Rev. Sharpton sets forth 90 day ban on rap music
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The Reverend Al Sharpton has announced that he wants to institute a 90-day ban on radio and TV airplay for music artists that engage in violence.
This comes in light of last weeks shooting incident outside Hot 97 radio's SoHo studios that was apparently sparked by an ongoing feud between rappers 50 Cent and The Game.
"There has to be a way to step in and regulate what's going on with the airwaves and with violence, the airwaves are being used to romanticize urban violence." Sharpton told the Daily News. The activist minister is planning to ask the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to back his proposal.What's triggering all this attention comes as no surprise in the rap world - beef. During an interview that 50 Cent was giving at the station he bad-mouthed up and coming rapper The Game and the end result was a member of The Game's entourage, Kevin Reed, being shot in the rear end.
Said Sharpton, "We may not be able to stop people from shooting, but we can stop people from profiting from the violence." Sharpton declined to comment specifically on the beef between 50 Cent, who was born Curtis Jackson, and The Game, whose real name is Jayceon Taylor.
source: radio.about.com
Beyonce and Mom annonce apparell partnership w/G-III
Beyonce and her mother Tina Knowles designing company 'House of Dereon' have signed a licencing agreement with apparell makers G-111 it was announced. The agreement will pair the companies in the design, marketing and distribution of an exclusive comprehensive collection of outerwear.
Said Beyonce, "We want to launch an extraordinary outerwear collection for the Holiday season ... the perfect coat to complement our fashion line." Her mother Tina added, "Beyonce and I are so thrilled to add G-III to the House of Dereon team! My daughter and I are enjoying every moment as we put together what we hope will be a truly incredible collection for the young women's contemporary fashion market."The CEO of G-III, Morris Goldfarb said, "We are pleased to partner with this extraordinarily talented and focused group. Music and fashion have always gone hand in hand and we believe that this line will demonstrate once again that there is a significant audience for not only Beyonce's performances, but also her style. We believe that our expertise in outerwear and the support of Beyonce and Kids Headquarters for the development of the House of Dereon brand will provide a solid foundation for our Holiday season launch. This business is part of our overall strategy to continue to diversify our portfolio of leading brands under license."
The partnership will provide the infrastructure for licensing and brand management to House of Dereon. ..
- Source: urbanmecca.com
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Singer Renee Diggs passes away at age 50
She had a smile that would light up the room, she was a singer with a big voice, the shining star of the group 'Starpoint' who started her own 'foundation' and after her long battle with MS, Renee Diggs died this last weekend.
The singer/songwriter passed away last friday, (March 18th) at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, she was only 50 years old.
Renee was born July 23, 1954, in Annapolis, and graduated from Annapolis High School in 1972. She attended Anne Arundel Community College and Strayer University. She also grew up in the church she was a member of First Christian Community Church of Annapolis. After university she met Ernesto M. Phillips and three his brothers who were putting together a goup and was looking for a lead singer, she got the gig.
Not known to most is that the band originally was called Licyndiana (made up from the first few letters of each of the group's sister's Christian names) but they decided to change it to Starpoint in order to pursue a recording contract. Starpoint was big in the 80s, some of the groups biggest hits include 'It's All Yours', 'Don't Be So Serious', 'Object of my desire', 'Satisfy Me Lover' and 'He Want My Body'.
It was in 1985, at the peak of the band's rise to stardom that Renee was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an incurable disease that attacks the spinal cord and central nervous system. She would create the Renee Diggs Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis and continue to perform with the band nevertheless and recorded three more albums before they disbanded in 1990. She remained active in the music industry as a vocal coach and as an artist developer developing singer Kimberly Scott.
In the early 90's Renee signed with Capitol and recorded a solo album called 'Oasis' that got shelved by the Capitol execs until Ralph Tee and Richard Sterling of Expansion acquired the rights to it and released it in late 2000.
Idol winner Fantasia wins at NCAAP Image awards__________________________________________________________________
The last American Idol winner Fantasia Farrino won herself an award this past weekend. The singer won an NCCAP Image award in the category of Outstanding Female Artist for her song 'Free Yourself'.
And speaking of singers,the lovely, talented (and beautifully sexy I might add) Alicia Keys won two awards for Outstanding Video and Outstanding Song respectively while rapper Kanye West took home the Outstanding Best New Artist award.
The highlights of the evening had to be the purple one's performance. Prince was superb as he belted out tune after tune with his ever popular sidekick Shiela E on hand singing a tune of her own in 'The Gamourous Life'. He was reunited on stage with Morris Day and Jerome (of The Time fame) as they brought back memories with 'The Bird'The nights big winner was no surprise (to most at least) the movie 'Ray' which took four awards including Outstanding Actor for Jamie Foxx and Outstanding Motion Picture for 'Ray'
The awards, presented by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) honor people of color in the entertainment industry, and will be broadcast on the Fox television network on March 25
- Source: NAACP.net