Salt-N-Pepa Cover Adweek After Geico Commercial’s Success
Salt-N-Pepa caught a nice check when their 1987 hit “Push It” got repurposed for a Geico commercial. Thanks to the spot’s success, the groundbreaking female rap group graces the latest cover of Adweek magazine.
Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton discussed what they thought of being brand new to a whole generation of people that missed their 90s heyday.
Says Adweek:
What did you think when you heard about the Geico concept?
James: We got it right away. We thought it was hilarious. I read [the script] to my 15-year-old son and he said, “Oh my god, that’s brilliant. Do it!”
What’s been the public response?
Denton: We like to say that song is possessed because it’ll never go away. It has a life of its own. We’re fortunate and blessed that we made timeless music, and we knew we had our fan base. But since the commercial, we now have teenagers and all these young people coming up to us.
James: They think it’s a new song. Their moms have to tell them it’s 25 years old! It’s also reminded people of our personalities, how many hits we had, and our record sales … have gone up. It’s helped to open up more opportunities than we can even pursue.
Where’s Spinderella, though.
Rihanna SINGS "Towards The Sun" From The Movie "HOME"
Rihanna debuted her new song “Towards the Sun”, taken from the soundtrack to DreamWorks Animation’s HOME. A few weeks ago, we told you about the animated film where RiRi voices an “ordinary girl” named Tip opposite “Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons. The film hits theaters on March 27.
In the meantime, check out Rihanna as she looks "Towards The Sun" above.
Zendaya READS Giuliana Rancic FOR BLOOD for mocking her ‘oil & weed’ dreadlocks
Zendaya Coleman’s Vivienne Westwood dressshe wore Sunday at the Oscars was age appropriate and cute. She also sported some fresh dreadlocks, which were part of her red carpet look. The dreadlocks are gorgeous, and Zendaya wears them well.
On Monday’s edition of Fashion Police, Giuliana Rancic mocked the dreads. This Vine video
shows Rancic saying, “I feel like she …. she smells like petroleum, or weed. Maybe weed.” Zendaya penned a response:
[From Zendaya on Twitter]
Zendaya’s response is perfect. She has a good head on her shoulders and dealt similarly in the past with the Aaliayah biopic scandal. Here, Z calmly and rationally called out Rancic for a ridiculous generalization. For what it’s worth, Rancic has “apologized” if anyone was offended.
Eh. The damage is done. Rancic didn’t think before speaking. She wasn’t talking about some “bohemian chic” stuff. She drew the connection between dreadlocks, Bob Marley, and marijuana and applied it to anyone with dreadlocks. There’s some hypocrisy too — people aren’t buying Rancic’s apology.
They’re calling out Rancic on Twitter, especially because Kylie Jenner’s recent dreadlocks (and Lady Gaga’s) were treated much differently on E!
'American Sniper' killer found GUILTY in murders!
Eddie Ray Routh, the former Marine and Iraq War vet struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, was found guilty of capital murder Tuesday night in the shooting deaths of American Sniper Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield.
Routh stared straight ahead at the judge's bench as Judge Jason Cashon read the verdict. The jury of 10 women and two men took just over two hours to convict Routh, 27, in the murder of Kyle, 38, and Littlefield, 35, at an upscale shooting range near Fort Worth on Feb. 2, 2013.
Immediately after the verdict was read, Cashon condemned Routh to life in prison in the Texas criminal justice system without possibility for parole. Routh could appeal the verdict.
"The deep well of excuse-making for this defendant has to come to an end," Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash said in closing arguments Tuesday. "In cold blood, he gunned these two men down."
The verdict brings to a close a dramatic nine-day trial that included emotional testimony from Kyle's wife, Taya Kyle, and Judy Littlefield, Chad's mother, as well as graphic photos from the crime scene, revealing testimony from Routh's confession to police and details into his mental troubles after leaving the military.
After the verdict and sentencing, Jerry Richardson, Littlefield's stepbrother, read a statement directed at Routh.
"Because of you and your irresponsible choices, we lost a great son, brother, father, husband and uncle," Richardson said in a voice quivering with emotion. "Your inhumanity and disregard for life have put you in a world [from which] you'll never escape."
A judge did not permit testimony at the murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh to be broadcast until the jury reached a verdict. Jim Douglas has the highlights we could not share with you until now. Jim Douglas / WFAA
Routh confessed to shooting Kyle and Littlefield shortly after being arrested the day of the incident. Jurors only had to decide if he "intentionally and willingly" killed the pair and whether he knew what he did was wrong.
The trial received widespread attention as the Oscar-nominated American Sniper, the Clint Eastwood-directed film about Kyle's service in Iraq as a celebrated Navy SEAL sniper based on his best-selling book, has grossed more than $400 million in ticket sales and filled theaters across the USA.
The question still looming: Why, exactly, did Routh turn guns on Kyle and Littlefield, who were trying to help him through his PTSD anxiety? The answer to that question remains elusive.
Text messages between Kyle and Littlefield as they drove Routh to the shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge and Resort near Fort Worth, in which Kyle described their passenger as being "straight-up nuts."
A phone call from Taya Kyle to her husband while the three were on the shooting range, minutes before he was killed, where Chris Kyle was uncharacteristically curt on the phone.
Forensics testimony from law enforcement officials that revealed Kyle was shot six times in the side and back and Littlefield shot seven times in the side, back and head – each with a different caliber handgun.
Details from Routh's confession to police where the defendant said he thought "pigs were taking over the earth" and was upset that Littlefield wasn't participating at the shooting range.
Defense attorneys painted a stark picture of Routh's struggles with psychosis following his service with the Marines, which included an assignment cleaning up bodies in earthquake-scarred Haiti and a tour as a prison guard in Iraq. They showed how Routh was hospitalized in mental institutions four times in the seven months leading to the killings, including less than a week before the shootings.
At the hospitals, Routh was given anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, Ambien for sleep and anti-psychotic drugs to help ease his growing paranoia and delusions, his attorneys said.
But prosecutors argued that the defendant fled from police after the shootings and even ordered two Taco Bell burritos after the killings – signs that he knew what he did was wrong and was headed to jail.
"This defendant gunned down two men, shooting them in the back, in cold blood," Nash said.
Kyle had served four tours in the Iraq War as a member of Navy SEAL Team 3 and became one of the most proficient and deadliest snipers in U.S. military history, reportedly killing more than 160 enemy targets.
Upon returning home, he volunteered to help veterans struggling with combat-related anxiety. He was approached by Routh's mother, Jodi Routh, to help her son through his post-combat struggles.
Kyle had agreed to work with Routh just a week before the fateful trip to the range. The day of the shootings, Kyle and Littlefield picked up the troubled veteran at his parents' home in Lancaster, near Fort Worth, and set off on the nearly two-hour drive to the shooting range.
USPS to Honor Maya Angelou With a Forever Stamp
*The U.S. Postal Service announced Monday that beloved poet and novelist Maya Angelou will be honored with a Forever Stamp.
“Maya Angelou inspired our nation through a life of advocacy and through her many contributions to the written and spoken word,” said Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan. “Her wide-ranging achievements as a playwright, poet, memoirist, educator, and advocate for justice and equality enhanced our culture.”
Details on the image to be used and release date will be announced at a later time, USPS said in a statement.
Well deserved!
Man Arrested, Charged In Stabbing Death Of Nicki Minaj's Tour Manager
Charges have been filed in connection with the stabbing death of a member of rapper Nicki Minaj's touring group last week outside an East Mount Airy bar.
31-year-old Pierce Boykin, from the from 1300 block of East Sedgwick Avenue in Philadelphia, was arrested Monday and has been charged with Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, and related offenses in the alleged homicide of 29-year-old De'Von Pickett.
Police say a homicide charge may be added at a later date.Man in custody after stabbing death of Nicki Minaj's tour manager
De'Von Pickett of Brooklyn, New York, who was working as tour manager for Minaj, was in town for rehearsals for her upcoming European tour.
Pickett and 27-year-old Eric Parker of Philadelphia went with a group of friends last Tuesday night to Che Bar and Grill, located in the 6300 block of Stenton Avenue.
When the bar closed, around 2:30 a.m., Pickett and Parker's group got into a fight with a group of local men on the sidewalk just down the street from the bar.
Police say the altercation was allegedly sparked by a dispute over a woman who worked in the bar.
"Both of the parties both knew a female who worked at the bar, and the arguments centered around her," explained Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark.
Clark says a verbal altercation quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. One of the men pulled out a knife and stabbed both Pickett and Parker multiple times.
Pickett was killed, and Parker was critically injured. Last week police took a person of interest in for questioning, but later released the man. It is unclear if Boykin was that man.
It is also unclear if police plan to make other arrests.
Last week police said they were searching for two other unnamed persons-of-interest, saying they are known to police.
First Pic Of Lil Wayne and Lauren London’s Son Revealed!
Five and a half years ago Lauren London gave birth to Lil Wayne’s son and named him Cameron Carter. To this day, there have been no pictures ever released of the little boy … that is until now.
Over the weekend Weezy posted the first image of Cameron with the caption, “Krazeee fase day #FWA”.
Awwww, isn’t he a cutie! We all know Wayne luv da kids (he has four of them) and post pics quite often, but London has been notoriously private when it comes to little Cam. She’s never posted a single photo of the Carter heir and may not have wanted this one released either. We’ll just have to wait and see if she lets the pic stay up or makes Weezy take it down.
Oops! Yahoo Mistakes Trey Songz For Chris Brown
Yahoo made an epic mistake on Monday night and people are not letting the web portal live.
The website posted a story about Chris Brown and managed to use an unrecognizable photo of the pop star for their featured image. Welp, that’s because the image was not of him.
In a story about what Chris thinks about Rihanna’s new alleged relationship with Leonard DiCaprio, Yahoo accidentally posted a photo of Trey Songz instead of Breezy, which was obviously a major oversight
LOL!
The Return of Keyshia Cole to Reality TV!
Keyshia Cole celebrated her return to reality tv with a select groups of VIPS, including her very supportive ex Daniel Gibson
Last Night on BET, "Remember (Part 2)" singer Keyshia Cole makes her return to the small screen with "Keyshia Cole: All In", an 8-episode docu-series chronicling her career challenges, marital complications, motherhood and sibling rivalry.
Watch the first episode here:
To kick off the series debut, Keyshia invited a select group of VIP to a screening party at Music Hall Movie Theater in LA. Among the notable guests....her ex-Daniel Gibson (shown escorting her in ).
"I Deserve It" singer Faith Evans was among the music elite who came out in support of Keyshia.
Faith and singer/producer Rufus Blaq posed with Keyshia at the premiere. Afterwards, the guests headed over to Philippe for an after party.
Daniel was right by Keyshia's side for both the premiere and the after party. On Instagram he posted an endearing caption about their up and down relationship saying, "look what i found.. full support of this Angel at her premiere. #AllIn" He ended with, "#GirliKnowYouWantThisDiii"
How sweet! Will they be Reuniting????
George Zimmerman Avoids Civil Rights Charges In Trayvon Martin Shooting
George Zimmerman will avoid civil rights charges for gunning down Trayvon Martin three years ago. The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday (Feb. 23), that insufficient evidence led to the decision, meaning that the investigation could not prove Zimmerman committed a “hate crime” by killing the unarmed Black teen.
“This young man’s premature death necessitates that we continue the dialog and be unafraid of confronting the issues and tensions his passing brought to the surface,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement.
Although they thanked to DOJ for an “extensive investigation” (which included reviewing case evidence from the state of Florida and interviewing more than 50 witnesses) Martin’s family is “disappointed” in the conclusion.
“We remain poised to do everything in our power to help eradicate senseless violence in our communities, because we don’t want any other parent to experience the un-explainable loss we have endured,” the family said in a statement. “We will never, ever forget what happened to our son, Trayvon, and will honor his memory by working tirelessly to make the world a better place.”
Zimmerman shot Martin to death in February of 12, 2012, following what he says was both a verbal and physical confrontation. The teen was on his way back from the store at the time, when Zimmerman called 911 to report someone “suspicious” in the Florida neighborhood.
He was tried and acquitted of second-degree murder in 2013, and has had several run-ins with the law since then.
The State Department made it clear that the lack of charges “does not condone the shooting that resulted in the death of Trayvon Martin and is based solely on the high legal standard applicable to these cases.”
Ne-Yo Slapped With Lien Over Georgia Mansion
According to theJasmineBRAND Ne-Yo (real name Shaffer Chimere Smith) is accused of refusing to pay thousands of dollars in taxes for his Georgia mansion and now the singer/producer has been slapped with a lien against his luxurious home.
The City of Atlanta filed a lien against Ne-Yo last month in Georgia court, accusing him of failing to pay a total of $11,721.38 for property taxes for his Atlanta home. The lien, which will continue to grow with interest until Ne-Yo pays off the debt, states that the lien will be placed against the property and if the singer sells off the home ALL unpaid tax debt he owes the city of Atlanta will be paid to them BEFORE he collects on any profits from the sale of the pad.
As is customary, Ne-Yo could face the home being sold off at foreclosure, if he doesn’t pay the property taxes. See the exclusive court docs.
Gun Charge Becomes Part Of Conspiracy Case: Bobby Shmurda’s Brooklyn gun case was dismissed Tuesday — but that’s not necessarily good news for the rising star rapper. The weapon possession charges he was accused of became part of a more serious conspiracy indictment filed last December in Manhattan.They represent the most direct evidence against the 20-year-old hip hop phenom, who prosecutors described as the “driving force” behind a street crew called GS9 that was allegedly responsible for shootings and drug sales.He was arrested with a pal in June 2014 after cops saw him holding a pistol inside an East Flatbush apartment, and he then tried to stuff the 9-mm. Glock between cushions of a couch, court documents allege.That incident “is incorporated into the indictment (by the office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor) so we’re moving to dismiss,” assistant district attorney Melissa Cardinale said in Brooklyn Supreme Court.The move is technical and meant to avoid double jeopardy.
Just over a month after the Brooklyn bust, while out on a $10,000 bail, Epic Records signed Shmurda – real name Ackquille Pollard – to a seven-figure deal.His “Shmoney Dance” has become a viral sensation and his hit “Hot Boy” reached No. 6 on the Billboard chart and garnered close to 1 million downloads. But it all came crashing down with the conspiracy indictment, for which he’s facing up to 25 years to life in prison and was locked up on a $2 million bail.
Defense lawyer Kenneth Montgomery called the exuberant bail amount “absolutely ridiculous” and contested the allegation his client led any gang.“This is a glorified case and they have to follow their cheese,” he said of prosecutors. “This is what we’re fighting.”Shmurda, hands shackled behind his back and wearing a dark-gray sweat suit, looked behind him during the hearing as if to find relatives in the thin courtroom crowd. There were only a number of young strangers in the audience who nodded and smiled in recognition of the up-and-coming star.Montgomery said Shmurda is trying to keep his head high behind bars while still hoping to make bail.“I think he is resilient and I think he’s trying to survive,” the lawyer said.
Finally … Black Emojis!
The wait is almost over. Soon you will be able to send your friend a bevy of Black emojis to convey your feelings!
According to TheNextWeb, Apple has plans to reveal a new batch of diverse emojis featuring six different skin complexions.
The new character will be available on the iOS 8.3 and OS X 10.10.3 operating systems which are still in development. You will be able to click and hold on any emoji to change the skin tone.
TheNewWeb also reports, “there’s no release date for iOS 8.3 or OS X 10.10.3 yet, but Apple is reportedly planning a public beta program which will kick off in mid-March.” Whoo-Hoo, [dark brown thumbs up emoji]!
Shonda Rhimes Blasts Lady Gaga’s Oscar Performance: ‘That Was Not Okay’
*Shonda Rhimes was not feeling Lady Gaga on Oscar night.
She didn’t think the pop star should’ve been chosen for the “Sound of Music” tribute on Sunday, when powerhouse vocalist Idina Menzel was in the building.
“That was not okay,” the 45-year-old tweeted Sunday. “I mean, Idina is there. She is right there. RIGHT THERE. And oh dear God, Julie (Andrews) had to hear that. #Oscars2015,” Rhimes tweeted.
Andrews — who announced the winner of the Oscar for best original score after Gaga’s performance — was overhead telling the singer: “Thank you for that. It really warmed my heart.”
To prepare for the Oscars stage, Gaga worked with a vocal coach for six months and practiced daily, the show’s executive producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan told ET.
“She’s the real deal. She can do anything,” Meron added.
“She said that if she pulls it off, it’s going to change the focus of her career and she pulled it off,” he said. Well what are your thoughts?
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘12 INCHES OF LOVIN’
Do you think Guinness tracks the record for most cleavage? Seriously, let’s stop and take a minute to admire the fact that she has a good foot of cleavage showing with more in the chamber waiting.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
