Dave Chappelle Talks Police Brutality

A city council meeting in Yellow Springs, Ohio had the town's most famous resident show up to speak on the matter of policing recently, when Dave Chappelle appeared to share his unique experience of having grown up there and seen the change in the culture of local law enforcement.

Citizens of the small liberal Dayton suburb had been convening to review a scandal that has rocked the town, leading to the resignation of Police Chief David Hale, to "heal the rift" caused after officers violently broke up the annual New Years Ball Drop, in the early hours of January 1. The department drew heat, with protesters livid over the use of their cruisers to disperse the crowd and the subsequent tasering of two black men.

Chappelle spoke of being present at the event, but having left early because the vibe wasn't right. After imparting his gratitude to officers who have been nothing but courteous to him since his return to settle down in the place he was reared in, Chappelle laid into the force, reminding residents on hand that there was a time when it felt as though each officer had a personal connection with the families in the community; a sense he no longer gets. "Now, we're being policed by what feels like an alien force," he said, calling the New Year's Eve incident a "huge gaffe."

Chappelle then turned to politics, encouraging the council to consider the position Yellow Springs is in to shine as an example of progressive policing in the current political atmosphere. "I would beseech the council to look deeply and to look hard, because this is a golden opportunity. Literally, it could kill the game. In this Trump era, it gives us an opportunity to show everybody that local politics reigns supreme," he said. "We can make our corner of the world outstanding. So I'm just begging you to find a candidate that matches the culture of this town, which is renowned for being incredibly unique."

After the resignation of Commissioner Hale, one of the officers involved in the New Year's Eve incident, Allison Saurber, also resigned. The second officer said to have taken part in the tasing, R.J. Hawley, was reportedly injured at the function and has been on administrative leave since.

How The Crack Era Changed Black America Forever

 

The 1985 CRACK era was not a mistaken identity drug for Black Americans; It was an intentional target against the chosen people. Although Nixon declared the war on drugs on June 17, 1971, the U.S. already had lots of practice imposing drug prohibitions that had racially skewed impacts.

Hip Hop & Drug Culture

We make excuses for the negative impact of rap music because it has given so many young black males a way out of the hood; but for every ONE that it gives an exit, it entraps thousands more.

Has Rock-N-Roll Always Been Apart Of Hip-Hop Culture?

Yes Hip Hop has always been apart of the Rock culture! Rock and Rap song were some of the best ever made still today! For an institution that is dedicated to immortalizing rock and roll’s greatest heroes, there are many inductees in there who are not quite typically thought of as rock artists.

You’ve got Grandmaster Flash, Run-DMC, Miles Davis, Madonna, and Tupac in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The confusion behind these inductees lies not with the quality of their work, but rather the categorization of it.

There are four other artists who have been nominated but have yet to be inducted—Afrika Bambaataa, LL Cool J, Eric B. and Rakim, N.W.A—and four more groups who have been considered for the ballot but who have not yet been nominated—Boogie Down Productions, De La Soul, the Sugarhill Gang, and the Treacherous Three.

Beyoncé Covers British Vogue’s December Issue

 

The singer, 39, posed for three covers for British Vogue’s December 2020 issue, on newsstands November 6.

Photographed by 21-year-old Kennedi Carter — the youngest photographer to shoot any British Vogue cover in the magazine’s 104-year history — Bey fronts one issue in a lime-colored Ivy Park look from her latest “Drip 2” collection, including a knit catsuit ($140), organza jacket ($160) and mesh bucket hat.

On the other two covers, the pop superstar wears a sheer Mugler bodysuit and a bold-shouldered Alexander McQueen blazer, sans pants.

“Everyone always wants to know what it’s like to work with Beyoncé and her incredible team, and the answer is… flawless,” British Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edward Enniful wrote about the experience. “A perfectionist to the core, more than anything, she wanted her Vogue moment to be filled with positivity as this trickiest of years draws to a close.”

Info56 Ft Dj Dez - Southwest @deathstar

Producer and MC Info56 leads viewers on a dawn-till-dusk tour of “Southwest” on the debut video from his instrumental album by the same name. Images of the iconic and abandoned Michigan Central Train Station at sunrise begin the video as Info walks past it along Vernor Highway – turning his back on this clichéd version of Detroit – to enter the vibrant Chicano neighborhood known as Southwest.

SiX - OOOUUU Remix

With a true passion for story telling and lyricism, London’s very own “SiX” has cemented himself as a true “narrator for the younger generation”. With pure honesty and transparency, he takes you into his world, sharing life through his eyes, with the hopes that people relate to his struggles and together are inspired. 

WHY YOU SHOULD MASTER THE ART OF STORYTELLING

New York being his second home has allowed him to soak up culture from both sides of the Atlantic and these influences are evident in his flows, rhyming patterns and in his over all Hip-Hop style. With his street narrative perspective he believes, people’s struggles, once shared, are halved and this is the cornerstone of his brand and the legacy he hopes to leave behind. “Mavro” is the team; “All Black Always” is the motto.

New YEEZY Basketball Shoe Banned

Kanye West is expected to debut his first-ever Yeezy basketball sneaker on the feet of Adidas athletes during the upcoming NBA season. But the league office would ban the current version of the sneaker on court because of its gleaming, reflective-material heel, according to industry sources.

While the monochromatic sneakers won’t violate the league’s footwear color restrictions, the issue is the reflective “3M” heel panel, which the NBA would find potentially distracting for both in-arena spectators and television viewers.

Carmelo Anthony faced a similar issue with the metallic chrome heel of his Jordan M10 signature sneakers while playing for the New York Knicks. He later wore an updated version with a matte paint finish.

Players are no longer required to wear shoes matching their team’s uniform colors, but the league still has an approval process for new silhouettes from brands in advance of the season.

According to Christopher Arena, the NBA’s vice president of identity, outfitting and equipment, companies will typically submit sneakers for the first half of the season by early August, with shoes scheduled to be worn after the All-Star break required for approval by early December.

While the league office has yet to receive and formally review the new Yeezy basketball shoe in person, the version shared online by West would not be permitted on court as is, according to a source. Alternative versions of the sneaker that don’t incorporate the reflective material would likely be approved.

The league has banned or issued warnings for several sneakers in its history, most famously Michael Jordan’s black and red Nike Air Jordan 1 sneaker in 1985. Nike almost instantly turned the buzz around the Bulls star’s banished debut sneakers into a marketing campaign, vaulting the signature series into rare air and sparking the dawn of collectible-sneaker culture. Three decades later, the Jordan Brand has become its own fully fledged subsidiary of the Nike Inc. company, with annual revenues topping $3 billion.

In a recent post on his @KanyeWest Instagram, the Chicago native explained that his Yeezy basketball shoe has been in development for over three years and undergone nearly 300 sample updates.

The new model is expected to finally make its much-anticipated debut during the 2018-19 season, with Adidas non-signature athletes like Donovan Mitchell, Brandon Ingram, John Wall, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Nick Young potentially wearing the shoe in early 2019. Retail release dates and a finalized price point have yet to be determined.

Earlier Monday, during an interview with paparazzi in Los Angeles, West discussed his long-term vision for his collaborative brand with Adidas and his eventual goal to bring the manufacturing of his sneaker line stateside.

“The Yeezys will be made in America,” he said. “We’re putting a factory in Chicago.”

#Stream Jonah Melvon - Rain Water (Album) @JonahMelvon

Described as a cross between Common and Musiq Soulchild, with charisma that can not be defined comes Oakland legend, Jonah Melvon. Setting the tone for one epic year with 2 singles from his new album, ‘Rain Water Project.’ The soulful new singles, “What’s Good For You” and “Mom and Pops” come just in time for the first and most pertinent holiday of the year,  MLK Day 2019.

Both being huge grooves, “What’s Good For You” and “Mom and Pops” shine in Jonah’s ability to create rich experiences through his art, providing good ol’ soul food or soul music, as it is often called. “Mom and Pops” takes us to a hopeful time in the future where we as a culture support our own. While “What’s Good For You” meshes Spoken Word, Hip Hop and Soul Music into one dope recipe filled with food for thought.

Having played with Miguel, Goapele, Ledisi, T.I., EPMD, Black Eyed Peas, and Heiro (just to name a few), as well as tearing up the Oakland’s underground scene, Jonah Melvon is back to making waves in an oftentimes monotonous industry. By making passionate music with an unwavering commitment to excellence Melvon has been able to carve out a lane of his own, all while keeping it cutting edge and true to self. Get familiar with The Bay Area legend through “Rain Water Project,’ available now on all digital streaming platforms.

Follow Jonah Melvon on Twitter

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The African American Museum Opens

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture officially opens Saturday. More than 100 years after it was originally proposed, the Museum is opening its doors in Washington, D.C.. President Obama will dedicate the museum in a ceremony in the morning, joined by tens of thousands of people.

Pharrell Williams New Hiking Collection

Pharrell Williams and adidas Originals Statement Hiking collection will be releasing this November 11 at select adidas Originals retailers. After teaming up with N.E.R.D to release an apparel training collection, adidas Originals and Pharrell Williams are back at it again with a brand new collection, inspired by the Los Angels hiking culture.

Launching in the coming days, Pharrell and adidas’ collection will feature a slew of outerwear garments and heavy duty clothing in multiple colors and design patterns. Compromised of jackets, hoodies, bottoms, footwear and accessories, the capsule serves as the first hiking collection ever to be released by the Three Stripes in collaboration with an artist.

Along with the apparel garments, Adidas Originals will also release four brand new HU NMD Trail sneakers in four brand new colorways—nobink, black, multi-colored and sun glow. Constructed with a full prime knit canvas, the sneakers include a thicker outsole than previous iterations for better traction and support.

Roc Nation Enters Book Publishing Company

A decade after publishing his memoir “Decoded,” Jay-Z is forming a more lasting partnership with the book industry. Upcoming book releases are set to include a “fantastical illustrated fiction” from Lil Uzi Vert and memoirs from Yo Gotti and Fat Joe.

Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by the rapper, is starting an imprint with Random House called Roc Lit 101. In a joint announcement Tuesday, Random House and Roc Nation promised “books at the dynamic intersection of entertainment and genre-defying literature.” Among the initial releases for next summer: “Till the End,” a memoir by the retired pitching star CC Sabathia; and music journalist Danyel Smith’s “Shine Bright,” a story of Black women in music that combines memoir, criticism and biography.

Jay-Z Reminds Fans Who The GOAT Is

 

Jay-Z is reminding the culture who the greatest emcee of all time is, and Young Guru is helping spread awareness. On Tuesday (Nov. 8), Guru, Hov’s long-time audio engineer, took to Instagram to show some love to his “big homie.”

Young, née Gimel Androus Keaton, uploaded a picture of the proud father sitting on a mauve couch wearing all-black with white sneakers.