Tag Archives: gun violence

Rapper The Game Calls for Gun Violence Ceasefire & Kelly Rowland Volunteers at Salvation Army

Photo Credit: The Game's IG

Photo Credit: The Game’s IG

So, there’s no doubt your Instagram feed is still being taken over by R.I.P posts for Nelson Mandela and Paul Walker. Its been a tragically sad week. But, you might have spotted the post above as well, especially if your following The Game’s IG.

 After hearing about two kids, under age 10, die from street shootings, the rapper decided to raise the white flag on gun violence in Los Angeles this holiday season. 

In the wake of 7 year old Taalib Pecantte ‘s murder along with 6 year old Tiana Ricks & all the other children slain this year due to gang violence in my city & on behalf of @therobinhoodproject we are asking all gangs to  CEASE FIRE IN LOS ANGELES throughout the Christmas holiday season to ensure no more senseless child murders occur & families can enjoy their holiday season in peace.

The rapper urged all his followers to re-post this message and hopefully those responsible for the senseless violence will take heed. If you remember, honestly, how can anyone forget? We are a week away from the one year anniversary of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting. A day I believe will live in infamy and one that is being repeated over and over again, just in different scenarios, with younger faces and different locations.

So, I salute The Game for continuing his Robin Hood Project initiative as well as being a peacekeeper in his community. And kudos to those passing the torch to their followers like P. Diddy, Khloe Kardashian, Monica, Xzibit, Shannon Brown and Kelly Rowland.

If you want to spread the love nationwide save the image above and post on Instagram using #Ceasefire and your city.

 

IF U BL==NKED: The Game’s cause wasn’t the only one Ms. Kelly Rowland was getting behind (She’s becoming busier than Queen Bey these days). She’s taking her sassy act to Universal City Walk in Hollywood tomorrow to perform at a free concert for Rock the Red Kettle event that benefits The Salvation Army. Check out the video below to find out how else the newly engaged songstress is helping this historic org.

 

 

 

Snoop Lion Pleads for Nonviolence in “No Guns Allowed,” Is it Hypocritical?

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When I first heard that Snoop Dogg…er Snoop Lion released a song, “No Guns Allowed,” pleading for an end to gun violence I was grateful to finally hear at least one voice from the rap community speak out against this epidemic–whose latest casualty was 16-year-old Kimani Gray gunned down by police just blocks from my Brooklyn street–a source of contention not only in my neighborhood but around the country as the gun debate heightens.

As loud as the gun shots and crying parents may be to the communities most effected by these tragedies, it’s the deafening silence from entertainers that glorify and sensationalize the gangsta lifestyle that is appalling to me. I’m not anti-rap (listening to Eminem as I write this.) I appreciate all art that expresses a culture that may not otherwise be acknowledged and will motivate people to be more socially conscious. However, I don’t see the latter being shown. I’m all for making people dance, thanks P. Diddy. But music, rap music especially has always prided itself on tacking social ills of the ghetto. But, I have yet to see heavy weights  Jay Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne or Rick Ross up in arms about gun violence plaguing the very communities they brag about growing up in.

I’m not campaigning for an after school special dedicated to this issue (although it wouldn’t hurt) or even a “We Are The World” joint. And I’m not so naive to think that Jay Z instructing gang members to trade in their guns will automatically change things.  Although, I think music manager Michael “Blue” Williams idea of a gun buy back program  during Beyonce’s summer concerts are a good start. I’m just suggesting they use their influence to contribute to the change we all wanna see. The change rap legends Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls flawlessly rapped about on “Changes” and “Sky’s the Limit” songs. And how easily they could transition between rapping about causing mayhem in the streets and their desire to see them change.

Now Snoop is doing the same, albeit with a Rhastafarian vibe that channels Bob Marley, and has taken his daughter Cori B, who covers background vocals, and rapper Drake along for the ride. It’s surprising to hear the same rapper who would find any excuse to do the Crip dance and reveal how inseparable he was with his gun in “10 Lil Crips” : they say it’s crazy out here, it ain’t no more fun/ I can’t walk down the street without my gun, gun, would be counseling to stop the gun fire in “No Guns Allowed” : Me don’t want to see no more innocent blood shed/ me don’t want to see no more youth dead.

While this contrast may give listeners the side eye to Snoop’s new found social conscious lyrics–the result of a trip to Jamaica that changed his lifestyle and name–and lead them to shot HYPOCRITE after glamorizing the gangsta life for decades. I think he’s a prime example for what the gun violence debate needs; someone that’s lived that lifestyle, survived it and can pass on what he learned in making it out.

Snoop found inner peace. Let’s hope it’s something he can help pass on to our youth. And make our streets quieter again.

Willow Smith Joins Anti-Cyberbullying Campaign; Beyonce Expresses Outrage about Gun Violence

Photo by ggirones09

Photo by ggirones09

As often as its been said–kids can be so cruel–that more alarming and true the saying is. I think everyone has at least  one humiliating school memory they wish they can bury deep below the Earth’s surface. Imagine it constantly resurfacing like a dog digging up a bone. Nowadays kids have the harrowing dilemma of reliving those experiences over and over again through cruel text messages and threats on Twitter and Facebook. Cyberbullying isn’t a cute kids-will-be-kids type of behavior, it is unrelenting  hateful acts that occur through the Internet and over 25% of teens face those taunts everyday with damaging effects.

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Seventeen Magazine teamed up with Willow Smith and other teen celebs to start an Anti-Cyberbullying Campaign to show young adults they aren’t alone in the fight against cyber bullies.  The Delete Digital Drama Campaign is a partnership between Seventeen Magazine and Facebook to survey young girls about their experiences witnessing or being a victim of cyber threats online. The campaign also includes a [delete] tee designed by  L’Amour Nanette Lepore sold at JC Penney in which proceeds go to STOMP Out Bullying, a national anti-bullying organization.

Willow, 12, is no stranger to this issue after being cyber bullied last year when she shaved her head. The topic became a firestorm on Twitter, Facebook and blogs. Not only criticizing her decision to rock a baldie, but Jada Pinkett and Will Smith’s laid back parenting style of letting their daughter be in control of her own body.

Jada took to Facebook this week to rant about young celebrities being just as vulnerable, if not, more susceptible to cyber bullies as well as the media and paparazzi:

Are we bullying our young artists?

How can we ask for our young stars to have a high level of responsibility if we are not demonstrating that same level of responsibility towards them?
This last week, I had to really evaluate the communication in regard to our young artists in the media. I was trying to differentiate cyber-bullying from how we attack and ridicule our young stars through media and social networks. It is as if we have forgotten what it means to be young or even how to behave like good ol’ grown folk. Do we feel as though we can say and do what we please without demonstrating any responsibility simply because they are famous?

If you Bl;nked: Another heartbreaking gun violence story reached the news this week. A 6-month-old baby was shot to death in Chicago. King Bey took to Facebook to express her outrage.

Why kill a 6 month your old baby? i dont understand why another human would do such a thing smh im praying for the little angel GUN VIOLENCE NEEDS TO STOP! its going way to far.

Sources: Facebook, Seventeen