Entertainment
Kamala Harris Up Close in Hip-Hop — Andscape
In September 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage on the lawn of her Washington, D.C. residence to have fun 50 years of hip-hop. Guests included rap immortals and powerlifters like Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Fat Joe, Common and Lil Wayne. “Hip-hop is the ultimate American art form,” Harris told the group. “Hip-hop now shapes nearly every aspect of American popular culture and reflects the incredible diversity and ingenuity of the American people.”
Of course, the event now looks as if a lifetime ago. It happened before Joe Biden shocked the political landscape on July 21 by becoming the primary sitting president to drop out of the reelection race since President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 and endorsed Harris as the primary Black woman and first South Asian American to move the presidential ticket; before Harris introduced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and before she launched her campaign with the support of Beyoncé, whose anthem “Freedom” became official candidate theme song.
The message was very clear when Megan Thee Stallion and former Migos rapper Quavo appeared at sold-out rally in Atlanta for Harris in front of 10,000 ardent supporters, telling the group that Harris “stands for business.”
“You can’t understand the fight against gun violence unless you’re in the field or in the heart of it,” Quavo said. The rapper has been working with Harris since his nephew and bandmate Takeoff was killed in 2022. “One thing I’ve learned from working with Vice President Harris is that she’s always got her back. From inviting me to the White House last year to talk about these solutions, to passing some of the biggest gun safety laws today.”
The convergence of hip-hop and politics hasn’t been this apparent since Atlanta’s Jeezy and rhyme giant Nas declared,My president is black!” during candidate Barack Obama’s seismic 2008 presidential campaign. The historic election of the primary black president transcended political showmanship. It signaled the emergence of the primary hip-hop president.
Rapper Jay-Z He campaigned for Obama in 2012. and was a frequent guest on the White House with Beyoncé, who sang the national anthem during Obama’s second inauguration in 2013. They also supported presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during her own historic 2016 campaign. As for Harris, she has the support of a strikingly diverse group of hip-hop artists and producers, including Love for special tasks, Lil Nas XLil Jon and Plies who he said Harris had “Trump, MAGA, Republicans and mainstream media so shocked.” And while rapper Cardi B has said she won’t vote in the upcoming election unless there may be a ceasefire in GazaFrom the start of the presidential campaign, she opposed misogynistic attacks on Harris.
“I’ve always known how people are when it comes to women, but disrespecting them?” Cardi B said of Harris in late July during a Spaces session on X. “Listen, if you don’t like her as a politician, that’s your business. But if you don’t respect her because she’s a woman? That’s very disgusting,” adding, “The way you disrespect her, that’s what makes me like her.”
As documented in the Andscape film The seeds of this unlikely political union date back to President Ronald Reagan’s 1985 Inaugural Ball, where legendary actor Jimmy Stewart introduced performance by the legendary New York City Breakers. Ironically, it was Reagan’s devastating policies against the black and Latino communities that accelerated the event of hip-hop as crucial musical and cultural art type of the last decade.
“Too $hort, Ice-T, Toddy Tee, Public Enemy,” executive producer and narrator Jeezy said. “Those are just a few rappers who are exposing what Reagan’s so-called war on drugs did to the places where hip-hop lived.”
For a lady who stands on the shoulders of Shirley Chisholm, the primary African-American woman and the primary woman to hunt a major-party nomination for president of the United States, that connection has sometimes been tenuous. On Aug. 14, rapper and criminal justice reform advocate Meek Mill questioned Harris’ record during her tenure as San Francisco’s district attorney from 2004 to 2011.
“I want to ask Kamala Harris questions about her past as DA, even if she had to be tough. All I hear about her is rumors,” the 37-year-old rapper said published on XFormerly generally known as Twitter. “I would ask her 3 questions about black and brown men going to prison and her views and try to help her understand from a survival perspective that she may never have had to face!”
A Facebook post that was shared greater than 200,000 times ahead of the November 3, 2020 election said: Harris Puts 1,500 Black Men Behind Bars on Marijuana Charges as District Attorney Dispels Charges. Harris actually oversaw 1,956 marijuana convictions. Only 45 people ended up in state prison.
While nobody can dispute Meek Mill’s sincerity — In 2017, he was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating his probation on a firearm and drug-related misdemeanor dating back to when he was 19, and he was released on appeal before being pardoned in January 2023 — talk that has only emboldened some hip-hop artists to support former President Donald Trump.
Lil Pump, Waka Flocka Flame, Kanye West and Sheff G are only a number of of the rappers who’ve publicly endorsed the Republican nominee. Sexyy Redd faced criticism after telling podcast host Theo Von in October 2023 that some black people supported Trump “when he started bailing black people out of prison and giving people this free money.”
“We love Trump” Sexyy Redd said“We need him back in office. We need him back because, baby, those checks. Those stimulus checks. Trump, we miss you.” (For context, the Biden administration delivered $1,400 stimulus checks to most Americans in 2021 through the coronavirus pandemic. Sexyy Redd also appeared to withdraw her support for Trump, saying: she didn’t support anyone.)
Ice Cube made headlines in 2020 after rejecting a call from Harris’ camp, and has since develop into a favourite of conservative pundits like political commentator Tucker Carlson and podcaster Joe Rogan. Fivio Foreign and Kodak Black recently released a surprise pro-Trump track, “ABOARD THE 47RD.”
“,” rapped Kodak Black, whose 46-month sentence for forging documents used to purchase a gun at a Miami gun shop was commuted by Trump in 2021.
Harris, nevertheless, shouldn’t be losing sleep. The Howard University graduate and Oakland, Calif., native, who can recite the lyrics to Sugar Hill Gang’s 1979 breakthrough “Rapper’s Delight” by heart and I used to be listening to a fellow Oakland MC Too $hortquickly becoming a milestone in hip-hop culture.
This week, the joyful spirit of hip-hop’s return was at home on the Democratic National Convention on the United Center in Chicago as Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination. Common performed his latest song, “Fortunate,” with Pete Rock on the second night of the convention, telling the group, “I thank God for this moment where Kamala Harris will change the world for the better with love, hope and grace.”
DJ Cassidy breathed latest life into the often solemn ceremony of Roll Call delegates for every U.S. state and territory, playing a spread of songs combining different genres featuring hip-hop gems from Jay-Z, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg to House of Pain and Kendrick Lamar.
Grammy Award-winning industrial producer and creator Lil Jon represented Georgiareversing the “from the window to the walls” chant from his classic East Side Boyz and Ying Yang Twins song “Get Low” by shouting to the group, “VP Harrissss … Gov. Walzzzz!”
It was a reminder that Harris, 59, was still in college when Run-DMC’s 1986 album ushered in hip-hop’s golden age. After all, are you able to imagine Trump dancing to Q-Tip’s “Vivrant Thing”?
Maybe not, but it surely doesn’t get any more hip-hop than that.
Entertainment
Jussie Smollett’s 2019 Self-Attack Conviction Overturned – Andscape
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the choice to fireside an actor Jussie Smollett conviction on charges of organizing a racist and anti-gay attack on himself in downtown Chicago in 2019 and lying to police.
The the state’s highest court ruled that the special prosecutor shouldn’t have been allowed to intervene after the Cook County state’s attorney initially dropped charges against Smollett in exchange for waiving $10,000 bail and performing community service. The ruling and appeal didn’t address Smollett’s continued claim of innocence.
Smollett, who’s black and gay, claims two men attacked him, hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and placed a noose around his neck, resulting in an enormous seek for suspects by Chicago police and sparking a world uproar. Smollett was starring in a television drama that was filmed in Chicago, and prosecutors alleged that he organized the attack because he was unhappy with the studio’s response to hate mail he received.
“We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and considered it unfair,” Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in a 5-0 decision. “Nevertheless, more unfair than the resolution of any single criminal case would be for this court to find that the state is not obliged to honor agreements on which people have relied to their detriment.”
Smollett’s attorneys argued that the case ended with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dropped initially 16 counts of disorderly conduct. A grand jury reinstated the fees after a special prosecutor took over the case. The jury convicted Smollett of five counts of disorderly conduct in 2021
Emails searching for comment were sent Thursday to Foxx’s office and Smollett’s attorney, who argued that Smollett was the victim of a racist and politicized justice system.
Testimony at trial showed that Smollett paid $3,500 to 2 men he knew to perform the attack. Prosecutors said he told them what insults to shout and shout that Smollett was in “MAGA country,” an apparent reference to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign slogan.
Smollett testified that “there was no fraud” and that he was the victim of a hate crime in his downtown Chicago neighborhood.
He was sentenced to 150 days in prison, six of which he had already served released pending further notice — 30 months probation and ordered to pay roughly $130,000 in restitution.
The state appeals court’s ruling upheld Smollett’s conviction, declaring that nobody promised Smollett that he would not face a brand new charge after accepting the unique deal.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis and Justice Joy Cunningham didn’t take part in Thursday’s decision.
Entertainment
Lil Baby didn’t just rap about change – he went to Harvard to achieve it – Essence
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: Songwriter of the Year Award winner Lil Baby speaks on stage on the ASCAP R&S Music Celebration on the London Hotel on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
Lil Baby will not be only considered one of the most important names in hip-hop – he can also be an aspiring entrepreneur who’s serious about taking his business knowledge to the subsequent level.
The GRAMMY Award-winning rapper recently participated in Harvard Business School’s “Launching New Ventures” program, a prestigious short course designed to help entrepreneurs grow their ventures through modern strategies. The program, which will not be a level-granting initiative, focuses on key entrepreneurial tools, including opportunity assessment, competitive evaluation and developing sustainable business models, – we read on this system’s website.
For Lil Baby, born Dominique Armani Jones, the move was greater than just earning bragging rights. Known for hits like and , the Atlanta native has all the time been open about his desire to construct a legacy beyond music. As head of his record label 4PF (Four Pockets Full), he is committed to creating opportunities for artists and running a business that will not be only profitable, but in addition influential. However, he realized that running a successful label required honing his skills, and Harvard was the right place for this.
Movie shared on X On Wednesday, we got to see Lil Baby participating within the show. The clip ended on a touching note as he was presented together with his certificate of completion, followed by a surprise ceremony organized by his family.
While critics were quick to indicate that he didn’t “graduate” from Harvard – despite misleading headlines – his decision to commit to this system is critical in itself. Shows like “Launching New Ventures” offer insights that may transform corporations and help entrepreneurs overcome challenges, and Lil Baby’s presence signals his commitment to constructing a legacy that goes far beyond music. For Lil Baby, the move is an element of a broader commitment to securing his position not only as a rapper, but in addition as a mogul. His commitment to self-improvement reflects the values he promotes through his music: perseverance, resilience and development.
It’s also value noting that Lil Baby’s decision to attend Harvard sends a powerful message to his community, especially Black entrepreneurs. In a world where barriers to business education still exist, his decision to pursue higher education shows that it’s never too late – or too unconventional – to take what you are promoting seriously.
As Lil Baby grows, one thing is obvious: his diligence knows no limits. Whether he’s behind the microphone or within the classroom, he proves that the important thing to success is to continually strive for more.
Entertainment
More proof that you’re old: Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” album debuted 30 years ago
I actually remember November 1994. I used to be a sophomore in highschool and was still very clumsy and goofy. I hadn’t yet experienced what anyone would call a growth spurt, as evidenced by the very fact that my younger sister (three years younger) was taller than me. At this point in my life, I assumed I used to be destined to be certain I had a terrific personality that would give me a romantic future. I used to be told about one young student who was in love with me, but being 15 and never big, I didn’t really trust in my ability to pursue a dating life. In 1994, I saw myself because the Steve Urkel with no unreachable neighbor.
In 1994, I had a real love: music. I kept buying cassettes and compact discs; there was at all times music around me. Listening to the newest music from anyone and everybody was my hobby. Mary J. Blige was one in every of those artists that I used to be an enormous fan of. I mean, everyone really was. Her album “What’s the 411?” was released in July 1992, so when school began in August, it was one in every of those albums that everyone was talking about. “True Love” and him one other hip-hop remix the most popular songs were on fire and you can start an impromptu jam session in my middle school dining room by simply saying “true love” out loud.
To say that the anticipation for Mary’s second album was enormous can be the understatement of the yr. I still remember being blown away by the music video for the primary single “Be Happy” on MTV and BET’s “Video Soul”. I remember this mainly because I used to be so frightened about Mary’s life standing on those rocks. Of course she survived the video session, but I used to be very concerned for her safety. I could not imagine life without Mary. I purchased this single and mainly burned a hole in it.
Then got here the monster single “I’m Goin’ Down.” The remake of Rose Royce’s single from the movie “Car Wash” (titled “I’m Going Down”) had all of the black girls in my highschool able to break up with their boyfriends so that they too could sing about it lost love – teenage hormones cause strange problems. Let me just say this for the record: Mary’s version of this song is totally amazing. Her performance on the album is known; you can hear all the experience through her vocals.
If Mary stopped making music at this point, she would already be a legend, I actually consider that. But this whole album is a radiator from start to complete. Even today, once I hearken to “My Life”, my search ends in failure; “My Life” is largely a consolation at this point in my life. From “You Bring Me Joy” to the title track to the ultimate minute of “I Never Wanna Live Without You,” this album is a portal back in time to a version of me that was interested by what life had to supply. I used to be given the vocal type of Mary J. Blige to soundtrack this journey.
It’s also crazy to think about it this manner: “My Life” got here out at a time in my life once I was already driving a automotive. Sure, I used to be 15, but my father also let me drive himself, my siblings, and my friends wherever we would have liked to go because he got bored with running errands. We just agreed that if I got pulled over, he would not know I used to be taking the automotive. Coincidentally, although I used to be in a position to use the automotive at no cost for a solid yr before I could even apply for a driving license, I failed my driving test the primary time I took it on my sixteenth birthday. You’ve never seen a father more lost and upset in his son than my father was that day. We now call my father’s facial expressions “core memory.”
If you’re reading this because you’ve got seen the words of Mary J. Blige and “My Life,” you then, like me, are in a phase of life where you’re continually reminded that you’re not only getting old, but you might actually be old. I will not be old as hell, but I’m too old to be within the club, you realize?
Fortunately, nonetheless, my journey so far in my life includes a number of the best works of musical art in existence, similar to Mary J. Blige’s 1994 album “My Life.” This album – just like the profession of its lead voice, Mary J. Blige – brings me joy.
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