Usher is Speechless on Obama’s success
Nov 12, 2008 Barack Obama, Politics, Usher
While Barack Obama and his Democrat supporters were busy in partying and celebrating their success, Usher found himself speechless on the occasion.
When asked about his comments on the event, Usher replied, “I’m speechless, honestly. I don’t even know what to say.”
But in fact he still had enough to say.
Usher said, “Barack Obama doesn’t represent a color. He represents change.”
He further added, “I think this sets us off in the right direction in terms of change of tone. ….. The fact that so many people were encouraged by [his] words … by his message. It was never self-serving, it was always for country. Country first!”
He described his experience of the historical event as, “Man, this is incredible, after a lot of campaigning, and then a lot of prayer … It’s so incredible to see that this historical thing has happened.”
It is definitely a time history will always remember.
Tags: Barack Obama, Usher
Diddy’s Voting Efforts
Nov 8, 2008 Barack Obama, Jay-Z, Politics
The troubled voting state of Florida got some last minute encouragement from rappers Jay-Z and Diddy over the weekend. During a ‘Last Chance for Change’ rally on Sunday at Florida Memorial University, the duo told voters not to be discouraged by long lines at polling places. Music executive Kevin Liles also pointed out that fans have endured long lines for CDs and Jordans so why not endure long lines to vote and make a change. Hip hop mogul and singer Mary J. Blige were also in attendance showing their support to the now President-elect Barack Obama. This election has proven to be moving for young voters with record-breaking young voter registration and record-breaking early voting.
Tags: Barack Obama, Diddy, Jay-Z
Eminem and Nelson Mandela
Apr 15, 2008 Eminem, Hip Hop, Politics, Rapper
Well those are two names that you never thought you’d hear together in the same sentence. But it seems that it’s not at all impossible. Retired rapper Eminem has reportedly been approached to play Nelson Mandela’s upcoming 90th birthday party. I never knew Nelson was a hip hop fan. Reports are also saying that it’s a done deal but the rapper’s camp is saying they haven’t accepted the invite just yet. Let’s hope that there won’t be any talk about street cred. Em’s been arrested. Nelson spent 27 years in jail. Em clearly loses. But then again, he can issue a rap battle challenge and then all hell will break loose!
Kylie aims high
Dec 3, 2007 Alicia Keys, Celebrity, Concert Tour, Kylie Minogue, Live Music, Music, Music Artists, New Single, News, Politics, Pop Music, Singers
After a long absence Kylie Minogue is struggling to regain her place on the celebrity podium. Not only is she planning a long and fantastic European tour the next year, but she will also appear on the stage of the honorific Nobel Prize concert to celebrate the winners of 2007. She will be performing for Nobel Prize winners: the climate chance panel of the United Nations and ex-vice president Al. Gore. The prize is offered to the combined parties for their united effort in trying to wake the world up and realize an inconvenient truth: the global warming that is threatening to destroy our planet and our race along with it.
Kylie will join on the stage various celebrity females like Annie Lennox and Alicia Keys. It seems like on December the 11th only women are worthy to honor the giving of a Nobel Prize, as all singers will be members of the beautiful sex.
Canada Says No to Hate Music
Oct 3, 2007 Music, Music Artists, Performance, Politics, Reggae
Two Jamaican reggae and dancehall artists, Sizzla and Elephant man, were shown the door by at least one Toronto venue after Canadian advocacy groups protested against the pair for their anti-gay slurs. Sizzla was scheduled to perform at Toronto’s Kool Haus last Friday while Elephant Man has an October 6 concert scheduled at the place. Both shows got canceled.
An alliance of give or take 20 organizations called Stop Murder Music Canada called for the artists to be banned from the country. The founder of the organization Akim Larcher told the Toronto Star “They shouldn’t have been allowed to get visas to perform in the country. It’s not about censorship or artistic freedom. That stops when hate propaganda is involved.”
Fall Out Boy Raise Child Soldiers Awareness
Sep 23, 2007 Fall Out Boy, Music, Music Bands, Politics, Rock
Fall Out Boy are using their fame to raise awareness about the use of use of child soldiers at war in Africa. Great strategy to get attention…sounds very interesting, though. I hope I get to see the video. But if they are really committed to bring attention to some really important child labor and child exploitation issues then that’s a worthy cause that they are putting their efforts into bring people and the world’s attention to. And if this is another of those self gleaming, attention hogging attempt so that the people see them as a band that has concerns and wants to make the ‘difference’ that we all say with capital letters ‘DIFFERENCE’ then I tell these guys have chosen such a sensitive issue to get people’s attention that if they do not make any visible attempts to doing something on the issue then they should be banned from holding concerts and selling their music.
Kanye West trumpets education in TV spot
Aug 25, 2007 50 Cent, Album, Award, Hip Hop, Kanye West, Music, Music Artists, Music Bands, Politics
Kanye West says he isn’t political and has no interest in “who’s running with who” in the 2008 election. But the 30-year-old hip-hop mogul filmed a public service announcement Friday for an advocacy group trying to make education the top priority for the next president.
“Politics is a business,” the six-time Grammy winner told The Associated Press Friday. “I’m more social. I just care about people.”
During the filming of the television commercial, sponsored by Strong American Schools and his own Kanye West Foundation, West read from a script at the front of a mock classroom filled with real Chicago students.
“Yo. Becoming a music superstar took hard work but it also took a solid education,” West said dryly into the camera, his hands half inside his pockets.
“Say it with a little more meaning, Kanye,” a director prodded.
West took his hands out of his pockets and started gesturing with his hands as he talked, taking several more stabs at the script.
Strong American Schools is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. The group, which says it is nonpartisan and doesn’t endorse candidates, is promoting three goals for education: higher standards, effective teachers and more support for learning, according to Executive Director Marc Lampkin, who worked on President Bush’s 2000 campaign.
Other celebrities making public-service announcements for the organization’s $60 million “Ed in ‘08″ campaign include actors Ron Livingston from “Sex and the City” and Maura Tierney from “ER.”
West, who grew up in Chicago, quit classes at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and later left Chicago State University for the music business. His 2004 Grammy-award winning album was titled “The College Dropout.”
His new album, “Graduation,” comes out Sept. 11, the same day as the release of “Curtis,” the new album from 50 Cent, who promised to retire if West’s new album outsells his.
West denied any feud between the two and said he talks to 50 Cent, “all the time.”