Freebandz upstart Doe Boy tells his story in the new video to "Mama Neva Understand."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/doe-boy-mama-neva-understand-video-new-video.38154.html
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Doe Boy "Mama Neva Understand" Video
Freebandz upstart Doe Boy tells his story in the new video to "Mama Neva Understand."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/doe-boy-mama-neva-understand-video-new-video.38154.html
Kevin Gates Motion To Dismiss Florida Battery Case Is Denied
Kevin Gates is still facing battery charges for kicking a female fan last summer in Florida. His motion to dismiss the case on the basis of the infamous "Stand Your Ground" law has been denied.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/article/23185
Drake's "VIEWS" Gains Most No. 1 Weeks Since Adele's "21"
Drake's "VIEWS" goes No. 1 for a 12th week, beating out Gucci Mane's comeback album, "Everybody Looking."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/drakes-views-gains-most-no-1-weeks-since-adeles-21-news.23183.html
John Cena -- Pay Attention Hillary, This Is How You Rock a Pantsuit!
Hillary Clinton just found her dream emergency body double ... because John Cena looked flawless in his hot pink pantsuit at the "Teen Choice Awards." Cena and Victoria Justice -- as The Donald, of course -- engaged in some political banter at…
Lil Uzi Vert - The Perfect Luv Tape
Lil Uzi Vert drops his second project of the year: "The Perfect Luv Tape." Download here.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-uzi-vert-the-perfect-luv-tape-new-mixtape.116491.html
American Jimmy Walker Wins PGA Championship
SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey (Reuters) - American Jimmy Walker relied on clutch putting to clinch his first major title by one shot over Jason Day after a marathon day to conclude the weather-interrupted PGA Championship at soggy Baltusrol on Sunday.
Walker, among 49 players who did not finish the third round on Saturday due to heavy rain and lightning, and among 10 who had not hit a single shot, carded a three-under-par 67 in the final round to post a 14-under total.
One stroke ahead of world number one and defending champion Day when the third round was completed, the bearded Walker tightened his grip on the title with birdies at the 10th and 11th before adding another at the 17th.
He secured victory by sinking a three-footer for par at the last.
Australian Day had to settle for second place at 13 under after applying late pressure on Walker by sinking a 14-foot eagle putt at the par-five last for a 67.
(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Andrew Both)
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Reflections On The Responsibilities Of Manhood
While viewed by many as a controversial figure due to his statements on race, religion and politics, Malcolm X is less known for delivering powerful lessons about men, fatherhood and family. One of his lessor known (at least rarely quoted) speeches was on the responsibility of manhood:
When listening to this speech or reading these words, one can only wonder about the context in which they were delivered, and how the dynamics of African American families were changing at the time.
A lot has changed since the 1960s, and the black family in America has reflected this change. Federal statistics have shown that 78% of black households were married couples in 1960, and this percentage would drop to 62% in 1980 (just two decades later). With the rapid change in families came an equally rapid change in expectations and gender roles. With less men in the home, more women went to work to provide for their children, or had to rely on public assistance to make up for the loss of income. An unfortunate consequence of this change in roles was also a change in attitude: With less men in the home to provide for children, came an expectation that fathers were not needed as providers.
Changes in the expectations of men is seen in many fatherhood groups, as well as father engagement programs. In an effort to encourage more fathers to become involved with their children, many fatherhood groups emphasize spending time with children over financially providing for them. The message about the importance of men spending time with their children is an important one. The time fathers and their children spend together helps with bonding and creates a lifetime of memories. Yet time alone should never be seen as a substitute for financially providing for your children. Reflecting on the powerful manhood lesson delivered by Malcolm X, it should be clear that he was not just talking about the responsibilities fathers have to their families (responsibilities to his children and to the mother of his children). Malcolm was teaching men they should never expect anyone else to provide for his children if he is not able to on his own.
The unfortunate reality is that most people will experience financial hardship at some point in their lives, and many men have found themselves unemployed or underemployed. Financial hardship can make it impossible for a man to provide for his family as he would like; however, this position is never one a man should accept or resign himself to. It should be understood that it can be emotionally devastating and shameful when a man can not provide for his children, and this shame may keep many away from their families. Fatherhood programs honorably try to address these feelings by demonstrating a man's worth is more than a paycheck; however, a healthier approach for the family may be to educate men on what providing for their families means.
In today's time not every man will be the primary wage earner for their family, but most can contribute to their children's needs in some way. If a father can not pay a mortgage or rent, he should aim to buy food for the household (groceries for the month or two weeks). If a father can not afford a car, he should try to at least buy clothes and school supplies for his children. If a father can not afford to provide health insurance for his children, then he should try to help pay for medical bills (if only a copay for his children to see the doctor). Fathers should help pay for their children's diapers and childcare (at least a week or two if he can't afford to pay for the entire month). When it comes to providing for our children, men should realize that something is better than nothing. We should provide what we can, while working on achieving the goals that will allow us to provide in the way we want to. As we strive to get more men actively involved in their children's lives, it is important that the necessity of provision is not lost. Fathers should provide for their children, restoring this balance will not only benefit them, it can also be healing for the family as a whole. In the words of Malcolm X, "When a man provides for his family, his children are proud to call him father...his wife is proud to call him husband. You are accepting the responsibilities of manhood".
Dr. Mark Echols has been working with children and families in both educational and social service settings for the last 16 years. He is a Fatherhood advocate and the creator of Black Dads: Changing the narrative on Fathers in the African American community on LinkedIn. You can connect with Dr. Mark Echols on LinkedIn.
It is imperative that a man works. Get off welfare, get out of that compensation line. Be a man, earn what you need for your family, then your family will respect you. They are proud to say that's my father, she is proud to say that's my husband. Father means you are taking care of those children. Just because you made them doesn't mean you are a father. Anyone can make a baby, but anyone can't take care of them. Anyone can go get a woman, but anyone can't take care of a woman. Husband means you are taking care of your wife, father means you are taking care of your children...you are accepting the responsibilities of manhood.
When listening to this speech or reading these words, one can only wonder about the context in which they were delivered, and how the dynamics of African American families were changing at the time.
A lot has changed since the 1960s, and the black family in America has reflected this change. Federal statistics have shown that 78% of black households were married couples in 1960, and this percentage would drop to 62% in 1980 (just two decades later). With the rapid change in families came an equally rapid change in expectations and gender roles. With less men in the home, more women went to work to provide for their children, or had to rely on public assistance to make up for the loss of income. An unfortunate consequence of this change in roles was also a change in attitude: With less men in the home to provide for children, came an expectation that fathers were not needed as providers.
Changes in the expectations of men is seen in many fatherhood groups, as well as father engagement programs. In an effort to encourage more fathers to become involved with their children, many fatherhood groups emphasize spending time with children over financially providing for them. The message about the importance of men spending time with their children is an important one. The time fathers and their children spend together helps with bonding and creates a lifetime of memories. Yet time alone should never be seen as a substitute for financially providing for your children. Reflecting on the powerful manhood lesson delivered by Malcolm X, it should be clear that he was not just talking about the responsibilities fathers have to their families (responsibilities to his children and to the mother of his children). Malcolm was teaching men they should never expect anyone else to provide for his children if he is not able to on his own.
The unfortunate reality is that most people will experience financial hardship at some point in their lives, and many men have found themselves unemployed or underemployed. Financial hardship can make it impossible for a man to provide for his family as he would like; however, this position is never one a man should accept or resign himself to. It should be understood that it can be emotionally devastating and shameful when a man can not provide for his children, and this shame may keep many away from their families. Fatherhood programs honorably try to address these feelings by demonstrating a man's worth is more than a paycheck; however, a healthier approach for the family may be to educate men on what providing for their families means.
In today's time not every man will be the primary wage earner for their family, but most can contribute to their children's needs in some way. If a father can not pay a mortgage or rent, he should aim to buy food for the household (groceries for the month or two weeks). If a father can not afford a car, he should try to at least buy clothes and school supplies for his children. If a father can not afford to provide health insurance for his children, then he should try to help pay for medical bills (if only a copay for his children to see the doctor). Fathers should help pay for their children's diapers and childcare (at least a week or two if he can't afford to pay for the entire month). When it comes to providing for our children, men should realize that something is better than nothing. We should provide what we can, while working on achieving the goals that will allow us to provide in the way we want to. As we strive to get more men actively involved in their children's lives, it is important that the necessity of provision is not lost. Fathers should provide for their children, restoring this balance will not only benefit them, it can also be healing for the family as a whole. In the words of Malcolm X, "When a man provides for his family, his children are proud to call him father...his wife is proud to call him husband. You are accepting the responsibilities of manhood".
Dr. Mark Echols has been working with children and families in both educational and social service settings for the last 16 years. He is a Fatherhood advocate and the creator of Black Dads: Changing the narrative on Fathers in the African American community on LinkedIn. You can connect with Dr. Mark Echols on LinkedIn.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
I Can't Stop Watching This Video Of The US Olympic Men's Basketball Team Singing Along To Vanessa Carlton
Does Carmelo Anthony hate piano ballads or something?
The US Men's Basketball team has been gearing up for the Rio Olympics.
And following a pre-Olympics match-up against Venezuela, some teammates decided to jam the fuck out to Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles."
Kyrie Irving and Jimmy Butler are just like us. Except they're Olympian multi-millionaires.
But now I'm going to need you to watch THIS video on loop because it might be the funniest thing you see all day. Not only do we get a glimpse of what the team is like during karaoke, we also get to see Kevin Durant wrapped up in a blanket and Carmelo Anthony wondering what the hell he is doing with his life. STICK WITH IT UNTIL THE END:
Nice air piano, DeMar DeRozan.
Carmelo, are you not digging Vanessa?
I can read his mind now, "WTF."
Toya Wright -- My Brothers Were Killed
Toya Wright suffered a devastating loss after her two brothers were reportedly shot to death in New Orleans ... TMZ has learned. Cops found two men suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside of a car early Sunday morning ... and while they're not…
Kid Cudi Weighs In On Kanye's Tidal & Apple Music Tweets
"The rich just wanna get richer," Cudi says.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kid-cudi-weighs-in-on-kanyes-tidal-and-apple-music-tweets-news.23179.html
Anna Faris And Chris Pratt's Son Is The Cutest Little Captain At Seattle Parade
Anna Faris and Chris Pratt made an appearance at the Seafair Torchlight Parade in Seattle over the weekend, but it was their son, Jack, who had heads turning.
The Hollywood couple, dressed appropriately in Seattle Seahawks jerseys, rode in on the grand marshal's black corvette with their little boy, waving to the crowd. Three-year-old Jack, dressed in a captain's outfit and holding a Minecraft toy sword, sat atop his dad's lap and pointed to the spectators as they drove by. By the look of these photos, both father and son were having a great time.
The Seattle parade is the latest adorable outing for the famous family. A couple months ago, the trio enjoyed an outdoor camping adventure ― complete with homemade sand demons ― and we'll never forget that time Pratt taught their son how to fish. Too cute.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Toya Wright's Two Brothers Reportedly Shot & Killed
Reality star and ex-wife of Lil Wayne, Toya Wright, is mourning the loss of her siblings, Rudy and Josh Johnson.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/toya-wrights-two-brothers-reportedly-shot-and-killed-news.23178.html
DNC Speaker Khizr Khan -- I'm Begging You, Paul Ryan ... Do Something About Donald Trump! (VIDEO)
Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim U.S. soldier killed in combat, is making a final plea to Republican leaders to derail Donald Trump's campaign ... problem is, he's kinda tardy for the party. Khan had one of the most talked about DNC moments when…
Jon Stewart's HBO Show Could Be Here Just In Time For The November Election
It's been one hell of an election season so far, but one thing we've been missing from this massive political circus is Jon Stewart's cynical voice of reason.
Since the comedian left “The Daily Show” in 2015, we've been forced to face the current state of American politics (mostly) without him. But his return to the political landscape via HBO ― he signed a four-year-contract with the network last year ― may come sooner than we thought.
Casey Bloys, HBO's programming chief, told The Hollywood Reporter Stewart will produce an animated parody show that will (hopefully) air this fall. Bloys wouldn't provide an official premiere date but was hopeful about September or October. If the hint is actually the truth, that would mean Stewart would be back in full force just in time for the election in November.
“I talked to Jon before this,” Bloys told THR. “He is establishing an animation studio. He wants to get material out on a daily basis. The idea is that it's an animated parody of a cable news network in an Onion-like portal. It will be his voice, in his actual voice, and his tone.”
To clarify his comment, Bloys explained that “Onion-like” meant that there would be a written element and eventually a half-hour show on the network.
It'll be good to have him back, because tbh, we don't think we can get through the rest of this election without him.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Chrissy Teigen Tweeted A Joke About The Miss Teen USA Pageant Being "Diverse"
Jon Stewart's HBO Show Could Be Here Just In Time For The November Election
It's been one hell of an election season so far, but one thing we've been missing from this massive political circus is Jon Stewart's cynical voice of reason.
Since the comedian left “The Daily Show” in 2015, we've been forced to face the current state of American politics (mostly) without him. But his return to the political landscape via HBO ― he signed a four-year-contract with the network last year ― may come sooner than we thought.
Casey Bloys, HBO's programming chief, told The Hollywood Reporter Stewart will produce an animated parody show that will (hopefully) air this fall. Bloys wouldn't provide an official premiere date but was hopeful about September or October. If the hint is actually the truth, that would mean Stewart would be back in full force just in time for the election in November.
“I talked to Jon before this,” Bloys told THR. “He is establishing an animation studio. He wants to get material out on a daily basis. The idea is that it's an animated parody of a cable news network in an Onion-like portal. It will be his voice, in his actual voice, and his tone.”
To clarify his comment, Bloys explained that “Onion-like” meant that there would be a written element and eventually a half-hour show on the network.
It'll be good to have him back, because tbh, we don't think we can get through the rest of this election without him.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
A$AP Rocky & Tyler The Creator Mess Around At A Target
Tyler was up to his usual antics as Rocky filmed him for Snapchat.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/asap-rocky-and-tyler-the-creator-mess-around-at-a-target-new-video.38153.html
Draymond Green Apologizes For NSFW Picture Posted On His Snapchat
"Hacked.... Can't win right now."
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/draymond-green-apologizes-for-nsfw-picture-posted-on-his-snapchat-news.23177.html
New Music: Quavo feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR – 'Cuffed Up'
PARTYNEXTDOOR is on fire. After “Buzzin'” with Lil Yachty, the “Not Nice” crooner joins Quavo on another Murda Beatz collaboration, “Cuffed Up.”
For his part, the Migos MC uses the track to deliver rhymes about trips to Rodeo and not to Barbados. Plus, he boasts about his whip game. “Just me and my bitch in a drop top,” he sing-raps. “Vrooom, vroom / My foot on the gas, I can't stop.”
PND, whose album P3 is due Aug. 12, harmonizes about his own love. “I'm cuffed up with my baby girl,” he sings. “Yeah, I'm cuffed up with my baby girl.”
Meanwhile, as yesterday's OVOSOUND Radio proved, Quavo is delivering a slew of new music too. During the show, he premiered two new solo tracks, “My Pockets” and “Trapstar,” and as if that wasn't enough, he also released “Show'll Is” with his Migos brothers and the remix to Rae Sremmurd's “Look Alive.”
Roger Mayweather -- Floyd's Uncle Goes Missing ... Needs Medication
Floyd Mayweather's Uncle, Roger Mayweather -- one of the most famous boxing trainers in the world -- has gone missing ... and family members are concerned, saying he needs his medication as soon as possible. Roger was also a pretty good boxer…
Miranda Lambert Gets Teary-Eyed Singing Song She Wrote With Ex Blake Shelton
Miranda Lambert was brought to tears Friday while performing a song she co-wrote with her ex-husband, Blake Shelton.
The country star was performing in Tinley Park, Illinois, for her Keeper of the Flame tour, and when it came time to sing her 2012 single “Over You,” she was overcome with emotion. The track seemed to bring up old memories (and maybe some old feelings, too), leading Lambert to cry onstage. Instead of finishing the track herself, she let the audience sing the words back at her.
“I told you I was a mess,” Lambert told the crowd, according to People.
The 32-year-old singer, who's now dating Anderson East, got candid about her emotional state and reportedly told the crowd she was having a rough night thanks to hormones and cramps.
Lambert broke down a second time while singing “The House That Built Me,” according to Us Weekly. One fan in the crowd told the celebrity news magazine, “She was amazing. But emotionally unstable. Crying the whole show.”
Most fans didn't seem to mind, though, with plenty of people taking to Twitter to praise the country star.
If the tears prove anything, it's that Lambert is a human who has feelings, just like the rest of us.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
10 Essential 21 Savage Tracks
10 standout songs from Atlanta's 21 Savage.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/article/23113
Troian Bellisario Said Taylor Swift Fosters "False Feminism"
“It seems like she's this person who's like, 'Sisterhood!' and then she does nothing but tear down the women that were once her friends.”
Jeff Spicer / Getty Images
Larry Busacca / Getty Images
New Music: Rae Sremmurd feat. Migos – 'Look Alive (Remix)'
Rae Sremmurd and Migos are so far out of sight on the remix to “Look Alive.”
Quavo, Offset, and Takeoff join Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi on the feel-good slapper, adding their ATL flavor to the Mississippi fire.
“She don't need no advice,” raps Quavo. “That's a pro, she can ride like a bike / I'm so far out of sight/ You need a telescope to find / I fuck hoes and all look dimes / Don't waste my time / Kendrick Lamar, don't kill my vibe.”
This wasn't it for Migos. The trio also premiered “Show'll Is” on OVOSOUND Radio yesterday. Plus, Quavo unleashed “My Pockets,” “Trapstar,” and the PARTYNEXTDOOR-assisted “Cuffed Up.”
Meanwhile, for Rae Sremmurd, this is just the latest warm-up for their sophomore album SremmLife 2, which is slated to drop Aug. 12.
Lena Dunham Teases New Season Of 'Girls' While Rocking A Sporty Bikini
Fresh off her appearance at the Democratic National Convention, where she spoke in support of nominee Hillary Clinton, Lena Dunham seems to be getting back to work on “Girls.”
Over the weekend, the writer and director shared a couple photos on Instagram of herself wearing a sporty bikini and an oh-so-millennial bucket hat while cruising on the water in Florida. At the same time, she teased some plot points for the new season of the HBO show.
“#girlsdoesflorida,” she captioned one pic, while the other read, “I'm a lifestyle blogger now. People love it!!! They love the sporty lifestyle! #girlsdoesflorida.”
We have so many questions! Why do the girls go to Florida? Does this mean Hannah goes through another career change ? Will she get an Instagram husband to help her new career flourish? Or is Dunham just poking fun at the world of glamorous lifestyle bloggers on her personal account?
If only so we can watch the self-absorbed protagonist figure out her best angles in the mirror while Hailee Steinfeld's “I Love Myself” (or perhaps Bif Naked's “I Love Myself Today”) plays in the background, we hope it's the former.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Lena Dunham Teases New Season Of 'Girls' While Rocking A Sporty Bikini
Fresh off her appearance at the Democratic National Convention, where she spoke in support of nominee Hillary Clinton, Lena Dunham seems to be getting back to work on “Girls.”
Over the weekend, the writer and director shared a couple photos on Instagram of herself wearing a sporty bikini and an oh-so-millennial bucket hat while cruising on the water in Florida. At the same time, she teased some plot points for the new season of the HBO show.
“#girlsdoesflorida,” she captioned one pic, while the other read, “I'm a lifestyle blogger now. People love it!!! They love the sporty lifestyle! #girlsdoesflorida.”
We have so many questions! Why do the girls go to Florida? Does this mean Hannah goes through another career change ? Will she get an Instagram husband to help her new career flourish? Or is Dunham just poking fun at the world of glamorous lifestyle bloggers on her personal account?
If only so we can watch the self-absorbed protagonist figure out her best angles in the mirror while Hailee Steinfeld's “I Love Myself” (or perhaps Bif Naked's “I Love Myself Today”) plays in the background, we hope it's the former.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Here's How Much The Cast Of "Jersey Shore" Has Changed In Just 6 Years
RIP GTL. <3
Dec. 3, 2009 - ring a bell? It was a day some of us may never forget. Eight strangers showed up to a house in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, and graced the television screens of our beloved nation.
For obvious reasons, our lives were forever changed. Here they are at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards - minus Deena, because Angelina.
Jason Merritt / Getty Images
Jason Laveris / FilmMagic
How The Fight To Convict Baltimore Cops In Freddie Gray's Death Fell Apart
Securing a conviction against six Baltimore police officers in the death of Freddie Gray was never going to be easy.
Yet the prospect of even a partial win evaporated completely when Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced on Wednesday, after three acquittals and a mistrial, that her office would drop all remaining charges against the officers.
“As a mother, the decision to not proceed on these trials is agonizing.” Mosby said at a press conference. “As a prosecutor, I must consider the dismal likelihood of conviction.”
Gray, who died at 25, now joins the growing list of black citizens killed as a result of police contact ― and whose death, judicially speaking, is considered accidental.
Police arrested Gray in a high-crime area of the city when he made eye contact and then ran. Once they apprehended him, police allegedly found an illegal switchblade (Mosby said it was a legal folding knife) and roughly handled Gray before shackling him and putting him in a police wagon without a seatbelt.
About 45 minutes later, after Gray allegedly complained that he needed a medic, police found him unconscious. He died in the hospital a week later from severe spinal injuries that the medical examiner said were consistent with those from a high-impact car crash. The examiner ruled Gray's death a homicide.
By the time Mosby's office dropped the remaining charges, three of the six officers had been acquitted: Edward Nero, Garrett Miller and Ceasar Goodson, who had faced the most severe charge of second-degree “depraved heart” murder. The trial of another officer, William Porter, ended in a mistrial.
For Justin Nix, a professor in policing, use of force and procedural fairness at the University of Louisville, Goodson's acquittal was a tipping point that marked the inevitable end of the prosecutor's case.
“After I saw [Goodson's] case was thrown out, I was thinking 'any day,” Nix said.
“It's hard to pinpoint any one spot where it went off the rails,” he added.
The parties are now locked in a legal feud. After two officers filed complaints in May, a total of five officers are now suing Mosby for alleged false arrest and defamation, among other claims. Mosby cited the pending litigation as the reason she would not take questions at the press conference.
Legal experts have cited a number of ways the case was troubled from the start, including the lack of forensic evidence, the state's unusual prosecutorial strategies, the hastiness with which the office filed the charges and the possibility that the wrong people were charged.
But others simply noted the systemic difficulty of convicting police officers in America.
The six officers faced charges ranging from assault and misconduct to manslaughter and second-degree murder.
But the state, though it put forth a number of theories, had no comprehensive video footage, confessions or eyewitnesses of Gray's van ride to tap.
Prosecutors' evidence included a statements from witnesses to his arrest and from an officer ― not facing charges ― who witnessed the transport van stop where Gray was shackled. Prosecutors also called on testimony from a man who was picked up and placed in a separate compartment of the transport van shortly before Gray was found unresponsive.
“How do you prove the intent? In these cases, there are two parties involved, and in this case, one is the suspect who is dead. The other is the officer,” Nix said. “Short of the officer confessing, it's really difficult to prove.”
“There's a code that [police] watch each others' backs. There's a culture of 'us versus them' - maybe now more than ever,” he added. “Officers are not going to get on the stand against their brothers and sisters. And that hurt the prosecution.”
Warren Alperstein, a former prosecutor with the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office who now represents police in civil and criminal matters, said the end result was predictable. Alperstein observed the entire proceedings against the officers, but did not participate.
“From the outset of this case, I did not believe that the prosecution was going to be able to convict any of the six officers,” Alperstein said. “The evidence didn't support the offenses charged.”
Mosby announced charges against the officers days after Gray's funeral last April, while Baltimore was in the midst of protests, riots and arson. The speed of the indictment ― thought it garnered community praise ― may have been an early misstep.
“I think many would argue that the state's attorney's office rushed to file these charges to quash the civil unrest and rioting that was going on,” Alperstein said.
Though the state's attorney's office insists it conducted an in-depth, independent investigation and gathered sufficient evidence, Alperstein said the result of three trials suggested otherwise.
“The hung jury in the William Porter case coupled with the three acquittals would certainly lend credence that the investigation was lacking,” he said.
Michael Woods Jr., a retired Baltimore police sergeant turned whistleblower, took a similarly harsh view of the prosecutors' strategy, but for different reasons.
“They didn't even go after the right people - this is a supervisory issue,” Woods said, arguing that Lt. Brian Rice ― one of the first officers to come into contact with Gray ― should have borne the responsibility as the ranking supervisor on the scene.
“Of course the [other officers] follow the order of the lieutenant. Everything Nero and Miller did should fall on Rice,” Woods said. If the state's attorney had more aggressively pursued a case against Rice, he suggested, “the department wouldn't have fought nearly as bad.”
For the trial of Nero ― the second to be tried and the first whose trial ended in a ruling ― the state's attorney's pursued a strategy Alperstein called “a total disaster.”
The state compelled Porter, whose trial ended in a hung jury, and Miller to testify against Nero.
Porter, who was facing retrial, and Miller, who had yet to stand trial, would be prosecuted by a second team of prosecutors ― a so-called clean team.
That team would later be required to prove to the court that, when it came time for Porter and Miller's trials, the prosecution wasn't influenced by the testimony the men gave in Nero's trial.
“It's a logistical nightmare for the prosecution to prove that,” Alperstein said. “It would have been an extremely awkward hearing for the prosecution - as individuals would be called to testify under oath, in their efforts to prove to the court that no information was being used.”
“It's unprecedented in Maryland,” he added, noting that such a strategy happens more often in federal courts.
In announcing the dropped charges, Mosby turned her criticism to the police role in the investigation.
“We've all bore witness to an inherent bias that's the result of when police police themselves,” she said.
Ivan Bates, an attorney for Officer Alicia White, responded later that day that it was Mosby who rejected an independent investigator.
“Despite offers of assistance from state police and other agencies, the state's attorney's office declined to have the support and the guidance of some of the best investigators in the country,” Bates said, at a different press event.
Woods said Mosby's decision defied explanation.
“If she knew the system meant there was no justice in having the cops investigate cops...then why did she have the cops investigate the cops?” he asked.
The state's attorney's office, Woods noted, has regularly failed other Baltimore residents who died as a result of contact with police.
Men, he said, like Tyrone West.
West (whose case predates Mosby's tenure) died in 2013 after he was pulled over by Baltimore police in a traffic stop. Witnesses say the 44-year-old was beaten to death, though an autopsy found he died of a heart condition exacerbated by his struggle with police in the heat.
An independent investigation found that officers failed to follow basic protocols with led to tactical errors that “potentially aggravated the situation,” but it declined to find that they had used excessive force.
Prosecutors nationwide have struggled to get convictions of police after civilian deaths ― even in cases where the use of force appears much more clear than it was in Gray's instance.
Since 2005, just 13 members of law enforcement have been convicted of murder or manslaughter in fatal on-duty shootings, according to data previously provided to The Huffington Post by Philip Stinson, an associate professor of criminology at Bowling Green State University. Stinson's data doesn't include cases like Gray's where civilians died in police custody, as a result of police contact, were killed by means other than gunfire, or cases in which officers faced lesser charges.
The federal government does not keep comprehensive data on the number of police convictions of murder or manslaughter committed while on duty. Only because of efforts like The Guardian's “The Counted” project ― which tallies the number of people killed by police in the U.S. ― is some of that information even available at all, Nix noted.
For him, a larger question underpins cases like Gray's or West's ― or the scores of other black citizens who are killed or injured after contact with police.
“Keep in mind Freddie Gray was stopped for a switchblade that turned out to be a pocket knife,” he said. “How many of these deaths started out as something minor that escalated into something that could have been avoided?”
“We're arguing on the back end: was the officer guilty?” Nix added. “Let's take a step back and prevent these things from happening in the first place.”
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
New Music: Lil Yachty feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR – 'Buzzin”
PARTYNEXTDOOR sets sail with Lil Yachty on “Buzzin'.”
After releasing his mixtape Summer Songs 2 earlier this month, Lil Boat links up with the OVO crooner on a new Murda Beatz-produced collaboration that premiered Saturday on OVOSOUND Radio.
“Took you straight out the 'hood,” Boat sing-raps. “Took you out the mud / Just because / You a young hustler, I love how you get it / Go get it / You'll watch how I flip it / You see how I did it, but that's history / You get a million-dollar kiss from me.”
Meanwhile, PND-whose album P3 drops Aug. 12-sings about his $70k price tag for a verse and how he will run through “100 packs” with his lady.
Get buzzed off their collabo below.
Rae Sremmurd - Look Alive (Remix) Feat. Migos
Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset join Swae lee and Slim Jxmmi on the "Look Alive" remix.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/rae-sremmurd-look-alive-remix-feat-migos-new-song.1970823.html
Superman -- Crashes 'Supergirl' Set ... Nice Shinguards, Bro (Pics)
Here it is ... the first time Superman has touched down on the set of "Supergirl" ... and it's bad news for anyone planning to kick the guy below the knees. Check out Tyler Hoechlin in his full Kal-El getup on the set of the CW show in Vancouver --…
Attempted Robbery At Soulja Boy's Birthday Reportedly Leads To Shooting
Rapper Killa J suffered a gunshot wound to the arm when he refused to hand over Soulja Boy's Gucci bag.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/attempted-robbery-at-soulja-boys-birthday-reportedly-leaves-one-shot-news.23176.html
Lindsay Lohan -- The Way I See It ... I'm Still Engaged!!
Lindsay Lohan is still off the market and still plans to walk down the aisle -- at least that's what she's telling friends, even after her blowout fight with Egor Tarabasov. Sources close to LiLo tell TMZ, as far as she's concerned, she and Egor are…
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Beenie Man Misses OVO Fest Due To Zika Virus
A recent victim of the Zika virus, Beenie Man was unable to get a Canadian visa, thus missing his headlining performance at OVO Fest.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/beenie-man-misses-ovo-fest-due-to-zika-virus-news.23175.html
Skydiver Luke Aikins Makes Jump Without A Parachute
A daredevil skydiver on Saturday became the first to jump from a height of 25,000 feet (7,620 meters) without a parachute, landing in a net in southern California, a spokesman said.
Luke Aikins, 42, who has 18,000 jumps under his belt, completed the jump in Simi Valley, landing in a net measuring 100 feet by 100 feet (30 meters by 30 meters) in a feat broadcast on Fox.
“Aikins' leap represents the culmination of a 26-year career that will set a personal and world record for the highest jump without a parachute or wing suit,” his spokesman Justin Aclin said in an email.
Lights were set along the side of the net to serve as a guide for Aikins to aim himself as he hurtled toward it.
“I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous,” Aikins told an interviewer on the Fox broadcast, before boarding a propeller plane to perform the jump.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Kim Coghill)
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Quavo - My Pockets (Prod. By Murda Beatz)
Listen to a new solo track from Quavo: "My Pockets," produced by Murda Beatz.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/quavo-my-pockets-prod-by-murda-beatz-new-song.1970821.html
Vin Diesel's Facebook Account Hits 100 Million Fans
Like you're even surprised.
Today is a very important day in the internet history of Vin Diesel.
Adalberto Roque / AFP / Getty Images
His official Facebook page has hit 100 million likes!
Facebook / Facebook: VinDiesel
He is the third person to hit this milestone, following Shakira and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fun fact: Vin's top 10 most-shared posts have resulted in over ~29 million~ likes.
Elsa / Getty Images
Congratulatory messages were sent from Vin's Fast and Furious co-stars, like Tyrese Gibson (below).
Lil Yachty - Buzzin Feat. PartyNextDoor (Prod. By Murda Beatz)
It's a Party on the Boat on "Buzzin," produced by Murda Beatz.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-yachty-buzzin-feat-partynextdoor-prod-by-murda-beatz-new-song.1970819.html
Protestors Call To End Meek Mill's Probation In Philly
A crowd recently gathered in Philly to protest the harsh probation sentence imposed upon their hometown hero, Meek Mill.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/article/23174
19 Times Demi Lovato Was The Most Inspiring Person On The Planet
You, too, can rise like a “skyscraper.”
When she blessed us with Motivational Monday.
When she gave this incredible "Skyscraper" speech to her fans in Los Angeles.
When she gave these words of wisdom.
When she rejuvenated our souls with this reassuring compliment.
The White Man's Domain
Even though it's unfair to use ethnicity or economic demographics as the basis for assessing the virtues of a particular sport, we can't deny that doing so offers its own set of rewards, one of which is the opportunity to pass judgment on a whole range of stuff.
You have your regular, everyday snobbery (pride in belonging) and your meta-snobbery (pride in forbidding others to belong), and then you have your anti-snobbery (pride in NOT belonging). Holding "country club" sports like swimming, golf and tennis in contempt is a prime example of anti-snobbery--the diametrical opposite of snobbery. Makes sense, if you think about it.
Consider: When we look at the spectator gallery of a major golf tournament, what do we see? Answer: No matter what state we're located in (or what country for that matter), we see an ocean of white faces. And why wouldn't we? Isn't golf, along with swimming and tennis, the domain of white people?
How actually "white" are these sports? Well, if we throw out Eldrick ("Tiger") Woods, Arthur Ashe, and the phenomenal Williams sisters, they tend to be pretty much ALL white. Seriously. Besides the aforementioned athletes, are there any notable people of color? And is it not unreasonable to suggest that Serena and Venus were the best tennis players of all-time, and that Tiger was the greatest golfer? Just askin'.
Which brings us poolside. Has there ever been a world-class black swimmer? Of course there hasn't. That's because African Americans don't generally belong to country clubs, and because black parents don't generally sign up their kids for expensive private swim lessons while they're still toddlers.
Not to take anything away from Michael Phelps (World's Fastest Caucasian Swimmer), but shouldn't his gold medal victories have had little asterisks attached to them--little asterisks signifying that, impressive as those victories were, they were won exclusively against white men?
And in no way is this observation meant to be solely sociological or legalistic. It isn't about fairness or equal opportunity or the U.S Constitution. It's about performance. Competitive excellence. Basically, we're posing the question: Why should we pay attention to a sport that's more or less "restricted" to white people? After all, don't we want to see the very best athletes compete?
Take baseball for example. What if the major leagues were still segregated? What if Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, et al, hadn't been allowed to play? Now that we know how talented these men were, and what contributions they made to the game, think how diminished baseball would be without them.
This thought--about achieving excellence in competition--should dominate our viewing of the swim events in the upcoming Olympic Games. Instead of gushing over Michael Phelps, we should take a moment to consider the dozens of young black men living in Harlem or South Central Los Angeles who, had they taken up swimming, would be kicking ass.
Again, this is nothing against Michael Phelps. After all, it's not his fault that swimming is a privileged kid's sport, a white kid's sport--just so long as Phelps is humble enough to realize that there's some black kid out there capable of leaving him in his wake. Just as Henry Aaron was "capable" of breaking Babe Ruth's home run record.
You have your regular, everyday snobbery (pride in belonging) and your meta-snobbery (pride in forbidding others to belong), and then you have your anti-snobbery (pride in NOT belonging). Holding "country club" sports like swimming, golf and tennis in contempt is a prime example of anti-snobbery--the diametrical opposite of snobbery. Makes sense, if you think about it.
Consider: When we look at the spectator gallery of a major golf tournament, what do we see? Answer: No matter what state we're located in (or what country for that matter), we see an ocean of white faces. And why wouldn't we? Isn't golf, along with swimming and tennis, the domain of white people?
How actually "white" are these sports? Well, if we throw out Eldrick ("Tiger") Woods, Arthur Ashe, and the phenomenal Williams sisters, they tend to be pretty much ALL white. Seriously. Besides the aforementioned athletes, are there any notable people of color? And is it not unreasonable to suggest that Serena and Venus were the best tennis players of all-time, and that Tiger was the greatest golfer? Just askin'.
Which brings us poolside. Has there ever been a world-class black swimmer? Of course there hasn't. That's because African Americans don't generally belong to country clubs, and because black parents don't generally sign up their kids for expensive private swim lessons while they're still toddlers.
Not to take anything away from Michael Phelps (World's Fastest Caucasian Swimmer), but shouldn't his gold medal victories have had little asterisks attached to them--little asterisks signifying that, impressive as those victories were, they were won exclusively against white men?
And in no way is this observation meant to be solely sociological or legalistic. It isn't about fairness or equal opportunity or the U.S Constitution. It's about performance. Competitive excellence. Basically, we're posing the question: Why should we pay attention to a sport that's more or less "restricted" to white people? After all, don't we want to see the very best athletes compete?
Take baseball for example. What if the major leagues were still segregated? What if Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, et al, hadn't been allowed to play? Now that we know how talented these men were, and what contributions they made to the game, think how diminished baseball would be without them.
This thought--about achieving excellence in competition--should dominate our viewing of the swim events in the upcoming Olympic Games. Instead of gushing over Michael Phelps, we should take a moment to consider the dozens of young black men living in Harlem or South Central Los Angeles who, had they taken up swimming, would be kicking ass.
Again, this is nothing against Michael Phelps. After all, it's not his fault that swimming is a privileged kid's sport, a white kid's sport--just so long as Phelps is humble enough to realize that there's some black kid out there capable of leaving him in his wake. Just as Henry Aaron was "capable" of breaking Babe Ruth's home run record.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Smoke Dawg - Trap House (Remix) Feat. French Montana
Toronto's Smoke Dawg taps French Montana for the remix to "Trap House," as heard on OVO Sound Radio.
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/smoke-dawg-trap-house-remix-feat-french-montana-new-song.1970817.html
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