African American Rapper

May 20 2013

“Black Skinhead,” “New Slaves”

Two “Saturday Night Live” sets, an Instagram snapshot and 66 projector images later, we now have a better picture of what’s to come on Kanye West’s anticipated new album.

As promised, the rapper — not to be confused with a celebrity — didn’t take part in any of the skits for “SNL’s” season finale/swan song for cast member Bill Hader. But he didn’t need to — over the course of two songs, West still left a lasting impression.

Apr 9 2013

Song accomplished what art is supposed to be

LL Cool J’s collaboration with Brad Paisley, “Accidental Racist,” has kicked up a lot of dust, but the rapper seems to have expected as much.

As he told CNN, the song, which is from Paisley’s newly released album “Wheelhouse,” is a “bold statement” not just for country music, but for music in general.

Apr 8 2013

Song getting crushed by the critics

Brad Paisley and LL Cool J broach sensitive topics in their new collaboration, “Accidental Racist,” and it’s left some critics hoping the entire song was an accident.

The track is part of Paisley’s new album, “Wheelhouse,” and was sparked by the reaction the country star said he received after he wore a shirt with the Confederate flag on it to showcase his adoration for the band Alabama.

Mar 29 2013

Had three seizures in a row

There was so little information surrounding Lil Wayne’s hospitalization two weeks ago that at one point it seemed the rapper was either on his deathbed, or just resting up.

But on Thursday, the rapper called in to Los Angeles radio station Power 106 and explained that the seizure that landed him in the hospital was far from his first.

Mar 27 2013

City attorney to decide drunk driving charges

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Prosecutors decided there’s not enough evidence against Too Short to prosecute him him on a felony drug charge made against him a week ago.

Los Angeles Police arrested the West Coast rapper for meth possession and driving under the influence of alcohol on a Hollywood street during a traffic stop last Wednesday.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”