What an awful low point to end 2011 with….Police in Atlanta are still trying to track down the man who shot and killed Bricksquad rapper Slim Dunkin this past Friday. Slim had just recently shot a video with his longtime friend Waka Flocka, Jadakiss and Styles P, and he was featured on Gucci Mane and V-Nasty’s BAYTL EP. But the events leading up to his death are increasingly disturbing.
According to homicide detective, David Quinn:

“The victim, Mario Hamilton, known as Slim Dunkin,….according to witnesses, someone came into this room, struck him and a fight ensued. The information we’re getting, it’s unconfirmed, but witnesses are saying this whole thing started over a piece of candy….“

It’s naive to reduce the entire motive to candy. Obviously, this is about pride, jealousy, possession, posturing in front of others, and so many other machismo elements that cause trivial things to spark unthinkable violence.
But for a piece of candy to be the catalyst for hate like this…in a studio filled with folks who could have stepped in with voices of reason (or how about stepping up in the past 4 days with information?!)….just every thing about this is a disgusting shameful tragedy.

If you know anything helpful, call Atlanta’s crimestoppers 1-404-577-TIPS (8477)

More on the ongoing investigation into Slim Dunkin’s death…
And his public viewing…
After the jump

MTV News reports that there will be a public viewing for Slim Dunkin’s friends, family and fans:
Thursday, December 22
6pm to 9pm
Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home
1003 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard
Atlanta, Georgia

Slim Dunkin (Mario Hamilton), a 24 year old Brick Squad artist, appeared on his friend Waka Flocka’s Flockaveli album, as well as Gucci Mane and Waka’s Ferrari Boyz album and Gucci Mane and V-Nasty’s BAYTL EP. Most recently, he shot a video for the “Lightz On” (Remix) with Waka, Jadakiss and Styles P.

The Associated Press interviewed Atlanta Police Major Keith Meadows:

“It appears the victim was scheduled to do a photo shoot,” Meadows told The Associated Press. “Before the video shoot took place, it appears the victim and suspect got involved in a verbal altercation. We don’t know what that altercation was about.”

“The suspect produced a weapon, discharged that handgun one time, striking the victim in the chest,” Meadows said.

The performer was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Meadows said police have not been able to identify the shooter. He said 13 to 20 people were in the small office-type building at the time of the shooting, which took place around 5:30 p.m. local time, but they were in different places.

Last night, Jon Stewart appeared on The O’Reilly Factor to further defend Common on his appearance at The White House late last week. The invite from Michelle Obama caused some noise in the media, mainly with FOX News, O’Reilly and others like him who felt Common shouldn’t have been invited. To me, Nas explained this whole thing perfectly in his recent sitdown with Sway of MTV. If you missed it, MissInfo also addressed this in her Celebrity Drama Report last week which you can listen to below.

Miss Info Celebrity Drama Report, 9pm:

Watch part two of Jon Stewart’s interview and Common’s performance at the White House, after the jump….

In today’s New York Times Style section, music industry mogul Steve Stoute took the liberty of taking out a full page ad to voice his displeasure with the NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) over the Grammy’s shutting out more popular artists to lesser unknowns in some of their big categories. This falls on the heels of last week’s 53rd annual Grammy Awards where artists such as Justin Bieber, Drake and most notably Eminem, lost out on wins such as Best New Artist & Album of The Year to less popular artists like Esperanza Spalding and Arcade Fire. In the past, artists like Kanye West and 50 Cent have experienced the same shut out for categories in which the masses felt they were clear cut favorites to win.

Over the course of my 20-year history as an executive in the music business and as the owner of a firm that specializes in in-culture advertising, I have come to the conclusion that the Grammy Awards have clearly lost touch with contemporary popular culture. My being a music fan has left me with an even greater and deeper sense of dismay — so much so that I feel compelled to write this letter. Where I think that the Grammys fail stems from two key sources: (1) over-zealousness to produce a popular show that is at odds with its own system of voting and (2) fundamental disrespect of cultural shifts as being viable and artistic.

Props to TheLifeFiles

You can read the full submission from Steve Stoute, after the jump….

Over the course of my 20-year history as an executive in the music business and as the owner of a firm that specializes in in-culture advertising, I have come to the conclusion that the Grammy Awards have clearly lost touch with contemporary popular culture. My being a music fan has left me with an even greater and deeper sense of dismay — so much so that I feel compelled to write this letter. Where I think that the Grammys fail stems from two key sources: (1) over-zealousness to produce a popular show that is at odds with its own system of voting and (2) fundamental disrespect of cultural shifts as being viable and artistic.

As an institution that celebrates artistic works of musicians, singers, songwriters, producers and technical specialists, we have come to expect that the Grammys upholds all of the values that reflect the very best in music that is born from our culture. Unfortunately, the awards show has become a series of hypocrisies and contradictions, leaving me to question why any contemporary popular artist would even participate. How is it possible that in 2001 The Marshall Mathers LP — an album by Eminem that ushered in the Bob Dylan of our time — was beaten out by Steely Dan (no disrespect) for Album Of The Year? While we cannot solely utilize album sales as the barometer, this was certainly not the case. Not only is Eminem the best-selling artist of the last decade, but The Marshall Mathers LP was a critical and commercial success that sold over 10 million albums in the United States (19 million worldwide), while Steely Dan sold less than 10% of that amount and came and went as quietly as a church mouse. Or consider even that in 2008 at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, after going into the night as the most-nominated artist, Kanye West’s Graduation was beaten out for Album Of The Year by Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters. (This was the first time in 43 years that a jazz album won this category.) While there is no doubt in my mind of the artistic talents of Steely Dan or Herbie Hancock, we must acknowledge the massive cultural impact of Eminem and Kanye West and how their music is shaping, influencing and defining the voice of a generation. It is this same cultural impact that acknowledged the commercial and critical success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller in 1984.

Just so that I’m not showing partiality to hip-hop artists (although it would be an entirely different letter as to how hip-hop music has been totally diminished as an art form by this organization), how is it that Justin Bieber, an artist that defines what it means to be a modern artist, did not win Best New Artist? Again, his cultural impact and success are even more quantifiable if you factor in his YouTube and Vevo viewership — the fact that he was a talent born entirely of the digital age whose story was crafted in the most humble method of being “discovered” purely for his singing ability (and it should be noted that Justin Bieber plays piano and guitar, as evidenced on his early viral videos).

So while these very artists that the public acknowledges as being worthy of their money and fandom are snubbed year after year at the Grammys, the awards show has absolutely no qualms in inviting these same artists to perform. At first I thought that you were not paying attention to the fact that the mental complexion of the world is becoming tanned, that multiculturalism and poly-ethnicity are driving new meaning as to what is culturally relevant. Interesting that the Grammys understands cultural relevance when it comes to using Eminem’s, Kanye West’s or Justin Bieber’s name in the billing to ensure viewership and to deliver the all-too-important ratings for its advertisers.

What truly inspired the writing of this letter was that this most recent show fed my suspicions. As the show was coming to a close and just prior to presenting the award for Album Of The Year, the band Arcade Fire performed “Month of May” — only to… surprise… win the category and, in a moment of sheer coincidence, happened to be prepared to perform “Ready to Start.”

Does the Grammys intentionally use artists for their celebrity, popularity and cultural appeal when they already know the winners and then program a show against this expectation? Meanwhile the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences hides behind the “peer” voting system to escape culpability for not even rethinking its approach.

And I imagine that next year there will be another televised super-close-up of an astonished front-runner as they come to the realization before a national audience… that he or she was used.

You are being called to task at this very moment, NARAS.

And to all of the artists that attend the Grammys: Stop accepting the invitation to be the upset of the year and demand that this body upholds its mission for advocacy and support of artistry as culture evolves.
Demand that they change this system and truly reflect and truly acknowledge your art.

Steve Stoute

Release the doves! Tina Knowles will have to wait a little longer for a grandchild to spring forth from her elder daughter’s fertile loins.

TMZ has styled on US Weekly’s morning Beyonce-pregnancy scoop, by crushing it with their own scoop…..that Mama Tina visited the Ellen Degeneres Show to deliver the news, the pregnancy rumors are false! Again! The washboard abs spotted in Miami today prevail!

(and perhaps, this will also be an opportune time to promote the Miss Tina line for full-figured women, available on the Home Shopping Network. Now that’s how you spin a public relations opportunity. The Knowles-Carters are an army, better yet a navy.)

UPDATE: Videoclip of Tina Knowles’ response to the Beyonce pregnancy rumors…
after the jump

ellen won.
Previously:
Beyonce BellyWatch 2010: Does this woman look pregnant to you?…not so much
Beyonce Belly Watch 2010*: US Weekly reports Beyonce is pregnant

Mel Gibson’s disgusting phone rants:

By now I’m sure you’ve heard the sweet sounds of Mel Gibson’s phone jonesing with his Russian ballerina babymama, Oksana Grigorieva.
Ladies, it’s okay to admit that you were entranced by Mel’s breathless terms of endearment, as he berated his girlfriend for not going to the jacuzzi with him, as he admitted that he knocked out her teeth while she held their infant daughter, and as he suggested that her fashion sense might get her raped by some men of color.

But as disgusting as this neverending stream of audio is, the plus side is the flood of Mel Gibson mockery. For instance….Someone was genius enough to create posters of Mel Gibson’s choice quotes with kittens. Verbal abuse can be adorable!
(for the record, though: it’s actually not adorable, it’s frightening and anyone who is experiencing this in their own relationship needs to run in the opposite direction….but that black and white kitten is SO CUTE.)

But there’s more….what about the Mel Gibson x Christian Bale mash-up, twice the crazy! And then there’s the overdub masterpiece Mel Gibson rant x What Women Want…etc.

UPDATE: DJ Brainchild also made a Mel Gibson x Kat Stacks mashup! Lawd.

after the jump

Kat Stacks vs Mel Gibson (DJ Brainchild via UrbanDaily)

David Letterman’s Top Ten Mel Gibson Excuses

Mel Gibson rant x Mel Gibson’s What Women Want

Mel Gibson rant dance remix

PS: my compadres over at Complex did even one better, by compiling a full list of all the most horrifying and embarrassing celebrity audio over the years. Poor Alec Baldwin, he played himself with that one.

wow….so not only does Christina Milian have to suffer the humiliation of seeing her husband and baby father, The Dream, cheating on her with his own personal assistant Melissa Marie…..but we, the innocent public, have the image of these two porpoises doing remedial kama sutra in the ocean.

double indignity.

And just to think that a year and a half ago, it was The Dream was canoodling with Christina in Maui. Let’s compare the visuals.

I must be doing something wrong in my life because I’ve never been courted with a sensual headlock on a tropical island. *deep sigh*

UPDATE: Soon after the photos leaked, Christina Milian reacted on twitter….and basically agreed with the general consensus….

UPDATE 2: Now The Dream’s reps have released a statement to US Magazine, claiming that he and Christina have been “separated” since late 2009…..word?

read both, Christina’s reaction and Dream’s statement….after the jump

UPDATE 1: Christina Milian’s reaction after the photos leaked this morning…..

UPDATE 2: The Dream’s statement to Us Magazine…

“Terius ‘The-Dream’ Nash is saddened to announce that his marriage to Christina Milian was unsuccessful. The couple reached this decision in late 2009, but decided to keep the news private in efforts to protect their baby daughter Violet. They ask for consideration and respect for their family moving forward”

So basically DreaMilian split up at the end of 2009, while Christina was pregnant with their daughter Violet, and just 3 months after their princess-diaries wedding ceremony in Rome. Dude, you don’t break up after you’ve worn equestrian boots with your woman. It’s just not right.

Let’s look at more from the world’s least sensual love affair….(via Fame via Rap-Up)

This is an old photo of Dream’s assistant/cutbuddy hanging out with the boss’ lady.

UPDATE 3: Speaking of Fif, I love my boys over at G-Unit, but one of them needs to check whoever at Thisis50 blatantly ripped off my post. I don’t mind folks sampling and I’ve always showed them love so all I expect is some proper credit.

Fashion: Lord Dream and Lady Christina’s Wedding Photo, and more
Christina Milian and The Dream are pregnant
The Dream and Christina Milian: Hip Hop Love….lets watch it unfurl

On Monday, TMZ and other outlets reported that Fat Joe and his traveling party were detained by police in Madison, Wisconsin because a 33-year-old woman claimed that she got into a limo with Joe and crew after a local show and was “inappropriately touched.” But after questioning Fat Joe and his crew, the police did not arrest anyone, and no charges have been filed….making the woman’s claim quite suspect. Today, Joe’s lawyer Dawn Florio released this statement:

Rapper Joseph Cartagena, known as Fat Joe, members of his entourage and security staff were briefly questioned by members of the Madison, Wisconsin Police Department who were investigating false allegations made by a woman who initially posed as a fan and later claimed to be the victim of an assault after demanding money.

At no point did Mr. Cartagena or any member of his entourage assault or have any improper contact with the woman. It is truly unfortunate that false allegations such as these cause the public to doubt the claims of actual victims of sexual assaults.

This is hard for me to say because I loved the short-lived TV show “Arrested Development” so much (so so much)….but after reading David Cross’ flippant statement in this interview with serially-sididdy Pitchfork (via less-sididdy Vulture)….I kind of don’t like him anymore. Hopefully that’s just specific to Cross in relation to music of any kind. It shouldn’t really cross over to my feelings for Cross, the odd comedic actor. Plus, I know everyone has different opinions. And I’m definitely guilty of not being wild about someone that other folks think is the bees knees (i.e. Lupe *shrug*). But, I’m human, and hyper-sensitive about the late great Frank White. (Happy Birthday Biggie, R.I.P.!) So I can’t promise fairness. Also, I hate over-analytical music-snob types as a species.

Pitchfork: Do you remember any examples of not liking an album everyone else did?

David Cross: I can’t think of one off the top of my head, although I do think Biggie Smalls is overrated. I just don’t think he’s as good a lyricist as people say he is.

Pitchfork: You’d prefer a Jay-Z maybe?

DC: Yes. I love a good Jay-Z. I love a Kanye, I love a Lupe Fiasco.

psssh tosh! That’s moronic.

For now, you’re dead to me, Cross….

but Tobias Fünke lives on…FOREVER…after the jump…

Obviously I’m disturbed by the recent developments in Arizona, which is basically a legalization (even encouragement) of racial profiling. And I love the fact that the Phoenix Suns made their own visible statement to show solidarity with Arizona’s many Latino citizens (the Washington Post had a nice piece on why politics belong on the court).

But I also got a kick out of this special AZ-Cinco de Mayo trailer for the upcoming Robert Rodriguez “Grindhouse”-style mexploitation and timely immigration-themed flick, Machete. It’s way over the top and campy, but hilarious. And what a cast! Robert Deniro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, the guy who plays the pilot on LOST, Lindsay Lohan (looking less crackish than usual), Don Johnson (!), Cheech….and Machete himself, Danny Trejo. That guy is the ultimate leathery character actor. Remember Trejo’s Mobb Deep videos??….

watch (along with the original Machete trailer, after the jump…

Update: Dre/Nahright sent over this original Machete trailer, which came out way back in 2007. So this team has been working this movie since back then? And yet now it is right on time with what’s going on politically.

Mikey: DJ Premier gave VIBE some more insight into the tragic loss of Guru, the controversy surrounding Solar, and  future of the Gang Starr legacy.

On Guru’s Deathbed Letter
“Well, I would love to see that letter. I would love to see the handwriting. Because I know Guru’s handwriting like the back of my hand with all the bills we had to pay together. I know it’s not him.”

On Solar Tarnishing Guru’s Legacy
“Guru was able to get two gold albums; he was able to do the Jazzmatazz album. So everything that we gained makes you think, “You mean to tell me you are going to blow it all away and act like that’s not an important part of what made us who we are?” With a silly ass letter like that??? When you say ‘Ex-DJ’ where is my name at? Because there are two other DJ’s that was DJing with Guru besides me. There was Doo Wop and Shawn Ski, who was our backup DJ when I had to go back to college. He always held us down. Calling me the ex-DJ doesn’t mean anything to me. Why don’t you just say Christopher Martin?”

(Read more after the jump)

Related: On the topic of Guru, the sad saga continues with a shocking and disturbing HipHopDX interview with Tasha Denham, Solar’s alleged baby-mother, who claims she witnessed Solar being physically and mentally abusive towards Guru. (read more after the jump)

1. VIBE: Do you feel like your relationship with Guru has been misrepresented by MC Solar?

DJ Premier: Well, I’ve always held down Guru… His spirit knows this. He used to get upset about so much stuff when we were dealing with the label all the time. We both would be upset. But I would take the calls because when he was upset he would flip [Laughs], where you might not be able to handle him when he’s wilding out. With me, although I had a temper, I was much calmer about it. But I always remember whenever I would tell him, “Yo Guru, don’t worry about it, they are going to take care of it,” he would be happy as fuck. He would be like, “Yo, let’s go out for a drink.” He was the go-out king. That was his routine. He was definitely a celebratory guy. Anyone from our era knows that Guru was in every club and every bar and every spot. He could go all night, all day. And he would never be tired!

When was the last time you spoke to Guru?

It was March 30, 2004. April 1 was the last email I received from him and I just found it in my computer. We were pretty much going at it about him straightening his life up with the drinking and everything… just getting himself together. Because talent wise, drinking or sober, he was always on point in the lab. He could lay down his vocals with no problem and he always wrote his rhymes dope. When he wrote his rhymes on page they were so messy [Laughs]. I used to ask him, “How can you even recite the verses and flow?” He would be in the booth turning the paper upside down while he’s still rhyming and without having to punch in.

Was there ever a time when you felt Gang Starr was going to break up during your successful run in the ‘90s?

Yes. That was with the Moment of Truth album, which was the most emotional album for both of us. I had actually left the group before that album came out. I’ve never really told that story, but even Guru knew although he’s not here to defend that—but I had left the group. We were not getting along over stupid shit so I straight up said, “I’m out of here.” He was going through his gun trial and facing a five-year bid. I have to thank our tour manager who I went to college with and who is a major part of my life to this day. Even with his own problems with Guru, he was like, “Yo man, you need to go back to him. Y’all were meant to be a duo, man.” Then the trial was about to happen and I called Guru and said, “I want to do this.” We made up, everything was cool and I went to his trial everyday with his parents and our Gang Starr lawyer and our criminal lawyer. We were there every day. Guru was so scared that he could have gone to jail for five years, so that’s why that whole time was very emotional. I had just had a major death in my family. I was not really focused. I just remember our lawyer telling us, “If Guru goes to jail, you are going to have to promote the album by yourself.” That entire time was crazy.

(Read the rest of the interview at VIBE.com)

2. HipHopDX interview with Tasha Denham, Solar’s alleged baby-mother

DX: In regards to 7 Grand, I know you probably wore many hats in the day-to-day, but what was your specific title?

Tasha Denham: My specific title was executive assistant. That was the general title I was given.

DX: The Hip Hop perspective is, somewhere in 2004, Guru and Solar began working together musically. Do you know the context in how they came to know each other?

Tasha Denham: Everything I’ve been told, I’ve been told by them. I was not around at the time that they met. But my understanding is that in 2003 I believe, they became friends. They would hang out and party together. Guru, at the time, was still with [DJ] Premier [in Gang Starr]. They had the album, The Ownerz at that time. They were just friends. Solar ended up going on one of the Gang Starr tours with Guru in 2003, I believe. They were talking one night, and Solar [was listening] to Guru. [Guru] was expressing his displeasure with [Virgin/EMI Records] at that time. Solar said, “Well, if you’re so unhappy with your label, why don’t you start your own?” Guru thought about it a little, I guess, thought about it overnight, and then came back to Solar the next day and said, “I want to do this, man. Let’s start the label.” Solar was like, “I didn’t mean us, I meant for you to start it.” [Guru reportedly responded], “No. No, man. I want to do it together.” At that point in time, Solar told him that if [Guru] wanted to do this, then he had to stop drinking. From that point on, that’s when they decided to build 7 Grand Records.

DX: It’s a weird question to ask, but I know that what you’re telling me a lot on pre-2006 is based entirely on what you’ve heard, but it’s an important question to the Hip Hop community, in the wake of last Tuesday’s letter – do you know the context from that Ownerz Tour of the relationship that Solar and DJ Premier may have had with each other? A lot of people believe that Premo has been [attacked by these words Solar may have written in the letter]. A lot of people are curious to know if Solar would have any motive.

Tasha Denham: Um…I do know that there were at least some tensions. I wasn’t there, obviously, so I can’t say to what extent. But I do know that there was some tensions. I can’t say that anything Solar had against Premier had to be one specific incident. Just watching, over the time that I spent with them, Solar had such a twisted sense of how important [his own role] was to the music game. I think there was an extensive amount of jealousy towards what Premier had already created in the music industry. I can’t speak that there was one specific incident that created that animosity between them.

(Read the full intervie at HipHopDX)

Related: Guru’s brother reminisces on Guru’s family life and career

Solar speaks on Guru’s alleged last words, and the nature of their relationship

HipHipDx:Tasha Denham: “Just To Get A Rep?”