Cover Story
From Compton to the NFL: Seattle Seahawks Star Richard Sherman (Video)
January 21, 2014
With all the controversy surrounding Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman’s sideline interview with reporter Erin Andrews & the huge playmaking win for the Seattle Seahawks over the San Francisco 49ers, we felt it necessary to remind people of Richard Sherman’s journey from Compton to Stanford & onto the NFL. It may not entirely slow all the haters, but it may allow people who don’t know his story to find a new respect for him. More video below….
VICE: Buttloads Of Pain (Video)
January 20, 2014
Wow. I know you’ve heard something on this, but now VICE is on this. The real story will be told now. And as you already know, back-alley butt enhancement injections are NOT good. They are bad… dangerous… deadly!
[It] was the transgender community that really pioneered the backroom butt-injection scene in the 1980s and 90s. For a male transitioning to a female at that time, it was a ridiculous notion to think that insurance would foot the bill… [But the] phenomenon of butt pumping has even crept into popular culture. Every time Kim Kardashian or Jennifer Lopez wears a swimsuit, tabloids and gossip websites furiously debate whether their bodacious butts are the result of an intense squat regimen or ass injections. Former stripper and hip-hop model Vanity Wonder, who boasts ample 34-23-45 curves, wrote a book about her addiction to illegal butt shots and the 16-plus times she had her butt pumped up. Nicki Minaj, who is known for her huge rump almost as much as for her platinum-selling albums [even raps about it on her] guest verse on the remix of Big Sean’s ‘Dance (A$$)’: “Kiss my ass and my anus, ’cause it’s finally famous / And it’s finally soft, yeah, it’s finally solved! / I don’t know, man, guess them ass shots wore off!â€
– VICE
But WHY would anyone do this? Man, click to play above, watch, and learn. Y’all know we love a thick backside on here, but this illegal back-alley life-threatening sh!t must cease! Getting an ass to die for ain’t worth dying for.
It’s important to point out that there are legal butt-enhancing procedures. The FDA deems both implants and fat transfer—where fat is liposuctioned from areas like the patient’s stomach and transferred to his or her fanny—to be safe when conducted by a board-certified plastic surgeon. However, many women choose the black-market procedure to save money. Legal implants and fat transfers can cost up to $10,000 more than their illicit counterparts.
– VICE
READ: BUTTLOADS OF PAIN (VICE)
Posted in Cover Story, Hip-Hop, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Opinion, Series, Videos | 
Tags: back-alley, black market, butt enhancement, butt injections, buttloads of pain, Constantino Mendieta, Dr. Constantino Mendieta, Gluteal Sculpting, illegal enhancement, implants, Oscarina Busse, PLASTIC SURGERY, The Art of Gluteal Sculpting, VICE | 
1 Comment »
COVER STORY: Hip-Hop At Harvard University With Nas (Video)
January 16, 2014
Queensbridge emcee to Harvard University honoree. Nasir “Nas” Jones, take a bow! Harvard asked the brother to create a Hip-Hop fellowship in Nas’ name 30 years after his rhyming and grinding started. This is happening! Check out what Hip-Hop at Harvard looks like above. Hip-Hop heads, you are going to be SO proud watching this!
“The same youth you want to protect… you need to understand them by understanding the music they listen to.”
– Nas
Posted in Cover Story, Hip-Hop, Human Interest, Series, Videos | Tags: Akrobatik, Ammunition, Boston, By Design, Harvard University, Hip-Hop Archive, HipHop, HipHop Archive, Nas, Nasir Jones, Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship, The Hip-Hop Archive | 2 Comments »
Snoop Loves The Kids… Enough To Keep Them Safe From Concussions While Playing Youth Football (Video)
January 15, 2014
Hey, the NFL has all kinds of media focus on the concussion problem in its sport. But by the time they get them in the pros, those athletes have been bouncing their brains around inside their helmets (inside their skulls) for around 20 years; since youth football days. Who’s attacking the problem at that end? Who’ll get some spotlight shone at that stage. No stranger to the stage, Snoop Dogg has picked up the flag.
There is, of course, a secondary problem that should quickly move to the top of the chart; caused by parents’ fear of injury to their kids. Fewer and fewer children are participating in organized leagues that have positive impact on the lives of youth, like the Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL). Snoop wants the word out that his league is working the problem, and getting somewhere. If only he could get some NFL “oomph” behind the push.
“In my league, we’ve had less injuries over the last two years because of what we’re teaching. “I feel like if we go down to the levels and the NFL comes to the hoods and teaches us what they want us to do, by the time they get to the NFL, they’ve been practicing this their whole life.â€
– Snoop Dogg
Hopefully, what has been a hood-doing-good success story will not fade away. Just peep the video above highlighting good gridiron stuff from Flo-Rida’s and Snoop’s youth leagues. Shout to HipHopDx for this.
Posted in Celebrity, Cover Story, Human Interest, Sports, Videos, Youth | Tags: Concussions, Football, Snoop, Snoop Dogg, Snoop Lion, White House, White House Visit, Youth Football | No Comments »
Black & Latino Students In The U.S. Can Attend Medical School In Cuba For Free (Video)
December 20, 2013
Doctors come out of med school with huge debt to repay. Probably why we “understand” why a trip to the doctor can cost so much in the United States. But wouldn’t it be a boon to making healthcare affordable if doctors could graduate debt-free? Well… somebody’s already doing that… Cuba!
All too often though, we want to vilify those (like Cuba) we are told to treat as the enemy. Remember the uproar over Bey and Jigga’s trip to Cuba (y’all gone learn today…wrote a song ’bout it)? You’dve thought it was the missile crisis all over again. But fortunately, to balance bad-mouthing of some, we have folks who declare that there are at least some things we can appreciate about the neighbor 90 miles south of South Florida (USA). For instance, check out what the Black Left Unity blog hipped us to about another bright spot of Cuba’s medical outreach.
Currently there are two Detroit (Michigan, USA) students attending LASM on a full scholarship. Contact us at IFCO
418 W 145 Street
Harlem, NY 10031
www.ifconews.org
ifco@igc.org
(212) 926-5757
And if you don’t know, now you know. So, next time somebody spouts that ‘Communist Cuba the bad guys’ stuff … You hit ’em with the link to this story. Oh, and tell them the US is actually doing some ‘bad medicine’ down that way. Remember the Gitmo force-feeding? But we’ll keep this peace positive. Thanks for the good medicine, Cuba.
Check out more video after the jump, including a great piece from PBS Newshour.
Posted in Cover Story, Health and Wellness, Human Interest, Opinion, Politics, Television, Videos | Tags: Affordable Care, Affordable Care Act, black, Cuba, Debt-free doctors, Fidel Castro, Latin America, Latino, Medical School | No Comments »
Kids For Cash (Trailer)
December 16, 2013
Damn shame when we get proof corruption in the system like this. Pennsylvania judge Mark Ciavarella was convicted in 2011 on 12 counts of racketeering and fraud for accepting kickbacks in exchange for sentencing young people to a private, for-profit juvenile detention center… basically selling jailing “Kids for Cash.”; hence, the appropriateness of the documentary’s name. Watch the trailer above.
Black Woman Disrespects A Black Man & White Girlfriend in Harlem Barbershop. What Would YOU Do? (Video)
December 11, 2013
I enjoy these ‘candid camera-type’ of social experiments that ABC News reporter John Quinones does in his “What Would You Do?” series that usually airs on Friday nights.  This episode is particularly interesting as they head to a Harlem barbershop with a large black clientele. Things get interesting when a black female disrespects a black man & his white girlfriend. Personally I’ve dated every race there is & wouldn’t tolerate anyone disrespecting my girlfriend or wife no matter what her race is. In fact, many of my family members are also involved in interracial relationships which reflects how much America as a whole is changing. Many great points were made in this video by the people who stood up including the brother in the video who made a excellent point that interracial relationships are not destroying the black community. It’s drugs & poverty, but we can’t combat that with our own ignorance, hatred, & bigotry. African-Americans should know better than anyone else not to discriminate on anyone as much as we have been for many years. There’s so many great quotes in this segment it’s amazing. Ultimately, the most important thing about ANY relationship is “LOVE”.
LIVESTREAM: Nelson Mandela Memorial Service In Johannesburg, South Africa (Video)
December 10, 2013
Posted in Cover Story, History, News, Politics, Videos | Tags: Africa, Johannesburg, Madiba, Memorial Service, Nelson Mandela | No Comments »
Thank You Nelson Mandela (Video)
December 6, 2013
Former prisoner. Former President. Forever to be respected, admired, loved…Â now mourned by nations the world over. Pass now from us into eternity, Nelson Mandela. Quite literally, a man who was no myth; but who will remain a legend who lived a life of service to humanity died at his home yesterday. He was 95.
We don’t have the perfect words, Mr. President. But we sincerely offer the two that should certainly be heard forever in association with your name: Thank You! For your struggles, protests, imprisonment, iconification… for your work and triumphs freeing yourself and your people (of every color) from the bonds of man, from the oppression racist institutions, and the entanglements of in-fighting that kept us at war with ourselves… We say THANK YOU, President Mandela.
To be certain, the struggles continue. But it is now our turn to take up the causes we see fit and see them through to the end; to our own ends if necessary. And we cannot say we have not had folks to have shown us the way in our lifetime. Chief among them, Nelson Mandela showed us the way of the warrior suited for his lifelong battle against injustice and for peace on a national/global scale: Not perfect, but not waiting for someone or some perfect time to come along. Not looking for a fight, but willing to risk it all and fight with all he has for as long as he has. And as a result, though not seeking glory as an end, glory followed him to the end and will forevermore.
Rest in peace, Brother Mandela. We got it from here.
Video comments from U.S. President Barack Obama above. After the jump, a favorite clip of mine.
READ: NBC WORLDNEWS’ COVERAGE
– @ojones1
Posted in Cover Story, News, Politics, Videos | Tags: Dead at 95, Human Rights, Nelson Mandela, President, Rainbow Nation, South Africa | No Comments »
VICE: The Florida Mandingos (Documentary) [NSFW]
October 17, 2013
Although swinging culture in Atlanta is something I’m told is growing I can readily admit it’s a lifestyle that’s not for me. The racial element to interracial swinging is also one that is not that easy for many to comprehend as well, but in this ‘Vice Guide To Sex’ documentary we ran across featuring a Florida man by the name of Art Hammer, he attempts put into perspective as to why any man would be comfortable with another man having sex with his wife & the racial elments of the lifestyle. VICE reporter Alex Miller covers all the kinky angles for this story for VBS.TV. Although this is a news piece some of the video & content, although blurred out, is still strong & graphic so therefore it may Not be Safe For Work.
“VICE follows Art on a road trip leading up to a ‘Hot Chocolate’ party he’s hosting at a purpose built sex bungalow called the Shangri Lust. Along the way we meet the key players who make up the lifestyle: the insatiable wives and their cuckolded white husbands obsessed with sex with black men, and Art’s A-team, the crème de la crème of [The Florida] Mandingos.”
– VICE
Posted in Cover Story, Lifestyle, Shots, Videos | Tags: Alex Miller, gangbang, Guide To Sex, Hot Chocolate party, Interracial, Interracial swinging, swinging, The Florida Mandingos, VBS, VBS.TV, VICE, VICE Guide To Sex | 1 Comment »
VICE: King Of Cannibus (Video)
October 16, 2013
This video has three parts; the first embedded above, with parts 2 & 3 after the jump.
Posted in Business, Cover Story, Lifestyle, Politics, Travel, Videos | Tags: Arjan Roskam, King of Cannabis, Krishna Andavolu, VICE | No Comments »
Employee Calls Out McDonald’s President On Poverty Wages (Video)
October 14, 2013
YEAH! McDonald’s worker Nancy Salgado got ’em so shook they called the cops! Damn shame it has to come to this though.
Great story from NPR’s website. Watch the embedded clip that has gone viral this week, with the help of Fight For 15 – a fast-food workers’ campaign aimed at raising hourly wages to $15. Salgado shouts to Jeff Stratton, president of McDonald’s USA, who was standing at a podium in a ballroom giving a talk:
“It’s really hard for me to feed my two kids and struggle day to day. Do you think this is fair, that I have to be making $8.25 when I have worked for McDonald’s for 10 years?”
Stratton’s response:
“I’ve been there 40 years.”
Wow.
READ: MCDONALD’S PRESIDENT WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY LOW-WAGE, SINGLE MOM
– @ojones1
Posted in Cover Story, Human Interest, Opinion, Politics, Videos | Tags: Fight For 15, Jeff Stratton, McDonald's, McDonald's President, Nancy Salgado, Poverty Wages | No Comments »
VICE: Black Bike Week (Video)
October 11, 2013
“We call it Black Bike Week. Whether you’re Black, White, Asian, Chinese, or Japanese, we don’t give a f**k! We ridin’!”
VICE covers the annual Black Bike Week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, over Memorial Day weekend. Half a million Black (mostly) bikers and event go-ers gather for several days of riding and partying… and traffic-stopping flossing and bike stunts up and down the seafront strip.
And…
‘Hordes of women—known as “huggers”—also flock to Myrtle Beach for the event, hoping to be picked up for a ride, and maybe something more. A girl will often perform the “pillion clapping” move as a passenger—essentially twerking on the back of the bike. Unfortunately, the combination of partying and biking without a helmet isn’t an especially safe one, and every year there are people who don’t make it home. The event also attracts a ton of prostitutes, but more and more women are starting to ride their own bikes and each year an increasing number of female biker gangs show up for the party.’
– VICE
Sigh… if there was a seedy side to this week of debauchery, you know VICE would expose it. Let’s watch and learn… about that ‘clapping’ thing, too.
Posted in Cover Story, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Videos | Tags: Black Bike Week, VICE | No Comments »
Former Angola Prisoner Herman Wallace, Denied A Fair Trial For 41 Years, Dies Just 3 Days After Being Freed (Audio)
October 9, 2013
Herman Wallace spent the 41 years of his life in solitary confinement in Louisiana State Penitentiary (aka Angola).
A free man, Wallace died of liver cancer, three days after gaining his freedom. He was 71 years old.
“While already serving a 50-year sentence for armed robbery, Wallace was convicted of the murder of a prison guard in 1974, along with Robert King and Albert Woodfox. The men became known as the ‘Angola 3’ for spending most of their years in solitary confinement… All of them claimed to be innocent.
On Tuesday a judge overturned Wallace’s conviction on the grounds that he had been denied a fair trial because he was indicted by a grand jury comprised solely of men — in violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Wallace spent the first 18 years behind bars without an appeal. The argument that finally won Wallace his release was one he had been making for decades, mostly acting as his own attorney.”
It didn’t take new legislation, new science or DNA (as was the case for freed Angola prisoner Henry James)… It just took work, reconsideration, and FORTY F**KING YEARS for a judge to do the right thing.
“It’s tragic it took 40 years for him to find a court that would say, ‘You’re right, Mr. Wallace, that violated your Constitutional rights; you are entitled to a new trial.'”
– Attorney George Kendall, one of Wallace’s advocates
This is sad, folks. Of course, we are talking about the wasted years of a man now at rest; but we are also talking about the denial of rights and protections that we are ALL supposed to be afforded in America. God be with you are denied due process in a time of legal trouble. Because if you are convicted, it might take half your life to get that ‘judiciary oversight’ even looked at by a judge!
I… I don’t have the words, but NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ does.
READ: ANGOLA 3 INMATE TASTES BRIEF BITTERSWEET FREEDOM (NPR)
– @ojones1
DOWNLOAD: NPR’S ALL THINGS CONSIDERED ON HENRY WALLACE (AUDIO)
Angola Prisoner Henry James, Freed by DNA, Speaks on His 30 Years of Imprisonment (Video)
October 1, 2013
You know, we try to come up with titillating titles to tempt our readers (one-time confession); but this title needed no tweaks… it just labels the story. Above: Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now, talks with former prisoner Henry James – a free man thanks to DNA evidence – who reflects on his case and 30 years of his life he will never get back. We say the brother is a former prisoner – NOT an ex-convict – because he should never have been convicted!
Now… James’ case is NOT a typical case. Nah, that would be ridiculous, right? BUT WAIT! James’ case is NOT typical… because evidence that could free him was actually found! It usually is not, and the convicted serve life without parole!
READ: FREED BY DNA, ANGOLA PRISONER HENRY JAMES (DEMOCRACY NOW)
The Gun That Aims Itself: New Smart ‘Robo-Rifle’ Technology Can Turn Anyone Into Skilled Snipers (Video)
September 25, 2013
Texas-based TrackingPoint Solutions has released the first ever precision-guided firearm (PGF) – basically a long-range, laser-guided robo-rifle. Soon beginners will be endowed with the kill-at-will skill of trained snipers (e.g. one-shot kills at extreme distances) in no time! Talk about taking gun control in a whole other direction! Well… TrackingPoint CEO Jason Schauble refers to it as a step in the evolution of firearms. Um, yeah.
Watch the video and ask yourself this question: Has killing become too easy?
READ: LONG SHOT – INSIDE THE SCOPE OF SMART WEAPONS (MOTHERBOARD)
Kanye West Explains The True Musical Direction Of ‘Yeezus’ on BBC Radio With Zane Lowe (Video)
September 23, 2013
There’s some people who I’ve heard say that Kanye West’s new album ‘Yeezus’ was not very good, but often times I find the people making that assessment ONLY listen to rap & suffer from having a very limited worldview & musical palette. I have friends here in the states & overseas who love the ‘Yeezus’ album’s alternative & experimental musical direction. I dig the record but it’s important for me to note that I don’t listen to it with a hip hop enthusiast’s ear. Great artists are supposed to go against the grain of what everyone else is doing no matter if the final critiques are good or bad. Needless to say I was not surprised to hear BBC Radio host Zane Lowe rave about the album to Kanye in this in-depth interview as well. From many people I know around the world the ‘Yeezus’ album is very popular because it’s not a modern day rap album musically. The album strays from the typical ‘trap sound’ permeating commercial radio airwaves in the states & sticks out within Kanye’s own catalog. Check out the video above as this is just part 1 of a 4 part interview. More videos below…
UPDATE: FULL AUDIO INTERVIEW BELOW
Posted in Alternative, Cover Story, Hip-Hop, Videos | Tags: BBC Radio, Kanye West, YEEZUS, Zane Lowe | No Comments »
DJ Mister Cee Opens Up About His Sexuality In New Public Service Announcement (Video)
September 17, 2013
The controversy surrounding famed NY radio host DJ Mister Cee had less to do with his sexuality than it did with him lying to himself, his family, & his fans. I believe most people will accept you for who you are if you are just honest about it, but you can’t expect the media & fans to leave you alone when you’re a very public figure who has been arrested repeatedly for soliciting male prostitutes in the news. The most powerful thing DJ Mister Cee has done up to this point is this new public service announcement encouraging people to get tested. There are many women who become at risk because guys like DJ Mister Cee choose not to be honest with their significant others in their lives. Many of us understand his reasons for not being forthcoming, but there are literally thousands of people contracting STD’s simply because their partners weren’t honest about their behavior.  At least now we can applaud DJ Mister Cee for being honest with his friends, fans, & supporters & for making the right moves to help save lives & bring about more awareness. FREESTDCHECK.ORG
Young, married women are the fastest-growing group of #HIV positive people http://t.co/vrfgjHbBF4 via @USAIDGH @CherrellRene
— Jay Force (@jayforce) September 16, 2013
VICE: Ground Zero Syria (Video)
September 10, 2013
I don’t have the words. VICE brings us another necessary wake-up call about the horrors of human existence. This time: Syria’s civil war.
In 2012 VICE commissioned photographer and videographer Robert King to document the civil war that has been ravaging Syria for the past two years. Largely based on Aleppo, Robert’s footage of the violent conflict that continues to unfold in the region is perhaps one of the most thorough and brutally honest documents of a war that is increasingly destabilizing the Middle East as it spills over into neighboring Turkey and Lebanon. This full-length version of Ground Zero: Syria combines all six parts of our series to offer a startling glimpse into a chaotic war with no clear end in sight.
The documentary episode “Ground Zero Syria” (Chapter 1) starts with Part 1 embedded above. All the other videos in this 6-part series are embedded after the jump.
WARNING: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC, DISTURBING, AND VIOLENT CONTENT!
Posted in Cover Story, Human Interest, Politics, Videos | Tags: Chapter 1, Ground Zero Syria, Part 1, Part 1-6, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Robert King, VICE | No Comments »
Politics: Secret Spy Courts, Secret Decisions and You (Video)
September 6, 2013
Why is it important to vote? Because of the heroism of Civil Rights Activists like Representative John Lewis… because celebs say you should… because of the bad things that might happen if you don’t? That last one is closer; except the word to use is not “might.” See, among other things, the U.S. President nominates Supreme Court Judges to replace those who are done serving. Those appointments are for life. Remember President George W. Bush? Well, you should remember his nominee/appointee, Chief Justice John Roberts. He’s the guy in charge of the U.S. government’s secret Spy Court, established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978.
‘The FISA court that handles government spying is a secretive institution that is made up of judges hand-picked by Supreme Court Justice John Roberts?’
– TheLipTV Channel
I originally read the U.S. Spy Court in Businessweek recently. But Buzzsaw’s Tyrel Ventura (yeah, son of Former Governor and Pro Wrestler Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura) and Tabetha Wallace offer a harder slant that relates my downside posit; as if I even have to say anything…
But I will… get informed and VOTE, DAMMIT! Vote in EVERY election federal (presidential, congressional) AND state/local elections (and fight ALEC)!! The people who take office and the policies they push affect your lives!!
THE SECRET FISA COURT RULES ON WHO THE U.S. SPYS ON…
…AND ONE JUDGE APPOINTS ALL THE JUDGES WITHOUT ANYONE ELSE’S CONFIRMATION…
…AND WE ELECT THE PERSON WHO APPOINTS THAT JUDGE!
HELL, WE ELECT CONGRESSMEN WHO MAKE LAWS THAT ESTABLISH ‘SECRET COURTS’ IN THE FIRST DAMN PLACE!
VOTE, DAMMIT!
(Alright… I’m off it… breathing… I’m off it. Just saying.)
– @ojones1
