Love and Hip Hop ATL

It’s Monday.  I purposely planned to take an hour out of my day to watch the season premiere of Love and Hip Hop ATL. I’m born and raised in the South so of course I had to give this season a chance!

 I have to say I’m quite impressed; Mona Scott Young has done it again! For some reason this season has started off way more interesting than the NY series. Maybe it’s because of the Stevie J situation. I was expecting to get introduced to the cast and let the tension/drama build throughout the series. But no; here we are episode 1 with Stevie J cheating on his baby mama (Mimi) with his artist/jumpoff (Joseline). I almost couldn’t believe it was actually happening. And when the three got into it at K. Michelle’s birthday party…I was mad like I was being cheated on!  Got to love how the ladies did not fight each other; they instead took their frustrations out on Stevie J. But in the end Mimi was the one looking silly, as he left with Joseline. I could go on for hours about this hot mess right here…

The bright spot in this season proves to be K. Michelle. We get to hear some great music from her. I’ve been following K. Michelle since she first stepped on the scene back in the day. No doubt that K.Michelle can ssaaannnggg, I’m talking Mariah Carey and MJB pipes! Her music is so soulful served with a little southern hospitality (and I love her because she’s from my hometown Memphis). It’s good that the masses finally get to hear her story and bring her music to the forefront. 

It’s also good to see Lil Scrappy. He has been quite in the last few years since Crunk Music died.

This season looks to be full of laughs, tears, music, plenty of drama. I will be locked in every Monday at 8PM on VH1.

Rodney King's Death

Rodney King was pronounced dead early this morning in Rialito, CA.  Found floating in his swimming pool by his fiancée, she called the police and said King was unresponsive.  Details are still emerging surrounding his death however, his fiancée is telling police that King had been smoking weed and drinking hours prior to his death. He was 47. 

This is sad news for Father’s Day.

Rodney King is no stranger to trouble.  Since 1989, he has a several run-ins with the law. His most famous run-in though was the 1991 beating he suffered courtesy of the LAPD. And we all know how that ended…can we say The LA Riots!!! Yes, Rodney King was the victim in that case but it’s been well documented that King has always had problems with drinking and substance abuse. He had a couple of stints on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. It’s ironic that Dr. Drew did tell King in 2008 that if he didn’t change his lifestyle that he would die from the effects of his alcohol intake. 

Still…Rodney King’s 1991 case shed light on police brutality and racial profiling that happened in the African American community.  If it was not for him, there would not be any progress in the case of Trayvon Martin.  

Rest In Peace Rodney.

It's About To Be A Bar Fight!!!

Ain’t no love in the Heart of the City.  That was the case Thursday morning in NYC at club WiP. A huge fight broke out in the VIP section involving Drake, Meek Mill, and Chris Brown. The pictures of the aftermath include smashed bottles everywhere, a couple of injured patrons, and Chris Brown with a minor (but ugly) scar on his chin.  There’s numerous reports circling around and all parties are claiming that they were not involved in the fight. Tweets have been deleted since the altercation; Chris Brown and Meek Mill have called a truce; but as for Chris Brown and Drake…they are still at odds. Rumor has it that all of this started because Drake was talking out the side of his neck to Chris Brown about Rihanna.

Wait a minute!

Nobody will admit it but all of this IS over Rihanna. Not misplaced features, record sales, or even money. It’s all over too much testosterone in one place, and three men being (at one time or another) involved with the same woman.  Young, wild, and free young men surrounded by their instigating entourages and things got out of control. No word if any of the three celebrities actually laid hands on each other, but it’s getting messy. Chris Brown and Drake have been cooperating with the police; we all know Chris Brown can’t afford any run-ins with the law because he is still on probation.  When will these guys stop trying to “be about that life?” 

Oh yeah and not to mention the price of fame: guarantee with the innocent people like Hollie C hurt, there will be lawsuits in the near future. 

Lauryn Hill Owes Uncle Sam Money

Lauryn Hill has created quite a media stir. Last weekend, she surprised everyone with an outstanding performance aside Nas at Summer Jam.  This week, the IRS surprised Lauryn Hill with a bill worth approximately $1.6 million.  Apparently during her hiatus from the music industry Lauryn forgot to pay her taxes from 2005-2007. If you expected Lauryn to blame her accountant like many artists tend do, you’re wrong! She blames herself and takes full responsibility BUT says it was a personal choice.  Releasing an official statement she explained: “I left a more mainstream and public life, in order to wean both myself, and my family, away from a lifestyle that required distortion and compromise as a means for maintaining it.” Check out her full statement here.

I love and respect Lauryn Hill so much. She is one of the greatest female MC’s/vocalist ever! However, this is America and nothing is free. Uncle Sam does not care what your reason is for not paying your taxes. The IRS doesn’t play; ask Wesley Snipes and Ron Isley. Hopefully, Lauryn can solve this issue without serving any jail time.

Raz B Outs More Male Artists

Raz B is back in the news again trying to “out” more male artists.  Several passages of Raz B’s new tell-all book, This Boy’s Life, has leaked to the internet where he takes shots at several artist and calls them gay.  Right now he has named Chris Brown, Ray J, Bow Wow and Omarion; and plans to give details on their sexual encounters. 

This is not the first time Raz B has made accusations about someone’s sexuality.  Back in 2010 he shook the music industry up by confessing that his former manager Chris Strokes and Marques Houston molested him when he was a part of B2k.  Also, that same year Chris Brown and Raz B got into a homophobic twitter war that entertained and offended a lot of people.  This time Raz B decided to take his snitching talents to a book which is set to release in September.

What in the Confessions of a Video Vixen is this?

I blame Superhead Karrine Steffans.  Ever since she made her millions from outing the freaks in the music industry, everybody has used this tactic as an easy come-up.  Snitching just to get attention is just…well…golddigger-ish!  Ever since B2k broke up Raz-B has been crying foul on everybody.  Even if all these people are gay, it’s their life.  If they want to walk around like they’re not gay for the sake of their image, that’s their choice.  I’m not saying that Raz B’s accusations have no merit but he always pulls this stunt at convenient times.  Omarion just signed to Maybach Music Group, Bow Wow’s [Underrated] album is set to release in June, and Chris Brown is back on top performing at the Grammys, Billboard Music Awards and more.  Not to mention Chris Brown’s [Fortune] album is set to release in July. 

Chris Brown is upset about the accusations and has released a statement via twitter.  Wonder if anybody else will respond? Raz B seriously needs a hug man. Stay tuned to watch this mess unfold.  

Pusha T vs. Lil Wayne Beef

What is Hip Hop without a beef or two?  This time around it is Lil Wayne vs. The Clipse.  Wait! Before you think that this beef is brand spanking new…it’s not.  The Clipse and Lil Wayne have beefed for years, stemming back to when the Clipse subliminally dissed Lil Wayne in 2006 on “Mr. Me Too.” While Pusha T has been consistently clowning Drake as of late, this time he shifts his focus to Lil Wayne on Exodus 23:1.  This track is so popular because Pusha T [indirectly] pulls Lil Wayne’s card questioning his gangbanging, his relationship with YMCMB, and more.  So what does Lil Wayne do? He responds by dropping a new diss track called Goulish.  For anybody expecting the Dedication mixtape Wayne, you will be highly disappointed.  He’s more like Lil Tunechi on this diss track…meaning its all garbage.  Goulish is short in length, thankfully…full of pointless metaphors and more talk about how Lil Wayne has goons.  If this isn’t a sign that Lil Wayne has changed I don’t know what is.

For all of us that have been Lil Wayne fans since he was a part of the Hot Boys, we all know that Lil Wayne is truly gifted.  He has released some classic songs and has silenced the critics several times.  He has demolished anybody that even dared to say he was a garbage rapper.  Things change, Lil Wayne surely has. After Tha Carter III dropped his music has suffered.  He doesn’t have the same drive; his lyrics don’t have the same sting.  I remember when he used to spit a line and you would have to rewind it in your head to see how clever it was.  Those days are long gone; now every line he spits you have to think WTF is he talking about?  Or you already know what metaphor he is going to use.  Whether Lil Wayne wants to admit it or not, he’s gotten too comfortable. The Clipse might not be as big as Lil Wayne but they definitely have the ability to win this battle.  They worked with Wayne back in the day before he was claiming to be a Blood.  Let’s not forget that The Clipse have ALWAYS repped the streets hard…nothing has changed there unlike in Lil Wayne’s case.  Plus The Clipse is backed by G.O.O.D Music which overall is a better label than YMCMB.  The only way this battle can be fair is if Drake decides to step in and directly crush the competition.  And before you think Drake is too soft to do so…Drake crushed Lil Wayne on every song of their mixtape a couple of years ago.  Drake is more clever than Lil Wayne point blank.  Don’t believe me look at the way he responded to Pusha T on Lord Knows.  I can’t wait to see what this cat fight turns into.  Until then we will just have to keep our eyes and ears open.