Keepingitreal

Oakland police drug warrants under question

OAKLAND — At least eight Oakland police patrol officers have been removed from street duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation into concerns about how those officers obtained search warrants in drug cases.Numerous drug cases could be dismissed depending on the outcome, officials said.Allegations involve officers using purported narcotics obtained through undercover buys from suspected drug dealers as probable cause to get warrants to search the suspects' homes. The problem lies in the possibility the officers obtained search warrants before the police crime lab confirmed the purchased substances were actual narcotics.Sources said the department launched a weeks-long investigation after discovering the potential problem, but it does not appear the officers involved were deliberately using false information to obtain search warrants. Rather, they said it was more a case of carelessness and a lack of training."It may be that one or more police officers are making misrepresentations as to a fact in support of searching someone's house," said Alameda County Assistant Public Defender Ray Keller. "If that's the case, then it could have a dramatic impact on whether the search is lawful or not."Keller said if the alleged misconduct is proven, evidence could be thrown out or convictions overturned, but these would not be automatic outcomes."We don't know the scope of the problem yet," Keller said. "At this Keller said the public defender's office was alerted to the investigation last week, when it received a memo from Alameda County District Attorney Tom Orloff.Orloff declined to comment, except to say his office is "still receiving information." He added, "We have not started a criminal investigation at this point."Police officials declined to comment Monday. They are expected to discuss the issue today, after meeting with the Oakland city attorney.The Oakland Police Department has not had a dedicated narcotics unit for several years, and most street narcotics enforcement is now done by "problem-solving officers," who don't answer regular service calls but are dedicated to quality of life issues and ongoing, neighborhood-specific problems, and other specialized units.Almost all the officers under investigation work in East Oakland and are problem-solving officers. As investigations continue, the officers could face disciplinary action ranging from suspension to termination.SOURCE:OAKLANDTRIBUNE.COM 

Failure to Lead

The rollercoaster ride is nowhere near over. That was the message sent down from Capitol Hill yesterday as initial optimism quickly gave way to shock when the voting started in the House and it became clear that there weren't enough votes to approve the $700 billion bailout plan. Lawmakers rejected the compromise rescue package on a 228-205 vote, and nervous investors quickly pressed the sell button. The markets began to plummet at the first sign of trouble and by the end of the day the Dow Jones industrial average fell by almost 778 points, a new record. It was "the most devastating stock market collapse in 21 years," declares the Los Angeles Times. USA Today notes that the 7 percent plunge "didn't even make the Dow's all-time top 10" but goes on to point out that the broader Standard & Poor's 500 index suffered its worst day since 1987's "Crash Monday." The Wall Street Journal highlights that the closely watched VIX index, which is often referred to as "the fear index," closed "at its highest levels in its 28-year history.""Rarely has a congressional vote held such high drama and produced such immediate repercussions," notes the Washington Post. While it was expected that many rank-and-file lawmakers would go against the wishes of their leaders, most were expecting that the compromise bailout plan would pass the House after the marathon weekend negotiations. Even the White House declared itself optimistic before the vote. "The outcome after a slightly more than 40-minute vote on the House floor left lawmakers almost speechless," says the New York Times. But not for long. Republican and Democratic leaders quickly took to the microphones and angrily blamed each other for the bill's defeat. To continue reading, click here.

iPHONE Daily Blog Buzz 09.30.08

Award-winning independent filmmaker Craig Ross Jr. is taking movie distribution to a new level. Motivated by the increasing need to find new ways to impress film projects on audiences, Ross is taking his latest film “The Mannsfield 12” directly to 100 million consumers in one location -- MySpace "Sometimes fans freak out. It might be a shock to see me, but that's no reason for people to act crazy, and it doesn't give them license to chase me down the street," says rock star Prince, who converted to the religion in 2001 and says he makes personal visits to strangers' homes. Fans of rap star Ludacris were on hand at New York's Tribeca Cinemas Thursday night to hear the unveiling of four new tracks from his Def Jam album "Theater of the Mind" ahead of its Oct. 21 release. Kanye West, Diddy and 50 Cent are among a bevy of rap celebrities who have donated some of their expensive jewelry pieces to an auction house for charity, reports People.com. A new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows 46% of people who watched Friday night's presidential debate say Democrat Barack Obama fared better than Republican John McCain, who received 34% of the vote. Congress has recommended that a presidential pardon should be granted to Jack Johnson, the first black world heavyweight boxing champion. Continue Reading... "I just want to go on record saying that I declared back in May of last year that I was not going to use my show as a platform because I chose as a private citizen to speak out for the candidate of my choice and made a decision that none of the candidates would be coming on the show. That was in 2006 the last time he was here. The real thing is, there was this story that I had snubbed [ Alaska ] Governor [Sarah] Palin. I never snubbed Governor Palin 'cause there never was a discussion about Governor Palin being on this show. There wasn't a discussion. There was a report on the internet that said that it happened. I said, 'that didn't happen and no, I will not be interviewing her on the show during the election because I'm not interviewing anyone during the election.' Continue Reading... The trailer to Will Smith's latest film, 'Seven Pounds' is now online. Directed by Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness), the film also features Rosario Dawson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper and Woody Harrelson.In the film, Smith plays Ben Thomas, a 'guilt-ridden IRS agent who inadvertently falls in love while attempting to kill himself.' Rosario Dawson's playing the love interest who suffers from a serious heart condition. Woody Harrelson will be a motel attendant who becomes intrigued by his suicidal new tenant, while Ealy plays Smith's brother. In the UK's Daily Mail, reporter Peter Hitchens risked his life to lay out a little discussed aspect of China's increased involvement with Africa. Hitchens asserts that in China's quickening quest to reap the bounty of natural minerals to be had in Africa, some Chinese businessmen treat local African laborers in conditions like one might have found in 18th century mining towns at best and at worst on a slave plantation. Workers endure these conditions for about $3 in wages a day. CONTINUE READING... SEQUEL OF DOOM: The Eagle Eye writing team is apparently working on a sequel to sci-fi classic Blade Runner. In the film, Harrison Ford will play an aging Blade Runner who - along with the help of a wise-assed sidekick who is also his son, played by Shia LaBeouf - must come out of retirement to hunt down some more replicants, which actually turn out to be aliens in the end. (/Film)  Jennifer Hudson doesn’t like to say, “I told you so,” but she told you so. More than four years ago, when the then-unknown singer finished seventh on Season 3 of American Idol, she delivered an “exit speech. I said, ‘I don’t know when or where or how, but God has something in store for me.’ I think the judges or producers kind of laughed.” Hudson, 27, laughs herself at the memory, and with good reason. Not long after making that prediction, she landed a key role in the star-studded screen adaptation of Dreamgirls, and wound up winning an Academy Award. (Continue Reading…) Chris Brown and Rihanna were spotted having lunch at KFC in Hollywood. Rihanna didn’t look happy to see the paparazzi following them - probably because they caught the couple’s last trip to KFC Q-Tip - “Believe” (feat. D’Angelo) This smoothed out groove, courtesy of Nerds with Swag, appears on The Renaissance. Related Posts: Q-Tip - The Renaissance Cover & Unique Tracklist Q-Tip: “Technology Killed Hip-Hop” Q-Tip - “Getting Up” Music Video CONTINUE READING... Detectives are reportedly "very close" to making an arrest in the case of Tony Randolph Hunter, the black gay Maryland man who died after a brutal street attack near a gay bar in Washington DC. This should be interesting: Sources close to the investigation say the suspect(s) will reportedly claim an outrageous "gay panic" self defense. CONTINUE READING... California gay marriage ban sparks 'War of the Rings'Funding could reach $40 million by election day Those are some of the superlatives culture warriors on both sides of the same-sex marriage divide are using to convey the urgency surrounding Proposition 8 on the Nov. 4 ballot, which would place a ban on gay marriage in the state Constitution. To the initiative's backers,  nothing less weighty than religious liberty and even the building blocks of society are at stake. To its opponents, the California Marriage Protection Amendment tests nothing more cherished than the American ideals of equality and personal freedom....CONTINUE READING Walgreen is suing the San Francisco to try to overturn a law that would ban the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies, a company ... BARACK OBAMA says economic crisis affects young people the most, 'If the economy slows down, they're the ones who are going to have the toughest time finding a job,' senator says. CONTINUE READING..  FIVE MINUTES WITH RAHEEM DEVAUGHN.. CONTINUE READING As the only female editor-in-chief of The Source magazine, appointed in 2003, Kim Osorio felt she had finally arrived in an male-dominated industry full of power bosses, but the hip hop impresario’s place at the head of the roundtable came to a halt, when her claims of sexual harassment against boss, Raymond “Benzino” Scott led to her departure from the hip hop monthly in 2005 and a 7.5 million-dollar settlement.CONTINUE READING... After watching her performance on America's Next Top Model, Isis King wants to make one thing clear: "I have a lot of personality people!" the 22-year-old from Prince George's County, MD proclaimed to reporters during a Thursday media conference call that followed her elimination on Wednesday night's broadcast. "I have a really big personality," Isis told reporters. "I am a really humble person... but I'm goofy. I like to have fun. That part of me [the show wasn't] really showing. It showed more of my struggle, which I do have also."CONTINUE READING... Check out Bad Boy artist Janelle Monae’s new joint entitled “Many Moons” off of  Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase. Sure the girl is straight hijacking Andre 3 stacks style but gotta love the originality. Haven’t seen a female this fresh in a minute…me likey! CONTINUE READING... In celebration of VH1's Hip-Hop Honors show (which airs Monday, October 6 at 10 p.m. ET), Rhapsody talked to a variety of contemporary artists about this year's honorees. Here's Atlanta emcee Killer Mike on West Coast hardcore rap pioneers Cypress Hill. Killer Mike: 1991, there was a mom and pop gospel and hip-hop store -- in the hood you find the same stores do well with both of those genres -- and there was one right up the street from my high school. I walked in there and saw, in the 99-cent bin, a single for "How I Could Just... Raise your hand if, like me, you've been waiting for a new album from Anthony Hamilton. Just as I thought. Well, I'm here to tell you that our wait is almost over, as Mr. "Mama Knew Love" is on his way back this quarter with a project entitled The Point of It All. The album, originally slated to drop this past June, features the first single, "Cool," which recently hit radio. Here, we get to see some behind the scenes footage from the California shoot, which features a n appearance from rapper David Banner (who seems to be everywhere these days).Check out Ant as he discusses his latest collaborations.Now, of course we knew that he laid it down on Al Green's album, but did you know that he was also singing country duets? Yeah, Mr. Hamilton is just too cool for school. Stay tuned for more information about The Point of It All as its release date nears. THAT'S A WRAP....

 

KEEPINGITREALONLINE.TV

Bailout plan rejected - supporters scramble

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The fate of the government's $700 billion financial bailout plan was thrown into doubt Monday as the House rejected the controversial measure. The next steps were unclear. The abrupt defeat left the Bush administration and congressional leaders scrambling to figure out whether to renegotiate the bill and introduce it again as soon as Thursday or to try other options.Stock markets reacted violently. Investors who had been counting on the rescue plan's passage sent the Dow Jones industrial average down well over 700 points. The stock gauge closed 778 points lower - nearly 7%. (Full coverage)The measure, which is designed to get battered lending markets working normally again, needed 218 votes for passage. But it came up 13 votes short of that target, with a final vote of 228 to 205 against. Two-thirds of Democrats and one-third of Republicans voted for the measure.President Bush, who earlier in the day said he was confident the bill would pass, said he was "very disappointed" by the House vote. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, speaking at the White House, said he will continue to "use all the tools available to protect" the economy. Republican leaders, who had pushed their reluctant members to vote for the bill, pointed the finger for the failure at a speech given Monday by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Pelosi, speaking on the House floor, had blamed the nation's economic problems on "failed Bush economic policies."House minority leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said after the vote that passage would have been possible if it had not been for Pelosi's "partisan speech."Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., one of the main congressional negotiators, dismissed the GOP claim that Pelosi's speech was responsible for Republicans voting against the bill. "Because somebody hurt their feelings, they decided to hurt the country," Frank said. "That's not plausible." SOURCE:CNN.COM

Citigroup buys Wachovia bank assets for $2.2B

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Citigroup will acquire the banking operations of Wachovia for $2.2 billion in an all-stock deal announced Monday, following much speculation over the weekend about the fate of the nation's fourth-largest bank. To help finance the transaction, Citigroup said it would raise $10 billion through a sale of common stock and announced it would slash its quarterly dividend yet again, cutting it in half to 16 cents a share to preserve capital. As part of the deal, Citigroup will acquire Wachovia's massive deposit network, giving it more than $600 billion in deposits in the U.S., about a 9.8% market share, and broadening its presence in such key regions as the Southeast and the West.At the same time, Citi will assume about $53 billion in the Wachovia's debt and take hold of the same loan portfolio that ultimately sank Wachovia in the end.Of the more than $300 billion in loans it absorbs, Citigroup said it would cover up to $42 billion of losses on those loans, while the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will be on the hook for anything beyond that. In exchange, the FDIC will get preferred stocks and warrants worth about $12 billion.Banking regulators stressed that consumers who bank with Wachovia would not experience any interruption in service and that their deposits remained protected."Today's action will ensure seamless continuity of service from their bank and full protection for all of their deposits," said FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair.The FDIC noted that Wachovia did not qualify as a failed bank, unlike Washington Mutual, which collapsed last Thursday, only to be subsequently purchased by JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500).Following a string of high-profile collapses of banks in recent weeks including WaMu and the demise of Lehman Brothers, there has been increasing speculation that Wachovia could be the next one to go.Some top federal officials, including Bair and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, had feared that had a deal for Wachovia not been reached, it could have resulted in further fallout for both the economy and the already fragile financial system. SOURCE:CNN.COM

Somali pirates want $20M ship ransom; crewman dies

MOGADISHU, Somalia - As a heavily armed U.S. destroyer patrolled nearby and planes flew overhead Sunday, a Somali pirate spokesman told The Associated Press his group was demanding a $20 million ransom to release a cargo ship loaded with Russian tanks. The spokesman also warned that the pirates would fight to the death if any country tried military action to regain the ship, and a man who said he was the ship's captain reported that one crew member had died. Pirates seized the Ukrainian-operated ship Faina off the coast of Somalia on Thursday as it headed to Kenya carrying 33 Russian-built T-72 tanks and a substantial amount of ammunition and spare parts. The ordnance was ordered by the Kenyan government. The guided missile destroyer USS Howard was stationed off the Somali coast on Sunday, making sure that the pirates did not remove the tanks, ammunition and other heavy weapons from the ship, which was anchored off the coast. A spokesman for the U.S. 5th fleet said the Navy remained "deeply concerned" over the fate of the ship's 21-member crew and cargo. In a rare gesture of cooperation, the Americans appeared to be keeping an eye on the Faina until the Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy, or Intrepid, reaches the area. The Russian ship was still in the Atlantic on Sunday, the Russian navy reported. Pirate spokesman Sugule Ali said he was speaking Sunday from the deck of the Faina via a satellite phone — and verified his location by handing the phone over to the ship's captain, who also spoke with the AP. It was not possible to further confirm their identities. "We want ransom, nothing else. We need $20 million for the safe release of the ship and the crew," Ali said, adding that "if we are attacked, we will defend ourselves until the last one of us dies."Five nations have been sharing information to try to secure the swift release of the ship and its crew — Ukraine, Somalia, Russia, the United States and Britain. Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua, however, insisted his country will not negotiate with pirates or terrorists. Ali said planes have been flying over the Faina. It was not known which country the planes belonged to. He also said others who made earlier ransom demands did not speak for the pirates holding the ship. A man who said he was the captain of the seized ship and who identified himself as Viktor Nikolsky told the AP that a Russian crew member died Sunday because of hypertension. "The rest of us are feeling well," Nikolsky said, adding that he could see three ships about a mile away, including one carrying an American flag. Both Ali and Nikolsky spoke on a satellite phone number the AP got from a Somali journalist who spoke to Ali earlier in the day. The conversation lasted about 30 minutes. Ali spoke in Somali with a central Somalian accent and Nikolsky spoke in broken English. Russian media had earlier identified Nikolsky as the first mate, yet he identified himself to the AP as the ship's captain. It was not possible to immediately resolve the discrepancy. SOURCE:YAHOO.COM

iPHONE Daily Blog Buzz 09.28.08

The proposal to bail out U.S. financial markets to the tune of up to $700 billion creates a lot of potential short-term winners, as well as some losers.Complete Story. WASILLA — Though Sarah Palin depicts herself as a pit bull fighting good-old-boy politics, in her years as mayor she and her friends received special benefits more typical of small-town politics as usual, an Associated Press investigation shows.New Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn was looking for something to help him build up a healthy dose of hate for the Dallas Cowboys. Turns out, he kinds of likes playing his team's archrival. Complete Story... WEST HARTFORD — Paul Newman broached the subject of his philanthropic legacy several years ago while fishing with friends Robert Forrester and David Horvitz off the Outer Banks of North Carolina.Even though he was a Hollywood icon — a 10-time Academy Award nominee known for his performances in such classic films as "Cool Hand Luke" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" — it was a rare moment in which Newman reflected on how he would be remembered after his death, Horvitz recalled Sunday. CONTINUE READING... Mathematicians at UCLA have discovered a 13 million-digit prime number, a long-sought milestone that makes them eligible for a $100,000 prize. Complete Story.. Federal employees and retirees can choose from 269 insurance options, with some plans going up much more than the 8 percent average. For example, the premiums for the most popular choice among enrollees is rising about 13 percent. Meanwhile, about 20 percent of current enrollees are in plans that will have a premium increase of less than 5 percent.About 8 million federal workers, family members and retirees are enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Participants can use an open enrollment season that begins Nov. 10 to shop around and change their insurance coverage to fit their medical and financial circumstances. CONTINUE READING. A federal judge in Hawaii has dismissed a lawsuit trying to stop the world's largest atom smasher. U.S. District Judge Helen Gilmor says in a ruling issued Friday that federal courts don't have jurisdiction over the Large Hadron Collider in Europe, near Geneva.Two Hawaii residents sued because they feared the machine could create black holes or other phenomena that could destroy the planet.Most physicists say the collider is safe. It started low-power operation Sept. 10 but suffered malfunctions and will be shut down until spring. CONTINUE READING

Museum of Tolerance stays on message

SINCE THE Museum of Tolerance opened in 1993, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda and Darfur have been inscribed in the book of mass extermination. Clearly, there is no lack of work to do for an L.A. institution dedicated to documenting the human race's blood lust while fighting prejudice in hopes of remaking homo sapiens in a more humane image. "I was not that naive to think that evil would be expunged," says Rabbi Marvin Hier, looking back on the 31 years since he founded the museum's parent human rights and Holocaust remembrance organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Center. "But I never thought that so soon after the world became aware of the ovens of Auschwitz we would have places like these . . . that people would have the chutzpah to say, 'So what? We can do what we want,' and get away with it." CONTINUE READING...

Critical Mass:TODAY'S PAPERS

The Washington Post, New York Times, and Los Angeles Times each lead Congress' late-night progress toward agreement on an economic bailout plan on Saturday. Yesterday's talks were propelled by the need to act swiftly, and focused on adding strict oversight to the $700 billion as well as exploring new ways to pay for the measure that would avoid sticking taxpayers with the bill."We're moving, we're moving," Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) told the WP after last night's session, from which Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson emerged around 12:30 a.m. (Both he and Sen. Nancy Pelosi called the evening's work "great progress.") Congress did reach a tentative agreement, the NYT's reports, with congressional staff working around the clock to finalize language that will hopefully be ready for a Monday vote. The new plan includes some limits on executive pay and provides for strict oversight of the rescue monies. Additionally, the LAT reports, the updated accord is "expected to call for the money to be made available in installments instead of one enormous lump sum." Democrats and Republicans seem to both agree that the bailout should not take place "on the backs of taxpayers," the WP reports, and even the conservatives most strongly against it expect the "critical mass" forming behind the current agreement to push it through Congress. To continue reading, click here.

Citigroup and Wells Fargo Said to Be Bidding for Wachovia

Federal regulators on Sunday night were pressing for the  sale of yet another troubled bank — this time, the Wachovia Corporation — in a move that would concentrate power within the nation’s banking industry in the hands of a few giant lenders.Wachovia, the nation’s fourth-largest bank, was negotiating to sell itself to Wells Fargo or Citigroup. Although the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department were pushing for a sale, the government was resisting pressure to provide financial guarantees to the buyer.A sale to either Wells Fargo or Citigroup would further concentrate Americans’ bank deposits in the hands of just three banks: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and whichever bank acquired Wachovia.Together, those three would be so large that they would dominate the industry, with unrivaled power to set prices for their loans and services. Given their size and reach, the institutions would probably come under greater scrutiny from federal regulators. Some small and midsize banks, already under pressure, might have little choice but to seek suitors.The talks intensified on Sunday after a weekend of tense negotiations in Washington over a $700 billion rescue for the banking industry. Only days earlier, federal regulators seized and sold the nation’s largest savings and loan, Washington Mutual, in one of a series of important deals that have reshaped the financial landscape.As the credit crisis has deepened, a consolidation in the financial industry that analysts have predicted for years seems to be playing out in a matter of weeks.The impact will be felt on Main Street, Wall Street and in Washington. While the tie-ups may restore confidence in the industry, they also could leave a handful of big lenders to determine fees and interest rates on everything from home mortgages to credit cards to checking accounts. Some small and midsize banks may be unable to compete with these behemoths.But a Wells-Wachovia deal also could shift the center of power in the banking industry further from New York. JPMorgan, which bought Seattle-based WaMu, is based in Manhattan. But Bank of America, which recently acquired Merrill Lynch, is based in Charlotte, N.C. And Wells, which is seeking to buy Charlotte-based Wachovia, is based in San Francisco. SOURCE:NYT.COM

TERRENCE HOWARD:"SANCTUARY"

Ice Cube - Why Me? (Feat. Musiq Soulchild)

Kenny Lattimore - Timeless

BY L. Michael Gipson --To remix a famous phrase, "No more cover albums ever, Kenny!" With eyes bulging and a wire hanger high in hand, it's what you want to scream when you hear that such a talented musician has essentially relegated himself to a wedding singer. Timeless is Kenny Lattimore's third album of covers, including two with his wife, Chante Moore. As a collection Timeless holds up well enough, in some instances even better than most in the covers album cottage industry. The problem is that with each Lattimore cover album, we know Kenny less and less as a distinctive artist. The rapidly disappearing uniqueness of Kenny Lattimore is also starting to slip into his work as he strives to be more like the originals and less like himself."Stop trying to be someone you're not." This is a line Kenny covers from the Aretha Franklin classic "Ain't No Way" (from Lady Soul). The line also works as direction for Kenny Lattimore on some of these Timeless tunes. Taking homage and respect to new heights (or is it lows?), Kenny now approaches his Donny Hathaway material (in this instance "Giving Up") by copying far too many of his idol's vocal affectations and signature styling. This is worlds apart from Lattimore's more original cover of Hathaway's "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," heralded from Kenny's apparent magnum opus, From The Soul of A Man. While there were covers on that album too, including an endearing rendition of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and a jaw-dropping version of the gospel standard "Well Done," they were all squarely stamped with Kenny's distinct sophisticated style. That originality ducks for cover (pun intended) on Otis Redding's "I Love You More Than Words Can Say" and the Whitfield and Strong classic "That's The Way Love Is." With every faux growl and Southern soul yell, we wonder when did our Northern hipster start eating pig's feet and saying "reckon?"It wasn't always this way. Once Kenny Lattimore was a well-respected artist with a unique voice and-some critic's argued-too pristine vocals. On his 1996 self-titled debut, Lattimore took that polished tenor all the way to #6 on the Billboard R&B chart with "For You," a wedding song whose prophetic qualities regarding Kenny's future were then underappreciated. He followed up that platinum debut with From The Soul of A Man, an elegant collection of original songs mostly produced by Stuart Matthewman (Sade, Maxwell) and that introduced the R&B career of Broadway diva Heather Headley. The album received deserved critical acclaim, but didn't fare as well in the market as its predecessor, only going a respectable gold.CONTINUE READING...

Jazmine Sullivan - Fearless

BY L. Michael Gipson -- Like Common's Be, Jazmine Sullivan's Fearless is just two songs shy of being a benchmark classic in the annals of music history. This is none too harsh a criticism for a debut album from an artist whose "unreleased" work for several years has filled You Tube with ear bleeding renditions and countless video homages. Under the guidance of J Records' Clive Davis, the mastermind behind Whitney Houston's meteoric rise, Jazmine Sullivan's Fearless meets every expectation. Her instrument is well presented in a suite of eclectic songs as unexpected and welcome as the weight, maturity and skill of a vocal talent twice her age. More than an astonishing voice, Jazmine Sullivan proves to be a storyteller of rare talent, the kind that leaves you breathless for more for decades to come.The Philly songstress has been patiently waiting in the wings since her appearance on It's Showtime at the Apollo as an eleven-year old wunderkind singing "Accept What God Allows." The thunderous applause of the cynical Apollo audience carried the youngster to Stevie Wonder's attention, where the icon's anointing announced her as one to watch. Jive Records heeded the call, signing her at 15 and then having absolutely no idea of what to do with a teenage girl whose voice carried all the blues and passion of a woman 20 to 30 years her senior. The Jazmine Sullivan material that has leaked over the years partially derived from those early sessions and from various live performances in Philly and London, where Sullivan is already a legend. Listening to the mythic unreleased Jazmine Sullivan sessions makes you appreciate the courage and vision of Berry Gordy, who was presented with a similar marketing challenge with a pre-pubescent Michael Jackson (listen to MJ's "Who's Loving You" to gain an understanding of what I mean). Jive wasn't as courageous as Motown and marketing appeared utterly vexed by a mega-watt adolescent talent who clearly wasn't about to be in her bra and panties on the cover of Rolling Stone.Jazmine eventually moved on from Jive, toured as an independent soloist and began a career as a hit-making songwriter for other artists, including Christina Milian for "Say I." Meanwhile, the internet helped to create an underground movement of cult followers of Jazmine's music, sharing concert footage, YouTube videos and enough music files to warrant a multi-media box set. By the time the J Records signing and release of Fearless was announced, debates over who had the better version of "Resentment" -- Beyonce or Jazmine Sullivan -- was the stuff of web forum legend. Fearless may challenge some fans possessing those roomier ballads that allowed Jazmine to stretch and indulge a penchant for runs with reckless abandon. With A-list producers like Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse), Missy Elliott, Ivan "Orthodox" Barias and Calvin "Ransum" Higgins (Musiq) at the helm, Jazmine has been reined in a bit by songs whose construction is much more compactly arranged and produced than her underground work. Personally, I think this is for the best as it allows the uninitiated to enjoy and discover Jazmine with repeated listens rather than just be in awe of her once or twice and then saving her for those occasions when "they want to hear all that carrying on." Sullivan's self-penned material also benefits from these obvious steps toward more accessibility. Jazmine's voice sits nicely in the mix of compositions that accentuate her raspy mahogany alto and allow listeners to hear every Sullivan lyric, word for blessed word. Her trademark riffs are still present and the inclusion of Jazmine's signature big ballad, "In Love With Another Man," ensure that new listeners get a heavy dose of what made the rest of us fall in love with Jazmine Sullivan years ago. CONTINUE READING...

Take 6 - The Standard (Advance Review)

Using the exceptional accapella skills that first catapulted them to international fame twenty years ago, Take 6 are at their inimitable best with brilliant harmonies on this latest release, their first through Concord-owned Heads Up International. Produced by group member Mark Kibble and co-produced by other members of the team, "The Standard" wisely focuses on time-honored tunes like "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Straighten Up And Fly Right" (a particular standout).  The Miles Davis classic is a special treat thanks to the inclusion of special guests Al Jarreau and Jon Hendricks (who wrote the lyrics) of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross fame.   Never an easy song to interpret, "Windmills Of Your Mind" showcases the group's long-appreciated ability to simulate various musical instruments; while "Someone To Watch Over Me," with female vocalist Shelea Frazier has a decidedly soulful flavor.  Quincy Jones' "Grace"  is classic Take 6; the original "Back To You" is a strong R&B-oriented cut;  and Ella Fitzgerald's "A Tisket A Tasket" (which features a sample of Ella herself) is a jazz treat.   The group also provides exquisite backup for Crescent City native Aaron Neville on "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans" and about the only disappointment is a version of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" which just doesn't fit the overall concept of the album.Unquestionably, this is one of the group's best albums in many years and for those who were first enthralled by the distinctive vocal sound that is the core of Take 6's artistry, "The Standard" is a must have. David Nathan www.soulmusic.com

Candidates Clash on Economy and Iraq

From the economy to foreign affairs to the way they carried themselves on stage, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama offered a dramatic contrast to the nation in their first presidential debate on Friday night, mixing disdain and often caustic remarks as they set out sharply different views of how they would manage the country and confront America’s adversaries abroad.The two men met for 90 minutes against the backdrop of the nation’s worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and intensive negotiations in Congress over a $700 billion bailout plan for Wall Street. Despite repeated prodding, Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama refused to point to any major adjustments they would need to make to their governing agendas — like scaling back promised tax reductions or spending programs — to accommodate what both men said could be very tough economic times for the next president. For the first 40 minutes, Mr. Obama repeatedly sought to link Mr. McCain to President Bush, and suggested that it was policies of excessive deregulation that led to the financial crisis and mounting economic problems the nation faces now. “We also have to recognize that this is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by George Bush, supported by Senator McCain — the theory that basically says that we can shred regulations and consumer protections and give more and more to the most and somehow prosperity will trickle down,” Mr. Obama said. “It hasn’t worked, and I think that the fundamentals of the economy have to be measured by whether or not the middle class is getting a fair shake.” Mr. McCain became more animated during the second part of the debate, when it shifted to the advertised topic: foreign policy and national security. The two men offered strong and fundamentally different arguments about the wisdom of going to war against Iraq — which Mr. McCain supported and Mr. Obama opposed — as well as how to deal with Iran. More than anything, Mr. McCain seemed intent on presenting Mr. Obama as green and inexperienced, a risky choice during a difficult time. Again and again, sounding almost like a professor talking down to a new student, he talked about having to explain foreign policy to Mr. Obama and repeatedly invoked his 30 years of history on national security (even though Mr. McCain, in the kind of misstep that no doubt would have been used by Republicans against Mr. Obama, mangled the name of the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and he stumbled over the name of Pakistan’s newly inaugurated president, calling him “Qadari.” His name is actually Asif Ali Zardari.).“I don’t think I need any on-the-job training,” Mr. McCain said in the closing moments of the debate. “I’m ready to go at it right now.” But Mr. Obama seemed calm and in control and seemed to hold his own on foreign policy, the subject on which Mr. McCain was assumed to hold a natural advantage. Mr. Obama talked in detail about foreign countries and their leaders, as if trying to assure the audience that he could hold his own on the world stage. He raised his own questions about Mr. McCain’s judgment in supporting the Iraq war. “You like to pretend like the war started in 2007 — you talk about the surge. The war started in 2003,” Mr. Obama said. “At the time, when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy. You said we knew where the weapons of mass destruction were. You were wrong. You said that we were going to be greeted as liberators. You were wrong.” There were no obvious game-changing moments — big mistakes, or the kind of sound bites that dominate the news for days — in the course of the 90-minute debate, held at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. Still, the debate served as a reminder of just how different these two men would be as president as they appeared for their first extended session together before a huge audience, including many Americans who are just beginning to focus on this long-lasting race. The differences were in no small part stylistic and visible with a glance to the stage: a 47-year-old black man who has been in the Senate for nearly four years standing at one lectern, facing a 72-year-old white-haired fixture of the Senate standing across from him. In many ways, Mr. Obama was a very different candidate than he was during the primary battles. He answered questions directly and affirmatively, typically looking right into the camera as he spoke. Throughout the debate, Mr. Obama called Mr. McCain by his first name; Mr. McCain did not. The direct engagement was encouraged by the moderator, Jim Lehrer of PBS, who declared, “I’m just determined to get you all to talk to each other,” though it was an invitation that the two men repeatedly ignored. Mr. McCain was feisty and aggressive but, particularly during the start of the debate, his language and demeanor offered a reminder of just how much he was a creature of the Senate, as he used phrases that were no doubt understandable in Washington but might have been lost to the audience at home. He spent much of the first 20 minutes of the debate criticizing Mr. Obama for supporting earmarks, special projects sought by members for their district. “The United States Senate will take up a continuing resolution tomorrow or the next day — sometime next week — with 2,000 — 2,000 — look at them, my friends,” he said. “Look at ’em. You’ll be appalled. And Senator Obama is a recent convert, after requesting $932 million worth of pork-barrel spending projects.” SOURCE:NYT.COM

Jennifer Hudson Takes Back Her Spotlight

Excerpt from Advocate.com -- Written by Clay Cane -- Whether you first fell in love with Jennifer Hudson on American Idol or it took you until her Oscar-winning turn in Dreamgirls to jump on the bandwagon, there's no denying that the sassy girl with the big voice has a huge gay following. Now, after years of waiting, Hudson is getting back to what she does best... with her self-titled, debut album. Chances are, if you're a fan of American Idol, your love affair with Jennifer Hudson began long before she took command of the silver screen with her Oscar-winning turn in Dreamgirls. For me, it was her performance of Elton John’s “Circle of Life” on season three. Her performance was riveting and it was clear the Illinois diva with the big afro (who misses that afro?) and annihilating voice would be a star. In the years since, Hudson has gone beyond the stars, but she hasn’t forgotten her gay fans along the way. Jennifer Hudson has become a fabric of the gay community in the way of Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand, and Diana Ross.  In only a few short years, Hudson has garnered a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild award, Oscar, and the honor of being Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant! With all the accolades, it’s hard to believe that the Midwestern girl who made Effie White an Oscar-winning character is just releasing her highly-anticipated, self-titled, debut album on Tuesday.“It was a year and a half process of recording,” says Hudson. “I got to work with amazing people like Missy Elliot, Diane Warren, and also led by Clive Davis.” Her first single, “Spotlight,” is already a top-ten hit on the Billboard dance charts and the buzz for the new album is foreshadowing another award-winning success.The former Advocate cover girl couldn’t let an album release go by without chatting about the music, her commitment to the gay community, and more. Advocate.com: What   can your gay fans expect from the new album? Jennifer Hudson: My gay fans can expect just me, Jennifer. The gay community has always accepted me so I can only give more of that. Big notes, big vocals! Did you have your gay audience in mind when making the album? I did!  We actually did a lot of songs that were for my gay fans. Not everything made the album. We didn't want to leave anybody out. We tried to make sure we had something on there for everybody, most importantly, the gay community. Ludacris, one of the guest artists on your album, has had anti-gay lyrics in his music.  How do you reconcile that with your gay fan base? You know what, I have never heard of that. I was never aware of that at all. To be honest, I don't know what to say to that. What's interesting is I think the gay community would love him! [Laughs] Like I said, I never knew that. How do you explain this fascination gay men have with Jennifer Hudson? I've been trying to figure it out for years! [Laughs] I don't know, but I love it and I'm glad. I can only remain true and try to do whatever I'm doing so I can hold onto that.  But, I still don't know -- I wish I could figure it out! Is there anything challenging about having such an aggressive gay following? Living up to their expectations.  My thing is if the gay community thinks I am fierce then I must be fierce!  The expectations are high and you can't half-step, it has got to be right. CONTINUE READING...

'Miracle At St. Anna' Film Review

Spike Lee has been waiting to make a war film for the longest time. Having seen few Blacks or none at all in past war films only increased his desire to get it done. There are plenty of stories from black soldiers who fought in World War II that haven't been told and some of these guys were in the front and center of it. With funding coming outside of the studio system, Lee set out on telling a story based on the novel from author/ screenwriter James McBride, 'Miracle at St. Anna'.The cast includes Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Matteo Sciabordi, John Leguizamo, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Valentina Cervi, Pierfrancesco Favino, Michael K. Williams, and Kerry Washington.While the film does highlight Blacks and Latinos in the war, specifically the Buffalo Soldiers, the direction that Lee took to make the film was jagged. At the end of this nearly three hour movie, what you have is a noble attempt thwarted by uneven artistic choices. It's the 1980s and we have an elderly postal clerk (Alonso) watching the John Wayne film, 'The Longest Day', in which he mutters to himself, 'We were there too.' We then see the clerk working in the post office when another elderly man steps in front of his booth looking to buy stamps. Suddenly the clerk pulls out his service revolver and shoots him dead after recognizing him. Taken into police custody without uttering a word for the shooting, a journalist (Gordon-Levitt) is let in to get his side of the story. While the cops are searching his apartment for any evidence, they discover a statue that apparently was stolen from Rome during WWII. The postal clerk then decides to tell his story to the reporter about the statue and how he ended up with it. It all began 40 years ago. CONTINUE READING...

Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day Discusses Gossip & Rumors With Complex

It's no secret that Aubrey O'Day is the standout member of Bad Boy Records' all-girl group Danity Kane, from an exposure point of view. She's the most talked about among blogs and gossip outlets, but it comes at a cost because the chatter about her is usually not always positive. From accusations of being promiscuous to her fashion sense being bash, Aubrey isn't the most loved pop star. With two platinum albums under her belt, though, Aubrey holds her head high. The singer says she knows the type of person she is, and doesn't let the tabloids get to her. In a recent interview for Complex magazine's cover story, the "Making The Band" contestant turned pop star explained how she deals with the negative comments."You don't build your persona on reality TV. They build your persona on reality TV," Aubrey explained to the magazine. "I just learned to stop wanting to control it. Hey, they need the bad girl of the group, and no one else is going to take that role. "Out of this group of women, I am definitely the most daring. I would be the natural pick for the badass. This is the truth about me -- I'm just really real," she added. She later admits that the image she's portrayed as is so bad sometimes that even other celebs believe it, specifically the men. "I think urban guys look at me and are like, 'Here's the white girl I’m gonna f***.' Like, I met a famous basketball player the other night. ... this nasty guy came up to me and says, 'Come here. I'm the man, haven't you heard?' And I said, 'Well, I'm the woman, haven't you heard?' And he was like -- this is the third thing out of his mouth -- 'Well, I have a hotel here, so when are you going to come by to my room?'" SOURCE:BALLERSTATUS.COM