On a side note: Will celebrities stay their asses off of Twitter, especially when they are in a pissy mood with the folk who write their checks (ie. The Industry). Damn – it’s like they need the same conversations women get before going into the porn industry: These images are forever. You can’t take them back. They can (and likely will) haunt you later. Note to celebs: STFU and work your issues out off line…Twitter ain’t the place.

With that said, I don’t get what Chris Brown doesn’t get about the mollywhopping he lad on Rihanna roughly 11 months ago. Her police photo left an indelible impression on many people’s brains. Even if folk want to like you, you still that dude who beat the shit out of his girlfriend in a fit of rage — and then left the scene leaving her to fend for herself. This doesn’t make folk (industry or otherwise) feel warm and fuzzy about you.

Honestly it was too soon for you to release a cd and go on tour. TOO SOON. I don’t know who your “people” are, but they should have told your ass to sit down, be quiet, do some community service, stay out of the limelight, keep your nose clean and seem like a contrite, humble young man who fully recognizes the gravity of his situation.

Instead you come off like an entitled spoiled brat who expects everyone to forget that he beat his famous girlfriend’s face into a pulp a scant year ago just because he did a bunch of (incoherent) interviews and said a bunch of “I’m Sorries.”  Sorry buddy – but that doesn’t cut it.

So yes, as shady and frustrating as it may be, there are probably going to be stores, stations and other establishments who want no part of the Chris Brown Rehabilitation Project. They’re probably thinking of their sisters, daughters, nieces and thinking if a punk ass kid put their hands on their loved ones they’d put their foot in his ass – NOT help sell his comeback record.

So Chris I’m going to end this by saying: Sit down. Shut up. Stay off of Twitter. And be grateful that you still have a career left to rehab. Instead of being pissy about the people who won’t play or sell your record – be grateful for the ones who will. This is a time in your life where you need to focus on the positive and be eternally grateful and humble that there are still so many people who are willing to take this journey with you.

In the months since Swift-Gate Taylor has hosted Saturday Night Live, appeared on every talk show known to man, has several news commercials and won the CMA and the AMA artist of the year.

Really America?

Really?

Hell her CMA victory was such a shock that Wynonna Judd spoke on it:

On Wednesday, Taylor Swift became the youngest artist ever to win the Country Music Association Awards’ top honor: Entertainer of the Year.

But Wynonna Judd doesn’t think Swift, 19, is ready for such a top honor.

“You want my honest comment? It’s too much too soon,” the singer told USA Today before the show. “Time is God’s way of keeping everything from happening at once. It’s just too much of a good thing too soon.”

Judd, 45, added: “My thing is, being a home-school mom, I want kids to earn it, and I think some time … ’cause mom and I rode in a car for the first year of our career to visit radio stations. There was a making of the star, there was a rising up, and the fans went with us.

“Now it’s over coffee breaks, the success, almost,” she added. “You have to play catch up … It’s like the girl who wins an Oscar and she’s under 20. What do you do from here?”

Personally I think that’s Wynonna’s way of saying, “What the hell did this cookie cutter child do to earn Country Music Artist of the Year?”

But that could just be me projecting.

Honestly though, it never ceases to amaze me when race and white femininity meet in America. White femininity must be protected at all cost…especially from the big black monster. How dare a black man get out of pocket with a young pretty white country girl. HOW DARE HE!

It’s like all of (white) America rallied around poor Taylor:

“Are you okay baby? No? Here go appear on Regis and Kelly to talk things out”

“Are you okay darling? No? How about you host SNL?”

“Are you okay sugarplum? No? Here here’s some CMA awards. Oh that’s not enough? here’s some AMA’s too!”

None of this would have happened if he’d insulted a black girl. It would have been completely different.

Kanye could have insulted *Ciara and not a damn thing would have happened. There would have been no meteoric rise to fame. No SNL. No AMA’s. No talk shows. Hell she would have been lucky to make it on the TJMS (that’s Tom Joyner Morning Show for those who don’t know).

The world would not have cared.

America would not have rallied.

We all would have chalked it up to Kanye being Kanye.

*On a Side Note: I know somewhere Ciara is cursing the day she was born a black girl.  She’s at least wishing for a “Nappy Headed Hos” moment so she can drum up some interest in her fourth album that no one seems to know she’ s working on

And that’s because black women aren’t afforded the same level of concern. We aren’t delicate flowers to be protected at all costs. We’re mules. The Strong Black Woman. We can take a lick and keep on ticking.  We’re expected to take a lick and to keep on ticking. Add in a heaping dose of mammy-ism and the proper black woman would have been insulted by Kanye, brushed it off her shoulders and then invited him over the house for dinner ’cause we all know no matter what happens to black women, black men are always the real victims.

Ah…to be a white woman in America.

Must be nice.

So I saw an article the other day that suggested Gucci Mane is the new Lil Wayne. I clicked on it out of curiosity, but it was poorly written and the author did a piss poor job of stating his case…so I left and thought nothing more of it.

But as the days pass and I continue to encounter Gucci everywhere I turn, it got me to thinking: Is Gucci Mane the new Lil’ Wayne?

Now I will readily admit I’m partial to southern hip hop in general and Gucci Mane in particular. After all he did record my theme song some of the hottest club bangers in the last couple of years.

And before you Lil’ Wayne cultists attack me and suggest that Gucci Mane doesn’t possess the skills on his best day that Lil’ Wayne has on his worst, I’d argue being the new Lil’ Wayne doesn’t have anything to do with talent or lyrical skills.

I’d also argue that Lil’ Wayne doesn’t have the skills that everyone claims he has, but that’s another post for another day.

What Lil’ Wayne has/had is a work ethic that’s unmatched by anyone in his industry and possibly only matched by Tyler Perry. Hence their incredible success. Wayne also was willing to jump on any and everyone’s record and he flooded the streets with mixtapes, combined with catchy beats and occassional glimmers of genius, he was able to take his southern hood swag and tun it into mainstream gold.

Gucci apparently looked, listened and learned from the Lil’ Wayne Playbook and (while in jail) took notes and plotted out how he was going to do the same. And from the looks of things his plan is working.

So how has Gucci mastered the art of going from hood star to mainstream (Lil’ Wayne) success:

1. Have the Hood on Lock

Gucci has a huge fan base that’s not online waxing poetic about hip hop’s best lyricists. He use to work the strip club circuit and had several underground hits, on with Jeezy that eventually led to their falling out and an attempt on his life – but that’s another story. The point is before he attempted his mainstream success there was already a huge following in place to aid in his ascent to clearer (read whiter) audiences.

2. Become a Mixtape King

Lil Wayne did it – as have any number of other artists. “It” being a Mixtape king. And Gucci Mane has done the same. The idea with the mixtape is to keep the buzz going about you even if you don’t have  a “mainsteream” album or record out. And let’s face it, tracks form mixtapes are notorious for becoming underground hits and certified club bangers.  Gucci has done this with “Brrussia,” “Great Brritain” and “Guccimerica” to name a few.

3. Guest on Any and Everyone’s Record

Gucci is for hire. You can’t turn on the radio these days without hearing a new Gucci laden track, even from the most mainstream of artists. From Yo Gotti’s “Five Star Chick” to Mario’s “Breakup” Gucci is the go to man if you have 16 bars to spare (sound familiar?).

4. Have Catchy Lyrics and Memorable Catch Phrases

Gucci!

Come on, you know you want to say it every time you hear his name. An you know since Gucci has been on the scene ‘Brr” has taken on new meaning.The point is Gucci has given you the tools to remember him…whether you want to or not. And while I won’t be making any arguments that Gucci Mane is a top notch lyricist I will say he is quite entertaining. Just check out Gucci’s lyrics on Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed” Remix:

I guess shorty mad cos he ain’t got you no more,

so just like Pinocchio, his nose gon grow,

Gucci Mane, Mariah Carey bling blaww wow,

i wish i had a lie detector test right now

he hit my girl word, old is what ya heard,

he know he a bird, i know he a nerd,

catch me in the A with a bad yellow bong,

9, 10, 11, 12 diamond chains on.

Come on…you gotta admit..that ish is fiyah.

5. Go from the Streets Talking to the Mainstream Talking

Gucci Mane was given the number 6 spot on MTV’s hottest MC’s list. Whether you agree with it or not, he’s gotten the mainstream to talk about him and rnk him on a list that no one even though he’d be considered for, let alone make, a year ago. And I’m sure that many of the hip hop aficionados sitting at that table would have never chosen Gucci to make the list, hell Eminem, ludacris and T.I. didn’t make the list, yet Gucci did. Love’em or hate’em….he’s got the mainstream talking.

So there you have it. Gucci Mane is definitely inching towards Lil’ Wayne status and proving with time, luck and a lil’ talent the hoodest of hood rappers can make the transition to the mainstream

Gucci!

According to “internet reports” (SMH at us having to do this now) Mathew is being sued by a woman in her late 30s named Alexsandra Wright who is claiming that she’s carried on an affair with the married Mr Knowles. And that she’s currently 6 months pregnant.

And what does Bey’s mama Tina have to say about it? Well she was spotted yesterday (after the lawsuit was filed and the CACA HIT THE FAN) wearing her diamond wedding ring.

From NBC Washington:

Looks like Beyonce’s married dad is still a fan of the single ladies.

Mathew Knowles was slapped with a paternity suit this week, TMZ reported. He’s accused of fathering a young actress’ love child — even though he’s been married for over 20 years to Beyonce’s mother Tina.

Alexsandra Wright, an actress who appeared in a bit part on the TV show “Scrubs,” filed the paternity case against Knowles in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming Knowles is the father of her baby.

Wright, said to be in her late 30s, is six months pregnant, TMZ reported.

Damn.

You know TMZ stay all over this itype of sh

They gotta pay their snitches well.

As far as Mathew Knowles…well you know Tina ain’t gonna leave his trifling ass…gotta keep up appearances.

I wonder how Beyonce and Solange is dealing with all of this.

I can see Solange’s Twitter account blowing up with the “You know your daddy’s cheating…right?” type of tweets.

SMH.

Well Lil Wayne will be standing trial come March for those Arizona gun possession and drug charges:

Lil Wayne will go on trial next March on felony drug possession and weapons charges he faces in Yuma County, Ariz.

The trial date was set during a court hearing in Yuma on Thursday, it will take place at 1:30 p.m. March 30, 2010. A final trial management conference will also be scheduled by written court order and take place about two weeks before the trial.

The case against Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, stems from his arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8 east of Yuma in January 2008. Authorities said they found cocaine, Ecstasy and a handgun on his tour bus.

Well I would say the Wayne would easily get out of these charges, but considering the recent fates of Lil’ Boosie and Plaxico Burress…maybe not.

Marking it’s 14th week atop the Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, the Black Eyed peas, “I Gotta Feeling,” has tied Mariah Carey’s “I Belong Together,” for the longest number one streak of this decade.

The Peas also look set to beat Usher’s 28 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard charts which he accomplished with four different singles back in 2004.

If you count the Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow,” 12 consecutive weeks at number 1 the Peas have been at the top of the Hot 100 for 26 consecutive weeks. Not too shabby for the pop/hip-hop group.

Personally I don’t understand the appeal of the Black Eyed Peas, especially these two songs in particular, but apparently I’m the only one.

Congrats on their success however. 26 consecutive weeks at number one is not too shabby, particularly in this age of disposable music.

By the time Mariah Carey appears in a pivotal scene in the movie Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” By Sapphire, it’s easy to forget she’s a glamorous chart-topper with flawless makeup and designer tastes. As tears well up in her unadorned eyes onscreen, she is transformed into welfare case worker Ms. Weiss. Lenny Kravitz’s role in the film is not as much of a stretch. He plays Nurse John, a charming rock star of the ward, so to speak, who makes the girls’ hearts flutter.

“From my first film, Monster’s Ball, with Puffy and Mos Def to Macy Gray in Shadowboxer, Eve in The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon, a musician has been in every film I’ve done,” says director/producer Lee Daniels in a one-on-one interview with Rolling Stone during the Toronto International Film Festival. “I love musicians. I’m going to do a musical next year [with Kravitz]. I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

So how did he know Carey could successfully take on that role?

“Because we’d just finished working together in a film. It’s called Tennessee, by a Canadian director Aaron Woodley, a little tiny movie and she starred in it for me. We became really good friends and I knew that she had the chops,” says Lee. “She does an incredible impersonation of Aretha Franklin. Not her singing voice but her speaking voice! She channels people’s voices.”

A musical with Lenny Kravitz?

Yeah..I’m a little scared of that.

But Daniel’s use of musicians sort of smacks of a guy who wanted o be one himself, but couldn’t. Though I am pretty psyched about Carey’s role in the film since the snippets I’ve seen were fabulous. She’s obviously grown quite a bit from “Glitter” to now and I’d like to see that evolution take place in “Precious.” Unfortunately, however it is still up in the air on whether or not I will see the film as I’ve read the book and don’t think I want to sit through seeing it live and in color.

Congratulations to Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey and Mo’nique as there is strong Oscar buzz for the latter two.

Please?

I know I’m not helping by writing about it, but the only reason I’m writing about it is because of the high level of hypocrisy surrounding the whole event. In an industry filled with drug dealers, drug users, women beaters and child molesters the fact that Kanye West made the pretty, country (white) pop princess cry is somehow worthy of all the outrage over the past couple of days.

Look, Kanye West is an egomaniacal, spoiled jerk.

This isn’t the first egomaniacal jerky thing he’s done.

This isn’t even his worst outburst.

But everyone’s acting like Taylor Swift has to be saved from the big, black bogeyman, even when the black bogeyman is more a cowardly lion.

She has more than been apologized too and as someone noted on Twitter it’s not like this happened at the Grammy’s but at the VMA’s the “…equivalent of getting a scratch and sniff sticker on your final term paper.”

This has all gone overboard and all the calls for Kanye’s career to be over are ludicrous, especially considering that R. Kelly, up until very recently, had a very successful singing career and still has a successful writing and producing career and he isn’t the only fallen star to be offered forgiveness.

In this country issues of black and white are rarely black and white and when you factor in Swift’s age, looks and musical genre Kanye created a perfect shitstorm for himself when he decided to have another one of his Kanye-isms on the VMA stage.

However, just as I feel the reaction and continued reaction to Michael Vick’s crime and his subsequent reinstatement to the NFL is over the top and unjustified the reaction to Kanye West’s “disrespect” of Taylor Swift is over the top and unjustified as well…besides with all the crap we have going in this country, is this really where our atention should be focused? Can we get back to some real news already.

I love the Van Peebles. And that Melvin is Dap Daddy supreme:

The International Black Film Festival of Nashville has honored Melvin and Mario Van Peebles for innovative film making.

Festival officials said in a news release that the father-son team has emerged years in front of their counterparts.

A weekend reception thanked the two and their families for relocating to Nashville to shoot an upcoming film.

Melvin Van Peebles is known as a pioneer in the film industry for blacks. Festival officials said his film “Sweet Sweetback”s Baadasssss Song” catapulted his career and a new era of black focused films.

Odds Against Tomorrowis a 1959 film about a bank heist gone array because of the racism of two of the bank robbers. Belafonte sat down for an interview with the Chicago Defender and spoke about the festival and the film:

Chicago Defenderr: How did you become involved with the NOIR CITY film event?

Harry Belafonte: I was in a place minding my own business when this person walked up to me and said, “You could do in my community a great service,” and I said what community and what is this service? He told me about the NOIR festival in Chicago and asked if I would come…I love Chicago and any excuse to come there, I’ll take in a minute. Also, it was a NOIR film festival, which has to do with culture alike. And then the fact that it was my picture and a picture that has meant a lot to my life, there was no reason to say no.

CD: You produced one of the feature films shown, titled “Odds Against Tomorrow.” How did that picture come about?

HB: I created a company called Harbel. I created it because I felt that in the Black community of culture, we were most barren in the display of ownership and in the display of control over choice, and we needed to create engines that would develop the capacity to take this problem in the Black community, to be challenged by it and develop a methodology that would help us become more independent of the Hollywood system, perhaps even with the help of the Hollywood system, if you could find such benevolence. It was the first Black producing company since the earlier years of the great Black film historian and creator Oscar Micheaux. My first selection was “Odds Against Tomorrow.” I was very fortunate to get the kind of cast, the kind of director and the kind of resources that were put into making this film.

CD: You can say the film is kind of controversial, especially for the time period in which it was made. When this film premiered how would you describe its reception?

HB: Some people loved it obviously. A lot of people didn’t because they felt it wasn’t the way Black people should look on the screen. Having this race conflict on the screen around a caper plot was for them quite alien. (Being made) conscious about social inequities was a harsh pill for them to swallow because they were not only being entertained, they were also being brought to the table of conscience. Most go to the movies to escape from social truth; you go to the movies to live in the world of the abstract, and great films don’t do that. Great films are quite the contrary. They make you think, they stimulate you. So that’s what we did, and since no Black producer had existed up until that moment, and nobody was setting out to make a “theme” picture that was rooted in the Black experience, it was quite an unusual thing for the audience. Even the critics were stumbled over themselves trying to find out how to define this movie because they themselves could not honorably deal with the issue of race. Technically it’s one of the best movies of the day.

You can read the rest of the interview here.

Purchase Odds Against Tomorrow