Has Lil'Wayne become too much of a "role model" for young brothers?

Weezy F. Baby’s Daddy

Lil Wayne continues to show us the Kool-Aid with rumors of Bebe’s Kids galore

By Abba A. Onyeani
Ceo-The Black Urban Times

Entertainment can come at times when you least expect it. Take for instance this case of Lil’Wayne getting not one but two black female celebrities pregnant at the same time. The result can be same tired argument of rappers are not “role models” and should not be held to the same accountability as an athlete. That’s where we are wrong. Rappers have been the biggest influence on the mainstream culture, since the Beatles landed in America. The urban entertainment blogs have been for the most part complacent to let this mockery of fatherhood seep through the internet like H1N1.

Allegedly, Lauren London and singer Nivea are pregnant, both are rumored to be by Weezy F. Baby. The pimp idea has passed on with the regal behavior of our President Obama. It’s tired to be a deadbeat dad and not get married to the woman you had or are going to have a child with for the future.

Is this really what getting to the pinnacle of hip hop is like for the rapper who made Forbes’s Hip Hop Cash Kings list at number #6? Weezy has to try and attempt to understand what President Obama is doing for African-American men by being the President of the United States and the father of two beautiful daughters. The Insider article is mocking Lil’Wayne, when it states that he “gets around.” The disgrace of this situation for these two beautiful black women is disheartening. The idea of marriage seems to escape “gangster” rappers who move out of the hood into the plush gated estates of suburbia. The move is made, but the mentality of living without fatherly responsibility seems to be a way to show that your are “keeping it real.”


The recent performance of Mr. Weezy also gave notion that being ignorant to President Obama actions as a father and leader can be detrimental to your choices made in life.


This was shown by Lil’ Wayne’s daughter performing with her girl group, OMG, at the BET awards/Michael Jackson “tribute”, where Weezy performed “Every Girl” with his PRE-TEEN daughter and her friends gyrating onstage with Drake and the Young Money crew. Being a baby’s daddy is something that the mainstream media will continue to portray hip hop’s elite rappers as being, if they don’t try and understand why Jay-Z and Nas took their sacred vows. The scene of hip hop has changed and rappers all know that they have moved from the hood, but want to keep the hood with them. It’s hard to play both sides of the fence, living in a gated community and at the same time spitting lines about being on “the block.”

So if Mr. Weezy can marry one of these two African American young women, instead of giving them the shameful crown of “Baby’s Mama”, it would help his status in hip hop been seen as someone who is maturing, rather than another rich rapper trying to “keep it real.”

Russell Simmons + Walmart= Great Men's Clothing and Social Entrepreneurism

Russell Simmons understands the Economy of Fashion
By Abba A. Onyeani
Ceo-The Black Urban Times


I don't really get into the fashion thing that much, but when I was shopping by myself one day I saw Mr. Simmons likeness in the men's department at Wal*Mart. I was shocked! Could the great Russell Simmons do it again? Of course. The hoopla that I'm talking about right now is the American Classics line of men's clothing that Mr. Simmons is selling at Wal*Mart. The clothing is another way that Mr. Simmons is giving back to the community through capitalism and qualities of social entrepreneurship. The article written by Dr. Watkins about the Rush Card failed to speak about the relationship of the Rush Card to economic exclusivity.

The divide of class is very apparent in society today. The Rush Card touches base on some of the problems of that divide through social entrepreneurship. The very idea of a card that the less fortunate can use to help them secure credit or save money can only help a community. This brings me to the American Classics clothing line. I like many other brothers of my age grew up listening to Run-DMC and 2pac. I immersed myself into hip-hop music and the culture. With the culture came expensive clothing, and that's where I had a problem. The lyrics of today's rappers touch base on subjects that deal with poverty in their community, but when they make a clothing line the prices are out of reach for most of the 18-34 black males that grew up in the hood.

With American Classics Mr. Simmons has hit the nail on the head a few ways with making great looking clothes that are affordable ,stay true to hip-hop culture, and look good on me..which by the way makes my wife happy..so I'm good. The clothing gives new meaning to quality and affordablity, while staying connected to the culture of hip-hop. The social entrepreneur finds a way to connect to capitalism while still giving back to their community. Russell Simmons has set the blueprint for social entrepreneurship that Black Intellectuals should study, before coming to the conclusion that its "All about the Benjamins".

With the fall of King magazine..brothers lose another magazine to call their own...urban magazines take note!

King Magazine loses the fight to bloggers..which urban magazine is next?
By Abba A. Onyeani
Ceo-Theblackurbantimes.com

The once mighty King magazine, run by Datwan Thomas was one of my favorites. As a black man, I often was disappointed with the lack of magazines that catered to me. King gave me what was missing;women,fashion,cars,clothes, and advice from the black man's perspective. King drew me in like bees to honey with its risque photos of eye candy like the classic pics of Buffy the body,Melissa Ford, and Ice-T's wife Coco. You cannot deny the significance of this loss.

Harris publications, who owns XXL, King, and others might want to rethink their urban media publication strategy.Bloggers are winning hands down. Sites like Dimewars.com, agiantsfanrant.com, and others are reaching out to the urban male demographic with videos, real-time updates, and more eye candy than ever. The situation for urban magazines overall might be dire. If mediatakeout.com is boasting millions of viewers per month with stories for free, why would I need to buy The Source,XXL, Vibe, or any other urban magazines for that matter?

The 21st century is here. When I recently picked up *******, all of stories were old and the pics seemed dated. I had read all of the stories online already. Urban publications need to use the internet like never before and they might want to think about hiring urban bloggers and consultants for their own web properties. The internet is in real time now and President Obama tweets his messages to the nation. The only way urban publications will survive is by making their websites intriguing and interactive with enough media on there to hold my interest.Now I'm not saying to stop buying historic publications like black-owned Ebony, Essence, Smooth, or others. We are all trying to make it in this small urban media industry. All I'm saying is that they need to get their web game in check.

Urban magazines may keep killing trees and try to survive the death of print. I advise finding a web strategy that will keep their loyal readers. If not they might lose their audience that will log on and get the latest urban news and gossip for free online.

How Soulja Boy saved Hip Hop

Hip Hop of the future is now
By Abba A. Onyeani
Ceo of theblackurbantimes.com


Yes..its true. Soulja Boy saved Hip Hop. How could this be you ask? Look around..the internet has become the proving ground for unsigned artists and major players alike. Thisis50.com, is a prime example of how the game has changed. This 17 year old teenager, got signed from Youtube. He is currently using the internet in such a way that rappers are trying to play catch up all of the time. The internet is like a body of water that is moving on its on. Soulja Boy has controlled that current to flow his way. Ice-T said"Soulja Boy killed Hip Hop"?! Come on Ice..I mean this brother is making the internet the best thing since TROOP clothing back in the day. He made it hot for Kanye to blog, he gave inspiration to Ludacris to build a website.

Who's to say that he should be called the "Godfather of Internet Hip Hop Marketing". I mean if Mark Zuckerberg at 23 is being called a genius, then why must the old school of Hip Hop and some of the new school try to play this kid out. Its funny because thats how hip hop is when it feels threatened. It crucifies the new,young, and fresh artist and in the long run that same rapper is running around trying to copy everything the new school kid on the block is doing.

Why not put this kid on the cover of "Black Enterprise"? Isn't he changing the state of the business by making Iphone applications to sell and an online cartoon. Anyway, Soulja Boy is laughing all the way to the bank on some of you clowns. Suggestions for some of you are to learn about the internet and some of its tools and get your game ready. If not, you'll be left behind in the past of while other rappers will be stuntin to the future.

Editor's Thoughts: Why does it take a gun charge for rappers to become social activists?

Can hip hop become socially active without a plea deal?
By Mr. A. Onyeani

Hip hop used to be socially concious of everything political. Now rappers are shook off Rush Limbaugh. What happened to "Fight the power" and N.W.A.'s "F**k the police" type of songs. Rappers nowadays have been caught up in the bling and money of the game that some of them forgot where they came from made the lyrics they wrote. The game has changed from the days when rappers would think about songs to make that spoke volume about the plight of the "ghetto".

The streets haven't changed that much and Hip hop being the billion dollar industry it is now can give a few thousands of dollars back. I read this book by, Dr. Chika A. Onyeani, called Capitalist Ni**er, The Road to Success, that was recently reviewed in Hip Hop Weekly by Cavario as his top pick. Click here to buy the book.
Hip hop says that the streets are what feed them, but then a mansion is where they reside at. I feel these guys on living off the streets though..its not safe in 2009 and Haters are everywhere. What I'd like to see is the same urban capitalism used in the industry of Hip hop applied on a larger scale to the Black community. The Newbos of this industry have to come to terms with social activism being an empowering weapon that will not only help create new fans, but it will also become the norm for others on the come up to follow. Would there be anything wrong with giving 15 cents off of each album sale to a "Guns off the street program" or "Urban Entrepreneur" scholarship?

Hip hop has to try and become proactive in social activism if it hopes to survive in this age of "green" living and a President who started as a commmunity organizer. Check the credits on the back of the next album you buy and see if that hip hop artist truly understands what coming from the streets really means.

Is Kanye West really that special for news?

Kanyeezy..the Louis Vuitton Don has a new girlfriend who's bald..why is it news?

Editor's thoughts
By Mr. Abba A. Onyeani
HNIC of theblackurbantimes.com

The news of hip hop has become watered down into gossip laden bloggers who take pics and then transfer the articles into magazines(no need to say names) what happened to the days of The Source, and XXL when you used to read articles that were hard hitting. Unsigned Hype picks were Common and Notorious B.I.G. Those days are gone readers.
Welcome to the new age of hip hop news where men wear wigs in online videos saying its a rap beef. The pink sweaters and the tight jeans are the "talk of the town". Its funny when you read what's online now..no one really has news or investigative stories. There are cats in the park right now freestyling trying to get signed, but everyone wants to read about who Keri Hilson is talking about on some lame track.

Don't worry readers Theblackurbantimes.com is here to save the day. I admit we're not perfect and we'll fall into the trap of gossip sometimes. What we will promise you is that the level of "hip hop & urban" news will be quality. Not just a pic of some rapper with a jump off and 2 lines of an article. We know what you want readers. we want the same thing when we read online publications as well. The quality that some of you online hip hop bloggers say you have is nothing less then the lyrics that Kanye wrote for "Jesus Walks"...which means not much of anything.

Should Chris Brown have treated Rihanna like a jump-off? Take tips from Diddy

Where would he be now?
By The HBIC of theblackurbantimes.com- Mr. A. Onyeani

We all ask ourselves how could C.Breezy, the fastest rising entertainer have committed violence against Rihanna?
The answer is simple and comiplicated.
1. He's a young brother with lots of money 2. He has a lot on his plate
3. Rihanna and him should have been "friends with benefits". Look at Usher's rise to the top and what he went through in order for his fans to accept him as a grown man.
Chris Brown might just be our James Dean in such a way. He was a fast track superstar, who's flame was burning bright. He had a problem with a female superstar, who is considered to be the next "big thing". The flames are just too much for both of these entities to co-exist. If Chris Brown and Rihanna were just friends, I'm sure the horrible incident would have never taken place.

Jump-offs are not bad words. Sometimes you find someone who you'd like to take to bed, but you know that in the long run..jump-off status is where they should be. Keep them there then. Its ok if you don't marry that person, but at least you would have seen the world and not pigeon holed with your back against the wall.
The advice that I'm trying to convey to our readers both male and female is that as long as your practicing safe sex, have MONEY,then you'll fine. When the pressure is on for a young singer who is about to hit superstar status, the jump-off methodology may be your best bet to avoid jail time and lost money.

THE GOP RETURNS TO "BIRTH OF A NATION" TACTICS

FEAR IS USED AGAINST THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT
BY THE CEO

Fear is back. The movie that made the watermelon famous and the first blockbuster was called, "The Birth of a Nation". The movie depicted black men as beasts and wildly savage animals that had lusted after white women and kept their stomachs full. The latest attempt of imagery is by a politician from a small town in California. The Mayor of Los Alimitos, Dean Grose, claims that he didn't know about the stereotypes of blacks and watermelons when he sent his image of a photoshopped watermelon patch in front of the White House. This mayor has since resigned, but it took alot to gather the photos of watermelons and place them meticulously on the picture of the White House.

This is the same mayor I assume who ran tirelessly on one campaign or another. The same Mayor who took the vote from the people of Los Alimitos and said that he would put it to good use. How do the people of Los Alimitos feel now that the Mayor they voted for has insulted the President of the United States? I would like to hear comments from those voters who thought they were getting gold, but instead got lead. 2009 is hear and we're trying to return to "The Birth of Nation" mentality.

The tactics of the GOP have always been simple. Use watermelons and monkey images and put a Chairman of the RNC, who likes to shuck and jive and then we'll win in 2012. The problem with this plan is that its failing horribly. NewsCorp. is experiencing backlash and had to bring the head honcho Rupert Murdoch out to grovel. The mayor who sent out the email has resigned. Something has changed since the "Birth of Nation". African-american men are not seen in the light anymore. They are seen as doctors, lawyers, artists, athletes, moguls, entreprenuers, teachers, computer technicians ,entertainers and more.

The most important factor that has changed is that the African-american male stereotype is being redefined in real-time with the election of President Obama. The black man is gradually becoming an image all too long they have fought to become. The black man's image is simply becoming an image of a man.

In California..the cops are still predators..Oscar Grant was their prey

Thoughts from the Editor

California. You think of bright lights and big city. Hollywood. Beverly Hills. Mansions and Louis Vuitton. Then there's the other side of California. The crooked LAPD, the riots, Rodney King, and Simi Valley acquittals. California, a state run by the Terminator, that is almost bankrupt. Another brother just got shot and now what..more riots and violent protests? That's not the answer. The solution is outlawing racial profiling and making it a crime. We need this done before the latest victim,Oscar Grant, a 22 year old black man, becomes just another faceless black man killed by the police. Sean Bell, that just happened. Let's see the protests again. The rappers come out and sing about this. Let's see Rev. Al Sharpton say "Enough is Enough". I need action. President Elect Obama, please help the brothers out here, before the cops make them into another Sean Bell.