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Jay-Z Re-Opens Webster Hall
It was a Roc-A-Fella reunion last in New York as Jay-Z officially reopened the historic Big Apple landmark Webster Hall. Hov’s show was no ordinary concert, it was titled “B-Sides 2” where he would perform fan favorite gems that did not officially get released as singles.
A highlight that fans never thought that they’d see was the Jiggaman on stage with former Roc family members Cam’ron and Jim Jones of The Diplomats. Cam’s platinum classic LP Come Home With Me came out on Roc-A-Fella in 2002 and its lauded follow-up Purple Haze dropped on the Roc in 2004. In between, The Diplomats debut Diplomatic Immunity was released on 2002.
When the Dip Set left Roc-A-Fella it was far from an amicable split. The feud is well documented. Cam and Jim both had diss records against Hov and Hov levied barns at them too. The beef however has been dead for years. Jones is even artist on Jay’s Roc Nation now. Water under the bridge and it even looks like a camaraderie was formed as Jay and Cam performed “Welcome To New York City,” a gem that has seemingly been in the tuck for years.
Jay came to Webster Hall wearing a black bandanna tied around his 'fro, a tuxedo and his wife Beyoncé was on his arm. When he brought out Cam and Jim, the Harlem ambassador kept with the dress code of ultra, Black Excellence fly. Nas was another ironic guest. Of course, him and Jay have the biggest feud and reconciliation in hip hop history and have been friends for over ten years now. Still, it was ill to see Nas perform at the same show as Jay and the Diplomats seeing that God’s son had his differences with Jim and Cam as well. It showed that with artists can do to us to grow in hip-hop and unity is always better than division. A sterling show of leadership by action.
As for Jay, him and his band were in tune, running on all cylinders dropping revered that are adored.
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Wu-Tang Clan Shine At Tribeca Film Festival
Last night, while NY Giants GM Dave Gettleman was causing anxious commotion among loyal New Yorkers with a highly controversial NFL Draft pick, another team from the Big Apple was delighting thousands. The Wu-Tang Clan held the world premier for their Showtime Docuseries “Of Mics and Men” last night at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan at the TriBeCa Film Festival.
As members of the Clan pulled up to the red carpet, so did Nas. He’s an executive behind the film production.
“Hip Hop is renewing itself right here,” RZA said, flanked by Nas, Cappadonna and Raekwon The Chef. “25 more years to go. We ain’t gonna stop. Bong bong!!”
After the screening, the Wu took it a notch higher with a full-on concert of their greatest hits. The legendary collective are still in full swing celebration of the 25th anniversary of their first classic, Enter The Wu-Tang 36 Chambers.
Nipsey Hussle Shooting Victim Speaks
Kerry Lathan calls for justice in the wake of the shooting that left him paralyzed and Nipsey Hussle killed.
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Nipsey Hussle Victim Speaks
Kerry Lathan survived 25 years of prison only to find himself in the middle of an tragedy with a sadly ironic twist. He was one of the men shot alongside Nipsey Hussle when the hip-hop hero was murdered on March 31.
Lathan had a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, speaking on the situation and giving a clearer picture of what happened. According to Lathan, there have been many falsehoods reported in the media, including that he and Nipsey were friends. They had just met that day.
“There’s a little ray of hope, after all the injustice that’s been done,” Lathan said, sitting next to his attorney. “I’m a little shook up about almost everything around me. After 25 years in prison, everything is new… if it wasn’t for the voice of the community Maxine Waters, T.I., Rick Ross, these people... the community around me as a whole. Those prayers and the community together as a voice. I would not be sitting here today. I’d like to thank all these people.”
Lathan says on the day Nipsey was shot, he was in the shopping center that housed the Marathon Clothing Store trying to get a white tee shirt. While there, he saw Hussle and the two spoke, taking a picture together. It was then that the gunman, who has been identified by police as Eric Holder, showed up and fired upon them.
“I didn’t do anything. I’m a victim,” Lathan declared. “[Nipsey’s] a celebrity. I took a picture with a celebrity. I met him once, took a selfie. They said that’s the in thing, ‘Take a selfie.’”
Lathan’s lawyer describes the meeting as “happenstance.”
“He had no idea Nipsey would be at the store that day,” she affirmed. “It was by chance that Nipsey was there that day.”
Literally adding insult to injury, Lathan, who is a convicted felon, was arrested in the aftermath of the shooting. According to police, it was a violation of Lathan’s parole to associate with Nipsey, who had a past as a gang member and had a criminal record.
After protests and an outpouring support on his behalf by the fans and celebrities such as Rick Ross and T.I., California Governor Gavin Newsome intervened and the charges against Lathan were dropped. He is currently residing in a halfway house.
Lathan still has a very difficult road ahead of him. His recovery from a gunshot wound will be arduous, to say the least. He is now finds himself bound to a wheelchair.
“I have a bullet in my back,” he revealed. “A fragment of it broke off in my spine. They say ‘if we take it out, it’s a possibility you could be paralyzed.’”
The fragment has severed some of his nerve endings already, causing his left side to be numb.
Psychologically, he’s also fractured from being shot and seeing Nipsey laying lifelessly next to him.
“I can’t even put that into words,” he said about witnessing Nipsey get murdered. “That devastated m