Exclusives

Jada Pinkett Smith Talks Oscar Slap During ‘Red Table Talk’: “Talk This Out and Reconcile”

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Jada Pinkett Smith returned to Facebook Watch with a new edition of Red Table Talk. The June 1 episode focuses on the realities of alopecia. Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia and it became one of the main points of conversation after her husband, Will Smith, slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about her hair on stage at the 2022 Oscars.

In the latest episode of the award-winning show, Jada Pinkett gazes directly into the camera and delivered a message about the Oscars moment.

“My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile. The state of the world today, we need ‘em both. And we all actually need one another more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that’s keep figuring out this thing called life together.”

After that message, Pinkett Smith would detail the condition, including the details like 147 million people suffering from alopecia.

You can see the full episode here.

The post Jada Pinkett Smith Talks Oscar Slap During ‘Red Table Talk’: “Talk This Out and Reconcile” appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip Hop history, Queens rapper Ja Rule released his debut LP Venni Vetti Vicci. As the first release ofrom Irv Gotti‘s Murder Inc. record label, this project carried a lot of weight on its shoulders as the breakthrough for not only Ja Rule’s career but the career and integrity of Murder Inc Records as a whole.

Fortunately enough, the album was a hit and launched Ja Rule and Murder Inc. up among the ranks of some of New York’s most respected and successful rappers. Ja Rule’s force, style, and energy blended perfectly with and help grow the popularity of the East Coast hardcore movement that was taking place in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The mix of high energy, club jam production and hardcore gangster lyricism is what made this album so appealing. Although it could be said that Ja Rule wasn’t the greatest with the pen, the party appeal of this project kept it flying off the shelves in record stores across the country. The album’s commercial reception was more than any one could ask for a debut album peaking at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #3 on the Billboard 200 chart all while going platinum in the year of its release.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago

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tumblr c23585bdab347f803d8857e8f0f257b0 0b5587ea 1280

On this day in Hip Hop history, Queens rapper Ja Rule released his debut LP Venni Vetti Vicci. As the first release ofrom Irv Gotti‘s Murder Inc. record label, this project carried a lot of weight on its shoulders as the breakthrough for not only Ja Rule’s career but the career and integrity of Murder Inc Records as a whole.

Fortunately enough, the album was a hit and launched Ja Rule and Murder Inc. up among the ranks of some of New York’s most respected and successful rappers. Ja Rule’s force, style, and energy blended perfectly with and help grow the popularity of the East Coast hardcore movement that was taking place in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The mix of high energy, club jam production and hardcore gangster lyricism is what made this album so appealing. Although it could be said that Ja Rule wasn’t the greatest with the pen, the party appeal of this project kept it flying off the shelves in record stores across the country. The album’s commercial reception was more than any one could ask for a debut album peaking at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #3 on the Billboard 200 chart all while going platinum in the year of its release.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Kansas City Police Under Investigation for Shooting Unarmed Pregnant Black Woman

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A Kansas City police officer shot an unarmed pregnant Black woman Friday night. The woman is currently hospitalized.

CBS KCTV-5 reports Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating, which is protocol to have an external agency investigate KCPD officer-related shootings. MSHP stated the responding officers were answering a call about an alleged armed carjacking, which included a thorough description and a license plate number.

The Kansas City Police Officers approached the suspected vehicle and the male driver fled with officers in pursuit. The woman, later identified as 26-year-old Leonna Hale, also ran into the parking lot.

The MSHP stated a handgun was found in the parking lot and two KCPD officers fired shots. Hale was shot and was taken to the hospital. The male suspect was not wounded but taken to a local hospital for an unrelated medical issue.

“We never want to be in these type of situations,” Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department’s Interim Police Chief Joseph Mabin said. “Not the public, as a police department. Anytime it happens is a blight on our community. I want to ensure the public the scene is secure. There’s no on-going threat. We’re committed to be 100% transparent. This is a holiday weekend. It’s time for friends. Not a time for violence.”

A citizen, 29-year-old Shedanja, at the scene told the Kansas City Star the woman did not draw a woman or have anything in her hand. “She did not pull out a weapon on them,” a witness said. “She did not even have a stick in her hand.” Shédanja also stated Hale was just three steps away from the officers.

“One, two, three, four, five. I remember it because it didn’t stop. They shot five times,” Shédanja said to The Star. “I remember seeing her hit the ground and I froze.” In a video that was released online, officers asked Hale to get on the ground, but she stated she was unable to because she was pregnant. In addition, the witness stated Hale alerted officers there was a gun in the car. As she backed away from officers who had their guns at her, the officers opened fire shooting the woman multiple times.

The post Kansas City Police Under Investigation for Shooting Unarmed Pregnant Black Woman appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago

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On this day in 1988, Boogie Down Productions dropped one of the best and most influential albums of all time. It was widely seen as one of, if not the first, politically conscious efforts in Hip Hop

KRS-One was initially popular for fueling the Juice Crew vs. BDP beef on wax and expanding intellectual Hip Hop music through 1987, with the release of Criminal Minded. However, when BDP’s DJ Scott La Rock was shot and killed in the South Bronx, it had a profound effect on the Brooklyn native, which resulted in a drastic rethinking of his on-record persona. By All Means Necessary was one of the first albums the group made after Scott La Rock’s death that would have a lasting effect on generations to come. The “Blastmaster” began to talk about a lot of the issues that were plaguing the black community like police brutality, government corruption, institutionalized racism, and later on giving birth to his “Stop the Violence” Campaign.

As “The Teacher,” on perhaps one of the most influential tracks from the LP, “Stop the Violence”, he spits,

“I look, but it doesn’t coincide with my books/Social Studies will not speak upon hard hitting crooks/It’s just the Presidents, and all the money they spent/All the things they invent, and how their house is so immaculate/They create missiles, my family’s eating gristle/Then they get upset when the press blows the whistle”

As a plea to end violence in Hip Hop, which still hasn’t been heeded to this day, KRS-One took on the role as the spearhead of Hip Hop’s Stop The Violence Movement, choosing the single, “Self Destruction”, as the lead single.

With classic tracks like, “Nervous”, nearly every track on the album had a distinct narrative, and even the album cover art and the theme were Malcolm X (By Any Means Neccessary) inspired. On the track, “Jimmy”, the rapper became the first rapper to speak on the AIDS/HIV epidemic that plagued Black and Brown communities in America. On the song, “Illegal Business”, Kris gave the masses a startling perception into the drug trade and how it corrupts the police and the government.

Salute to KRS and the entire Boogie Down Productions crew for giving us this epic piece of Hip Hop history!

“It’s not about a salary, it’s all about reality..”

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

ICYMI: Pepsi Decides to “Pass the Mic” on the Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Artists

After ten years, Pepsi will no longer sponsor the Super Bowl Halftime show. This year Pepsi sponsored what is considered Hip-Hop’s first Super Bowl halftime show, which started Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. The NFL partners with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation to produce the halftime show.

“After 10 years of iconic Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show performances, we have decided it’s time to pass the mic,” Pepsi wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to the amazing artists and fans who helped us create some incredible moments along the way.”

Pepsi will continue its sponsorship rights with the NFL, despite dropping the halftime show. The renewed agreement will provide Pepsi pouring rights at top events and keep Gatorade on the sidelines. According to CNBC, the previous deal between Pepsi and the NFL was $2 billion over ten years. The terms of the new agreement were undisclosed.

The rights for the halftime show are believed to be net the NFL $50 million.

The post ICYMI: Pepsi Decides to “Pass the Mic” on the Super Bowl Halftime Show appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: N.W.A. Dropped Their Second LP ‘Efil4zaggin’ 31 Years Ago

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On this date in 1991, “the world’s most dangerous group dropped their second and final album as a group, ironically titled Efil4zaggin on the Ruthless/Priority imprint.

On the heels of Ice Cube departing from N.W.A. on a sour note to embark on a solo career, the now four-man group was slowly disbanding, but managed to churn out one last full length album. Dr. Dre and D.O.C. left the group to help form Death Row Records shortly after this project was released. The album offered up three singles; the memorable “Always Into Somethin”, “Appetite For Destruction”, which featured an Ice Cube sub and “The Days Of Wayback”. Because of the group’s success, the LP did eventually reach platinum status.

Salute to Dre, Yella, Ren and Eazy for giving us a piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: N.W.A. Dropped Their Second LP ‘Efil4zaggin’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: ‘Menace II Society’ Movie Soundtrack Released 29 Years Ago

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On this date in 1993, Jive Records released the soundtrack to the blockbuster hood classic Menace II Society featuring various artists. The sixteen-track Hip Hop assortment peaked at the pole position on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop albums. Along with singles, music videos were produced for the songs: “Straight Up Menace” by MC Eiht, and “Trigga Gots No Heart” by Spice 1. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA since October 11, 1994.

Classic tracks include Spice 1’s “Trigga Gots No Heart”, Too Short’s “Only The Strong Survive” as well as some East Coast flavor from Brand Nubian(“Lick Dem Muthafuckas”), Boogie Down Productions(“The P Is Still Free”) and Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s “Death Becomes You”.

Just as timeless as the movie during the era when soundtracks were everything, the MIIS soundtrack is sure to bring back that bi-coastal Hip Hop nostalgia.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: ‘Menace II Society’ Movie Soundtrack Released 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

President Biden Signs Executive Order for Police Reform on Second Anniversary of George Floyd’s Death

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On the second anniversary of George Floyd’s death, President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at changing policing procedures.

The directive establishes a national register of officers who have been dismissed for wrongdoing and urges state and local law enforcement to tighten chokehold and no-knock warrant limits. According to NBC News, it also prohibits military equipment from being transferred to law enforcement agencies and requires all federal agents to wear activated body cams.

The new executive order comes after Congress failed to provide bipartisan support to the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

“I know progress can be slow and frustrating, and there’s a concern that the reckoning on race inspired two years ago is beginning to fade,” Biden said. “Today, we’re acting. We’re showing that speaking out matters, being engaged matters, and that the work of our time, healing the soul of this nation, is ongoing and unfinished and requires all of us never to give up. Always to keep the faith.”

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Beto O’Rourke Confronts Texas Gov. Abbott at Texas Shooting Press Conference: “It’s On You”

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Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke heard enough and interrupted a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that was led by state governor Greg Abbott.

The press conference was providing more details on the events of the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and what led gunman Salvador Ramos to commit the act. Abbott was flanked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Uvalde’s Mayor Don McLaughlin.

O’Rourke could be seen approaching the men and speaking his mind. “You are doing nothing,” O’Rourke said. “This is on you until you choose to do something.”

O’Rourke was escorted out the building by security but McLaughlin would scream at O’Rourke that he was a “sick son of a bitch.” Following O’Rourke’s exit, Abbott, asked for personal agendas to be placed aside to provide “healing and hope” to those directly impacted by the shooting.

Abbott would also blame “mental health” for the shooting and deflected the attack to violence in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. He would also add, “It could have been worse.” You can see the moments from the explosive scene below.

The post Beto O’Rourke Confronts Texas Gov. Abbott at Texas Shooting Press Conference: “It’s On You” appeared first on The Source.