Mos Def is one of the first rappers (props to David Banner as well) to speak out about the Jena 6 case that is going down in Louisiana.
He is asking that African Americans and anybody concerned about justice to join him on Sept. 20 in Jena, La., to protest the harsh prosecution of the teens. Rev. Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson have also starting speaking out (finally). Click here to read more..
As we posted in the last Jena 6 update post, on September 20th Mychal Bell, one of the black teenagers awaiting sentencing in the Jena 6 case will be appearing before a judge in a Louisiana court house. Various rallys and events are being set up to give him support.
Mos Def is asking anyone who wants to get involved to contact info@mxgm.org. Click here for petition links and other rally info. I really wish I could make it to this.
MTV EXTENDS OLIVE BRANCH TO KANYE
You all saw Kanye flip out and heard his side of the story and now MTV released a statment. They didn’t address any of the claims that Kanye told various media outlets (probably because he was speaking the truth) but instead they complimented him and hoped that they could work together again. Read on:
“MTV has a long and collaborative relationship with Kanye and we hope and look forward to continuing that meaningful relationship,” MTV’s statement said Tuesday.
“Kanye West is a visionary performer and he didn’t let his fans down at this year’s VMA’s,” the statement said. “From his incredible renditions of “Stronger” and “The Good Life,” to the spectacular aerial shots from his multi-level suite which made for one of the grandest visuals of the night, the audience feedback on MTV.com has been overwhelming. In fact, he is the only artist to have three performances ranked in the top 15 on MTV.com.” [SOURCE]
Oh and rumor has it that Kanye is beating 50 Cent in album sales. I won’t post anything on that until it’s validated though.
ASHANTI ON BRITNEY’S VMA PERFORMANCE
When Ashanti was asked about Britney’s VMA performance she laughed, rolled her eyes and walked away, then her publicist stepped in and said, “No comment.”
A lot of people said she had no room to “talk” because she can’t sing live either. Um, imma have to say “No Comment” on that one like her publicist.
yep Ashanti was kinda bogus for that I understand but she can’t talk for shit though..her performances were just as bad as Britney’s..lol
Poor Kanye, he’s just a big kid, give him a cookie and he’ll be ok.
And Ashanti most definately can’t laugh at anybody! When was her last hit?
I am glad that someone in the hip hop community is stepping up to help. I wonder why Master P hasn’t said anything. Kanye is one of my favorite artists, but he acts like a big baby sometimes. As for Ashanti, she has no room to talk with her non singing self. She wishes she could sell as many albums as Britney.
though i thought britney’s performance was not her best ashanti had no rite 2 act like that we all kno she can’t sing or dance atleast britney can dance.
LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!!
Ashanti’s voice is ok, but SHE CAN”T DANCE!
Props to Mos Def
Kanye will beat 50 and MTV is just back peddling and stuttring trying to make a mends =P
Ashanti is right Shiney stunk up the place……I think whats worse than Ashanti laughing is other celebs i.e. 50 cent, Chris Brown etc lying and saying she was ‘really good’
oh yeah and one love to Mos Def for spaking out though about the Jena 6 thank go somebody out there cares. With kanye I understod his rant from MTV. MTV was wrong for what they did though. They used Britney to get ratings despiter her terrible performance. At This point I would like to see knaye perform “stronger” myself…also I know some people say he needs to shut up but in general you guys..his videos are uinique and different from some of his competitors. All these people complaining about how hip-hop videos lakc substance well kanye is giving you that. He works very hard on videos because he is not only a producer but a visual artist. He worked 3 months on “Stronger” and took elements from the japanese animations flick “Akira”. It was dope video and most of his videos are dope and should’ve been recognized. You guys understand where he coming from. I would’ve been mad too of course he has won a grammy but he would like to be noticed more for his videos as well due to MTV being a “Video award ceremony”
Hahaha that good Def keep up the good work…
And as for Ashanti maybe her response was a little bit less appropriate but she is still a good performer and actress let us not forget so she is steps above Britney’s cracked out ass…so lets not talk about Ashanti because yall hatin on her for one reason or another(she wit nelly)…next she didnt do anything worse than rhianna or Pdiddy whom cant speak himself for doin Kim the way he did wit his old ass…so lets not hop all over Ashanti…Britney did bad you knw it, i knw, and everybody else does too so whatever..and maybe she didnt make a comment because she feels Britney was exploited and should have never got up there lookin the way she did in the first place!
Be grown Shanti get ur Kanye on and speak the truth, but it is like the pot callin the kettle black. Whateva
What gives this wreck the nerve to laugh at anybody. MTV would never ask her to perform at the VMA’s cause she can’t sing nor dance and she has gained a lot of weight herself. I wonder if she was laughing when Irv Gotti was on the radio telling everybody that he got her goodies. Ashanti’s career is just as done with.
Please, anybody has the right to laugh at that shit. Give me a break, Ashanti was doing her thing just like Britney was when they had their time to shine. Britney f*cked up, plain and simple. I don’t see the comparison. Let’s get real, just hating on a sister, over some white trash, let the white blogs defend Britney. Give me a break with this already.
Ashanti should keep her mouth closed. She sounds just a horrible live and she dances stiff like a board. Britney was doing fine until she met K-Fed.
good for mos def helping because that ish in louisiana aint right
kanye will be kanye
and as for ashanti… no ma’am. you dont get to comment on ANYBODYs voice, performance or anything. do you understand me young lady??????
For those who can’t make it to the rally in Jena, LA on 9/20, wear black to show your support.
Check out colorofchange.com for more info about the Jena 6.
Please support the efforts in Jena LA, this just shows us that racism is still very present and this could be any U.S. city I received an email that requests all supporters of the Jena 6 to wear all black on Sept. 20. So everybody that reads this please put you black on.
Kanye needs to quit griping about the award MTV sucks anyway.
Ashanti might not be the best in live entertainer but she damn sure wasn’t as bad as Brittney.
I don’t think brit performance was that bad like the media is making it out 2 be.
She just didn’t put her all into it. She wasn’t that stiff in dancing either
*Britney
Good for Mos Def, maybe Kanye should take this opportunity to shine some light on the Jena situation instead of MTV and album sales.
Kanye is a Genius!!!! He can do what he want to do!!!!
Ashanti is strug , about to get some feedback she dont need from that. lol
Actually Rev. Al has been speaking out ever since it occurred. He’s on Tom Joyner every morning talking about it which is what we need.
As far as the whole Kanye situation goes I think alot of what he is saying is the truth and thats why MTV is responding. Alot of us are so quick to write him off as being a cry baby but you should take the time out to actually listen to what he is saying and it makes a lot of since to me. He’s not the cocky stuck up performer he’s made out to be by the media. In fact he gives props to other artists all the time. Just my thoughts.
I really wish Kanye would walk away from MTV for good. Fuck this statement. They are simply pandering to his Diva ego now because they know he might grow even bigger as an artist and just don’t wanna take the chance of not being able to pull him in for ratings in future. But i guess more money more money more more more more more is the mantra for most celebs so i can see him forgiving and forgetting.
Ashanti, you got a lot of nerve to laugh at someone else’s performance. You suck as an artist and a live performer.
Britney was real stiff, she didn’t want to sweat out that bad hair job!!!!!!
Um,Ashanti did have the right to act the way she acted! that performance was bogus!& anyone would have acted the same way! If asked right after the show!(& if they was gonna keep it real like she did!) But rumor is Britney was set up by MTV in the boot department(a broke ass heel) & that’s why all the ho could do was rub on her titties in two-step.LMAO!They got a video on youtube!
Ashanti is pretty much in the same boat as Britney. Besides the weak vocals, I mean, when was her last cd?! The only time she’s in the press is when she’s out partying when Nelly. So yeah, she has to make a comeback too!
Why in the hell is she always laughing???? She laughs too damn much!!!!!!!! Dont get me wrong, Britney’s perfomance was WACK AS HELL!! But Ashanti’s no singing ass cant even much talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She cant sing live or in the studio! Her performances are boring and stiff! She better just hurry up and marry Nelly quick!
Wow…
Ashanti laughing???… Honey you’re just one steak away & you haven’t had any kids~
# 8 I agree about Stronger that video should have won over Umbrella. Ye is passionate about his work that y I respect him.
julieisadime
Nobody is hating on Ashanti. Ashanti cool people but for her to laugh at her performance was kinda rude. I would’ve kept it real but not laugh and roll my eyes when my ass has been laughed for my subpar performances. Shit Ahsnai thad online petitions against her for winnig an award during her prime not her fall..lmao Brtiney when she was out with Ashanti, performed her ass off and had better stage presence than her. Ashanti has never been taken serious. please don’t bring the “crabs and the barrels” speech just because she is black doesn’t mean we have to excuse her ignorance. Ashanit single sucks ass. Briney single is hot but Britney has issues honey..I think she is mentally ill and needs some time away from the media like Mariah had done
Hahahaha lmao last cd ummm…concrete rose which all yall was singin to AWW baby and all that…so now here go the haterz again…..!!!!! and that new single Switch im sure yall be switchin in the club to that too…so dont hate good music is good music and Britney ummm…its been about WOW!!!! 4 years….
Ashanti, I have to say you should stop it baby girl cause you and brit both can’t sing, but she has had some better performances and album sales than you hun and even sunday night, she still danced better than you and she was on her worst day. I hate when people like ashanti who need to improve, have the nerve to talk about others.
Give those in the real fight for life a break.
Al Sharpton and the National Action Network, as well as Warren Ballintine have been talking about and generating support for the Jena 6 for several months now.
Long before any posts showed up on your site. Dislike the personalities all you want but be truthful about the work that is being done.
Saw Kanye on 106 and park yesterday. He gave his side of he VMA outburst and it sounded reasonable not to want to mess with MTV again, but he also left some wiggle room by saying they have done alot to help his career, so we’ll see. If that, that doesn’t kill you, only makes you “Stronger”, I need for him to exercise some of that strength and stop hissy fittin when they don’t pick you for their stinking award Be scrong bro, be scrooong!
His sets were cool, although I’m impartial to “Can’t tell me nothing”. The “Big Brother ” song was “a’ight”, might have to grow on me. Good looking for Jay, showing up with the “Encore”
Kanye did shout out concreteloop though. (we’re reaching him black people)
50 pretty much has conceded that his album won’t beat Kanye’s and appeared to be happy just to be included in the spectacle. I will still cop his album, mainly for that “Ayo Technology” and “Full Clip”, those are my two picks so far.
Both albums will serve a purpose depending on my mood during my commute to work (70 miles one way). I like both artist.
Mos (I’m with you brother. Can’t make it to Louisiana, but you definitely have my support and so do the Jena 6).
Ashanti? Don’t laugh homegirl, you’re not exactly music royalty. In fact, You did better on “John Tucker must die!” than on any stage I’ve see you on (and I have seen you boo). Shave that unibrow.
I’m all for activism, but going down to Jenna, or any where else to say, what’s not right, is so stupid. So, people take a day out of their lives and go down south, to hear people with the same rhetoric, and give donations to the defense team, it’s nt going to change one thing. Unless black people start changing their tactics , like if you want to make changes, start by hitting the economy, which is the most precious thing in the eyes of the establishment. Why not on the week of the protest, blacks stop working, stop buying over priced fashion labels? Tell NBA and NFL, NBL, to not play any games until things changed. See, new blacks , not the old school from the civil rights movement, think that protesting will change, just like the bus boycott in alambama worked because the bus companies were losing money. So, that’s what blacks need to do. Because, all this wear black and go down to Jenna is stupid. It’s not going to change. To get white people’s attention, one has to disable their cash flow.
I saw that the yesterday where they said Ashanti was laughing at Britney. I mean I am no huge Britney fan, but I like some of her stuff and I was like Ashanti, how can you laugh at ANYONE. And Rihanna was laughing at her too during the performance. I was like these two tricks who can’t perform live to save their lives laughing at a performer who is good (love her or hate her) but just down in the dumps these days. Both Ashanti and Rihanna need to check themselves before they laugh at anyone/
I used to like Ashanti until that “Punk’d” episode where she acted really stupid and portrayed a really bad sense of selfentitlement. I always felt that she was always saved by good production and catchy hooks (because her voice is a tad whiney for my tastes). But I will not deny that she has made some cool hits for herself.
That being said, she has no room to talk about someone else’s performance. When it comes to performing, Ashanti is borderline awful herself. 2 left feet (which prove she was never a dancer like her bio claims she was) and out of breath vocals. I still never forget the performance she did on “106 and Park” where she sang “Folish” off key and with boot marks on her ankles.
As for Britney, she may not be ontop of her game now, but at least at 25 she has accomplished plenty in her career. 80 million albums sold is nothing to sneeze at, and she still holds the record for 1st week sales for a female artist. So while shd may be troubled right now and bugging, Britney still has the resources to get in shape and get on track. For a person who has been so universally lambasted lately, I wish I was able to make 730K a month without actually working.
But Ashanti? What does she have? And her main contributor to her success (Irv Gotti) is going around dogging her. Also, she is stuck behind “WiggyPopLocksNWails” shadow. And as much as I am not a Beyaki stan, she casts a huge fucking shadow. So it’s safe to say she will never break away from the Beyaki-itis.
By comparison, Britney is not in direct competition with Beyonce. Who is Britney’s competition really? Fergie? Furtado? Scherzinger? They are all interchangeable really, so if Britney got her shit together, she will be fine.
Ashanti’s only hope is for Beyonce to bug out like Lauren Hill and disappear. And that shit aint happening no time soon.
Big Up Mos!!!
Equality is for Everyone, not just the Caucazoids ~ (smh) Will they ever get it??
lol nah we ain’t hating but Ashanti needs to worry about her won career rather than laughin at someone elese’s performance..is Chris Brown laughed at her performance I would’ve never said anything because he can perform and did well sunday nite..but when has ashanit ver bought the house down ahs gotten standing ovations? Never has!..even britney in her prime..I ain’t stanning for brit but you gotta understand she was a world wide pop star..who has taken a bad hit..I like some of Ashani songs but she needed alot of work as an artist vocally and dancing wise
EVEN THOUGH BRITNEY’S PERFORMANCE WAS WACK….ASHANTI AIN’T HAVE TO ACT S*****Y LIKE DAT’.I SGREE WITH THE POST”she had no room to talk and can’t sing live for sh*t.” SHE AIN’T NOBODY EITHER TO ACT LIKE THAT.I AIN’T HATING, BUT YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE.KANYE, GET OVER IT.THE REST..I DON’T CARE.
Kanye still sucks, his ego is bigger than his music.
We are getting one side to the story. It probably seem ridiculous that they even asked her that question and she laughed it off. It’s not like BritBrit was on stage for the first time in her life. She has been performing in front of the camera for 15years, at least. So yes, she could have done A LOT BETTER. Rhianna was laughing her ass off while BritBrit was perfoming on stage. But in all honesty, Britney needs to be laughed at cause she really thinks she is the SH** when RIGHT NOW she is definitly not. Everyone have been trying to help her and she refuse any help. She needs to be held responsible for what she did or should I say, did not do. It Brit fault.
I am tired of this Brit story. She was and is a HOT ASS MESS. Let’s keep it real. Don’t feel sorry for someone whom doesn’t feel sorry for themselves. Even after her lackluster, demeaning performance on MTV, she went partying with P DIDDY. So she didn’t care. LOL!
@ Bohwe
good post..very good!
WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND IS WHY IS THIS SUCH A “BIG” SHOCK TO EVERYBODY!!!!! (BRIT’S PERFORMANCE)
Y’ALL NEVER SAW HER EXERCISING OR DOING SH$T ELSE TO MAKE SURE SHE WOULD HAVE A GOOD “SO-CALLED” COME BACK, SO WHY ARE WE SURPRISED???
GO DRINK SOME MORE RED BULLS AND CHILL OUT BRIT……LOL
Super cent
true dat everyone actually is at fault for this britney project..mtv, her representatives, and herself. She seem like she didn’t care at all and that’s what’s sad..briney is the prime example of the indusrty not giving a fuck about you!
Kanye’s album is also not great. He suffers from feeding into his ego too much. It’s as if he becomes self indulgent while recording and goes overboard. Some songs on his CD go on way too long.I have the same problem with his album that I had with Christina and Justin’s CD’s. Too extra, and the short and sweet songs on their CD’s are what rock it better than the other shit.
And for someone who feels like he is such an innovator (and he is very talented for sure) his CD pushes no boundaries. Especially when he jumped on the T-Pain bandwagon and recorded a song with him. I don’t hate on T-Pain, he’s hustling and his songs are catchy as fuck, but he is a passing fad.
One more thing, the Common album “Finding Forever” is better than “Graduation”. Explain to me how a CD you produced for someone else is better than your own?
Stronger is hot, Can’t Tell Me Nothing is hot, Homecomming is hot. The rest? OK.
So calm it down.
SO what Ashanti had every reason to roll her eyes….Maybe she was rolling her eyes cause Britney Spears performance was one of the most anti climactic events in the history of the world…Maybe she was rolling her eyes cause Britney didn’t do anything but move her lips and look scared…Im not a huge Ashanti fan but I would take her over and of the broads that have current stuff out.
Oh yeah and Kanye is a whiny baby who can’t handle competition…The dude buys his way into stuff and whines when he gets duped.
blackisbeautiful
what crabs in the barrel speach?
It’s a known fact that black women hate on each other daily, so please.
Ashanti is human. Most people there had negative things to say. She was just being honest, or maybe she should have been fake, then you would have something to say about that.
neither one of them are fabulous singers, as I said, Britney as well as Ashanti had their time to shine and Britney screwed up. period. But I do sense a hint of jealousy in some of these statements. Just my opinion.
Oh and thank god for Mos
Rihanna was not laughing at Britney actually, if you watch her and her friend were looking at the striper dancing above them in the cage. Rihanna actually knows how to play the “Mutual Admiration Society” game and not be a bitch. When asked about the performance she only offered support.
As far as her partying with Diddy, that happened the night before. Britney was a wreck after the performance according to published reports and was crying hysterically, and her brother came to take her ass back to LA.
She was still really bad, but again, Ashanti has no room to talk.
I WILL BE THERE,..IT IS ONLY 204 MILES FROM WHERE I AM RESIDING,..I’M SO TIRED OF THIS SHIT. JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED!
Ashanti need to shut up. I really feel bad for Brit. I blame MTV for the whole thing. They did this shit for ratings. They new that Brittany was not ready to perform. They just forced her to do it. Because they new everybody was going to watching the VMA’s for “Brittany’s Big Comeback”. And it backfired and now she getting all the back lash. POOR Britt
CAN’T BE THERE IN JENA BUT WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY OVER THIS….ALSO SHOUT OUT TO BUN B!
Y’all give Ashanti a fucking break, Britney sucked and everybody knows, and have said so. So why the fuck are y’all giving Ashanti hell about it when she did’nt even really open her mouth, besides no matter how bad you think she is, she does a 100% better than what Brit did at the VMA’S.
ashanti needs to shut the fuck up, she cannot sing, dance or act, MTV knows exactly what they was doing, they just wanted the raitings, i feel that everyone needs to understand that she is human and make mistakes, i feel that her body was not bad for a women who just had 2 kids back to back, and plus she has so much on her right now, and the media is beating her ass down, ashanti needs to sit her fugly ass down.
@ # 29, LMAO….@ A STEAK AWAY!!!
I’ll say this on Ashanti. We all know how reporters can twiste things around. I cant wait until she actually says what really went down. But its strange how people only want to post what she said about Brittany performance. Half of the damn people in the crowd said enough with their facial expressions. Maybe that wasn’t the first reporter that asked her that question. She coulda been rolling her eyes at the reporter. And you said that a lot of people said she had no room to talk. Who are this people & where is your source? SMH, ha ha ha (laughs & rolls eyes) on the topic………..
BABE21, cosign
Ashanti u ok but shut the fuck up. You aint no where near Brit! Yes o girl maybe down but she will bounce back. Kanye may need some anger management but In dont think MTV is telling tha whole story. O yea Mary looked fab as always on Sunday Bee 2! Lil Mama needs to be kicked in her ass.