawyer, Mark Geragos, during the brief hearing. Rihanna was not in the courtroom.

Brown issued a statement a week after the incident saying that he was “sorry and saddened” about the incident. Should he "take a bow" as her music video tells a boyfriend who is "only sorry he got caught" to do? (youtube video link above) If the two get back together does that send a message to abusers? Additionally - since Rihanna & Chris Brown are currently mini-icons to the Hip Hop & R&B community would it be proper to reflect upon how our music speaks about women of color as well as how our music says that women of color should be treated, what they are good for? Should we pause and reflect upon the need to check our self before purchasing music that belittles women of color because the best way to ask for more of the same is to make a purchase?

These are questions I hope you will ponder as you reflect on this situation and as you make future music choices.

For this situation Chris Brown requested and received a delayed arraignment, he also signed a presence waiver allowing his lawyer to represent him in the future, meaning that he will not have to physically appear in future proceedings until the official arraignment (April 6th) about what allegedly happened on February 8th between Chris Brown and a passenger only identified as "Robyn F." Rihanna's full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Excerpts from the he sworn statement by Los Angeles Police Detective DeShon Andrews detailing what allegedly happened that morning are below.

<b>According to the sworn statement:</b>

"Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown's cellular phone and observed a three-page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with. A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against the passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion.

"Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.'s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle. Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, 'I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!' "

Robyn F. picked up her cellular phone and called her personal assistant -- [who] did not answer the phone but while her voicemail greeting was playing, Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated 'I'm on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there.'

After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, 'You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I'm really going to kill you!'

"Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown. Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps (sic) that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.

"Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.

"Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.

"Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle ... and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it. Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.'s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.

"She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.

"Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order."

Andrews closed his statement saying Brown sent her text message apologizing nine days later. The official affidavit, available below, includes detailed statement from the personal assistant mentioned above.

See CNN's PDF of the official affidavit & search warrant</a>

6 comments

Keyshia Cole the way it is

8/27/2009 9:18:24 AM

What we love...
What we love about Keyshia Cole is that in the show "Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is" on BET she is turning around to other young women and saying "I am not superhuman or very different from you. We perceive an overriding message to be Keyshia saying just as I had the strength & favor of God to make something of myself - you can access that for yourself." Other artists push our young people to hustle their way to the top. The difference maker is that unlike... The difference maker is that unlike many of her male & female counterparts in Hip Hop Soul Keyshia Cole is not afraid to say that some of the life choices she made were wrong, she is not afraid to say - "hey don't get caught up on some of the dumb stuff that I got caught up on" she is honest enough to say "hey we made mistakes, learn from them so you don't have to repeat them". On a recent episode Keyshia told a group of young woemen "Things that I go through are just like the things you guys go through and feeling like oh well if he don't like me, what can I do to make you like me but what can I do to like myself more before I got to like you". It would be so nice to see the fellas on the hip hop soul side of life say - "no I wouldn't recommend getting shot (big ups to Katt Williams for saying getting shot is not cool), prison was a horrible place that I am working hard to avoid going back to, don't slang if you don't have to (and honestly I'm glad I don't have to any more), having a wife is better than having ho's, being a business man (legally) is way more ballerific than being a snowman - here are some tips on how you can do it lil' bro".

When the show first rolled out there was a lot of less than ladylike behavior exhibited by some of her family...since then we have watched Keyshia's sister Neffe write a book (My Happiness is My Sanity), prepare for her own children's education, and challenge others to get their goals in gear. We are not saying that Keyshia or the women in her family are perfect, in fact they are quite candid in showing that they are far from it. But we love that they continue to show that a different path is available...even if you are hood, even if your mom isn't quite around, even if you have a very unorthodox rough homelife...

We love the true to life "life lessons" that she is learning and willing to share with other young women. We love that she is not just "posting". What do we mean by not just "posting"...? She is not just walking around showing off bling & fly clothes, basically saying don't you wish you were me...don't you wish you were a baller...? In fact in Keyshia Cole's show there is a lot of the exact opposite going on...in fact the theme song is her saying "I'm just like you". We love that Keyshia and her family are using the show to say, yes some of what we are was or always will be "hood" but guess what? Hood can come up, hood can respect herself, hood can get an education in life and hood can love herself enough to change her situation. Most of the women in the show have had moments to say hey - I'm so happy that I found a way to let go of baggage & love me more...learning that lesson will make our young women so much more beautiful than all the bootyshake that the rest of "rap" wants to throw at them...the message runs freely from this show over & over, we applaud Keyshia Cole for using her starpower to share it and that is what we love about "Keyshia Cole:The Way It Is".

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