Category: Hollywood

Hip Hop Pioneers Killer Mike, Big Boi, T.I. Back Rap’s Freedom Of Speech

  
Hip-hop’s First Amendment rights got a huge boost before the Supreme Court yesterday when three of Atlanta’s G.O.A.T.s, Killer Mike, Big Boi, and T.I. (among others), filed a brief on behalf of a former high school student in Texas who got punished for making a rap song in defense of female students alleging sexual harassment against teachers at the school.

The court may not decide until February whether or not to try the case. A lower court ruled against the rapper’s freedom of speech defense, arguing in part that the song was profane, vulgar, and had “numerous spelling and grammatical errors.”

Killer Mike’s response in an interview with the New York Times: “I see a kid who saw wrong happening and was outraged about it. He wrote a poem about it over a beat.” And on hip-hop’s First Amendment rights, he said: “Anyone who is learned in law is capable of separating art and lyrics, whether you agree with them or not, and actual human behavior. I think the courts understand it when it’s Johnny Cash. I think they understand it when it’s Robert Nesta Marley.”

Source | Concrete Loop 

Tupac’s ‘Thug Life Is Dead’ Jailhouse Letter On Sale For $225K

  
Tupac Shakur declared “Thug Life” was dead to him in an emotional letter that included a road map for his “homiez” to make it out of the hood — and according to TMZ, that letter is now for sale.

Tupac’s 5 page correspondence to a Death Row employee was written in 1995 while he was in jail for rape. The letter includes some deep thoughts about being ready to let someone else rep the thug life — which he famously tatted on his torso.

He wrote, “U must play the game, not let the game play u. A regular Playa plays women, a Boss Playa plays life. A Boss Playa is a thinker, a leader, a builder, a moneymaker, a souljah, a teacher and most of all, a Man! ” 

Tupac also said, “I want all my homiez to know there is another level.”

The letter is being sold by a memorabilia site called Moments in Time, the $225,000 price is fixed. 

Source | TMZ 

NFL Baller Michael Vick Lobbies To Protect Dogs 

 

Via Bossip– Even after almost 10 years, Michael Vick is still atoning for his dog-fighting transgressions back in 2007. 

To this day, there are still many people who cannot forgive the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback for his mistreatment of animals. 

Vick is on a mission to change that stigma. 

According to ESPN, he met with legislators at the Pennsylvania state capitol to impress upon them the importance of passing a bill that protects dogs who are left in hot cars during the summer.

Vick is scheduled to meet with Pennsylvania lawmakers in support of PA House Bill 1516, or the pets in cars bill, which would give police officers authority to rescue dogs and cats from cars due to unsafe temperatures.

“I know that I’m an unlikely advocate,” Vick said through a representative. “I was part of the problem. Now, my perspective can help reach people that activists can’t reach. I can help others become agents of change.”

Schoolchildren from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, will accompany Vick to the state legislature to lobby the Democratic caucus, according to the spokesperson. 

Representatives Jake Wheatley Jr. and Ed Gainey will host the visit.

It’s extremely inspiring to see Mr. Vick not only switch up his bad boy ways after prison, but work endlessly to clean up his image and now put his support behind causes benefiting animals. Life is all about redemption and it looks like he is definetly on the right road. Good job MV!