Anti-Chris Brown Song Gets Radio Play

Singer's actions 'a thousand percent wrong' says member of Smoke Jumpers

Associated Press Apr 3, 09 3:42 PM CDT

(AP) - A song criticizing Chris Brown is getting radio airplay in Chicago, LA, and New York, among other markets. "My Flow So Tight," by a little-known dance group called Smoke Jumpers, features the repeated line: "Chris Brown should get his ass kicked," the AP reports. A website for the group hyped the song as "the official Chris Brown dis record." More »

More about:  United States • Rihanna • Chris Brown • rap music • criminal charges • song • domestic abuse

 Merde! French 
 Rapper Sparks 
 Feminist Fury 

Lyrics threaten to break lovers arm, legs

Guardian (UK) Mar 30, 09 5:18 AM CDT

(Newser) - A French musician's rap about beating his girlfriend has so enraged activists that they're lobbying to have him banned from an upcoming rock festival, the Guardian reports. OrelSan sings about a broken arm, broken legs, and a wished-for miscarriage and "slow death" for his lover in his song Sale Pute , or Dirty Slut .  Women's groups, the Communists and Socialists blasted the song as "incitement to hatred," a criticism echoed by government officials. More »

More about:  France • music • domestic violence • rap music • sexism • rapper • Socialist Party • Communists • feminists

 20 Years Later, 
 Young MC Still Busts a Move 

Rolling Stone Mar 25, 09 2:35 PM CDT

(Newser) - It’s been 20 years since self-described “1 Hit Wonder” Young MC released Bust a Move , but the rapper is happy the song has held up as well as it has, he tells Rolling Stone. People aren’t “going to get a babysitter to go to a club and hear about you shooting people and raping women,” he says. “They’ll go … to hear Baby Got Back or Bust a Move or Wild Thing , because that’s a fun time out.” More »

More about:  music industry • hip-hop • rap music • MTV • rapper • Ari Fleischer • Sir Mix-A-Lot

 Paltrow: Phoenix 'Intense' But Just a 'Big Softy'

But he is a little 'intense'

Boston Globe Mar 15, 09 10:30 AM CDT

(Newser) - Gwyneth Paltrow has defended increasingly bizarre Joaquin Phoenix as a "real softy, kind person," reports the Boston Globe . But Paltrow conceded the actor-turned-rap-wildman can be a bit ... distant. "He has trouble relaxing. He's very intense. Sometimes you don't want to disturb him," said the actress, who co-starred with Phoenix in Two Lovers . No word from Gwyneth if she thinks Joaquin's mounting oddness is all an act. More »

More about:  rap music • Gwyneth Paltrow • acting • Joaquin Phoenix • acting career

 Colbert Challenges
 RNC Chair to Rap Debate 

Comedy Central Feb 27, 09 12:26 PM CST

(Newser) - Stephen Colbert wants to help Michael Steele bring his flava to the masses. The Colbert Report star can tell the new RNC chairman is a gangsta at heart, because he’s said he wants to bring the conservative message to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings,” which he promises will be “off the hook.” So Colbert’s inviting—nay, challenging— Steele to come on the show and “lay down some dope, yet fiscally responsible rhymes.” More »

More about:  comedy • late night talk show • rap music • Republican National Committee • Stephen Colbert • RNC • late night host • Michael Steele • Comedy Central • The Colbert Report

Phoenix Might Be Losing
His Mind: Shrink

Whatever is happening 'isn't funny,' says doc

Los Angeles Times Feb 27, 09 4:46 AM CST

(Newser) - A Chicago psychiatrist has offered yet another theory for the recent odd behavior of actor Joaquin Phoenix: he might be losing his mind. While bloggers speculate that the zombie-like Phoenix is either hooked on drugs or spoofing his fans with a zoned-out tumble into a laughable rap music career, Dr. Paul Dobransky notes that Phoenix is exhibiting a lack of emotion and the vocal tics of schizophrenia, reports the Los Angeles Times . More »

More about:  drugs • actor • David Letterman • rap music • Joaquin Phoenix

MC Hammer Lands
Reality Show

'90s rapper to A&E viewers: It's Hammertime

Hollywood Reporter Feb 18, 09 3:02 PM CST

(Newser) - MC Hammer will follow his upcoming concert with Vanilla Ice with another project sure to inspire nostalgia: a half-hour reality show. Hammertime , which will air later this year, follows the once-bankrupt rapper as he "lives a more economically balanced life," the A&E show's reps said. Hammer's wife and five kids will also appear, according to the Hollywood Reporter. More »

More about:  reality TV • rap music • A&E • MC Hammer