Q-Tip teamed up with OkayPlayer’s “The Root of…” series to trace back his roots. With a simple DNA test, assisted by Gina Paige of the African Ancestry, it’s discovered that Q-Tip’s ancestors were from West Africa. Watch the process above.

Spotted at RR

Questlove and Black Thought trace back their African roots after the jump….

(more…)

Today, Thursday, January 12th marks the two-year anniversary of the tragic earthquake which devestated the country of Haiti. In commemoration of the day, co-founders of the Yela Haiti Foundation, Wyclef and Jerry Wonda release this 19-minute documentary titled Hours After The Quake: Picking Up The Dead in Search of The Living. Watch the eye-opening and emotional piece above, Sak Pase.

(You may be wondering why the Brooklyn Bridge is covered in denim… the answer lies at egotripland.com)

Jay-Z already heralded the birth of his “smarter faster me” Blue Ivy Carter with the song “Glory”….but as the celebratory news of Hov and Beyonce’s new baby daughter broke over the past two days, so too has the ridiculous speculation of events surrounding it. Not the least of which was the rumor (perpetuated by lines from a new song, “Glory”) that Jay-Z had arranged for the Empire State Building to be lit blue in honor of Blue Ivy Carter’s birth. Turns out the NYC landmark’s hue was actually due to the NY Giants’ playoff game on Sunday. Oh well, we can pretend. In fact, there’s gotta be all kinds of ways we could imagine Jay-Z pulling some strings to publicly celebrate this monumental event with the rest of the world. Here – with the help of our friends at EgotripLand – are a few. Yeah, we can just see it now… Together we came up with 10 other ways Jay-Z could celebrate daughter Blue Ivy’s B-Day.

1. Rent fleet of prop planes to crop dust Tri-state with atomized Blue Nile. Muslim oil merchants rejoice

2. Remove term “poison ivy” from all medical journals and English dictionaries in Western Hemisphere.

continued after the jump…

(more…)

Awww! Jay-Z is basking in the glow of being a new dad. His wife Beyonce just gave birth to a baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter, on Saturday January 7….and not only did dad record the most touching ode to his daughter but he even sampled the baby’s first* cries at the end of this song! Wow. For the man who has always been composed and intensely private…this is a true sign of how parenthood can transform you.

Hov’s only message on the post: “Life just got really good.”

New Music: Jay-Z featuring his daughter Blue Ivy Carter “Glory”

(Alternate Stream):

Baby, I paint the sky blue, my greatest creation was you, you. Glory…
I wreak havoc on the world, get ready for part two, a younger smarter faster me, so a pinch of Hov, a whole glass of Bey…
Last time, the miscarriage was so tragic. We was afraid you’d disappear but nah, Baby you magic!
So there you have it, shit happens, just make sure the plane you on is bigger than your carry-on baggage.
Everybody goes through stuff, life is a gift, Love, open it up. You’re a child of destiny. You’re the child of my destiny. You’re my child with the child from Destiny’s Child. That’s a hell of a recipe.

Via LifeandTimes
(*I amended that because Baby Blue could have been recorded any time in the past 2 days. But this is still friggin’ beyond adorable!)

Check out the rest of Jay-Z’s most personal lyrics ever…
(more…)

The late Heavy D’s death was surrounded with questions and mystery. However, reports have finally surfaced detailing what exactly killed the veteran rapper. According to various sources Heavy passed away from pulmonary embolism.

A pulmonary embolism is a blockage of one or more arteries in the lungs — most often caused by blood clots which travel in from other parts of he body. In Heavy’s case, the clot was formed in his legs. (via TMZ)

The coroner’s office found that Dwight Arrington Myers, better known as Heavy D, died of a blood clot in his lung. He also suffered from deep leg vein thrombosis and heart disease. (via LATimes)

Heav was on board a long flight from Wales after the Michael Jackson tribute concert. The long plane ride was also a likely contributing factor.

after the jump, news on Slim Dunkin’s murder suspect after the jump… (more…)

Louis C.K. is debuting his new “Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theater” stand-up comedy special…not on TV…but as a $5 paid download on his website, and I’m not sure how well that will do, but it seems to be a strategy that we’ll see a lot more of in 2012. There’s already multiple companies vying for paid online content. But won’t someone just rip Louis’ show and immediately upload it to the web anyway?

But back to the laughs, in this clip Louis tackles the topic of human evolution. Why do some bohunks insist on denying it? They hate monkeys! But more importantly, why did humans manage to “evolve” past animals when we are so survival-challenged? As Louis says, “You can trip a human being. That’s how sh–ty we are. We’re the only thing in the world that you can stick your foot out, and just ruin our entire day…”

But the answer to why we advanced past animals is at end of this clip…and it’s also what made me choke on my barley soup. Please refer to Louis’ animal sex re-enactment. And then wet yourself.

Another one of my favorite clips from Louis’ genius Louie show this past season…Louie goes on Fox News to fight for the right to…masturbate.
After the jump
(more…)

Herman Cain, the hilarious political comedian…err, one-time Republican frontrunner just announced that the Herman Cain is “suspending” the Herman Cain presidential campaign train. On a Saturday afternoon? Talk about trying to avoid the brunch crowd. This was pretty much a foregone conclusion, but I’m baffled that it was the revelation that Cain has been cheating on his wife for 13 years that got his Republicans to push him out…but not the sexual harassment accusations, the brainfarts, the insane policies, and ridiculous outbursts? Okay.

I’m almost sad Cain is gone because he inspired so many hilarious opening monologue jokes and fake news skits. Like Tim Meadows x Funny or Die spoof: Herman Cain’s Godfather Pizza Sexual Harassment Training Video! Watch it above.

And if you missed the Daily Show skits where Cain denies having sex with his “friend” of 13 years….
Watch after the jump
(more…)

Alicia Keys and Bono paid a visit to with Good Morning America to speak on the battle against HIV/AIDS. Today marks World AIDS Day and to honor it The Keep a Child Alive co-founder and U2 leadman discussed studies, and progress of medical advancements to help cure people.

Props to Rap-Up

Previously: Beyoncé, Sade, Swizz Beatz, Jay-Z and More Support Alicia Keys’ Keep A Child Alive Gala

A little over two weeks ago, bubbling up-and-comers Radio Galaxy released the video for their single “Feel Trip” and a few days later their full album We Come In Peace. Singer Khimmy J and production duo King Coz have been working on the album in relative seclusion for the last 2 years or so, garnering pretty good praise from their peers as well as listeners of “backpackery”, underground musics, of which I’m a tunnel visioned champion of. I liked what they were doing so much that I did their album art for them for peanuts and cashews. #schwag

continued after the jump…

(more…)

Common takes us on a journey to Haiti, partnering with the CNN Freedom Project in COMMON DREAMS: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary. The 40-minute piece gives us an in-depth look at exploitation known as “restavek.” During his time in Haiti, Common witnesses this hardened practice first hand and meets children, guardians and a team of dedicated people determined to provide them with a better life following the devistating earthquake last year. Watch the eye-opening experience above.

Pre-order The Dreamer, The Believer on iTunes now.

Props to Yardie/MWP

Previously:
Common – “Celebrate”
Common – “Sweet” (Video)