OpenEntrance - What’s Really Going OnWhat’s Really Going On

Nas-As he joined protesters to participate in a protest against bosses at U.S. TV network Fox this week - branding their news reporting “racist” and biased.

“Hell yeah, I’m a part of it!’ This is a network that’s been going after rappers … yet (Fox political commentator) Bill O’Reilly uses the phrase ‘lynching party’ for a woman. That’s the worst term I’ve ever heard to disrespect a woman, and he says it on television. And he doesn’t like rappers? Wow.”

Nelly-In response to his Pimp Juice Energy Drink Expanding it’s line to Europe

“We expect much success in France due to its lively hip-hop scene and love of basketball.

Side Note:French Pimp Juice is currently being offered in stores and in Paris with further distribution to occur in September to coincide with Nelly’s next album release, Brass Knuckles.”

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Barack Obama is rumored to be introducing Kanye West at a performance at a Chicago festival in a bid to appeal to hip hop fans. Apparently, Obama has a slot free in his schedule to appear at the three-day Lollapalooza festival and is expected to make a brief appearance onstage. The politician recently told U.S. TV show What’s In It For Us, “I’ve met with Kanye. And I’ve talked to other artists about how potentially to bridge that gap. I think the potential for them to deliver a message of extraordinary power that gets people thinking is massive.” The Lollapalooza festival takes place in Chicago, Illinois’ Grant Park from August 1-3rd.

Ashanti has just landed a gig as a tourism chief in NY. As an ambassador of Nassau County, she was given an orange blazer with a tourism patch by County Executive Thomas Suozzi at a news conference at the Rockefeller Centre in Manhattan on Tuesday. The tourism campaign pitches Nassau as  ”The Island Next Door.” In an interview, Ashanti says, “It is amazing to be asked to give something back to the community.”

What she needs to do is give up that blazer and sport one them sexy dresses she is always caught in. I will buy a couple of whatever she selling, pitching, renting, borrowing, holdin’, etc-Nassau here I come!!!

Will Smith is a BEAST…his latest achievement-Mr. Smith has been crowned the highest earning actor in Hollywood, with a fortune of $80 million. He has become the first to rank in Forbes best paid actors of last year…that’s right, not this year but in 07! The full lists of Hollywood pay checks are as follows:

1. Will Smith - $80 million
2. Johnny Depp - $72 million
3.Eddie Murphy - $55 million

4.Mike Myers - $55 million
5. Leonardo DiCaprio - $45 million
6. Bruce Willis - $41 million
7. Ben Stiller - $40 million

8. Nicolas Cage - $38 million
9. Will Ferrell - $31 million
10. Adam Sandler - $30 million

Congrats Will and Eddie Murphy!!!!

In the nineties, former President Bill Clinton and his team made the catch phrase “it’s the economy stupid…” their mantra in two presidential election wins. They surmised that what mattered most to American was not foreign policy, crime, or smaller government. What mattered most to people was the economy; how much money they had to live on and to pass onto their children. That was what people cared most about, and if they could (and they did) talk about it and tell their story and their plan—in a way in which most Americans could understand, then pull it of – they would win. It’s the economy stupid! Money matters to people, and the economy will win or loose people elections almost (see 9-11, the terror scare and the politics of fear approach of the Republican Party) every time

I watched CNN’s presentation of Black in America last night, as I hope most informed forward thinking people I this country did. I thought the first of their two part series was excellent. I look forward to the second installment tonight. In light of that this blog past will be fairly short, and I want to hear from you the readers. I will pose the questions and then give you my opinion. I hope that you respond with your opinions whether you agree with me or not.

What is the most pressing issue facing Black America today?

I hope there are lots of different answers ranging from too many children being born out of single parent homes, to wage disparity between Blacks and other ethnic groups, to the lack of wealth creation versus rampant consumerism in our community. I want to hear arguments from you about all of these issues.

I contend that this single biggest problem facing Black America is the problem of education; access to quality education, the devaluation of it as a priority in our community, and the dearth of viable equal and functional educational choices for Black inner-city children.

Education is the great equalizer. My mother stated at FAMU, but only got thru one year before having to drop out to work. My father never went to college, or even saw it as a viable option. Instead, my dad chose to take one of the abundant blue collar jobs in a tire plant in my hometown, and then go to the military. My dad worked for 35 years in that tire plant, and retired from there to take another job and continue to provide for his family. My mother worked for the school board as a “lunch lady” a cafeteria food service employee for my HS Alma Mater. They wanted what all parent want for their children—a better life for me than they had. Their answer for that was for me to go to college. It was an EXPECTATION in my home, and as a result it is an expectation for my daughter. My education has afforded me opportunities and broadened my horizon. It has taken me to places I would have otherwise been unable to go, meet people, network and develop relationships to which I would have otherwise never been exposed. It has made me money. My education was the greatest investment made in my life to date. It took me out of my old neighborhood, and the black hole for the black men with whom I grew up and as a child called “friend.” It literally saved my life and established my future.

When our young people don’t have access to that same opportunity by virtue of attending failing, deteriorating, forgotten schools, they are being sentenced to a lifetime of second class citizenship. It is that simple. If we don’t fix the education gap in this country for African Americans then we run the risk of our entire country – which is becoming increasingly Black and Brown—no longer being the leader in the world, a “super power.” This is a national security issue, and one that should alarm every right thinking African American. It is the quintessential issue for my generation and ones to come. That’s my opinion– it’s education ….stupid!

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Bad Boy Records boss Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will take on a new presidential role when he poses in an upcoming photo shoot as U.S. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.  The hip-hop honcho will pay tribute to the Democratic candidate in an upcoming issue of Italian men’s fashion magazine L’uomo Vogue by posing as the potential world leader, according to reports.

Rapper The Game has been inundated with TV and radio offers after announcing his plans to retire.  The Los Angeles-based star insists his upcoming third album, L.A.X., will be his last and he now hopes to devote more time to his family and other business opportunities.

Rock legend Jimi Hendrix has become the latest musician to appear in video game Guitar Hero. Experience Hendrix, which controls the rock icon’s musical legacy, is providing his music and likeness for use in the game.  An avatar of Hendrix as well as the song The Wind Cries Mary and a live version of Purple Haze will be included on Guitar Hero World Tour.