We are the World - Haiti edition

So I'm in NYC, talking to my accountant and enjoying the rapture that is the Obama Administration. But that's not why you are on this blog.

I think that enough time has passed that discussing the "revisioned" We are the World song will not hurt the donations to Haiti that it can provide. By now everyone that planned on buying the song has done so.

Basically I hate the idea. Yes charity and donations from celebrities are always positive. Still you would think they could have been a bit more original. Instead they took the Hollywood approach and just copied something that was far better in the past and redid it.

Of course, considering the "talent" involved something new probably wouldn't have worked. Some might take that to mean that I don't believe T-Pain, Akon (criminal), Kanye West (egoist), (criminal) Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg (criminal), and several others are without talent. And they would be right.

Think about it. Of the original artists and singers in the original, not one of them came back for this remake. It says something about what was being made and why. This group was filled with current day fads, and non-singing gimmicks, but hardly any substance. It was filled with a majority of people that need huge promotion and attention to remain relevant and interesting. I doubt if half of these people will be making records in 10 years, let alone any of the younger talent ever making it into a hall of fame (unless the criteria drops massively).

The original was something that was done, without a media blitz, purely to help people. The number of Hall of Famers and entertainers with decades of experience and ability dwarfs the same counterpart in the new version. And the new kids just had to have lots of advance and post publicity.

There is an old saying in Russia,

"If you have to advertise it, it can't be that good."

Well in America everything is advertised. But the amount of advertising often is in direct proportion to the waste of money you will recieve. Massive non-stop advertising = a piss poor product that is trying to collect money before word of mouth kills sales. Then again that also describes American Idool, modern rap, and most of the artists involved in this effort for Haiti.

Am I glad this made millions? Well yes, if the money goes solely to Haiti relief. As long as the money doesn't pay for this or that other interest and function, at least 85% of the money actually getting to the people, then yes I am glad it existed.

But, I have to believe that if some effort was applied to make something new, and that was presented to the very best of the new and old artists around, the money that could have been made would have been 3x as much or more. The key is that little word effort. Like talent, it's not popular these days, nor as important as it used to be.

What I said at the start is still the most important thought though. To be honest about the hodge-podge now won't hurt sales and thus the donations. Just a few egos, that are way to inflated anyway.

2008 - a year in overview

With the hours ticking away I wanted to go back one last time and look at the year 2008.

It has been quite the year. Barack Obama rose from a nuisance Senator for the Clinton machine to become the first Black President, 411 years after the first African slave was recorded in this land.

The financial system started the year with rising oil, depressed profits, and fears of inflation. Which quickly became a domino of failed institutions, buy-in, buy-outs, and bailouts - most funded by the Government. And the vortex of money sinking into the blackhole of political finger-pointing, and employment worries has yet to end. But inflation and oil are no longer concerns.

And focusing on entertainment we started the year with a mediocre talent that died from his own illogical action and was catapulted to superstardom for it. As the year progressed, serious acclaimed greats in literature, comedy, film, music, and other forms of entertainment passed - barely with attention. And it looks like even into 2009, the stupid actions of 1 man will dwarf the lifetime of achievement of dozens of others.

War continues to rage in the world and in the movies. While the atrocities in Darfur continue to be waged, the screens of America are filled with blame America-for-everything political wastes of time. These films are not bad because they are badly acted (though some are), or that the scripts are irrelevant (some are just too inane to imagine being greenlighted), or even because they don't like their home nation (one of the few in the world that allows criticism of every elected official without reprisal). They just failed to entertain.

Hollywood enjoyed a year that was filled with no surprises and even fewer attempts at innovation than the year before. More sequels, spin-offs, remakes, revisioned past favorites and direct copies on the big and small screen occurred than Bill Ayers on a LSD flashback remembering his past actions. And most were as entertaining - the new 90210 comes to mind.

Filling the void of intellect was fodder so unfit as to be like sugar mainlined into a 5 year old with ADHD. There was the usual "reality" programming that did nothing but allow the public to lose brain cells without the joy of a buzz. And there was the not so subtle loss of several programs that bucked the trend - The Shield, The Riches, among others.

Another loss to the small screen flies in the face of the change in politics in the nation. While America gains the first African American to ascend to our highest office, television descended to a vision of America not seen since 2000 (or more like 1970). Several Black actors in co-leading roles were removed, or shows canceled. Hispanics and Latinos remain virtually unseen and when seen reflecting a diversity that is easily confused with another ethnicity. Native Americans and Asians remain invisible, even in background scenery. And if that sounds bad, the environment behind the camera is 1/3 as diverse.

So in 2009 the schizophrenia will be that one of the few times a Black face will be on the national airwaves will be in the news and the rest of television will be whitewashed. The hypocrisy of Hollywood and its ultra-liberal views, as opposed to its staunch 1950's actions, is amazing to behold.

And the ethical void continues to grow. The nation was deluged with images and stories of entertainers doing the wrong thing and getting away with it. From the British Winehouse (aptly named I think) to our own disfunctional and potentially child-endangering Spears. We watched as entertainers were allowed to throw children into crowds from stages, admit drug use, carry illegal weapons, abuse animals and people alike, all without a hint of true reprimand.

And as the substitution of justice we had racial revenge. OJ provided the means for many White Americans to cry out "Justice at last" though his trial was a mockery of justice from start to finish. He may be a fool, and perhaps even guilty of past crimes, but his trial was as much a kangaroo court as in any movie.

And when it comes to the law the media was very consistent. African Americans that they labeled guilty were made to look horrible, and their claims (and even jury confirmation) of innocence went unheard - like Wesley Snipes. But for the people making the media money, in music videos and records and what some call movies, there was plenty of coverage hyping their minor convictions - like Akon and DMX.

2008 was quite the year indeed. So much happened all at once it was often hard to be sure what was the most important thing to track. And just as often what the media wanted us to watch was the least important of the issues at hand. But then again this was the year where the line between journalism and cheerleading was obscured from sight. The after-the-fact admissions of several media giants that they crossed the line, "a little", says nothing of the 'feeling in my leg' they poured into televisions and thus homes across the nation.

The news media was so bad that satirical comedy shows often were more objective and less political than the supposed "neutral" media. And networks like CNN and MSNBC wonder why their ratings are so bad.

2008 was a bad year in most every manner of accounting. From wasteful spending by the Government, to political polispeak that was fair and unfair. Even in moments of honesty - like polling from various agencies during the Primaries - America showed the world that the ugly underbelly of racism still held a grip in the nation.

I won't miss 2008 overall. While I am amazed and pleased with being able to say President Obama and that I am a homeowner, there is little else that occurred in this year that makes me wish to relive it even in memories.

But 2009 is just hours away. And with it will come a new President, with a very different set of objectives for America. The new year will usher in a new direction in American thinking, where some like it or not. And the media will be forced to adjust, because even in comic books the world is changing.

2008 was they year to say "I want change", 2009 will be the year it happens in. And we can all only hope that the change is better than the reality of the year that has ended.

DMX vs Maricopa County - the wrong one wins

Oh the joy of the holiday season just does not end. At least that is what DMX is saying right now.

Earl Simmons got a late gift in the form of a plea deal. This rapper who seems incapable of avoiding a criminal act, or police, admitted guilt to one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty, one felony count of theft, and one count each of felony possession of marijuana and a narcotic drug. He has been busy indeed.

And for admitting his guilt, which no one questioned, he will receive the grand total of ... 90 days and probation.

Screw a gift, who might he have had sex with to get that sentence. And I wonder if he paid them after he got done?

Seriously. Wesley Snipes was proven innocent of all charges except 3 misdemeanors with the full weight of the U.S. Government against him and the media lapdogs doing phenomenal bits of staging to make him look guilty as hell. Snipes got 3 years.

Michael Vick got 23 months Federal and 3 years State for his animal cruelty. And he deserves every minute of that.

A minor rapper wanna-be Rico Wright got 20 years and 20 years probation for shooting a guy and making a rap about it.

Akon got community service for throwing a minor off of a stage in front of dozens of witnesses and more than a few police officers.

TI got away with voting though he is a convicted felon.

Remy Ma got 8 years for assault, weapon possession and attempted coercion. And she "accidentally" shot a woman.

Is anyone noticing a trend here?

What the hell is wrong with the legal system. If you or I were charged and convicted with any of the things these rappers have done, repeatedly, we wouldn't see the light of day for a decade - with a plea bargain. And the bigger they are, the more the legal system is willing to ignore.

Snipes was facing 17 years if convicted. He was found innocent of everything but minor issues that normally get probation. yet he will spend more time in jail than DMX and Akon combined. And I don't think either man was allowed to vote.

Considering the way the legal system has been I would have expected Wright to have walked out the door, but I guess his song didn't get a big fat record company deal first. No wonder young kids are looking at rap as a way to live. The bigger the star the more insanely stupid things you can do with little consequence. How can we expect kids to live by the rules when the people they spend unknown hours listening to and mimicking are flaunting the law and getting away with it.

I'm glad that 2008 is ending. And that we have these examples to look at as we enter 2009. I hope judges are looking over the cases in 2009 and seeing what a revoltingly perverse job they are doing.

These criminals don't deserve to be paid, or to get glorified in music videos or movies (talk about a stupid and blisteringly dumb waste of money and talent. Yet sure to make a profit). They need to be in jails, not concert halls. They need to be serve penitence, not get served drinks.

It's one thing to be Slick Rick. But there is no question of the remorse of DMX, Akon, Remy Ma and so many others. There may be an argument to be made about their sellout shuck and jive for record executives, but outright crimes should never be excused.

If I were the people of Maricopa County I would be sure to start the New Year by calling up the District Attorney's office (602-506-3411) and let them know they need to do better in 2009. And then I'd follow that with a letter to the major record labels (to many to list but you can find them on Google) asking them to have a shred of ethics in how they reap in their money. Big Oil is bad? How about the people supplying your kids with heaping doses of convicts and ex-cons as examples of success.

The year can't end fast enough.

Akon assualts minor and get community service

Talk about the mixed messages rappers and the like are sending to kids today. Akon just got off scott-free and Soulja Boy is apologizing for his vulgar language. But overall I have to wonder why entertainers today seem so much more like children that never grew up than ever before.

Well maybe not all entertainers, that would be unfair. But in the world of hip hop and rap it seems to be exactly true. I mean how many times has DMX, Snoop Dogg, TI, and the rest been arrested? And I can more readily count the rappers that don't use foul language, on and off stage, since 1992 on one hand that do use it. Add to that the constant use and glorification of drugs and abuse of women. And these are the people I observe little kids reciting songs of and dancing to. But they aren't responsible for any negative consequences, of course.

But I don't understand how Akon, Aliaune Thiam, got his plea bargain. He admitted to throwing a minor off a stage and into a crowd at a concert. There was video tape of the event. There were officers standing next to him. His guilt was never in question.



Yet he got 65 hours of community service and a fine of $250. He apologized to the minor and his parents. That's it. Hello! Endangering the life of a minor and assault and he got just that with witnesses and video tape? Let a regular person try half that and guess how long you'll be in jail.

I have to believe that the only reason he walked on this is that some serious hush money went to the family. It may not be recorded as part of the plea but I bet it happened. That seems the only way an obviously guilty as sin Akon isn't in a jail cell awaiting his lawsuit date. And the woman that was struck by the child he threw into the crowd probably got a piece of that cake too. Because I can't see any jury not approving damages for that.

No wonder kids today want to be rappers instead of getting an education or a career. In the rap hip hop industry it is possible to live like a vulgar sleezy Peter Pan. Laws are parted like a knife through butter. Excesses of drugs and alcohol are ignored. Promiscuity is promoted from music video shoots to the stage and beyond. Hell, rock n' roll stars don't get all this treatment (well not as often, and not always to the benefit of record sales). This is the one industry where being a slovenly pig is an accolade and cash generator. Why grow up?

The Fishkill prosecutor and judge have failed the public. Not just their community but the nation. They have supported the idea that thugs succeed in the "ghettofabulous" lifestyle they glorify. That all their abuses of law and people is justified by the fact they have a marginal debatable skill. And because of this no child and no parent has won.

This was not justice. This was money. Because of the money involved justice was perverted and we the public have been sullied.

Has a celebrity or entertainer endorsement changed your mind? - 7.18.2007.2

I was just writing about Ms. Oprah Winfrey, and her up-coming fund-raiser for Senator Obama on my political blog, and I asked a question. Does the endorsement of a celebrity or entertainer make a difference in voting preference?

Seems a simple question. I mean if Snoop Dogg, or Akon, or Mr. Denzel Washington endorsed Senator McCain, Senator Clinton, or Mr. John Edwards or Mr. Rudy Giuliani, would that change your opinion of the candidate? Why?

Also let me ask this. Have there been any endorsements by a celebrity or entertainer that changed and/or confirmed your choice of candidate?

Let me hear your voice.

Is TMZ right about Robin Thicke and the BET Awards? - 6.14.2007.1

TMZ.com has just reported on the chance of Mr. Robin Thicke winning the BET Award for either Viewer’s Choice or Best Male categories. While TMZ was a bit smarmy in their comments it is an interesting question.

There is no question that the Oscar Awards made a point of not selecting African Americans for nomination or a win for decades. I spoke about the snubs the Oscars recently made against Dreamgirls and Mr. Eddie Murphy.

“I’m speaking about the omission of Dreamgirls from the Best Picture category. I’d love to hear the justification for this. In 79 years, the total time Oscar Awards have been around, there has never been a leading nominee not also being in Best Picture.”

And

“The difference in what the public feels was a great performance and what the Academy deems award-winning is a vast ocean apart. I’m referring to the loss of Mr. Eddie Murphy. Widely held as the best performance in his acting career, winning several awards leading to this ceremony and then snubbed.”

Similar snubs have happened in music, but that barrier was broken years ago. I recall hearing about advertisments made on behalf of Mr. Elvis Presley, stating that people should buy his version of certain songs and not the ‘colored’ version (I think Hound Dog was one of them). Thankfully those days are long past. Or are they?


Is there a difference in the BET Awards not nominating more White entertainers and that of the Oscars apparent prejudice to Black entertainers? I realize that the BET Awards have nominated White performers before, 2 to be exact, and they did not win. I realize that Mr. Thicke may not win, the competition is strong. Mr. Thicke is up against Akon, Mr. John Legend, Ms. Beyonce Knowles, Ciara and several others. But is this the discrimination that seems to be implied by TMZ?

I can’t say, I don’t watch award shows. In addition I don’t listen to most hip-hop or R&B music these days (as can be guessed by my other posts I’m not a fan of gansta rap). I tend to enjoy classical (love Beethoven) and rock&roll more. [Sadly there are few African American entertainers in rock, which is a shame as I have to believe Living Color, Fishbone, and Mr. Lenny Kravitz are not the full range of what could be offered.] Still this is a question I am wondering about.

Since I don’t know enough to make a comment on one side or the other, I ask what you think. Has the BET Awards acted like the Oscars in restricting who gets nominated? IF they have is that wrong?

This is what I think, what do you think?

Akon shows his fan appreciation - 6.4.2007.2

Now how can I not comment on the recent actions by hip hop artist Akon? There are numerous incidents of the violence that many rappers and other artists propagate seemingly daily. Most of these incidents occur at night, in a club or strip club, but it’s not uncommon to hear about transgressions in airports or on city streets. This though is a new low, and some media seem more than happy to cover it up.


Some may be aware, in a recent performance, that Akon assaulted a fan during the concert. It seems that both on purpose or by accident a fan threw an object at the stage and hit the entertainer. Akon stopped performing in the middle of a song and had the kid brought to the stage. The kid was then lifted onto the stage, picked up by the artist, and forcibly thrown off the stage. The kid had no clue any of this was going to happen, and was quite startled while it was happening. Akon then tells the crowd how lonely he feels (as best as I can tell) and begins to continue performing, having stated “he’s alright.”

I wasn’t there, so I’m guessing at the exact words. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal this entire event was simply an enthusiastic entertainer helping fan ‘crowd surf.’ Isn’t that nice. Reading their published article one would think it was quite harmless. Even the general manager, Mr. Jason Finkelburg, and Fishkill Police Chief, Don Williams, seem to feel it was unimportant. To their benefit, neither was at the event.

I would guess that the reporter wasn’t there either, or missed the event. I say this because it’s all hogwash. At best it’s poor reporting, at worst it’s a media cover-up, protecting entertainers that behave maliciously because they bring money in. How could I possibly say this? What gives me any more right than what was reported and said since I wasn’t there [and I couldn’t get paid enough to be there]? Because there is a video of the event.

It’s just that simple. And the video can be seen on the Poughkeepsie Journal’s site. Obviously, in my opinion, the reporter failed to view it. If they had then I would imagine they would see it quite differently. It seems obvious that Akon isolates grabs and throws this fan with intent to harm him. There is no music during the whole incident, no explanation. The kid looks bewildered. The police officers shown in the video seem as startled as everyone else. The throw was hardly anything friendly or helpful. I’ve seem more kindness in a mosh pit.

The fans cheered this whole event. They thought it was great, seeing this entertainer enact violence on someone that could have just as easily been them. Imagine if it was your kid. Imagine if the kid was hurt.

Think about the fact that often hip hop artists and rappers go out and try to outdo each other in acts of violence and rudeness, in an effort to maintain their ‘street cred’. Absolute idiocy. But it happens all the time. So what do all the other tough, bad-ass, malefactors and nay-do-well’s do? What is the next step in this genre? Entertainers in gansta rap have already molested unwary women from the audience on stage, now this ups the ante. Perhaps an actual beatdown on stage. Or a gang rape. If neither of the other acts already done on stage caused a consequence, why should these.

I don’t know. I don’t pay to see an entertainer who pisses in my cornflakes, or those of a friend. I don’t want to see a wrestling match at a music show. Especially when it’s the equivalent of a sucka-punch, and the performer is surrounded by police officers and bodyguards. Yeah, Akon looked real impressive and manly. [That’s sarcasm for those that don’t get it]

I won’t say all rappers or hiphop artists act like this, but more than enough do. New rappers and many other entertainers try harder than the few that last a while. Too many take pride in being a bullet magnet, a dealer of death (drug dealer), and having a trail of women used for their bodies and children without fathers. The trend isn’t getting better, and newspapers misreporting these acts do harm to the general public.

This is what I think, what do you think?

**audio for this post can be found at http://www.blackentertainmentblog.com/audio-post/audio.html