Diva Speak TV Ep:14

[sidenote: I tried to watch Miss Rap Supreme and got
literally 2 minutes in before putting
it on mute and changing the channel...uggh!]

Put You On! *Immortal Technique*

Immortal Technique is a good friend of mine, an emcee, a thinker and an activist. Click the link to read his recent blog entry regarding the police state in response to the injustice of the Sean Bell verdict.

CLICK HERE

Shout to Frank for puttin me on!

Put You On! *The Roots* & *Estelle*

SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC!!!!!!! The Roots' "Rising Down" & Estelle's "Shine" are in stores and on Itunes today! Whether you cop physical or download make sure you pay some bread and support these artists for their creativity and originality! Here's some footage from Estelle's show in NYC last night! She did her thing thing! (And she's Grenadian! More fiyah!!!)

Black Lily May 3rd

Hey folks if you're in or close to Philly on May 1-4
come check out the 2nd annual Black Lily Film and Music Festival.
This year I'll be hosting and performing in the finale show on May 3rd!

My performance at last year's Black Lily:)

Peace to Jean

So Jean Grae is hanging the mic up:

"Everyone who has been on this ride with me since the beginning and continues to be a supporter of music that makes you feel something true and vulnerable and honest by being just that.

It's been a wonderful and awful journey all at the same time. Mostly leaning towards the wonderful part..lol.

Thank you for letting me share what I could with you and sharing yourselves back, as you have really been the reason that I kept on.

It's always nice to know that you could be the voice of someone who didn't have one, or know just how to say it.
No comment or letter or statement of appreciation has ever gone unnoticed.
I love to write, I love to be able to create imagery and a world out of just words.

I will always love what I consider to be true hip hop music... from the bottom of my soul.

I hope you will continue to distinguish those who are contributors to the evolution of hip hop and other black music as both an auditory stimulation and a culture, taking care that they are put in a position to do so.

Thank you listeners, whom I consider my friends and family....

Enjoy.... see y'all around..

It's been amazing.. thank you again.

peaces.." - The Jeanius

I've never been close to Jean but we've always been cool and I've definitely always regarded her as a trailblazer for women in hip hop. It's crazy though. Like Frank said, there's only one left! I would've loved to have done a record with her before she hung it up. I wish her the best though and thank her for helping to pave the way for ladies like me to keep the mic blazing:)

Who's World is This?

I know I've been gettin on Nasir lately (with just cause) but this song just seems needed today.

Something to get us Through

It's a tough day. But we need to remain on the good foot. This link will brighten anyone's day.

:)

We Have to do Better Pt. 13

I am not surprised. BUT I AM ANGRY. AND WE ALL SHOULD BE.

Detectives Gescard F. Isnora, Michael Oliver, and Marc Cooper were declared innocent of all charges against them today by judge Arthur J. Cooperman. There was no jury in this trial, per the officers' choice. This was the verdict that Ray Kelly and police officials were concerned might cause unrest across the city, so expect upped police presence around town today. According to ABC in New York, Sean's ex-fiancée, Nicole Paultre-Bell, stormed out of the court upon the news. We'll tell you more when we hear reactions from Sean Bell's family, lawyers, and the officers themselves. Already, the Bell family has vowed to continue this battle further.

The takeaway from Judge Cooperman's verdict seems to be something he said while delivering it: "Carelessness is not a crime." Credibility issues were also at the heart of the not-guilty decision. Meanwhile, after the trial, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly was quick to say: "We don't anticipate any violence." When asked what he thought of the result, he replied, "it's inappropriate for me to comment on the verdict."

Since when is "carelessness" not a crime??? What about "Manslaughter?"

Source

MANSLAUGHTER - The unlawful killing of a human being without malice or premeditation, either express or implied; distinguished from murder, which requires malicious intent.

Killing a person while doing an act of mere wantonness, is manslaughter as, if a person throws down stones in a coal-pit, by which a man is killed, although the offender was only a trespasser.

When death ensues from the performance of a lawful act, it may, in consequence of the negligence of the offender, amount to manslaughter. For instance, if the death has been occasioned by negligent driving. Again, when death ensues, from the gross negligence of a medical or surgical practitioner, it is manslaughter.
--b--

And that is at the very least! It's judgment would have been merely a Pyrrhic victory for a battle we've been fighting since the inception of race as a tool for control. There simply is no beating this system. These cops are now to continue to be on the force? They are to still be considered protectors of the peace? How is that possible? The fact of the matter is this folks: we are SO far away from the mountain top.

We live in a nation riddled with injustice and a community stunted with complacency
Born out of revolution but imbued with inequality
The bell it tolls for Sean and those who know no sense of what it means
To feel at least the peace of mind of seeing history redeemed

-Deev

Windows on Allhiphop.com!

Folks let's get those numbers up on Views!!!

CLICK HERE!

I Love Foolery Like This

Something about pinatas is MAD funny to me. Maybe it's because I spent the frist 8 yrs of my life in LA at numerous Mexican birthday parties. I have a closeness with the good old hollow burro of candy!

Shout to Em for puttin me on! LOL

Some Morning Comedy for Ya

Diva Speak TV Ep: 13

THERE'S STILL PIRATES??!!?

WHO KNEW?!

Germany says its warship fended off pirate attack on Japanese tanker

BERLIN, Germany (CNN) — A German warship was involved in fending off Monday’s pirate attack on a Japanese tanker near the coast of Somalia, a spokesman for the German armed forces said Wednesday.

The German warship “Emden” was in the area Monday when it received a distress call from the tanker, called the “Takayama,” said Frigate Captain Roland Vogler-Wander, a spokesman for the German armed forces in Potsdam, Germany.

The distress signal from the Takayama was “Tanker is being threatened by boat with weapons and being fired upon,” Vogler-Wander said.

We Have to do Better Pt. 12

C'MON FOLKS! REALLY??! REALLY?!?!!?!?

[$10 bones she's from Florida...she called him a "fuck nigga" lol.
That's fa sho some Fla shit]

Sit Down!!!

[you know she hype!]

Hillary Clinton won Pennsylvania primary last night (womp womp).

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Hillary Clinton on Wednesday was enthusiastically savoring her Pennsylvania primary victory over Barack Obama the night before, saying the win shows she would make a stronger Democratic presidential nominee than her opponent.

She defeated Obama by 10 percentage points.

“Yesterday, we had record turnout in Pennsylvania,” Clinton said on CNN’s “American Morning.”
“I won that double-digit victory that everybody on TV said I had to win, and the voters of Pennsylvania clearly made their views known — that they think I would be the best president and the better candidate to go against Sen. (John) McCain” of Arizona, she added.

I'd really like this woman to just SIT DOWN! So we can keep it movin with my man Bams. Shout to Allhiphop.com too for formerly endorsing our brotha Barack. Keep hope alive folks! It ain't over till it's over!!!

Ridin Dirty

High court rules for police in search for drugs after improper arrest

Posted: 10:58 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Supreme Court offered unanimous support for police Wednesday by allowing drug evidence gathered after an arrest that violated state law to be used at trial, an important search-and-seizure case turning on the constitutional limits of “probable cause.”

“When officers have probable cause to believe that a person has committed a crime in their presence, the Fourth Amendment permits them to make an arrest, and to search the suspect in order to safeguard evidence and ensure their own safety,” wrote Justice Antonin Scalia.

David Lee Moore was stopped by Portsmouth, Va., officers five years ago for driving his vehicle on a suspended license. Under state law in such incidents, only a summons is to be issued and the motorist is to be allowed to go. Instead, detectives detained Moore for almost an hour, arrested him, then searched him and found cocaine.

“The arrest rules that the officers violated were those of state law alone,” Scalia said. “It is not the province of the Fourth Amendment to enforce state law.”

Something about this just doesn't seem right. I mean yes, he shouldn't have had the coke, but "probable cause" is a real iffy one for me. You know they were in Porstmouth (F.B.M. Allan Iverson's home town) so the "probable cause" was probably just being Black. And since they DID find stuff, you know it's just probable cause to keep on profilin. Damn.

Moms Love DIVA WORKS of ART!

[Me and my SUPA-Mom! Nettie!!!]

MOTHER'S DAY IS COMING!!! Cop your SUPA-WOMAN something SPECIAL! HAND PAINTED BAGS
BY AMANDA DIVA HERSELF!!!






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"ROYAL BLUSH"


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"SUPA BONUS!"
A COMPLETELY one of a kind creation
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No NAS! NO!

[uggh.]

Well folks, for your listening pleasure here is Nas's new record, "Be a Nigger Too" off his upcoming album, (wait for it...) Nigger!!! I told ya'll I was done with Nas after his display of foolishness at the Grammy's and a lotta folks were upset. "Deev you can't judge till you've heard the music!" Well, if this record is any representation of what the album is then I stand by my original judgement!

Not only is the beat HORRENDOUS. But the hook is absolutely intolerable. He's trying too hard yo. I guess this is supposed to be subversive and rebellious but it's not even good music. Choppy flow, bum mix, corny lyrics. He's a shadow of his former self. And NO it is NOT ok that Eminem says, "Nigga!!"

Krs-1 is a Pacifist

Krs-1 is dope. Period. It's very rare that people stand strong in their beliefs and practice what they preach!

“Rap legend KRS-One suffered a fractured right hand at the hands of an angry fan, during a recent performance at a New Haven, CT nightclub. The fan, who became upset after being escorted off stage by the club’s security staff, threw a bottle in the direction of the stage, striking KRS-One in the face and hand. Despite the fan’s hostility, KRS-One remained calm as he urged the crowd to ‘Let it go. When negativity comes your way, let it go,’ said the rapper, who was rushed to to Yale-New Haven hospital in an ambulance. ‘Let this be an example as to how we stop the violence,’ KRS-One said.’”

Alicia on The Today Show *STILL GANGSTA!*

Check out Alicia G'in Matt Lauer on The Today Show

Bams Follow Up Video

Pharell is fine AND classy

Apparanly Pharrell needs some Orbitz for his dutty mouth.

“Hip-hop star Pharrell Williams was forced to apologize for his profanity-laden performance on the first night of Kanye West’s Glow In The Dark tour on Wednesday after spotting a young child in the front row. The group took to the stage with a high-energy show that featured Williams hurling out expletives during songs like “Rock Star” and “She Wants To Move.”

Williams returned to the stage while fans waited to see pop princess Rihanna to apologize for his use of profanity in front of a young child seated in the front row.”

Personally, it's a hip hop show. It's late. It's not a Nickelodeon special and the parents knew what they were getting it to. I don't think he HAD to apologize. But he's classy for doing so anyway and taking responsibility for the impression he on stage can make on a child. That's dope.

Obama Brushes His Shoulder Off

So Obama ain't even being cordial anymore. Hillary has been runnin her mouth for months now with the slander and bs and here he reveals how he deals with it. I love this guy. "If ya feelin like a pimp..."

Diva Speak TV Ep:12 Pt.1 & 2

Part 2.

Badu Got Jokes

Erykah is hilarical. What's sad is some folks really believe this is the way! i.e. Flava of Love broads, Khia, Trina, etc.

Laugh Before Leavin

I needed this laugh after the mugging madness.

We Have to Do Better Pt. 11

I just saw two dudes rob a chick two blocks from my crib while I was walking home. I couldn't do anything. I was so pissed. They were in new Nike boots, leathers, fitteds, and name brand jeans. Flossin, gettin someone for their own hard earned bread. Bitch ass niggas.

MC Cosby Update

As we reported on DivaSpeak TV Ep: 4 Bill Cosby is releasing a rap cd. Here's the update on what MC Cosby's got cookin:

By Sandy Cohen, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Bill Cosby's path has taken him from pudding pops to hip hop.

The 70-year-old has recorded a hip-hop CD set for release next month. Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency blends the comedian's concepts and stories with a hip-hop, pop and jazz soundtrack.

"I do not rap on any of these things," Cosby told The Associated Press Monday. "I wouldn't know how to fix my mouth to say some of the words."

What Cosby does know, though, is that the hip-hop music he hears is profane and degrading. His album is "the opposite of what I think is the profanity for no particular reason, the misogyny for no particular reason. It really looks at the frustration and the anger that a young man may have," he said.

The album, assembled by Cosby's longtime musical collaborator Bill "Spaceman" Patterson, has guest rappers providing the rhymes. The subject matter? "The value of an education. The value of respecting one's self and ... giving (listeners) a chance to raise their self-esteem and confidence," Cosby said.

Patterson said he was surprised when Cosby first inquired about making a rap record — until the comedian revealed he wouldn't be the one doing the rapping.

"People started speculating — is he going to rap about Jell-O Pudding Pops or what?" Patterson said. "But he's always been involved in music and he was there for the first generation of spoken word ... He has always understood rap's potential, but he was appalled by the foul language and the misogyny — the way people used a medium that could be used to elevate people, to open their eyes and provoke thought."

Cosby made the album as a companion to his 2007 best-selling book, Come on, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors. And though he doesn't expect the CD to be a huge hit, it won't be his last hip-hop venture.

"We can do even better," he said. "The next one will be even more cheerleading."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sounds like some "Oh this Middle Passage Negro" bs to me. I just think for someone who continues to shit on hip hop and how degrading it is but refuses to recognize those of us who use it for a more powerful purpose it's very presumptuous of him to step in like, "lemme show you how it's done." IT'S ALREADY BEING DONE! BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS LIKE MYSELF! uggh.

Here's the DivaSpeakTV Ep where he got the LET DOWN for this foolery.

Put You ON! *ArtekNYC.com*

[DOPEST FLYER EVERRRRR!!!!!]

So I know ya'll have seen my ill ass flyers & album artwork. All done by my boys at Arteknyc.com. They now have their blog up and have a bunch of dope pieces that anyone who loves great artwork should check out.



For those who don't know artek too well, Artek is a design firm based out of New York City. The Blog will be udpated on a daily basis from work they have created to work and experiences that's inspired them.

They put out some wild dope as jaxx stuff and love art and fashion. So peep the flyness. You know I never steer ya wrong!

CHECKY CHECKY CHECK IT OUT!


GO TO ARTEKNYC.COM!!!

Alicia Keys got more than Love Songs

[AK=OG.]

So Alicia Keys is finally felling comfortable with her position in the game to let her real thoughts and ideas out. I always knew this but it's dope to see she's ready to let folks know she's bout more than love songs. ASSOCIATED PRESS:

There's another side to Alicia Keys: conspiracy theorist. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter tells Blender magazine: "`Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. `Gangsta rap' didn't exist."

Keys, 27, said she's read several Black Panther autobiographies and wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck "to symbolize strength, power and killing 'em dead," according to an interview in the magazine's May issue, on newsstands Tuesday.

Another of her theories: That the bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled "by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing."

Keys' AK-47 jewelry came as a surprise to her mother, who is quoted as telling Blender: "She wears what? That doesn't sound like Alicia." Keys' publicist, Theola Borden, said Keys was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

Though she's known for her romantic tunes, she told Blender that she wants to write more political songs. If black leaders such as the late Black Panther Huey Newton "had the outlets our musicians have today, it'd be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself," she said.

The multiplatinum songstress behind the hits "Fallin'" and "No One" most recently had success with her latest CD, "As I Am," which sold millions.

So AK rocks the AK-47?! Nice. You know there's a Diva/Keys collab waiting to happen. Two rebels with a voice! THEY DON'T WANT IT!!

We Have to do Better pt.10

*sigh*

Civil Rights Leader Convicted of Incest

By MATTHEW BARAKAT – 1 hour ago

LEESBURG, Va. (AP) — A jury convicted an iconic civil-rights figure of incest Thursday after concluding that he had sex with his teenage daughter 15 years ago.

The Rev. James L. Bevel, 71, a top lieutenant to Martin Luther King Jr. who also helped organize the Million Man March, faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced.

The four-day trial in Loudoun County Circuit Court included bizarre testimony about Bevel's philosophies for eradicating lust, and parents' duty to "sexually orient" their children.

Bevel's daughter testified that she was repeatedly molested by Bevel beginning when she was just 6 years old, culminating in an act of sexual intercourse in 1993 or 1994 that formed the basis of the incest charge.

The jury reached its verdict after about three hours of deliberations. It later recommended a 15-year prison sentence for Bevel. Jurors could have recommended a sentence ranging from five to 20 years. The judge can lower the recommendation, but he cannot increase it.

Before the verdict, the jury had heard only passing reference to Bevel's role in the civil rights movement. But during the sentencing phase of the trial Thursday afternoon, the jury saw a documentary that spelled out Bevel's key role in organizing the 1963 Birmingham Children's Crusade. Bevel and King were leading organizers of the marches, in which police turned fire hoses and dogs on child protesters, drawing international attention to the brutality that was keeping segregation in place in the South.

Bevel was also a leading organizer at other iconic events in the civil rights movement, including the 1965 march at Selma, Ala.

Prosecutor Nicole Wittmann acknowledged Bevel's accomplishments but said the jury shouldn't be swayed by them.

"There's nothing I can say to take away what this man has accomplished, but there are two Jim Bevels," Wittmann told the jury. "We're talking about the one who had sex with his child."

Jurors heard a phone call between Bevel and his daughter in which he never explicitly admits to sexual intercourse but seems to take for granted that it occurred. During the call he explains the importance of teaching his daughter "the science of marriage" and admits that he did not want her to get pregnant after the incident.

Family members who confronted Bevel in 2004 testified that Bevel read a written accusation by his daughter and replied that he did not contest the facts she laid out.

But Bevel denied the charge on the witness stand. He testified that his family mistakenly perceived his refusal to deny the specific allegations against him as an admission of guilt.

Public defender Bonnie Hoffman urged the jury to ignore evidence that Bevel led an unconventional, communal lifestyle in which he taught that it was parents' duty to "sexually orient" their children.

Instead, she told the jury to focus on the single incident for which Bevel was charged: an act of sexual intercourse that occurred in 1993 or 1994 while the daughter was a teenager and was living with her father in Leesburg.

Hoffman said there were questions about the timeline — the daughter said she could not recall exactly what year the act occurred, and her recollection of when she lived in Virginia did not fully mesh with school records and other testimony.

Hoffman also questioned why the daughter returned to voluntarily live with her father after the alleged incest. The daughter testified that she went back because she had nowhere else to go.

Prosecutor Nicole Wittmann warned the jury against getting confused by Bevel's sometimes convoluted explanations of his philosophies and his justifications for his actions.

"There's no excuse for his philosophy in the law, or whether he's eccentric, or whether he's an historical figure. ... There's no exception" Wittmann said.

The Associated Press generally does not identify the victims of sexual abuse. The daughter is one of 16 children Bevel said he has had with several different women.

The trial divided members of Bevel's large family, with relatives testifying for both the prosecutor and defense.

Even the daughter expressed mixed emotions. As she waited Thursday for a verdict, she was occasionally joined by her father as the two smiled and cooed over the daughter's new baby girl — Bevel's granddaughter.

"The hardest part is I love my father, and I wish he loved me as much as I love him," The daughter told jurors during the sentencing phase.

In the 1960s, Bevel was a leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), two of the stalwart organizations that led efforts to desegregate the South.

In 1992, he was vice presidential running mate to political maverick Lyndon LaRouche, who has a home in Loudoun County but at the time was in a federal prison for a tax conviction.

Shout to The Deen for puttin me on.

The Coonery Continues...

So I may be late on this but there is a Flava Flav sitcom dropping. Isn't he DONE ruining his legacy yet?!?!! ARGH SUCH A WATTAGUY!!!!!!

We Have to do Better t. 9

Wha deh ras?!!?

“On Saturday, Joseph Manzanares stormed into the Hollywood Video store where his girlfriend worked, threatened to kill her and knocked over several video displays and even a computer, Commerce City police Sgt. Joe Sandoval said. After he ran out of the store, police were called and the 19-year-old was arrested at his home.

His girlfriend told police that they had been arguing about the upbringing of their son and which gang he should belong to. The teen mother, who is black, is a member of the Crips. Manzanares is Hispanic and belongs to the Westside Ballers gang, [a source] said.

‘They have different ideas on how the baby should be raised. Basically, [the mother] said they cannot agree on which gang the baby would ‘claim,’”

Wow folks. Things seem to be getting more out of hand every day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIPSTA!!

Happy Birthday to my homie Q-Tip! We all celebrated last night at A-P-T in NYC! FUN TIMES!!

Tipsta and Rich Medina kept the music poppin

Kweli and Deevster

Lord Sear...that's a hilarical ass nigga yo, lol

Deev and Da Cons (Tip's cousin Consequence)

F.B.M. Boris Kudjoe. My roommate in college, Adrienne and I believed this man to be a level of gorgeous that seemed immeasurable. I saw him in person for the first time last night and I can CONCUR! OUR ASSERTIONS WERE CORRECT!

DJ Cassidy
(who supposedly spun at J & B's "wedding" but I was too tipsy to ask! Lol)

Producer extraodinaire 88 Keys

ROCKSTEADYYYY!!! Crazy Legs was in the house

D-NICE his name makes sense he's a great dj AND one of the nicest guys EVER!

Janet is STILL fierce

I've been meaning to post this video. I haven't feelin Janet much lately but this shit looks and feels like the Janet I loved for years. And the dancing is A BEAST. Facts.

Classic Janet fo' dat ass!

Diva Speak TV Ep:11 Pt. 1 & 2

WE'RE BAAAACCCKKKK!!!!!!!

***
Don't forget I'll be in ATL April 17th! @ Smith's Old Bar!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAH

WHY HAVE ON LY 687 PEOPLE SEEN THIS?!?!?!




BISHOP DON MAGIC JUAN WANTS TO SAVE BRITNEY SPEARS?!?!!? Since when do pimps pray?? I guess when they go to CHUUUUUUUUCH!

??????

I'm confused. Somebody explain why this is ok.

Nas On Nick Cannon show
Uploaded by Bounce2dis

I don't usually do this...

[lawd.]

but I'm in a good mood and sheeeiiit, I always give props where they're due. For all my ladies, can we PLEASE take a "MOMENT OF FINE-NESS" for my homeboy, the talented Pharrell who turned 35 this wknd. I'll be damned if he looks a day over 20!

Diva Loves Usher

Somehow I managed to forget how I much love Ur-sher! I think it was all the Tameka madness going on during the interim between Confessions and this new album. Regardless, this video got me back on track! This dude knows his lane and I love that he stays right in it with the dancing, runs, etc. (and ya'll know Jeezy is one of my guilty pleasures! AYYYYYY!)

CATCH ME IN ATLANTA
APRIL 17TH!
PERFORMING LIVE @ SMITH'S OLD BAR!!

NEW AMANDA DIVA MUSIC!!!

"WINDOWS OVER HARLEM" the new single from Life Experience!
VIDEO COMING SOON!!!
***
BUY LIFE EXPERIENCE
on Itunes & myspace.com/AmandaDiva TODAY!!!!