Globalhiphopevents.com

Model of the Week..

2010-03-18T22:21:00.001-04:00

Lilbo561)Tell Me about yourself?

{ices} am ices alexander,

i'm 25 outgoing,love outdoor activites,family and goal oriented,love to travel & shop,most of my downtime is spent in spas,playing call of duty,or networking online,,oh i'm soo loveable and totally unleavable,lol

( Lilbo561)Where were you born? What city and County you reppin?

{ices}i was born in alton illinois,right outside of st louis but now i live in florida

(Lilbo561)What are your achievements to this date?

{ices}i'm working on so many projects right now,i can barely keep up,but u can check me out in new power magazine,
(sweetest hangover video {with colosus-u can catch me repping {hood tv chicago}i'm the first lady of the movement,host 4 video media{bizio network
promotion/marketing{dreamgirlz ent marketing agency
king magazines cyber cutie-anywhere from hosting countless amounts of parties to blessing album/mixtape covers

Lilbo561)What is the most difficult Situation you have had to face and how did
you tackle it?

{ices}hmm i would have to say loosing my grandma and grandpa,it kinda took a toll on my whole family,but it made me grow up very quickly,it just made me plan big and dream bigger,i grew up with all boys so i had to be tough,but i love the woman it made me today

(Lilbo561)What are strengths? and What Are your Weakness?

{ices} would say my strength is my strength-my weakness hmm nice abs,,lol,jk,i would have to say i'm afraid of failing,but my strength makes me strive for more and if i feel like i'm falling i go in grind mode and it helps to have good people in your corner

(Lilbo561)What do you enjoy about this industry?

{ices}i live life in the fast lane,i feel like this industry is a never ending corporation,it's fun,competetive and entertaining,so i love evrything about it except the non believers,and there the viewers so they ok with me,

Are Reggie And Kim Over??? Friends Say This Time It’s For Good!!!

2010-03-17T13:56:00.000-04:00

Despite their recent vacay, it looks like Kim Kardashian’s extra thirsty attention whore behavior has cost her relationship with Reggie. Pop the hood for details.
It looks like all that tabloid talk of Kim and Reggie having relationship trouble is true. Sources tell HipHop exclusively that the two have split up. Last week Reggie confirmed the breakup with friends, saying that while he really cares about Kim, all the negative media attention he got following the Super Bowl thanks to her pushiness sent him over the edge. His Super Bowl win was such an important time in his life, but Kim made it all about her. Our source says they’re not sure if Reggie will try to work it out but they are definitely not together right now.
Meanwhile, another source close to both the NFL player and Attention Whoring Kardashians wouldn’t confirm whether the breakup was a result of a Superbowl fallout, but tells HipHop that this time the breakup is permanent.
Do you believe them? If Kimmy Kakes really is back on the market, which black athlete will Little Miss Attention Whore take up with next??? We hear OchoCinco is lookin pa nub Kimmers…
In the meantime, Reggie has been guesting on Sesame Street and Kim has been keeping busy staging dinners for the paparazzi in Miami and adding to her growing empire. Check out photos from her latest calendar shoot below.

Wake Up Haitian President Rene Preval!!! Please Keep Earthquake Survivors Safe From Rapist Attacks!!!

2010-03-17T13:54:00.002-04:00

After all they’ve already been through, women and children in Haiti are in serious danger of being raped — even gang raped — because there is little to no protection in the dangerous tent camps. Details on the flipside.

Women and children as young as 2, already traumatized by the loss of homes and loved ones in the Jan. 12 catastrophe, are now falling victim to rapists in the sprawling tent cities that have become home to hundreds of thousands of people. With no lighting and no security, they are menacing places after sunset. Sexual assaults are daily occurrences in the biggest camps, aid workers say — and most attacks go unreported because of the shame, social stigma and fear of reprisals from attackers.
Rape was a big problem in Haiti even before the earthquake and frequently was used as a political weapon in times of upheaval. Both times the first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was ousted, his enemies assassinated his male supporters and raped their wives and daughters.
But the quake that killed an estimated 200,000 people has made women and girls ever more vulnerable. They have lost their homes and are forced to sleep in flimsy tents or tarp-covered lean-tos. They’ve lost male protection with the deaths of husbands, brothers and sons. And they are living in close quarters with strangers.
In one camp, some 47,000 people live crowded into what used to be a sports ground in a neighborhood that always has been dangerous. Residents include a dozen escaped prisoners, among them a man accused of a notorious murder, according to Fritznel Pierre, a human rights advocate who lives at the camp.
“But nobody says anything because they’re scared, scared of the criminals and scared of the police,” he said. Pierre complained that the U.N. patrols are ineffective. “They only drive their cars down the one road that covers only a small portion of the camp. They never get out of their cars,” he said.
“For me it seems completely bizarre that for this one camp that everyone knows is unsafe, it’s taken them three weeks to get a patrol going,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, executive director of the agency’s women’s rights division. “It’s unrealistic to expect patrols in camps all the time, but I think they can identify hotspots and provide security to those spots.”
In the hilltop suburb of Petionville, where plush mansions look out over slums on hillsides and in ravines, a 7-year-old rape victim was being treated Monday in the hospital of a tent camp set up on a golf course. Another child, a 2-year-old, had been raped in the same camp two weeks earlier.
The toddler is taking antibiotics for a gonorrhea infection of the mouth, according to Alison Thompson, who is the volunteer medical coordinator for a Haitian relief group created by Sean Penn. She helped treat both children.
“Women aren’t being protected,” Thompson said. “So when the lights go down is when the rapes increase, and it’s happening daily in all the camps in Port-au-Prince.”
Besides sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, victims face possible HIV infection. Haiti has the highest infection rate for the virus that causes AIDS in the Western hemisphere, with one in 50 people infected.
Few rapes are reported because women often face humiliating scrutiny from police officers who suggest they invited the attacks and even nurses who contend young girls were “too hot” in their dress style, according to Delva Marie Eramithe, a leader of KOFAVIV, a group of Haitian women who survived political rapes in 2004.
Eramithe said, “One policeman said they had received reports of nothing but raping, thefts and domestic beatings all day and there’s nothing they can do. The other police officer said the only person who can do anything is President (Rene) Preval.”

“We are aware of problem … but it’s not a priority,” Information Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue said last month.

What kind of fu*kery is this??? Seriously!!! If you aren’t irate about this issue there is seriously something wrong. Children as young as two being raped??? Infected with sexually transmitted diseases before they are even out of diapers??? Teenage virgins gang raped by three men at a time??? What has happened to humanity? And how dare the Information Minister say this isn’t a priority! This is a damned shame.

Lil’ Wayne Misses Court in Arizona And A Bench Warrant Is Issued BUT… He’s Already In Jail

2010-03-17T13:51:00.000-04:00

First we want to know how something like this is even legal in the justice system??? Regardless, it seems like Lil’ Wayne can’t catch a break. A bench warrant has been issued for his arrest for failing to appear in Arizona for a court appearance.

…Arizona court for possession of drugs and weapons charges.
The warrant comes from Yuma County Superior Court judge Mark Wayne Reeves who issued the papers after Wayne failed to appear for a final trial management conference.
Ha? Exactly…
Wayne is currently locked up in Rikers Island for the next eight months at least for criminal gun possession charges in New York so obviously he had a valid reason for not being there.

We know his lawyer still has to be getting a check and just because Weezy is in jail obviously his lawyer’s job is not done

South Jersey Walmart Kicks Out All The Black Folks

2010-03-17T13:48:00.000-04:00

Customers shopping in a South Jersey Walmart got the shock of their life when they heard an announcement asking all African-American customers to evacuate the store.

Walmart officials are looking at security tapes after an announcement was made for “all black people” to leave a store in South Jersey. A man used the public-address system at the Route 42 store in Turnersville Sunday night and calmly announced: “Attention Walmart customers: All black people leave the store now.”

Anyone could have made the announcement, but security should have been on their job. It’s wrong either way, more importantly who will continue to support this establishment and shop there after this?

Interview With Freeway

2010-03-16T23:20:00.004-04:00

I was able to catch up with the homie, Freeway and talk about everything from RhymeSayers Ent. to his pilgrimage to Mecca, to his new album with Jake One, the Stimulus Package.
- Essince, Royal Heir Entertainment

Essince: What’s good?
Freeway: What’s up? How are you?
Essince: I’m good, man. First of all, I heard some new stuff off the Stimulus Package with Jake One and I’m really excited, man. It sounds dope.
Freeway: Thanks a lot, man. I appreciate that, man.
Essince: What can you tell me about this project? What can we expect when we hear it?
Freeway: Ah, man. You should just expect hip hop, you know? In it’s purest essence, that’s what it is. Hip hop, man. Me and Jake came together with that one goal and that’s to bring good hip hop to the forefront.
Essince: How did you two meet? How did you decide to work with Jake One on this?
Freeway: Well, actually I got some tracks from him for the “Free at Last” album. He did a track on “Free at Last” called “It’s Over” and I did a couple tracks on his album, “White Van Music” and the chemistry was there, you know? And then after that he just kept sending me beats, you know? And I was working and knocking songs out and I was a free agent at the time, too so we came up with the idea of doing an album together on RhymeSayers Entertainment.
Essince: How did RhymeSayers come about? I’ve been a big RhymeSayers fan for years and I think it’s great that you’re with them. I think it’s a good fit but how did that come about?
Freeway: Well basically Jake One was on RhymeSayers Entertainment, you know? And I was a free agent and we were thinking that that would be a perfect home for it. It’ll open up my fan base and it’ll open up Jake’s fan base, too. On both sides.
Essince: Are you excited about releasing something on RhymeSayers? It seems like a different following and might be a little different crowd that you might have with say a Roc-a-Fella, or a Cash Money, or someone else.
Freeway: Yea, I’m definitely excited, you know? Because this is like my breakaway album it’s like my first album without the major backing. I’m just trying to prove to people I can do it by myself, man. That’s what I’m trying to do.
Essince: I remember hearing you planned on retiring after your pilgrimage to Mecca. What made you decide to keep rhyming?
Freeway: I mean that’s just something that I go through with myself, you know what I mean? As far as me being Muslim and everything. We’re not supposed to be doing the music but that’s just something that I go through with myself and my God, you know what I’m saying? I got a passion for the music and I do it good.
Essince: You’re not supposed to be doing music?
Freeway: Yea. You’re not. It takes away from the remembrance of the law. Like, you could be doing other things with your time.
Essince: What was it like working with Brother Ali? I love that track you guys did with Joell Ortiz on Brother Ali’s last album [“Us”].
Freeway: Oh yea, that was crazy. Brother Ali is a good dude, man. He’s real talented, you know what I’m saying? So it’s always a good experience when we’re together.
Essince: Whatever happened to Indy500?
Freeway: He’s still working. That’s my cousin.
Essince: Oh, for real?
Freeway: Yea, he’s got some stuff he’s working on.
Essince: I heard some tracks you did with him and Peedi Crakk and we were wondering what was going on.
Freeway: Yea, Peedi Crakk is in jail but he should be home soon.
Essince: Good.
Freeway: When he gets home we’re definitely going to make some things happen.
Essince: Great. I’m looking forward to hearing everything. I really appreciate your time and I can’t wait for “the Stimulus Package” to drop.
Freeway: Thanks a lot, man. I appreciate the love.
To hear a new track off “The Stimulus Package” check it here on Planet Symphony
For more info on Freeway and the project check RhymeSayers Entertainment

Miami Rapper Jacki-O Readies First Autobiography

2010-03-16T23:15:00.003-04:00

Miami born rapper, Jacki-O, is fearing up to drop her second book, an autobiography titled Relentless.
The book is her first biography, which according to a press release, will detail her life growing up in Miami, her rise to fame as a rapper, and her charity work with people with disabilities.
In mid-April, Jacki-O will head to Mississippi where she will serve as the headliner for Hip Hop and Books' reading events throughout the state.
"It's great to be coming back to Mississippi," the rapper said. "The people showed me so much love, and I'm glad to be meeting my fans again and talking about the importance of reading."
Jacki will kick things on in Jackson on April 15, and hold events through the 17th at various locations around the city.
The rapper first began her career as an author in 2008 with the release of an urban tale called Grown & Gangsta.
Below are a list of her stops in Mississippi:
THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010
8:30-10:30a.m. Peeples Middle School (Jackson, MS)
11:30-12:30p.m. Morrison Academic Center(Jackson, MS)
2-4p.m. Meet and Greet/Signing @ Medgar Evers Library
6-8p.m. Meet and Greet/Signing @ Appetizers Restaurant
FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010
1-3p.m. Meet and Greet/Signing @ Pearl Public Library
6-8p.m. Meet and Greet/Signing @ Appetizers Restaurant
SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2010
12-3p.m. Hip Hop and Books Rally at Smith Park
8-10p.m. Celebrity Entertainment Complex—Meet & Greet/Signing

Who Wants to Save Black Radio? Congress Does

2010-03-16T22:37:00.000-04:00

The day after Christmas and in the aftermath of a series of controversial discussions on Capitol Hill involving the financial bailout of minority-owned businesses, Percy Sutton. The founder of the radio empire, Inner City Broadcasting, left behind an important legacy as a self-made media mogul and as a leader in African-American politics and business. It is this legacy which many believe influenced the Black Caucus to rally such strong support behind his company and has led to speculation about the controversial decision of 10 Caucus members to skip out of the voting on a financial regulatory reform bill in late 2009.

“One of most intriguing mysteries here in recent weeks is why members of the Congressional Black Caucus have chosen to buck their party and president in trying to stall financial regulation reform,” wrote Eric Lipton in a New York Times article on December 2nd. Although the Black Caucus also requested financial support like other minority-owned businesses, the Cacuses’ specific lobbying efforts for Inner City Broadcasting and its impassioned crusade to save black-owned radio perplexed many in and outside of Capitol Hill.
In a letter from eight CBC members, including Percy’s friend Senator Charles B. Rangel, to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner dated in the Spring of 2009, the Caucus invoked the overarching importance of aiding companies like Inner City Broadcasting. “It is absolutely essential that we do not allow this once-in-a-generation financial crisis to erase the modest inroads minorities have made into the broadcast industry,” the letter said. Members of the Caucus, including Maxine Waters, Charles Rangel and Mel Watt, could not be reached for comment.
“The Black Caucus was standing up for all minority broadcasters,” said Skip Dillard, operations manager for Inner City Broadcasting stations WBLS and WLIB in New York. “They know how important we are. Our voice has always begged to be heard and it’s very important that we not only preserve the minority ownership that we have but that we train and promote and find ways to encourage others to own broadcast television and radio stations in the future.”
Today, for many, the importance of ‘Black Radio’ is lost in an era when urban music and musicians are dominant in the music industry. “Black radio is a misnomer now,” said Bernie Hayes, a disc jockey and author of The Death of Black Radio. “When we referred to black radio, we spoke of black-owned stations which directed good programming to the African-American community and provided quality information and other things of substance. But today, black radio just means R&B and hip-hop – nothing informative or of concern to the African-American people.” He added that stations that represent ‘Black Radio’ are scattered, albeit to a lesser extent than in the past, in parts of the South and Midwest.
No longer are black music or black musicians considered underground or alternative. And no longer does the political and social climate of the civil rights era, during which “black radio” flourished, exist. The popularity of black culture has chipped away at the definition of black-owned when it comes to media. Although Inner City Radio, which owns 17 radio stations, and Radio One, which owns 53 radio stations and is waging its own battle in Congress, are identified as black-owned stations, they face the challenge of defining themselves from other companies and conglomerates. “You can’t distinguish Inner City Broadcasting or Radio One from Infinity Broadcasting except for the names of the announcers and the way they present their product,” said Hayes.
That is clearly not the sentiment that fell on the ears of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel when Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) reportedly “berated the administration for not doing enough to help minority-owned businesses, mentioning specifically a New York broadcaster that couldn’t get a loan reworked,” according to The Wall Street Journal. The CBC has lamented that minority-owned businesses have been disproportionately hit hard during the recession but Inner City Broadcasting cannot claim to be alone. A decrease in advertisement spending has hit broadcasters nationally.
“In the last three years, we’ve actually seen a decline in station revenue at the local level,” said Justin Nielson, a media and communications analyst with SNL Kagan. “The ad markets have contracted and we’ve seen almost double digit decline in revenue alone in terms of the overall income of radio stations.”
So why would the CBC take up such a particular case? It may seem jarring to many outside of politics but if it weren’t for the fact that the issue disrupted one of the biggest decision-making processes in Congress this year, it may just have been politics as usual. “Large broadcasters contribute to politicians,” said media historian and radio consultant Donna L. Halper. “I have the feeling that the Black Caucus probably knows these [radio owners] and have probably gotten donations from them.” She added that Clear Channel has contributed to Republicans.
Congressman Rangel, a founding member of the Black Caucus, was a close friend of Sutton’s. He guided Rangel in launching his political career and helped him to win the Harlem congressional seat in 1970. Both Percy and his son Pierre, the current CEO of Inner City Broadcasting, have been major campaign contributors to him ever since;yet, the Rangel connection does not solely explain Percy’s sphere of influence. His own extensive political experience as a New York assemblyman and Manhattan borough president has been key to the fate of Inner City. “It’s a measure of Sutton’s importance that even as the 89-year-old power broker lay in a New York nursing home struggling with dementia, his political allies scrambled to save his family empire,” reported The New York Post. The Black Caucus’ strategy appears to have worked as Goldman Sachs agreed to renegotiate Inner City’s loan in reaction to, it seems, the mounting political pressure. Until then, the broadcasting company faced defaulting on $230 million in loans. Despite this victory for Sutton’s company, the other minority broadcasters asking for support will have to wait and see how Washington handles their requests for a piece of the federal bailout money.
Nevertheless, Halper is optimistic about the potential for a greater degree of support for minority-owned radio. “My hope is that this will start a trend back to help the smaller local broadcasters,” she said. “Let’s help the people who may not give the big political donations but who do serve the community.”
Like Hayes, she believes that black-owned radio still has an important role to play in fostering community engagement. “The most important thing about minority broadcasting is it brings those voices and those perspectives and can stand for the needs of the community,” she said. “Unfortunately, because of consolidation, a lot of those stations have gotten away from that mission and have just become jukeboxes which synidacte. That’s not what radio is suppose to be. That’s not what Inner City originally intended to do in 1972.”
Whether government continues to address minority broadcast ownership in years to come or whether the distinction between urban programming and black ownership in radio becomes clear remains to be seen. Halper hopes the recent plight of Inner City Broadcating invokes a greater concern beyond the financials.

“People have been predicting the death of radio since television came along. Well, guess what, radio didn’t die. Radio finds a way to adapt and it always has,” she said. “[Black radio] has to get back to its roots. What will save it is being live, local, interesting and compelling.”

Diddy And Keri Hilson Think Trina’s Skin Rash Makes Her A “Million Dollar Girl”

2010-03-16T22:32:00.000-04:00

~~STD~~ Skin Rash Trina has finally debuted her video “Million Dollar Girl” featuring Diddy Bop and Bend It Over Keri Hilson. Even though Trina said that she would never leak naked pictures of herself to gain exposure, it’s a little odd that pics of her skin rash would hit the internet while she’s promoting her upcoming album.
Pop the Top for a Peek at the “Million Dollar Girl” with a Skin Rash

E-40 Launches Remix Contest For Fans, Producers, DJs & MCs

2010-03-14T10:49:00.000-04:00

In support of the upcoming releases of E-40's Revenue Retrievin' Nightshift and Dayshift albums, the Bay Area rapper is launching a contest, in which he will be giving fans, producers, DJs, and MCs the chance to land an official remix of one of his songs.
The competition, which 40 has dubbed "The Server" Remix Contest, starts Thursday (March 11) and will last until April 8th ... and the winner will win an official digital release of their "The Server" remix.
This is how it works.
Download the vocal and instrumental tracks from "The Server" right here (via MediaFire.com), and create your own remix of the track.
Contestants can either use "The Server" vocals on a different beat/track of their choice, or can take its original instrumental track and spit their own verse alongside 40's.
After your remix is done, submit it to E40remixcontest@gmail.com. From there, E-40 himself will go through the remixes and choose one he wants to sell digitally.
Also make sure to keep the March 30th date saved, because this is when E-40's albums, Revenue Retrievin' Nightshift and Dayshift, both hit stores.
The album features guest appearances from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Gucci Mane, Too Short and Mistah Fab, as well as some of his Bay Area conglomerate such as B-Legit, Messy Marv, Dem Hoodstarz, Ya Boy, The DB'z, Turf Talk, Clyde Carson, Husalah and Droop-E.

Artist of the Week JBlakk

2010-03-14T00:06:00.001-05:00

(Lilbo561)Tell Me about yourself?

(jblakk)My name is J BLAKK and I’m an up coming Hardcore Female Rapper. I only have been rapping for about 2 years. So far I dropped 2 Hot Mixtape. 1^st mixtape dropped in August of 09, “HATER IS MY SUCCESS STORY” and it has over 26, 000 views on www.thatcrakc.om and over 1500 downloads. My 2^nd Mixtape dropped December 31, 2009, “RESPECT MY MUSIC” and it has over 6,000 views on www.thatcrack.com and over 1600 downloads. I got a hot new single called Catch Up feat. T. Plezya that’s doing very well right now. Since the single dropped which was 4 weeks ago, I been on at least 14 blogs, 3 websites, completed drops for radio stations, the single been on at least 6 mixtapes from Hot DJs, 4 interviews, and DJ Case, from Germany, just asked me to Host a mixtape for him. The single also 33 on the DJ League charts in Europe. I also been offer an global distribution for digital devices, which means, ringtones, ringback, and ect.., but I’m not going to do it, unless they change up the contract.

(Lilbo561)Where were you born? What city and County you reppin?

(jblakk)I’m from Apalachicola, Florida, but I reside in Tallahassee, Fl. I’m reppin da 850.

(Lilbo561)where did the name J Blakk come from?

(jblakk)J- came from my Government name and Blakk was my street name, so I put them together.

(Lilbo561)What are your achievements to this date?

(jblakk)Is to be a big part of this music industry. Which means, to be apart of them changing the way they want a female to look or dress to get a record deal.

(Lilbo561)What do you like to do for fun?

(jblakk)Making good music, hanging out with family, and clubbing.

(Lilbo561)What is the most difficult Situation you have had to face and how did

you tackle it?

(jblakk)Is doing this music by myself but I think I’m doing a damn good job. I don’t have a manager, I’m not under a label, and I don’t have a street team. J BLAKK is all in one. Which is cheaper and less drama.

(Lilbo561)What are strengths? and What Are your Weakness?

(jblakk)My strength is I’m always striving for the best in life. My weakness is trusting the wrong type people.

(Lilbo561)What do you enjoy about this industry?

(jblakk)Networking with the DJ’s and other Artists and communicating with my fans.

(Lilbo561)Give me an example of when you have felt anger? how did you cope and you still perform your work.

(jblakk)I try not to get mad. The best way in this business is to stay positive.. Never let someone pull you down to his or her level.

(Lilbo561)Who are your heroes?

(jblakk)God and myself

(Lilbo561)How do feel about working long hard hours/ or Weekends

(jblakk)Working long hours is the only way to become successful. If your not doing it, somebody else is doing it.

(Lilbo561)What can you bring to the industry?

(jblakk)New look, New swag, New meaning, New life.

(Lilbo561)Who influenced you to Rap?

(jblakk)My homeboi Sacred, every time I used to go to the studio with him. He would ask me to jump on his hooks. Couple sessions down, he asked me to jump on one of his single and its history from there.

(Lilbo561) what are your goal in the rap game who are the artist and producers you would like to work with?

(jblakk)My goals are to become very successful as an artist.

Some of the artists I would love to work with are: Plies, Rick Ross, T Pain, Jay Z, and Lil Wayne. Producers: The Runners, Cool and Dre, Dr. Dre, and Timbaland. It’s more artists and producers I would love to work with but I can’t think of them at this time.

(Lilbo561) How can the Globalhiphop reader get in contact with you?

(jblakk)They can reach me at jayblakk.4203@gmail.com, www.myspace.com/jblakk4203, www.twitter.com/jblakk4203, or 850.228.2692.

Thanks for the interview Global Hip Hop and Shout Out 2 everyone supporting me in my music

U.S. herpes rates remain high: *1 in 6 Americans infected with herpes

2010-03-13T23:46:00.001-05:00

*Highest rates found among blacks, women

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - About 16 percent of Americans between the ages of 14 and 49 are infected with genital herpes, making it one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday.
Black women had the highest rate of infection at 48 percent and women were nearly twice likely as men to be infected, according to an analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 21 percent of women were infected with genital herpes, compared to only 11.5 percent of men, while 39 percent of blacks were infected compared to about 12 percent for whites, the CDC said.
There is no cure for genital herpes, or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), which can cause recurrent and painful genital sores and also increases the likelihood of acquiring and transmitting the AIDS virus. It is related to herpes simplex virus 1, or oral herpes, which causes cold sores.
Several drugs are available to treat herpes symptoms and outbreaks, including acyclovir, which is available generically or under the Zovirax brand name, and valacyclovir, known generically as Valtrex -- both made by GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK.L). Ganciclovir, sold as Zirgan, is made by privately-held Sirion Therapeutics, Inc.
The CDC estimates that more than 80 percent of people with genital herpes do not know they are infected.
"The message is herpes is quite common. The symptoms can be often very innocuous," Dr. John Douglas of the CDC said in a teleconference.
"Because herpes is so prevalent it becomes ... a really important reason to use condoms on a consistent and correct basis with all of your partners," Douglas said.
Douglas said the increased rate of infection in blacks is not do to increased risk behavior but likely due to biological factors that make women more susceptible as well as the higher rate of infection within black communities.
The CDC estimates that there are 19 million new sexually transmitted disease infections every year in the United States, costing the health care system about $16 billion annually.

African-Americans, Hispanics Have Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s

2010-03-13T23:40:00.003-05:00

African-Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians to have Alzheimer’s and related memory-robbing diseases, and Hispanics, the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, are 1.5 times as likely, according to a new report released this morning by the Alzheimer’s Association.
The higher risk is likely linked to factors like high blood pressure and diabetes, which are risk factors for dementia and more common among those minority groups than among Caucasians.
Yet, African-Americans and Hispanics are less likely to be diagnosed with the disease than their Caucasian counterparts. One barrier to diagnosis of dementia among these populations is access to proper health care, Maria Carrillo, a spokeswoman for the association, told the Health Blog. Language and culture, such as the custom of taking care of individuals within one’s family, could also be contributors, she said.
Alzheimer’s, which affects some 5.3 million people in the U.S., is the seventh leading cause of death. Health care and long-term care costs for these patients total $172 billion annually, according to the report. And, when a patient has Alzheimer’s on top of a medical condition, “the net result is elevated cost,” said Carrillo. For instance, Medicare payments are nearly three times higher for those aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s than those of the same age without the disease.

T-Pain Says Beef With Jay-Z is Officially Squashed

2010-03-13T23:32:00.005-05:00

The beef between Jay-Z and T-Pain is officially over, according to an MTV report, because the pair recently met face to face and squashed any ill will.
Tension between the two superstars grew last year following the release of Jay's controversial "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" single.
Jay eventually explained that the song wasn't directly dissing anybody and/or T-Pain, and things seemed to be kosher between the pair after Pain appeared onstage with Jay for a performance of the song during last year's Hot 97 Summer Jam.
Despite things looking ok from the outside, Pain still held some animosity toward Hov for the track. The crooner's emotions eventually got the best of him, and spilled out while on stage at a Las Vegas pool party last September, in which he dissed Jay, implying that he was old and out of touch.
The diss became the talk of hip-hop after it leaked, but things are good between them these days.
They finally met face to face last month and talked out their situation. In an interview with MTV, Pain says they spoke during the Grammys.
"It was a pretty big thing. Word for word, he said, 'That's f***ed up the way you took that song.' I'm a [crazy] n****, so we gonna take the song like that. That's how we take songs," Pain explained to MTV.
"He was like, 'I didn't mean nothing by that.' I was like, 'I already put out my apology song. So there you go. My bad. I apologize. Apologize for taking the song like that.' We shook hands, did the little chest bump. That was the end of that."
So, with beefs out of the way, T-Pain is free to focus on his next album, Revolver. It's due later this year.

More Drama At Death Row Records, Lender Wants Their Money

2010-03-13T23:32:00.004-05:00

Death Row Records seems as though it's a curse these days. More dispute over owed money by the label's new owners was revealed recently.
According to a blog from the Wall Street Journal, lender New Solutions Capital Group is pleading for anyone to come bail them out, after they financed the purchase of Toronto-based WIDEawake Entertainment Group Inc.'s $18 million acquisition of Death Row out of bankruptcy back in January 2009.
Robert Thompson-So, of the lender group, said in a recent interview with Canadian Business that they've yet to see a dime from the loan, and things have "devolved into chaos" at the label, reports the Journal.
"If someone would pay the amount of the debt incurred plus a dollar, we're out," Thompson-So said, adding that the value of the debt is somewhere between $23 million and $25 million. "This is just another commercial loan transaction that started as a workout and continues to be a workout. Please -- step up to the table and take us out."
The WSJ report says that a Canadian judge ruled in December 2009 that WIDEawake Chief Executive Lara Lavi has been barred from running Death Row until a further order, and a new president was appointed.
New Solutions is now preparing to take over the business, but it's something they don't want to do.
The news comes less than a month after Dr. Dre filed a lawsuit against the new owners of Death Row Records, claiming they still owe him back royalties from his 1996 debut, The Chronic. He also claimed they released a new version of the album without his permission.

Ain’t That A B*tch: Wyclef Jean Caked His Mistress With The Yele Haiti Funds… $105K To Be Exact

2010-03-13T23:27:00.001-05:00

Wyclef Jean probably should have cleaned his slate before he asked the world to donate money to his Yele Haiti charity. Apparently, Wyclef was paying his mistress, Zakiya Khatou-Chevassus, $105,000 as an independent contractor with the Yele charity donations back in 2008. Damn Wyclef, we tried to give you the benefit of the doubt… SMH!!!

So what did she do for that money? Zakiya Khatou-Chevassus is currently listed on Yele’s web site as the organization’s vice president. But according to five sources familiar with Yele’s operations, in 2008 she served as Jean’s personal assistant—working on his commercial endeavors as well as his charitable ones—and was involved romantically with the former Fugees star.
“She worked for Wyclef on all Wyclef matters,” says one source who has worked with Jean in the past. “She did whatever Wyclef needed that day, whether it was related to Yele or not. She would do things like book flights, and she wasn’t very good at it. It’s a shame that she made that much money.” The source said Khatou-Chevassus’ salary amounted to more than three times what Suzie Sylvain, Yele Haiti’s dedicated program director who is credited by many Yele Haiti insiders with actually keeping the organization running, was paid.
“Everyone knows they were in a relationship,” says another source familiar with Yele Haiti. “A dozen people, including me, saw and knew. It wasn’t a secret.” Jean is married, but he has said in the past that he has an open relationship with his wife.
Jean has a long history of using Yele Haiti’s money for his own commercial gain. In 2005, 2006, and 2007, the foundation paid out a total of $410,000 to commercial entities controlled in whole or in part by Wyclef, including a whopping $250,000 for advertising time on a Haitian television station he co-owns. In 2006, he demanded a $100,000 fee to perform at a Yele Haiti fundraiser designed to raise money for his own hometown.

First Wyclef gets caught with naked pics of his manager in his cell phone, now he’s cakin’ his chickens through his non-profit orginization.

Man Shot, Killed at Fabolous Concert at Amazura

2010-03-13T21:44:00.001-05:00

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Gregory “Gbaby” Brown, an aspiring rapper from Brooklyn, was gunned down last night (3/12) at a Fabolous concert at the Amazura nightclub in Jamaica, Queens.
GlobalGrind.com is, at the moment, the only blog or news source who has mentioned these details. They report that “the victim was Gregory Brown aka GBaby, who is a Brooklyn MC. There are not many details about how it happened or who was the other party involved, but we will be reporting any news that we hear, as soon as we hear it.”

Antonia “Toya” Carter Speaks On Lil Wayne’s Jail Sentence: “It Is What It Is… We Just Gotta Make The Best Of It”

2010-03-13T21:01:00.001-05:00

Antonia Carter recently did an interview with VIBE magazine speaking on how their daughter, Reginae Carter, was really having a difficult time with all the date changes and the day that Lil Wayne was finally sentenced.

“It was up and down, you know. One minute we thought he was going and she’d be sad and then he don’t go. The last day he finally went in, we didn’t go, so my daughter was like, ‘I wish I would’ve went.’ It was just too much.”
Toya says Lil Wayne encouraged her to be strong while he was locked up, adding that he wanted Reginae’s cell phone to remain turned on so she can answer whenever he calls. Reginae will get to visit Wayne in jail, noting, quote, “at this point it is what it is, and we just gotta make the best of it.”

All of Lil Wayne’s other children will be to young to remember any of this, so Reginae this has to be really hard. Do you think it’s a good idea for Reginae to visit her father in jail???
On a side note, Toya is still going strong in her new relationship with Memphitz.

Bill O’ Reilly And Ludacris Squash Their Beef

2010-03-13T20:59:00.003-05:00

After eight years Ludacris has finally had the opportunity to confront Bill O’ Reilly ever since he got Pepsi to fire Ludacris back in 2002. For some one that talks straight cash sh*t about everything but himself, you would think Bill would have not b*tched up when he saw Ludacris.
Pop the Hood for Details to Hear How Things Went Down…

In an exclusive interview the controversial rapper confirmed he confronted the conservative television host at a recent event and extended the hip hop hand of friendship “The first thing I said to him was, ‘I want to meet the guy who has had so much to say about me, but knows absolutely nothing about me’.”
“I identified that I wanted to speak to him when I saw his name on the guest list. I looked at what table he was on, and I walked my a** straight to that table. He wasn’t expecting to see me, at all. The look on his face when he saw me approaching… priceless.”
Of the peace-brokering, Ludacris said: “The conversation we had was confidential, however, let’s just say it was a good conversation and good came out of it. From there, we came to a common ground. To be honest with you, we came together and did an event for charity – as crazy as it sounds. Perhaps everything happens for a reason. I prayed since the very first moment that Bill said something about me on television that I would be able to meet him in person. It took about seven years for that to happen, but it finally happened. And the joy that came over me, well, it was outstanding.”

Hey Bill, just because you and Ludacris finally straighten things out does not give you a pass in the black community… Your a$$ still has a loooooooooooooooooooooooong way to go!!!

Police Arrest Suspect For Murder & More After Waka Flocka Concert Shooting

2010-03-13T20:57:00.001-05:00

Police state that they have arrested the shooter who left 8 people wounded after a shooting at Waka Flocka Flame's March 5^th skating rink concert in Gary, Indiana.
Police say 17-year- Devontius Hutcherson, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies for his role in the shooting. Police also state that they confiscated a rifle that Hutcherson allegedly fired outside the club after Waka's concert.
In addition to the aforementioned charges, Hutcherson was also hit with murder and attempted murder charges for a separate shooting in Miller, Indiana.
Allegedly on January 19^th, Hutcherson shot and killed a 22-year-old and wounded the man's cousin, after the two men refused to give Hutcherson $5 dollars to attend a rap concert.
Hutcherson then stole money and jewelry from both victims.
Hutcherson is being held without bail while police investigate the latest shooting and prepare to file more charges related to the incident.

Allegedly on January 19th, Hutcherson shot and killed a 22-year-old and wounded the man's cousin, after the two men refused to give Hutcherson $5 dollars to attend a rap concert.

Hutcherson then stole money and jewelry from both victims.

Hutcherson is being held without bail while police investigate the latest shooting and prepare to file more charges related to the incident.

Dr. Dre Connects With Hewlett-Packard For $40 Million Ad Campaign

2010-03-13T20:55:00.002-05:00

Legendary Hip-Hop producer Dr. Dre has been tapped to be a part of a $40 million dollar Hewlett-Packard advertising campaign.

The eight-week campaign is titled “Let's Be Amazing” and features Dr. Dre in his recording studio expounding on the benefits of the HP Beats computing system.

In addition to the commercial featuring the Aftermath CEO, comedian Rhys Darby and photographer Annie Leibovitz among others are also scheduled to be featured in the campaign.

“The laptop is the new stereo for a lot of people and that's why we're putting out this computer with incredible sound,” Dr. Dre said of his new notebook PC.

The spots are part of Hewlett-Packard's attempt to redefine itself to their consumer base, in addition to giving the company some “personality and distinction.”

The producer's HP ENVY 15 Beats limited edition notebook PC is a collaboration between Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine of Interscope and HP's engineers.

Ludacris Talks About His Sexual Conquests [Video]

2010-03-13T20:50:00.001-05:00

Chris Lova Lova A/K/A Ludacris recently checked in with Kenny Burns to talk about his latest project “Battle Of The Sexes.”
In the midst of the discussion, he also fielded questions from the ladies and discussed the rules to a 3-some, the weirdest places he's got busy at and his views on anal sex and doing whatever it takes to please his woman.
In addition he handed out some jewels for the ladies:

“You gotta stay a freak for your man.”

Peep the second part of the video after the jump. [More]
Ludacris also revealed during the interview his next acting pursuit.

“When I get off tour, we're supposed to be shooting "The Fast And The Furious 5." That's what they saying. It's not confirmed all the way, we're still waiting on the scripts

but we should be making that happen and this one is supposed to be shot in Brazil.”

He also stated that his newly launched cognac, Conjure, will be available everywhere later this year.

“For everybody that don't know, we did a soft launch of this cognac that I actually went to Cognac, France myself and help blend. We did it in Georgia and Florida and the success of it has been so well that we're doing a national launch in the United States this summer and will be coming to a liquor store and club near you soon. Also got the Conjure Ice Tea and the Conjureversy.”

The Conjure Iced Tea is his cognac mixed with ice tea while the Conjureversy is Conjure mixed with Red Bull.
Ludacris continues his sexapades below:

Akon Releases New Fragrance

2010-03-13T20:48:00.001-05:00

Konvict Muzik's commander and chief and the mastermind behind the phenomenon that is Lady GaGa, Akon, is set to launch his own fragrance.
Joining the likes of Diddy, Nelly and Jay-Z, Akon is preparing for the release of “Konvict” for men and women. '
The fragrance line is working in partnership with his newly formed Konvict Cosmetics, International LLC.
Speaking on the new fragrance, the Managing Director of Konvit Cosmetics Jack Aini says,

"We are excited and honored to launch Konvict with AKON which we project strong sales in this celebrity fragrance market."

The fragrance is also working with Akon's campaign targeted toward youth, “Break Free Live The Dream.” The campaign encourages youth to experience freedom from distractions that are holding them back and keeping them from living their dreams.
10% of the proceeds the fragrance will go to his Konfidence Foundation benefiting underprivileged African youth who need access to learning, recreational environments and wellness services.
Konvict Cosmetics is running a special on Konvict, retailing the usually $49.95 fragrance for $41.95.
To purchase Konvict visit www.akonfragrances.com
Akon is WINNING right now. Good for him.

Lil Wayne Prohibited From Signing Autographs In Jail

2010-03-12T12:06:00.003-05:00

Lil Wayne has reportedly been ordered not to sign any autographs during his time in jail.
On Monday, the Grammy-winning rapper — who pleaded guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and admitted having a loaded gun on his tour bus in 2007 — was sentenced to one year on New York’s Rikers Island.
“Lil Wayne is not a celebrity in here,” says a representative for the Correction Officer’s Benevolent Association.

Naomi Campbell Assaults Driver

2010-03-11T22:45:00.003-05:00

Just when you thought Naomi Campbell had left her violent past in an anger management class
, authorities in New York City are hot in pursuit of the British runway diva, who they accuse of going upside the head of her limo driver in the middle of Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Associated Press, the 39-year-old model became enraged with her cab driver and started hitting him from the back seat on Tuesday afternoon. The official says the driver stopped the car in midtown Manhattan and called 911. Naomi jumped out of the car and fled on foot.
It’s not the first time Naomi’s shortfuse has left someone with bodily injuries. In 2007, Campbell pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless assault after attacking her housekeeper with a cell phone. She was sentenced to anger management classes and community service that time. In 2008, she was ordered to undertake 200 hours of community service as punishment for assaulting two police officers on board a British Airways flight at London’s Heathrow Airport.