Hugo Chavez Dead: Venezuela's President Dies At 58
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez, the fiery populist who declared a socialist revolution in Venezuela, crusaded against U.S. influence and championed a leftist revival across Latin America, died Tuesday at age 58 after a nearly two-year bout with cancer.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro, surrounded by other government officials, announced the death in a national television broadcast. He said Chavez died at 4:25 p.m. local time.
During more than 14 years in office, Chavez routinely challenged the status quo at home and internationally. He polarized Venezuelans with his confrontational and domineering style, yet was also a masterful communicator and strategist who tapped into Venezuelan nationalism to win broad support, particularly among the poor.
Chavez repeatedly proved himself a political survivor. As an army paratroop commander, he led a failed coup in 1992, then was pardoned and elected president in 1998. He survived a coup against his own presidency in 2002 and won re-election two more times.
The burly president electrified crowds with his booming voice, often wearing the bright red of his United Socialist Party of Venezuela or the fatigues and red beret of his army days. Before his struggle with cancer, he appeared on television almost daily, talking for hours at a time and often breaking into song of philosophical discourse.
Chavez used his country's vast oil wealth to launch social programs that include state-run food markets, new public housing, free health clinics and education programs. Poverty declined during Chavez's presidency amid a historic boom in oil earnings, but critics said he failed to use the windfall of hundreds of billions of dollars to develop the country's economy.
Inflation soared and the homicide rate rose to among the highest in the world.
Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba in June 2011 to remove what he said was a baseball-size tumor from his pelvic region, and the cancer returned repeatedly over the next 18 months despite more surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He kept secret key details of his illness, including the type of cancer and the precise location of the tumors.
"El Comandante," as he was known, stayed in touch with the Venezuelan people during his treatment via Twitter and phone calls broadcast on television, but even those messages dropped off as his health deteriorated.
Two months after his last re-election in October, Chavez returned to Cuba again for cancer surgery, blowing a kiss to his country as he boarded the plane. He was never seen again in public.
After a 10-week absence marked by opposition protests over the lack of information about the president's health and growing unease among the president's "Chavista" supporters, the government released photographs of Chavez on Feb. 15 and three days later announced that the president had returned to Venezuela to be treated at a military hospital in Caracas.
Throughout his presidency, Chavez said he hoped to fulfill Bolivar's unrealized dream of uniting South America.
He was also inspired by Cuban leader Fidel Castro and took on the aging revolutionary's role as Washington's chief antagonist in the Western Hemisphere after Castro relinquished the presidency to his brother Raul in 2006.
Supporters saw Chavez as the latest in a colorful line of revolutionary legends, from Castro to Argentine-born Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Chavez nurtured that cult of personality, and even as he stayed out of sight for long stretches fighting cancer, his out-sized image appeared on buildings and billboard throughout Venezuela. The airwaves boomed with his baritone mantra: "I am a nation." Supporters carried posters and wore masks of his eyes, chanting, "I am Chavez."
Chavez saw himself as a revolutionary and savior of the poor.
"A revolution has arrived here," he declared in a 2009 speech. "No one can stop this revolution."
Chavez's social programs won him enduring support: Poverty rates declined from 50 percent at the beginning of his term in 1999 to 32 percent in the second half of 2011. But he also charmed his audience with sheer charisma and a flair for drama that played well for the cameras.
He ordered the sword of South American independence leader Simon Bolivar removed from Argentina's Central Bank to unsheathe at key moments. On television, he would lambast his opponents as "oligarchs," announce expropriations of companies and lecture Venezuelans about the glories of socialism. His performances included renditions of folk songs and impromptu odes to Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong and 19th century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Chavez carried his in-your-face style to the world stage as well. In a 2006 speech to the U.N. General Assembly, he called President George W. Bush the devil, saying the podium reeked of sulfur after Bush's address.
Critics saw Chavez as a typical Latin American caudillo, a strongman who ruled through force of personality and showed disdain for democratic rules. Chavez concentrated power in his hands with allies who dominated the congress and justices who controlled the Supreme Court.
He insisted all the while that Venezuela remained a vibrant democracy and denied trying to restrict free speech. But some opponents faced criminal charges and were driven into exile.
While Chavez trumpeted plans for communes and an egalitarian society, his soaring rhetoric regularly conflicted with reality. Despite government seizures of companies and farmland, the balance between Venezuela's public and private sectors changed little during his presidency.
And even as the poor saw their incomes rise, those gains were blunted while the country's currency weakened amid economic controls.
Nonetheless, Chavez maintained a core of supporters who stayed loyal to their "comandante" until the end.
"Chavez masterfully exploits the disenchantment of people who feel excluded ... and he feeds on controversy whenever he can," Cristina Marcano and Alberto Barrera Tyszka wrote in their book "Hugo Chavez: The Definitive Biography of Venezuela's Controversial President."
Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias was born on July 28, 1954, in the rural town of Sabaneta in Venezuela's western plains. He was the son of schoolteacher parents and the second of six brothers.
Chavez was a fine baseball player and hoped he might one day pitch in the U.S. major leagues. When he joined the military at age 17, he aimed to keep honing his baseball skills in the capital.
But the young soldier immersed himself in the history of Bolivar and other Venezuelan heroes who had overthrown Spanish rule, and his political ideas began to take shape.
Chavez burst into public view in 1992 as a paratroop commander leading a military rebellion that brought tanks to the presidential palace. When the coup collapsed, Chavez was allowed to make a televised statement in which he declared that his movement had failed "for now." The speech, and those two defiant words, launched his career, searing his image into the memory of Venezuelans.
He and other coup prisoners were released in 1994, and President Rafael Caldera dropped the charges against them.
Chavez then organized a new political party and ran for president four years later, vowing to shatter Venezuela's traditional two-party system. At age 44, he became the country's youngest president in four decades of democracy with 56 percent of the vote.
Chavez was re-elected in 2000 in an election called under a new constitution drafted by his allies. His increasingly confrontational style and close ties to Cuba, however, disenchanted many of the middle-class supporters who had voted for him. The next several years saw bold but failed attempts by opponents to dislodge him from power.
In 2002, he survived a short-lived coup, which began after a large anti-Chavez street protest ended in deadly shootings. Dissident military officers detained the president and announced he had resigned. But within two days, he returned to power with the help of military loyalists while his supporters rallied in the streets.
Chavez emerged a stronger president. He defeated a subsequent opposition-led strike that paralyzed the country's oil industry, and he fired thousands of state oil company employees.
The coup also turned Chavez more decidedly against the U.S. government, which had swiftly recognized the provisional leader who had briefly replaced him. He created political and trade alliances that excluded the U.S., and he cozied up to Iran and Syria in large part, it seemed, due to their shared antagonism toward the U.S. government.
Despite the souring relationship, Chavez sold the bulk of Venezuela's oil to the United States.
He easily won re-election in 2006, and then said it was his destiny to lead Venezuela until 2021 or even 2031.
"I'm still a subversive," Chavez said in a 2007 interview with The Associated Press. "I think the entire world has to be subverted."
Playing such a larger-than-life public figure ultimately left little time for a personal life.
His second marriage, to journalist Marisabel Rodriguez, deteriorated in the early years of his presidency, and they divorced in 2004. In addition to their one daughter, Rosines, Chavez had three children from his first marriage, which ended before Chavez ran for office.
Chavez acknowledged after he was diagnosed with cancer that he had been recklessly neglecting his health. He had taken to staying up late and drinking as many as 40 cups of coffee a day. He regularly summoned his Cabinet ministers to the presidential palace late at night.
He often said he believed Venezuela was on its way down a long road toward socialism, and that there was no turning back. After winning re-election in 2012, he vowed to deepen his push to transform Venezuela.
His political movement, however, was mostly a one-man show. Only three days before his final surgery, Chavez named Maduro as his chosen successor.
Now, it will be up to Venezuelans to determine whether the Chavismo movement can survive, and how it will evolve, without the leader who inspired it.
Rihanna Covers Four April 2013 Issues Of “ELLE UK’ 2013 Covers
Rihanna has been all over the world. She is covering magazine after magazine. Now she takes over ‘ELLE UK‘ for four covers. All four of the covers including a special edition are set for April 2013 issue of ELLE UK. Check them out
The covers will hit shelves on March 5th and 6th. She is rocking some clothing from her new line River Island as well. Rihanna also interviews with the mag talking about love, life and music.
Some of her interview:
On Chris Brown being the person she loves:
“Stay [new single] is a story about having love that close and wanting it to last forever. You don’t have that feeling with everybody so when you have it you don’t want to let go of it. I would definitely say that he [Chris Brown] is the one I have that kind of relationship with.”
On wanting a great friendship with Chris Brown above all else:
“…right now that’s just what we want, a great friendship that’s unbreakable. Now that we’re adults we can do this right. We got a fresh start and I’m thankful for that.”
On why she got her gun tattoo and telling the truth:
‘Everybody wanted to know what was happening in my life. Is she a drug addict? No. Is she an alcoholic? No. Is she a victim? No. That’s when I got the gun. It was a symbol of strength. I’ll never be a victim.’
‘That’s why I’m posting pictures of myself smoking pot, to tell the truth about myself. I’ve got so much to think about, why bring all this extra s*** by being dishonest?’
On where she’d like to be in five years time:
“I will probably have a kid. And I’m praying I can go on vacation for a good month. And I’ll have set some things up so I don’t have to tour for the rest of my life, even though I love touring. I want health and happiness in five years. I want to be healthy and happy.”
On her love of high street fashion and her new collection for River Island:
“High-street shops pay more attention to the kids on the street than to the runways, so in a way I like to mix both. I love a high-end bag or jacket with a simple dress. I just thought, I’m going to make something for everybody – every personality, every body type.”
On loving posting pictures of herself and her life on Instagram:
“Well I instagram everything about my life, whether it’s smoking pot, in a strip club, reading a Bible verse – how crazy, I know! – or hanging out with my best friend, who happens to be Chris”.
On her mum disapproving of her naked pictures on Instagram:
“I’m not afraid of any person in this world but her. I’m terrified of her! She called me two days ago and reeled me in about two naked pictures Melissa [her best friend] put up on Instagram – a sneak-peek from a photo book she’s making about me. My mom, she went crazy on me. I was like embarrassed. I felt like I got my ass whupped in front of my class in school! She said, ‘This was like a private moment and you’re just parading this around.” She humbled the f*** out of me.’
Pick up The edition of ELLE on newsstands!
Zoe Saldana Responds To "Nina" Blacklash, Says She's Playing Nina Simone "Out Of Love"
There have been many outspoken ciritcs and fans who have criticized the casting of Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone in an upcoming movie about the late singer's life. One of the most vocal critics was Nina Simone's daughter, Simone, who revealed that she had been completely shut out of the movie and had no involvment at all.
During an inteview with Hip Hollywood, Zoe spoke her piece about the criticism saying,
”What kept me from getting stressed and being hurt by the negative comments is that I’m doing it for my sisters and my brothers and I don’t care who tells me I’m not this or I’m not that. I know who I am and I know what Nina Simone means to me.”
“I did it all for love. Out of love for Nina, my people and who I am and my pride of being a Black woman and a Latina woman and an American woman. That’s my truth.”
It sure seems like Zoe is COMMITED to playing the role and that's all you can ask of an actress. Maybe she will blow audiences away. However, we still feel some kind of way about her playing the role in what some could call "black face" (pictured above on the set).
EBONY Magazine Apologizes For Reporting Pastor Jamal Bryant Impregnated Teenage Member
Ebony magazine is back peddling on a recent story that they ran on Dr. Jamal Bryant, a popular Baltimore area pastor. In it’s recent March 2013 issue, the magazine wrote a short story in it’s ‘Scandals’ section, suggesting that the pastor had impregnated one of his 17-year-old congregation members. Although the publication did note that the story was ‘alleged’, Bryant was none too pleased that the rumor had been printed. He penned an open letter, calling the magazine out, writing:
For 67 years Ebony Magazine has been the drum beat for culture in the African American community. John Johnson its beloved founder dedicated his life to safe guarding our image with great integrity…On page 124 they published that it’s alleged I impregnated a 17-year-old member of my church. This accusation is categorically and completely untrue. To publish this with absolutely no source lends itself to reckless endangerment to my children, my congregation and my community. Ebony is not the National Enquirer. A higher standard is required and the statement jeopardizes my ministry to the youth in my church and community…
The magazine acknowledged his concern and open letter, with a response:
“Our ‘Scandals’ package in the March 2013 issue is meant to be a look at some of the more outrageous accusations and events in African-American culture,” the magazine said in its statement shared Saturday. With this particular story, we examined actual incidents as well as reported rumors which have captured the attention of our community throughout the years. In some cases, the allegations were never verified; however, the very fact that they went public constituted scandal. We understand that Dr. Jamal H. Bryant is now getting inquiries regarding a rumor we referenced in the magazine. We published the outrageous allegation as it was scandalous, not because it was confirmed. We did not intend to offend Dr. Bryant, and hope that our readers understand the spirit in which the editorial comment was presented”
Real life scandal is nothing new for the 41-year-old pastor. For years, in the Baltimore area, he’s been plague with infidelity rumors and speculation. In fact, he has even openly admitted to having an extramarital affair. Nonetheless, do you think EBONY was right or wrong for posting a rumor about the pastor? And should they have apologized?
Beyoncé’s Civil Clothing BEYOND Snapback Hat
Beyoncé latest Instagram share features the singer rocking Civil Clothing’s BEYOND Snapback Hat which retails for a mere $38.
Want one of your own?….get it over at CivilClothing.com
The hat was previously available at Karmaloop but is now out of stock.
Michael Jordan’s Love Child Begged His Mother To File Paternity Suit
This has been simmering for sometime. According to TMZ, Pamela Smith never planned to file a paternity suit against Michael Jordan until her son begged her to make his (alleged) father admit paternity and pay support.
Pamela Smith is suing Michael for paternity and child support, claiming Jordan knocked her up back in 1995, while he was still married to Juanita Vanoy.
Sources close to Smith tell TMZ that she’s always had a good relationship with Michael and doesn’t need the money to support herself. But we’re told her son — Grant Reynolds (a.k.a Taj) — desperately wants MJ to acknowledge him as his son, so HE begged his mom to file the docs.
We’re told Pamela’s intention was never to “call Michael out” — the lawsuit is simply so her 16-year-old son can have his real (alleged) father be a bigger part of his life. In fact, we’re told Michael and Grant have met a few times over the years and Pamela claims Michael has given the family money and gifts here and there … but Grant always had to keep it a secret.
( In my Maury voice) When it comes to 16 year-old Taj Jordan, MJ you might be the daddy!!!!! Lol
Denzel Washington: I Don’t Have Any Actor Friends – Never Befriended White Actors!
According to Yahoo! Movies:
Some actors make a point of hob-nobbing with famous and high-profile folks in the industry and getting their picture in the tabloids as often as possible. Then there’s Denzel Washington. In an interview with Xan Brooks published on The Guardian.co.uk, Washington announced, “Actually, even within the industry, I don’t have any actor friends. My friends are old friends. One’s an ex-music guy, the other’s a restaurant owner and the other’s an ex-pro ballplayer.”
When asked why he didn’t have many friends among his colleagues, Washington snapped, “Because I don’t make friends! Maybe I’m not a butt-kisser, maybe I’m not a schmoozer. I’m not about to go to a party to try to get a job. And then when you have children, the other friends become other parents. We’d coach baseball or basketball. My wife and I were raised right. I don’t want movie-star friends. And being African American, there were no big movie stars to hang out with anyway, not when I was starting out, they were just the third guy from the back! For whatever reason, I never befriended any white actors.”
(One of Washington’s public relations representatives later offer a clarification on the Guardian story, “I sat in on this interview,” the rep said. “The part they failed to mention was after he said ‘never befriended any white actors’ he mentioned ‘except,’ and then listed Tom Hanks, Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, etc. They cut the rest of the thought out. The rest is fine though.”)
As the interview went on, Washington’s seem to clarify that his attitude had less to do with his opinions of his fellow thespians and more with the current culture of celebrity in America. “I’m a working actor!” he declared. “What’s a celebrity anyway? Paris Hilton’s a celebrity. I’m just a working actor.”
While Washington didn’t go into deep detail about his private life in the interview, the well-grounded and publicity-shy actor alluded to his religious scruples and the role they play in his life and his work. When asked about his character’s plea for help from God in “Flight,” Washington replied, “That line, ‘God help me,’ was very important to me. As an arc as much as anything. You see this butt-naked, coke-sniffing, weed-smoking guy finally get to the point where he can say: ‘God help me.’ He gets his life back.”
Do you agree with his philosophy?
Terrell Owens Tax Lien
Uncle Sam just gave Terrell Owens 430,000 MORE reasons to find an NFL team STAT — in the form of a GIANT TAX BILL.
A federal tax lien was filed against the fired wide receiver in February — claiming T.O. still owes major income tax dollars for the years 2005 ($294,661.71), 2007 ($46,504.00), and 2009 ($97,747.81). All totaled — he’s allegedly in the hole $438,913.52.
As for why the bill’s so high — in those years T.O. was still making big bucks in the NFL playing for the Philadelphia Eagles (under a $49 MIL contract!!!), Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills.
Fast forward to now … and he’s just got too much time on his hands.
Calls to T.O. were not returned.
Johnny Wright, Personal Hairstylist To FIRST LADY Michelle Obama, Talks Making BANGS...And History
Trends may come and go but hairstylist Johnny Wright is one hairstylist who is creating “looks” that will go down in the history books.
Image is everything, especially when you're the most watched woman in the world on an everyday basis. So the person responsible for the visual aspect of that image--Johnny Wright--is, in turn, making history every single day.
It was the bang heard around the world--literally--as First Lady Michelle Obama stepped out on the arm of her husband, President Barack Obama, during the 2013 Inaugural swearing-in-ceremony after first debuting her new hair on her new Twitter account.
Though electing the nation’s first Black president to a second term was a truly historical moment, what really grabbed headlines around the world were the First Lady’s bangs, which she later described on "Rachel Ray" as her own version of a "midlife crisis." And those world famous bangs--as well as every emulated hairstyle FLOTUS has rocked since she stepped foot into the White House--were the master craft of Chicago-born hairstylist Johnny Wright.
Johnny, who serves as the "First Hairstylist" to the First Lady and the artistic director of SoftSheen-Carson, recently spoke about the contribution he is making to the nation and how he’s carving his place in history. And when it came to those bangs, he said,
"It was a collaborative effort. The First Lady said she wanted to do something different. But we didn't think it would make that big of an impression! Some people loved it and some people hated it and that's what's great about it."
So one might ask, how does a hairstylist give back to the nation? Johnny said,
“A first impression is everything...and a lot times, that has to do with your appearance. I always tell people that a woman's hair is the first thing you "hear" before she speaks. It tells you a lot about her personality…without her saying a word.”
And Johnny has been helping The First Lady make great first impressions all over the world since they first began working together during her first appearance in ESSENCE Magazine (when President Obama was a relatively unknown senator).
From that editorial shoot, he fostered a working relationship with Mrs. Obama and her staff that continued with her appearance on the cover of O Magazine, her much-celebrated VOGUE cover and appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
“It's very challenging to work with the first lady. She has an extremely busy schedule and we do travel very often. And with all of the work she does, I think its very important for her to look good. It is my contribution to America. I'm a part of making her fell good and making her feel comfortable. And all of that has impact how she does her job."
Before his journey to the White House, Johnny was introduced to the hair care industry by his grandmother who ran several hair salons in the Chicago area. And we all know the best way to learn ANYTHING...is from mom and grandma.
At the age of 12, his mother served as his first client after she agreed to let him give her a French roll. From there, he says he styled over a 100 clients that year. And back then, you could have your hair done by Mr. Johnny Wright for $15! He’s come a long way since then, mainly because of the business acumen his father taught him about the value of his time and understanding his self-worth.
Johnny also worked at the Frederick Fekkai Salon on Melrose Place in West Hollywood and has done the hair of former Turks and Caicos First Lady LisaRaye McCoy-Misick.
When asked about the challenges that come with his profession, such as creating editorials and inventing new looks, he told us, "Those things that would seem like challenges are lot of fun to me because they are creative and thought provoking. And those things make you grow as a person and a hairstylist."
But what Johnny says he values most are the friendships he's formed with his clients and what he's learned along the way through their relationships.
"What I love about doing hair is the connection I have with my clients. So many stories and so many personal things have been shared with me that have allowed me to grow into the man I am today."
Loves it. And for ladies hoping to achieve the Johnny Wright effect, he recommends products from the Softsheen-Carson line. Follow Johnny on Twitter @johnny_wright.
Ja Rule Back In Jail Until Summer
Sucks for Ja Rule. Last week, there were reports (and a mug shot or two) that the 36-year-old rapper (real name Jeffery Atkins) had been released from his upstate New York jail stint. As you know, the platinum selling rapper served time for illegal gun possession and tax evasion. And while most of us thought he was being released, that is not the case. The Federal Bureau of Prisons says he has been moved to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, which houses prisoners awaiting court dates or having short terms left on their sentences. His release date is now July 28th.
Would You Buy A Ticket For The Chris Rock & Dave Chappelle Comedy Tour???
It looks like comedian Dave Chapelle might be coming out of retirement and teaming up with Chris Rock to go on tour.
After performing earlier this week in NYC at The Comedy Cellar Chris Rock surprised the crowd when he came out after Chapelle’s performance.
For over an hour, the two discussed everything from this year’s Oscars to Jay-Z’s fall concerts in Brooklyn—Rock passed on being the opener, he said, because he had no material—and even tried getting their famous friends to come out and hang with them. Messages to Jay-Z, Lenny Kravitz, and Arsenio Hall in the wee small hours of the morning went unanswered. Though perhaps Marlon Wayans got the text—he also joined them briefly on stage before the night was over.
Does this mean the two will be going on tour soon????? Not sure if I’d buy a ticket but I know a lot of folks out there who will….
Draya Michele Discriminates Against Dark Skinned Models?
Draya Michele from Basketball Wives L.A. fame has created herself a new t-shirt line called “Fine Ass Girls”, but it’s not the fashions that’s grabbing headlines. Rather, its her affinity for fair skinned models.
The above photos caused a firestorm from critics who claimed the reality star was partial towards models of her similar hue. But like a true vixen Draya simply replied to the haters through this crass tweet: “Why don’t some of you complain to other companies about the color of their models skin and leave me alone with that bullshitt [sic]?“
Welp!
Draya doesn’t mind excluding a lot of potential buyers, even the *GASPS* darker skinned ones. IDIOT!
Free Hits The "Dead Man Down" Screening In D.C., Tweets About Losing Her Radio Gig At WPGC
Free, looking cute in red, joined FilmDistrict athlete West End Cinema in Washington, DC to host a screening of the flick Dead Man Down starring Colin Farrell, Terrence Howard, Noomi Rapace and Dominic Cooper (opening March 8).
She spoke about the movie saying, "I am an action drama nut, so this movie definitely spoke to me. Colin Farrell gets finer by the day and all I could think about was Terrence Howard saying I have a car and a driver. Overall, it was a really good movie. There were some parts that was a little slow to watch, but I love when you can figure out who the bad person is."
But as Free smiled through the event, the big elephant in the room was that she's no longer working at WPGC-FM.
We're not sure if she was fired or if both parties mutally agreed to part ways but she did tweet, "Dear DMV: I have enjoyed our time on the radio. Today was my last day at @WPGC #staypositive #ontothenext yall know how this goes!"
See also said goodbye to her co-workers saying, "Dear: @DJHeatDC @thejuliewright @GuyLambertNews was my pleasure Thanks for all the lessons and laughs!"
From the tone of the tweets, it doesn't seem like she knew she was on the way out the door. But we're sure she will land on her feet somewhere... All the best!
Big Meech Writes Letter Supporting BMF Wives Reality TV Show
The wives of the Black Mafia Family have gained support from Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory for the filming of their reality TV show BMF Wives. On February 7, 2013 Big Meech sent BMF Wives cast member Tonesa (Toni) Welch a letter expressing his approval of the women moving forward with the show. Welch was the longtime girlfriend of Big Meech’s brother Terry “Southwest T” Flenory and served time in federal prison under the same indictment as the brothers. In the letter Big Meech specifically encourages the women to make something positive out of the mistakes they’ve made and utilize the BMF brand to provide a better life for themselves and their families. Southwest T also mentioned his support of the show in Don Diva Magazine.
The idea for the show came about when Welch and wife of BMF member Paul “PJ” Buford, Lisa Buford saw the opportunity to tell their side of the story and use reality TV as a platform to better their selves and help those that are intrigued by lives of drug dealers. The show follows the wives and girlfriends of the infamous Black Mafia Family and is shot in Atlanta, Detroit, and Los Angeles. Filming is centered on their past challenges of leading an extravagant lifestyle supported by crime and the triumphs of each of them. Each episode will capture the lives of the women as they dispel the misconceptions about who the wives of the BMF kingpins really are.
Although Big Meech never disapproved of the show, rumors created controversy for the women. Now with him clarifying his position and with the addition of new cast members including his fiancé Janell Hall, and BMF member Wayne “Way” Joyner’s girlfriend Tameka Williams, the group has garnered his full support and is moving forward with filming.
The show’s cast includes Tonesa (Toni) Welch, Lisa Buford, Janell Hall, and Tameka Williams. Both Welch and Buford are executive producers of the show. The women had their first promotional photo shoot for the show in Los Angeles in February.
Cassie Throws Lola Monroe A Festive, Hollywood Hills, Baby Shower Bash
Baby shower time! singer/model Cassie threw a festive baby shower celebration for first time mommy, Lola Monroe. Late, last year we learned that the DC native was expecting with Bad Boy Rapper, Los.
The shower went down at a private home in Hollywood Hills, with folk like Teairra Mari, model Toccara Jones, rapper Hazel-E, and eye lash professional Jammal Buster (who played Mr. Host). During her shower, Lola tweeted:
My first Baby Shower ? …it’s time Thaank u @CassieSuper 4 being so special n throwing me such a beautiful baby shower!!ur such a great friend #Rare #Genuine Love u so much! ? So much love today…friends and family..in town to the ones that flew in. Thank you for joining us to be apart of something special. My mommy was there w/ me ? … Amazing couldn’t even begin to describe her. God took his time with her. My baby has the best grandmommies ??????????????????
Peep some of the candids.
Cute.
Musiq Soulchild & Syleena Johnson Recording Duet Album Entitled “9INE”
Musiq Soulchild and Syleena Johnson have united to begin work on a new duet album. According to ThisIsRNB, the album is titled ’9INE’ and will boast nine tracks. The soulful duo’s plan is to record nine songs in nine days — and they are almost finished with the project. The project will be titled “9INE” and it is expected to be released this summer! ...YES!!!
Deelishis Assaulted by Estranged Husband, Not Angry Strippers
Deelishis was assaulted by her estranged husband, Orlando Gordon.
The 35-year-old Detroit area (Farmington Hills) resident posted a message on her social network site saying she tripped on icy stairs while wearing expensive designer shoes.
“I am fine & will be even better in a few days!” she wrote.
That’s not exactly the truth, because according to federal court records, Deelishis – whose real name is Chandra London Davis – was injured jumping out of a second story window Sunday in Farmington Hills after being assaulted by Franklin resident Orlando Gordon.
Here’s what the Detroit News is reporting:
Gordon was free on bond and awaiting trial in federal court at the time of the alleged incident.
He was indicted in January 2012 along with more than a dozen others and accused of participating in a drug-trafficking operation involving thousands of pounds of cocaine and marijuana.
Prosecutors asked a federal judge Thursday to revoke Gordon’s bond due, in part, to the alleged assault. U.S. District Judge Sean Cox will consider the request March 12.
Court records and a police report portray a violent incident Sunday at the reality show star’s home on Muer Cove north of 13 Mile, where Deelishis lives with her two daughters.
At 4:20 a.m., Gordon smashed through the front door and struck Deelishis in the face, according to court records. Deelishis, who had been sleeping in her daughter’s bedroom, ran to her bedroom, where her friend was asleep.
The friend? Michael Blackson, a popular stand-up comic known as the African King of Comedy.
Gordon chased the comic and hit him in the face, according to court records.
Deelishis, meanwhile, locked the bedroom door. Gordon tried to get in, prompting Deelishis to rip open the window screen and jump to the ground, according to police.
“Davis was in a lot of pain from her right wrist,” police said. “Davis also had blood on her right hand.”
She was taken to Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, police said.
The Detroit News report also says Gordon is scheduled to stand trial April 9. He is accused of heading a large-scale drug ring with a second man, Wendell Tobias, of Detroit.
During a prolonged investigation, federal drug agents have seized more than $1 million in cash, classic cars and more than $130,000 in jewelry — including Deelishis’ engagement ring and Rolex watch.
Kandi Burress and Marvin Sapp Respond to ‘Prayed Up’ Controversy
*Entrepreneur/reality TV show star/R&B singer/producer Kandi Burress and Pastor/Gospel Singer Marvin Sapp have both opened up regarding harsh criticism about their collaboration on the song, “I Stay Prayed Up.”
While many online say they have been “blessed” by he song, others have rejected it, citing various religious reasons.
Burruss, an unmarried “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member, addressed the debate about the song via her blog on Bravo’s website. Although she went into recording the song expecting some people to judge her, the single mom thought some of the direct comments were “extreme.”
In reference to how she dealt with feedback that crossed the line Burruss said:
“Can you believe a woman actually tweeted me and said, ‘Bi*#c@h you can’t praise my God?’ . . Thank God I don’t let things get to me. I’m a very open and honest person. I say what I want to say when I want to say it. If I feel like doing something.”
In defense of recording the song that has received over 100,000 views in less than a week the singer continued, “I felt that I wanted to do this song, so I did, and I’m glad I did. This song is my testimony.”
In the February 21 post: “I love Twitter, but it is an open platform for people to slay you… But lucky for me, I have just as many people or more that show me love.”
Sapp reluctantly addressed critics via a rushed Facebook post that pointed out the ministry potential of their pairing. Following is his post in its entirety:
Usually I don’t respond to people about things like this however I must this time. The problem with many in the church is 1.) that we major in minors and 2.) ignorant (not well studied) of scripture.
Lets deal with the first, This woman who was an ex R&B singer that sells sex toys and live with her man decided on a show that reaches 10 million viewers per showing (believers and unbelievers) to sing about,,,, Not sex toys, drugs or living with a man but PRAYER!!!!!! and the saints are upset.
The lyric says, “I stay prayed up, that gets me by, that how I made it through my darkest time, see I’m a sinner and thats no lie, but thank God my prayers are heard because he knows I try” Wow!!!!! nothing elicit or comprising about the lyric….
So lets look at how Jesus dealt with the sinner….. From my study of scripture the only people he checked was the church (religious people of that day) however the sinner he consistently showed COMPASSION!!!!!!! Examples…… Woman caught in the ACT of adultery Also the Woman at the well……. Never exposed them publicly, dealt with them privately. We as believer major in minors…… So caught up in the messenger that we are missing the message “Staying Prayed UP”.
Now I close with this…Everyone that God used in scripture was flawed and or had struggles…. Let me call the roll….. Moses was a murderer, Rahab was a harlet (whore), David was a murder/adulter and still considered a man after Gods own heart, Peter was a cutting cusser however was in the inner circle of Jesus, Paul was a murderer and made many blaspheme against God however wrote 2/3 of the NT, He spoke through a Donkey and if we decide to be quite rocks will cry out…
We say we are christians which means being Christ-like but question peoples motives that model his behavior….The bible speaks about witnessing and that you need to be wise to win souls and Paul says I became all things to all men that I might win some…. Compromise was never done here nor do I condone her life style or life choices and keeping 100 you don’t know the off camera conversation we had. Again big picture 10 million people at 1 time were challenged to PRAY in difficult times WOW!!!! Thats Awesome and Ministry…..
PS Didn’t spell check because I’m late to a meeting…. Be Blessed
Billy Dorsey, a Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award-winning producer and songwriter – according to Breathcast – echoes Sapp’s sentiments, also notes Christ’s tendency to step outside of the church in his ministry.
“If Sapp is looking at it from a ministry perspective, Jesus didn’t hang around with the people “church folk” figured He should have,” says Dorsey. “He hung out with those who in all aspects were beneath His righteousness, but He used that to lift them up to greatness. You can’t help someone up if you’re not willing to get close enough to let them lean on you.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘TWO IN THE PINK’
I can’t tell what makes these lovely ladies stand out more, all that pink or just everything in general. Either way you’re looking so maybe you can tell me “Who Wears It Better?”
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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