OBAMA CATCHES HEAT OVER LUDACRIS SONG: Rapper’s anti-Hillary line causes calls for senator to denounce rapper July 31, 2008

The Obama campaign had to release a statement yesterday denouncing lyrics from Ludacris that call his former Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton the b-word and also disparages John McCain, President Bush and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

The track, titled “Politics: Obama is Here,” includes the line: “Hillary hated on you, so that b*tch is irrelevant.”

Clinton backers on the Web erupted with calls for Democratic nominee Barack Obama to criticize the rapper.

“I hope Senator Obama has the presence of mind to denounce and distance himself from Ludacris,” wrote Yashar Hedayat, Sen. Clinton’s former national finance co-chair, in an email to the Huffington Post. “In May, when Father Pfleger made those horrible remarks about Senator Clinton at Trinity United, Senator Obama didn’t do much to defend her and John McCain was the first to rush to her defense.”

Obama & Ludacris

Meanwhile, Obama’s camp put out the following statement addressing the song: “As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to. This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.”

Here are the lyrics from “Politics: Obama Is Here.” Scroll down to listen to the track.

I’m back on it like I just signed my record deal
yeah the best is here, the Bentley Coup paint is dripping wet, it got sex appeal
never should have hated
you never should’ve doubted him
with a slot in the president’s iPod Obama shattered ‘em
Said I handled his biz and I’m one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I’m ever in the slammer
Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that b^$&%* is irrelevant
Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?
if you said it then you meant it how you want it have a gut!
and all you other politicians trying to hate on my man,
watch us win a majority vote in every state on my man
you can’t stop what’s bout to happen, we bout to make history
the first black president is destined and it’s meant to be
the threats ain’t fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
so get off your ass, black people, it’s time to get out and vote!
paint the White House black and I’m sure that’s got ‘em terrified
McCain don’t belong in ANY chair unless he’s paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped
Ball up all of his speeches and I throw em like candy wrap
cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevant
and you the worst of all 43 presidents
get out and vote or the end will be near
the world is ready for change because Obama is here!
cause Obama is here
The world is ready for change because Obama is here!

“Politics: Obama Is Here” – Ludacris

Related article: NAJEE ALI’S OPEN LETTER TO LUDACRIS: ‘With friends like you, Obama doesn’t need enemies.’

MARIAH CAREY TALKS TOUR, NICK AND MARRIAGE: Singer unloads on MTV; says tour may begin by year’s end July 25, 2008

Newlywed Mariah Carey says she plans to tour behind “E=MC2″ sometime in November, sporting a huge production to rival the outing for her previous album, “The Emancipation of Mimi.”

 

      “I’m thinking elaborate,” Mrs. Nick Cannon tells MTV of her forthcoming tour. “I like elaborate. We only do substantial. That’s what my jeweler says. I haven’t gotten the looks in mind just yet, but we’re going to figure it out soon enough.”           

      As for the likelihood that she’ll stick to a November start date, she says: “Please don’t hold me accountable if it turns out to be December 5 or December 7 or January 18!”

 

      Meanwhile, Mimi also spoke to MTV about her lifelong losing streak at the annual Video Music Awards. While it remains to be seen whether she will perform, she hopes to at least attend – and maybe even win for the first time.

 

       “I don’t own a Moonman [from] this country,” she said. “Isn’t that an abusive situation?”

 

      She has two statues from MTV Japan, for the International Video Icon Award in 2005 and for the Video Vanguard Award in 2008. But in America, she has yet to accept the trophy. This year, she’s hoping fans will vote for her “Touch My Body” video to win for Best Female Video.

 

       “I have faith in my fans,” she said. “I believe they will come through for me, because they always have. My house is not complete without an American Moonman, and I would say ‘Touch My Body’ deserves one. Brett Ratner directed it, I have a unicorn in there, I have ['Guitar Hero'] in there — who else has that?”

 

       Carey has also dismissed rumors that her marriage to Cannon has been in trouble. 

 

       “It’s good,” she affirmed. “Life is beautiful, and things are going well.”      

       When she hears talk that “things are rocky and hazy and messed up,” she stops to wonder why. “I’m like, ‘Why would we have gotten married to do that?’ ” she said. “People are going to say what they say, but what would be the purpose? I guess other people do those things for a purpose, but I don’t know. I’m ecstatic, so be ecstatic with me! Be happy with me. Can we celebrate?” 

THICKE DOES A LIL ‘SOMETHING’ ON THE ROAD: Crooner heads out on tour to promote his forthcoming album July 25, 2008

R&B singer Robin Thicke will embark on a short tour next month to preview material from his forthcoming album, “Something Else,” due Sept. 9.

 

       The singer/songwriter will kick things off Aug. 9 and hit clubs and theaters around the country through Aug. 18. Cities include Las Vegas; Tempe, AZ; Englewood, CO and five dates in California.      

       Thicke told the magazine he would describe the sound of his new album as “classic Philly, Motown and ’70s black disco meets the creativity of The Beatles and Bob Dylan.”      

       Below are Robin Thicke’s tour dates:

 August 2008
9 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
10 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
12 – San Francisco, CA – Mezzanine
13 – Sacramento, CA – Empire Events Center
14 – West Hollywood, CA – House of Blues
15 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
16 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
18 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre     

JASMINE GUY’S DIVORCE DRAMA: Husband files response to her original April filing July 25, 2008

There’s been recent movement in the divorce case of Jasmine Guy and Terrence Duckett.

 

      The actress, best known for her role as Whitley Gilbert on “A Different World,” filed for divorce in April citing irreconcilable differences. TMZ.com reported yesterday that Duckett filed a response last Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, but there’s no word on the reason behind his action.

 

       The couple, who are both 46, were married for nearly 10 years. Both are reportedly seeking physical and legal custody of their 9-year-old daughter, Imani. Guy is also requesting that the court deny any spousal support to Duckett, but is asking it from him, reported People magazine.

 

       Guy’s original divorce papers also listed two pages of items titled her “separate property,” including her wedding ring, paintings, sculptures, her BlackBerry, DVD players, pots, pans, and a toaster.

TIMBALAND PREPARES SHOCK VALUE 2: Guests to include Beyonce, Rihanna, T-Pain and even Jonas Brothers July 25, 2008

Timbaland has a gang of recorded material stocked up and ready to roll on his upcoming album, “Shock Value 2,” featuring guest appearances from Rihanna, Beyonce, the Jonas brothers, T-Pain and Jordin Sparks – so far.

 

      There is no release date as of yet, but he tells MTV he wants to avoid using some of the same artists featured on the first “Shock Value” album in 2007, just to keep things fresh.

 

       “Shock Value is really like the Now [That's What I Call Music!] compilation,” he said. “That’s my goal for this — not [to showcase] me as an artist. Of course I’ll do my little part, introduce some people. It gives me room to go tour across the world. People request me. I put on a show. I put on a musical show.”      

       “Right now, I have a song with Madonna that I didn’t put on her album. I saved [it] in case I wanna do one for me,” he revealed. “Of course I’mma do one with Beyonce. Of course I’mma do one with Jordin Sparks, Rihanna. It’s a lot of people. I’mma do one with Jonas Brothers. I’mma try to have 10 major ones.”       

       As for guest rap artists, Tim says he’s considering T.I. and expects to recruit Jay-Z.      

       “Jay was really on the last one, but he wanted to change [the song],” he said. “I said, ‘Look, man, I gotta put out an album. You’re killing me.’ “       

       Tim said he may produce an entire Jay-Z album in the near future. Until then, he has work featured on CDs from Missy Elliott and Chris Cornell.

DR. DRE STILL WORKING ON ‘DETOX’: Producer-rapper now says album should be out by year’s end July 25, 2008

Yet another release date for Dr. Dre’s long-gestating “Detox” album has been announced by the rapper/producer.  This time, he says the follow-up to his 1999 album “Dr. Dre 2001″ should be out toward the end of this year.

 

       “I’m just now — over the last couple of months — starting to feel that it’s going to be right and it’s something I can be proud of, and everybody is going to love it,” Dre told USA Today. “In a perfect world, I’m shooting for a November or December release.”      

       Dre takes special pride in the live instrumentation featured throughout the project.      

       “We have an entirely new thing going with the drums that’s incredible, and we’re still developing that,” he said.       

       Guest appearances on “Detox” include Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Nas, among others.

DMX USES COURT DATE TO PLUG ALBUM: Rapper pleads not guilty to ID theft, then performers for reporters July 25, 2008

Rapper DMX used media attention surrounding his court appearance in Phoenix yesterday to plug his upcoming album and give reporters a free sample.      

       After pleading not guilty to felony charges of theft and identity theft, he left the hearing and rapped: “If you ever fall down, get back up,” reports the Associated Press.      

       The artist, born Earl Simmons, is accused of using the name “Troy Jones” and a fake Social Security number to avoid paying $7,500 in medical expenses to a Scottsdale hospital in April.      

       The 37-year-old also faces multiple charges of drug possession and cruelty to animals in Maricopa County. He is due in court August 12th for a conference relating to those charges.

LIL WAYNE SUED OVER ROLLING STONE LYRICS: Rapper allegedly altered group’s ‘Play With Fire’ without permission July 25, 2008

Lil Wayne may be the hottest MC in music right now, but not to the members of the Rolling Stones.

 

       Abkco Music Inc, a musical publishing company that owns the rights to the band’s song “Play With Fire” sued the rapper in Manhattan federal court Thursday, saying he released an altered version of the song without permission.      

       The company is suing Lil Wayne, his guest artists and his record company, a unit of Universal Music Group, of copyright infringement and unfair competition.

 

       Abkco also said that Lil Wayne’s version uses “explicit, sexist and offensive language” and could lead the public to believe the company and the Rolling Stones approved of and authorized the new version.

UNCLE LUKE BECOMES HUBBY LUKE: 2 Live Groom ties the knot in Dallas, Texas July 25, 2008

Luke Campbell, who stars in the upcoming VH1 reality series “Luke’s Parental Advisory,” got married to his fiancée Kristin Thompson Saturday in Dallas at the Saint Luke Community Methodist Church.

 

       “I waited 47 years to find a special woman and have found that in Kristin,” Campbell tells People.com. “I never knew that I could feel love on another level like this until I met her, and I am now honored to call her my wife.”       

       Some 300 guests were on hand for the ceremony, which was followed by a reception at the Opus Grand Ballroom at Hotel Palomar.       

       Doug E. Fresh deejayed and performed, while such guests as Arizona Cardinal Edgerrin James remained on the dance floor until the early morning. Soul singer Betty Wright serenaded the happy couple. Their first dance was to Brian McKnight’s “Back At One.”       

       Thompson, 27, who serves as general counsel for Campbell’s company Luke Entertainment, wore a wedding gown by Monique Lhuillier. She and her groom met at Jerry’s Deli in Miami Beach two years ago. He proposed to her on Halloween last year.      

       This is the first marriage for both. Campbell has two children from a previous relationship. The wedding will be featured on the season finale of “Luke’s Parental Advisory” in September. VH1 will premiere the series on Aug. 4 at 10:30 p.m.

OBAMA FAMILY COVERS PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Reporter gets access to their routing on the campaign trail and life in Chicago July 25, 2008

The new issue of People magazine has Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the cover, along with his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters – 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha.

 

      Interesting tidbits were revealed about life on the campaign trail for the Chicago-based family, who could be moving into the White House on January 20. The girls get a weekly allowance of $1; both have chores and time is set aside for play dates and movie nights.      

      Obama said of his wife Michelle: “She is the best Hula-Hooper I know. Once she gets the rhythm going, she can drop to her knees! That is one thing you will never see – me Hula-Hooping. I think that’s clear.”

 

       The following is an excerpt from the People magazine interview with the Obamas:

 

People: Someone told me today that you don’t do birthday presents.

Michelle: No, because we spend hundreds of dollars on a birthday party and movie tickets and pizza and popcorn …

Barack: That sleepover is enough. We want to teach some limits to them. And their friends bring over presents.

Michelle: They get so much stuff that it just becomes numbing. Malia believes there is still a Santa Claus even though she’s a little wary because some of her friends are non-believers. But Malia says, “Ma, I know there is a Santa because there’s no way you’d buy me all that stuff.” [Laughing]

People: So what does a slumber party at the Obama house look like?

Barack: They’re pretty noisy.

Michelle: The older they get, they just talk a lot. But they’re at the age where they’re pretty self-sufficient. [For Malia's birthday] we’re going to go swimming, see Wall-E, make pizzas, have sundaes.

Barack: I usually go for the swim but this time I want to go to the movie just because Wall-E has gotten great reviews. I find actually that children’s movies are the best movies these days. But I’ll probably, after that, peel off until the cake.

Michelle: [Laughs] “Peel off.”