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Tag: U.S.

  • Wyclef Jean’s – Yele Haiti Earthquake Relief

    Wyclef Jean Yele Haiti FoundationIn 2005, Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean created the grassroots charity organization Yéle Haiti. The founder of the Grammy-winning group The Fugees coined the term Yéle in a song which was deemed to mean, “A Cry For Freedom.”

    Initially, the goal of the foundation was to restore pride and hope to the Haitian people through the launch of initiatives that would allow Haiti’s citizens to empower themselves. Scholarships were created, as well as endowments for arts and culture, food distribution services and emergency relief.

    While these investments were made at a time that the people of Haiti deemed to be arduous, suffering from tropical storms, hurricanes, political revolutions and other natural disasters and health disasters, they could not have anticipated the devastation that was to beset them on January 12, 2010.haiti earthquake

    Haiti, one of the poorest and most under developed nations in the world, was hit with a mammoth earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale decimating it’s capital Port au Prince. Among the structures damaged in the quake were the Haitian Presidential Palace, the United Nations Embassy (which was a 5 story edifice), and several hospitals. Already plagued with poor health care services, the destruction of existing medical facilities will only further exacerbate a bleak situation in aid and recovery of injured victims. A consensus on the death toll has not yet been tallied but fatalities are estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Unfortunately, among the confirmed dead is the chief of the UN mission in Haiti, Ambassador Hedi Annabi.  Haitian President Rene Preval is reported to be safe and in contact with President Obama to coordinate the rescue efforts.urn:newsml:dpa.com:20090101:100113-11-10177

    President Barrack Obama has pledged unwavering support from the U.S. and has deployed air craft providing food, water, clothing and medical supplies, while Haitian celebrity, Wyclef Jean and his Yele Haiti Foundation have taken to the internet with pleas for donations. On the official Yele Haiti Foundation facebook page it’s posted status is:

    “Yele Haiti Please help Haiti in their time of need. You can donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501 or get more info by visiting www.yele.org”

    Undoubtedly, Wyclef Jean will also be donating funds from his personal fortune and it has been reported that he will be donating proceeds from the sale of  his  records and  ringtones during this period to the Haiti relief effort. Digicell, an Irish company that provides cellular coverage in the Caribbean pledged to donate $5 million to the rescue efforts. The U.N. has released $10 million in emergency funds to establish immediate operations in Haiti.  Its World Food Program is sending a cargo plane full of high energy biscuits to the island today. Each biscuit packs enough nutritional value to feed a person for an entire day. The first shipment should feed 30,000 people for a week. Reports are coming in that numerous countries are gearing up to lend support.

  • The 10 Biggest Myths About Starting An Internet Business

    online-moneyYou have heard from people saying Internet Business is a waste of time, you will not make any money, there is no real money to be made online, it will never work and so many others negative words coming from people who don’t really understand in this Internet Business industry.

    The thing is, it does work. Why some people make a fortune and some don’t even make money at all? Simply because the people who make thousands or millions of cash knew all the lies in this business and they will not trust these lies.

    So what is this big internet lies? Below here are the 10 big internet lies that you should know:

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  • Pop-Up Stores Provide Lucrative Alternative For Small Businesses

    Savvy entrepreneurs and larger retailers are opening up temporary stores, or “pop-ups” in empty storefronts, simultaneously boosting their brand and bottom line. The stores can last anywhere from a few days to a few months. And with the U.S. retail vacancy rate at 7.6%, for the third quarter of 2009, compared with 6.4% for the third quarter of 2008, according CoStar Group, Inc.– and the holidays just around the corner– now might be the best time to take advantage of the weak commercial real estate market.

  • Whitney Houston: Returning to the American Music Awards in a Big Way

    Whitney Houston I Look To You


    Whitney Houston is ready to show just how strong she is on primetime television.

    On Nov. 22, the 46 year-old entertainer will sing her Diane Warren-penned ballad ‘I Didn’t Know My Own Strength’ on the ’37th Annual American Music Awards’ telecast. The song is a featured single from her seventh studio album ‘I Look To You,’ which debuted atop the charts and remains marked the biggest first week sales of her career.

    The ‘I Will Always Love You’ singer’s AMA performance will be her first time on the show in a decade. She previously performed ‘Until You Come Back’ and ‘My Love Is Your Love’ with Babyface and Wyclef Jean on the 1999 telecast. I

    t will also mark her first primetime U.S. network performance in five years since appearing on the ‘World Music Awards’ in 2004.

    According to a rep for Dick Clark Productions, Houston will also be presented with the American Music Awards International Artist Award, in recognition of “special artists who have gone beyond the borders of their own country to be acknowledged for their superstar status around the globe.” She becomes the eighth honoree to join a elite group of award-winning recipients, including Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, the Bee Gees, Aerosmith, Madonna and Beyoncé.

    Previously announced American Music Award acts include Rihanna, Green Day, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Keith Urban, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, The Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and Adam Lambert. The American Music Awards will broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Nov. 22 at 8 PM EST on ABC.

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    Whitney Houston Through The Years
    Just Whitney
    Since releasing her 1985 self-titled debut, Whitney Houston has become one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Though her signature voice and amazing vocal range made her a household name, this New Jersey native made headlines for her marriage to New Edition singer Bobby Brown, her alleged drug use and her recent relationship with Ray J. On the cusp of Houston’s latest comeback album, ‘I Look to You,’ Blackvoices.com takes a look at the singer throughout the years.
    Retna / Getty Images / AP / WireImage

    BHM MEDIA NEW

      While on a family vacation with Tom and Suri, Katie Holmes hit the beach near Rio de Janeiro in this blue one piece.

      bauergriffinonline.com

      Rihanna hits the stage at the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert in a pair of knee-high black boots. What do you think about the pop singer’s look?

      Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images for NFL

      Mischa Barton wore this Elie Saab couture mint green gown to the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d’Armenonville. Is Mischa’s look a hit or miss?

      Eric Ryan, Getty Images

      Heroes star Hayden Panettiere arrives at the NBC Universal Pre-Super Bowl event at Portofino in a black tuxedo jacket and dress with a plunging neckline. Is the Hollywood starlet hot or not?

      Gerardo Mora, Getty Images

      Diane Kruger wore Nina Ricci for the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d’Armenonville. Is her dress a mess or amazing?

      Eric Ryan, Getty Images

      Kim Kardashian opted for this floral strapless Tracey Reese dress for the 2009 Moves Magazine Super Bowl Party at The Venue Club. Let us know what you think about Kim’s look.

      Tim Boyles, Getty Images

      Burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese wore an ice blue Elie Saab (left) satin dress at the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d’Armenonville.

      Dominique Charriau, WireImage

      Spanish actress Penelope Cruz appeared at the the 2009 Goya Cinema Awards in Madrid in this black lace Chanel gown. Is it a win or a loss?

      Carlos Alvarez, Getty Images

      Amy Adams wore a Jasmine di Milo gold and silver sequin backless dress and Christian Louboutin heels to the 61st Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.

      Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

      Being thousands of miles away didn’t stop Meryl Streep from celebrating the inauguration. The actress wore this Catherine Malandrino flag dress to the Paris premiere of Doubt.

      Julien Hekimian, WireImage

     

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  • Economic Recovery Definition: Is the Economy Really Getting Better?

    Filed under: ,

    What is the definition of an economic recovery? This is the hot finance topic of the week. As the White House unrolls a PR plan to try and demonstrate that the recession is over thanks to the administration’s efforts, the question of how to exactly define economic recovery is causing confusion. Let’s look at the facts and try to determine an economic recovery definition.

    President Obama has claimed that 650,000 jobs have been created or saved through his stimulus plan. The Dow increased by 200 in response to the good news. Plus, the economy grew last quarter for the first time in a year at a rate of 3.5%. Modest, but good. There is also the increase in home sales reported in September. And even Ford posted a profit of nearly $1 billion this year, which came as a surprise to the business community. But do these positive reports illustrate that our economy is set for permanent stability?

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    Home Sales Up
    Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted
    AP
    AP

    Home Sales Up

      Chart shows seasonally adjusted annual rate of pending U.S. home sales

      AP

      Chart shows seasonally adjusted annual rate of pending U.S. home sales

      AP

      In this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 photo a sign for a home under contract is seen in Philadelphia. The volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the eighth straight month in September as buyers scrambled to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of this month.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

      AP

      In this Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 photo a sign for a home under contract is seen in Philadelphia. The volume of signed contracts to buy previously occupied homes rose for the eighth straight month in September as buyers scrambled to take advantage of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of this month.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

      AP

      Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted

      AP

      Shea Homes townhouses are seen at the Victoria Gardens development in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. The number of buyers snapping up new homes dipped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a temporary tax credit for first-time owners started to wear off. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

      AP

      Chart shows new home sales for the past 13 months, seasonally adjusted

      AP

      In this photo made Oct. 26, 2009, a new development of townhouses is seen in Wakefield, Mass. Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

      AP

      In this photo made Oct. 26, 2009, a new development of townhouses is seen in Wakefield, Mass. Sales of new homes dropped unexpectedly last month as the effects of a soon-to-expire tax credit for first-time owners started to wane.(AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

      AP

      New home models are shown in Homestead, Fla., Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009. Sales of new homes are expected to post their sixth consecutive monthly gain as builders reap the benefits of a tax credit for first-time owners that expires at the end of next month. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

      AP

    Some say no. Increases in car and home sales have been spurred by federally-backed incentives like the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit and the cash for clunkers program. These increases don’t stand on their own as signs of consumer strength. So what can we use to define economic recovery?

    Writers at the Wall Street Journal believe the jobless rate is a much more meaningful benchmark. But right now it is too soon to tell exactly where that rate is heading based on the statistics available now. So even the jobless rate cannot help us develop a reliable economic recovery definition until we have more information.

    Let’s try looking to the president for his definition. The POTUS has declared: “The benchmark I use to measure the strength of our economy is not just whether our GDP is growing, but whether we are creating jobs, whether families are having an easier time paying their bills, whether our businesses are hiring and doing well.” (CBS News)

    As unemployment remains high and it is still difficult for people to get loans, we are clearly far from a lasting economic recovery — by the definition of the president himself. But as we have faced the worst economic decline since the Great Depression, it is silly to expect our economy to fully recover after a few months of federal intervention. Obama’s stimulus plan may not have created a full economic recovery within months, but it has helped many families survive what could have been a much worse financial scenario. It has also supported state governments that provide social services like police and teachers to all.

    This type of relief may not fit an expert’s economic recovery definition, but it has helped society overall in the short term. For that alone the president can be commended.

     

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  • FedEx May Be Sued for Labor Violations by Three States

    Filed under:

    I think of FedEx as an employee-friendly company. For example, the entire company closes on Christmas to ensure that all employees can enjoy the holiday. Thus, it was surprising to learn that FedEx may be sued by the three states of New York, Montanta and New Jersey for intentionally denying 1,000 contractors the benefits they should receive as full employees. I guess they only commit (alleged) labor violations against non-employees.

    Reuters reports: “Three U.S. states said on Tuesday they plan to sue FedEx Corp, accusing the second-largest U.S. package delivery company of violating labor laws by illegally classifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees to save money.”

    Now to be fair, FedEx claims their contractors operate more like the owners of a franchise, who use the FedEx brand, but in essence operate their own small businesses, so there are no labor violations. In fact, FedEx released a statement promising to “vigorously defend the right of FedEx Ground independent contractors to own and operate their businesses.” So why may FedEx being getting sued? By not one but THREE states?

    FedEx does not give contractors benefits like worker’s compensation protection, but still charges them high fees to use its equipment. This would be fine, except that the company strictly manages drivers with detailed rules regarding hours and uniforms, among other areas. Honestly, something in the milk ain’t clean. It’s clear that FedEx is in fact controlling these drivers like full-time employees, while making them take on the risk and expenses of an owner. I hope FedEx goes down on this one.

    The three states of New York, Montanta and New Jersey have given FedEx until October 27 to prove that these allegations are false. Then the law suit against FedEx will proceed, hopefully empowering these workers to receive fair compensation for their labor.

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    Gotcha Moments of Retail Shame
    Store: Midas
    Accusation:California filed a $222 million lawsuit against the owner of 22 Midas Muffler shops after uncover agents discovered in which consumers were charged for unneeded repairs, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced. Click through to see more stores that got caught cheating.
    jupiterimages
    Touchstone Pictures

    Gotcha Moments of Retail Shame

      Store: Midas
      Accusation:California filed a $222 million lawsuit against the owner of 22 Midas Muffler shops after uncover agents discovered in which consumers were charged for unneeded repairs, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced. Click through to see more stores that got caught cheating.

      Store: CVS
      Accusation:California caught the chain with expired merchandise on the shelf. The result? CVS must give $2 coupons to anyone finding more expired items. This isn’t the first store caught doing something shady (or even the first time CVS was caught doing the same thing). See more Gotcha Moments by clicking through.

      Store: Kmart
      Accusation:Marketed paper products as biodegradable that aren’t actually biodegradable. The result? Kmart settled the case with the Federal Trade commission. This isn’t the first time KMart was caught.

      AFP/Getty Images

      KMart’s Previous Gotcha:Kmart, Ashley, and World Market< were accused of deceptive furniture labeling — wood that wasn”t wood and leather that wasn”t leather — in an on-camera investigation by Good Morning America The result? Kmart said full product descriptions were available online, Ashley defended its wording as a description of color only, and World Market acknowledged that a quarter of its supposedly leather chairs were actually synthetic, and it pulled them from sale.

      Sears Holdings Management Corp., the parent company of Sears and Kmart, settled a case to stop enticing customers to sign up for a software that spies on them. It must also instruct customers how to uninstall the software that monitored their spending across the web, even on sites that are supposed to be secure, and destroy the data that was collected. The Federal Trade Commission brought the case against the Sears Holdings.

      Quizno’s Sub Shop has an online video ad showing two girls simulating a porn video by sharing a sub sandwich. The online ad, “2 Girls, 1 Sub,” takes its name from a notoriously heinous movie trailer, for a fetish film, which shows women eating their own feces. Critics have pointed out that the Quiznos video, starring Playboy Playmate Hiromi Oshima, is basically comparing the sandwiches to “poop.”
      This is Quizno’s second porn-themed ad to come out in recent months.

      If you are dining out — and many of us still are these days, despite the economy — make sure to check your bill carefully for extra charges that might creep on there.
      Call it the airline a la carte approach, as many restaurants are apparently sneaking in charges for bread, tap water, takeout boxes and mandatory tips. The New York Post found all of these items added to bills on an investigative mission that the paper undertook recently.

      For more on advertisers caught misleading consumers, click through our gallery of Gotcha Moments of Retail Shame.

      Blockbuster was found guilty of charging customers higher than the advertised prices on scanned items by district attorneys of Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Blockbuster owes $237,750 in penalties, and $62,250 in costs, and is further prohibited from charging amounts greater than the advertised price.

      A regulatory organization for the advertising industry demanded that Wrigley change its misleading packaging and advertising for Eclipse gum. The ads for Eclipse say that the gum’s natural ingredient – magnolia bark extract – kills germs that cause bad breath. This has not been proven and the National Advertising Division Council of Better Business Bureaus asks that Wrigley clarify this in its ads.

      Store:Chase Bank

      Accusation: In late March, the bank rescinded a $10 monthly fee it had imposed for several months on hundreds of thousands of credit card accounts, after New York’s attorney general decried the practice as a bait-and-switch for customers seeking low interest rates.

      Results:The settlement could save customers $22 million over the next year.

      Amy Sancetta, AP

     

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  • The Week That Was: Shyne not really free at last, Kim Zolciak Really Engaged to Big Poppa?

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    The Week That Was: Shyne not really free at last, Kim Zolciak Really Engaged to Big Poppa?The rapper Shyne, who was convicted of a club shooting in 1999, was reportedly released from a New York correctional facility Oct. 6 and then transferred into custody by immigration officials. Though the former Bad Boy Records star has a green card, news reports hint that he may be deported to his native Belize because of the felony conviction. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Mike Gilhooly would only tell media outlets that Shyne was in custody for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.

    Born Jamal Barrow, Shyne was on the verge of superstardom when he was arrested in 1999 for a shooting at the Club New York nightclub. His mentor and record label chief Diddy, and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, was also charged but acquitted at trial.

    While in prison, Shyne (now 30) changed his name to Moses Leviy in recognition of his Jewish mother. His father, Dean Oliver Barrow, is currently the prime minister of Belize.

    Attorney Oscar Michelen, told the ‘New York Daily News’ his client “is anxious to get released and is looking forward to seeing his family and being able to be free to do what he wants to do.”

    ShyneDespite what seems to be a smear campaign from a few mainstream gossip columns, Mo’Nique and her new late night talk show is a hit. Numbers do not lie. The comedienne -who is making headlines for not promoting the new Tyler Perry/Oprah Winfrey-produced film ‘Precious’ – has made history for BET with ‘The Mo’Nique Show,’ which netted 1.5 million viewers for its debut Oct. 5.

    The premiere episode featured appearances from Steve Harvey, R&B artist Monica, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as well as a performance by R&B recording artist Jeremih. A rep for BET said the show ranked as the network’s highest-rated show for the season and was the number two entertainment program on cable during its time slot. “The inaugural episode also outperformed the competition, coming in as the number one entertainment talk show on cable overall and the number one talk show among adults 18-49 (850,000),” said BET spokeswoman Tricia Newell. The show, a loud and colorful spectacle, tapes from Atlanta’s Turner Studios and airs on BET at 11 p.m. weeknights.

    *****

    Jennifer Hudson is getting back to work. As the Academy Award and Grammy Award winner celebrates the recent birth of her baby, she’s also getting into the holiday spirit. The TV special ‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll be Home for Christmas’ has been announced to air on ABC in December. According to reports, the show will feature the singer-actress reliving her childhood holidays with musical performances filmed at various locations around her hometown of Chicago. The chosen venues will be specific to her youth; they include her church and the music academy she attended. Hudson’s record label has no plans to release a holiday album to coincide with the TV special.

    *****

    Anna Deavere Smith is something like a phenomenon. Her new show ‘Let Me Down Easy’ opened Oct. 7 at New York City’s tightly packed Second Stage Theater and a flurry of notable well wishers – including Gayle King, opera diva Jessye Norman, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage, actresses Dawn Lewis and Judith Light – came out to celebrate.

    For the Tony Award nominee’s latest one-woman, multi-character show, Smith explores the power of the body, the price of health, and the resilience of the spirit. The Anthony Foglia-directed tour-de-force where the McArthur Genius Grant winning wunderkind transforms herself into a dramatic range of characters, all of whom she’s interviewed and impersonates masterfully for the 95-minute play. But this is far from satire; ‘Let Me Down Easy’ is a thought provoking marvel about mortality channeled through journalistic accounts from a wide variety of sources, including fashion icon Lauren Hutton, super-athlete Lance Armstrong, playwright Eve Ensler, former boxing champ Michael Bent, late movie critic Joel Siegel and former Texas Governor Ann Richards.

    *****

    Controversial reggae artist Buju Banton’s concert at the Voodoo Lounge in San Jose, California on Oct. 13 has been canceled. “After reviewing Buju Banton’s lyrics, I was appalled by their sheer hatred and encouragement of violence towards the gay, lesbian and transgender community,” stated David Powell, co-owner of Voodoo Lounge. “There is no place for these types of incendiary remarks at Voodoo Lounge or in San Jose.” Banton – who recorded the song ‘Boom, Bye Bye,’ in 1988, which incited the torture and murder of gay men – has been the subject of protest for his concert bookings.

    A website has been erected to boycott any promoter doing business with him. An open letter to his manager Tracii Mcgregor, a former editor at the Source magazine, has been published there also, calling her to task for saying that Banton was “only 15 years old when he recorded that song.” Powell maintained that the club’s ownership team “did not know the content of Banton’s lyrics. If we had known, we would not have scheduled this performance.”

    *****

    Big Poppa Kim Zolciak Real Housewives of AtlantaSo is ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star Kim Zolciak really engaged to Big Poppa? Only God knows for sure. On last week’s episode of the televised guilty pleasure, the bleached-blond urban socialite showed off the new rocks that she got, and boasted of her engagement to her mysterious millionaire paramour (who has been identified as Lee Najjar). Hmmmm. Her TV show co-star Sheree Whitfield, who recently underwent a downsizing divorce from former football player Bob Whitfiled, wondered aloud (and on camera) about the validity of the engagement since the man is still married.

    A Bravo network spokeswoman couldn’t be reached for comment about the possible nuptials. But until that stone is uncovered, folks can see really how large the ‘Tardy for the Party’ singer is living — the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper got an exclusive look at her luxurious digs.

     

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  • UPDATE: Is There Hope For Shyne?

    Posted by: BlogXilla

    Update: Wed: 11:12 I just got word that Shyne met with some of his family this morning though it’s not clear who, but there were a lot of tears in the room. While Shyne is no longer being held in a jail cell, he’s still held in a room waiting to deported. The family has been told that they should proceed as if he’s going to be deported back to Belize. Shyne is currently being held by ICE (Immigration & Custom Enforcement) being prepped for deportation until they are told not to send him back to Belize. Let’s hope some sort of last minute deal can get worked out. I will let y’all know of any developments I hear. 

    Xilla

    _____

    Update: So here is what I know so far, that family has been told to prepare for Shyne to be deported. They’ve reached out to Gov Patterson, but this issue is out of his hands because it’s a federal issue so there isn’t much he can do. He is trying to pull some strings but things are not looking good for Shyne Po. Let’s pray for Shyne 

    _____

    Update: 6:00 PM EST: I’ve just learned that Shyne has only learned of his pending deportation only 3 hours ago. This unfortunately set back is causing a lot of chaos and drama for a family who has been w/o Shyne for the last 10 years. The family has reached out to Gov. Patterson but word is and I quote “It does not look good”. Developing 

    _____

    UPDATE: GG has just learned That Shyne will be deported by Friday and US Immigration & Customs have given his family 24 hours to see Shyne before he is sent back to Belize. The family is heading to see Shyne now was we speak 5:25pm EST Developing.

    ____________

    It looks like Shyne’s homecoming is on hold for the moment. The former Bad Boy rapper (born Jamal Barrow) was scheduled to be released from prison Tuesday (October 6) after serving more than nine years of a 10-year sentence in connection with the 2001 Club New York shooting involving Diddy and Jennifer Lopez. But his release is now under review, as representatives for the rapper revealed to MTV News that the Brooklyn MC is being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at an unspecified facility in Western New York State. Officials are determining whether or not to deport the rapper, who was born in Belize, a rep explained. “Shyne is currently in federal custody while his future immigration status is determined,” the rep said in a message to MTV News.

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  • Hip Hop Honors 2009: Celebrating Def Jam Records’ Movers & Shakers

    What started out as enterprising inspiration in a New York University dorm room 25 years ago is now home of the greatest names in the history of hip-hop, rap and R&B; Def Jam Recordings.

    A treasure trove of artists from LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys to Rihanna and Kanye West, and dozens more, have all help make the record company the most durable brand in hip hop.

    And the 2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors celebrates it all during a glitzy affair set to air on Oct. 13 at 9 p.m.

    But as should be known, there’s a lot of people on the back end who played a major part.

    And not just Russell Simmons, either.

    Blackvoices.com pays homage to the 25 movers and shakers who helped shape Def Jam Recordings over the past 25 years.

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    Def Jam’s Movers & Shakers
    25 People Who Helped Shape Def Jam Records
    Celebrating the 25th anniversary of hip hop’s most durable brand should not be taken lightly. Blackvoices.com pays homage to the 25 people out-front and behind-the-scenes who made a difference.
    Getty Images

    Mariah Through The Years

      Mariah Through The Years:
      For Mariah Carey, having more number one songs than any solo artist in America has been a credit to the company that this five-time Grammy winner has kept since making her music debut in 1990. From people behind the scenes like L.A. Reid and Jermaine Dupri to some of her past loves like Tommy Mottola, Derek Jeter and now husband Nick Cannon, each man has played a significant role in inspiring the music that has made this 39 year-old singer/songwriter famous. Blackvoices.com takes a look at the men who have inspired Mariah Carey over the years.

      Tommy Mottola – Husband
      No one is more responsible for Mariah Carey’s success than former Columbia Records head Tommy Mottola. After receiving Carey’s demo from artist Brenda K. Starr, for whom Carey sang backup, he signed her on the spot. While recording her 1990 debut, the two became romantically involved and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in 1993. Just three short years later, they split, and a divorce was finalized in 1998.

      Luther Vandross – Musical Collaborator
      The five-octave singer was fortunate enough to be one of the few entertainers to record a duet with the late Luther Vandross. Their cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross‘s ‘Endless Love’ became Vandross’ biggest pop hit. It was the second single released from his ‘Songs’ album and was also included on two Carey albums: ‘Greatest Hits’ in 2001 and ‘The Ballads’ in 2008.

      Trey Lorenz – Backup Singer
      In 1992, Carey performed an MTV ‘Unplugged’ special to show nonbelievers that she was not a studio singer. Her cover of the Jackson 5‘s ‘I’ll Be There’ with her longtime backup singer Trey Lorenz was later released as a single and became a number-one hit in the United States. Lorenz was able to score a record deal from the duet, and Carey co-produced his debut. On July 7 of this year, the two performed the song at the Michael Jackson memorial, which was held at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

      Jermaine Dupri – Producer
      It’s not a well-known fact that Jermaine Dupri has been working with Carey for nearly 15 years. In 1995, Carey worked with the So So Def Records founder on ‘Always Be My Baby,’ from her ‘Daydream’ album. It became the most successful record on U.S. radio that year. And though these two worked on several remixes together over the years, their magic came a decade later when J.D. produced four songs on ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ Carey’s 10th studio album and most successful to date.

      ODB – Musical Collaborator
      Since rapping ‘Me and Mariah go back like babies and pacifiers,’ Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the late Wu Tang Clan MC, helped solidify Carey in the world of hip-hop and R&B. The 1995 remix to ‘Fantasy’ became a number-one hit. The friendship between Carey and ODB lasted throughout the years. The songstress even met the rapper upon his release from jail in 2003.

      Mase – Musical Collaborator
      ‘Honey’ was Carey’s 12th number-one song. Before turning his life over to God and becoming a minster, Bad Boy rapper Mase appeared on the popular remix of the record, alongside the Lox and Diddy. The song, which also had its own video, was featured on Carey’s 2003 remix compilations, aptly titled ‘The Remixes.’

      Derek Jeter – Alleged Beau
      Shortly after divorcing husband Tommy Mottola in 1998, the five-time Grammy award winner met New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter at a Fresh Air Fund gala in New York. The couple connected over their interracial parents – black fathers and Irish mothers. The public romance ended short of the one-year mark. In an interview with Parade magazine, Carey said “It was the wrong time. …Our two worlds were just too much for that moment.”

      Eminem – Alleged Beau
      From ‘Clown’ to ‘Obsessed,’ Carey has documented her disdain for Detroit MC Eminem in her music. The ‘Glitter’ actress denies they ever slept together, but Slim Shady has consistently rapped that the two were intimate. The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, sent threats to Carey via the 2009 diss track ‘The Warning,’ which was directed at both Carey and her husband, Nick Cannon.

      Nick Cannon – Husband
      Nick Cannon, 28, dated singer-actress Christina Milian and was even engaged to Victoria’s Secret model Selita Eubanks for five months before becoming Carey’s second husband. In 2005, he convinced the Teen Choice Awards to let him present Carey’s award for ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ Two years passed, and the couple was reunited in 2007. Their whirlwind romance resulted in a quickie wedding in 2008 at Carey’s Bahamian estate, Windermere.

     

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  • Michelle Obama Inspires Women To Achieve Higher Education

    Michelle Obama Inspires Women To Achieve Higher Education

    On January 20th this nation witnessed history with the inauguration of the 44th President Barrack Obama. A Black Man had been voted into office to represent our nation. Also of note, was the fact that the country was in a bad way from one of the worst economic eras in U.S. History. While these events have had an impact on the world at large to variable degrees, one portion of U.S. residents have been deeply affected by the implications. Woman, and African American women in specific, have been profoundly struck by the impression of the First Family and Michelle Obama. On the day of victory, when she strode out on the stage to be by her husband, President-Elect Barack Obama’s side, women could not help but acknowledge her poise, confidence and grace. She was an inspiration to all women; black, white or brown.  Michelle Obama exemplifies all that embodies a woman and achieved soul. She is a exquisite mother, a nurturing provider, as well as a lawyer, executive, and public servant. A professional and domestic winner by any measure.

    During her many speeches, Michelle Obama encourages women to validate themselves, their intelligence, and home values. She advises them to seek additional education in an effort to insure better job opportunities. She is a superior model of how a woman can juggle parenthood along with other social responsibilities. (Her appointments by far surpassing that of most women on a daily basis). She is visible proof that woman can achieve anything they put their minds to. She has been cited as stating “…being a good mother isn’t all about sacrificing. It’s really investing and putting yourself higher on your priority list.”

    A alumnus of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Michelle Obama recognizes the importance of educational activity.  She avidly endorses President Barack Obama’s educational scholarship programs, (himself a recipient of several scholarships and student loans) and has cited papers from census bureau data that shows improved education frequently results in stronger earning power. In fact, prior to becoming the First Lady, Michelle Obama was vice-president of Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago. Under her direction, enrollment and participation of women in the residential area sky rocketed. Without surprise, many women adopted her mindset and studied careers in the field of law.

    In these terrible economical trials, there are few industries poised for increase. Any legal field, and specifically, employment in the criminal justice field, will remain stable or grow at times of domestic fiscal downturns.  With less occupations and opportunities available, more people embrace to crime. Its an calamitous turn of events, but it presents an opportunity to take action on plans being proposed and supported by the Michelle Obama. Click the link to get started with your criminal justice career .

  • Remainder of Clemens’ lawsuit dismissed (AP)

    The remainder of Roger Clemens' defamation suit against Brian McNamee in Texas has been dismissed, leaving the pair to fight their legal battle in New York. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison, who threw out most of Clemens' case in February, dismissed the remainder of the suit on Aug. 28. The dismissal was with prejudice, meaning Clemens can't refile, but he plans to ask the 5th U.S.

  • Feds may keep drug list from destruction (AP)

    Federal prosecutors have asked an appeals court to stay its decision that government agents illegally seized the drug testing records and samples of more than 100 baseball players. The move could keep baseball's infamous drug list from being destroyed for at least a few months. In a filing late Monday with the 9th U.S.