Urban Thought Collective

So the saying goes, “They didn’t want to give us 50 Acres and A mule so we’ll take 50 states and a White House…..And yes Chuck D, we can now paint the White House BLACK!

BARACK OBAMA….Our new overseer. Now that we’ve conquered one hurdle, and made history while doing it, believe there are more roadblocks to come. Pray for the safety of him & his family. Be patient as he has a lot of damage control to handle. There is a big mess to clean up and we all have to hold hands in support, prayer and “change” one issue at a time.

FORMER MOTOWN EXECUTIVE HAS DIED
Jheryl Busby, the one time CEO of Motown Records, died at the age of 59. Jheryl suffered from diabetes, however, no further details regarding his death has been made available.

Jheryl turned Motown on its axis in 1988 and convinced Diana Ross, to return to the label. Jheryl is also the one who founded Apollo Theatre Records, which was promoted and distributed by Motown. Los Angeles born & bred, he started his career in the music business at Stax Records, where he worked with artists like Otis Redding and the Staples Singers. When he got to MCA Records, he gave us Jody Watley, The Jets, Bobby Brown, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle and Klymaxx (Love that “Meeting in the Ladies Room”). Jhery’s latest venture was Umbrella Recordings, where he gave the world such talents as Carl Thomas and Tweet.

Condolences to his family, friends and family. He will be honored and remembered always!

PRIVATE FUNERAL WILL BE HELD FOR DEF JAM’S SHAKIR STEWART
Suicide is that private demon that overtakes the most unexpected person. The person you think has got it all together, the one you think because they have all the material gifts of the world have no problems or inner demons and that is so not true. Whether someone has suffered from depression a long time or just found out they had cancer or HIV an hour before taking their life, you never know the journey of someone’s life.

Condolences go out to family and friends of Def Jam Record’s Executive
Vice-President of A&R, Shakir Stewart, who shot himself with a handgun at his Marietta home. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, police have declined to release additional details regarding Stewart’s death. Funeral arrangements are still pending, but a “private” funeral is being arranged. According to the Cobb medical examiner’s office, the autopsy report will take up to 12 weeks.

MOS DEF IS A WANTED MAN
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Mos Def. At first I thought it might be one of his baby’s mama’s after him, but nope it’s not the case of a Father MC. (For all my old skool heads who remember that fiasco). But it seems that after an “alleged” beat down of a fashion photographer at MAGIC in Las Vegas, the men in blue suits are after that ass! Mos Def could be facing felony robbery and malicious destruction of private property charges; kind of like the recent Kanye West airport ass whoopin. Anyhoo, Mos allegedly attacked the photographer, hired by MAGIC, for taking photos of event attendants. The photographer by the name of Volker Corell, claims Mo s tore his camera off his neck and smashed it to the ground…then ran off with it. You know Mos didn’t need the camera, it’s all about the film but best believe the homey Volker is trying to get a pay day! Cha ching$!

MICHAEL JACKSON IS PISSED WITH BRO OVER TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT
Word on the street is Michael Jackson let his brother Jermaine have “it” for wrongly announcing that he is involved in an upcoming Jackson 5 reunion tour. Is it me or don’t most of the brothers need hip replacement?

Jermaine seems to be going around swearing up & down that Janet Jackson was on board for the tour. She can barely finish her own tour so you know she’ ain’t rollin’ with the fam like that.

As of now, let’s make it clear, both Michael and Janet are NOT involved in any way.

Now, about a new Michael album that we’ve been waiting ions for, it seems he got a lot cooking; an album including at least one track with his oldest son, Prince, and sounds that will include some interesting gospel and hip-hop. Well if Missy, NeYo, & Timbaland have their hands on it, let’s hope it will be worth the wait.

Oh & by the way, Michael Jackson has turned down an offer from Las Vegas hotel mogul Steve Wynn to perform this December at the opening of Steve Wynn Encore tower, a $2 billion project. Humm. Last I heard Michael needed money….

ALRIGHT, ENOUGH SCOOP & SCANDAL…LET US ALL JUST REVEL IN OUR NEW PRESIDENT IN OFFICE…AND OUR NEW PLACE IN HISTORY!!

NEWS BLAST
Rap City Finale airs Saturday, November 8, 2008 on BET, 7pm pacific
10pm eastern…

Usher “One Night Stand” tour is GREAT!

Andre Harrell (former Uptown Records & Motown Records Exec) allegedly hospitalized with heart difficulty…

T-Boz to appear on the next Celebrity Apprentice. Said to be selling her house & its belongings on Craigs List…

Adele’s album “16″ is off the chain…

Big Lez has interviewed everyone from Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. to Mary J. Blige and Tom Cruise. She was host of and producer of BET’s landmark show “Rap City” and has enjoyed an extensive tenure in radio as co-host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show in Los Angeles, plus stints at New York’s WQHT/Hot 97, Atlanta’s WAOK/V103, LA’s Big Boy Morning Show at KPWR/Power 106 and Sirius Satellite Radio. Currently, Lez is partnered with DVA Media + Marketing as producer and host of the syndicated urban radio report, “The Urban Eye,” soon to launch nationwide.