MC Hammer Criticizes Police For Occupy Oakland Arrests

MC Hammer Criticizes Police For Occupy Oakland Arrests

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Hammer airs out his feelings on the worsening situation in Oakland, California.


MC Hammer took to Twitter on Wednesday (October 26) morning to join the thousands that now accuse Oakland police officers of abuse due to their tactics in dealing with Occupy Oakland protesters.

The protesters, Oakland, California's version of the Occupy Wall Street anti-greed protesters, were met with tear gas and rubber bullets on Wednesday. Dozens were arrested at what has been described by many as an otherwise peaceful protest.

 "I made the decision with the team that was in place to put an end to what I see as a very critical situation that posed a significant risk," said City Administrator Deanna Santana in defense of the police action.

 

The Outlawz Talk Tupac Shakur, New Album

The Outlawz Talk Tupac Shakur, New Album

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Pac's crew discusses Makaveli, as well as their latest project.

With their new album, Perfect Timing out in stores, the Outlawz recently sat down to discuss their new project.

"This gonna be the best album. This gonna be the period on the sentence as far as I'm concerned," said E.D.I. of the project's contribution to the group's legacy to Out Da Box Media, adding that it's a better release than Still I Rise.

"It's called 'feel-good music,'" said Hussein Fatal. "It's a feeling of feeling good and being back with your brothers and doing what you love to do, which is music."

The project includes features from Scarface, Bun B, Tech N9ne, among others. "It was a pleasure to have our comrades on our album," added Young Noble.

The group also touched on the topic of Tupac. "I learned [from Tupac] the work ethic to be in this industry and to maintain. That's what I learned from 'Pac - to be dedicated twenty-four-seven. Not just do it when you feel like doing it," said E.D.I., a sentiment which the rest of the group echoed.
Watch the interview below:

Winehouse family reveal inquest 'relief'

Winehouse family reveal inquest 'relief'

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Amy Winehouse's family are 'relieved' to finally have answers about her death.

The star passed away at her London home in July, aged 27. An inquest today recorded a verdict of misadventure, following an inconclusive post-mortem earlier this year.

The St Pancras Coroner's Court in London heard Amy was more than five times the UK legal drink drive limit when she died.

't is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy. We understand there was alcohol in her system when she passed away, it is likely a build-up of alcohol in her system over a number of days,' her family said in a statement.

'The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time. She had started drinking again that week after a period of abstinence.

't underlines how important our work with the Amy Winehouse Foundation is to us, to help as many young people and children as we can in her name.

't means a lot to us and from the overwhelming messages of support we have had since Amy died, we know she meant a great deal to people all over the world. We want to thank everyone for that and for their continuing enthusiasm for the Foundation."

Amy's death was a result of alcohol poisoning due to the amount she'd consumed. Police found three vodka bottles in the bedroom where she died, two large and one small.

The court heard Amy's organs were healthy and there was no trace of illegal substances in her system.

She had 416mg. of alcohol per 100ml. of blood in her system, enough to make her stop breathing and eventually fall into a coma.

'She had consumed sufficient alcohol at 416mg per decilitre [of blood] and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death,' coroner Suzanne Greenway said.

The singer battled drug addiction in the past. Her family are setting up a charity in her honour while they hope will help other young people in her position.

Dr. Conrad Murray's behaviour 'inexcusable'

Dr. Conrad Murray's behaviour 'inexcusable'

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Dr. Conrad Murray committed 17 flagrant violations of standard of care for Michael Jackson, a court heart yesterday.

Anaesthesiologist Dr. Steven Shafer told the court, as the prosecution's final witness, that the King of Pop could have been saved but for the 'unconscionable' way his physician treated him.

The singer died in June 2009 from acute Propofol intoxication and Dr. Murray is facing involuntary manslaughter charges which he has denied.

But Dr. Shafer, who wrote the packaging insert for the powerful anaesthetic that is blamed for Jackson's death, told the jury that Murray was more of an employee to the Thriller star than a doctor who was concerned for his patient's health.

'f Dr. Murray had acted like a doctor, the first time Michael had said, 'I need Propofol to sleep,' Dr Murray would have said, 'You have a sleep disorder and you need to be evaluated by a sleep doctor. I am not giving you anything,'' Dr Shafer testified.
He added that there were many things that Murray did wrong on the fateful day and even leading up to the singer's death
.
He said Murray should never had administered the drugs in the singer's bedroom without having monitoring equipment present and should not have attempted to treat insomnia with Propofol.

Dr. Shafer also noted that Murray was wrong to administer CPR on the singer by pushing down with one hand on Jackson's chest while he was still on his bed and should have placed him on a hard surface.

He also had strong words for the physician calling Jackson's personal assistant rather than 911 immediately.

'That is so egregious that I actually find it difficult to comprehend,' he stated. 'You have a patient who has been arrested and you call and leave a voice message for someone. That is so completely and utterly inexcusable. Dr. Murray was quite clueless as to what to do.'

Dr. Shafer is expected to continue his testimony today, and tomorrow the defence will present its witnesses, including its own anaesthesia expert.

Murray's team are expected to conclude their case next week. If convicted the physician faces up to four years in prison and his medical licence will be revoked.

The trial is expected to last up to the end of October.

Xzibit Talks New Album "Napalm," First Time Meeting Dr. Dre And Snoop Dogg

Xzibit Talks New Album "Napalm," First Time Meeting Dr. Dre And Snoop Dogg

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Xzibit sheds light on his first album in nearly five years, as well as meeting two of his most famous collaborators.

Xzibit is making moves, as the West Coast veteran rapper is readying his next release, Napalm.

"I've been working on it for about half a year," revealed X to the Z in an interview with Hip Hop Chronicle UK. "I have about seventy-five percent of it done. I'm really excited because I haven't put a record out since '07."

"I think it's time. My heart's in it. I haven't produced records like this in a long time. When it comes out, man, I think you guys are gonna be impressed."

Xzibit revealed he did a video in Iraq, and was the first person to do a Hip Hop show in Baghdad. "It was good. I got to do something for the troops, and I also got to shoot a documentary and shoot my first visuals for Napalm."

Napalm will be out at the "top of the year," added Xzibit.

Xzibit also spoke about his first time meeting Dr. Dre. "I can't remember the first time I met Dr. Dre. I remember the first time I worked with him, though. I probably met him in passing, but it wasn't until I got a call from Dre himself to come down and record 'Bitch Please'...That's when I worked with him for the first time. And we smashed it."

As for Snoop Dogg, Xzibit similarly recalled the first time he met Dre's original partner-in-rhyme. "Hanging out with Snoop was when we went to go promote 'Bitch Please.' We started working in close detail."

T.I. Responds To Critics Questioning His Two Consecutive Prison Sentences

T.I. Responds To Critics Questioning His Two Consecutive Prison Sentences

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With just under a month out of prison, T.I. has already managed to make a loud and clear comeback. He made his first public appearance at the B.E.T. Hip Hop Awards and started a media blitz this week, appearing on The View and Howard Stern's radio show. 

In an interview with Funkmaster Flex on Tuesday, T.I. addressed those who've criticized him for his recent stint in jail, saying he'd grown up in a tough environment with a different lifestyle than others.

"I've been rippin' and runnin' and doing what I've been doing since I was 12, 13, 14 years-old okay?" he said. "I'd say I [first] got in trouble when I was 27 years-old. That's thirteen years when I was doing what I was doing. So since I was 27--I'm 31 now--that's four years. So you mean to tell me that I can develop all these habits over the course of thirteen years, and you want me to kick [those habits] before four years? All of them? Ya'll gon' have to work with me."

He continued, "You might say, 'I don't see why he did that again'…It might not have took that long for you because you did not begin in the place where I began. Your circumstances were not my circumstances...People who know my circumstances and where I came from, they are applauding me. Standing ovations."

Tip questioned the values of those who have been criticizing him and wondered what people look for in the character of another individual.

"In a day and age where a man is judged more on the mistakes that he makes, more so than the character of that man and the pure intent within his heart--so you mean to tell me that if I made no mistakes and kept a clean face but I was just a dirty, grimy slimeball--you mean to tell me you'd rather have that T.I? Or would you rather have the guy that struggles within himself because he still cares about people?"

T.I. is currently working on his next album, to which he's offered two possible titles. Listen to the entire interview here.

Rapper Soulja Boy jailed on drug, weapons charges

Rapper Soulja Boy jailed on drug, weapons charges

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ATLANTA (Reuters) - Rapper Soulja Boy was arrested on drug and weapons charges on Tuesday after a traffic stop in Georgia, police said.

The 21-year-old entertainer, whose given name is DeAndre Cortez Way, and four crew members traveling in a Cadillac Escalade were pulled over in Temple, Georgia on Interstate 20 near the Alabama line, police spokeswoman Dana Rampy said.

Police discovered marijuana, pistols and cash inside the car after a "routine traffic stop," Rampy said. She declined to disclose the amount of marijuana or money.

The rapper, three bodyguards and a driver each were arrested on felony charges of possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm, Rampy said.

All five men were booked into the Carroll County jail.

A puppy found in the car has been turned over to relatives of the driver, Rampy said.

Soulja Boy first gained fame with online postings of his songs and his "Crank That" dance demonstration.

Last month, he apologized for lyrics in a song called "Let's Be Real" that offended some U.S. Army soldiers. In a video posted online for the song, Soulja Boy rapped the lyrics "Fuck the FBI and fuck all the Army troops/Fighting for what?/Bitch be your own man."

Media outlets reported that stores run by the military would not carry his new album because of the song.

(Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Greg McCune)

Post-Prison T.I. Busy With New Album, Book, Reality Show

Post-Prison T.I. Busy With New Album, Book, Reality Show

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As a newly freed T.I. effortlessly expands into new arenas – his first fiction novel Power and Beauty: A Love Story of Life on the Streets debuts on October 18th, followed by a new VH1 reality series on December 5 – it is his first love that may need the most attention.
In 2010, T.I.'s seventh album No Mercy became the lowest selling project of his career and the Atlanta star headed to prison, where he remained conspicuously absent from the music scene for nearly a year – despite being on hits like Drake's "Fancy" featuring Mary J. Blige and Swizz Beatz. Now, the MC (born Clifford Harris Jr.) must once again prove himself worthy of the self-proclaimed title: king.
"I've heard some East Coast DJ's have mediocre feeling toward 'I'm Flexin'' but that's expected because the record's not for y'all," T.I. tells Rolling Stone about his first single, his voice rising a bit. "It's for my foundation, my people. I'll come back for y'all."
The "What You Know" rapper released the Big K.R.I.T.-produced track last month along with a remix of Atlanta rapper Future's "Magic" and a verse on Young Jeezy's "F.A.M.E." Now T.I. is working on his own record and says he's already got a few songs with longtime collaborator Pharrell Williams, which he describes as "some hip-hop rap shit. We're just going in for four minutes rapping."
As for the new album title, it’s still up in the air.
"The first of two album titles I'm debating is Kill the King because in all that I've gone through I've observed how people respond to my circumstances, and I always wonder 'Why y'all coming at me like this?' But I thought, 'How do you expect them to act?'" he explains. "Life is a game of chess and the object is to kill the king. If you anoint yourself king, you have made yourself a target. The second one is self-explanatory – Trouble."
Keen on reclaiming his Southern hip-hop crown, T.I. has little patience for skeptics who believe his star has dimmed.
"If I never went to jail, did drugs, toted guns or made hot music, you never would have gave a fuck in the first place," he says bluntly. "Let's get back to making hot music and let that be the reason you fuck with me."
He adds: "No Mercy was my least selling album since I'm Serious, but I sold 675,000 without me promoting it. That's more than some people sold who were on fire. As for No Mercy's material, much of that album was recorded after I knew I was going back to jail. Music comes from your spirit and if your spirit is distraught, music will show it."
Now he's reviewing video treatments for "I’m Flexin'" and says he may craft a mixtape with Grand Hustle MC B.o.B, who recently released a new single called "Strange Clouds." T.I. also plans to release a remix of Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Niggas In Paris" and Ke$ha's "Sleazy," which already includes a guest verse from the elusive Andre 3000. On the business front, the MC has added Hip Hop Since 1978, home to Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Drake, alongside longtime manager and Grand Hustle label partner Jason Geter.
As for the MC-slash-author's new novel following two teens thrust into adulthood too soon, T.I. found his inspiration while reading a cult classic.
"I am a fan of [Sistah Souljah's] The Coldest Winter Ever and Midnight, I read them when I was locked up the first time," T.I. says. "It made me look for other books to entertain and stimulate my mind in the same way and I couldn't find one so I saw a void." Written with David Ritz, author of Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye, T.I. says the sequel to Power and Beauty is already in the works.
The family man is also in the midst of filming a reality show starring his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Harris, and their children, called Family Hustle. "I'm showing the balance between the personal and the professional," T.I. says. "In my family, everyone has a hustle and most revolve around things that I already do, even down to my young son who wants to rap and my oldest daughter Zonnique who's in [teen group] OMG and on the Scream Tour right now." The series will also chronicle the growth of OMG, which also counts Lil Wayne's daughter Reginae Carter as a member. Family Hustle premieres on VH1 on December 5th.

Ludacris Reveals Cover Art For "1.21 Gigawatts" Mixtape

Ludacris Reveals Cover Art For "1.21 Gigawatts" Mixtape

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UPDATE #3: Luda reveals the cover for his upcoming mixtape, which features appearances from Rick Ross, Gucci Mane and more.

Before dropping his new album Ludaversal , Ludacris plans to release a mixtape as a gift to fans. Speaking with Shade 45’s Sway Calloway, the rapper-turned-actor revealed the tape’s title as 1.21 Gigawatts and explained how the release will blow listeners away.
“We’ll put a mixtape out before we get it all the way right. I’m actually doing a mixtape and it’s called 1.21 Gigawatts on y’all asses, get ready for it," he said of the title, a reference to Back to the Future. "Gigawatts, that equals to a billion watts and so we basically taking it out of control. This whole thing is something you’re going to pump louder than anything you’ve ever heard in your life, basically. It’s definitely for the streets."
Luda, who hasn’t dropped a mixtape of original material in a few years, said that the street release is something he feels he owes fans after years of shying away from the mixtape grind.
“It’s been a decade. We celebrating a lot of platinum hits and it’s just something I feel like I want to do for my fans, man. Just give it back. Appreciation,” he continued. Read More

Jim Jones Talks 'Vampire Life' Mixtape, Dipset Reunion

Jim Jones Talks 'Vampire Life' Mixtape, Dipset Reunion

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The Capo explains the idea of 'Vampire Life' and gives an update on a Dipset reunion.

In a recent interview with Undeniable TV, Jim Jones explained the name for his new mixtape, Vampire Life, and briefly described his lyrical process in the studio. 

The inspiration for the title Vampire Life (which shares its name with Jones' clothing line of the same name) is simply a business move, he said. "[It's about] nightlife. What's happening to the vampire market is real big out there in the commercial world." He added that he'll complete the mixtape as he always does, without paper and pen. "I like the motions of doing the records straight through…I ain't in a rush."

After releasing a solid album this past spring, the Dipset Capo said the mixtape is not all he has in the works. He also plans on releasing a Dipset reunion album. "That project is a definite," he assured. "That's definitely, definitely due. I'm working. Doing concerts and shit like that.